<span style="color: #FF0000">The next morning, Eidhin awoke to the light as it peeked in through the windows. Again, he was careful to slip out from her grasp so as to not startle her. A fresh pair of shorts was pulled on and he padded his way outside for his usual morning business. When that was done, he decided to chop some firewood so that she could have a nice hot shower to make up for the one that he deprived her of yesterday. <br/><br/>As his strong hands grasped the end of the axe he was felt a measure of comfort within smoothness of worn wooden shaft. Slowly, the nature around him began to awaken more. The birds flitted through the air from tree to tree, each happy and singing their songs. In the distance he could hear the animals that dwelled on the ground, scurry and scuttle about to their own business. A certain kind of calm descended upon him amidst the rhythmic motions of chopping wood. This is likely to have been the culprit of him not noticing sooner when there was something out of place within his territory. <br/><br/>When he did, there was more of an instinctual reaction more than anything else, as he spun with the axe firmly in his grasp to face whomever it was that had dared to enter his territory. There were no words to describe his shock when he took in the sight of Coilin. Several questions ran through his mind, but he his only response to seeing him was a simple. <br/><br/>“Hey.”</span><br/><br/>It’d taken a fair amount of stumbling around to follow them discretely, but he managed, staying his distance as all he needed was the sight of the cabin in the distance to know that was their destination. And, just to make sure it was confirmed, he waited until they disappeared into it before leaving the area and trekking back out of the woods, formulating a plan to try and win back some of the ground he’d lost.<br/><br/>That next morning, he got up early, intent on getting back to the cabin early enough in the morning that she wouldn’t already have left for…whatever it was she did during the day now. Occasionally, he saw her still walking the trails though her hours were no longer regular; According to her father, she’d been sick. Now, the Reverend wasn’t so forthcoming with what was going on with her, mumbling and finding convenient excuses to leave or evade his questioning all together. Not even cornering him in the church had seemed to help. But…last night was a stroke of luck, going to one of the regular bars that she used to go to regularly, and she’d popped up; She may not have been alone, or willing to talk, but it was more than she’d seen of her prior.<br/><br/>In and of itself, that was progress, right?<br/><br/>Stopping by one of the local flower venders, he picked up a humble bouquet of some of her favorite flowers (that he thought she’d like), some coffees (including one for the<span style="font-style: italic">brother</span>who may or may not be there when he stopped by), and a few danishes. Perhaps with the peace offerings, she’d give him a few minutes.<br/><br/>If Eidhin didn’t stop it again.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">What is with him?</span>Coilin wondered as he started the trek back into the woods, following his markers toward the cabin.<span style="font-style: italic">He vanishes for five years, comes back and then speaks for her…It’s like he thinks <span style="font-weight: bold">I’m</span> the one that caused her hurt for all that time. No, no I tried to help. When it seemed like a lost cause, sure, I bailed, but so did others. I lasted longer than they did, and I’m back in the picture now, just like he is. What gives him the right for a second chance and not me?</span><br/><br/>When the cabin started to come into sight, along with the sound of chopping, his steps slowed as did his inner rants, taking a calming breath and preparing to take another step when something caught his eye.<span style="font-style: italic">…Bear traps?</span>What sound caught his attention next, though, was a voice, not a feminine voice, either…<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Of course, I’d run into Eidhin first.</span><br/><br/>Putting on the most genuine smile that he could offer, he awkwardly waved, flowers in hand. “Hey, Eidhin,” he called out, glancing down at the trap at his feet and wondering how many more were scattered throughout the area. “Brought breakfast; Is it alright that I stopped by?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">That felt like such a loaded question and he had to stop the growl that wanted to loose from his throat at the male intruder. However, he made a promise last night to not let his instincts and emotions get the better of him. So, even if he wanted to throw the axe right into the face of his fake ass smile, he resisted. Instead the axe was buried into the stomp and he gathered up an armload of firewood. <br/><br/>“Do you make it a habit of following people home?” it was asked in a joking tone, though he was completely serious about the question.