The raid had been... Well, it had been hell. Some would call it a success but she couldn't agree. Sure, she was glad they had gotten her daughter and Danny out but, the price was such a large one. One that left an empty ache in her chest, large paws digging at damp sand. Her narrowed eyes lifted to the moon, something that once had brought her comfort, once had been something she enjoyed with him, and now he was fucking gone. He'd fucking left them and for what? A distraction, a little bit of weakness? A mistake on his part, an unnecessary sacrifice, she'd never fucking approved of him going there in the first place. But, she hadn't been in a place to say anything so, she hadn't.

Thick as sludge was her tongue as she stood on shaky paws, ignoring the way bandages held tight against her snowy fur. "Is this what you wanted?" she snarled, eyes on the moon that shone down upon her, mocking her. She tried to remember what her mothers had always told her, the promises of the moon and its... what? A huff left her as she shook her head, instead remembering how they had told her the moon had taken her mom. Isn't that what they had said? She couldn't remember. She stared once more towards the moon, narrowed eyes squinting as she struggled to make out its shape. Her sight had really been worsening recently, hadn't it? She should really go to Roan about it but honestly, what for? It's not like he could cure blindness.

She sat back into the sand with a grunt, shaking her wide head. A paw lifted to gently press against her necklace, earring decorated ear flicking, listening for the sound of someone sneaking up on her. Her mind instantly searched for her brother, even though she knew he wouldn't be there. "Asshole," growled out the blacksmith.

"THE GLADIATOR" — CHAMPION OF WAR

It had been tough, admittedly. As glad as he was to be home once more, even more satisfied that Vayne was home safe, he was far too shaken up to truly enjoy that fact. Besides the fact that prior to his rescue he had committed nothing less than atrocities in the name of survival, he had been dragged back emotionally comatose from the simple fact that Michael had just been gutted like a fucking fish and Diya had been on death's door. Both casualties were terribly tragic and haunting in their own right, and Danny had about enough of seeing blood and viscera for one lifetime. What else, what else? Haunted was a good word for whatever the hell he had been experiencing since the capture, a good placeholder for what he couldn't explain just yet.

When bothered it was in his nature to isolate. Often the beach, usually at night. Sleeping wasn't easy. What wasn't usually was the presence of another, a mimicry of the first interaction with the Officer that would have brought him a brief moment of minor joy at the comparison, but he was just too stressed to recognize that. "Diya?" Danny asked, quietly but loud enough to not be missed, not wishing to scare the polar bear. She seemed involved in something that was not his business. "I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be out here."

— if i find some way out then i will stay, with heart split two ways down

Her ear would flick at the sound of approaching paw steps, too light to be deemed a threat. She would turn her large head to the side when he spoke, taking in the young boy. This was who Michael had given his life for? This little wolf pup afraid of his own shadow? Well, she was glad Danny was alright, even if she'd prefer to have both him and her brother. She understood though and, as much as she wanted to scream and lose her mind on Michael, a part of her understood. Danny was a good kid, even if he needed a confidence boost. Either way, she wasn't going to hold Michael's actions against him.

She gave him a small smile, patting the sand beside her as if beckoning him to sit. "It's alright, Danny, my conversation was over," she said gently, looking him over, frowning slightly. How far away even was he? It was a little hard to tell with things so fuzzy around the edges. "You don't have to apologize," she drawled softly, turning her head back to horizon "these beaches are meant for you as much as they are me."

"THE GLADIATOR" — CHAMPION OF WAR

He didn’t have to apologize. A comforting statement, one he wished affected him more in the way it was meant to. The wolf gazed up at the bear briefly as she spoke, before shuffling over to the spot that had been motioned to, a little awkward at the notion but appreciative nonetheless. Although, he felt comfortable despite his lack of confidence in socializing.

His attention turned to the waters, reflecting the sky albeit never still enough to properly mirror the stars. Were there really places made for those who resided there? Callings and whatnot. He was sure that wasn’t what she meant, but it was something. A thought better than the haunting notion that he no longer had the right to live by the ocean, that the cold territory of his captor might have demanded he stayed for a reason. He frowned, a tired frown of a child beyond exhausted. ”It’s better than the cold. It’s freezing up there, in the C....the Coalition.” He moved his paws around in the sand, half burying them as meaningless shapes were carved. He very well could make something with meaning.

— if i find some way out then i will stay, with heart split two ways down