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mayaparker · 5 years

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Wild and Bittersweet Honey;

@aedanthewitch, Maya and @rydenbolt all do their best to help @scarlettxruby though a painful Blood Moon.

Ruby had decided awhile ago that this was probably not the best idea she'd ever had. Her moonlight charm was a good one, strong and well-made, but the pull of the blood moon - a lunar eclipse no less - was not making this easy. It had started as Ruby feeling the usual crawling anxiousness that came with the moon's call. That she was used to. But then when the magic of the charm said 'haha nope' to her body's want to shift, that's when Ruby had started to feel ill. She'd never resisted the moon before. But she couldn't do it this time. Not the Blood Moon. She'd told Ryden she'd be riding it out at home, Maya too. Just in case. Because the feeling of wrongness, of fear, where this type of moon was concerned, was too much. She would resist, no matter what. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how much her body screamed at her to give in. She wouldn't. Not this time. By the time someone knocked on her door, she was shaking with fever, her body on fire as the magic did it's job and kept the wolf contained.

Aedan was spending the blood moon alone rattling about his house. With its new windows in and tarp on the roof, it was so much easier to deal with the inside too. But he was so damned bored. After so long working on the place all alone, it got lonely. And what with the moon the way it was, he couldn't help but think of Ruby. Especially after the Spirit ritual. [Text From Aedan to Ruby] *Image Delivered* The image contained in the text was of the red moon set upon a clear night sky from Aedan's overgrown courtyard. [Text From Aedan to Ruby] Look at that moon! Made me think of you =D

Maya knew that Ruby was trying to ride out the moon without shifting. She personally thought it wasn't a good idea, but Ruby was an adult. Of course that didn't stop her from doing research into what kind of magic might help ease the unavoidable discomfort Ruby would feel. And after several texts went unanswered Maya showed up on Ruby's doorstep, magical chocolates in hand.

Ruby heard her phone ping from where it was somewhere under the covers nearby. Blearily, she pulled it out and saw the text from Aedan. She smiled despite herself, and sent off a couple of texts in return, though it took her a minute. [Text From Ruby to Aedan] hey u. [Text from Ruby to Aedan] did it?

Ruby also saw the texts from Maya, and scrolled over, squinting at her phone. [Text from Ruby to Maya] not dead. [Text from Ruby to Maya] 💗

[Text From Aedan to Ruby] Yeah. [Text From Aedan to Ruby] You're the only person I would think of. Especially after telling you that story with the Spirit and the Celt.

Maya's phone went off as she raised her hand to knock on Ruby's front door. She pulled it out to see that Ruby had finally texted her back. Rolling her eyes, but glad that her friend was okay, Maya shouted, "Too bad I'm already here."

Ruby smiled, though she had to set the phone down for a second as she felt ill again. But it passed about the time she heard Maya's voice from downstairs. Ruby groaned. "M'fine..." she said, not that Maya could hear her. She blinked at her phone again, the words blurring slightly as she replied to Aedan. {txt} I like that story.

[Text From Aedan to Ruby] I'm glad. I got a present for you when we next hang. Aedan stepped back into his house and idly ran his fingers over the half-bound leather book that he was still working on.

Ruby hummed, smiling still despite how bad she felt.

[Text from Ruby to Aedan] prestne? rly? [Text from Ruby to Aedan] bday's not til may. [Text from Ruby to Aedan] beltane.

Maya waited for a moment, but heard no noise from inside the house. She rolled her eyes again. If Ruby hadn't already texted her back she would've been more worried, but since Ruby had Maya knew that the woman was inside and probably just sick as a dog. A pun intended. Maya tried the door and found it open. "I know you're like the Big Bag Wolf now, but you can't leave your door unlocked," she said as she walked in, closing and locking the door behind her. Not seeing Ruby in the living room she made her way up to Ruby's bedroom. Standing in the doorway, and seeing Ruby in her nest of blankets, she put a hand on her hip, "So this idea looks like its going super well for you?"

Ruby growled (quite literally) at Maya's voice. "'S'fine." She buried herself a bit further under the covers.

[Text From Aedan to Ruby] A present indeed. But it's not for your bday! Just a wee silly thing to make your day. Aedan settled on his dust-sheet covered Rococo armchair (which he didn't think would suit the rest of the place once it was all done), and turned his focus to finishing the bind of the book.

Maya shook her head although Ruby couldn't see it. She heard the growl too and knew that her own tone was probably playing with fire. "I come bearing gifts if that helps," she said, not yet moving into the room.

Ruby's growl turned into a groan as her head throbbed madly. "A sledgehammer? To bash my head in?" In the sudden wave of pain that rippled through her, Ruby forgot to send a text back to Aedan, and ended up knocking her phone underneath the bed.

