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aw!
 
She'd thought things had been getting better. That she was making friends, making connections, finding an anchor, settling down. That, maybe, this was her new family. It'd all been an illusion, though, a hallucination, something she'd lost herself in. Now, most of Morningside had fallen ill, and here she was, in this disaster of a place. Far away. Not something a healer should be doing. An aspiring one, in her case, but still. Bit selfish, perhaps. But she's just not feeling it. No, she didn't belong.

 Perhaps the gods are trying to tell her something. Raid smiles grimly as she surveys the land through detached amber eyes. She is careful to avoid the rubble, standing some distance away from the danger. It sums up her life, somewhat. Detached. Standing away from things, trying not to get hurt and still inevitably getting hurt in the process. She shakes herself, a shiver running down her spine. There's a certain absentmindedness in her movements. Like she's not really here. Like, she's not anywhere anymore. A drifter, a soul who belongs in a world of bright blue seas and grassy plains and red flowers, not in this cruel reality. 

Raiden sucks in a sharp breath, then lets it hiss out slowly - long and drawn out, and pads forward until her paws are but a few inches away from the edge where the ridge ends and the rubble begins. There's a certain peace in this solitude, in this desolate environment and she revels in it. A bit too much, perhaps. The wind slams into her face, but she doesn't move, not even an inch. She's content to stand here near (too near) the edge of the rubble and gaze into the sea - like she's at the end of the world.
Back to the sea she ran! The cocoa-dusted shewolf darted through the terrains that made the wilds, tactfully razing the meadows, ravines and summits that stood in her path. Harley understood exactly what she was doing, knew where she was intended to go and would be remiss to let anything keep from that beautiful glittering coastline. To inhale the salt-sticky air, to play amongst its sands, to howl at its moon! How quickly it had grown on her! The hoyden thundered toward the many forests that further blockaded her intentions and barreled through them with an entirely undeserved sense of entitlement and bravado. Perhaps these lands were claimed, perhaps they were not — this question did not give the girl any pause or leave her with irksome guilt. Breaking the rules was not something that frightened her — now.

Brimming with purpose and fearlessness, Harley called out in a series of yip and barks and cackling semi-howls. The sounds boiled from deep within her chests, the sound of which was low and rolling. Perhaps she would she would continue to sing her song to the ocean when she arrived to it, skittering to a halt at its shores. Yes, she would appease the briny deep with her warbled sounds, and might even offer it a dance! Harley didn’t truly understand this impulse — as it was not very characteristic of her — but there was a definitely pull towards the coast, simmering down deep in her gut, that could not be ignored. She burst onto the cape and huffed from her physical exertions, drawing breath deeply as her gaze fell upon the cerulean, winter waters from high upon the ridge. Then her attention flicked to a distant figure, watching the waves — and it all made so much sense! She could recognize that form anywhere.

Regaining her speed and momentum within seconds, Harley charged towards Raiden. “HEY, she bellowed, as if there was anything she could say or do to make this reunion happen faster. The joy she had felt before tripled — quadrupled — quintupled! and the lovelorn girl could hardly believe her good fortune.
Raiden wants to wander closer to the coast, to feel the salty spray in her face, to taste the briny droplets on her tongue. Maybe a part of her's hoping that it'll shock some sense, some feeling back into the hollowness in her chest. Or maybe, she just needs to remember...something. Raid shakes her head, shivering slightly as a particularly harsh breeze ruffles her fur and sneaks its chill deep down into her bones. Well, anyway, if she wants to go to the coast, she would have to find another route. This place here is all destruction and rubble. Like me, Raiden thinks to herself, somewhat amused.

Just as she is about to turn around and pick her way through the uneven rocks and rubble, however, a cry - too familiar - rings sharply through the air. Raiden starts and nearly stumbles, profanities spewing gracelessly as she struggles to find stable footing. God, she hates being surprised. Who's that, anyway? Raid'll give them a piece of her mind for -

What? Raiden blinks, then blinks again. No, this can't be right. No, no, no, noYes, she's here. Is she actually here?Harley? No, it's not possible, don't let it be her, Raiden pleads quietly, the words spiralling around her head continuously. Her heart speaks a different language, however - it wants the distance to shorten, wants Harley in her arms. Her heart misses her, misses her so much, and oh god. But, this can't be. This just can't be. 
Faster and faster she ran! Though the distance between then was covered in a matter of seconds, it seemed as if it were years to Harley. She had thought of the moment for so long — dreamt of it, ever since that day Raiden’s unceremonious departure had become known. Who knew it would happen here, when she least expected it, after having almost given up hope? Finding her girl had never been the sole reason behind her own leaving [there had been so many reasons that leading up to the ultimate decision], but Harley hoped it would be a happy side effect of her wanderings. Now, with Raiden so close, and their reunion mere moments away, the girl realized it was all she had ever wanted; and she feared that, at the last second, this gift would be taken from her. She didn’t deserve the healer, after all. 

