The tired pair of misfits left the mountains, and thereby Clementine, behind to pave a new path to places they'd never seen. There had yet to be a place quite like the Court, which made Lumiya think; was she fit to lead, if no one else seemed to step up and vouch for the way of living she found to be the best? She couldn't imagine anyone actually listening to her, with her tiny frame yet brilliant mind. Fortune, or more so the wolves of the Teekon, seemed to favor brawn over brains, and there wasn't a way she could change how she looked. She had little to no idea why she'd been given such a meek body, her parents were quite large and her siblings were nothing to laugh at either. It wasn't like she was the runt - perhaps she'd just gotten the weirdest set of genes.
The woods were blanketed by a thick layer of snow - on her way over there, it had started again. Loinnir shook his head from time to time to get it off, even though it blended seamlessly with his white complexion. Lumi herself was not bothered by it anymore; winter meant snow, it was as simple as that. There really was no way to fight it, and the Spring would come around soon enough.
Slowly, yet surely did Revan make his way through the thickest of snow fields back to Teekon. He wasn't aware that that was where he was headed, but anywhere far enough from father would do it. Though he was loyal to death and fiercely believed in his bloodline's purpose and way of life, Damien could be such a pain in the ass that even his one remaining son had chosen to find a different path in life than suck up to his pretentious ass. Besides, with Zan at his right side and the future of his bloodline secured by the newest litter, Revan didn't really see the point in staying.
He often thought about his mother and how, despite being so far up his father's ass, she had always been the light in his eyes. It pained him leaving her, but he knew she would understand him and accept it; Nyx was the strongest dame he knew. She had fought it before with the departure of Lumiya, and in the end she had accepted it knowing (as everyone else knew) that Lumi had always been destined to a different path in life.
Now it was his time.
A dark cloud overhead had forced Revan to steer south from the mountains. Storms did not suit the night crawler strongly, and winter storms were simply worse. He found himself across a strongly marked pack territory, and as a creature of the night, conflict, too, was a no go. Still, Revan had set his destiny in the far west (for no specific reason) and decided to circle around it to continue on his way.
Just perhaps an hour before sundown Revan found a stream of water and took the rare chance to soothe his aching thirst. The water ran cold down his throat as he gulped away, and for a moment, just a fraction of a second he let his guard down. A screeching hiss in the distance took him by surprise and Revan's muscles petrified for a moment. He'd been trained to be vigilant, and the carelessness of his own actions felt like sacrilege. He could almost hear father grunting and sending him on another round.
The sound had come from further down the stream, and Damien caught a glimpse of a dark figure before it slipped behind a thicket of trees. Revan tried sniffing out the air, but he was downwind and no specific scent reached his nostrils. For some reason Revan felt an urge to investigate despite having actively avoided contact for weeks, and before he knew it he was following the shadow through the forest. He saw it again, this time across a white-coated clearing. Lumi?
Revan wondered. The figure, the shape of the dark markings, he would recognize those anywhere. Lumiya?
he barked but this time he made sure she could hear him from her distance. If this was, indeed, his sister, it had to be Mephala's drawing Revan's path down here.
The worry she had felt for Venamis was long gone. He had chosen a path that differed so severely from hers, she doubted they would cross each other's again. For a moment had she debated going back and telling their family he was alive and well, but ultimately decided it was a waste of time. if mother and father had truly cared about him, someone would have been sent ages ago to go find him. They hadn't, not for her disappearance and not for his. With the season being right, the fae did not doubt her mother had created new offspring. She knew they wanted as many kids as they could have, which meant procreation 'till they couldn't anymore. This year and perhaps even for many more years to come would they add to their bloodline, even though so many Meloniis were already scattered all across the Wilds.
Far in the distance she saw a trail of smoke - it was the Sleeping Dragon that had awoken not too long ago, but the faerie didn't know. All that she knew was that smoke meant fire, and fire meant destruction. She decided then and there that her next course was towards the coast, as she'd never been there before. Hua had - she had reeked of the place when they'd met. She felt bad for not wanting to stay with all the friends she was making, but there was an itching and burning sensation in her tummy that could only be satisfied with exploration - exploration that would lead her straight to...—
Her brother, apparently. The duo turned 'round and, though it took her a second, she recognized the stalker as Revan. A smile spread across her delicate features, but Loinnir hooted in annoyance. He turned 'round on her back and gave her a little pat as to say 'keep moving', but the girl ignored her bird's wishes. She trotted closer, lips still sealed shut, before he was just out of reach. Revan - what are you doing here?