Maya laughed. "Well, how about you try this chocolate first and then we'll see if I need to go pick up a sledgehammer," she said and finally crossed over to sit on corner of the bed

Aedan knew people had better things to do than text every five minutes, so he simply thought she'd gotten herself distracted by something. He used the time to continue his work on her present.

"How 'bout you get the hammer first... got one out back..." Ruby's voice was muffled from beneath the covers, and she barely moved when Maya sat down.

Maya tugged at Ruby's blankets. "How about you sit up like a big girl, try this and while we see if it works I'll pop down and grab the hammer?" she asked. In the back of her mind she knew the tone was probably a bad idea. Not as bad as Ruby deciding a blood moon was the best time to try her first attempt at not shifting, but still a bad one.

Ruby would've snatched back on the blankets, but she couldn't muster the strength. She also might've used her feet to shove Maya off her bed in a fit of pique, but she also couldn't find the energy. "You're such a bitch..." Ruby murmured to herself (not really meaning it, of course), but stuck her hand out from under the blanket for the chocolate."'S'my phone?" she asked suddenly, realizing it wasn't there.

"You think that's news to me?" Maya asked with playfulness in her voice. She put one of the chocolates in Ruby's hand. "Not sure," she replied, "Probably dropped it." As she said it she got up to search and found it easily under the bed. "So need to text someone else back that you're not dead or is it something more?" she teased even as she dropped the phone back beside Ruby's head.

A noise scraped against the shingles of the roof right above Ruby's bedroom window. At first, it was a heavy thud landing above their heads, a dull bang against the ceiling and then a dragging sound of something heavy walking, or rather, creeping carefully over the slanted rooftop until it became a shadow outlined against the windowpane behind Ruby's bedroom curtains. A large, looming shadow now looking for an ajar window to go through.

Ruby just snorted again and took the chocolate. It started to melt in her hand as hot as she currently was, so she ate it without much hesitation, grimacing at how dry her throat was. She had to uncover herself a bit to get to her phone, not answering Maya's question.

[Text From Ruby to Aedan] ty. [Text From Ruby to Aedan] im not ded btw. Ruby was about to send another text off to Aedan, when the sound of something on her roof took her attention. The text got cutoff midway-- [Text from Ruby to Aedan]I'm ju- - --as Ruby pushed to her elbow. A moment later, she groaned a fell back on the bed. "Use the door!"

[Text from Aedan to Ruby] You're not dead? Why? What's wrong? [Text from Aedan to Ruby] Do you need a charm or tea or something? [Text from Aedan to Ruby] Ruby? Is this a mark thing?

Maya snorted, "I'll take that as something more." She was distracted by whatever other teasing she might've done, by a loud thud above her head. Looking up she frowned, trying at first to write it off. But the dragging sound was hard to write off. She turned just in time to see a shadow appear outside Ruby's window. In contrast to Ruby's nonchalance Maya's heart skipped several beats before going into overdrive. At least until she recognized Ryden. Opening the window for him she said, "For fuck's sake, dude, have you heard of knocking?" as she tried to get her heartbeat under control.

When she realized it was just Ryden, Ruby wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or what. This had been a dumb idea she knew. To try this for the first time during such a powerful moon. But it scared her too much to lose control again. Or whatever had happened last time. She'd glanced at her phone again, seeing that she'd made Aedan worry, but before she could reply something twisted in her gut, doubling her over and whiting out her vision as she cried out. Her phone fell to the floor, forgotten.

With the panic setting in about Ruby's wellbeing, Aedan had to force himself to wait for a reply for more than five minutes. It just so happened that while he was waiting, he was also packing some things into a rucksack. If she didn't reply within the hour, he'd find her house to check on her.

Slipping into the room through the window as nimbly and stealthily as only a supernatural creature could, Ryden seemed a bit... odd. Though that was a major understatement. His eyes had adopted that otherworldly quicksilver glow and every source of light reflected around his pupils like moonlight against still water. He was brimming with some kind of electric energy and a witch would be able to feel it right to the bone. There was also something off with his posture as well. Usually slouching, now he had a sort of straight-spine dexterous elegance to him. It was a full moon after all and although his body wasn't shifting, his mind wasn't entirely his own. A wolf in a human body was a strangely mysterious, fascinating presence and Ryden, although not born a wolf, wore it like his favorite sweater. It almost fit him better than being himself. Glancing at Maya, he reached back and knocked on the windowpane, just to make up for not knocking before. Passing her by, he stood at the foot of Ruby’s bed just as she shrunk in on herself in writhing pain. A low growl bubbled out of Ryden’s lungs as he crawled onto the bed. He still didn’t know how, but he’d felt Ruby was in pain, even from a distance away. He didn’t question it – instincts weren’t there to be questioned. So when it became too intense to ignore, he came to her as if on a call and a locked front door obviously couldn’t stop him.

