the flight of kings

Piper Colvin. Alpha. "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me."

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: I'm exhausted. Mentally and physically, everything has just been too much.

Will: Yeah, despite everything we're actually in a really good place with each other.

Will: I don't want to leave him alone, so that plan works for me. No one knows we're here.

Piper: Yeah, I'm definitely keeping watch tonight.

Piper: I'm happy for you. For you both. You two deserve some good places.

Piper: No one even knows where you live, I reckon.

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: I should have told you last night when he left. It was just hard for me to swallow, I didn't even tell Nick I just slept on the couch. But no one else is going to leave. It's just me and Nick and I'm not leaving his side.

Will: He seemed really scared and strung out. I'm worried about him.

Will: I can't hide anything from Nick.

Will: Does he have to be sedated this time?

Piper: No one else will leave. I can personally guarantee you that I won't. I'll stop by tonight and keep watch if you need to sleep. Don't sleep much anyway.

Piper: Believe me, that's a good thing that you can't.

Piper: Not unless he wants to be. But, I think the moon might be better for him if we're nearby to give his horse some peace.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: The herd may have formed with me, but I haven't done nothing but caused trouble since it did. Let's be honest with each other, Piper. I nearly tore this herd apart the night I got shot.

Nick: I don't think dark even begins to cover it. Will doesn't know about the panic attacks I've been having. Doctor told me stuff like that happens to people who almost die.

Nick: Then why does it feel this way?

Piper: You're still here, Nick. You're still family. And I still love you like a brother. You might have caused a little trouble but you're still around and that's all that matters. Will doesn't see you as trouble and nor do I. Nor did Tori.

Piper: I used to have night terrors. After the bombing, I'd wake up screaming. I know what it's like in the dark and I have every faith in you that you'll claw your way out because you're a survivor, Nick. If you need to talk to someone, I will find someone for you to talk to. You need me to find someone specific, I'll hunt that person down for you.

Piper: Because it's hard surviving something and wondering what it would be like had it gone the other way. Because grief works in a funny way and it picks people apart. Then the guilt sets in and you just sink under it.

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: I only came here for Nick, because I didn't want to be alone in Montana anymore. For me home is just where my family is. I'm not attached to this town itself.

Will: I've never gone against your orders, Piper. But this doesn't have to be a dictatorship when there's so much at stake. We can work together, we can help you decide what's right. I need to know that if I have questions or doubts that I can bring them to you without fear of being run out of my own family. We're still new at this, we have to help each other.

Will: I don't blame Titus, and I don't care about him any less than I did. But if something happens to him out there on his own, that's on us.

Will: He's seen me vulnerable, I'm not worried about that. I just didn't want to give him any extra stress. Doesn't look like I'm going to get away with it though, he's already texting me.

Will: Do we have a plan for the moon? I can feel it coming, and ever since Nick was shot the moons scare me.

Piper: Good enough reason to come to a place.

Piper: You can do that, Will. You are welcome to do that but at the same time, I need to know when something important like someone leaving happens. The last time someone left had been Tori the first time, then Erick, and then...Tori. I need to know when someone leaves when someone is going around kidnapping others.

Piper: No. It's not on us. If something happens to him out there on his own, it's on him. He made the choice to leave. You are not going to be held accountable for what another person decided.

Piper: Nick's always been smart.

Piper: We're gonna be sticking around your place for the full moon. Doesn't feel right with just the two of us so we're gonna stay near Nick.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: I was a good beta. Had I won the spar I would tried my best to be a damn good alpha too. Now I can't do either. It sucks that I can't contribute anything to this herd physically anymore, I'm useless.

Nick: Look I ain't complaining that you won or anything, you did it fair and square. It's just hard coming to terms with what card I've been dealt with. Some days I wish I had died so I wouldn't be much of a burden to you or Will. Tori too.

Nick: I keep thinking that it should have been me to die first, you know?

Piper: You think you're useless? Reckon you're wrong there. Don't think this herd would have been formed with you, Nick. Even now, you're holding everyone together.

Piper: I know, Nick. I know things got dark for you. They got real dark.