She asked in a way that made her sound elated to see him, yet suspicious of his motives.
Incredibly enough Revan was right. The wraith turned out to be indeed his sister out of all possible creatures he could have come across, and despite the joy it caused him to see her well and safe, it was suspicious how incredibly random this encounter had been. He could only think that there was a deeper meaning to the turn of events in his life and that there was undoubtedly a higher being pulling the strings of mortal lives. Mephala had a plan for them all.
I left,
said Revan, but left out 'finally' knowing his sister would understand the reasons behind his decision without the need to say them out loud. There had always been a special tension between Damien and Revan and if anyone had felt it it was Lumiya. How odd is it that we crossed paths... It's almost like we were meant to find each other,
he suggested quite eerily, that, too, she would understand. There was a part of Revan that had always second guessed the existence of the Daedra, but he had also never been able to fully negate their presence.
Seeing him again was like a familiar, fading tune. There was no mistaking him for someone else, but it had been so long. He had grown into a strapping young man. She had remained small but, unlike with Venamis, she felt comfortable 'neath his gaze and taller frame. She wanted to hug him, but not before he would state his reasoning for being back again. She knew he had a conflicting relationship with their father, and secretly she'd hoped he would get his act together and leave the damned place, but she had not expected to run into him again.
Her trademark saccharine smile appeared, one that was warmer after the moon she'd spent alone exploring the lands they'd once been born in. Fate - it has been guiding me since my departure.
And it had led her to so many wonderful things. It guided me to where I belonged, but then it guided me... to Venamis. He's here, alive and well, and he believes that we've abandoned him.
Her brows knotted together in a frown as she remembered their encounter. She didn't know where he resided now.
It was strange seeing her after so long. She'd grown; not larger, but definitely more beautiful in her time away. Her mismatched eyes were still kind, however, and sweet and tender. Those eyes had been his refuge so many times before that it brought him a warm feeling in his chest that not even all the snow around him could battle right that second. But it was when she smiled that Revan felt more at home even than when he was back with the clan. Not many people did it back there.
Wait, is that an owl? Revan eyed the short-beaked creature curiously, but he guessed the two had a bond like Zan had with that ugly vulture back home. Of course Lumiya's companion would be cute and fluffy.
But those derailed thoughts were kicked out of his mind and his eyes darted right back to his sister's she mentioned Venamis. That name, although familiar, was like a ghost of the past that Revan had rarely thought about for a long time.Venamis? I thought he was dead,
he said ... we all did
he rectified. The thought of him being left behind and going through life thinking he had been abandoned brought Revan an unsettling sadness of a kind he'd never felt before. It burned at the pit of his stomach and for lack of other words, broke his heart in a million pieces. And I'm guessing he has no plans of coming back?
he realized. If he'd met with Lumi and wasn't there with her right now it most likely meant that he had nothing tying him to The Melonii. He was no longer his brother... And the thought of it crushed him.
Zannah - ah, her sister - Lumi never knew what to make of that woman, partly because they had not spent much time together. She assumed she still resided with the clan, the girl was a warrior at heart and the fae was sure their parents found that to be useful. At least Venamis had been cruel to her, so she knew what she should feel when thinking about him, but Zannah... Lumi sometimes forgot she even existed and hated herself for it.
She nodded somberly, agreeing that they had all thought him deceased. A child, missing for so very long? There was only one reasonable, logical answer. Of course there were exceptions, like Aries, but most pups didn't survive on their own in the wild. Not everyone was as lucky as to run into a queen to take them in. Her eyes averted, this time shaking her head with a heavy sigh. I'm afraid not. I tried to convince him that we still cared for him, but he shoved me aside.
She understood his pain, had felt it her whole life, but if their roles were reversed she was sure she'd listened to herself. I suppose it's typical of him.
She added then, recalling the many times he'd been cruel to her without a clear motive. He had always been quite a bully, and unfortunately bullies grew up to be problematic when they got older most of the time. She was sure it was only pride and pain that clouded his mind - she didn't think him evil, just misguided. He always had been.
It was indeed quite typical of Venamis to do his own thing. That was what had gotten him in his position anyway, having one day decided he was good enough to wander on his own despite his tender age, resulting in his estrangement from the rest of his clan. There is no point in seeking him, then
Revan decided, resigned to the undeniable possibility of Venamis not even desiring to see him at all. It was best to let it be what fate decided.