Maya got about halfway through rolling her eyes at Ryden for his belated knock when Ruby screamed from behind them. It registered with her, faintly, that there was something different about Ryden, but her mind dismissed that information for now. Her heart rate kicked back up as she whirled around. "Fuck," she said and moved around to crouch beside Ruby's head. "I think you gotta shift dude," she said softly, "I can't imagine this is better."

It had been five minutes or thereabout so Aedan sent another text, desperate to know if she was okay. [Text From Aedan to Ruby] Ruby? Seriously, is there anything I can do? [Text From Aedan to Ruby] Please reply asap. Or I'm coming over.

Ruby didn't know what was wrong, but it felt like someone had shoved a white-hot blade through her guts and out through her spine. The ring on her right hand flared white-hot, and the smell of burning flesh rose in the air as the magic of the charm pushed back against the magic of Maya's remedy. Ruby's scream turned to an almost animal-like wail, and her nails ripped into her mattress just as Ryden crawled towards her. The pain was like nothing she'd ever felt, and Ruby had lived through some hellish nightmare situations. She grabbed for Ryden as he came close, fingers twisting against whatever fabric they could find as she panted through the wave of anguish. She registered Maya, but shook her head, a buzzing sound rising in her ears.

Ryden’d immediately reached out to her, taking her into his arms and gathering her up against him even as her fingers dug into the fabric of his short-sleeved shirt, which was the only top he had on despite the cold night outside. He left Rein’s place in a rush, on an instinctive whim, and forgot to put his jacket and shoes on. But cold never bothered a werewolf anyway. He held her tight, pulling her onto his lap, as if wrapping his arms around her would protect her from whatever was hurting her inside.

After another long time of no replies, Aedan swore to himself and hopped his motorcycle. If she was in danger, he had to check. He sped to her address and felt his heart race when he heard screams carry through the night.

Maya froze as Ryden pulled Ruby onto his lap. She took a second to assess how likely she was to get her head bitten off if she tried to do anything. What she had noticed about Ryden earlier was sinking in. But her own protective instinct was stronger than her self preservation. Carefully she sat on the edge of the bed and brushed Ruby's hair off her forehead, a small electric jolt passing between them as she did so. "Tell me you got some kind of potion or something downstairs?" she asked, an undercurrent of hopelessness in her voice. Obviously her attempt at helping had either done nothing or, she worried, it had made things worse.

Ruby clung to Ryden, her cries muffled as she turned her face into his neck. Her nails cut into him, digging in as tightly as the fire twisting deep in her gut. Her body writhed, like an animal in a trap, but Ryden held her fast. The pain rolled on, over and over again until Ruby felt like she'd surely die. She might have begged Ryden to kill her at one point, when she felt the fire rise to her chest and squeeze her heart like a vice. Squeezing the breath out of her for a long moment before it released her with a suddenness that had her sagging agaisnt him. "Make it stop..." she sobbed weakly, but whether she was speaking to Ryden or Maya was beyond her.

When Aedan got to the house, there was no mistaking who it was that was screaming. He tried knocking but there was no way it could be heard over Ruby's voice. And he didn't want to leave anymore time, so his patience was obliterated. Without invitation, Aedan entered through the unlocked back door and ran upstairs. “Ruby?” He opened the bedroom door to see a mess of a scene. He almost didn't notice Ruby, concealed in a mass of muscle and tattoo.

Ruby smelled him before she heard him. Peppermint and old stone. No... no, not like this... she didn't want him to see this. "Maya..." Ruby pleaded as Aedan's scent grew stronger. She couldn't let him get hurt because of her…

“Shhh…” Ryden hushed her when she begged, her nails into his skin not even registering. Practically the moment they’d rip a tear into his skin, it would heal, so this hindrance wasn’t worth his attention. “Breathe.” He spoke calmly into her ear, voice unusually flat and composed even as his arms squeezed her tighter. As almost everything Ryden did since he was bitten, he had no clue why he did it or how exactly it worked. But his instincts were almost always completely right and accurate. He never meditated in his life – he didn’t believe in energies, chakras, whatever – couldn’t keep still to save his life. But something told him to breathe with her, open up a hidden door inside him and let her pain pass through it, take some of it from her to make it easier. And it… seemed to work. He started feeling what she was feeling and it was horrible. He wouldn’t be able to take it all away – not now, when he was still unsure how this peculiar skill he had worked, but he could share some of the burden, provide comfort and warmth, security of a pack member being there to lick another’s wounds clean. It wouldn’t heal the wound, but it would numb it, maybe stop the bleeding. “Breathe.” He repeated, gently rocking her now. Aedan entering the room was yet another thing that didn’t register.

