[DotW] Let Me Come With You

Impala padded into the main den site of Kausen. Oden had since returned from the journey with his cousin safe and sound, and for that Impala was very grateful. But now it was time for her to take a journey of her own. Her sister Gypsee still lived within Blutwald, and Impala had recently heard that Blutwald was under new leadership. She had cowered in fear since her accident, but now the unknown was too much. What was going on over there? And was her sister safe? And her niece and nephews? Impala needed to know.

She would tell no one of her trip, for it was personal and not an Emissary mission with no affiliation to Kausen at all. It was just to get her sister back. But she needed to tell one wolf… Oden. In case she… well… didn’t return. Well, whatever happened, she wanted him and only him to know where she would be. She could not bear to put him through any pain and uncertainty that would surely come from her leaving without a word.

She found him by the main den site. ”Oden, can I talk to you for a moment?” she asked in a way that implied it may be longer than just a moment. She turned to lead the way out of the den site, looking back at him to make sure he would follow.


Oden sat at the outskirts of the main den site, casually watching his packmates go about their business. Sometimes he enjoyed detaching from the hustle and bustle of the den site and watching reflectively from afar. He had recently returned from a trip to visit his last remaining blood relatives, with his cousin Fitu of Chandor, and his world was beginning to feel a little more...whole.

He was sucked from his thoughts when he heard Impala's voice from behind him, addressing him. He blinked, turning to look at her. From the tone of her voice, he could tell this sounded important. "Of course." He responded with a gentle smile, rising to his feet and following after her. He always had time for Impala if she needed him. He wondered what this could be about and he felt his heart beat a little faster anxiously.


Impala lead the way out of the den site and into the forest, slowing to fall into step beside him. The gentle smile he had given her still gave her some butterflies. He was so kind and good… Impala could not deny her increasingly strong feelings for him. He had been there for her, consistently and completely. She needed him. That was why she needed to tell him. She let out a sigh after a moment and just went out with it. ”Blutwald has a new Alpha. I’m going back. I need to get my sister.” Impala said.


Oden walked along beside her, glancing over at her as he heard a sigh and she began to speak. His brows instantly shot up in surprise and he turned his head to look at her. "You're- you're what?" The look on his face grew from surprised to concerned. "Who's going with you?" If there was one thing he was certain of in this moment, it was that she could not go alone. It just wasn't safe. Wasn't Blutwald still engaged in a war with Aryn? They would most definitely be hostile to outsiders at this time, as they were usually not very friendly with outsiders on a normal day anyway. He needed to be sure Impala would come back unharmed this time.


Impala nodded at his shocked reaction. It was just what she expected, but she knew he heard her, so she did not repeat herself. Impala dreaded answering his next question. She knew that he wouldn’t like it… perhaps she shouldn’t have told him after all.... ”It’s… it’s a personal mission. I’m not taking anyone.” Impala said, ”it may be foolish, but I need to go. And if something were to happen, I would never forgive myself if the wolf I brought were to get hurt.”


"What about if you get hurt?" Oden replied before quickly shaking his head. "No, you can't go alone." His tone was firm yet pleading as he looked into her eyes. He could never forgive himself if something were to happen to her and he had been in a position to stop it. He got an idea suddenly... the only way to really know that she would be safe were if he went along with her. Would that be an idea she could get behind, though? Of course, if she really didn't want him to go he couldn't force himself into her personal journey, but he would try. "What if... I went with you?" He offered this to her, hoping with everything in him that she would agree.


Impala shrugged, ”it is a risk I must take. She’s my sister.” The silvery-blue she-wolf said. She knew the risks, but this was larger than herself. This was for her family. But Oden was persistent, insisting that she cannot go alone. Impala looked at him with somber orange-amber eyes. How worried she had been when he went on his journey despite being assisted by another wolf. And now here she was, going on her own journey all by herself, walking right into the territory of the monster who ruined her face and nearly took her life, and demanding the freedom of her sister niece and nephews. Of course Oden cared about her as much too… of course he wouldn’t want her to go alone. And then Oden offered to go with her. Impala felt shocked, but she wasn’t sure why… for she would have said the same to Oden. She would not have let him go without her. She supposed it was just surprising to her that… he really did care about her that much... as much as she cared for him.

She lowered her gaze, and couldn’t help but smile at his offer. He was so sweet… emotion welled in her chest. ”Oden…” Impala murmured, lifting her gaze again to meet him. ”I can’t… I can’t let you. If something happened to you… I just… can’t lose you. I can’t go through that again...” Impala said softly, realizing now exactly just how fond she was of Oden… she was even comparing the possibility of losing him to her loss of Whitewall… It was only because of him that she was able to survive the loss of Whitewall at all. He had saved her. He was the dearest wolf in the world to her. She needed him.


Oden listened as she spoke, searching her face with his yellow eyes. He knew why she wanted - needed to go. He would do the same for Fitu or Skunk, or even Impala herself, if he felt they were in danger.

When she spoke of loss, he knew she was referring to Whitewall, and it touched him that she would put him on the same level as the loss of her love. But, he had lost loved ones too, and envisioning Impala possibly suffering the same fate his parents did at the paws of blood-thirsty loners... No, he couldn't let it happen. "Then you'll understand I can't lose you either, Impala." He responded, brows furrowing with worry. She probably meant more to him than she realized, or maybe even more than he was willing to admit. He loved her, but he couldn't say it out loud in the way he meant it. At least not now. "Please, let me come with you."


Impala gave him a long look through anguished orange eyes. But then a smile broke over her muzzle and she lowered it toward the ground. After a moment of intense thought she nodded. She heard the firm tone in his voice, the resolute pleading in his yellow eyes. He wouldn’t let her go without him. And somehow that relieved her. She hadn’t intended to take him with her, but somehow she found that deep down that she was immensely glad that he was so insistent. He didn’t want her to be in danger. He wanted to protect her. A lovely, distantly familiar feeling bloomed in her heart. She lifted her muzzle to look up at him. ”Okay. Thank you, Oden… I promise I’ll be quick. And I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep you away from danger.” The silvery-blue she-wolf stepped forward, cuddling into his thick white fur with her muzzle.


Seeing how anguished her eyes looked made his heart ache, which unsettled him a little as he had never felt like that before, but it was shortlived as a smile broke out across her muzzle, causing his ears to perk forward. Waves of relief washed over him as she nodded, silently agreeing to take him with her. If anything had happened to her on this journey without him, because he didn't push hard enough to go with her, he couldn't have lived with himself. Losing anymore wolves that he was close with was out of the question. He smiled back at Impala gratefully, nodding as he accepted her affectionate nuzzle. "And I promise the same to you."