regency au } { of running away and lost friends

[arsion]

Kate: [which will bring his wife around the corner, all concerned] Peter?

Peter: She's gone. She's gone and I... I don't know where to start looking for her.

Kate: Breathe. [she takes a step closer, hands on his shoulders to calm him] You're a werewolf. Don't look. Use your other senses.

Peter: She's hiding her scent. I taught her how to do it.

Kate: Alright, then that means she left of her own volition, not someone taking her. Why would she leave?

Peter: Liam.

Kate: Where is Liam going?

Peter: He's gone. He was caught stealing from Laura and we squired him to another knight who left last night with him.

Kate: Does Liam know how to hide his scent?

Peter: Yes, but he wouldn't have a reason to.

Kate: Then maybe instead of following Malia's, we should be following his.

Peter: Good idea. I'll get the horses ready.

Kate: [nods] Do you want me to get anyone else to go with us?

Peter: No. I'll tell Derek to have the knights be on watch for her.

Kate: [she nods] Then I will meet you at the front of the compound.

Peter: [and he will go and tell Derek what's happening and brings two saddled horses to the gate. It's winter in Austria, away from their homeland. Not the best time to run away, Malia]

Kate: [and she will hop up on one of them and let Peter lead the way. Thankfully Malia is on foot, so it won't be hard for them to overtake her. Especially considering she lost Liam's scent as soon as they hit the main roads]

Peter: [and yup, when they find her he will jump down off his horse, the angry dad face on] Stop right there, young lady!

Malia: [and she will stop but she will now cow, glaring back at him, little hands balled into fists at her sides]

Peter: Do you realize how worried I have been with you disappearing like that?

Malia: I was going to come back when I found Liam.

Peter: Liam is with his new knight now. He wouldn't have come back.

Malia: He wasn't yours to give away!

Peter: No, he was Parrish's, and he agreed to it. It was the honorable solution.

Malia: But he was my friend! No one asked me!

Peter: He stole from your cousin, Malia. He stole from all of us, including you.

Malia: So why am I being punished?

Peter: Right now, because you ran away from home.

Malia: That's not what I mean!

Peter: Liam leaving is not a punishment on you, sweetheart. [kneeling down to hold her shoulders]

Malia: [glances away, still angry because that's what it feels like. Liam stole, but she is the one who is left alone]

Peter: [he sighs and looks up to Kate, not sure what to do here]

Kate: [deep breath, before glancing around] Why don't we go back to the manor? We can discuss it there.

Peter: That sounds like a good idea. Perhaps get some hot chocolate to warm us all up.

Malia: [she doesn't respond one way or the other, but she will do as she's told if her father takes her back to the horses]

Peter: [oh you know he will, and he will be putting her up on it and getting on behind her. Not letting you slip away again young lady]

Malia: [whatever, dad, she's still going to be grumpy about it and go right back to her room when they get back to the castle, slamming the door behind her. Sorry Stiles' uncle]

Peter: [just hangs his head] What am I going to do about this?

Kate: [sighs] She'll get over it eventually. It will just take a little time.

Peter: Maybe I can purchase her a stable boy. [offhanded]

Kate: [and she'll give him a look at that]

Peter: It worked for Cora.

Kate: I don't think she would take it well if you bought her a replacement friend.

Peter: Probably not. [runs his hand through his hair]

Kate: Give her some space. She'll come around. Maybe it will help for her to talk to someone who isn't directly involved.

Peter: Perhaps.

Kate: [takes his hand] Come. Let's get something to eat.

Peter: [and he will go with her]

Malia: [and she will just hang out in her room and cry, probably]

Stiles: [and after he sees Cora to her room for bed, he happens to come by Malia's room and hears her. So he will knock] Malia?

Malia: Leave me alone.

Stiles: [he placed his hand on the door a moment, not knowing what had happened but just worried about the young girl] Are you sure you want to be alone?

Malia: No. But the person I want isn't here.

Stiles: Can I please come in then? I don't want you to be alone.

Malia: [there's a long long silence before] ... Fine.

Stiles: [and he will slip in quietly, no longer in his fancy outfit but more just simple around the manor clothing. He will walk over and sit beside her] Why are you crying?

Malia: They sent Liam away. He was my friend and I'm never going to see him again.

Stiles: Oh sweetie. [and he will put his arm around her shoulder, offering her a hug] I'm so sorry.

Malia: [rolls away because she really doesn't want the comfort right now]

Stiles: [and he will drop his arm] Just because he's gone now doesn't mean you won't ever see him again, you know.

Malia: My father doesn't want me to see him anymore.

Stiles: Still doesn't mean you won't ever see him again. Fate has a way of working around things.

Malia: [huffs and curls on herself more] That doesn't help me now.

Stiles: Do you know where he went? You could write him. That's not seeing him.

Malia: He's with Sir Hector. They travel all the time, he'll never get the letters.

Stiles: No, but Sir Hector goes to tournaments and I do owe you for all the letters you helped deliver for Sir Fox.

Malia: [there's a long pause, because Stiles clearly doesn't know the whole story] He stole from us.

Stiles: Yes, I heard.

Malia: [so she understands why he has to go away. and it hurts both ways.] Maybe he doesn't deserve it.

Stiles: Maybe he doesn't, but he is your friend and they make mistakes sometimes. You have to forgive them eventually.

Malia: [more silence] I didn't get to say goodbye.

Stiles: I'm sorry.

Malia: I just want to go home.

Stiles: I know. Me too.

Malia: Can we go soon?

Stiles: Yes. We can leave by the end of the week. Maybe sooner if your father wants to leave before us.

Malia: Good. [a beat] I don't like Austria.

Stiles: Well, you don't have to live here I promise.

Malia: Good.

Stiles: Maybe one day you'll come visit me and Cora when we do live here, but you don't have to.

Malia: Maybe. [she's not counting on it]

Stiles: Is there anything I can do to make you feel better while you're still here?

Malia: [she shakes her head] I just want to be alone.

Stiles: Okay. But if you need anything, you just come to me.

Malia: Okay.