She was feeling more worried than she should perhaps. Having met with Haclyon she only added to her own personal storm of worries. What would he do? Was it her problem? Yes. It was. How could she help? How should she help? What should she do? She had done enough? No. Not enough. Never enough. There was so much more she could do, but at what cost? The wolf had threatened to destroy everything she loved. She would like to see him try yet she wasn’t about to induce his wrath prematurely before she, and her pack were ready for it. SHe had met with Halcyon, he wasn’t part of the deal, told him what she could without really saying it and planting the seeds that there could be more out there for him. Going from there it was on him for now, but she did hope that he took her words, her warnings to heart before they parted ways.

She looked tired, correction, she felt tired. She had been struggling with sleep with so many thoughts on her mind, and worries and trying to figure it all out. Lazarus, bless him, had been helping her feel more at ease, but even he could not take away all the worries that filled her currently. So as she re-entered the pack land she pondered what she should do next. The sun was still in the sky, there was time left to do things. What things? She didn’t exactly know. Thankfully she didn’t have to worry about that when she heard Aster’s call.

She turned quickly, her teal and mahogany cracked eyes setting upon the dark coated wolfess a smile forming on her maw mostly out of habit. She wasn’t unhappy, just that she was tired, and there was much she needed to do and think about and she hadn’t explained to Aster all that had happened before. After all Teza had dropped the children off and Zelda since had been looking high and low for Halcyon. There hadn’t been much time for them to stop and chat really. So when Aster came asking her about Aspis she had blinked a few times, processing it before nodding.

”I was keeping my promise to you, Aster, the job is not done yet.” She said softly, ”He was fine, mostly. No bodily harm that I could tell, but I can’t say that that doesn’t mean he hasn’t hurt your son. I have my own suspicions, but he is holding out like the strong boy he is.” For now. Zelda thought sadly perhaps it showed on her face as her eyes drifted away from Aster. She and her family were never exactly the best at hiding every little thought, especially those they were comfortable around. ”I plan to retrieve him, but I need to have a plan first. When I met with Halcyon, he also seemed to have a plan in mind. Sounds like he will be meeting with Arturio and a friend of his and seeing what they might come up with, but I can’t be sure either. Rest assured Aster, there are lots of efforts going on to release him.”

She tried to be reassuring, but what would happen when Halcyon DID try? What would become of him and his friends? Would they punish Aspis for that? Aspis surely would be angry that, even though Zelda had passed his wish along, that they would try anyway. What did he expect them to do though. ”He did give me a message though, Aspis did. I don’t think you will like it, just like Halcyon, but he had said he was fine, and not to let any of you come after him.” She pondered his word again, thinking of the light side of it rather than the negative side. She wanted to believe in him, that he was doing this to protect them. She couldn’t see in any way how maybe he had liked what had happened, that he could admire the brute. Zelda thought though, that despite all the darkness in him, so far, the Darkbringer really hadn’t done anything… outlandish except take the children. His request of Zelda felt… minor to her in a way, but big at the same time.

”He didn’t say anything about me though.” She said smiling at Aster in an attempt to comfort her further, but it was short, a frown returning to her maw and her brows knit in thought. What could she give Blackthorne that would make him release Aspis to her? She needed a plan, a better plan or idea. It was a struggle and she was stuck thinking about it constantly.