Piper: Don't think that. Don't you ever think that. No one should have died. Not you, not Will, not Tori. You are not a burden. Family is never burden.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: If that's how you see it.

Nick: I think he might. I'm just not for sure, so don't take my word on it. He really does want what's best for the Herd. You know I'd do it, but I'm fit to anymore.

Nick: if you're okaying this I'll need to let them know to expect company sometime soon.

Piper: You'd have been a great beta, Nick. You both want to do what's best for the Herd.

Piper: Give me a day or two to get things covered and then we can go.

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: Why did we stay after someone blew up a building? Is it worth the risk? I don't want to lose any more of us, I won't be able to take it.

Will: I'm just saying there are ways to make your point without threatening to exile or kill me. I thought we were closer than that.

Will: I couldn't get him to stay. Everything he said made sense, and he's doing what he thinks is best for him, but it hurt to hear. I'm not about to abandon you or Nick.

Will: We're only strong when we're together. We can't afford to fall apart. I've been holding it together as best I can but Titus leaving just...it was too much. I can't break down in front of Nick, he has plenty on his plate already.

Will: There are a few small plots of land nearby if you wanted your own place, we'd have to look into it. You can always stay here too, as long as you don't mind the chickens.

Piper: I'm not sure about Nick's reasons but for me, it's because I refuse to be run off. Been all around the States but Pickens is now home. I've been here too long to leave.

Piper: We are. I think of you and Nick both as my brothers but at the same time, I will never forget that I am also your alpha. I will fight rogues for you, I will kill for you, but at the same time, instinct demands order.

Piper: It wasn't your responsibility to get him to stay. Titus is doing what's best for him. Can't fault him for that. Titus comes first for Titus. You and Nick come first for me.

Piper: You are not Nick's responsibility. Whatever you two have going, it's not going to ruin things if you seem vulnerable to him. Reckon he cares enough for you that he'd comfort you if you did break down about Titus.

Piper: I don't mind chickens. Slept in nosier places.

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: I'm not trying to sass you, Piper. And I never said I wanted to leave the herd, I'm just being realistic. There isn't much of us left. How do we come back from this?

Will: I've followed your word since day one. This is the first time I've voiced an opinion. Does that really warrant a threat to run me out of town and put me in the ground? After everything that has happened, everything we've been through.

Will: I didn't tell you about Titus until now because I was a wreck. I needed to get my head on straight, because he's my best friend and he left because we all let him down.

Will: I can't do this on my own. Titus was helping me out, but I'm Nick's sole caretaker now. It's a big job, and I'm not complaining because I love him, but it's too big for me to do alone. I need you, where have you been?

Piper: There isn't much of us left but we are left. We're bruised, broken, bloody but we are here. You're still alive, Nick's still alive, I'm still alive. We're still here, Will. I know it's hard but the last time someone came through this town and blew up a building and shot people, Nick and I managed to come back from it. We're going to come back from this. I promise you that.

Piper: Do I want to put you in the ground? No. I don't. I don't want to hurt you or Nick or anything like that. Contrary to popular belief, I'd rather not have anyone else die.

[Minutes later]

Piper: I know how it is to lose a friend, Will. I know how it is but you did not let him down. I've never lied to you before and I won't lie to you now so believe me when I tell you that you and Nick did not let him down.

Piper: You're right. I wouldn't be a good alpha if I let you do it on your own. You're doing it all on your own and I don't want you to have to do it on your own anymore. I've no excuse where I've been or how I've been dealing with things but I won't let it affect me anymore.

Piper: Reckon I'd ask if I could move in or nearby your lot to help out. Sold my cabin. Sold my stuff to raise some money just in case we need it.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: I'll rephrase. At this point in time having this surgery is not important when we have other things to worry about.

Nick: So is Will moving up to Beta or do we just need to hope another horse will come into town?

Nick: They're the best.

Nick: Ain't gonna go without my alpha. They'd be honored to meet you.

Piper: Not gonna rephrase mine. Mine still stands as is. But, I'll store it away for later.

Piper: Reckon that's something to discuss. If another horse comes into town and decides to join, it all depends on them. Will want to beta?

