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In Plain Sight [M] [DragonSong]

Started by Juno, January 19, 2016, 04:25:14 PM

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Juno

Her voice jerked him out of this thoughts and Chris startled slightly, his eyes glinting for a moment until Brenna's words registered and he realized she was asking for his help. His lips turned up at one side in a guilty smile and he reached to pull her in close against his side.

"Of course you can. We're almost there and you're all welcome. I think they would fit if they're huddled up, but- I can sleep outside if you need the room," he pointed out, observing her carefully for a moment. She looked tired, probably more than she was voicing in the moment and a glance back at the rest of the pack told him all he needed to know with them trudging along, no energy in their steps.

"Let me carry you," he offered as he turned back to look to Brenna, unaware of how his brow was creasing with concern.

DragonSong

She shook her head quickly as she hunkered into her coat more, keeping the two pups she carried close to the heat of her chest. "It's okay," she murmured. "I can walk. Just have to protect them."

A few quick barks relayed the information that her mate's den was open to them, at least for the night, and there was a palpable relief among the pack as they all realized they had a proper destination.

"You won't sleep outside," Brenna muttered firmly as she sidled closer to Chris. "It'll be okay. We all sleep in top of each other normally."

Juno

His lips fixed in a line, not wanting to let her have what she'd asked for but also not wanting to challenge his exhausted mate. Chris huffed out a short sigh, swallowing the words of disagreement that had been bubbling up in his throat. Her solution made sense, but he dearly hoped they would all be comfortable and could get a good rest after being on the run for so long.

"Stay for a few days," he offered, eyes filled with concern he didn't want to express until they were safely sheltered once more. He reached out to drape his arm loosely around her shoulders as she moved closer, the small consolation to carrying her soothing him. "I'll protect you and they know these lands a bit better, I'm sure. Give you some time to figure out what you'd like to do. We can scout out a new home for you, give those pups a little time in a proper den again." It seemed like as good idea as any to him, only understanding that he had a strong drive to protect Brenna and her family and ensure their comfort through an already-stressful time.

DragonSong

Brenna curled into his side as much as she could. The pack ranged listlessly around them, waiting for a cue to do...something. Anything.

The pups Brenna kept close to the warmth of her chest began to wriggle and mewl for their mother, hungry. She rubbed at their fur to try to warm them and cast her mate a terrified look. "We need to find somewhere to take a break soon. Please."

Juno

At their cries Chris looked down to the wriggling mounds of pup under her clothes, nodding eagerly at her request. He recognized the look in her eyes, a fresh wave of protectiveness overcoming him as he wracked his brain for some way to soothe her worries.

They were close enough that he roughly knew the lay of the land. He lifted his head sharply to survey the horizon beyond them, his eyes settling on an outcropping of rocks he recognized. Pointing at it with his free hand he rubbed along her shoulder with the other, trying to keep her close for her benefit from his warmth. "There's an old den in those rocks, I think. Probably not very big but it should be fine for a rest." He shuffled forward to continue on, eager to lead them there and put a rest to his mate's fretting.

DragonSong

Taking their cue from Chris' sudden movements, the pack ranged ahead, approaching the potential temporary den at a bark of encouragement from Brenna.

Chaser ducked into the rocky outcropping first, and when he signaled an all-clear the rest of the pack hurried forward, Brenna on their heels. She kept her fingers laced with Chris as she pulled him along close behind her and shuffled into the rather tight space.

Snowfur was immediately at her side and she unwrapped the pups from the warmth of her coat to pass them over to their mother, who gave a soft whine as she licked them and nuzzled them into the curve of her body so they could nurse. Brenna released an exhausted breath and leaned back against the wall of the den, her eyes fluttering shut without her permission.

Juno

Chris walked with her, tense as he watched the younger wolves examine the shelter he'd found. It was a relief that they seemed to take to it, filing inside one by one. At the very least it was enough to shield them from the bitter cold and the harshest winds.

He stayed at Brenna's side, looking over the wolves as they settled in before looking to his mate. His brow furrowed with concern as he watched her and saw just how exhausted she seemed from their journey. Perhaps he'd overestimated their ability to make the trek after dealing with so much stress in recent times, especially her.

"You're tired," he observed quietly, a heavy sigh escaping him as he shook out his hair. He was angry with himself for not noticing sooner. "I'm carrying you. Whenever they're ready to move again... I'm carrying you," he told her firmly.

DragonSong

"Wh- no..." Brenna struggled to force her eyes open and frown at him. "No. You're...tired too."

She couldn't seem to stop herself from leaning against his shoulder, despite her protests. "We're all tired," she murmured. "I'm...so tired..."