</span><br/><br/>That question was as loaded as the one he’d asked, which had his smile turning into more of a grin. Snarky overtones were certainly there, but he bit back any verbal ones as he thought carefully on his answer, hazarding a careful step around the first bear trap, picking and choosing where he stepped with the utmost care.<br/><br/>“Only when I have a vested interest,” he answered back, that grin subsiding back to the smile he’d sported only moments before. “I wanted to make sure you both got home safely after all of those shots. One can never be too careful, can they?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">He smirked, “Aye, but still that is borderline stalking.” A chuckle left his lips as he deposited his first armload of wood and went back for another. “You are going to want to step over that line right there,” he warned of the trip wire just in front of him. “Not sure what you mean by <span style="font-style: italic">vested</span> interest, but I suppose it would make sense for someone who is Eilidh’s friend to want to check on her. How about you make yourself useful and help with the firewood?” <br/><br/>Nice. He could be nice….he could do this. Even if he would have to go for a long run afterwards and maybe pick a fight with a bear or something.<br/><br/>“You can place the breakfast you brought on the porch, it should be fine there,” he instructed.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Borderline stalking…right,</span>was his first thought, narrowing his eyes a fraction at the smug smirk on Eidhin’s lips. But, that was put on back burner as the mention of a trip wire was brought to his attention. Eyes widening, he glanced down, seeing his shins dangerously close to it, swallowing as he followed the line until it disappeared to some trap unseen.<span style="font-style: italic">Jesus, why do they need so many traps?! They’re already out in the middle of nowhere and think that they need to trap the place like it’s some top secret safe house?!</span><br/><br/>Safely stepping over it and reaching the porch, the breakfast and flowers were set down so that he could help with the arduous task of moving wood from one place to the other. Each armful was brought and dropped in a neat pile until the last of it was piled up, dusting himself off and collecting his peace offerings. “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you what sort of vested interest I have,” he answered finally, after using that time to get his thoughts in order. “Yes, we fought, but I’ve regretted it since. I’m not about to pass up a chance to reconnect with her; Would you?”<br/><br/>With a glance at the door and then back at Eidhin, he added, “Speaking of…where is she? Sleeping?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Eidhin sighed as he held the last load of wood in his arms, even if he did not like the guy (which he was not entirely sure why), there was some logic to his words. “Yeah she is, come on. You can put that in the kitchen while I get the wood burners settled,” his voice was even and without any hint of malice. The door to the cabin was unlocked with one hand, while he balanced the load of wood in his other arm. <br/><br/>“On that table there,” he nodded to the small table in the kitchen while he went to the stove and deposited some of the wood before he carried some of the wood back into another room. There was no point in calling up to Eilidh, he knew she would have smelled and heard them. It was just a matter of time for her to wake up and come downstairs.</span><br/><br/>“Thank you,” Coilin replied, grateful that he wasn’t going to turn him away simply because they’d gotten off on the wrong foot several times in a row. They used to play together all the time, didn’t they? Some semblance of that could be rekindled, couldn’t it, even with a new dynamic to work with (if all went well)?<br/><br/>That was the hope, as he walked in behind Eidhin, placing the breakfast on the table, though the flowers were held to as he glanced around the small cabin. Surprise was what coated his thoughts, surprise that they lived together in this small cabin in the woods, all by themselves. Eilidh had always been very outdoorsy, but this seemed a bit more than what he’d ever envisioned for her.<br/><br/>Eidhin was right, though. The moment there was a new presence, a new scent wafting in as a breeze entered the cabin, she knew someone else had come by. A specific someone that she’d avoided the night before. Her feelings had never quite gotten better after their altercation two years earlier, and now he was back as though he could somehow pick back up where they’d been. No, no kisses would be shared, no hugs in remembrance of old times. No nothing. She wasn’t inclined to hear him out, but he’d gotten passed Eidhin…which meant there’d have to be some sort of a dialogue.<br/><br/>With a mental groan, she rolled to a sitting position, crawling over for a shirt to pull on, changing into pants and finger combing her hair. Then, she paused, bracing for whatever was about to happen, before taking that step over the side and climbing down from the loft.