The blow to her head had left Lia more confused than normal. Things were fuzzy and difficult. She knew she would have been in trouble if Ivy hadn't stuck with her. Despite being afraid of him at first, the giant had proved to be a gentle wolf. Patching her up, and keeping her fed. He didn't say anything to her, but she knew the hunting was difficult. She had some healer training, and she could see the weight he lost. She was dead weight to him, and it stung. It was just like the Hallows. She wasn't contributing the way she should be. Her slave-training made her useless in day to day life.


Something had to change.


It was early morning, and Ivy was coming back from a hunt when she stuck her head out the little den they were staying in. She found his form easily enough, he nearly glowed with the slivery traces of silver across his body. She offered him a smile, through it trembled a little. Brave, she was not. "Ivy? I think we need to make some decisions."

Initially, Ivy had stayed mostly because he felt responsible for her. She relied on him. It gave him a sense of purpose that he hadn't had in a long time. Making sure he kept Lia fed and safe and on the way to recovery... that was enough. Maybe it had taken more out of him than he cared to admit. Ivy was accustomed to his own company and little else. With Lia to keep him company, the days seemed to pass more gently. Her presence chased away the fog of lonesomeness that had colored nearly every move he'd made since getting separated from his brother. That was enough. That was more than enough. Ivy refused to admit that he was getting tired.

Returning with an early spring hare clasped in his jaws, a better result than he'd had lately, the look on the red girl's face struck him. He felt a squeeze in his chest, setting the meal down before her and taking a step back. "What's wrong?" The tremble to her lip, the look on her face... had something happened? Had something bad happened? Ivy found himself worried.

"Words"