The winter blew over the Col and the territories of the Armada like a smothering blanket.  The leaves over the woodland had long since gone, only a few dried crisp stragglers clung to their branches with strong stems.

Drifts of snow gathered between the trunks and the sky had turned into an unbearable shade of gray for days. The clouds overhead roiled above like slow ocean waves, full of froth and pregnant with precipitation. The blue sky had been hidden for some time now, casting the diffused sunlight over the territory.

Oleander had a feeling. With the new snowfall, the fresh blanket reminded him of his mother's cream white pelt, the same as his. He had a feeling it would remind someone else in particular.

Oleander sat beside the old family den, below his own since he had taken residence with his brother Wylan. This would probably be the hardest part of the job he was gunning for. He knew his father was struggling hard since his mom and the others left. For a bit it seemed he was trying but as the snow came in and the dark gloomy days became the norm... He was afraid his father would slip even further away from them.

"Dad?" He called within, a basket beside him filled with some of Wylan's honeyed treats, some new mead infused with last summer's St. John Wort, the literal happiness herb that helped to boost one's mood even from the darkest depths, and some cured meats.

"Dad it's me, Ollie. I'm coming in." He stepped inside and would lean into his father's feathery embrace, allowing himself to be hugged.

"Speech"

wc: 273

Winter had never been a favourite season of Mortis. When the pack had lived in the Plains, he had loved to fish and swim in the ocean beside their territory. The waters in the North were much colder, and Winter was not very inviting at all. He spent much of his time when he wasn’t hunting or patrolling in the den. Taking in the scents of Halo, and being there when his children wandered in and out as they pleased.

The days grew shorter, and he spent much of his time wondering how Halo, Whisper, and Warden were doing out there. He hoped they’d gone South, into the warmer territories. He hoped they were eating enough, and warm enough. It was hard not to think of them, Halo especially. The hole she left in his heart was too wide to comprehend.

“Hi Ollie” he called out from a coat near the hearth, offering a smile to the white wolf as he stepped in out of the cold. “You don’t need to announce yourself, this will always be your home too” He pointed out lightly, scooting over so Ollie had space beside him if he wanted it.

When the other wolf leaned into him, Wylan wrapped a wing lightly around him and kissed his brow. “It’s good to see you. I hear you and Wylan have done some work cleaning up that treehouse. How’s it coming along?” He asked conversationally. He didn’t even ask about the basket, it was starting to become a very familiar sight to see the white wolf with his healer supplies heading around the pack. Just like his mother, in so many ways. He brushed a paw lightly across the top of the boy's eyes, touching the Fatalis markings that lay there. Not realising the almost desperate nostalgia in his own eyes.

Wc: 311
Total: 584


"Halo" & "Mortis"

Ollie shrugged sheepishly, "Oh, I knew that, I guess it's just becoming a habit now." He replied. It was always strange to see Dad alone, without Halo, peering down at him as he could see them through the haze of his childhood. He didn't take the seat beside him, Ollie sat before him. Whispy concern through his deep green eyes, a slight hue shift from his father's teals.

He bowed his head and accepted the tender kiss, then titled his head to the side as he searched his father's eyes. Trying to pull out the grief from them, as if that was all it could take.
He sighed, "The treehouse is great, you built it well. We'll probably have a new guy with us up there too." He replied, referring to the small Seneca.

He closed his eyes as his father brushed the top of them and lingered over the family mark over his eye. He could almost taste his own grief at his mother leaving but it wasn't about him, not now.
"Dad... I'm worried about you." He announced, opening his eyes to look at him squarely. "You haven't eaten well. You're barely about beyond your minimal duties. I brought you some of your favorite snacks. And Wylan made this great honey treat you should try." He said, bringing the basket closer.

"Can you tell me what's been going on?" He knew he missed Halo desperately, but he couldn't just say it out outright. Maybe there was more than just her missing that was bothering him.

"Speech"

257
841

“Next time, waltz through the door like you own the place” Mortis teased his son lightly. He couldn’t believe how quickly they had grown. They didn’t have much growing left to do amongst themselves now. Soon, they’d be on their own paths. Already, they were starting lives of their own. He missed those first few months. Sleeping in a circle with Halo, the tiny puppies between them. The warm hearth at their backs, and the scent of herbs around them. It was the first time Mortis had truly found peace in his life. The first time he believed the person he loved wouldn’t abandon him. All throughout his childhood. First Malaila, then Hanako, and Hika. Halo was the one, but watching her walk away had unearthed a lot of his old fears.

“I’m glad you boys are enjoying it… who’s the new guy, someone you fancy?” He teased, raising a brow at Ollie as he wondered what reaction his words would bring. But Ollie brought the conversation around to serious matters, and the Warlord’s oldest son looked at his boy through old, sad eyes. “I don’t want you to be worried about me, Ollie. I hear you’ve caught Basilisk’s attention with your healing skills” he prompted. Trying to turn the conversation back around to Ollie again. He didn’t want his kids to worry, didn’t want them to see the deep seated fears in his heart. Anyone that Mortis loved, he lost.