It was hard to tell what was happening, but what Aedan could see was a woman he cared for being restrained after tonnes of screaming. “Let go of her,” he said, not noticing Maya on the bed.

Maya didn't know what she should do. "It's going to be okay, alright?" she said softly. Gently, she brushed Ruby's damp hair off her forehead again, hoping that at the very least her touch might be comforting. As she did so she felt something akin to a low electricity pass between them, but didn't pay it much mind. Instead Maya's expression broke into guilt and sorrow at Ruby's pleading of her name. It was an expression quickly replaced by confusion as she turned at the sound of someone's voice behind her. She stood immediately, putting herself between the wolves on the bed and Aedan at the door. "Aedan, it's fine. They're pack buddies," she said.

“So what was that screaming? What's wrong with her?” Aedan set his rucksack down to try find something to help her.

Later, Ruby would look back and wonder why she had ever been so afraid of the red moon. Surely this was worse than anything that could happen to her. It wasn't like she remembered it anyway. But no other moon had ever frightened her before, other than her first one. But gods above, this was like death. This was worse than death... death was cold. Death was nothingness. This was pain and agony and magic rebelling against magic holding back even stronger magic. And removing her charm would either make it better, or make it 1000 times worse. So she tried to focus on Ryden's voice, the deep rumble of it in her ear. The smell of the Other he carried with him, inside him and around him and over his skin. "I... can't..." she stuttered, coughing and shuddering against him. But he kept up his mantra ,and eventually, after feeling like she'd been flayed to the bone, Ruby felt her breath catch in her throat. She moaned again, but her eyes fluttered shut as Ryden started to rock rock, and as Maya's cool fingers touched her forehead.. The pain was there, very present and white hot as ever, but bearable now. "'M sorry..." she murmured between breathes. ""m'so sorry..."

Maya shrugged, shaking her head helplessly. "I don't know," she replied, "She's trying not to shift and I brought over some shit I thought would help. But..." She trailed off shaking her head again. "But point remains, I wasn't completely convinced Ryden wasn't going to bite my hand off for getting too close and he sleeps in my bed sometimes, so I'll take any suggestions on how to help with you over there," Maya said, not moving from where she stood in between Aedan and the bed.

With Ruby calming down even for a little, Ryden gathered her up, hooking an arm under her knees, the other against her back. He was carefully picking her up from the bed.

Aedan felt lost. He'd never seen Ruby like this. Vulnerable and terrified. “I- A painkiller maybe?” He didn't know why he felt a pang when he saw how Ryden was treating her. How close they were... It wasn't Aedan's place to be jealous.

Ruby’s skin burned. Like she was on fire. The magic raging inside her was exacting a price, and that price was pain. Hers and that of the people she cared for. She would be mortified and ashamed once she recovered.

"Right because none of us thought of that," Maya replied in a sharp tone that Aedan didn't deserve. Hearing movement from behind her she turned again to see Ryden picking Ruby up. "And where are you going?" she asked, tone still sharp, but concerned as well.

Carrying Ruby bridal style and slipping off the bed, Ryden looked very much like a beast turned human with his sleeveless shirt and bare feet, come to take the troubled maiden away. At Maya's voice, he gave her a cold, indifferent stare of an animal who didn't care much for explaining itself to humans. "Out. To shift. Night calls." His eyes reflected light like a predator in the dark as his gaze slipped to Aedan, finally noticing a stranger in the room.

Aedan held his hands up with the look of annoyed resignation. Even with Maya's obvious denial of the painkiller, he continued digging for something to help Ruby. He found a jar of honey filled with herbs and flowers, “Here. This- this might help.” Aedan didn't notice Ryden's gaze.

"No..." Ruby tried to protest as Ryden picked her up. Even if it was probably the best idea, and she trusted him, she didn't trust herself. Not like this…

"Not yet," Maya said, moving to stand in Ryden's way. She hoped that Aedan would have an idea. Ruby had said she didn't want to shift, which meant that Maya would do what she could to help her. Even if it meant having to see Ruby in pain. She nodded in Aedan's direction, still looking at Ryden, "Let's try what he's got first okay? It's what she wants. Dumb as it might be."

Aedan straightened up and approached with the jar. “It's a druid recipe,” he said, as if that might convince a terrifying tattooed man to leave Ruby to her wishes.

Ryden paused when Ruby protested, studying her face for a moment before he pressed his forehead against hers in a gentle attempt to wordlessly persuade her. He looked back up at Maya as she stood in his way - which was not a smart thing to do when the blood moon was full. "Who?" He asked, tilting his head in Aedan's direction - a very inhuman gesture but it screamed distrust.

