She didn’t know what to do. The woman of night hues felt somewhat lost. Kirain always had a sort of…dark lost side, but it was getting worse. Stardust sighed as she walked in the Rise, dark paws pressing into earth for but a brief second as she continued on. It was getting late. The sun was making a slow descent towards the horizon.

Stardust huffed to herself. Who could she go to? Certainly not Lestan right now. Ketamine was already called to help with Kirain for now, but Stardust knew Ket wouldn’t be able to solve all these problems that even Stardust barely understood.

Her cyan eyes scan the horizon. It is quiet right now. The wind whistled past her for but a moment before falling silent. She breathes in and releases. Maybe she should go to Elenora. She didn’t know Nora super well, but perhaps it is time.

Stardust shook out her star-touched coat. The colors on the sky were beautiful as she moved forward, but her mind could not comprehend them right now. Frustration filled her mind, and her shoulder ached from Kirain’s physical attack.

She arrives to Nora’s den area, but Stardust does not know where Nora is. In the den? Somewhere else? Stardust calls out then, head down a bit, ”Nora? Are you there?”

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It was one of the few evenings Nora had not spent late at the garden, though her fur did smell of dirt and herbs (mostly sage, it took to her garden the best). It was evident she had been there, most of if not all of the day. At the very moment Stardust arrived at the outside of her little, humble abode, she'd just opened her eyes to hear the soft call of her voice. She must have fallen asleep as soon as she hit her den... Nonetheless, she yawns, One second... And stretches, bones cracking, then hurried out of her den.

It wasn't often Nora had visitors to her home, but the garden, however, she was used to others stumbling upon. So upon Stardust's call, she comes out with a little bit of worry in her eyes, examining the slender woman to check that she wasn't physically hurt... Stardust, are you alright? Sleepiness makes her voice a hint deeper, but does not seem to affect her fretting. Has something happened?

She hardly expected Nora to be sleeping so early. Stardust had to adjust from being a bit of a night owl herself, being that she is a Starchild and all. Yet the pack here was not exactly night dwellers, but she did keep an every on everything in the cover of moonlight at times.

She heard the sleepiness in Nora’s voice and frowned slightly. She meant not to disturb her, but it was important. Nora asks about if she is alright, and she lowers her head and shakes it slightly.

”Nora, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said hesitantly. The woman of star and sky looked behind her, wondering then how Kirain was doing but knowing she was not the best to approach now.

”It is Kirain…We got into a…fight I guess,” she turns back to Nora, her face touched with a bit more irritation now. ”She…she tried to TACKLE me,” she said, stamping her front foot on the ground. Kirain wasn’t very successful in her tackle, but Stardust looked at her shoulder and…it hurt.

skill: healer

It had only been by accident that Nora had fallen victim to sleep so early; naps were a guilty pleasure of hers, especially when she spent too many late nights and early mornings in her garden. It was more embarrassing for the woman than anything, she waved a paw in front of her, No, no... I shouldn't have even taken a nap like that... Now I'm sure I won't sleep super well tonight. She confessed, though the sleepiness was still evident in her voice. Her real concern was not wanting Stardust to feel as though she posed a problem, when Nora couldn't have been happier to have been needed.

'it is Kirain...' A slight panic forms in Nora's chest, feeling the vibration of her paws like they had when she came across the scene of Faolán's incident, like she needs them to go to work immediately, but didn't quite know where to start, 'We got into a... fight I guess...' She can see the sparks of annoyance in Stardust's eyes as she turned to meet Nora's again, her own eyebrows raising a little, worry for both of them apparent.

Though at the mention of Kirain trying to tackle Stardust, Nora's brows look as if they may pop off of her head, her eyes following suit to where Stardust looked to — her shoulder, She, what? Tried to tackle you? Oh goodness... Stardust, are you okay? Do you need me to take a look at your shoulder? And even without confirmation, she went into examination mode. It seemed fine enough to walk with... Maybe it was just some minor bruising? But she didn't want to pry too deeply and poke at her, so her motions awaited approval to touch her.

What prompted the fight between you two...? Did something happen? If Stardust had sought her out, she was most likely looking for someone to help sort her feelings out. So, she'd check on her mental and physical health while she had the chance.

It did seem to be an odd time to nap, but Stardust was not much of a napper to begin with, so she knew little about the subject. She was more into long, singular deep sleeps, as given to her from her father. She did still feel bad though, since she was already bothering Nora, and she wasn’t even sure if she should be doing that to begin with.

