wolfish woman

closed starter for @lycanslinger

   To say she was stalking her daughter was a little much, but it was closer to the truth than any other explanation. Niamh Cassidy had abandoned her, truth be told, and hadn’t really made many efforts to try and fix that. It hadn’t been intentional, but intent meant little when you abandoned your young daughter… she hated herself for it, and had kept tabs on Ellamae ever since.

   She knew she didn’t deserve her daughter — or anything really, if you were to ask Niamh honestly and she felt like answering; she deserved nothing but pain and spite — and so she had taken the stance of her daughter thinking she were dead was somehow easier than explaining that she’d gotten so caught up in her own shit she’d let her go. … that she’d gotten so deep into being gone that coming back at any point after a certain time had seemed like a nightmare she couldn’t explain.

   ‘amae had been everything to Niamh, and she’d never stopped watching over her. She could be considered her daughter’s own lady luck, making sure the things she did went well, but in the end Ellamae needed little protecting, perfectly capable of handling herself… and why not? she’d learned early how to take care of herself because of Niamh’s own neglectful exit.

   So caught up in her thoughts, she didn’t notice that Ellamae had paused in her movement, and Niamh came colliding solidly into her daughter, stumbling backwards and falling onto her ass before she could catch herself, “Son of a motherless fuck.”

   … still so charming, Niamh.

ellamae had over fifteen years of experience being on her own. fifteen years of experience caring for herself and growing into the woman she became. determined and hardassed and never backing down from a fight. strong and protective. but ellamae wasn’t selfish. she credited that growth to her parents. 

because, if they hadn’t left, ellamae would not have hardened the way she did. she would not have become so fiercely protective of her loved ones; protecting them as if they would leave otherwise. 

but of course, they were not the ones who made her compassionate. who made her humorous. who made her gentle towards those in need. that was all ellamae’s pack’s doing. they were responsible for bringing her down to earth and forcing her to smell the roses. 

however, one thing that ellamae always wondered... 

who did she inherit her temper from?

blue eyes flashed in fury as she realized who collided into her. that was-- that was her mother. there. alive. apparently doing well enough that she could travel. and instead of traveling to her young daughter to tell her that she was okay and that mama was here and wouldn’t leave her again? she was here cursing and falling all over herself. 

daddy why did you go?

so freaking pretty!!! holy shit!!

AVAN!!!?!!?!!!!?!

“Depends,” he said, and took a drink. “Is there a welcomin’ gift?” 

Those eyes found  the pretty face first, before he tilted his head back further to look down the length of his nose at her. Drink in hand, Wyatt had half a mind to think she was one of the saloon’s girls in the way she seemed privy on making conversation with a stranger, though strange she did not seem. There was something familiar in the curve of her eyes; then again, if one rides through enough towns it isn’t rare to come across the same pair twice. “Have we met before?” 

ellamae took a casual sip of her drink, despite feeling like her heart was thudding out of her chest. whether or not this was a gift to him, she was still there regardless. 

ellamae half wondered if he would leave sooner once he found out who she was. 

she gave him a smile, though this one was a bit... sadder. 

“a long time ago. i doubt you’d recognize me now.”