Echoes Of War

CHAPTER XVIII | WOLVES, CARDINALS AND HARES

"Do you feel any dizziness? Nausea? Discomfort in your neck or shoulders?" Silver's grey-speckled muzzle wrinkles as he leans close, squinting into her eyes like he's trying to peer straight through her skull.

Lunis huffs, rolling her eyes with a faint smile. "Does a headache caused by my Teta's pestering count?"

A low rumble of amusement escapes the old wolf's chest, though he tries-and fails-to hide it behind a gruff snort. "Careful, little one," he grumbles good-naturedly. "Keep that tongue sharp and I'll start checking for signs of sass instead of swelling."

"Too late," she murmurs, smiling despite herself.

A dry chuckle rattles up from Silver's throat, the sound rough but laced with fondness. His daffodil eyes glint with mischief as he leans closer, nose twitching. "A concussion isn't something I can simply brush off, Lunis," he says, the playful edge softening into quiet authority. "You're lucky you didn't suffer a cracked skull or worse. Another tail-length downriver, and we'd be howling at your grave instead of talking right now."

Lunis exhales sharply, the fur along her shoulders twitching in impatience. "A little discomfort won't stop me from doing my duties, Silver," she quips, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "I've been cooped up here for four Suns. My paws are starting to forget what running feels like."

The old wolf's ears flick back, his tone dropping into a rumbling growl. "And my duty is keeping hard-headed pups like you alive long enough to grow old and stubborn like me." His tail flicks sharply, more amused than angry. "So stop your whining before I make it five Suns. Don't think I won't."

Lunis meets his glare with a smirk that borders on defiant, her eyes glinting with challenge. "You wouldn't dare."

"Keep testing me, you'll find out soon enough." he shoots back, but there's no mistaking the warmth in his voice-the quiet affection that softens every word.

The she-wolf exhales a compliant sigh, though her paws can't seem to stay still. The den walls feel smaller by the moment, the air too warm, too still-her body craving motion, open skies, the whisper of wind through the taiga. Just outside, Blaze's scent lingers like an echo of freedom-pine, youth, and boundless energy. She can almost picture him pacing, tail flicking impatiently, desperate for her to join him again. But Silver had already shooed him off with a sharp bark and muttered "pups have no patience."

Sinking onto his haunches, the old wolf studies her in silence. His breath leaves him in a low, thoughtful sigh, the kind that hums like wind through old trees. "Hm," he murmurs at last, brow furrowed in concentration. "I don't see any signs of regression."

His tone carries the weight of experience, but beneath it-just barely-a thread of relief.
Lunis rises swiftly to her paws, hope flickering in her chest. "Good, then can I join the patrol now? Their party's one wolf short-I was hoping I could chime in-"

"They've already left, Lunis." Silver's interruption cuts clean through her words, his tone calm, indifferent, but heavy enough to still her tongue. "Senna took your place."

The she-wolf stiffens, a growl simmering at the back of her throat. Her tail flicks, hackles twitching as the words sink in. Of course it would be Senna. Her claws flex against the dirt, the urge to snap barely restrained. But Silver's gaze meets hers before she can open her mouth, steady and unyielding as stone.

"Don't get all riled up with me," he says, his voice gentling though the edge remains. "I needed to clear you of danger before setting you away."

His words should soothe her-but they don't. Beneath the calm, beneath the wisdom, all she hears is the same cage she's been trapped in for Suns.