OOC: Sometime in the afternoon. Sky's in her Optime form.

So Orin was back, huh? Interesting news, that was. Though Sky was estatic to have the other woman back in the town they called home together, to have those darling pups around again... she was suspicious. Shawchert had been the one to welcome her back, to greet his children for the first time since they were born... no doubt that had given him some sort of positive reinforcement that maybe he did have a family to love and cherish...

So where did that leave Sky? Orin was back to make everything better again. No doubt she'd think less of Sky once she'd learned that the wolfdog had rejected the ex-leader's apologies, abandoning his love in some sort of lover's rebellion. But Orin was entitled to that opinion. She was entitled to Shawchert's affections. Who was Sky to interfere?

Wait, what? Why would she even want to? Who cares? Gingerly, Sky was putting away a few herbs into her medicine container, stocking up as the summer came closer and closer to an end. The season for growing the medical plants was soon going to be over. She'd have to build up a supply to keep the pack in one piece this winter.

She was still the only medic in town. The health and safety of the canines here was her responsibility, far more than it was anyone's other than Skye herself. Funny how that worked, eh?

Sky moved from one stock to another, checking to make sure every leaf and stem was properly dried. Rotten herbs were useless for medicine, after all. If that dumb alpha cared at all, he'd have stopped giving me gifts and tried a better course of action a long time ago. At least Tal had the balls to court me without angsting all over the place. A frown formed on the girl's face once more. Tal, her new court, was far from spoiled. He'd lost his family, except for his son, a while ago. He knew what it was like to be alone. He knew how it felt to lose a mate, too. She could relate to him easily.

...maybe too easily. He doesn't really talk about it much. I wonder if maybe it hurts him to keep it bottled up like that? Her face softened as she put her things away, brushing off her hands and turning to head to her front porch. I've never really had someone I could relate to so easily before. Valinta came close but not as much as Tal does... and he understands. Shawchert's too busy worrying about whether or not I'll forgive him to care about enjoying himself any. He's no fun anymore. Whatever happened with his parents killed him. Maybe if he'd... lighten up...

Don't bother with him. That dark voice interjected rudely. He's just looking for pity. If Orin's fool enough to give it to him, so be it. You're smarter than that. Don't fall for it.

Sky frowned, her hand on the door leading outside, ears flicking back. I wasn't going to. Stop making assumptions. She retorted crossly, eyes glazing over as she stopped paying attention to the real world.

You were and still are. You're feeling sorry for him. He hurt you, he abandoned you, he abandoned this pack and now he's looking for pity. He's a wreck, one that's not worth putting back together. He'll only end up bringing you down with him, Sky. Just let Orin deal with it. She's the one that spawned his bastard children. The voice remarked scornfully, making Sky's head hurt a bit.

But Orin and the girls don't deserve it either... maybe I should warn them away from him? At least until he pulls himself out of his funk? Sky skirted away from the door, returning to her livingroom to finish this new conversation with herself... or rather, her 'voices'.

Hey, it's not like it's any of your business. You know her, she won't listen if he's already gotten to her. Maybe she's already considering hating you again. Who knows.

...but we... we're friends now, aren't we?

For now, maybe. But you know Shawchert's not going to let that last very long. He'll do something stupid to mess it up again.

...I don't want to lose her again. I hate fighting with her. It's stupid and pointless. We've no reason to fight now, not now that I'm with Tal.

Take Tal as your mate. Make it official. Raise a family. Leave Shawchert in the past where he belongs. The voice demanded cruelly.

Sky shook her head, sitting on the couch and pulling her knees up to her chest, almost looking defeated. I don't want to leave Shawchert behind...

And why not? He's all but killed your sanity. He deserves to be abandoned, just like he abandoned you.

...but I don't want to--

He deserves it!

But--

A shattering crash outside snapped both of them into shocked silence. She was on her feet and outside in an instant. As she stepped out onto the porch, her feet not covered by her boots that day, she felt a sharp pain in both sets of pads. She yelped and lept to the side, shocked to find shattered, clear, flat glass right outside her door. At first, she looked around for someone who might've done it on purpose, but as she looked up, she realized her upstairs window was lacking any shine; it had fallen out of the frame, finally giving into the wear and tear of age.

Fuck. She muttered, inching back on bleeding paws and sitting down where the glass hadn't reached. She brought her legs in to look at the damage and winced; some of the shards had cut pretty deep, a few pieces still stuck in the tough skin on both paws. The blood was seeping from each cut freely, save for the few that were still clogged up with glass. She sat where she was and started trying to pick the glass out of her feet, growling each time she manage to push one deeper. She was an excellent medic, sure... but not when it came to causing herself pain.

This time, she might've required a little assistance... maybe from an unlikely source?

OOC: Sarcastic Sky is Sarcastic.

In came Shawchert, effectively playing the hero as usual. Sky watched him look around and frowned at his words. The one-eyed mime did it. She muttered sarcastically in response. After giving his mind a moment to process that, she snorted. The old hallway window finally fell, that's all. No one attacked me. I was stupid and stomped right onto the glass when I came to see what the crash was about. She snapped, then grumbled, though her tone wasn't too bad... just... heated and upset, but not at him. In fact, she was almost glad he'd arrived so quickly. She pulled out another piece of glass, then growled. There was still quite a few shards in her feet. She'd never get all of them herself.

