The Lead Crown: Ch 2b, Outside Influence (Pt 1)
Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 2-1, Outside Influence
Aodhan maintained a quick pace, but far slower than he would have gone alone. The Lehsunians had a hard enough time keeping up at the speed he'd set but he realized that they could not afford to travel casually... not with the Church's forces in hot pursuit. The only member of the party in fact that didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up was the demure cat from Trevossier.
Somewhere in the back of his mind the wolf considered the irony; the eastern kingdom was usually considered by Lehsunians to be pampered and out-of-shape. Regardless, only Sister Aurelie followed without complaint or forcing him to slow. It had been two days since Friar Arlowe had awoken and, thankfully, he was no longer the lone cause of their delays... it was, of course, a mixed blessing since the complaints only magnified.
The Friar's son, Cruffington was the first to grow winded. Second came the racoon-fox, Vic. Brother Rhys, who spent most of his time aiding the monk eventually had to acknowledge his own limitations. From there, most of the morning was spent in constant objection to the pace but, just before the party stopped to rest, Aodhan provided a simple reminder, "I will slow the pace for you... but the Church will not." The afternoon held many less objections and the wolf was pleased that they seemed to make that much more progress.
The rest of the day's travel passed with muted curses and occasional groans, but not once did anyone voice their objection to Aodhan aloud... though he did hear a few quiet whispers between Cruffington and Vic. By that time, Brother Rhys was thoroughly winded and Friar Arlowe had since stopped accepting aid from the rat. Unsurprisingly, that meant that the raccoon dog monk started to lag behind.
"Risaa." Aodhan spoke calmly to his traveling partner.
The cat looked his direction, "Hmm?" Sister Aurelie had obviously been lost in thought, gazing at him in surprise, but attentive nevertheless.
"I am going to aid the Friar." the wolf explained, motioning over his shoulder with a faint flick of his muzzle, "Keep the path toward the forest." he directed, quickly adding a simple, "please." followed by a faint smile. The cat blushed slightly in return, and gave a succinct, compliant nod in reply.
"We stopping?" panted Vic as Aodhan slowed.
Cruffington's question was lengthier, but just as winded, "How far behind d'you think the Templars are?"
"We are not stopping." the wolf answered the first question, "Continue following the Sister." and he then addressed the second, "Not far enough." With that, he let them pass him by as he waited for the Friar to catch up. Brother Rhys was next, however.
"I... I think Friar Arlowe is... having... trouble..." the rat panted.
"I agree." Aodhand offered diplomatically, "Continue onward and I will see to him."
"Yes... of course..." the priest nodded vigorously, "Thank you... Mr. Aodhan... for all your... help..." he spoke between pants, "It is... appreciated..."
"Indeed." the wolf smiled pleasantly, "And thank you for your recognition." It had been a long time since Aodhan had called upon the manners taught to him as a cub, but he found that they still came easily enough. His smile faded once the rat was past, and he simply sat down on a nearby rock, waiting until the monk caught up.
"Hello, Aodhan." the raccoon dog greeted him, leaning on a walking stick as he approached, "I trust this isn't how you saw your trip turning out." Friar Arlowe offered a cordial nod of his head and a good-humored smile.
The wolf stood and moved to match pace, "And I do not recall you having mentioned that you have trouble on hikes." the comment was simple and to the point, but he was pleased to see the raccoon dog smirk in response to the deadpanned humor.
"Well... I haven't had much of an opportunity to do any hiking in quite some time." Friar Arlowe countered. His steps normalized and he relied on the walking stick far less than he had previously indicated, "Besides... a little old-man fatigue is the best way to let the more headstrong youth give you your space."
Aodhan admired the monk's simple deception; it certainly explained the raccoon dog's difficulty in traveling far better than lasting fatigue from his ailment-- the herbs would have remedied that after little more than a day, "I assume you wanted to speak with me nearly as much as I desired the same from you."
"That would be a good guess." Friar Arlowe nodded as the two walked together, trailing enough so that they could maintain pace but still keep respectable distance for privacy, "I'm glad that you came for Aurelie."