Aedan was a self-proclaimed idiot and didn't notice how Ryden looked at him. All he could think of was how Ruby was in pain. And what this man was trying to do was completely against her will.

The ring on Ruby's hand burned, starting to glow as it worked to resist the ever-encroaching pull of the moon, and the animal that scratched and clawed beneath Ruby's skin, wanting out. She opened her eyes when Ryden paused, the blue gone and only crimson remaining. "Please..." she asked. "Try..." The tone of her voice was such that it told Ryden that if this didn't work then he could take the ring from her hand and let the moon have her.

Maya could see Aedan coming closer with the jar out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't help the way her heart rate picked up. While she knew that it wasn't a smart move to put herself in Ryden's way at this moment she trusted that he wouldn't hurt her. Whether or not that was rational was its own whole question. She didn't trust him not to hurt Aedan if his instincts told him he had to. "I know," she said with a tight throat, watching Ryden press his forehead to Ruby's. She hated to see her friend in pain. "He's a friend," she answered and reached out to take the jar from Aedan without looking away from the wolf in front of her. She was sure it was the wolf in front of her.

Ryden growled lowly at Ruby's plea. He wasn't trusting the stranger. But then again, there were few who Ryden trusted. And he tried to connect to Ruby, to speak to her without words, as they would when they would shift. But her wishes were shutting him out and it unnerved him. Ryden the human was a friendly, chatty, loud sort of creature. His wolf was a complete opposite - reclusive, careful, solitary. And it didn't like more than one person around him. The energy the full moon filled him with crackled with annoyance about him. He bared his canines at the jar being passed around.

Ruby would have to explain later, if Aedan still wanted to speak to her after tonight, that Ryden was only doing what instinct told him to do. That he wasn't trying to force her or make her do something against her will. Ryden would never do that. It was the wolf. The wolf knew what needed to happen, just like Ruby's wolf did. Even if the human side of her was too idiotic to let it.

"Yeah, I'd stay back by the door," Maya said, finally turning to face Aedan for a moment. She then turned back to Ryden. Slowly she opened the jar and held it out for him to sniff. "You can try it first if you want, but it's what Ruby wants. You know it's what she wants, even if it's wrong," she said.

Ryden's growl tugged at something inside Ruby. The wolf lurched against the magic holding it back, and she growled in return as she felt his unease, and the urge to protect him rose from out of nowhere.

Aedan relented his jar to Maya but refused to completely leave Ruby's side. He wanted more than anything to see if he had helped her with it. And given the nature of her mark and new spiritual discoveries in the past weeks, he didn't know how that would affect this. Though, he did step back from Ryden to keep from being gutted.

Maya turned to Aedan again when he didn't go far. She did it slowly, without any sudden movements. "Could one person in this room please listen to me?" she asked, "I know you want to help, but I need you to do it from over there."

“And if she's allergic to the honey? I know how to treat it but I can't from the corner of the room,” Aedan asked.

Ruby had never done this before: been around others when she and Ryden were shifted. Or in the process. She'd been around Maya before as a wolf but never during the moon. This was perhaps why. Ryden was pack. He was Other. Alpha. Whether his human side wanted to be or not. And Ruby's wolf would listen to him. But Maya was pack too. At least to Ruby. And Aedan was... he was so much more than that.

Ryden tilted his head curiously at the offered jar, but he was more curious about the person holding it rather than the jar itself. Maya he did trust and she was very wise to not make any sudden moves. He didn't sniff at the offered item and instead, carefully crouched down so he could lay Ruby down onto the floor. Whatever they were planning to give Ruby, best do it quickly, before Ryden changed his mind. He was as tense as a bowstring, ready to shoot at the slightest sound. He remained kneeling, hovering over Ruby's weak, pained form, answering her growl with fussy sniffs against the top of her head.

Ruby groaned as Ryden lay her down, unwilling to let go of him just yet. Her fingertips were bloodied from where they'd dug into his skin over and over even as he'd healed, and her skin flamed. The ring glowed, and Ruby fought the urge to claw it off her finger. Ryden's fussiness was met with a low sound that wasn't a growl,but something different. A sound that meant she was alright. She hurt, but she was alright.

Maya let out a breath, "That I also know how to help with. We had to deal with allergy attacks all the time at the group home." She turned back at the sound of Ryden moving. Ignoring Aedan for a moment she knelt carefully beside Ruby. "Alright," she said, "I'm going to need you to sit up for me for a minute." As gently as she could she propped Ruby up enough to take a sip from the jar. She spoke softly too the whole time, nonsense about how it was all going to be okay.

Aedan felt powerless. Useless. He ran his hands through his hair and back down his face with a grumble. He wanted to help Ruby so much. That's how they'd met in the first place. She had needed him. And now she needed something he couldn't give her.