<br/><br/>Coilin’s eyes softened as he caught sight of her climbing down, a genuine smile (more than any he’d given Eidhin) taking hold of his features as he walked toward her, flowers outstretched in offering. But she didn’t accept them, offering him a small, tired smile, and moving passed him to sit at the table, her disposition decidedly guarded.<span style="font-style: italic">That’s fine,</span>he coached himself.<span style="font-style: italic">I didn’t expect the warmest of receptions.</span><br/><br/>“What’re you doing here?” Eilidh asked, not bothering to glance back at him as she heard his steps carrying him back toward her, taking a seat beside her and attempting again to give her the flowers.<br/><br/>“I wanted to try and talk to you, without the influence of alcohol.”<br/><br/>“I think you said all you needed to two years ago, and last night didn’t seem any better…” she replied quietly.<br/><br/>“Eilidh…” his voice was quiet, the sunny disposition he’d begun with slowly fading. “I know I hurt you…and I’ve regret it every day since it happened, but pride wouldn’t let me come back and apologize. I stupidly waited for the day you’d come to cry on my shoulder, so that I could comfort you and be there for you when he didn’t comeback…” A glance over at Eidhin was given before looking back at Eilidh. “I know I was wrong, and no amount of apologies and words could ever lessen what I did. I know that…But, my feelings for you haven’t changed, and I want to try and get back to where we were. I’m willing to put in the time, to get to know you all over again if that’s what it takes; Eidhin, too,” he added, looking back at him with a pleading sort of gaze. “We were friends once. Can’t we get back to that?”<br/><br/>A silently mouthed “please” was given to him before looking back at Eilidh, waiting for her to say something, anything. “…I wish I knew what you were thinking right now…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Part of Eidhin wanted to laugh aloud at how much Coilin was failing, because it was rather amusing given how mch shit he had given Eidhin the night prior. However, he knew better than to laugh. Instead, he focused on getting the fire going to heat the water tank for Eilidh’s shower later. Then did the same for the woodstove in the kitchen so that they could start making the coffee that had been brought. <br/><br/>“She is likely thinking she would like some of that coffee you brought,” he offered mostly to get the conversation somewhere else and give Eilidh some time to breathe and think. <br/><br/>Without much ado he grabbed up the coffee from the table and took it over to the small table by the stove. The pot was placed stove to heat while he prepped the coffee. With that all set up he turned back to look at the pair and just waited for a sign from Eilidh that she was done and wanted Coilin to be promptly removed.</span><br/><br/>It was a lot to process, and a lot to take in. Coilin was asking for another chance, but what chance was there? Now that the hard part was done, he wanted back in? Now that Eidhin was back, he wanted to try and rekindle whatever relationship they had prior? With everything that happened, Eilidh wasn’t so sure that would be a good idea, or worth the time to consider that idea.<br/><br/>But, Eidhin caught her attention, giving him a grateful look as he answered for her, setting about getting the coffee ready while she continued to sit and think. A hand was felt, though she didn’t look at it, along her shoulder and across her back as Coilin tried to convey…something through that touch. In her mind, it felt out of place, almost forced, as though he were trying to have a second chance at the very touch he’d done that night under the stars; The night that went nowhere, and resulted in her sleeping heavily.<br/><br/>All things considered, she couldn’t just…discredit him, either. What else did she have? Who else did she have? Sure, she had Eidhin, but she didn’t<span style="font-style: italic">have</span>Eidhin. Coilin was the only one that she’d noticed to express interest, and they’d fought, but don’t all “couples” have fights? What if Coilin was the only other person she’d ever see?<br/><br/>“Things are different now, Coilin…” she started, a hand running through her hair before clasping in her lap, subconsciously moving away from the touch that gently caressed up and down her back. “I’m not the same girl you used to spend time with…Eidhin’s not the same guy you used to spend time with…We…<span style="font-style: italic">I</span>have changed.”<br/><br/>“I know you’ve changed, but I’m not sure how much; Your father was very close-lipped on the matter.”<br/><br/>“…You went to my father?” Eilidh asked, brow furrowing in the slightest of nods.<br/><br/>“I’d gone there, first, looking for you. I’d just wanted to talk, to reconnect with the family as a whole, but he kept skirting me, avoiding all talk of you. I thought it was weird, but…then I saw you.” There was a pause as his hand sought out both of hers, holding them. “You look…just like the girl I once knew…You may have a different air about you now, but I’m willing to get to know you all over again. What is the harm in that? What is the harm of mending that bridge I stupidly burned two years ago?” Another pause as his voice pitched lower. “…You allowed Eidhin back into your life…with good reason, I’m sure.”