duty driven

Athena had also taken to examining the water as well, her eyes scanning the path it took as he had done. There was one thing Hawk noted about her words though, they seemed to be lacking any excitement or enthusiasm. Even if the tunnel was too narrow to follow the small stream of water down to.. wherever it flowed, and even if it was nowhere near enough to cover probably even the needs of the two of them, this was still good news.

Her third question was the more troubling one, and prompted the ghost to take some time to think it over. Athena’s concerns about the King and Queen were valid, along with worrying about starting a panic. He could see the wolves of the Vertok flooding into the caves in search of the water, only to have something horrific happen. Worse yet, would be if rumors were to get out to the other packs.

But this did not overshadow the optimism he felt. ”It is not enough, but this water proves we were right. It has to go somewhere. And maybe.. wherever it goes, will have enough for all of us. We just have to keep looking.” The ghost spoke, his resolution and will to do exactly that stronger now than it had before. He believed there was very good reason to be hopeful.

”As for what we do, I think first, we turn back for now and rest.” Something Athena had been looking forward to this whole time, and now, the ghost was starting to agree. A break sounded nice. ”I.. don’t think we should tell anyone about this, yet, though, until we’ve rested, and perhaps looked more." The less wolves they had storming the caves looking for a path to water that might not even be there, the better. "We probably should not delay for too long, in telling our King and Queen, though. I believe it is our duty to inform them of this soon, in case they feel differently.” If he were in their position, Hawk supposed he would have wanted to know too. It would undermine their King and Queen, and possibly create distrust if he and Athena were to keep silent about a discovery as potentially vital as this. They were the ultimate authority as it came to these things, and no matter his thoughts, whatever judgement they were to pass, the ghost would accept it.

He had a point Athena admitted, and he did not doubt that she meant it.. but, there did not seem to be much heart in the words. It once more made him appreciative of the fact that his fellow Knight had agreed to accompany him on this expedition, despite the fact that she clearly despised the caves. ”And if there is, I’ll find it. I won’t quit until I do,” the ghost promised both himself and his companion. Hawk owed that much to this pack, he thought. He promised himself there and then that he would not ask her to go with him again. The Knight did not like seeing his packmate like this, and if he could avoid making Athena go through this again by venturing alone, he would. But he would not reject her help if she were to offer it, either.

Athena agreed with the second portion of the plan, too, though she too brought up a good point. They didn’t know how long it would take before their King and Queen were back from these meetings - or just how busy they would be in the meantime. ”That’s true, too. Who knows how long it’ll be before we get the chance to tell them,” he spoke with a bit of a frown, though he chose not to dwell on the topic, instead turning about as his company voiced her readiness to leave behind the caves.

He was, too, though it hadn’t been all that unpleasant. It had been nice to get out of the dry heat, for a while. ”Lead on, then, I’ll be right behind you. And.. thank you, too, for coming with me. I truly appreciate it, Miss Athena.” Hawk murmured, gently touching his nose to her shoulder. That did not even begin to express the gratitude he felt, but it was something, to start. 

Just don’t wear yourself out, the other spoke. They certainly didn’t need him getting hurt or sick in these caves. It would have been a lie if he’d said the mere thought of it did not frighten him, at least a little. Athena sounded genuinely concerned, and that was a feeling the ghost also hoped to ease. ”I won’t. I know my limits,” he spoke softly, which was true, even if he didn’t like to admit that aloud.

”I wouldn’t want to give you another patient to deal with. And I don’t want to jeopardize our trip, either.” the ghost added on a lighter note, a soft huff of laughter escaping him. Hawk was particularly looking forward to that, too. The thought of spending time not worrying about pack things was.. very appealing. Even more so with Athena.

She was right again, though, about their leaders. With any luck, maybe a solution would already be worked out. Or at the very least.. ”I’ll take nothing, over something bad,” the ghost murmured. A part of him wished he could’ve been there, to meet with these other packs and learn of their values, himself. But that wasn’t his place.

”Mister Hawk. I like that,” the knight teased back lightly, moving to trail after his companion, happy as well to be leaving behind the caves. ”It isn’t strictly a formality, though. It is also gratitude and respect.” And that was something he liked to express to his friends as often as he could. That they were appreciated and respected.

The slightest of laughs escaped him with the comment about Maxem. He was their friend, and Hawk was genuinely fond of the other man, but there was probably some truth to that statement. ”Fair. For what it’s worth though.. you do a good job. If something ever did happen, I’d trust you, to help me,” the ghost spoke, reverence for his packmate clear in the words. Whether it was treating a wound he might have herself, or pointing him towards someone that could, he did not doubt Athena’s ability for a second.

As the air currents around them changed, it was clear they were nearing the exit of the tunnel. Bright light was visible in the distance, and though Hawk wasn’t sure how long they’d been in the caves, at least it was still light out. On the flip side, though, that meant going back out into the heat..

Athena’s words were a pleasant distraction from that thought, though. ”It’s.. something my.. uh, dad taught me. Manners and respect. I think.. everyone, but especially someone as intelligent and pretty as you, deserves that,” he spoke candidly, taking a moment to think back on his past. Until his mind caught up with what he’d just said, which quite literally stopped Hawk in his tracks.

If he was lucky, though, maybe his packmate would just keep going and forget him here.


--sorry for the wait. couldn't resist his last comment though!

It helped, in this moment, that Athena did not like the caves. That she was so eager to move forth and feel the sunlight again, that she actually granted Hawk his wish. Athena did indeed leave him in the dark and relatively cool environment of the cave, which was something he preferred all the more at this moment. And she did not stop, at least, not until she was well out of the cave.

But then she did, and she turned back, staring at him quizzically, those pretty eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Her words, though, were not what he’d expected them to be. She didn’t know about that. The slightest of frowns tugged at the corners of his face.

”I do. This pack is lucky to have you,” he murmured, trying to shrug off the embarrassment and start forth again, at least until he was just inside the mouth of the cave. The heat hit him like a wall, harder than the stone caves they’d just been inside. It was definitely not something he wanted to head out to. That, and it was probably better if he was left alone, to think through these feelings. 

”I.. don’t want to keep you, though. I think I’m.. going to head back, and explore that other path. But, I’ll see you around, yeah?” Hawk questioned, canting his head hopefully.