However painful it was to remember Venamis' disappearance, Revan was relieved to know that both his estranged brother and Lumiya were alive and well, and pushing aside the matter of Venamis, Revan allowed himself to place a tender kiss on his sister's cheek. While he was mostly distant and cold to strangers, Revan was quite affectionate with those he truly cared about, and Lumi was right at the top of his list. I'm happy you found your own way, Lumi... I feared I would never see you again.
he confessed. Hopefully he would find his own way soon as well.
Revan was right - Venamis did not want to be found, therefore it was a waste of everyone's time to try and convert him. Still, the thought of it made her incredibly sad. He already felt abandoned, so the fae actually didn't want to give up on him so quickly, but she owed him nothing. If her kind words could not convince him, what more did she have? She could hardly force him to be a good person and stick with his family - which, let's be honest, wasn't great to him either. The thoughts choked her up - made her feel helpless. She could only go on and wish him the very best in life.
I suppose you are right.
She sighed, looking quite surprised when her brother graced her cheek. It lasted only a split second - the surprise had been more from not being caressed for so long, not because it had been Revan - and she was quick to correct herself by gently nosing the fur of his neck. She was humbled yet again, ears shyly lowering. It took a while — before I got here, I joined this... This faerie court. It was simply magical, Revan, and I felt like I belonged.
She said dreamily. She had never before felt like she belonged anywhere. Why had she left? Another act of fate, for she believed there should be more than just one place like it.
'before I got here, I joined this... This faerie court. It was simply magical, Revan, and I felt like I belonged' said Lumi, and her face lit up with such a warm smile that Revan had no doubt she was truly in love with her new life. It gave him hope that one day he would find that for himself and perhaps his eyes would twinkle with the same optimism as his sister's. But, if things had been so perfect for her at her faerie court... Why did you leave, then? It sounds like it was perfect for you
and it made no sense to leave all that behind. Wasn't that the reason she had left the Clan in the first place? to find a place where she truly belonged?
It was a good question, though she was certain her brother had always been this observant. The question asked she could not answer with certainty, for the answer was more of a feeling - a moment where thoughts and destinies collided to form a plan so brilliant - radiant even - that one could not easily ignore it. Oh, it was...
She replied again, the same dreamy tone in her voice. Something urged me to return here - perhaps to build something of my very own.
She had expressed her desires that, if no place matched the one in her dreams and memories, she would simply have to create it herself to the painted lady she'd met on the emberflame ridge. The fae's feelings about it were stronger than ever, burning within her elder soul, and were not about to change.
The very smile on Lumi's face was proof enough that she'd found something meaningful to her, but the tone in her voice said so much more about her new outlook on life that Revan couldn't help feeling infected. Through Lumiya's emancipating experiences Revan could only confirm that there was so much more beyond the reaches of his father's domain, and he wanted a taste of that. But, apparently unlike his sister, Revan had never even consider the possibility of what she seemed to be suggesting. You want to form your own court?
he realized, and a whole new door to new possibilities that Revan didn't even know existed was suddenly unlocked. You want to lead...
he said, perplexed at his sister's newly found confidence. It had always been so obvious and undeniable to him tjhat it would be Zan who would one day take the their father's crown, and he had always been so absorbed by the Clan's way of life and it's endless pit of self-serving condescendence that he never really considered it to be an option.
The fae's smile grew into a grin, pearly teeth shimmering much like the snow. She was excited - had been elated ever since she'd realized she was not weird or weak or not meant for this world. In fact, she believed it needed more people like her, like the ones in the court. Sure, their ways seemed strange at first, but it had become second nature and it was all she could think about. Lumi nodded excitedly, her ears returning to their bashful position 'top her head. Well, yes - though I very much doubt others will follow me.
She stated very honestly. She was young, slightly inexperienced, but that was what advisers were for, were they not? I will not stop trying, at the very least.
She added then with a more determined tone. She did not assume Revan would follow her 'pon this path to claim land and establish her court of wonders with her, but also that could not stop her from wishing - trying. She gave him a hopeful look, thinking that he might bring the notion up himself.
