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+--- Thread: Dragoncrest Cliffs There's always thunder in August (/showthread.php?tid=49427)
There's always thunder in August - Rosalyn - December 30, 2021
That morning, when she could not find Mireille, Rosalyn wondered if she was at home. Or if, perhaps, the witch had taken her somewhere. A daughter for a daughter.
It might have been a macab thought if it accused the witch as she was today, but instead, Rosalyn was caught with the notion that the Sound still persisted. At the present, for her, Caiaphas still lived... and so, with purpose that belied the slightly distant look in her eyes, she began to stride southward towards the Sound's descent.
Trouble always follows her. She needed to retrieve Mireille before it was too late, and the witch would know to stay away. Firmly stuck in a past that was now years prior, she prepared to confront the woman who was little more than a ghost.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Sobo - December 30, 2021
Mireille was not in any of the nearby territories. She could not be found in any of her usual hiding spots within Sapphique or without. Sobo did not know where she had gone for the caribou hunt, but surely it was much too far for her to go during the storm. She would not leave them like that.
So he searched and he searched. When he was not eating or sleeping, he was out there combing every inch of known ground for her. When he saw Rosalyn striding through the forest, he abandoned the sea lion flipper he was worrying in the snow and loped after her.
Mireille, missing. Coraline, presumably dispersed. Loko, spending greater and greater lengths of time beyond Sapphique's borders. And Sobo ... the only one of them left tethered to this place, and the least adequate in his estimation. Nonetheless, he cleared his throat and called out for Rosalyn:
Mamá!Several long bounds carried him to her ruddy side. He failed to notice the sheen in her eyes that told of how far back in time she was.
Can I help ya search?
RE: There's always thunder in August - Rosalyn - December 30, 2021
Rosalyn acknowledged Sobo briefly as he called out to her, but she didn't pause for long. She recognized him as a packmate and familiar, but at that moment, she didn't see her son. Not the way she should have.
I'm bringing her back.Rosalyn replied, keeping on her course.
She's through interfering with us.There was a confusing lack of distinction between the two individuals, but a growl laid under her voice on the second statement.
Mireille was the one she had departed to seek, but she was not who Rosalyn pictured. The wolf in her mind was black with yellow eyes... another ghost.
She'd welcome Sobo's help if he'd give it, but she was going either way.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Sobo - December 30, 2021
Sobo gave a brisk nod. If any wolf was capable of finding Mireille and bringing her home, it was Rosalyn. That might have been the end of it, but she went on to mention interference.
The boy faltered. His ears drifted back toward his nape and his face morphed into confusion.
What?he asked in his characteristic brusque fashion; it was not a conscious thing he did, only the speed and inflection he often delivered with that word.
What do ya mean? Who be interferin'?
From the moment she said it, oily fear began creeping up on Sobo. Rosalyn made it sound like Mireille was either in danger or in trouble. If someone was interfering with Sapphique and was responsible for taking his sister from them, then of course Sobo wanted to help. That was mostly why he continued following Rosalyn with the same baffled look in his eyes.
But if Mireille was in trouble with their mothers ... Sobo was not sure if he would be able to stand against his sister in any way, even if it was nothing more than a mother's discipline.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Rosalyn - January 02, 2022
Caiaphas.She said it in a voice as if it should have been clear, though there wasn't any malice to it. All of her ire was reserved for her target. She and Erzulie had likely told the name to them before, when they were old enough to ask questions or want stories of the past. The latter would have been a harder request for Rosalyn to fill, however, especially of late.
She did not say anything further, just continued forward, her mind set on retrieving her daughter from the sound. They would reach the border soon.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Sobo - January 02, 2022
Sobo's ears snapped further back at the tone Rosalyn took, even though he knew none of it was aimed at him. He followed along, puzzling over what Caiaphas would want Mireille for. Of course he had heard stories of the witch and how she stole children from their homes and kept them for her own, but she had been an ally of Rosalyn and Erzulie once, right? It didn't make sense for her to steal Mireille away...
That was when Sobo's steps faltered and his brows pinched together. Wait a second. That couldn't be right. They were crossing now from the forest claimed by Sapphique into the forest claimed by no one, looming tall and dark above the Sound. He was disquieted. Maybe she had said the wrong name and meant someone else?
Mamá,Sobo said with a nervous swipe of his tongue over his lips.
Do ya mean someone else? I t'ought dat Caiaphas be dead.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Rosalyn - January 02, 2022
When they reached the boundary of the sound, the first sign that something was off was that there was no trace. The place was empty and had been for some time.