"It was good I did." Aodhan nodded, "He was in grave danger."
The monk's ears raised as he glanced to the wolf, "He?" and the raccoon dog paused after the word was spoken before adding, "You never indicated that you knew."
"Nor did you." the wolf countered, "Yet you were concerned for Aurelie's wellbeing for some very specific reasons... and you forget that I grew up with him."
"I was under the impression that the Sisters were very... specific about the upbringing of their neonates." Friar Arlowe glanced to him.
"They were." Aodhan nodded, "Although their rules were based on being followed... and, I admit, I was not always the best at that."
Friar Arlowe let out a quiet 'hmm', then added, "He has never even hinted at being anything but what the Sisters had said he was."
"It is such a small part of what someone is, Friar..." the wolf glanced at the monk as the two continued walking, "Your people put far too much emphasis on it."
"If it is such a small part of what someone is, Aodhan-Hamah, how is it that you had enough curiosity to find out the truth?" The question could have come across as insulting, but the Friar had obviously take care in his wording, having used an honorific tribal title with the wolf's name to indicate that he meant no offense.
"I used to sleep poorly." Aodhan responded, his gaze trailing forward across the group until it settled on Sister Aurelie, "I would cry out in the dark sometimes." he let out a sigh, "Nightmares... or visions... it would depend on what you believe." he glanced to the monk, who nodded invitingly for him to continue. "The Sisters were very upset that I could not sleep through the night, but it was Sister Aurelie who offered to stay with me and help me find peace..."
"Did it work?' Friar Arlowe questioned.
"At first?" Aodhan shook his head, "No... for three night Sister Aurelie had as little sleep as I..." his eyes found their way back to the cat, "but on the fourth night we were both so exhausted that we fell asleep in one another's arms... and I have not had a nightmare since." the tip of his tail wagged but the memories were too good for him to will it to stop.
"I had assumed that the Sisterhood did not condone sleeping without clothing." the monk ventured the comment.
"They did not." Aodhan confirmed, "And we did not." he added, "We were young... it was completely innocent... but in the comfort of another's arms, awakening after a full night of sleep after so many nights of troubled slumber, most of the body is very relaxed, though one part is not... and its presence is not so easily masked by bed clothes." he stated the comment as casually as he could, but he could tell that the priest's sensibilities had been disturbed-- such was the way of the clergy, he realized.
"I see." the monk acknowledged.
"I did not mean to offend." the wolf added.
"Indeed." Friar Arlowe offered a faint smile, "I know you did not, Aodhan-Hamah... I suppose I should not have asked the question if I had not wanted an honest answer." he offered a laugh that was far less strained than his smile and, suddenly, the wolf felt just a little more at ease, "At least now I know that you're every bit as much a Tribal as you are otherwise."
"I am all Tribal, Arlowe-Hamah." the wolf responded, and offered a paw to the monk, "I will need to return to my place at the front of the group."
Friar Arlowe accepted the paw and gripped Aodhan's wrist, giving it a firm clasp, "I hope you mean to make camp soon." the raccoon dog noted, "Or else I will be far more truthful than faking before long."
They shared a laugh at that, "You have my word... once we reach the tree line I will find a place for us to weather the night."
True to his word, Aodhan found a secluded rise where they could start a campfire without the light broadcasting their presence. Everyone began to settle in as the wolf started cooking a simple stew of wild mushrooms and some dried meat he had brought. It was the last of his rations, but, with luck, they wouldn't be traveling much longer. All was peaceful until the younger raccoon dog struck up a conversation with the older one. Eventually that discussion got a little louder than would have been ideal.
"When WILL be the right time?" Cruffington demanded.
"When we have the right amount of time." Friar Arlowe responded.
"Yea?" Vic ventured a thought, "Well you'd've kept going like you were then that time never would have come!"
"Perhaps, but--"
"No! No more 'but's!" Cruff objected, "I think I deserve a-"
His high-volume response was cut short as Aodhan tossed an empty supply satchel his way and the wolf quickly added his own thoughts into the conversation, "You are both right." once he had everyone's attention he continued, "There is no 'right time' to talk, but there ARE bad times... and if you are going to have this discussion this loudly then now is a bad time." he scowled at the three, who seemed suitably chastised.
