〔❁〕I look for a picture of you to keep in my pocket,

God has allowed me to ignore my 5978 needed replies for yet another day, and I'm about to make it everyone's problem

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 Izumi did not waste any time running for help, of any kind -- and desperation had strung her towards the heights of the mountains. To the only allies they knew; Vanderfell. She felt horrible for leaving Hotaru to realize the existence of their mother's current state without telling her, but for now she needed to milk out any assistance possible for both Reiko's recovery, and the search for Vera. 

 As the ex-guardian invaded her thoughts, anger fuled adrenaline made her heart pump blood to her head. To think the woman could be helped was a gullible miscalculation on Izumi's behalf -- Vera was not sorry for what she did for Gyrfalcon, if she was she wouldn't have come to Shiroshika to do the same thing to their empress. At this point, she saw no redeemable character in that woman she tried to see light in not too long ago -- only a cowardly bitch who sunk her teeth into anything weak enough not to fight back against her and ran from her problems.

 Izumi would revel in the day where soon, she was found and killed. Gutted for the crows to feast upon till only bone remained. She did not care how...

 A howl was sent up, long and desperate for the attention of any who'd answer and give her the time of day to listen....

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Grooming and checking over his body for any wounds he may have gathered while travelling to the falls earlier that day, Hieronymous took a moment for himself before continuing with his end of day duties for the pack - for his family - before laying down for a rest.

With a call summoning anyone to their borders, his plans would have to change for now... @Ira would be occupied with their young a little while longer, so he had to take over border patrol and answer anyone who came calling. He wasted no time in greeting the pointed stranger at their borders. A sway of his tail greeted her first.
 
“Greetings! Hiero of Vanderfell, how can I help you?” It sounded urgent... and though he cannot smell where she came from, he knew to keep his greeting short and let her have the stage right away.

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 It felt eerily strange to see Hieronymous after so long -- she can see now that Orilaith was not lying when she said that he’d be here, and here he was in the flesh. It had been so long since she’d met the fire-clad warrioress that her original mission to visit Vanderfell and see them did not come to mind. Especially not with all the drama concerning her and the silver druid…

 Right now though, a love triangle and a nostalgic meeting was not her priority. It was reporting news as swiftly as possible.

 “Hiero-sama…” the willowy crane greeted, gracefully lowering her head and forepaws to bow -- to greet who was once her Constable in the long-forgotten pack of Kaisteloki. Similarly to Orlaith It did not look like he remembered her either, which gave the part of her so eager to meet them again a prick of dejection, but the part of her eager to relay news overrode that for now.“I am Izumi, Shiroshika’s duchess...I’ve come to deliver an urgent message for you and all of Vanderfell, if you will allow me?”

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With a snack having been delivered to Ira, the druid took some time to inspect her litter. The cubs were growing quickly and continued to nurse regularly, and he was happy to report that they seemed perfectly healthy. Perhaps when they were on their feet and active with one another, they could be assessed to determine whether or not any might've inherited their father's unusual condition - but for the time being, everyone was doing well.

As he took his leave of the royal chamber, a familiar voice rose from the edge of Vanderfell's summit. Izumi's call was long and mournful, and his pleasant thoughts of the pups' next stage of development were swiftly replaced by a cold, sinking feeling in his gut. He veered toward the direction the howl had come from, and picked his way carefully down the mountainside.

Hieronymous had already arrived to greet the Shiroshika fae, who looked exhausted and... afraid, he dared to consider. Worry shone through in the gleam of his powder blue gaze, in the furrow of his brow; he felt that Izumi would not have come so close to his home unless she had to. The druid observed in silence, allowing the High King to maintain control of the situation as he sidled up alongside him.


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He couldn't tell that she had some familiarity with him as he did not for her. His time in these new lands left him a rather blank slate - only remembering Ira as the only one who stood out with his foggy memories as she was his missing piece the moment he had woken up here. As she bowed so did he, respecting the pointed woman despite his rank above hers in and out of these mountains that Vanderfell claimed. 

So she was from Shiroshika... the name was familiar as he knew they were to be allies, if not already, they would be soon. The Duchess had an urgent message to share, which flattened his expression to a more serious mask. Even Quicksilver's arrival didn't distract him, only offering a turn of the ear to greet the man's silent approach. “Of course. Go on.” With a nod, he almost beckoned her with a distant air nudge to share what the message was.

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 Hiero urged her on to tell of the news, just in time for Quicksilver to arrive upon the mournful calls. The lands of Vanderfell were where he called his home too, so no surprise there -- yet she still tensed at the shoulders. In contrast to their last encounter near Vanderfell’s borders, Izumi turned to the medic with a soft nod and chuff, in acknowledgment of his presence rather than shying away from it. Her determination to restore their friendship still stood strong -- she promised herself that. Yet the news she would relay next was something she knew would affect him badly.

 This couldn’t have been worse timing, really, in knowing he was Vanderfell's caretaker, not their's. Yet she knew the love he carried for Reiko, how it might distract him from his work. Did the duchess have any other choice though?

