In Plain Sight [M] [DragonSong]

[Juno]

Christopher frowned at that, knowing it was what she needed to do but wishing they could stay together at the same time. "Do you want me to go with you?" It was said more as a suggestion than a question, tension in his words as he stepped after her.

But then a shimmer of guilt entered his eyes as he glanced towards her foster mother. "I should stay and guard her instead, huh?" he thought aloud.

[DragonSong]

A small, sad smile twitched at her lips and she reached her hand up to lay her palm against his cheek. "Yes. Please."

She rocked up onto her toes to kiss him quickly. "Back soon. I love you."

[Juno]

"I'll keep her safe," he promised, smiling sadly for a moment before leaning forward to give her a quick peck.

"Love you, too," he murmured, rubbing a hand along her back encouragingly before releasing her and moving to sit down closer to Snowfur. Reaching out cautiously he ran a gentle hand along her muzzle and fluffy neck, hoping the contact might be soothing for her.

[DragonSong]

The wolves pressed against their alpha female as they filed out into the snow, Brenna moving along with them and falling into her familiar place in the pack's formation.

Snowfur huffed quietly and rolled an eye back to look at Christopher. She lifted her head slightly and nosed his palm, obviously appreciating the contact with the absence of her family around her.

[Juno]

"Easy there," he murmured softly to her, smiling at her attempt for contact but hoping she wouldn't strain herself at all. The shifter alternated between gentle petting and scratching along her coat as he quietly watched the entrance to the makeshift den.

"You raised her well," he finally praised, not knowing if Snowfur understood him or not but wanting to speak to her anyway to fill the silence. "She has such a big heart."

[DragonSong]

The dire wolf huffed, eyes soft as she looked up at him. She let her head fall back to rest on her paws and seemed to drift off, her breathing evening out.

The rest of the pack was gone for several hours, and the first to return was Icefang. She bounded back into the little shelter, sniffing her mother before tilting her head to eye Christopher with a soft woof.

[Juno]

The peace between them was calming, soothing his jarred nerves from being left with his mate's own foster mother under his care. He wasn't very confident and truthfully didn't feel he knew the first thing about caring for a sick or injured creature.

When Icefang returned Christopher lifted his head sharply, immediately alert but relaxing once he recognized that her actions were more a greeting than a warning. Reaching out cautiously he ran the back of his hand along her neck and shoulder. "You're back early," he scolded lightly, glancing to eye the mouth of their shelter for signs of the others. "Did you have a good hunt?"

[DragonSong]

Icefang seemed to understand, if not his words at least the intent, and she huffed at him before curling up beside her mother, nuzzling the older wolf affectionately.

Her brothers came creeping into the cave moments later, followed by Brenna, who was helping her foster father lug an elk behind her. Snowfur whined and raised her head, obviously hungry.

The wild girl heaved the animal closer to the mouth of the little outcropping, then sort of sprawled herself across the ground, hand reaching tiredly for her mate and eyes closed. "Everything okay?"

[Juno]

Chris scooted himself to the edge of the cave to make room for the rest and their kill,eyes scanning over them anxiously for signs of injury until he caught sight of Brenna. Hurrying to her side he wrapped an arm around her supportively as he knelt at her side, eyes scanning her more thoroughly for signs of harm.

"I think so. She just seems tired," he finally answered, huffing a relieved sigh as he gathered her up in his arms for a hug. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

[DragonSong]

She smiled tiredly, eyes closed, and turned her face into his neck. "No. M'fine. Just tired," she murmured, snuggling closer as the pack filed their way in and circled around the alpha female, whining and nuzzling her gently.

[Juno]

He held her close, dropping a kiss on top of her head and watching the wolves out of the corner of his eye. "Maybe take a nap? Looks like you got more than enough meat with that one," he pointed out with a soft chuckle, a little amused by how small she looked compared to the elk.

[DragonSong]

Brenna poured at him a bit, but she curled up easily on his lap with a soft huff and closed her eyes.

"Just a few minutes," she muttered. "I'm just resting my eyes."

[Juno]

"Sure. Just a few minutes," he teased lightly, cradling her head against him and curling around her as best as he could. Truthfully he was a little tired himself given how much he'd been in an alert watch mode the past couple of days. Resting his head against her he allowed himself to drift off into a light sleep, content in trusting her to stay near.

[DragonSong]

Breath coming slow and deep, Brenna was clearly not just dozing, exhaustion sweeping her into a deep sleep. She curled toward Chris unconsciously, arms snaking out to wrap around his waist as she snuggled in.

Her pack moved in around the two sleeping two-leggers, snuggling up to their sides in a furry wall.

[Juno]

He barely stirred for the wall of wolf bodies cradling them and ended up drifting into an even deeper sleep that left him limp and leaning at all kinds of awkward angles he would be paying for once he woke.

When he opened his eyes next Christopher was a little surprised to see that sunset was nearly over and stars were already beginning to peak out along the sky. He turned his head sharply to check on Brenna, grunting at the stiffness in his neck and rolling his sore shoulders a bit. "Brenna?" he whispered at her ear, wary of waking her if she wasn't quite ready to get up from her nap.

[DragonSong]

"Mmn." The wild girl frowned in her sleep and shifted against him, then slowly yawned and blinked her eyes open.

"Chris?" She blinked again, then sat up quickly. "What- how long sleeping?" she mumbled, rubbing at her eyes.

[Juno]

Chris couldn't help the slight, guilty flinch for her question as he glanced out at the sky. "Just a little while... A few hours," he admitted, hoping she wouldn't be mad that he'd fallen asleep, too.

[DragonSong]

Another soft humming noise and she buried her face in his neck. "Five more minutes," she mumbled, wrapping her arms snugly around his waist.

It wasn't as though anything urgent needed to happen in the next few minutes...

[Juno]

Chris chuckled softly at that, petting her hair affectionately and hugging her close. "Sure. Only five, though," he teased lightly, completely content to let her rest however long she wanted so long as they had nothing pressing to attend to. With her pack found and hunting done he hoped they wouldn't be in a hurry to make another move just yet.

[DragonSong]

Brenna sighed, shifting and wriggling until she'd climbed practically into her mate's lap, arms around his neck and cheek resting against his collar.

The wolves stirred sleepily, some raising head or yawning while the others just shifted or rolled over with quiet huffs and whines.