Her target turned to view her and Harley let out another loud HEY— as if it would answer any and all questions that flipped through Raiden’s mind. Harley knew her, knew how smart the girl was, and wanted to give any answers she could before Raiden made any quick assumptions. However, it was at this moment that the uneven terrain got the best of Harley, who had never been the most dexterous of creatures, and she was sent tumbling to the earth with a force the shook the breath from her very being. Harley’s vision went black, but only for a moment — the energy and excitement of Raiden  did not let her linger in her recuperations for long. my god, she wheezed and sprawled out of the ground dramatically, grinning like an idiot from the ground tail creating a steady drumbeat behind her.  Come here, come to me, please! her entire mien spoke loudly.
No. However much Raid wants to deny it, she knows with all heart and soul that this is Harley, not some lookalike, not her identical twin, not some random eccentric stranger. She would recognise the other girl's voice anywhere, and this, this is definitely it. So many questions, so many thoughts, contradicting emotions - Raiden feels like she's been plucked from the only normality, the only stability she's known since her amnesia (plucked from this goddamn dimension, goddamn it) and thrust violently into the jaws of this new universe where her greatest wish and worst nightmare mingled together into a new reality she's not ready to face - without her consent. Though, she thinks to herself grudgingly as she watches the figure draw closer and closer (too close, honestly, yet too far away as well) with each passing second, most of the events in my life have happened without my consent, so I don't know why I'm so surprised.

Raiden watches, somewhat amused as Harley trips and falls - its familiarity strikes her hard, almost like a shockwave consisting of a mixture of bitterness, pain and relief because this is the Harley she knows and loves and she's not really sure if she wants the other girl to be here or not. But god, she misses her and she hates (well, not really, just bitter) her and she just doesn't know. However, a sharp arrow of worry pierces through Raiden amidst the amusement, unbidden, at the girl's fall and she finds herself moving forward - almost as if she's not there and she's watching from afar, watching someone else navigating her body towards Harley.

"Are you alright?" the words slip out of Raiden's lip, lilting and smooth - not once cracking or stuttering, for which she is eternally grateful for. It sounds detached even to her own ears - like a stranger speaking to another stranger out of pure politeness. The chocolate wisp stops a foot or two away from Harley and gazes at the girl, expression utterly unreadable. Inside however, she feels as if she's in the centre of a tornado, in the middle of a goddamn ocean, utterly helpless as the waves drag her this way and that and throw her underneath the waters. Seeing her ex up close brings back more memories than the last several months in Teekon Wilds has given her. Raiden feels happy on a certain level, she supposes, though that's to be expected. There is, however, a large, bigger, underlying layer of bitterness churning deep within, waiting for an opportunity to burst forth and drown Harley in their depths, to make her feel the pain. Raiden pushes that thought aside, however, and instead silently regards the girl through cool amber eyes despite the other's body language insisting the closing of their distance. She tries to ignore the way Harl's idiotic grin makes her feel, tries to ignore everything.

She's done constantly running back to Harley regardless of what the other does. She's done being the one who gives, who chases, who does everything, the one who tries. This time, well, Raiden's not sure what she expects from Harley who's shown to prioritise everything above their relationship, if that even exists - she's not sure if the girl has changed or not (she doubts it, honestly) but - first, she'll see how this encounter turns out. Maybe, just maybe, Raiden will hear the other girl out. 
YO i seriously apologize for the wait

The fact that Raiden might not be so psyched to see her barely registered in Harley’s perception. Time and distance were the best of healers, and these both had allowed Harley to smooth of the memories of their brief affair until it was something still beautiful and not entirely recognizable. The fact that Raiden had up and left her — abandoned her there — would never not hurt, she supposed, but all events leading up to the event had been spun like cotton candy in her mind: puffed up, colorized, and made to be something it’s not. 

So, on a good day Harley might have recognized the myriad of expressions that crossed her girl’s face, but they hoyden’s eye for detail was none too sharp in the moment [and, of course, distance had made her memory a bit fuzzy]. Instead, as Raiden approached, her plume beat faster and fast against the ground in unabated joy until Harley could not longer stand it and she sprang up, movements lighted from some unknown power source, and rushed to close the final distance between them. From her vocal chord erupted a chorus of laughter.

“Dang, yeah, i’m good, man! I’m great!” She chanted quickly, words tripping over one another in their attempt to leave her mouth. In reality, Harley’s paw tweaked and smarted from her fall but she could literally not care less at that moment. With a hint of a limp coloring her gait, Harley stopped several feet away. She had enough sense to know that touch might be a barrier that she needed permission to breech, but that did not mean she didn’t long for the girl and pine away for the chance to embrace her once more. With Raiden’s scent so near, so beautiful, it was maddening; but still, she did not.  ”I— I can’t believe it’s you…” she breathed. ”How are you? Harley questioned earnestly, her gaze traveling the peaks and valleys of Raiden’s form in order to assess any… changes, good or bad. There was nothing to denote any harm had befallen Raiden, save for her cold demeanor — but that Harley chalked up to sheer surprise. 
       
it's okay! :)

Raid starts at Harley's sudden movements and instinctively stumbles backwards, trying to create some distance between them. It's not really because of Harley, specifically, but rather, a response honed over time alone. Getting close physically to strangers is dangerous, and though her ex girlfriend is hardly a stranger, Raiden can't help but feel a tad bit wary around the other girl. She did break her heart, after all and Raid does not forget these things easily (somewhat ironic, given her amnesia). The memory and the emotion accompanying the heartbreak comes rushing back at Harley's exuberant laughter, drawing a somewhat pained smile from the girl. 

