Grace
The previous night was an utter disaster, one that brought with it carnage and plenty of injuries. He knew he should feel lucky or overjoyed given there were no deaths but in the end the chaos and physical trauma it left behind blocked any light from entering. First it was the hunting party, Riley having tried his best to wrangle the creature but ending up injured and with few leads. Almost like there was a grudge that formed that very night it seemed the next full moon brought with it vengeance, the beast having broken into his home and tackled him. The moment he first saw them break in through the window and his feet led him over to Beaux in an attempt to protect him Riley was struck with fear, a sense of terror that paralyzed him and prevented him from actually doing what he set out to do. He felt ashamed for such behavior even when Granny B insisted such a reaction was out of his control and completely natural. 

After the mutts had turned tail and ran and the shock started to fade away Riley found himself a crying, bloody mess on the floor, feeling like a helpless child begging for their mother. Now that another night was falling upon them and dying light filtered in through the window Riley felt an odd sense of dread in the doctor's office with many of the other injured people that night.

Maybe it was the memories and wounds still being fresh, having left a stain that made the moon feel like a cruel god looking down on its suffering denizens with amusement. Whatever it was Riley was itching to leave despite still being quite sore and in no state to go hunting.

A large bandage was plastered over his face to hide a large scratch one of the intruders left, leaving him with only one eye available. His left arm was hung in a sling and bandaged tightly in the hopes that it'd reduce movement and swelling along with setting his broken clavicle and torn shoulder. His right hand and forearm was bandaged up too, a second bite having left a gaping wound but luckily left his hand with its five fingers. Such bandaging made writing and drawing difficult but that didn't mean he wouldn't try, a journal resting on his lap with messy doodles and chicken scratch notes filling the most recent pages. As he lay in bed Riley wondered how everyone else was doing and hoped that his chickens were doing okay without him.
Harvey
Jade had barely missed the wolf attack but man the aftermath of it sure was hard to see. She heard about some who ended up in the doctors care and figured she'd better make her rounds. Who wouldn't need a friend in a time like this? Even if they were a stranger. She figured she'd sweeten the deal and get a flower or two from outside. Who could reject a stranger with flowers? Well- perhaps that wasn't the best thinking. 

She heard from the grapevine that a younger fella had been particularly roughed up and decided to make her way there. Surely she could do something to make their lives a bit easier and be a friend to those who needed it. She lightly knocked on the doorway of the hospital room 

The honeyed southern drawl ringing through the air once more "Hey darlin'" She knew she was a stranger but she didn't exactly wait to be prompted to sit down. She didn't want to be rejected. She took a seat next to the bedside "Wow... You poor thing, they really roughed you up huh?" She looked over Riley with concern 

"Well... Oh shoot, pardon me. I forgot to introduce myself." She waved her hand dismissively "I'm Jade... Jade Grant. I'm new to town but I heard about the wolf attacks and well... Figured I ought to check up on the living. I brought you some flowers" She offered up sweetly, setting them on his journal. 

"Is there anything I can do for you darlin?" 

||
Grace
Sitting there just staring into his open journal Riley was understandably shocked as the door opened to a fresh face. A young woman stood at the other end of the room, Riley just staring at her with eyes wide like a deer frozen with fear. However, after the initial shock of someone coming into the room Riley shyly waved and forced his eyes away, not quite knowing how to react or how to feel. Why was she here? What did she have in her hands?

The woman's words hit his ears with the gentleness of his own grandmother when he was a child, memories of her softer side flitting in and out of what was really happening before him. As she approached and continued to speak and offer words of comfort Riley looked back up, his freckled face slightly red from embarrassment. She just sort of let herself in, taking a seat nearby. He really didn't want to openly admit that he was hurt, that was almost worse than the physical pain.

Riley awkwardly readjusted himself in bed before a flower was plopped down into his lap, catching his attention immediately. As the lass - later identified as Jade Grant - started to properly introduce herself and her desires Riley felt too drawn towards her gift to truly focus on it, only picking up tiny pieces of information like her first name and a mention of the wolf attacks from the other night. 

Picking up the wild flower and pressing it close to his chest Riley could feel familiar tears start to rise up, filling the space behind his eyes and causing his jaw to tighten. However, he held back, not wanting to cry in front of a total stranger.

After everything that had happened Riley felt far more emotional, ever since Beaux first got hurt he felt like each tiny gesture was as sweet as ambrosia and every small inconvenience or noise was like a threat on his very life. The most Riley could do was look back up at Jade and try to return the favor.