[Another minute later]

Piper: I'd be honored to meet your folks, Nick. I need to tell them they raised a stand up guy.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: That isn't important right now. I can wait.

Nick: Well that sucks.

Nick: I ain't saying we leave forever, but just another vacation or something. I think you and Will should meet my parents. Portland is pretty nice this time a year. A week of us all together will do us some good.

Piper: It is. You're important, Nick, and so is your need to talk. Reckon it doesn't have to be now or even in the near future but when the time comes when you want to get it done and I want you to be able to have that option.

Piper: Don't it.

Piper: Reckon they'd have to be good parents if they raised you. I wouldn't be against it. But I'd have to think it over.

[minutes later]

Piper: If you wanted to take Will to meet em, I wouldn't fuss.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: Because I verbally can't answer you. That and it takes too long to write things down for long conversations.

Nick: So were down to three then?

Nick: I know you probably don't want my opinion but I think we should get the hell out of Dodge for a while. Pickens is getting crazier by the minute and we ain't safe here anymore.

Nick: We could have ten horses in this herd but that still wouldn't stop the hunters or the monsters living around here.

Piper: I'm working on the verbal thing. If things go good with the realtor, we can try and get you the voice thing. The injection laryngoplasty.

Piper: Down to three.

Piper: I know what I said last time but Nick, if you do want to leave for your own safety, reckon I'm not going to fault you for it. You're not wrong, Nick. We're not safe here. We were never safe here to begin with. But, this is my home.

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Nick: You can come reiterate me all you want, but Piper I still won't be able to answer to you.

Nick: What's causing this anyways? Did Titus do something to piss you off?

Piper: And why is that, Nick?

Piper: It's the loss of our herdmates. Something's got to change and it will.

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: Excuse me? I don't know where you've been the past few weeks but you haven't said a /word/ to me since we buried Tori. Communication is a two-way street.

Will: What herd? There's nothing left. Titus left because we couldn't protect him, Nick will be crippled for the rest of his life because we couldn't protect him, and do I even need to mention Tori?

Will: I am the only able-bodied horse you have left, and I've been taking care of Nick on my own because you've been nowhere to be found. You want to take this all out on me?

Piper: If you want to sass me, do it in person, Will. But I will warn you once, watch your mouth.

Piper: As long as there are horses in this town, there will be a herd. Nick's crippled. He's crippled but he is still alive. You don't want to be in this herd? I suggest you leave town because if you leave this herd and try and survive here in Pickens on your own, you will not survive. I guarantee that.

Piper: Yeah and look where it got me. Bunny left, Tori dead. Times are changing and this entire herd is going to change, but if you don't trust me, then get the hell out of this town. Get the hell out because I will not stand for this anymore. You keep backsassing me and acting like you are the only person doing anything for this herd, you are going to take the consequences that I give you. You want to leave? Get out because if you think I'm going to stand for a rogue horse, I'm going to put you in the ground first.

Piper: Am I clear?

[pipercolvin]

Text | Piper » Herd

Piper: I'm going to say this once and only once in case any of you forgot. This herd is not optional. As long as you are a horse and living in this town, you are in this herd and you will defer to me. If a single thing changes, you come to me first. You do not wait. I will be the first person you tell if someone even breathes wrong in your direction.

Piper: And times are changing. We are done sticking our necks out for any other stray lycans except for our own kind. Rats, rabbits, deers, we are done. There will be no more split loyalties from any of us. Myself included.

Piper: Am I understood or do I need to reiterate this to any of you in person?

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: It was /last night/.

Will: I've been busy around the farm and taking care of Nick by myself.

Piper: Are you a moron? You should have let me know the moment he left. Being busy around the farm is not an excuse to not let your alpha know that the rabbit left the herd because that directly affects the herd. I don't care if it was four fucking seconds ago, you fucking tell me.

[pipercolvin]

text >> Piper

Will: Where are you moving to?

Will: He stopped by last night to tell me he's out of the herd.

Piper: Smaller place.

Piper: And you waited until now to tell me?

[dobhrev-deactivated20150525]