"We'll talk later." Friar Arlowe promised his son.
"I'll hold you to that." Cruffington announced; he and Vic moved closer to the fire and continued talking quietly.
All fell quiet again, and Aodhan was given several minutes to give attention to his own thoughts. He was contemplating the best way to reach his chosen campsite when the clearing of a throat pulled his attention back to the world around him. He looked up to see Brother Rhys standing beside him, "May we talk?" the rat asked politely.
"I am not interested in converting, if that is what you had in mind." Aodhan offered with a friendly smile; his humor apparently didn't register.
"No... of course not." the priest sat down across from him so they could be face-to-face, "I wanted to ask about why you're helping us."
"Friar Arlowe and I know one another." Aodnahn answered calmly, "As do Sister Aurelie and I." he remained seated cross-legged, placing a paw on either knee, "Why are you concerned over my reasons for helping?"
"A good man may do evil on the road to salvation just as the evil man may do good on the path to damnation." Brother Rhys quoted, "Passage seventeen, Tract of Sean."
Aodhan added, "But blind is he who assumes to know the man by his path or his action." he smiled to the rat, "You did not finish the quote, Brother."
The priest smiled at that, just a little, ears raising, "I don't think I've ever met a Tribal who knew the holy works."
"I was raised for much of my youth by the Sisters Divine." the wolf explained, "Sister Aurelie and I grew up together."
"Ah..." the rat nodded thoughtfully, "That would explain your Trevossese accent."
Aodhan raised an eyebrow, "I was unaware I have an accent."
"It's mostly tribal..." Brother Rhys acknowledged, "but some of the words you say hint at Trevossier, like your long vowels."
"You will have to fogive me, Brother." Aodhan chuckled, "I am quite obviously not as much of an expert on languages on you."
"You speak Tribal and Common, Aodhan..." Sister Aurelie's voice was unmistakable. The cat approached from the side and sat down beside the wolf, "Which is more than the rest of us... so I'd say that's a very good start."
"You have quite an acquaintance, Sister." Brother Rhys nodded to the cat, then looked back to Aodhan. "I was hoping to understand more about our savior, and you have done that. Thank you again for your help." the rat slowly stood, wincing in a way that hinted at sore muscles, "Now... if you'll excuse me, I believe I should get some rest before tomorrow."
"That would be wise." Aodhan smiled.
Once Brother Rhys had returned to the fire, Sister Aurelie slowly wrapped an arm around his; the cat's head came to rest on the wolf's shoulder, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Aodhan replied, gazing toward the fire as Sister Aurelie's grip grew just a little tighter.
"Friar Arlowe gave me the bracelet you gave to him." the cat added, "I knew it was from you..." and then sighed.
"When I learned where you were I came as soon as I could." he stated, slowly turning to regard the cat, who looked up at him, eyes gleaming in the dancing firelight, "Lehsunia is a dangerous place, and I was concerned."
"Why you're here isn't as important as the fact that you are." Sister Aurelie explained, muzzle tilting up slightly.
"I was afraid you would be angry when you saw me." he responded, leaning in the cat's direction slightly. He could feel Sister Aurleie's breath on his whiskers as their muzzles drew closer, "I missed you, Rissa..."
"I missed you too." the cat confirmed, and Aodhan felt a spark of electricity as Sister Aurelie's whiskers brushed across his muzzle, a rush filling him as his body was alight with the understanding that he might finally get the kiss he'd missed ever since leaving that night without his best friend.
"Ahem." the clearing of a throat caused both to quickly pull away, but it was hardly the heart-stopping realization of who it was that had caught them when Aodhan saw the imposing gorilla matriarch pressing her way past the foliage as she came straight at them.
"Sister Antoinette!" Sister Aurelie gasped, "What are YOU doing here?!?"
The female gorilla stopped and folded her arms across her ample chest, a scowl deep on her face, her words unfolding in that Trevossese accent Brother Rhys had been talking about, "I should ask the two of YOU the same thing!"