She was worried about Kirain, but she also didn’t want to pour worry onto Nora. Looks like it was too late for that though. Stardust looked to her shoulder, but the bruise to the shoulder was nothing compared to the bruise of the ego.

”It is fine...it just hurts some. Kirain is small and I am quite a bit bigger than her so, she mainly just…ran into me…but that is the problem! Isn’t she still healing? Shouldn’t she be…not doing that?” she asked, looking towards her shoulder briefly before looking back to Nora, a bit of embarrassment starting to cross her dark features. She huffed, and plopped herself down on her hind legs.

”Well…it may have been…a little bit of my fault,” she said hesitantly, ears folding down. ”A new guy came to join the pack and I may have been a bit…ah, I dunno, testy? You have to be careful with a guy coming into a pack of mostly women! At least, that is what my Aunt always told me,” she grumbled at the end, feeling a bit defeated. She felt she was pulled in many different directions. Her father was so different from her mother, who was so different from her Aunt, who was so different from Kirain. How was she supposed to figure out what is right?

”Sooooo Kirain may not have liked what I said about a few things, including that she should TAKE CARE OF HERSELF, and she RAN at me…it was…horrid!” she said with a frown. She was upset that she had upset Kirain so much, but at this point, she didn’t know what to do.

skill: orator

Though Stardust insisted it was fine, without a clear 'no', Nora did inspect closer, making sure there was no apparent damage, and there wasn't. Kirain indeed was small, like she'd just said. Nora let Stardust go on as she made a mental note to check in on her shoulder later — just in case. A question was tossed Nora's way, and she nodded slowly, She is still healing... But I don't think I'd recommend anyone going and... running into their friends. Thankfully, not a "tackle" as it had once been described, but Nora could see that she was flustered and caught in an emotional height, and all she could really do right now was listen and try to soothe the mental wounds Kirain had torn at.

'Well... it may have been... a little bit of my fault.' A confession, Nora's ears perk, head tilting out of concern for the other. What had happened to make them push at one another's buttons? As Stardust went on, she could see where the concern came from, men were... Interesting individuals. Personally, Nora, too, had a fear deep down that some of them were just out to hurt her or those she loved — wasn't that the case with every wolf that came across their path? True, men had more pull in this world and brawn to back it up (most times), but they also had a heart and soul — sometimes one as soft and kind as Lestan's.

As Stardust rounded to a finish, she spoke of Kirain's actions, and Nora let out a sigh, I can see how all of that would be a lot for both of you... It sounds like you two have been friends for a very long time. Honestly, it did. Stardust cared greatly for Kirain, and she could understand how that kind of care could come across as overbearing, especially between two friends. And I know how you feel, and I'm sure your auntie was a very smart woman, but we cannot go through this world with closed hearts, can we? She asked, softly, Trust me, I know men can be... Cruel. Scary. But then I meet men like Lestan, and see Faolán, and there isn't a mean bone in their bodies... Which has to mean somewhere out there, there are other good males.

I feel your care and concern for Kirain. You are a wonderful friend to care so much. And it wasn't right of Kirain to push you... I'm sure she was just frustrated... And she has been going through a lot... Not that it excuses that. After everything they'd been through recently, it made sense. Lestan had even told Nora she was going through a rough time... Maybe Nora needed to check in on her, too.

Stardust stood proudly, feeling she had a duty to make sure Kirain and everyone else was somewhat safe…and clean, but how was she to convince Kirain not to hurt herself? Nora spoke in response to all the dredge of words that came out of Stardust’s mouth, and she did her best to listen.

A simple no when Nora mentioned they were friends for a long time. ”Since the moment we came here, we found each other,” she said, thinking back on those hard, stressful times. Things were better now, were they not? Nora mentioned going through the world with closed hearts, and Stardust turned her chest away a little out of defiance. ”I dunno…” she says in a whisper with hesitance.

She sighs then, knowing Nora was probably right. Most likely. ”Yes yes…they are all well and good, I am sure there are plenty out there…” she looks to her paw, and then to her shoulder again. ”I know she is going through a lot, but why won’t she accept help? Why won’t she stop hurting herself? She would hurt herself in the past, too, when she did not need to!” she begs, the frustration showing in her cyan eyes, wishing that Nora had the answer but…knowing she probably didn’t.

Life just wasn’t that simple.