"Um... I'm Riley. It's... Uh... It's nice to meet you, too." He began hesitantly, struggling at first to find words. "When... When did you first get into town? Did you see anything?" He continued, easily falling back into the odd comfort of wallowing in tragedy. He wanted to make sure he knew everything, that was how he could protect people. It was hard not to think of anything else.
Harvey
Jade shook her head slowly at his question; he seemed very strained with emotion and fighting to keep them in. "I didn't see anything Darlin. I just got in to see the aftermath and hear that people were hurt and I figured if this place was gonna be my town I ought to check on others. I hope you aren't allergic to flowers by the way, I just wanted to bring a nice gesture. But it's nice to meet you to Riley..." 

After a moment she adjusted her seating to get a better look at him. "Oh darlin, you're really roughed up" She frowned "Can I do anything for you? Get you something to eat? Call your family?" She didn't really know much about Riley quite yet. She didn't know what backstory they may have had. She didn't want to ask quite yet in case that may have been inappropriate. She stuck to formalities and trying to be helpful. 

"Are these doctors taking care of you?" She furrowed her brows. He looked properly bandaged but there was no... Life in the room. "Oh goodness... These rooms are absolutely dreadful." She sat up from her chair to open up the curtains "Everyone needs sunlight ya know? I think it helps our bodies heal. At least that's what my momma always said. We're like plants ya know?" 

||
Grace
As Jade began to explain that she hadn't seen anything Riley felt a tad disappointed but also relieved, being happy to know that she wasn't caught in the crossfire but also upset that no new leads were made. Her kindness regardless was greatly appreciated, especially from a newcomer. He wanted to explain just what was going on but held back, instead opting to listen to her continue to gawk over both his own health and the state of his room. Part of it felt silly, having never imagined a fancily decorated infirmary would be something to expect or enjoy. Was she from some big city that had those big hospitals, the ones with much more funding than their whole little burg? 

Jade's talking nevertheless brought a smile to Riley's face, quite enjoying the company, compassion and jolly attitude in such a dark time. "Nah, you don't have to do anything, I've got everything I need to live and that's enough for me." He commented, being more than happy simply being alive after all these full moons. The threat of tears was slightly diminished the more she talked and fretted about the room, the opening of the curtains eliciting a tiny chuckle as he playfully shielded his eye for a moment with his one free arm. 

"At least we ain't green." Riley was swift to remark in response to her comment about people being like plants, not entirely understanding her logic but still enjoying such a fresh opinion. Eventually Riley's curiosity got the better of him, his eyes trailing off for a moment while he thought before piping up, his gaze returning to try and meet hers. "So, how'd you end up here? Where ya from?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head, his smile muting the vaguely tired look in his one good eye.
Harvey
Jade perked up, laughing at his witty comment "You know what, I think you're right, Riley. I don't know what I would do if I was green." She sat back down, hoping to bring a little bit of company and joy in this time. She knew that being stuck in bed was just plain awful, she hated getting sick or hurt. "Oh! Me, well, I decided to leave home for the first time. I am from Beckley, West Virginia, the coal mining town. Far too cold for me" She faked a shiver. "How about you? Did you grow up here?" 

She looked around the room, seeing what else she could fix to make him more comfortable. She couldn't help it, she was the fixer, the nurturer. She left behind her little siblings so someone had to get taken care of! That just happened to be Riley at the moment, she couldn't help it. The eldest sister ran deep in her veins. 

"Oh you must be exhausted. Do you want me to let you sleep? I can get you some more pillows before I go. These things are practically paper thin." There she was fretting again; a bad yet redeemable habit. "I swear... That's why I always refuse to come to these places. No matter how sick! I just throw on a pot of soup and make some elderberry syrup." She waved her hand dismissively "But I am glad you are here, these wounds need proper treatin'" How could she say she hated this place but was glad he was here in the same breath? Who knew, she was just chatty. Trying to make Riley more comfortable and happier, trying to make new friends
Grace
Imagining Jade being green in a way made sense given her namesake but otherwise would come off as quite strange. Riley imagined it'd be far worse if he had green skin in all honesty, having a hard time imagining how his bright red hair would clash with leafy skin. It was fun to think about but also easy to dismiss, Riley swiftly returning to his question and her answer. Internally he made notes, nodding along and seeing common themes. Maybe some big mining corporation came for her town too, they always seemed to take advantage of the desperate. It was a bit hard to conceptualize how far away West Virginia was since he'd never left the valley. 

