[ P ] It's Hard to Dance with a Devil on Your Back

T

he sun was crawling toward its zenith, moving slowly across a cloudless sky. The air was warm and humid, and the smell of grass drying in the summer sun greeted her senses as the wolfess ambled slowly around a small area. Green eyes would flash every few seconds toward a small den, hidden away beneath the underbrush. Satisfied that no one else was near, she would continue her aimless wandering, but never too far from the tiny den.


Willow found a rare moment of quiet as her daughter napped nearby. It was not often that she was alone anymore, not since Rowan had been born. But Willow did not exactly embrace the quiet and the stillness. She didn’t like spending time away from her pup if she could help it. During their brief instances of being apart, Willow could think of nothing else but her child. Her entire life was dedicated now to her baby. And it was a sacrifice she made wholeheartedly.


When it was quiet, though, her mind still wandered back to the darkness of the dungeons, back to the wolves who had not made their escape as she had. These thoughts inspired a deep sadness in Willow, despite her newfound happiness. This was a strange time to be alive.


Her pacing ended suddenly when she heard a noise nearby. Instantly, the fur along her nape began to rise, head lowering as green eyes searched for any intruders.


@Nora

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Nora had started her morning heading to the pub in Iverness but deciding against drowning her sorrows that day. Why? She wasn't sure, but since talking with Anteros she felt a renewed vigor toward her cause and to her goal on getting her children back. She supposed that didn't include getting drunk before midday. She traveled into the woods, heading towards home, when she smelled a familiar scent upon the warm wind. She glanced at the sky, which she could barely see through the canopy of trees now and figured it would take her some time still to reach home and that she had nothing to do today anyway besides plot and plan. So... she might as well see what her old cell mate was up to.

"So this is where you ended up..." she stated as she pushed through some foliage to see Willow standing there with her hackles raised and a wary look in her eyes.

She had wondered what had become of the other woman, for she'd disappeared one day and never returned but now she knew-- at least partly. Nora cleared her throat and offered a sway of her tail to show she was still friendly. "I didn't mean to intrude. I caught your scent on the wind and I guess I got curious." she admitted. "I can go if you want," she added.

art + code: clae

S

ometimes, their world felt enormous – but in moments like this, it all seemed very small. The sheer coincidence of seeing a familiar face was unexpected, but to see this particular familiar face… Peridot-hued eyes grew wide with obvious surprise, her defensive stance dropped because she knew this one was safe.

”I’m glad to see they let you out…” The statement was lacking any semblance of humor. Given what she had seen of Nora’s treatment during their shared time in the dungeons, it was truly a surprise to see her set free. The wolfess offered to go, and Willow quickly shook her head. ”No, please, Nora. Please stay.”

The last time she had seen Nora was behind the cold iron bars of their shared cell, languishing in a corner with her sadness and ever-expanding abdomen. By the time of Willow’s departure, it had been painfully obvious that she was unexpectedly expecting. Of course, her pups would have been born by now. But where were they? Little ones were not supposed to be far from their mothers, and yet the sound of children’s laughter didn’t fill the air, nor did any new scents.

In her gut, Willow had a very bad feeling, perhaps a maternal instinct that caused unease as she looked around them again, as if Nora’s litter would come tumbling into view any moment now and put her growing concern to rest.

But there was no sudden appearance of any pups – not even one came into view, and her heart began to beat with a new intensity at what the implications could be. Plenty of pups never made it out of their first few months, it was true. Had they been born in jail? There were so many questions to ask, but Willow struggled to find the words.

After a few tense beats, she finally managed to sputter: ”Wha– Where – what happened..." Her head felt dizzy as she finally forced out the words. "Where are your babies?"


@Nora

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

"I escaped with my siblings the last minute... I probably should have just stayed my sentence but I couldn't stand one more day in there. I'm grateful they came for me when they did," but I wish they had come just a bit sooner...

At Willow's urging she decided to stay and so she sat down and got comfortable. A few moments would pass and Willow would look around; Nora's expression would turn to confusion then as she wondered just what the other woman was looking for. She didn't have to wonder for long before being asked where her babies were. A lump situated itself square in the middle of Nora's throat and as she made to answer, no words came out at first.

She closed her eyes to avoid crying and then reopened them, settling them upon Willow and drawing in a breath to try and steady herself. She should have known the question was coming. They had shared a cell after all for some time. "Their father was a guard and when they were born... he took them. My son died, my daughters were taken..."

Her voice shook with emotion as she spoke of her dead son; she still cried about him some nights and she still thought about what Leoric had told her. How it was her fault he had died... she shivered and looked away, into the forest. "I plan to take them back." she whispered softly as she looked back to Willow.

art + code: clae

Willow’s eyes were wide with concern as Nora began to explain how she had managed to get out of the prison, thanks to her siblings. As she spoke, the woman’s unexpressed emotions were palpable in the air. Willow feared the worst. It had already happened to one mother she knew, losing a child. Nora closed her eyes as she explained, "Their father was a guard and when they were born... he took them.” She spoke of a dead son, and a brute who had stolen her daughters away. It seemed inconceivable, the level of cruelty necessary to wrench away newborns from their mother. Naturally, Willow couldn’t help the dark thoughts that trickled through her mind. If someone had tried to take Rowan away from her…

Fury burned within her as the tri-color femme watched her old cell mate before finally, she couldn’t bear to see the other mother’s sadness and she looked off into the distance. She couldn’t imagine what it was like, but her heart ached for Nora. But soon, the other whispered in secretive tones, ”I plan to take them back.” Twin ears peaked in ebony swiveled in the direction of the clandestine wolfess, two eyes of peridot hue turned back to Nora.