Would he be able to gather enough interest to ever build a pack of his own? Revan wondered, but the answer came quickly: He wasn't interested. He had seen first hand what it was to be a leader, what it took and what it took away. He guessed the freedom of being able to make big decisions was a perk but he was no child anymore, he knew it wasn't all power and authority. It was taking all the blame for bad choices, it was worrying about everything. It was a burden. He couldn't quite comprehend why Lumiya would want to carry all that weight on her own back. He sought her eyes hoping to fish an answer, but instead found another big question. She was asking him to join her, wasn't she? Oh I know that look,
he said, nodding it off. Faerie tales may be your thing Lumi but I don't think I would fit in on a pack like that. I'm damaged goods, you know it
he said and turned away fro a second. He knew she would come up with a way to shrug it off and convince him though, and honestly he didn't really mind, but he did want her to be warned that he would probably fuck it all up eventually.
She knew the burden, knew the risks - but Lumi had shouldered far more than that. Her whole life she'd been told she was not good enough - that her efforts were futile in nature and that she may as well not have existed at all. When that came from a mother, it hit double the target and Lumi was afraid hers was broken from all the hits she'd received. Damaged goods were their whole family, shipped away on a boat going nowhere. It was time to get off it and realize that, everyone was damaged goods. Perhaps not.
She sighed, curling around him as he turned away from her. Or perhaps you will find your calling in it as well. If not, you can return to being the clever, damaged brother I love somewhere far away again. — It never hurts to try.
She tried to convince him, something she thought to be futile. Maybe you'll even find a pretty sweetheart I can betroth you to.
She added with a little smirk, knowing not if that was what he was even looking for but wanting to make a cheeky comment regardless.
It was hard not to feel like you don't belong when your whole life you've been sized up to such high and specific standards the way it was with The Melonii. It is hard trying to fit in in such idealized, tight boxes growing up, and all that unrewarded effort could only ever result in deep psychological scarring and sequels. It was no wonder why all Meloniis seemed to turn out so hateful. The proof was in that not a single one of Revan's litter mates had grown up to love their father more than they resented him. And they had reason to.
Revan didn't really try very hard to resist to his sister's suggestion. It had already crossed his mind that spending some time together away from their tyrannical parents would be good... And what a better way to rebuild their already dented connection than to build something up from the ground as a team? For a moment she had him going, he could feel the ideas forming in his head and the anticipation starting to move thoughts around, but when she made a comment about betrothal he seemed to snap out of it as he shot a drastic (yet good-humored) look at her. Betroth me? Is that really your plan?
he laughed it off. You sound just like Damien...
he huffed at the thought of his father already planning on pairing up his own newborn pups with who knows who and talking about 'having to make a compromise for the sake of The Clan'.
And still no idea sounded too manic for The Great Dark Master
She could see him turning the gears in his head around, her plan settling in pretty well by the looks of it. Maybe she should just give up on making jokes though, they never did seem to land quite as well as her inspiring monologues. First it was the joke about her looks with little Phillip, now her betrothal joke with her brother... If leading was not for her, then becoming a comedian wasn't a back-up plan whatsoever.
Oh Gods no - I was trying to be cheeky.
She said with a little, sad frown. Sounding like Damien, her? Eww. She could see beauty in all things, truly, and she did acknowledge her father's strength and importance to... whatever it was that the clan had turned into, but really that was about it. At least it was something positive, she had absolutely nothing nice to say about their mother, only that she liked the white freckles resembling stars on her coat.
Revan chuckled softly, You're too sweet,
he said smiling at the way his sister frowned. He had taken the joke in good humor, but sadly more often than not he couldn't help linking every comment and every single aspect of his life to his father and now the mood had been ruined. It was an annoying thing to deal with when you're making an effort to move on, but hopefully one day he would grow out of his father's mind control and be able to have a normal, fun conversation without having war flashbacks.
I don't really have much else to do anyway,
said Revan and looked up at his sister, ready for the smile that he was sure would come from his answer. He really did find the idea of spending time with his sister appealing, and though he doubted he'd last much in his sister's fantasy court he knew she would need the support to kick things off and he was happy to provide it.
'Too sweet' was a bit of an understatement. The girl was, beyond a doubt, a very trustful and well meaning spirit. She could easily be taken advantage of, surely, but anyone who did truly was evil - who could betray such a cute lil' face? She sat herself down, grinning regardless of her thoughts - masking emotions were like second nature to her.
Her grin only grew, warmer and in width, 'pon hearing that her brother had nothing better to do than spend some time with her trying to create the place of her dreams. If allowed to do so, she'd give a passionate nuzzle to his shoulder in thanks. Oh, thank you - thank you - you won't regret it... much, I promise.