There's a first aid kit in the table drawer over there. She pointed over to the side table on the porch, one with a bible drawer. Bring it over to me. Be mindful of the glass, though. It was all over the deck where the stairs met the porch, directly outside the front door. She sat up against the wall a few feet to the side, her legs folded oddly so she could tend to the damage, though she wasn't sure how much longer her joints would let her sit like that. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

That monster still has him spooked. A soft voice chimed in her head as she waited. He was so ready to slay another monster just now. The other soft voice added.

Feh. Talk about high-strung. The dark voice remarked lamely. Sky blinked away the voices and glanced down at her feet again, having been watching Shawchert blankly for a moment there. Blood was staining her jeans and porch floor again. She tsked her tongue and straightened her legs carefully, trying to avoid getting any more on her legs. Stupid red stuff. She murmured, officially hating how easily it stained just about everything it touched. Damn blood.

Sky made a sound of protest as he took control, trying to pull away and show that she could do it herself just fine... but when he used a less patient tone with her, she got a flash of that old alpha, the one she'd feared and respected, back when she and Orin had gotten into a fight over him. It had all seemed so petty recently but now, as she silently watched him work and pouted, she could suddenly understand why she'd felt jealous. He was a born leader, whether he knew it or not. That much she couldn't deny.

She glanced away from him. I thought something bad had happened. You came running too, in case you didn't notice. How was I to know there was a death trap right outside my door? Sky crossed her arms and made an effort to scowl, though every time a piece of glass came out, she winced slightly.

After a little while, she lost her nerve. ...that hurts. She mumbled, looking at him without turning to face him again. She was still scowling but now it had become more of a pout again, like a kid who'd lost a game or something. What are you doing in Thornbury, anyway? Why aren't you with Orin and the girls over in the tree village? Her tone shifted to midly curious and less angry than before, though if one listened closely, there was a hint of accusation in there as well. Was Sky jealous of Orin all over again? Maybe just a little... out of instinct.

She screwed up her face as he spoke, telling her to hold still, using a line that she'd used many times in the past. Note to self; be nice to the patients. It sucks being doctored. She thought, not bothering to argue with him. As he pulled out the sliver, she cringed, more at the sight of the thing rather than any sort of pain she felt. Ew... She was still getting used to having a glassless paw when he replied to her question rather calmly, a nice change to his previously blunt tone.

You work too much. Said the pot to the kettle in a flat voice, almost as if she were attempting an ironic joke. He set her foot down and started with the gauze and surprisingly, though she was very able to do it herself, the girl just watched.

I think I got it all out before you arrived. It's just swiss cheese now. Sky's voice was finally settling into a nice sound, this time sounding almost childish as she wiggled the toes on her other foot, ignoring the pain in favor of showing off the tiny cuts and holes in the pads. She stuck out her bottom lip a bit and sighed through her nose, counting the new scars.

She took a moment to sit forward, not moving her foot any but reaching for the kit, rummaging through carefully and pulling out some wrap bandaging and sterile gauze squares. A pair of silver clips followed, along with some medical tape and a pair of safety scissors. The gauze pads here are to stop the bleeding once the wound's clean. She started in a calm, soft, teaching tone. The wrap goes around it firmly. Not too tight but not loose either. With paws, it's gotta stay steady, so the medical tape is better for holding it on than the clips. The clips keep the ends down flat, so it doesn't unravel. She kept in her upright position as she spoke, her voice finally falling back into the old Sky for a moment, patient and in control.

She glanced up at him and after a thoughtful moment, smiled a crooked sort of smile. There was no longer any malice in those blue eyes. No strain. If you help me clean up and install a new window... there might be a cup of tea and some home cooking in it for you. The crooked smile became a sweet sort of grin, almost begging him to help out and take the offer.

Unfortunately, even luperci needed to breath eventually, and their version of kissing prevented that quite a bit. Sky slowly pulled back enough to breath in, her eyes slipping open slightly. She hovered half an inch away before nipping at him suddenly and pulling back a bit more. You're fixing my wall now too. Don't think I didn't notice the dent. She pouted a moment, before softening again and letting her shoulders relax finally. She pecked him with another kiss before locking her arms around his shoulders, sneaking in a few nips to his shoulder and neck as she moved to hug him.

But that can wait. Right now I have some making up to do. She murmured from his shoulder, nipping at him gently. Step one. I love you. She leaned back again to look him in the eyes, letting him know she meant it. I never stopped loving you. I just have... stubborness issues.

She made a sort of murring sound in the back of her throat, smiling rather... suspiciously as she wiggled a bit. Step two. I'm sorry for playing games. I wasn't actually trying to but I guess I got carried away. She leaned forward quickly to peck another kiss. Step three, I do whatever you want for the rest of the day, as long as it involves touchy-feely. You're too soft and snuggly to let go of. She murred, pulling herself up for another tight hug, nuzzling into the crook of his neck affectionately, suggestively. What's my first task, oh strong working man? Nope, she wasn't hinting in the least.

Sky's mind must've been on automatic, because it was as if nothing bad had ever happened. Or maybe this was what making up was like. Whatever the case, she was all smiles and murrs as he hauled her off to the bedroom, gently setting her down on top of the neatly made covers, hovering over her once she was settled.

It felt nice to be loved like that, his hands through her short hair felt so familliar and warm, soothing. His words were like some sort of fantasy made real again. She was in heaven. So of course, she reacted that way, humming softly as she trailed kisses along his shoulder up to his cheek, then nuzzling him, her hands trailing down his chest to his stomach.

I've loved you longer, Shawchert. She murmured, nipping at his ear. Enough talk. Actions speak far louder than words, after all. To make a point, she lifted her hips to grind against him, letting him know damn well what she wanted at that point; out of those clothes, for one thing.