With a smile Riley thought it was only fair he returned the favor, using her questions as a jumping off point. "Yeah, I've been here my whole life, hardly left the valley and its mountains." Riley began, bittersweetly reminiscing on both the good and the bad of his past. "I can't imagine going anywhere else. Besides, big cities sound way too busy. I like some mischief, just as my granny, but all those loud cars and smoke... Eugh, it sounds like too much." Getting his mind off of the beast attack was very welcome and beneficial in the short term, Riley already feeling a tad lighter talking about and seeing something other than wrecked windows and scarred faces. 

Watching Jade wander about the room and attempt to fix something or help him in some way was quite interesting. He could tell how compassionate she was but also quite a worry wart. When she commented on the quality of the sheets on his bed and explaining why she rarely went to hospitals or infirmaries Riley tried to hold back a tiny snicker.

"I'm fine, you can stay a while longer if you want. I'm not too picky and these sheets are the least of my worries." He commented before turning his gaze back down to the flower he still had clutched in his free but still bandaged hand. Once more melancholy fell over the room or at least himself, Riley starting to gather the courage to give a proper thanks.

Taking a deep breath in and looking back up at Jade, Riley gave it his best shot. "And, uh... Thank you." He finally said sheepishly, eventually looking back down at the flower and his lap. It felt like if he looked into her eyes for too long that his tears would get sucked right out of his sockets and he'd end up a blabbering mess again.
Harvey
Jade liked the town so far, she somewhat wished she lived here her entire life but if she did... Then she would've been running away from this place and so far, she liked it. It allowed her to come into her own without her parents. The one regret she had, leaving her siblings. She would find them again, maybe when they were older. She could only imagine the lies her parents were filling their poor little heads with about her. How she didn't love them, how they're the reason she left. It broke her heart to think about. 

And maybe that's why she took to Riley, hearing a fella younger than her was hurt. She knew he would need a little extra support and boy could she tell. She had been dancing around the grief with fretting over the minuscule details and trying to make him laugh but she knew he needed some good ole tender love and care. He was grieving, he was hurt. "Oh darlin..." She finally addressed the elephant in the room, however, many would call her methods unorthodox. She sat down on the hospital bed with him, offering her shoulder for comfort "C'mere... You don't gotta keep up appearances for me... You can feel what you need to feel but you're welcome for the flower." She was conscious of the man's arm when wrapping her arm around his shoulders. 

She didn't mean nothing romantic by it; she was just doing the older sister duties, comforting a younger sibling. She had comforted, kissed scraped knees, braided hair until her fingers hurt only for them to come home from school with it all ratty from recess. 

For her this was natural instinct; she wanted Riley to feel comfortable "If it helps.. I'll try to cry with you and I promise you and everyone in this hospital, I am the ugliest crier for miles." She joked.
Grace
Riley was hoping his face was stone cold, his eyes with no secrets to be found, but he'd clearly failed at that. Jade hopping up and sitting on the side of his bed with a sympathetic gaze at first made Riley panic for a moment, his eyes widening and looking her up and down, wondering what she was doing. It wasn't until she reached out and slowly wrapped him in a carefully placed hug did he know exactly her goals were. With her gentle words echoing in his ears and warm arms folded around him Riley couldn't hold it back anymore. For a moment he just stared forward, not entirely knowing what to do as tears finally escaped and welled in his eyes. With a blink the first drop fell as did his guard, Riley giving in entirely and letting his heart lead completely.

This reminded him too much of what once was, of his grandmother and grandfather, of his brother whom would comfort him after nightmares and vice versa. He was hurting, there was no escaping how he felt no matter how much he ran or tried to hide behind anger and planning for disaster.

Eventually Riley wrapped his one free arm around Jade to the best of his ability, digging his face into her shoulder and letting it all out at last. He didn't even cry around Beaux or his granny, he couldn't let them see him like that, but a stranger was different. He didn't feel as bad about crying with her.

When Jade quipped about crying with him Riley was swift to react with laughter, the climax of his crying having passed shortly before this little comment. Leaning back and retracting his arm he tried to wipe his face dry, sniffling all the way. He definitely felt a little bad for any snot or tears Jade had pooled on her clothes but it still felt nice to release it all. Once his laughter died down Riley went quiet again, taking her word that he didn't need to keep up appearances to heart by opening up to her about everything.