<span style="font-style: italic">Good reason, my ass…</span>“Can you not offer me the same chance?”<br/><br/>“Coilin, it’s not that simple,” she tried to answer, looking at Eidhin for something, anything, some story they could tell him that made more sense than the truth. “There’s so much you don’t know and it is what you don’t know that makes this so…” Grasping, she was grasping for words. “If my father won’t talk about it, what makes you think I will?”<br/><br/>“Why are you making the decision for me? Should I not have the chance to make my own decisions? To decide whether or not I want to pursue this with you?” His other hand rose, caressing the side of her cheek and gently moving her to look at him. “…What could possibly be so bad?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">There was something about him that really just made his stomach churn and his hackles raise, a lot of it had to do with what he smelled. <br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Attraction</span><br/><br/>It was not like Eilidh was his…anything. But, he just did not want this guy with her, did not want <span style="font-style: italic">this</span> guy to show interest in her. Sure, they had been friends as kids, but honestly he often though Coilin to be below her and that she deserved more than he could ever offer her. Now, with them being different and new instincts playing a part of this whole thing, he was more than annoyed by how this was going. <br/><br/>Then he touched her and Eidhin cleared his throat and placed the hot pot of coffee on the table rather loudly to break the moment. “Well, there is the issue of us moving soon,” he interjected while he poured them each a cup, making it a point to make Eilidh’s how he knew she liked it. “Going to head out and see the world with one another before we find a new place to settle,” he smiled at Coilin and shared an apologetic look with Eilidh before he went to serve up the Danishes that had been brought.</span><br/><br/>The pot of coffee had her eyes shifting to the cause of the noise. Coilin’s hand faltered only briefly before replacing itself on her cheek, going back to what he was saying…<br/><br/>…And the bomb was dropped that not even Eilidh was prepared for.<br/><br/>His eyes widened, looking Eilidh dead in the eyes, the sadness in their depths growing by the second. “You’re leaving?” he asked, his other hand coming up to rest against her neck, face moving closer to hers, gaze imploring. What could she say? She hadn’t even been apprised of the idea that they were leaving, hadn’t thought that far ahead. In her mind, she’d been planning on hunkering down in the woods here with Eidhin, working to keep up some funds if anything came and only moving when absolutely necessary. Now that that was out, there was no way to question him about it without seeming like they weren’t united in the decision.<br/><br/>A nod…it was a slow nod at first, followed by an apologetic look of her own. “We are…” she said softly, tearing her face away from his hands. “We’ve been talking about it…getting out and seeing the world. There’s nothing really holding us here, and we’re ready to see what the…world has to offer.”<br/><br/>His face fell, eyes dropping. “Nothing holding you here? Not your family? Not your friends? …Not me?”<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Stay strong, Eilidh…</span>she told herself, fearing she’d break down.<span style="font-style: italic">Stay strong…</span>“What are we, Coilin?” Eilidh asked instead. “You left me two years ago…now you’ve come back and act like it was going to be right back where we were…What’s to keep me here?”<br/><br/>A long, pregnant pause settled over the pair as her coffee went ignored, save for the hands holding around its warmth. His eyes continued to stare down at the table, stare down at each grain of wood as though some answer would be written in the bits of wood. And, for a long while, it seemed like he might almost let it go. But, nothing was that simple.<br/><br/>“Give me one chance,” he said finally, conviction in his words, turning her to look at him, all but begging. “One night, one night to try and win back what we had. Please, that’s all I ask. If you need time, that’s fine! I’ll come back every day and ask the same question until you say yes…Just one night, and if nothing comes of that night…at least, I tried. But, if something does come of it, will you stay? Hold off leaving?” All his cards were on the table; Now he needed some sort of reply. Something…Anything…<br/><br/>But this silence was killing him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The cup still at his lips and he just watched the pair for a moment. If she said yes and something <span style="font-style: italic">did</span> happen, he would be stuck on his own….again. For all the love he had for her, he was not sure he could stomach the idea of the two of them together. Of course he would be happy for her and support her choice if that is what she wanted, but their pack would not be the same. It would be changed and he would have to leave to find his own place in the world. The least he could do was make sure she was in control enough to not hurt Coilin or anything else. <br/><br/>When their eyes met, he knew his own were a bit sadder and what light had returned to them dimmed in the face of losing the only person he truly felt a connection with. There was nothing he could offer in this moment, save for a slight shrug of his shoulder. At least for now, perhaps when they were alone they would talk more about it, but for now this was all that he could offer.