The queen just back from a hunting trip - in her mouth dangled the lifeless body of a hare. On her back stood the small figure of Loinnir, a mouse in his beak. The duo returned just in time to stuff their catches in a cache and hear the call that was sent out for the small fae. The voice was strangely familiar, but she couldn't place who it belonged to. With a quick glance to Loinnir, who shrugged in response, she was off to meet whoever had requested her.

Not even when the girl was in sight did she recognize her - only when the salty smell of the sea entered her nostrils did everything click in place. What a coincidence, if something like that even existed. Lumi didn't believe it did. She smiled, tail swaying from side to side. Greetings. She said. I can't help but believe we've met before. To what do I owe the pleasure?

There was a mutual attraction, but the fae feared it was too late. Her heart had been stolen by a poisonously charming mouse, before she could even begin to think of girls as romantic partners. It wasn't the way she was raised - her mother had told her she was made to please a man, and that all else would be frowned upon - and even then, when they discovered the small fae was unlike the other Meloniis, they decided she was not even fit to do that either. No man could ever want her, for she was weak and small and not connected to the Gods they hailed. They were wrong, of course, but something like that stuck to your thoughts like old gum under a school table.

Ah, yes, Huā! She sung - how could she have forgotten such a spirit? She'd been the first to ever compliment her outward appearance - a comment she probably should have heard way earlier by the one who called herself her mother.

She smiled proudly, surprised Aoibh had listened to her, glad that Huā had gotten what she'd always wished for and humbled by the notion of an alliance and the assumption she led her pack already, yet alarmed by these "danger people" the sea wolf spoke of. That does sound enticing - and I'd love to see your island one day as your ally. Do you, by any chance, know of the Empire in the midst of the mountains near here? She replied excitedly.

The statement did not  rub the fae in the wrong way. All it did was make her daydream of a vacation on the coast, dancing among the waves, with Dante... Now, when would that boy leave her mind, darn it?! There were more pressing matters that required her attention, why did she just want to be with the mouse and get that same, new feeling she could not place? It wasn't fair, now that her dreams were within reach. And then there were her unwanted feelings, directed at Reiko and even Huā as she stood there on her border. Was it possible to love more than one? Or was she mistaking attraction for something more? That sounds wonderful. She added, adequately hiding whatever squabble was happening within her mind.

Our court has an alliance with the Empire - their leader is named Reiko. Perhaps it would be nice for us three young, strong women to band together? She proposed, repressing excitement in the hopes of staying professional. No matter the answer to that question, she would continue to ask; But what of these "danger people" you speak of? Are they threatening your pack?

Of course, the Empress' name was a well-known one, its familiarity reaching as far as the sea. Lumiya could only dream of this realm knowing of her existence and power - how she stood tall, though not literally, and showed kindness to all. She aimed to become a legend of sorts, among her faeries and among those on the outside looking in.

"A man who is part dog, stripe and dark color, pale belly, warm eyes- call himself Donovan, this one."

That fit the description of the intruder they'd had not too long ago... A beast of a man, yet he had responded kindly to Fionn and her finding him and escorting him across their border and back to where he'd come from. They'd not exchanged names, she was fairly certain, which made confirming her suspicions all the harder... If she had known of the dangers he posed, she'd have rallied her troops and sent word of his appearance to the sea folk.

Tzila, as she was called, did not ring any bells. The fae remembered all those that passed her forest, though it was possible she'd been around also, but just hadn't been spotted. She soaked up all the information she could, her expression having been grim ever since the sea queen's story had started, sighing a deep and worried sigh.

I believe I've met this Donovan you speak of - a man fitting your description came through my forest not too long ago, ignoring our borders. It'd been pouring rain, yes, but we are with so many that our scent would've been hard to miss. She told. But... He did not display his violent tendencies, he was just disrespectful to me and one of my warriors. We escorted him out while he was laughing about our concerns — I wish I'd known of this sooner, I would've questioned him more thoroughly... She added apologetically, ever blaming herself for things she had no control over.

The woman I do not know of... I am glad for this. Both of their attitudes sound nothing but despicable. We ought to do something about their reign of terror, but what... Her brows were knitted together in a frown. The faeries were not fit for war, but seeing as there were only two of them, and a dozens of them - including the Empire and the Queendom of the sea folk - she reckoned their chances to be high. Do you reckon that we could drive them far away from here, if our three Queendoms band together? We are no fighters, but these two could be a threat to us all if we let them run free, terrorizing the lands nearby. We will defend for justice.

Though it was far from it, Lumi had the feeling they would save the world by banding together and driving away the threat that had shown its colors - the ground was red with their recklessness, but the queens and empresses of this realm would band together in a raging storm to wash away their sins. I suppose we got lucky - but we can't count on that again. There is only so much destiny will allow, therefore we must extinguish their spark before it fans into a flame. She replied determinedly.

Though the names of the other groups did not ring a bell, she was thankful for their alliance with the sea folk. There was no guarantee Reiko would aid them in their battle against injustice, and their court had little warriors to spare. Though she'd sworn peace for this realm, sometimes that peace should be broken to vanquish a greater evil. Precisely - though we are small, we shall stand tall and tell the darkness; no more. She agreed in the same spirit.

She curtsied in return, offering a soft and meant; Stay safe. As her final goodbye. The queen watched the retreating figure of her old friend then, turning 'round soon after to find someone willing to come with her. She needed a guard if she was to show up, and she quickly needed to make her way over to the Empire to tell Reiko of what was happening.