She slumped practically into his lap, eyes fluttering closed as she just...fell asleep. She'd been up, walking, worrying, fighting through snow and terror for the pups pressed close to her hearts, for so long that she just sort of...gave out.

Graywind gave a sharp bark of worry as he saw his sister fall into her mate's lap. He tried to wriggle closer, nosing at her hip with a concerned whine, then gave a little huff of relief as he realized she was just sleeping.

Juno

Chris stared at her with concern, a frown fixed upon his lips as he cradled her close against him. He rubbed gently at her arm, not wanting to press the issue with her when she was so clearly exhausted. As far as he was concerned he would be taking care of her and attempt to ease the stress she was putting herself through.

He looked to the young wolf that had come closer to check on her, smiling tiredly as he settled at her side. "She's alright," he murmured, hoping the creature might at least understand his tone. Chris dozed a little himself but never let himself fall too deeply asleep, waking every so often to peer out the mouth of their temporary shelter to the snowy grounds beyond. The den was cramped and he wanted nothing more than to see them safely moved to his home where he would feel much safer letting his guard down.

DragonSong

She wasn't sure how long she slept, but when she opened her eyes she was surrounded by her family, curled in her mate's lap.

"Chris?" She blinked tiredly, then suddenly jolted upright with a gasp. "Oh! How long did I sleep?!"

Juno

Her voice startled him from his half-asleep dozing, eyes blown wide as he straightened his back and looked down at her in a brief panic. But...all was well, they were still safe in the small den and the wolves were still there with them. Chris huffed a relieved sigh, squeezing her close and petting at her hair as he peered out at the darkened sky beyond.

"Sorry... Ah- Probably a few hours, it's almost night now." He frowned thoughtfully at that, uncertain if it would be safe to travel the rest of the way to his den with the pups in the cold and dark once night fell. "Should probably stay here until morning," he noted bitterly, furrowing his brow and mentally kicking himself for passing out and not staying on his guard.

DragonSong

Brenna bit her lip, frowning. She glanced around at her pack, who were just as exhausted as her, if not more so. If they didn't have the pups to consider, she might have insisted they press on, get to safety as soon as possible. But as it was...

She sighed and nodded, closing her eyes again as she let her head loll onto Chris's shoulder. "Alright," she murmured. "I'm sorry, Chris. Thank you..."

She was already drifting again, lashes fluttering as she fought to open her eyes.

Juno

"Don't apologize," Chris chastised playfully, gently ruffling her hair before smoothing it out again.

He stayed mostly awake through the rest of the night, cradling her close against him and listening to the sounds of resting wolves and the gentle whistle of the night winds rolling down off the mountains while occasionally dozing off for an hour or so.

By the time the sun was peeking out across the horizon Chris was fully alert again and relieved that nothing had come for them in the dark and cold of night. So near his den it could really only be human hunters following their tracks, but he hoped that they wouldn't try to find them again so soon after running them off in the first place.

The shifter yawned quietly, content to just observe the pack as they slowly roused themselves from sleep. At least he could still hear some faint mewling from the pups, and he breathed a soft sigh of relief to know they hadn't been lost in the night.

DragonSong

It was the pups's crying that woke Brenna, along with her foster mother. Snowfur shifted around to nose at the wriggling little creatures, encouraging them to nurse, and Brenna sat up groggily and looked around.

"We...wha--?" She yawned and let her head loll to the side, blinking as she tried to come fully back to consciousness. "Chris? How...long did I sleep?"

Juno

The sound of her voice snapped Chris away from his idle rest and daydreams, startling slightly as he felt movement from his mate curled on his lap. "Not too long," he reassured her quietly, reaching out to stroke at her hair. "It's just morning now, you needed sleep."

He frowned, looking around at the pack in the dim light. "Maybe we're going too fast."

DragonSong

"No." She shook her head firmly and forced herself to sit up properly, rubbing at her eyes. "No, we have to keep moving. We have to get somewhere safe."

She sighed as she caught sight of the pups, whining and nursing desperately from the obviously exhausted Snowfur. "...We have to wait until they're ready, though."

Juno

Chris hooked an arm around her shoulders, eyes following hers to watch the pups with their mother. "They're so small," he lamented quietly, squeezing her gently and rubbing at her arm. "We can wait, I don't think we're in any danger here for now."

DragonSong

Bryn managed to smile, just a bit, and murmured, "Well, they are babies." She leaned against his side with a small sigh. "They tend to be pretty small..."

Juno

Chris snorted, shaking his head incredulously. "Yeah, but...the adults are so big. They must grow pretty fast, right?"

DragonSong

Her smile softened slightly as she watched the pups suckle, Snowfur nuzzling them with worried little whines every so often.

"They get bigger," she replied vaguely. "A year or so...they'll be as big as the others."