</span><br/><br/>Eidhin was no help, none at all, with the offered shrug and the sad look in his eyes. It was enough to have her torn between considering giving him a chance, and saying no to it all so that she and Eidhin could…go off and see the world. Coilin…that chapter of her life…was over the moment Eidhin resurfaced and her life had changed since. How could she possibly allow anything to happen with someone whom she could potentially hurt?<br/><br/>“Coilin…I think you…better leave,” she said, standing up and making her way for the door, holding it open for him and waiting for compliance. “You said you’d give me time? Then give me time…But coming over and asking me about it when I’ve only just awoken and only just seen you once the night before…I need time to process.”<br/><br/>“Time to talk with Eidhin, you mean,” he said as he stood, slowly trudging toward the door. “You know where to find me…I’ll be back by tomorrow if I don’t hear from you sooner.” At the door, he paused, looked back over at Eidhin and gave a curt nod. Then, before leaving, he ducked down and kissed Eilidh’s cheek, face lingering close. “I’ll see you soon, Eilidh…”<br/><br/>And with that, he was gone.<br/><br/>For a moment, she didn’t move, door closing behind him as her back sagged against it, mind lost in thought. But, it wasn’t Coilin she wanted to talk about first. “…We’re leaving?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The kiss again made his hackles raise, though he returned the curt nod and set his mug down in preparation for the discussion he knew was coming. At her question he shrugged, “You looked to me for help and that was the only thing I could think about save for the truth and well…it has crossed my mind a time or two. But, I would never just make such a call without talking to you first.” <br/><br/>The silence that followed was punctuated by the snapping and popping from the fires that burned in each room. The old cabin appeared to be holding its breath as it waited to see just where this was going to do between them.</span><br/><br/>She could feel his agitation, could feel it as though it were her own though she nodded at his answer. Remaining against the door, her foot scuffed at the floor, thoughts jumbled and all over the map while trying to figure out what she wanted to ask next, what she wanted to say.<br/><br/>“I could tell neither of you…like each other…” Eilidh started then. “…So why did you let him in? I almost don’t think I need to ask, but…what do you think of his question? What…what should I do, Eidhin?” Her voice dropped, was quiet, uncertain with how anything was going to go, how things would change. “You’re more experienced at…all of this, and you know him as well as I do…I need your advice…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">There were the questions and he let loose a breath that he had not known he had been holding, the house too seemed to breathe again as there was a sudden sound of board creaking and groaning. <br/><br/>“No…I don’t like him and I can tell he does not like me. For all how he tries to pretend otherwise, it is hard to fool our other senses now,” he first remarked while he moved to grip the back of the chair and lean against it while he spoke. “As for why I let him in, I did it for you,” his gaze on her own. “I messed up last night, I know that I did and I wanted to try and make up for it by being civil. Even if my wolf and I would have rather done…something else to him,” he grinned then sighed and looked down at his hands as they gripped the back of the car. Even with being in control he could feel the wood give slightly to his grip. It would be nothing, nothing at all for him to just snap the wood between his hands. <br/><br/>“I honestly…don’t know,” he said after a moment. “I know what I want and that is to be with you and have our pack, our family together. But, I know that I can’t be everything for you and that you will need other people. He seems…genuine, though I worry about his true intentions. Even when we were little there is just something about him that is lacking and I feel that you deserve someone better, someone who would be there with you no matter what and love you until the end of time,” he looked back up at her and gave a small shrug. <br/><br/>“We aren’t the same anymore and while we could work hard to be careful and be in control there is still the chance of an accident,” again his eyes fell away and he looked down at his grip on the chair, now tighter as he remembered how he hurt her. “I would stay though and help you to be in control and give you the best chance to having that