Ruby drank from the jar as it was lifted to her lips. The honey was sweet, and after a few seconds Ruby reached a hand up to grip the jar over Maya's. There was a slow feeling of euphoria that washed over her, and whether the draught negated whatever magic was at war with the magic of the charm, or just numbed things alltogether, Ruby couldn't say. She drank greedily, perhaps too much, and when she finally released the jar her mouth was stained with honey, as where her chin and neck where it had run down her skin.

Hovering over her, Ryden watched her drink, expression calm but anxious to see her reaction and confirm if this helped.

The fire in her belly started to ease, drawing to a point on her hip that flared brightly: her mark. But that was a feeling she was used to. A feeling Ruby knew wasn't meant to be pain. But something else. When she opened her eyes this time the red had started to recede. Her hand raised Ryden's face, and she tilted her forehead against him, making a small sound that said she was alright. Her other hand she held out towards Aedan, towards the silhouette she could see against a backdrop of stars. "'s'alright... won't hurt you..." she beckoned, unsure if he would come close or not.

Maya heaved a sigh of relief. Her shoulders slumped. "Oh thank God," she breathed. She made no move to stand or go anywhere. Instead her eyes closed as her brain processed what had happened. When she opened them again a moment later they were watery. It didn't take a genius to realize that the chocolate she'd brought, now abandoned on the bed, had made Ruby's pain worse. Maya blinked a few times, hoping that every in the room would still be too focused on Ruby to notice her momentary almost tears.

Aedan felt a wave of relief and approached, not needing Ruby's assurance she'd not hurt him. He didn't care about his own safety when he'd heard those screams and saw her pain. “Ruby…”

"No..." Ruby said to Maya, still leaned back against her. "Not you, hm? 's'good magic... yours." Her words were a bit disjointed, but Ruby hoped she got her point across that it hadn't been Maya's chocolate's, but the ring itself, that had caused the pain.

Ryden closed his eyes briefly at Ruby's touch, her reassurance enough to put him at ease. Without much joy or reaction at all, because he wasn't quite human enough for human reactions and expressions, he retreated, standing up to pad on bare, dirty feet over to a sofa in the room, which he'd climbed to perch on its headrest, one leg folded under him. He sat there, overlooking the room, a quiet, vigilant spectator now that the danger was over.

The moment Ryden was less terrifying and less 'on Ruby', Aedan finally knelt beside her and took her hand, “Ruby, oh God.”

"Shhhh," Maya replied, running her fingers through Ruby's hair, "You don't have to talk. It's okay." She swallowed thickly and tried to discreetly wipe an escaped tear from the corner of her eye. After another blink she moved out of Aedan's way. She moved to sit on the bed, knowing that Aedan would need to check Ruby himself and wanting to give them both space for that. Maya looked over at Ryden and nodded, saying without words that she appreciated his letting them help.

Ruby let Ryden go, feeling his ease now that the Druid's magic had calmed her. It wasn't the same a witch magic, she'd learned. So perhaps that was what had made the difference. Maybe they would never know. But Ruby was certain that none of this was Maya's fault. It was hers, and no one else's. She could only tip her head against Maya's cheek, much as she had done Ryden, as Maya moved away. "I’m sorry...." was all she could say as Aedan knelt beside her. "I'm so sorry..."

When Maya's and Ryden's eyes met, there was definitely recognition in his silver orbs. He was gone enough to be a different person, yes, but not too gone to not have kept at least a part of himself. Another different thing Maya would notice were army tags hanging around his neck like a necklace - something he never wore before. The item most definitely exuded magic, the kind that would keep him from shifting fully - his own personalized moon charm.

“Why are you apologising, Ruby?” Aedan ran his thumbs over her knuckles, “You should never apologise for something like this.” He held her hand close to his chest, “God, are you feeling better, now?” He could see she was, but he needed it in words.

Maya might've done a fair number of stupid things tonight, but she wasn't an idiot. Ryden wasn't Ryden at the moment. At least not the one she was used to, which was why she had sat on the bed and not next to him. Her eyes caught the chain around his neck and she frowned. Without the pressing concern of Ruby's pain to worry about it was easy for her to put two and two together. "Are you doing okay?" she asked him, watching carefully as she waited for Ryden to answer. He didn't seem to be in as much pain as Ruby had been, but she also knew him well enough to know he probably wouldn't show it unless he had to.

It was times like these that Ruby felt like she was cursed. That no matter what happened, no matter how much she grew or learned or recognized about herself, that she would always always hurt the people she cared about. If not physically, then... well. Like this. She blinked past the sting in her eyes, wondering why he wasn't hightailing it the hell outta Dodge. "I'm... because I hurt people. It's what I do." She swallowed. "But... yeah. It's better." She smiled at him, squeezing his hand.