Willow’s response was quieted, but no less earnest in its intonation: ”I want to help.” The words surprised her, but she couldn’t bite her tongue now, not when Nora was so downtrodden. ”I – I don’t know what I could do, but… I want you to get your babies back. You deserve to have them back.” The fur along her nape began to rise at the thought of this heartless Imperial soldier who now had possession of Nora’s precious girls.


@Nora

art + code: clae

"I want to help," she claimed, and Nora's eyes widened. ”I – I don’t know what I could do, but… I want you to get your babies back. You deserve to have them back."

A part of her was surprised by Willow's invitation, and another part of her was relieved and another grateful. She was feeling a mixture of emotions that had her feeling overwhelmed but she did her best not to cry in front of the younger woman.

Nora found herself smiling after a few moments, but shaking her head. "I couldn't ask you to do that," she said. "If I'm caught... if we're caught it's back to jail for the both of us or worse. I can't put that risk on anyone else." She didn't want to risk Willow's very life and she was convinced that Leoric would take it, given the chance. Those last few moments with him had shown her the monster he was inside and what he was truly capable of was beyond her at this point. There were times when she wondered if even their girls were safe with him.

She blinked away the tears, not liking to think about it for too long. "I really appreciate the offer though, Willow. It means a lot." she said softly as she got up and reached out to touch the other woman on her shoulder with her muzzle.

"I don't know how I plan to do it yet, but I plan to go to the Mainlands to get them and bring them home... to Aberdeen." she revealed. That was where they belonged; not some post estate that would turn them into rich brats. They might be financially better off with their father but was that worth the risk of them becoming just like him?

art + code: clae

Nora spoke aloud what both mothers were thinking, that the risks were too great for Willow to help directly – and though she understood, it was still upsetting to the healer, and a soft whine sounded in her throat. The grieving mother wolfess came closer, touching her muzzle against Willow’s shoulder. Instinctively, Willow’s own muzzle dipped to gently nuzzle Nora, as sisters might comfort one another. She whispered in a soothing voice, ”It’s okay to cry, Nora.” The Highlander femme continued, still speaking quietly, and Willow leaned closer to hear each word: "I don't know how I plan to do it yet, but I plan to go to the Mainlands to get them and bring them home... to Aberdeen."

The plan was… well, it needed some work, but Willow nodded with newfound enthusiasm. ”Even if I can’t be there, just know, I’m with you all the way. And when they come home, their Auntie Willow will – I’ll keep them safe, Nora…”

She had not yet spoken of her own child, and she was hesitant to do so now. She had her daughter, but Nora did not have hers. It seemed cruel to mention Rowan at all. But before she could mention the child herself, the sound of a tired, tiny voice could be heard close by. ”Mama?” Willow whipped around quickly to see her only pup, still very little and clumsy on her white paws, toddling closer to the pair of she-wolves. ”Yes, honeybee, right over here. You’re alright.” Her facade was a mixture of guilt and sympathy as she looked back to Nora, as the pup settled in between Willow’s paws. ”I – I’m sorry – I was going to say something, but…”

She just couldn’t imagine the pain of losing her daughter, and soon, she was unable to hold back her own tears. ”This is Rowan, and... I’m sorry, Nora. But – but just think. Our – our girls – they’ll be playing together, all three of them, so very soon.”


@Nora

art + code: clae

It took all her might not to break when Willow told her it was okay to cry. "I just can't spend all my time crying, Willow." she said softly, her voice shaking with the effort it took to hold herself together. She drew in a breath and steadied herself, blinking away the tears.

Willow's kind words met her and she smiled softly, nodding her head agreeably. "Thank you," she said. She didn't know what she had done to gain the younger woman's friendship but she was glad to have it. She could use all the friends she could get right now, and especially when her girls were back. She didn't know the first thing about being a mother but she so desperately wanted to be so to her girls and they were out there... waiting for her, or so she hoped.

As Nora opened her mouth to speak again, she heard a small voice enter the clearing with them.

She blinked, her lashes fluttering in confusion as her gaze settled on a small pup that beckoned for its mother. Her heart twisted but quickly she realized that this child must belong to Willow for they looked so similar and who else would it belong to? The younger woman beckoned the child over and Nora could see the guilt in her eyes as she looked back her way. She smiled sadly, but said nothing for a few moments as Willow stammered over her words. "It's okay," Nora urged. Was she supposed to hate anyone else who had a child?

She couldn't bring herself to do that and as she looked at Rowan she smiled "Hello Rowan," she said, her voice warm and welcoming. Her gaze shifted back to Willow at the mention of their girls playing together and she could see the tears in her eyes. She nodded her head in agreement, not wanting to think about right now but instead, the future and what brightness it would bring. She had to or she might break. "Yes, they'll get along, I'm sure..." she said. After a few moments she stood up and flicked her ears, her gaze resting on Willow and then Rowan. "I should go, I have a lot to prepare for," she said. On her lips she wore a thin smile, but she was truly happy for Willow and Rowan. They got to be together during these important first few months and Nora knew how painful it was to be separated during. But she wasn't lying about needing to prepare, and so she bid Willow farewell and headed back off into the forest to do just that.

[ exit nora ]

art + code: clae