normal happy life that I denied you…but…” yet again his eyes found her own. “I don’t think I would be able to stay if you were with him. I would love you still and I would support your choice in life and wish to you all the luck in the world. But…I could not stay. I would go and travel the world and try to find my place in the world. I would of course write and call you daily, come back for holidays and your birthday. I would be gone from here, but I would not be out of your life. I can never put you through that again…” <br/><br/>Perhaps he could have kept that to himself and not say anything, but to what end? She would know he was holding something back and would want to hear it and if he persisted he would just ruin what time they had left with one another. It was time for honesty, a time to put all their cards on the table.</span><br/><br/>His answer confirmed exactly what she thought it would, but it left more questions than answers. So many things he said had her wanting to question him further, to get down to the root of his issue with this whole thing, but there was no real answer that would make any of it any better. No, at this point, it was a clear choice that she had to make, a choice that…really wasn’t hard, all things considered, but it put things into perspective for her that she didn’t think she’d have to do for some years to come.<br/><br/>Walking away from the door, she walked to the other side of the table—her side of the table—and picked up her mug. A sip was taken of the liquid she couldn’t taste as her steps continued passed it, going to sit on their couch, legs curling up under her as she took another sip, followed by another, needing to think all of this through.<br/><br/>“…You know what my choice is…” Eilidh finally said after some time had passed, not looking in his direction. “But that just brings up more questions…Why would you not be able to be around me if I’d chosen him? You’d leave our pack…because of him? What if the roles were reversed? What if you’d been the one given a choice…? What would you have chosen? Would you have expected me to stay? Would you be okay with me leaving?”<br/><br/>None of the questions she asked were angry or said in malice, but quiet, full of heavy contemplation as she tried to contemplate a future that, while it’d seemed fine and easy enough some days before, now seemed more complicated than ever.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Funny how these questions felt easier to answer, “There is just something about him that my wolf and I don’t like.” Long silent strides carried him over to the couch where she sat and took up a position at the back of it. “If the roles were reversed my choice would be you, because I can’t see anyone understanding me as well as you. Especially, not someone from my past from this place…” he said in a half joking, half serious manner. “Maybe, in the future, if you meet someone else and he <span style="font-style: italic">feels</span> right it would be easier for me to stay and watch you be happy. But…with him…” he gave a shrug though he knew she could not see it.</span><br/><br/>“And what if your wolf was never happy?” she asked then, glancing back at him. “Or if mine were never happy with whomever it was that you chose?” It now seemed like a never-ending circle of what if’s that she was trying to answer. “I mean, I’m not looking for anything of a permanent nature right now…especially not when this is all new, and I don’t want to tear anyone apart…but what if that time comes? What if I do look for something permanent and your wolf doesn’t like who I’ve chosen? You can’t be that for me…Nor I you, if that ever came up.” Another pause as she sighed and faced forward. “What then?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “I have hope that one day our wolves will find peace in who we choose to spend our lives with and that we can be happy for another and still be with one another. But, there is no way that I can say one way or another. I just know about the here and now, which has me not liking him and wanting to take you away from this place. Try and find more like us, to maybe find a pack we can join and not have to worry about hiding just who and what we are…”he reached over and ran finger along her hair and down to her shoulder. “I love you and don’t want to lose you…”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">No use worrying about the future so far in advance…</span>she told herself with a final sigh, feeling his finger tracing along her hair and down her shoulder. Her hand rose to meet it, capturing his finger and, in turn, his hand to hold it close, and press a light kiss to the back of it. “You aren’t going to lose me…” Eilidh answered, looking up at him, a hint of a smile on her lips. “This Coilin thing…it’s done and over with…What we need to focus on now is…where we’re going to go…”<br/><br/>Part of her didn’t want to leave, and that part was huge. But…Eidhin knew best. If he thought going away and trying to find more like them was the right move, then she’d follow his lead. “Do you have any idea where to start?