 “Our Empress, Reiko,” she began after a long, painful sigh, “She has been attacked...”

 Izumi bit down hard on her lip, and the fur across her nape spiked ever so slightly in recalling this morning’s events. How confused and angry she was, and how vengeful it had left her now. She took a moment to calm her breathing in the presence of company, before looking up to meet the gaze of the pair before her.

 “We suspect an ex-member of Shiroshika is responsible for it, who was recently banished from the pack for severely injuring one of our other members.” Her lilac gaze went from Heiro, then to Quicksilver with a concerned gaze, then back -- “We found her this morning -- with a broken leg and in a state of comatose, but she has yet to wake up…”

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Izumi acknowledged him quietly as he arrived, and at the High King's urging she carried on with what news she'd come to share. His ears sprung forward at the mention of the Shiroshika Empress' name, then just as swiftly pinned to his head. From between gritted fangs slid a strained, desperate whine; all he could think of was his last conversation with Reiko.

"I was afraid, when... that the river would take you from me."

He remembered the fear he felt that day, cold and unforgiving, when he'd pulled her from the river's edge. It'd haunted him since, the very real chance that he could've lost her to it - enough that he'd let himself be vulnerable before her. He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing for this all to be a nightmare that he would soon wake from.

"And I realised that I don't ever want to feel that way again."

He felt the hairs along his dorsal prick, for emotion mounted without warning: pain, sorrow, shock, anger! Who could do this!? The dove was so pure and so innocent, and Quicksilver fumed that he hadn't been there to protect her - again. When his eyes opened again, they turned frantically to seek Hiero's face. Izumi's words suggested that they had not caught the beast who'd brought such harm to Shiroshika, which meant they were still at large and a danger to Vanderfell, too. Panic heightened in Quicksilver as his thoughts turned at once to their precious new life and how they must be protected at all costs.


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Izumi cut straight to the point, and Hieronymous' expression turned grim. Serious as brows furrowed with a grim expression falling onto his usually light and friendly face. Wasn't the Empress just here for a few days recovering from a previous incident? Now something else had threatened her again.

The news was difficult for Izumi, it was evident by how much she struggled to keep composure just to share what had occurred. Patiently the High King remained quiet, leaving more than enough time and space for the Duchess to take all the time she felt necessary to speak. “Is there anything we can do for her?” The only healer they had was Quicksilver... and frankly, he was apprehensive of offering the druid's services. They too needed him here for the puppies, for Ira, so hopefully, Shiroshika had a medic for their leader. Still... knowing the Druid's relationship and feelings about the woman, it would be cruel to keep him here. Especially if he would only be distracted.

Quicksilver's sudden movement caught his eye. Turning to face the large frantic powder blues of the silver man, Hieronymous was at a loss as to what to do to remedy it all right away. With a sympathetic frown, he'd sigh the words. “Do you want to go check on her?” As much as they needed him, for his own sanity it might be best for him to check on the Empress.

Turning back to Izumi, there were a few things they could do to assist now he supposed. “Can you tell us more about this assailant? What they look like, their name perhaps.” Because he too thought about his children and Ira and how they could be in danger with someone like that roaming around freely. It made the hairs along his spine prickle at the thought of it.

If they could prepare, they could try to get rid of them before any more were injured by their doing. 

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 As expected, Quicksilver caved almost immediately. The expression on his face and the whine that left his muzzle almost made Izumi feel bad for telling something that she knew would cause worry, but there was nothing to be done about it -- he deserved to know the truth, and so did Vanderfell for the sake of their safety. In doing so, she hoped this would help news to spread to others to keep a lookout for the ex-guardian, because Izumi wanted a grave awaiting her by the end of all this.

 “I….cannot say I’d wish to be a burden to you by asking for medical assistance, as I assume you’d need Quicksilver here with you right now…” the crane explained softly, looking between Heiro and the silver druid with flattened ears. To Izumi’s knowledge, Reiko was their only pack’s healer right now and she was currently bedridden. As much as she did want -- no -- needed any medical assistance she could suffice, it would’ve been a selfish thought to just up and drag Quicksilver over there to aid them. Didn’t Vanderfell’s queen recently birth a litter? Why would Fujiwara even request he’d be sent to Tsukishii with this knowledge.

 Next was the discussion of the assailant herself, and Izumi did not falter in sharing information on the, -- in fact, she was more than eager to have more eyes on the lookout for the cowardly warrior who ran away from her own mess. “Her name is Vera,” the crane drawled for a moment, looking back to the painted man to make sure he’d hear her words clearly. “She is a large woman with a white coat that is covered in scars, specifically on her face, where the majority of her lips appear to be torn and missing…”

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He felt nauseous, thinking of how something so awful could've happen after such happiness had finally begun to replace the seemingly endless sorrow he carried. His heart thrummed loudly, frantic in his chest as his mind reeled; he should be there for her. It was the right thing to do! And if he could help in some way, any way, Quicksilver wished to provide.

