Alder clattered up the winding staircase two at a time, his gloved hands shoved deep into his fur-lined pockets. The delivery of Olive's latest payment had been handed over as she'd requested, though Alder had to admit it was getting harder and harder to pass along their hard-earned wages, especially knowing what they did now about King Mordred. Alder gnawed his lower lip, trying to think what they could offer to draw in bigger crowds and keep the inn afloat during the lean winter months. Olive was as calm and steady as ever, confident that they'd get through this and come out all the stronger, but... Alder worried. It was his natural state, really - he'd inherited the need to keep track of his family and their well-being from his father, Theoden, just as he'd inherited his need to wander from his mother.
It had been a year since they'd gone; first Theoden, right around this time of year when the Festival of Gorgemaw was poised to begin, and then Birch. Alder still didn't know what exactly had happened to their mother, none of them did. Both of his sisters believed Birch's death was no accident, that she'd chosen to follow their father into his grave rather than stay by their sides when they needed her the most. Olive had grieved for so long, Alder wasn't sure she would ever come out of the dark. Even as her body had swelled with child, she'd kept her head low, shuffling about like a pale specter with that hateful fake smile on her tired face. Cypress, at the opposite end of the spectrum, had been enraged. She'd broken things, raised her voice, stormed outside to be with her dogs at every possible moment. She sniped at them both in her pain, desperately lashing out at whoever was nearest and hating herself for it. And Alder... Alder had followed along behind, trying to pick up the pieces of their broken little family. There was a part of him that had resented Olive's father, Jacopo, just a little; by the time he'd found them back in Shaman their wounds had begun to close, thanks to his presence and guidance. Cypress even called Jac dad now. Alder wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that, but the resentment he'd felt was fading more and more. Now that Jac was at the inn he was free to wander, confident in the fact that all three of his girls were being looked after.
Shaking off the gloom that always clung to him around this time of year as best he could, he made a quick stop in the dining hall for hot chocolate and something to eat. He checked in with his twin at the kennels, dropping off one of his thermoses and a snack when he was confident the cruel kennel master wasn't around to see him do it. Cy was rather gloomy, though he couldn't be sure if it was her own memories or the fact that her beloved Thoth had finally rejoined the outlaws a week ago that had her so down. They leaned up against one of the paddock fences as the puppies romped and rolled together.
"Who's that?" Alder asked, breaking their companionable silence to gesture towards the far end of the field, where the kennels met up with the guard training grounds. He reached up to give his antlers a small itch; the velvet had shed a few weeks ago, before the chill had set in, but they were still giving him issues now and then. Cy squinted in the direction he'd pointed towards, and shrugged.
"Not sure, I see her around sometimes but haven't met her yet. She's pretty dedicated, though. Think she's been at it a few hours, at least. Maybe a trainee?"
Alder frowned. A few hours in the chill? Without a break? His nurturing instincts kicked in of their own accord.
"I'm gonna go give her this," he said, gesturing with his untouched thermos. Cy rolled her eyes at him, which he pointedly ignored as he set out across the field. He cleared his throat when he was within hearing distance, not wanting to startle the young woman practicing. "Nice work, but don't you think it's time for a break?" He held his thermos up. "Hot chocolate?"
[Description: Alder's tall, with a broad swimmer's body (wide shoulders, slim hips, big feet and hands, etc.). He has silver eyes, wavy black hair, and medium-brown skin. He also has antlers. :3]
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