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The kiss made him smile and he in turn gave one to her at the top of her head. “I was following some articles and stuff about something that happened in the neighboring area. We could save up some money and then go and try to look for whoever is out there,” he vaulted over the back of the couch and sat down beside her. “Who knows, I might be able to find my father…” he said with a nervous smile. <br/><br/>Even just thinking about meeting his true parents was a scary thought. All his life he had believe one thing and now that he knew it was not true, it was still not as simple as just going along with everything, no not by a long shot. At least he would not have to face and of this alone. He would have Eilidh at his side and that was a comfort that he could not even begin to describe.</span><br/><br/>Making room next to her as he vaulted over, she then scooted back, leaning on him a bit as she sipped on her coffee, listening to the light plan that he had been thinking about. It struck her how odd this scene could have been: brother and sister, sharing such a deep conversation about what would happen in the future and who they’d share it with, living alone in some secluded cabin. But to her, it was normal. She couldn’t envision any other way to be living, even with her mother taken into account.<br/><br/>And now the prospect of meeting his father was a frightening one. She felt that from him, on top of her own nerves about it all. They’d finally get some much needed answers… All they’d need was the funds. “How much would we need? I’ve got a lot saved up from doing the tours, and could easily jump back into that full time if that’s what it took,” Eilidh offered. “Where would we be going to and what do we need? A place to stay? Travel?” She looked over at him from atop her mug. “Tell me what you need and I’ll get it.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">“I am not really sure, I would have to crunch some numbers and think about what we need to get. I would want to set something up to make sure we could always come back here when we wanted and I have a little bit of money saved up from selling furs and game meat in town…” his voice trailed off while he thought for a moment. “Right now though we should go for a run and then you can get the nice hot shower I have the fire going for right now,” he said with a grin. “You will need it after I run you into the ground,” he challenged before he jump back over the back of the couch and went to wait for her by the door.</span><br/><br/>“I’m almost certain we have enough money to get there and back comfortably…I would just need you to say the when,” she answered, watching him jump over the back of the couch. Unlike him, though, she was slow to get up off of the couch, mug forgotten on the table in front of her as she let out a sigh, leaning against the back of the couch. “I’m not in a big running mood now…Last night, all I wanted to do was run, and today I feel like, if I start running…I won’t stop running until my legs break.”<br/><br/>A frown settled over her features. “Let me go change? This isn’t the best running attire, but I got dressed in a haze this morning.” With another sigh, she hoisted herself up to change into shorts, sneakers and a sports bra. Then, without much ado, she dropped down off of the ledge and started walking for the door. “Any particular route you want to run?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">“If you don’t want to run we can do something else,” he offered but she had disappeared anyway to change. While she went and did that, he instead removed his shorts and shifted. Sure they would go for a jog, but that did not mean they had to be human to go and do it. When she came down stairs he just stood there, wagging his tail at her, waiting for it all to sink in.</span><br/><br/>Her eyes widened as she took in Eidhin, shifted, his tail wagging and the anticipation for a run palpable. “…Eidhin, when I said I wanted a jog, I didn’t say I wanted to shift to do it…” she groaned at him, hands coming up to hold herself. “Shifting is…painful and I feel…out of control…and you want me to shift now?” Her foot scuffed at the ground for a while longer before growling and shooing him outside so she could shift in private. The last thing she needed was for him to see her doing that again.<br/><br/>Once was enough.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Eidhin sighed and rolled his eyes, but complied with her wishes and stepped outside to wait for her. It was different to be shifted and out in the day, to feel his fur get warmed by the sun. It was nice, actually and something he would have to try more often.</span><br/><br/>When he left, she stripped down and shifted. It was painful, each bone popping as it had only a week before. The second time, unlike some other things that got easier the more you did it, this…didn’t. It took her time, it took a lot of crying out in pain, writhing on the floor as everything realigned, but she succeeded. Winded, she finally made her way out of the house, eyes hard, tail not wagging, but ready for the run. With a nod in a general direction, Eilidh seemed to imply, “After you”.