animalistic

She was quiet for a moment, falling into step beside her younger brother. As they walked, an owl hooted in the distance and spring crickets made themselves known in the dark. “How’re–” how did she ask the most obvious question without having him shut down or shut her out? “…are you okay, Tris?” Lara finally spoke, “I know there’s so much going on and I know none of us really are but…I just…I’m sorry.” For a lot. For how their family seemed to be breaking and how she couldn’t fix it and didn’t even know where to begin.

A silence fell between them, filled only by the sounds of their walking and of the forest around them. When she finally spoke, Tristan allowed her the time, keeping quiet as they moved. As her words came to an end, he finally took a moment to look over at her. A sense of regret filled him in that moment, for ever allowing a divide to form between them. He had once been close with so many of his siblings, but lately it felt like that number was dwindling down. “I am as good as I can be, with all things considered.” He stated sadly, knowing he had no right to feel anything other than regret. His actions had not only hurt him, but their youngest sibling as well. And his actions had hurt her far greater than he could imagine. “And you?”

“Safe to say I’ve never been particularly wise in that respect.” Ophelia replied, eyeing the wolf that looked uncomfortable in his own skin. 

“Aw, Tris,” she mused, looking him over. “That’s no problem. We could still use your creativity, though.”

“You’re probably the first person to really check in on me.” It wasn’t like she really had anyone left in her life anyway. If anything, most of her friends had walked out on her with no explanation why. “It’d be nice if you had a secret time machine I could use.”

“Same, actually.” Though she spent a majority of her time in this form, recent events had her wanting to escape for even a little and being in her wolf form afforded her that. “Do you mind if I walk with you?” She’d been concerned for him since he’d been shot but never knew what to say to her younger brother who always seemed to carry so much on his shoulders– a family trait, it seemed.

That was certainly curious, since strangers usually spoke with clear intent on one of the other while this one geared towards neither. Henry supposed that it could have been a warning but most of them sounded like threats to him anyhow. “Recent happenings?” He had lived in the town for many years now with his head kept low and other’s awareness of him even lower. He didn’t want to get close and he didn’t want to know of the awful rumors that spread like wildfire but if it affected him here and now, he couldn’t afford to turn a blind eye.

                  From the mere sound of footsteps, she knew someone just shifted as she did, fiddling with the leaves that were tangled in her chocolate locks. “Isn’t the same applied to you?” Elizabeth hoarsely said, still choosing to sit on the ground in hopes of getting the feeling of an ache gone. The forest was home to many people who had to shift — perhaps it was one of those nights for the Talbot, finding them both in the same boat. “Hi, Tristan.” Awkwardly waving, she frowned. “How’d it go?”

Lara had been putting back on her shoes when she heard her brother’s familiar voice and picked up his scent, heading that way. "I could say the same to you, Tris.”

Henry wasn’t sure how he got so deep into the other side of the forest but his skin was burning and he needed to rest to catch his breath. The bar was no longer in sight but he’d worry about that once he stopped worrying about what else he might be greeted with during this time of the night. The voice caused his heart to jump slightly in his chest and he clenched his jaw to avoid making any sort of noise. After a few deep breaths, he glanced towards the stranger who was tugging on a shirt, his eyes only landed around his stomach area.  “Is that advice or a threat?”

  Matilda stepped out from behind a tree. She raised an eyebrow at him before raising her index finger to her lips. “ I won’t tell if you don’t” She said giving him a faint smile. With being cooped up in her house for so long she was beginning to feel like the poor women in The Yellow Wallpaper. As if she didn’t feel crazy enough as it is. Not to mention with Damien watching her like a hawk, sneaking out really was her best if not only option. She was lucky he was preoccupied for the night leaving her to her own devices. “Are you okay?” she asked. 

There was a tilt to his head upon her first words, Tristan not fully understanding what she meant until he realized that she was referring to him being out in the woods as well. It continued to dawn on him that not everyone knew who he was. He nodded his head briefly, gaze sweeping around the area they were in. Still deep within the forest, he knew that he should be closer to town but made no move to head in that direction. “Yes, just sore from my run.” If that’s even what he could call it. “What are you doing out this far?”

“I don’t mean to sound rude, but I’m really not in the mood to talk. Plus, I’m kind of busy here with planning a funeral.”

          “—-You can totally keep staring but I’m not sharing any of this,” the human muttered before stuffing her mouth with another large chunk of the chocolate cake.

               “I really think we should organise something. Town-wide. I think everyone here could use a pick me up. Perhaps a belated start of spring festival would be nice. What do you think?”