Moonlight Nocturne

Joanna chuckles, heading into another room.

 

Miri snuggles against her girlfriend. "They go hunting a lot. It's cool."

 

Nick gives a yip and hits the floor, whining and gripping twisted fingers. "Aaaugh, you dick, that fucking hurt!"

 

There's a low chuckle from the second floor. "Then don't put your fingers where I'm walking, Nick."

 

Elena grins wildly at Winter. "Awesome!!"

She kisses Miriam's ear, wrapping her arms around her, and squeezing a little too tight when the new voice startles her. "How many wolves are there?"

 

"Seven in Joanna's pack. I'm not one of them.. yet, anyway. If you mean in the area... lots. Joanna's kicking a lot of folks around."

 

"... so what's it mean to be part of the pack?" she asks, cocking her head. Nick said she was part of it, right? But she's not a wolf.

 

"I dunno. It's. Kind of like family?" Miri wrinkles her nose. "I'm not sure, I've only been here for, like. Two months."

 

"... Oh. Okay." She blinks, thinking, before leaning in to rest her head on Miriam's shoulder. "... I'd be your pack. If it's allowed."

 

Miriam grins and nips Elena's ear lightly. "You are."

 

Elena squeaks, blushing red. "... so you're my pack and Nick's pack but not Joanna's pack, but Nick and Natasha are Joanna's pack, and Joanna's the alpha and in charge except Natasha's in charge of us because Joanna's not our alpha??"

This is all very confusing.

She kisses Miriam, snuggling closer. Maybe she's thinking about it too much.

 

"I'm... technically not Nick's pack?" Miri cuddles Elena. "...it's just. Weird, you know?"

 

"... Yeah. We can be pack together, anyway."

Being alone... sucks. It sucks a lot.

 

Miri giggles, then nuzzles her girlfriend with a happy sigh.

 

Elena leans on her, eyes drifting closed. She'll doze off for a while, if no one disturbs her. It's been a long few days.

 

When she wakes up, it's to hot cocoa and a bowl of steaming stew.

 

Elena yawns and stretches, looking around sleepily. "Nick? Miri?"

But... food. She'll pick up the cocoa, sitting on the couch with her knees drawn up to her chest.

They are the best pack.

 

The room is largely empty, with Miri sprawled over Elena's legs. The fire is banked, but the lights are low.

 

Elena yawns, reaching down to pet Miri's head. It ... it must be late. She slept a lot longer than she meant to. She eats quietly, petting Miri with her other hand, before starting to try to disentangle herself.

People have to be around, right? Or the food wouldn't be warm. Unless it's some kind of magic.

It could be some kind of magic.

 

Miri sleepily lifts her head, then snuggles back into the pillows.