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Eidhin, just huffed at her and stood from where he had laid down to relax. The change was not something that was ever pleasant, but instead it became more of a familiar pain. At least that is what it was for him and he knew with time, Eilidh would feel the same way. Or, he hoped that would be the case. She was still new to this life, a life she had not asked for and the guilt of what he had done to her would like haunt him for his long life. However, there was the hope that in time she would grow familiar with the shifting as he did. <br/><br/>Before he took off to run, he stretched and yawned. Drawing out the moment a bit, more so for her benefit to give her a chance to settle fully into her new form; mostly it was her senses he was concerned about. It was always a sudden a stark contrast when you went from the subdued senses of a human, to the vibrant and jarring ones of a wolf. Everything became so much more in your face, that it could overwhelm even him at times and he had been doing this for longer than her. <br/><br/>When he was ready he took off at a dead run. There was no wait, there was no build up. Instead within two strides he was at full speed barreling through the woods and leaping over fallen logs. This may be just what the two of them needed. A nice full out run to burn off some excess energy and tension from today and the previous night.</span><br/><br/>There would be no getting used to it; If she could help it, this would be the last time she did it for a long…long time. Being this wolf, this other being…it did nothing for her, nothing at all; It did something for her wolf, yes, but for her? For her it just felt like she was being ripped further and further from the life she knew and the people she could be around, into a life of near solitude. She had Eidhin back…and that was enough, for now, but what of the future when she was no longer enough for him?<br/><br/>But, when he stood and stretched, she took the time to get more accustomed to how everything felt, looked, smelled. She could smell him, almost stronger than the woods themselves if only because she was so attuned to him, and often wore his clothes out of habit now. The light was brighter, the colors more vibrant, and it felt like nothing at all to take a step, to leap, to bound; For her human self, there’d have been effort exerted and she felt none of that.<br/><br/>Once he bolted, though, she took off with him. A run, much like the runs she used to do, that’s what she needed. She needed to feel the limbs of trees whipping her body as she dove through them. She needed to feel the air as it flowed through her fur, to hear the sound of the plant life as it crunched and shifted beneath her paws. She needed this, more than she’d ever openly admit, and it was a feeling she was willing to give up if it meant being able to be normal to some degree. Her wolf may not have been inclined, but her? After this run, tiring herself out, she should be able to stave her off.<br/><br/>Breaking away from him, she bolted on ahead, taking more twists and turns, vaulting over logs and rocks, avoiding trails and making a break for the one place she felt like she’d be free, one place that she thought would give her that satisfaction of a freedom even running couldn’t give… An overhanging cliff, above a deep lake. Once she hit that, she’d be readily diving over. Until then? Running like her life depended on it would have to do.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">It was obvious that she needed it. The way she ran she poured everything she had into it and then some; with the twists, the turns, moving at speeds that humans would have found to be daunting and terrifying. Yet, there she was moving like a ghost through the trees and underbrush. Ahead he could see the looming edge of the cliff and he powered toward it, soon he was abreast of her matching stride for stride. <br/><br/>A look was spared in her direction, almost as if to challenge her and egg her on while he began to slowly slip in front of her. Unless she pushed herself a bit more he would beat her to the edge and essentially win this impromptu race that he had started with her.</span><br/><br/>Like hell she’d lose that impromptu race! She felt him creeping up on her, felt him come up alongside her and anticipated what he’d be after, sparing not even a glance in his direction as her resolve hardened. She<span style="font-style: italic">would</span>beat him to that ledge and she<span style="font-style: italic">would</span>dive over it first.<br/><br/>Pushing herself even harder, her body almost feeling like it was being pushed too far, she kept at it. Faster and faster, nearly parallel to the ground as she tried to streamline to run all the faster. Dirt turned to rock, trees became scarce, and the cliff’s edge loomed just ahead, just out of reach. With one final look in his direction, she vaulted off of the edge, body thrown into the action to ensure she’d go down first, eyes closing and enjoying the sensation of falling, of feeling that freedom that came with nothing beneath you.