In Plain Sight [M] [DragonSong]

[Juno]

"Thank you," he told her genuinely, gathering her up in a warm hug and burrowing his nose against her neck for a moment. "I promise I will be. You just take care of yourself. And the others."

Gently petting at her hair for a moment the shifter scanned the wolves over her shoulder, a frown setting upon his face to know they were so far from their chosen home. He doubted they would return now after being so violently attacked and down a pack mate. He pondered it briefly but he really didn't want to think on what he would do if Brenna might never live close to his den again.

"I'll come for you if there's danger. Help hide you all until it's safe. Hopefully it won't come to that." Chris smiled affectionately, pulling back to study her face with an encouraging glimmer to his eyes.

[DragonSong]

Brenna whimpered quietly and kissed him, cupping his face between her palms before letting her forehead rest against his.

"Love you," she murmured.

Longclaw moved forward, huffing at his pack before bumping against Christopher's side, urging him to move so they could begin their vigil.

[Juno]

Christopher hugged her warmly, nuzzling against her cheek and leaving her with a few quick kisses before he pulled away to stand. "I love you, too, my mate. It won't be forever, just stay strong, alright? I'll be back before you know it and we'll all be safer for it. Just get some rest."

He reached out to grasp her shoulder briefly, wanting to go for another hug but also not wanting to irritate Longclaw by making him wait. Keeping things civil between himself and their alpha was more important in the end, the shifter stepping away and leaving his clothes with the rest of their things before taking his cat form once more.

He trotted quickly to join Longclaw at his side so they might find a post together, gently butting his head against the alpha's shoulder in an almost playful affection that wasn't exactly appropriate considering their circumstances.

[DragonSong]

The wolf started and twisted his head around to huff at the cat, obviously not quite sure what to do with him. He shook his head and gave a soft chuffing noise that might have been something close to fond exasperation, then nudged his nose into his side, steering him toward the west to take up watch while he moved east.

Brenna curled up next to her foster mother, worried whimpers rising in her throat. She drew the alpha female's head into her lap and stroked her neck and shoulder rhythmically as the pack crowded in around them.

[Juno]

It took Chris a moment to understand the alpha's meaning, watching him closely as they took separate paths to make sure he wasn't going to change his mind before committing to the west side and trotting up the unfamiliar incline to find the highest point he could reach without being reckless.

He couldn't detect any signs that humans were around them yet but he remained vigilant as he settled himself into the fluff of powder at the top of his chosen hill to keep watch.

[DragonSong]

Despite her best intentions, Brenna found herself drifting off as the wolves crowded in around her and Snowfur. She was just so tired, so tired...

She didn't know how much later it was when Icefang's nose shoved into her ribs, jerking her awake. She gasped and shot up, then remembered she had her foster mother's head in her lap. She whined in apology to the alpha female and stroked her fur.

Her eyes flickered around, forgetting for a moment that her mate and Longclaw were on watch. Another whine rose up in her throat when she couldn't find them and she got up slowly, picking her way out of the pile of furry bodies.

About halfway through following the leopard's tracks she remembered why he was outside in the first place. She followed his prints anyway, kneeling down in the snow when she reached him. She reached out to bury her fingers in his ruff in silence.

[Juno]

Christopher was alert but struggling to stay awake until he picked up on Brenna's approaching scent later in the night. He remained tense until he caught sight of her coming up the bank, a curious glint in his eye as he watched her come closer and felt her hands threading through his coat.

He purred softly, tilting his head to nuzzle her arm but not wanting to shift to ask questions if she wanted to cuddle his cat instead of her wolves.

[DragonSong]

Brenna sighed and leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She remained quiet, content to simply be with him.

[Juno]

Chris flicked his ears back and forth before deciding to shift around to lean against her, wanting to be cautious given their current situation but happy to provide whatever comfort she sought in joining him in his vigil.

[DragonSong]

The wild girl sighed quietly and hugged him a little tighter, burying her fingers in his fur. Despite the chill, she once again felt herself beginning to drift off, though she fought it as long as she could. Finally though, her head lolled against his shoulder and some of the tension left her body as she slipped under.

[Juno]

The spotted cat rumbled his content as he felt her relax in sleep, relieved that she hadn't come to tell him something had happened in his absence. Concerned for her warmth, though, he curled his tail around her as best as he could and hoped the wind would keep off their hillside for the night.

[DragonSong]

Brenna was used to sleeping outdoors, but still she shivered and sought warmth instinctively, curling into her mate more and more over the course of the night. Her whole body was shaking lightly by the time the sun finally started to make an appearance.

[Juno]

Christopher split his attention for the remainder of the night, concerned for Brenna but also still trying to do what he'd promised for her and her pack. Once the morning officially arrived he was up and fussing over her, tail swishing in nervous agitation as he bowed over her to lick at her cheek with the hope of gently rousing her so they could return to the shelter of the den together.

[DragonSong]

"Mmmph." Brenna curled in a little tighter and tried to hide her face, thinking it was one of her littermates licking her. She barked a quiet protest before she realized the tongue was too rough to belong to a wolf.

"Chris?" She blearily returned to the waking world, blinking up at him. The glint of light off the snow informed her it was morning and she sat up, shivering. "S-sorry. Come on, let's go b-back," she murmured, teeth chattering a bit as she buried her fingers in his ruff and smiled, pressing a kiss to his nose.

[Juno]

He huffed quietly and butted his head against her, amused at her grogginess but glad to be on their way. Leaping away to take the steeper side down the hill he quickly realized his mistake as he sunk belly-deep into the snow.

With an agitated yowl he pinned his ears and surged onward, carving a path until he reached the bottom and could climb out to more solidly-packed snow and make his way back to the den.

[DragonSong]

Brenna couldn't help laughing as she followed after him, using the path he cut through the snow to make things easier.

"Easy there," she chuckled as she came up beside him, resting a hand on his head.

[Juno]

Chris just huffed, shaking himself out and trying to shed some clinging snow from his fur in the process. Ducking into the den his ears twitched every which way for a moment as he listened to the quiet sounds of the wolves, pleased there was no signs of strangers being among them.

He padded over to his pile of clothing and shifted smoothly as he picked them up, shivering slightly for a moment until he was dressed again. "Well that went better than expected," he chuckled, turning to gather Brenna close in a bear hug. "Safe and sound."

[DragonSong]

The moment his arms were around her she clung to him like a bur, head buried in his chest as she heard the soft padding of her foster father's paws entering the little shelter.

Longclaw brushed past them as he moved to check on his mate, nuzzling Brenna's hip and giving Christopher an approving sort of huff. Brenna held her mate tighter, shivering slightly.

"Like the cat," she muttered. "But wanted this. Needed this." Her vocabulary seemed to have decreased slightly under the current stress.

[Juno]

Christopher smiled sadly for her words, raising a hand to bury in her hair and clutch her close as he watched Longclaw join his mate. "I'm sorry. I can stay like this as long as you like," he offered, turning to press a kiss on top of her head. "Needed to make sure you were safe, that your family was safe."

[DragonSong]

Brenna nodded and muttered something unintelligible under her breath. Her arms tightened around him for a few moments before she pulled away with a reluctant sigh.

"Gotta hunt," she murmured, the wolves starting to stir around them. "We all need to eat."