Wc: 247
Total: 1088


"Halo" & "Mortis"

Ollie smirked and shook his head at whether Seneca was someone he fancied. The guy was cute and all, but they just met. He tossed the idea of Sen into the pile of Wylan's stuff. He'll be a good flatmate though.

Ollie glanced at the hearth incredulous. His father was the king of avoiding the question, maybe that was where he got his stoic can't show his pain from.

"Dad... Yes, Bas has taken notice of me. He's suggesting I try for... Mom's old rank. So if I'm going to be a good Trauma Specialist... It'll be my job to worry about you. So, please... Humor me? I have some questions for you." He said and before Mortis could argue Ollie barreled on with his questions.

"When was the last time you did something you enjoyed?
Have you had trouble going to sleep, or feel like you're sleeping too much?
How has your appetite been in the last few weeks?
Have you thought about hurting yourself in some way?" He asked his father seriously, crossing his long lanky forelegs over and looking over his nose as if he had a pair of glasses he was avoiding.


196
1284
"Speech"

Mortis saw the head shake, and smiled, taking it at face value. He was glad the boys were making friends outside their immediate family. He’d been good at that himself, once. Ollie was determined with his line of questioning, but first he gave a little answer about his healing - to which Mortis widened his eyes a little in surprise. “That’s amazing Ollie, congratulations” He said, pleased to see how far the small wolf had came from the sickly, quiet boy.

“Well, if this is who you want to be, I guess I should treat your questions with respect” He said with a soft sigh, his eyes growing sad once more. More than wanting to hide away his own feelings, he wanted to support his children. That was a small war inside of him that Ollie would win.

“Well, it’s been a while since I fished. But for the style of fishing I used to do, the water gets too cold here in winter” He explained. Ollie’s questions only grew, and none of them were easy. “Sleep’s not that important” He teased lightly, knowing he would give his own kids the opposite advice. “And I’m really not that hungry, Ollie. But I’d never hurt myself, you have nothing to worry about.”

Wc: 222
Total: 10506


"Halo" & "Mortis"

For a moment Oleander let himself absorb and accept his father's pride with a sheepish shrug and humble smile. Yes, he was grateful that he would have this opportunity.
Back to work! Serious face now!
His father's answers to his questions made the boy frown. These were all problems he needed to help his father with. Having Mom leave was a devastating blow to the family, and the pack as a whole, even so, they had to get up and find a way to move forward.

He didn't know what it was like to be left by your life partner. But he did know what it was like to feel your mother walk away with no knowing when she'll be back. Filling the shoes of the Trauma Specialist would be too big for him just now. He pushed himself forward into his father's chest.

"You know how important sleep is Dad. And you're losing weight." Didn't he believe Mom was coming back? It was the promise that was holding him and Wylan together. Wylan even more so than Ollie, he would say.

"I gotta keep you going until Mom comes back. She'll have my hide if I allow you to slip away from starving! Can you please try some of these treats Wyl made, and this mead? It's got a herb in it that should help chase away some of the worst sad days. For me? For Mom?" He asked imploringly, still small enough to look up at Mortis with his big dark green eyes, the little flecks of lavender catching the light.

"Speech"

He did say anything for a moment, just put a paw over Ollie’s gently. He didn’t mean to worry his kids, he really didn’t. But some things were just so much effort, and it was a real struggle to go about life like nothing happened. Knowing Halo wouldn’t be there to wrap around at night. He missed her, he missed her so much that it was a giant ache in his chest that he could not ignore.

He looked at Ollie's big sad eyes as the other wolf implored him to try. To drink a mead that the healer had prepared. He didn’t know what Ollie had put in it, but he trusted the young healer as much as he would Halo. “If it’ll help you worry a little less” he agreed, taking the drink from the boy. He looked at it a little dubiously for a moment. He hadn’t drunk alcohol since that night that had led to Ollie and his sibling’s conception. He poured it into a glass and took a sip.


"Halo" & "Mortis"

He nodded, grateful, "Now, don't go chugging it like Bas and Hazel though. This is medicine, only take little bits of it throughout the day. Like tea, but stronger and keeps longer." He said, then nosed the basket toward his dad, imploring him further to at least nibble the goodies inside.

"Thank you." He said. He thought to go and give his patient privacy, but this was his dad. He decided to stay longer. He got up, shook his fur for a moment, then circled and sat next to his father. Since he wasn't the subject of being treated, he felt comfortable snuggling in and laying his head on his father's leg, looking toward the hearth.

"She's coming back. She said she would." She wouldn't just leave them forever, she probably missed them as much as they missed her.

"Speech"