12/10/2025, 7:36 PM
Although the faraway glint of close-held grief in Svajonė's eyes was missed by Aurelia's passive observation, she did catch the peculiar allusion to limits through her quiet words. She would not press further, but inwardly hoped the woman might one day come to terms with whatever sorrows lay buried in her past.
Aurelia felt a pang of guilt. Even now, she struggled to confront her own emotions; for up until very recently her only method of handling them was to stay in perpetual motion. So long as she did not stop, they could not catch her. Nothing could.
While she appreciated Svajonė's assurances of usefulness, Aurelia did not want her to believe she was merely a body to be worked. Dawnbreak stood for equality and fairness, but that certainly didn't mean one could not be injured or sick.
Nevertheless, it didn't take long for her to make a decision.
Mother's influence.
Why hadn't she inherited her softness, Aurelia wondered? Svajonė possessed that same feminine gentleness, the soft way of speech that was at once a whisper but no less powerful.
A part of her wondered what that might mean for the future of the pack. While it was expected that the general directives and structure must be upheld even as the three Pillars changed hands, every wolf was different, exhibiting their own strengths and - ideally - working in tandem for the good of Dawnbreak.
No matter what lay ahead, she would provide whatever support she could; Aurelia belonged to the Vale as much as the very stone beneath its mountains.
Aurelia felt a pang of guilt. Even now, she struggled to confront her own emotions; for up until very recently her only method of handling them was to stay in perpetual motion. So long as she did not stop, they could not catch her. Nothing could.
One good thing is enough,she said, and for whatever reason Sólúlfur's burning gaze flashed across her mind as she did. One good thing.
Hold onto it. Cherish it.
While she appreciated Svajonė's assurances of usefulness, Aurelia did not want her to believe she was merely a body to be worked. Dawnbreak stood for equality and fairness, but that certainly didn't mean one could not be injured or sick.
There will be time enough.
Nevertheless, it didn't take long for her to make a decision.
I see. I have a feeling you may get along with my sister Euphemia and brother Cassius in that case,she said. It always surprised her that Cassius had taken such a deep interest in the ways of the healer, although that could have been her own bias speaking - after all, most of the men in her life had been of the rough, stoic variety, less keen on mending wounds than dealing them out in the name of justice. For whatever reason Cassius and Isaiah had turned out differently.
Mother's influence.
Why hadn't she inherited her softness, Aurelia wondered? Svajonė possessed that same feminine gentleness, the soft way of speech that was at once a whisper but no less powerful.
We welcome you as a fully fledged member of Dawnbreak, for however long that lasts. It is almost time for our next leadership to be elected; I would be honored if you participated in the vote.
A part of her wondered what that might mean for the future of the pack. While it was expected that the general directives and structure must be upheld even as the three Pillars changed hands, every wolf was different, exhibiting their own strengths and - ideally - working in tandem for the good of Dawnbreak.
No matter what lay ahead, she would provide whatever support she could; Aurelia belonged to the Vale as much as the very stone beneath its mountains.
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