[HU: Boneyard] Level 2 - Integrity

Rain pattered through the forest canopy as the pair of felvargs made their way westward. The storm had broken not long after they had crossed over their freshly estranged pack’s borders. This was merciful in some ways, washing their scent away so anyfel who sought them in retribution would have difficulty tracking them. However, it also made the journey cold and damp which added a layer of displeasure to the already lackluster situation. The felvargs had walked for a solid day with little rest; Boneyard’s paws ached from walking and she was beginning to feel the bruises along her body from all that had transpired before. She glanced towards her traveling companion, but if Draugr felt the strain of it he showed no sign. Boneyard envied his reserve; she often felt herself scowling as they walked. Beneath her sour expression lie the harsh reality that anger helped keep the sadness at bay.

As much as she longed to stop and give in to the the discomfort climbing through her legs, finding shelter from the rain was a task easier fantasized than done. Ulfrheim’s northern woodlands were a dense knot of spiraling paths that left little room for anything else. A detour north towards the mountains might find them a cave, but would fail to put distance between themselves and the place that was no longer home. The same could be said of seeking shelter in the villages; they surely would have been safe inside Reynir’s borders where others would bear witness to any harm directed their way, but danger would lurk just just beyond the village and being limited to a very domestic life wouldn’t do for felvargs who had been raised in the wilds.

Draugr paused to scent the air once more, as he had many times over the course of their journey. Boneyard half-heartedly replicated the behavior, finding little on the breeze besides the smell of wet earth. The way the wind cut through the trees and the odors carried with it served as a map for unseen ground ahead; some scrap of information buried within seemed to interest Draugr and he veered slightly northward, Boneyard trailing behind him. The ground beneath their paws grew firm and spattered with hidden stones. Boneyard scowled at this, too, given her existing aches. She hadn’t fancied trekking through the mud either though. She sighed.

Eventually the trees cleared and Draugr trotted out into the open, sweeping his gaze over the space as he went. A pile of stones laid near the center of the clearing, a darkness among them indicating some hollow within. The gray, stormy conditions made it difficult to see more than a few tail-lengths into the cavern even once the felvargs stood at its mouth. Draugr stepped forward to inspect the threshold, sniffing at the air.

“It doesn’t smell like anyone lives here,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder. “It should be a safe enough place to wait out the storm.”

His silver gaze and the offer of a dry place to rest should have been a comfort, but Boneyard still felt unsettled. She stalked forward, glancing around the dark space warily. Her eyes soon adjusted and she recognized the space as little more than a shallow crevice amongst the stones. Regardless, it was adequate space for two grown felvargs to lie down. The pair shook what water they could from their fur before settling onto the cave floor. It was was hard and cool beneath her and Boneyard wondered how her joints would feel later, but there was a relief in being off her paws regardless. Draugr scooted closer to Boneyard, leaning in to lick the scratch above her eyes. Boneyard tensed and leaned away slightly. She realized that she couldn’t reach the wound herself, but still hesitated to allow further help from Draugr. She was short on logical reasons to rebuff him so instead she said, “I’m sorry.”

Draugr withdrew, eyeing her quizzically. “For what?” he asked.

“For all of this,” Boneyard said, waving her tail loosely at their surroundings. “It’s my fault we’re out in the rain, away from everyone we’ve ever known.”

Draugr narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowed in concentration and concern. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I saw who got physical first. It wasn’t you.”

“No, but…” Boneyard’s eyes scanned the cavern, as though the words she sought were inscribed somewhere on the rough stone walls. “I’m no good at keeping my frustrations discreet. If my attitude had been less transparent, maybe he wouldn’t have targeted me and, well…”

“And?” Draugr prompted.

“And you wouldn’t have been put in the position to save my ass in the first place,” she concluded.

“I do not regret my decision,” Draugr replied flatly. “If I had to relive that moment, I would wind up making the same one again.”

“It’s a decision you shouldn’t have had to make!” Boneyard countered, the pale fur along her spine bristling. “Now we’re gone without even a chance to tell our families or friends!”

Those words rang in the shallow cavern, muffled only by the constant backdrop of rainfall. Boneyard struggled to make her damp fur lie flat, turning to lick smooth a patch between her shoulders.

Finally, Draugr said, “You know what he would have tried to do to us… what he did to his own father. If our loved ones attempted to defend us it would only put them in danger, too.”

“I know,” Boneyard said, shaking herself off from the shoulders up. “But it shouldn’t have come to this. And the worst part is that I dragged you down with me.”

Draugr went to open his mouth, but before he could get a word out Boneyard asked, “Do you really think they’ll be safe this way?”

This gave Draugr a moment’s pause, his ears flicking back as he glanced at his paws. When he returned his gaze to her, he said, “I guess that depends on how you define safe.”

“Not physically harmed as a result of my actions,” Boneyard clarified.

“Then yes, I think they will be safe,” Draugr said. “Audvin prefers to have something he can accuse his targets of, to ensure he keeps the pack under his control. He has nothing on them.”

“Right, because I’m the one who couldn’t keep it to myself well enough to avoid that kind of attention,” Boneyard said.

Draugr’s expression grew stern and he snorted to draw her attention to it. “Whatever you said to him didn’t justify attempted murder and your misgivings about him were not unfounded. Audvin is the one at fault here, not you.”

Boneyard’s ears laid flat. She hadn’t anticipated being chided for what had started out as an apology. She took a deep breath and then sighed. “Well, I guess I’m glad you aren’t mad at me for fucking everything up, but… it still feels like I have.”

“I understand why it feels that way right now,” Draugr said more gently, leaning closer so their shoulders touched. “But we’re going to get some rest, the rain will let up, and hopefully we’ll be able to find some food soon. Things should start to feel a little bit more manageable after that.”

“I hope you’re right…”