That barely lasts, however, quickly fading into nothingness - an indifferent facade washing over her features as Harley speaks, stumbling over her words in her excitement. Has she forgotten what had happened the last time the two saw each other? Why is she so...happy? She's not nervous? What the hell is up with her? Ugh, typical. Raiden's ear twitches at her ex's words, keen amber eyes noting the way the other girl's eyes travels over her form. She says nothing on that matter, however, and instead cants her head, offering Harley a bland smile. "You're limping," Raiden notes quietly, healer eyes missing nothing. Even with the bitterness churning deep within her gut, she still cares deeply for the other girl - she knows Harley to be clumsy, knows her to play down the extent of her injuries. There is a flicker of concern in Raid's eyes as she regards the other girl, and swallows. 

Harley's effect on her hasn't, apparently, faded over time. Raiden curses the erratic pounding of her heart at the sight of her ex's earnest expression, curses the way her muscles stiffen, curses the butterflies (or are those snakes) fluttering in her gut. Well, the butterflies seem kind of leaden. They used to be bursting with energy. Even they had taken a blow when Harley...no. Raiden sighs and tries to push her thoughts aside. She feels lightheaded. "Let me see you," she says, trying to change the subject only to realise the words haven't exactly come out right. A heat crawls up her neck and threatens to colour her cheeks; she ducks her head, clears her throat. "I don't want you to fall into a hole or something, just because your limp turns out to be a terrible sprain or whatever." Her voice doesn't shake and the words slip out professionally - for that, she's glad. Honestly, Raiden isn't quite sure what she's feeling; she's a bit lost, confused regarding the tornado of emotions rushing through her at the sight of her first love. She wants to hug her, kiss her, embrace her, but at the sametime, she wants to spit in her face and scream at her, yell out all her pain, hurt, frustration. Wants to turn and leave, make Harley feel the pain she felt. It's a mess, honestly.
Was Harley nervous? Hell yeah — this was the moment! This was everything she had thought about, dreamt about, everything she had wanted since the moment that morning she had woken up and Raiden had been gone. For a long time, she had attempted to live with her decisions and create a fine life exactly where she was, as she had done almost every day up until that point — but there were too many questions that were left unanswered, too many possibilities left unchecked and unturned, and so Harley too left. Again, not specifically to find the healer, but she left all the same. It had not stopped Harley from dreaming of incidentally coming face to face with her ex, either, and seeing what had become of her.

— and this was that moment! 

It was almost as if words couldn’t do it justice, and Harley knew she was no good at words anyways, so she didn’t even try. Instead her crept closer to the girl, closer than she had been in the past 8 months or so, and lifted the offending forelimb for examination. It hadn’t hurt before, and it still didn’t hurt now, and in the past maybe she would have fussed over Raiden’s  superfluous concerns, but right then the hoyden wanted nothing more than Raiden to heal her every wound, both physical and emotional. Harley felt bad about everything that had happened. It had all been so new and unfamiliar at the time; so impossible to understand! Could she truly have been faulted for this? Perhaps that way neither here nor there, so Harley bit her tongue [not something she often did] and relegated herself to simply getting Raiden up to speed, rather than breaching the topic of reunion and apologies. “I left,” she said rather plainly, not wishing to influence the girl’s reaction to this [obvious] statement. With ears craning forward, Harley anticipated words.
Harley was uncharacteristically silent as she slinked forward and offered Raiden her forelimb. For a moment, the healer's brows drew together in a frown before she remembered herself and quickly emptied her expression. Quietly, she leaned forward and examined Harley, studiously ignoring the erratic pounding of her heart at their sheer proximity. Oh, how she'd dreamed of this moment...looking into the other girl's eyes and simultaenously kissing her and punching her; it'd been perfect and she'd always been so confident. But those were nothing but dreams, and dreams could never compete with reality. So, silence reigned supreme and Raid, despite her desires to break it, refused to do so. Perhaps, a part had to do with stubborn pride - she wanted Harley to do something first. 

And so, Harley spoke. Raiden was quiet for a moment, then she drew away and straightened herself, meeting her gaze searchingly with a cant of her head. Then, something within her chest gave way, a weight lifted off her shoulders and floated up into the air like a balloon. A wry smile graced the healer's lips. "I can see that," she said, amusement underlying her lilting tone as she took a step closer - hesitantly. "Thought you'd never leave. What happened?" After all, Raiden highly doubted it was because of her own absence.