"It's just... It's been going on for months now." He began with another long sniffle, eyes distant. "These... I don't know what to call them, beasts? Wolf men? Every full moon they come out and just wreak havoc! These past few times it's been worse and their numbers keep growing... I don't know if we can stop them."
Harvey
Jade didn't know how long he had been holding all this negative stuff in but she could tell it had been a good while. She smoothed the younger man's hair down, letting him cry it out. It was hard, holding on to all the pain and sadness. Crying was a good way to let it out, she'd never blame anyone for crying. Jade lightly laid her head against his, trying to soothe the ache 

"There you go... You're okay... You can let it out" She gave a gentle squeeze, again before mindful of his injuries. She hated to see so much pain in someone who shouldn't have any at all, living life and being invincible. Although personal fable never got anyone, anywhere. As Riley pulled himself away, she reached over to get the box of tissues "Here darlin' don't use your shirt" She took a few tissues out of the box for him, she took one of the tissues and gently dabbed the tear stained cheeks of his. She didn't mean to cross any boundaries if she did. Riley just reminded her so much of her little brother, even as a little boy he always tried to keep his emotions in only to come running to her to cry it out and lay in her lap for hours. She never minded, it was her fathers words about how boys shouldn't cry that pissed her off. 

As Riley started to calm, the small praises didn't stop "There you go... See, I bet a weight feels lifted huh?" She offered setting the box of tissues between him. She listened closely to what he had to say. She nodded, she could empathize.. Even if she just got here "Well... I know it's scary not knowing what to do and how to stop it.." She offered "But you can only do so much, you can't control the unknown, believe me. I wish we could too, sometimes we just gotta endure and adapt before we figure out the real antidote..." She pondered for a moment "Beasts..." She repeated after him absentmindedly "Maybe we ought to visit the library sometimes, I know a lot of people think myths and legends are a bunch of nonsense but maybe they have some answers" She leaned back in the hospit

Al bed. "I reckon you've done that already though, huh?"
Grace
To cry in front of anyone felt both shameful and a massive relief. The gentle pressure she provided only made the tears flow more than he'd typically allow himself, her embrace feeling like a weighted blanket of sorts. Once it started flowing it didn't stop until the weight of the tears he shed matched the weight of his shoulders burdened by unfortunate events. Once his heart was squeezed dry of sadness Riley laughed and raised his head, sniffling and beginning to wipe his nose with a sleeve. However, Jade was one step ahead of him, offering some tissues that Riley had honestly forgot were there for him to use. His face reddened a tad as she dabbed his cheek, not being used to such actions but not being against them either. Once he found it appropriate Riley grabbed ahold of the tissue she'd used, instead using it to blow his nose.

He hadn't cried this hard in a long time but it seemed to be well overdue. Attempting to wrap the used tissue in a clean one Riley gave a small nod as he did so, silently agreeing that a weight had indeed been lifted. As Jade began to speak of the creatures he spoke of and offer consolation Riley looked back up, his eyes slightly bloodshot but otherwise free of tears at last.

He knew she was right as she spoke of how he could only do so much in life and that blaming yourself for being unable to control or fortell the unknown was fruitless. Such a lesson was just hard for him to fully digest but he was willing to try.

Upon Jade suggesting that they visit the library to do more research on folktales that matched these beasts Riley couldn't believe he hadn't thought of such a thing earlier. He smiled nervously as she assumed he'd already done such a thing, a small chuckle escaping his throat. "Sadly I haven't." He remarked with a tiny pinch of embarrassment in his tone. "That's a really good idea though. Once I get out of here that might be my next stop. Would you, um, want to join me? You were the one who came up with the idea, after all."
Harvey
Jade looked up as he asked about the library "Why sure! I'd be happy to go with ya. But I am too talkative for libraries most of the time. I would like to get to the bottom of this though. Folks deserve to feel safe and you probably want the same. It's just odd that it hasn't happened before ya know? At least it didn't happen in my town but who knows.." She would ponder her own question for a moment, had this happened back home and she just never noticed? Surely not, often how she spent her free time was listening to the women gossip about what was going on. If it happened, they sure as hell would know about it. 

"Well Riley, looks like you have yourself a deal, I'll help you research these things and we'll get to the bottom of it, alright. Surely it can't be that hard? History is one of those things that is doomed to repeat itself, so I am willing to bet there is some old legends of this town that we have yet to dig up. Now, I would say figure out where these things live and inspect the home but well.. That might be a bit dangerous and you are in no condition to be walking into danger" Speaking of that, she may as well throw in more sisterly scolding 

"And I don't want you worrying about that right now either, you gotta focus on getting better. You hear?" She really didn't mean to be overbearing if she was. Riley just reminded her of her little brother, always into something and constantly getting hurt. That boy had more scrapes than skin.