He tried to convince himself that the Vanderfell children would survive without him. The silverwhite was only a healer, never a fighter, and while the pups were still small and vulnerable they continued to thrive. Reiko, on the other hand, withered on her mountain - she had not woke from the ordeal, and there was no surefire way of knowing how long, exactly, since she lost consciousness.

She could die, he thought, and he began to tremble.

Hiero's question drew the medic from his frantic train of thought, and powder blue eyes blinked. He shook his head briefly, and gave the High King a desperate look. Yes, he willed his friend to let him go, to trust that he would return, though the plea stuck behind the lump of emotion that swelled in his throat.

Nothing could've prepared him for the description of the offender that came from Izumi's lips. Quicksilver sucked in a breath, desperately trying to keep himself from reducing to a blubbering wreck, and he gawked at the crane in disbelief. “She was just here,” he finally blurted, flanks heaving as he began to hyperventilate, “today... earlier, I-I saw her, in the pass, sh-she-” he quivered, that boneless feeling in his legs bringing him pitifully down to his knees, “she was... I had no idea!”


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He was put in a predicament. Torn between keeping their medic to themselves or sending him away again to check on the allies up north. He knew of Quicksilver's feelings toward the woman in question... how he would not be able to rest easy until she was well again, at least until he knew she would be. For a moment he'd remain silent as she not quite asked for assistance but her chosen words sounded as if they did.

The look in Quicksilver's eyes told him as well what the man wanted to do. With a long sigh as the decision finally came, he offered a gentle smile to the medic. Reassuring in the decision he had come to. “Go, see what you can do for her.” Rest your anxieties one way or another. Because if the roles were reversed, if it was Ira on the other end - there would be no path through hell that he wouldn't traverse to get to her side. And if Orlaith had an issue with it... well, she could always talk to Hieronymous himself after giving Quicksilver the go ahead.

He would take note of the description and name, being sure to take in every detail so he could tell @Ira later of all of this. Of Quicksilver being sent to check on the Empress' well-being, of the assailant wandering and how he would double his patrols with @Orlaith and any other able body they could. Quicksilver faltered, the stress of it all breaking the poor boy's spirit and drawing in the High King to press his head against the young man to try and ease his hyperventilation. “None of us did. We know now, and are grateful for it.” With that, he cast a glance back to Izumi, truly thankful for the news being shared. 

Lord knows what could have happened to any Vanderfell wolves if they had crossed her path without knowing. “Keep us up to date on her state, both of you.” In other words, especially after this breakdown, he was willing the druid away to the Empress' side. “I will take care of the rest here.”

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 Regardless of the anxieties she had, it was as if Heiro read Quicksilver’s mind and allowed him to go check on the dove regardless, and a sigh of relief left her chest as if the answer released any fearful anticipation. Anxieties roused within her guard hairs again, however, as she snapped her attention back to the silver druid and a sharp, lilac stare was cast upon him -- he had seen Vera already!? Her composure remained, yet a breath sucked in sharply. If that meant what she thought it meant, then Vera was already far beyond the Tundra’s reach and the search would become much more difficult…

 Quicksilver broke down as the words seemed to spill out of his mouth, and the frost she held in her gaze for the mention of the woman she wished death upon soon turned into sympathy. He now held knowledge that someone he’d seen in passing was the one who’d attacked Reiko -- of course it would’ve been hard on him. The willowy crane released a soft whine on the druid’s behalf, moving in to gently place a paw on his shoulder. “No one expected you to. None of this is your fault nor anyone else’s, Quicksilver…”

 A gaze was cast back to the painted man with seafoam eyes, and an appreciative nod was given in response to his words. “Of course,” she responded with a bow in her cranium, “Thank you for allowing me an audience, I wish you and Vanderfell safety…” and with that, she’d gather herself back a few in preparation to leave, but not without casting a glance towards the boy who stood beside.

 “Come now, I will escort you to Tsukishii's mountians.”

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They each reached to reassure him, and Quicksilver drew comfort from their words and their closeness. He gathered himself quietly back onto shaky limbs and flitted his pale eyes between both wolves, each very dear to him, and acknowledged Hieronymous' dismissal with a quick dip of his pallid muzzle.

He was ready to go to her, to be with Reiko. To love and support and provide, even though he was terrified of the outcome.

Izumi beckoned him to follow and he did just that, as swiftly as his paws would carry him.


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Izumi offered her thanks and good wishes - to which Hieronymous would give a silent, solemn, stern nod of his head in gratitude for sharing what she knew so quickly after such a tragic event. Quicksilver shared nothing more, and the High King could only stand by and watch the young man run off with Izumi to see if the woman he loved would come out okay after what had occurred.

Hieronymous would wait until both the druid and the crane were out of sight before turning away to report what had happened to @Ira. He would have to double his patrols a little while longer and also alert the other members of the pack of someone with Vera's description as to not approach the woman and alert the others of her presence as soon as it could be done safely.

It seems their peaceful life in the mountains was beginning to tremble a little as danger was now lurking just beyond their borders, and Hieronymous wasn't too pleased with that realization.

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