Rust

Backstory
River's Realisation: Chapter Two
Continued from Riverbed's bio

Like Bat, Rust was the slightly isolated daughter of the lead wolves. She wasn't isolated by choice, though. It's just that she felt an invisible wall between her and the other wolves. Even her own family. She loved them dearly, but they were so caught up in other worlds. Blood magic, Lunar magic, prophecies, an entire pack to care for. All she wanted was to pupsit and play with her few basic spells. She often wished she was more ambitious. At least then she wouldn't be the family disappointment.
Outside of her family, many of the wolves shied away from her. They were intimidated, she supposed. Or maybe there was some broken part of her that she hadn't noticed, but everyone else had. Some nights she lay on a bed of moss and wished that she'd be outcast. Chased away. She'd be able to make it on her own as a nobody. She wouldn't be worth submitting to, but at least she'd worth befriending. But instead they held onto her, stubbornly. They refused her the dignity of being told she was a disappointment.
Then winter came, cold and fast. More pups filled the den. She was tasked with caring for Lunar and Solar, two pups her father saw greatness in. Unlike me, she thought.
Solar demanded to be cared for by the new girl, Riverbed. Well, new to pupsitting. And thank the moon for her. She finally broke through that wall, and when she spoke to River it felt real. When she scrambled to help her, or even rescue her, Rust didn't feel like it was out of fear. It was real care, a want to see her be okay. She'd never felt so safe around someone.
When they walked back from the river that afternoon, both freezing cold and soaking wet, Rust kept letting her tail flick against River. She wasn't sure if she noticed. River kept staring straight ahead, lost in her own thoughts. She hoped she wasn't reconsidering her decision to stay.
She came to wish that Lunar and Solar would never grow up. She wanted to whisper to them to stay small forever. Those pups had brought them together. What would happen when they grew up? She couldn't decide what she'd miss most about River. The mischief, the comfort. The late night talks that were half-forgotten by morning, but with the warmth of them still lingering.
She couldn't stand the thought of being without the only wolf she ever loved. The thought startled her, and she sat up a little straighter. What? Loved? Oh, God, she was in love.
She waited until the pups were in another lesson to take River on a walk. The forests glittered with snow, which crunched beneath their heavy paws as they walked. She kept breathing in deeply, then out. Her breath fogged on the snow.
"River, I have to tell you something."
"So do I."
Rust blinked. "Really?"
"You go first."
"No, you do."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Right." River looked away. Rust could tell she was holding her breath, because it stopped showing on the air. Then she let it all out in a big puff of white. "I've really enjoyed being with you. Really. And... It's shameful. You should have me outcast for being so presumptuous, saying this to the lead's daughter."
"Scandalous," purred Rust, suddenly recognising her mother's voice in her own.
"Well, it is, really."
"Out with it."
"Alright, alright. Rust..." River finally turned back to her. "I think I love you."
Despite the cold, Rust felt warm all over. "I think I love you too."
"What?"
Rust laughed. "You heard me!"
"As a friend?"
"The lead's daughter has feelings too," she said. "Feelings for you. That's what I was going to tell you."
"O-oh." River had to look away again. "Wow."
Rust rubbed her muzzle against River's, licking the corner of her mouth a little. River leaned against her, her whole body weight thrown into Rust's.
"There's only one thing. Well, two," sighed Rust. "My parents."
"Won't they approve?"
Rust shook her head. "They're going to be so embarrassed of me."
"There must be so much pressure on you."
"There is," she admitted.
River stood up straighter. "We could run away to another pack."
"The pups," said Rust. "We have to stay until spring, at least. We can't abandon them."
"But what if they find out?"
"Not if, when. They know everything about this pack."
"Then maybe it's best they hear it from you."
Rust's body went cold again, but she knew River was right. At least her parent's anger would be softened if she didn't keep secrets.
She waited for the weather to turn just enough that she wouldn't feel as awful. She'd be abandoning her pups to sleet, not all-consuming snow. Then she crept towards the leader's den. It was lavish. The floor was lined with furs and pelts, and the walls were covered with soft moss. Scattered around were victory trophies and instruments of magic. It was wonderful to sleep in. She'd know. She slept here whenever she didn't have pups to mind.
At the centre, Vampire and Orion lay together. She bowed her head in submission and approached them. "I must tell you something," she said, quietly.
Orion nodded to her. "Speak your truth, Rust."
"I have fallen in love."
Vampire lit up. Rust couldn't meet her eye. "With who, darlin'?"
"Riverbed. The pupsitter girl." She braced for snapping teeth.
"Oh, my goodness!"
"Wonderful. It seems it was for the best that she quit hunting, then," said Orion.
Rust looked to both of them. "What? Aren't you angry?"
"Of course not. We're very happy for you." said Orion.
Every muscle in Rust's body relaxed. "I thought you'd be mad. I thought you'd want me to fall in love with... With a prince."
"We want you to be with whoever makes you happy. And does she?" asked Vampire.
"Very much so, yes."
"Good!" Orion stood and walked over to lick Rust's forehead. "I'm proud of you, my girl."
Proud of her. Maybe their thoughts of her weren't really so terrible.