Metas was hot, and in a daze as the world started to come back to him. He turned his head towards the female he had tucked at his side protectively. She hadn't moved by some miracle....or whatever this heavy blanket was - whatever the case, he was happy to see Myranda's fingers latched to his chest hair as her eyes squinted closed as though she were having a bad dream.
"My Luna," he started softly and turned towards her, and yet made sure she remained in his grasp. He uncurled his fingers and ran them through her hair tenderly as his lips curved upwards slowly.
"....I don't have anymore...." she grumbled in response.
"Mandy, wake up..." Metas urged again softly and continued to comb through the white half of her hair.
She just groaned in reply and wiggled in closer to him.
"You can sleep in all you want after we're done here, my sweet. For now, you must get up. I'm only half as strong without you..." he trailed off and then cleared his throat as he spied the wide eclipse-like eyes of Veltar in the dark.
"I wasn't trying to spy on you, but I was also not sure how to tell you I was lurking here at the desk..." the terrified mortal-formed male said with a squeak to his voice.
Metas in his everlasting good nature just chuckled, and tilted his head back down to Myranda who still had not stirred. "It's not a problem. I am like water, my friend - always going with the flow."
Veltar just grinned. It was weird to be having such a casual conversation with not just the alpha of their pack, but his King. In fact, the doctor was pretty sure that the only two living souls who felt comfortable speaking to him like this were Lara and Ajax.
"Ah, sire - I am sorry to put this upon you so suddenly," he added with haste as the thought of the others entered his mind. "We had a special guest arrive who claims to know you - a mage named Jhinto... He brought troubling news, but also some medication for Myr--our Luna."
"Agh, stop with formalities. I've told you all time and time again, you are family - my friends - my trusted pack. Do not call me 'Sire' in private again, or I'll find it as an insult," Metas relented as his skin crawled at Veltar's words.
"Sorry, Metas. It's hard....you're so... regal and giant. Your size is intimidating...." the alchemist answered truthfully.
"Understandable. Still, stop it. I dislike it" Metas reiterated.
"Of course. Listen, I know its not a welcome wake-up call, but you're needed in the underground. If you'd like, I can send Lara to watch over Myranda, I know she's the only one that is close enough with her to have her trust," Veltar offered.
"Yes, please do that. I'll wake up and come to the pack as soon as possible. Will you tell Ajax to get things together? He will understand the meaning behind my words," the Alpha requested kindly.
"I'll inform him, and send her immediately. Again - the rush is necessary, and I am sure you will see why."
With that, Veltar left with a small nod towards Metas in understanding.
"You sleep as long as you need to, Mandy. As long as you heal soon," he said with adoration, but wore a frown as he looked at her grayish lips.
"I'm fine..." Myranda mumbled, although her eyes were closed.
"Not yet, I think you will need a few more days..." he answered.
"I was half awake, Metas. I heard what Veltar said. I'm going with you. I'm not going to have you walk up in an authoritative role without me at your side," she started and waited until he was just about to open his mouth to cut him off swiftly.
"Don't argue with me. We're a unit. I can walk, and it would do me some good to walk...and for others to see me. As much as I don't want to be in the spotlight, I think I am out of time for that."
"Mandy..." he started, and then smile and shook his head gently, " I love you, and very well - I will not argue with you, but can you at least wait for Lara to arrive?"
"Deal. I'll meet you half-way, I'm pretty dizzy still anyway..." Myranda replied and shook her head a little bit as though it would whip the fog from her head, but all it did was make things worse, and as her eyes rolled, the eyelids closed in fatigue.
*******
Metas shook his head and body as he settled into the hovel now that he was finally awake from the deep sleep he had been in.
Myranda had accompanied behind him with a sluggish walk, but it was to be expected from the medication she had been under, and the fact that she still had silver in her system (for now).
Lara had helped accompany her down from the waterfall, and had even let the Luna lean against her when she was running a bit clumsily. "Easy now, Myri," the white wolf cooed as she stopped the Luna from sliding down the slope into the ground.
Waiting for both of them was what seemed to be the entire small colony, who sat in a small circle around Ajax and an old wolf who had a grin on his face like a proud father would.
"Veltar told us to come as fast as we could. I am sorry to keep you waiting. Forgive my Luna, she insisted on coming with me, even though she needs her rest," Metas half-scolded, but offered her a smile. "I do not dare fight my wife, however. Even in her current state, she can rip me apart."
Myranda looked to him with her eyes that mimicked the sun and the moon, and met him where he had stopped so that she could sit down.
Lara diligently took a seat near her Queen just in case she needed anything, but also to allow Myranda to present herself in her own grace. She was not a weakling, and the white wolf knew that showing any sort of 'weakness' wasn't seen well in their pack.
Being Myranda's attendant,and accompanying her in was one thing. Sitting by her side as though the Luna were dying was a whole different story. The lady-in-waiting had too much respect for her fellow female than to try to dim the light shining from the Luna's very soul.
"Hello, my King. I have waited so very long to meet you. I am Jhinto, and I have watched over you for a very long time, and now I fear I have come to warn you instead of bringing congratulations and good tidings."
"Unpleasant news is just as welcome as the former. It is necessary to keep up, so no apologies are needed. You are a mage, yes? Please, tell us all of what you know. We're all a pack, and to fight the enemy - we must know it," Metas replied strongly, and kept his golden eyes on the old man, even though he wanted so badly to look down to Myranda and console her.
He could feel her 'heaviness', and as much as he wanted to take it from her, they both knew he needed to look strong in front of their small colony.
"Yes, as you wish my Alpha King. We must act swiftly, and we must be smart about the reaction to what I am about to say. Perhaps the children should go with an attendant?" Jhinto offered, knowing full well that small ears wouldn't take this news kindly.
At least, most small ones wouldn't.
These pups shook their heads and tucked themselves into the sides of the adult of their choice. Even the youngest of them, who quivered against his sister.
"The wolves here have seen terrible things already, Mage Jhinto. They are free to stay, even if they are children. They have just as much to fight for as any of us. Please, go on" Metas insisted and gave a look around the room to match each pair of eyes his young populace held so that he could show them he appreciated their strength.
"As you wish, sire" the old wolf said easily, and then started to divulge all the same things he had said once before. However, unlike most who would feel tired by being a broken record, Jhinto's voice was as calm and elegant as ever.