“You're acting as if you hurt someone tonight. You didn't! Not at all,” Aedan reached over to run his fingers through her hair to soothe her, “I was just scared you were in pain.”

Ruby wanted so badly to protest. It was habit. Or had been. Taking the blame on herself for anything that went unexpectedly. But she couldn't bring herself to dispute him. So she just nodded. But as far as the pain went. "I was," she told him truthfully. "It felt like... I can't even say." She would have to shift now, she knew. Or else the pain could come back. She glanced at Ryden, at quietly on his perch, and wordlessly tried to tell him that she would go with him now if he wished it. Even if she wanted to stay here.

Eerie, reflective eyes directed themselves at Maya when she spoke and for a moment, half immersed into the shadow of the corner he scooted over to, it seemed like Ryden would jump out like a monster from the dark to eat everyone's faces off. But instead, he grinned widely at Maya, showing full rows of unnaturally white, straight teeth. There were too many of them though and they practically glowed with how white and perfect they were. The sharp canines poked against his bottom lip. "Hey cupcake girl." He purred, finally showing some real recognition of Maya. Then he glanced over at the other pair, hunching over to rest his elbows on his knees. "Bullshit, drama queen." That one was directed at Ruby and her whining. "Wanna know who hurts people? Look back here." His sharp grin was directed at Aedan with those words.

Aedan was soothing Ruby when he heard Ryden speak. Why did those words send a shiver down his spine? He didn't dare look behind him, instead he focused on petting Ruby's hair. “I'm sorry I didn't know, Ruby. I'd have helped sooner.”

Maya knew enough of werewolves to not be scared of Ryden, to not think him a monster. She got the strangest feeling that he wasn't exactly like Carson or Ruby or even Officer Baer. But she couldn't put a finger on why. She smiled though, taking his words and smile as a yes that he was doing okay. She too looked over at Ruby when the woman tried to claim that she hurt people. "Wolf man over here didn't even bite anyone. We're all fine, no one hurt," she said, half serious, half teasing. Shaking her head at Ryden she added, "Hey, play nice with the guy who actually fixed the problem."

Ruby growled at Ryden over Aedan's shoulder, but only to let him know she didn't agree with what he said what he said about himself. "There's nothin' you could've done," Ruby told Aedan. "I should've just shifted and been done with it." She didn't say anything to alleviate any fear the Druid had towards Ryden, her wolf unable to challenge him over mere words.

"I'd give 'um a medal for it but I ran out." Ryden's baritone rumbled sarcastically, settling more comfortably on the sofa's headrest. It was pretty amazing how he balanced on it.

Aedan continued to try and ignore the threat of Ryden's rudeness, focusing on Ruby, “Well, maybe. But the honey could've helped sooner. Is there- there anything else I can do to prevent it? I have to admit, I've only done a wee bit of reading on werewolves.”

Ruby shook her head. "No. Any normal moon wouldn't have done this. A blood moon..." Ruby frowned. "It's too strong. He's been a wolf longer than me." She tilted her head towards Ryden. "So it don't affect him the same way when he wears a charm."

“Right because your whole YA fantasy cover was so helpful," Maya almost snapped. With the relief ebbing away, she felt on edge again. For the last couple of days she'd felt herself creeping towards it and knew it was probably only going to get worse. Not that she planned on admitted that. Instead she closed her eyes again and shook her head. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Ryden's in her head reminded her not to get worked up about things that hadn't even happened yet.

Ryden gave Maya a raised eyebrow look then dismissed her moment of almost snapping. He shrugged casually when Ruby explained he wasn't affected the same because he'd been a wolf for a longer time. Because who knew and whatever. He wasn't about to question it. He was just glad his own charm worked, well, like a charm.

Ruby wasn't going to tell Aedan that Ryden didn't trust witches much, other than Maya. Or much of anything related to the other wolf. It wasn't her story to tell is all. She flexed the hand that she wore her charm on. "I'm gonna find this witch and punch her in the fuckin' face though..." she said, tryin' to lighten the mood.

Aedan gave an uncomfortable chuckle, “Never punch a witch. You should know that by now.”

Ryden chuckled at that, "Yeah, don't punch. Slit their throat. Can't cast a spell if they can't talk, yeah."

Part of Maya wanted to go and sit next to Ryden, but she didn't. Not tonight at least. Thoughts a little more clear she turned to pay better attention to Ruby, which she was what she should've been doing. "Yeah, not unless I get to her first," she muttered more to herself.

"Never punch a witch that don't deserve it," Ruby countered. "He's kiddin'... mostly," she said, glancing at Ryden and then back to Aedan.

Ryden’s toothy grin said that he was everything but kidding.

Aedan bristled, suddenly feeling a pang of unease, “I meant that if you upset a witch... It was just supposed to be a stereotype. don't worry.”

"Good thing you're not a witch, hm?" Ruby whispered, leaning close, still holding onto his hand. "I know what you meant..." she reassured him quietly.

Maya sighed. She had been worried about the physical damage that Ryden might cause Aedan while they both tried to help Ruby. She hadn't even thought of the potential emotional damage. This time she did get up, cross the room and sit on the same couch as Ryden "At least pretend like you're trying to play nice," she said giving him a very light swat on the arm.

“Problem is, most people can't tell the difference,” Aedan replied.

"I can," Ruby told him. "And now they know too," she said of Maya and Ryden. What the others would do with that information, Ruby couldn't say.

"But I ain't nice." Ryden said flatly, catching Maya's wrist before the swat landed. But he didn't grip hard and he was grinning. He let her wrist go the next second. "So, where'd ya get that junk charm?" he asked Ruby, glowing eyes glancing down to their joined hands. He put two and two together instantly.

"Witch in Grisielle," Ruby said, glancing at Ryden. "I should've gone to someone I knew. Like Faye or Damek or... somebody..."

"Bullshit," Maya replied as if it were as much a fact as how many eggs needed to go into a cake. She turned her attention though to Ruby and Aedan while putting her hand back in her lap. "You still can," she said to Ruby, "If you ever think this is the route you want to go again after tonight."

"Yeah. Ya should've." Ryden didn't sugarcoat it, as usual, but he also knew that saying I told you so wasn't exactly productive. So that was where he left it and he wouldn't say it twice. Everyone had the right to learn things the hard way once. He settled back, bulky tattooed arms crossing over broad chest. He snapped his teeth playfully at Maya at her comment.

"I know..." Ruby said to the both of them. She'd definitely be getting a better charm. But as for not shifting again, she wasn't sure. This had been... a singular experience. "Are you alright?" she said to Aedan, realizing that she hadn't asked him that yet.

Maya spared a glance over at Ryden on the other side of the sofa. "Should've said I like it when you're not nice. Wouldn't have been able to argue on that one," she teased. She turned back to Ruby and Aedan though, wanting to make sure they were both okay. Even if he wasn't she doubted Ryden would admit it, especially not in mixed company.

Like Maya, Ruby knew better than to ask Ryden outright if he was alright. He was... better... than he had been when he first arrived - she could tell that just by the scent he put off - but there were still things that flittered about under his skin. Running and crawling this way and that. She felt the same way. Though whatever was in the honey she'd drank still had her feeling a bit high as well.

Ryden barked out a loud laugh at what Maya had to say but otherwise didn't comment further. Instead, he interrupted the other couple again. "You tell me when you ready." He put that thought out there for Ruby because he was pretty sure that the healthiest thing she could do right now is get out there and actually shift.

Maya nodded, "He's right. You should probably go before we're back where we started. I'll make sure Aedan gets home."

Ruby nodded at Ryden and Maya, grateful to the both of them for different reasons, before turning back to Aedan. "You can stay here if you want... both of you." Maya too. "It's late and... well... I've got plenty of booze."

'”'m fine, Ruby,” Aedan stood, “'I'll call you in the morning, okay?” He turned to Maya, “I came by bike. I'm fine.”

Ruby watched him leave, unsure what she felt other than... the sudden urge to run and run and run. "I'm ready..." she told Ryden, standing and brushing herself off.

"Please do," Maya said to Aedan. She gave Ruby smile, "Oh don't worry I know how to help myself to your booze. But I'll probably head home too."

Ruby nodded. "Be careful, okay?" She didn't wait for Ryden, making her way downstairs and out the front door after she heard Aedan's bike drive away. The moon was dark and red and looming, and Ruby looked up at at, hating it for the first time in a long time.

"Hell yeah." Ryden readily jumped off the sofa but before he walked away, eager to just go and finally shift, he gave a lick to Maya's cheek. "Bye cupcake." Walking over to the same window he came through, he pulled his shirt off, leaving it on the floor. And with that, he was gone through the window, nimbly maneuvering down Ruby's roof.

Ruby pulled off her useless ring, held it in her hand briefly before tossing it into the bushes. By the time she pulled off her clothes, she could already feel the pull of the moon. It hurt when she shifted, but Ruby was glad for it. At least until she could no longer remember who she was, other than the White Wolf. She stood in her front yard and waited for the Other.

Maya nodded to Ruby, "I will. See you later." As for Ryden's goodbye she wiped her cheek, laughing. "See you later, werido," she called after him as she shut the window. After giving the two wolves enough time to wander off she made her way downstairs and out the front door, locking it behind her.

#wild and bittersweet honey #ryden bolt #aedan o'ruaidh #ruby devereaux

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