She began to slow down as well, still somewhat convinced, until Sobo spoke again. Mamá. The witch wasn't dead... but he was here. This time, with a rush of clear reality, she recognized him.
Sobo. Mireille. What had she been doing here?
Rosalyn stopped, then looked about, as if only just realizing where she was. The sound was empty and she no longer recalled why it had been so important that she come. She looked back at Sobo and the way he stared nervously made her own confusion sharper, edged with a measure of fear. Something was wrong. How long had he been with her?
She did not know what to say to him. She didn't recall why she was here or the question he'd asked. She was set back in the present but completely thrown by the lack of reason for being where she was, how he was beside her, and even how long they'd been standing here.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Sobo - January 02, 2022
Something was very wrong here. Thus far, any mental slips Rosalyn made in Sobo's presence were small things that were easily explained away. Sometimes she forgot the names of long-gone companions when she told stories about them. Sometimes it took her some time to recall the names of places she once visited. Nothing to trigger any amount of concern. Everyone forgot things now and again, and Rosalyn had lived a long and storied life.
This was not like those instances at all. He watched Rosalyn looking around as though she did not recognize where she was, even though moments before she had led him here with such purpose, and he was afraid right down into his marrow. It was so poignant he could not even meet her eye for a long moment. The new clarity and confusion there was terrifying.
Eventually, he summoned back his courage.
Mamá,he said again. His voice shook.
Are ya sick?
RE: There's always thunder in August - Rosalyn - January 02, 2022
She'd worried for a while that something was wrong. The fog was harder to lift at times, and she knew that she could no longer remember things the way she used to. This was new and it was terrifying in the way time had been, seemingly, stolen from her. What had she said to their son?
Rosalyn stared at him a moment but swallowed any explanations outright but one. She could not admit this to him, not when she hadn't even admitted it to his other mother. The lie was clear to both of them, perhaps, but she had no other choice.
I'm fine.Rosalyn turned from the sound with a slight shiver, trying to compose herself with a breath.
But we should go back.
Something deeper was wrong. She felt it like a spreading dread in her chest, and knew she should tell her wife. But Mireille, and now...
There was nothing to worry about. She was fine.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Sobo - January 02, 2022
All children were compelled to believe their parents. Sobo, too, wanted to believe that Rosalyn was telling the truth. He let his shoulders relax a little and followed close by her hip, relieved to be leaving the Sound behind. It was just too eerie for him to want anything to do with it right now.
Still. As much as he wanted to believe, he was getting too old to lie to himself. The confusion he had witnessed was real, as was the reference to a witch who had been dead for years now. Something was up with Rosalyn and Sobo didn't know how long he would be able to keep it to himself. If only Mireille were here right now... She always knew what to do and what to say.
Sobo couldn't bring himself to ask about searching for Mireille again or say much of anything at all. His stomach felt like a pit of writhing eels, and every time he glanced up at Rosalyn, he wondered if she was still there with him or somewhere else entirely.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Rosalyn - January 03, 2022
She was ready to cut any questions off sharply if Sobo asked them, but he was silent as they returned. Rosalyn had no good explanations to give, so her only course was to discourage them at all. She was glad that it wasn't needed.
"Are ya sick?" The tremble in his voice ate at her, lent a tone to the trip home that felt oppressive. Would he tell Erzulie what had happened?
Warning him not to would acknowledge it was even needed. She'd rather forget entirely. Things were still not entirely clear for her and, if there was anything she'd planned to do this afternoon, she'd forgotten it. Perhaps sleep would do her some good.
She turned to her son as they reached the vicinity of the Roja den.
I'm going to take advantage of the sun.She glanced at the respite, then back, giving him a touch to his nape affectionately.
Go, enjoy the day.Forced lightness and a compelling firmness underneath it.
She needed to get rid of this worry in him and to take a moment of her own. She just needed rest.
RE: There's always thunder in August - Sobo - January 06, 2022
Sobo's searching look at his mother's face told a tale of conflict. She seemed okay now... Maybe it was nothing to worry about after all. He had days sometimes where he forgot what he was doing, too. This seemed different from that, but sometimes it was best to just take someone's word at face value.
It would haunt him in the days to come, but in the moment, he bobbed his head and offered a warm smile.
Okay, mamá, enjoy de sun.He would return to searching for Mireille, but it would be a long time before he didn't feel dread settling in his stomach at the thought of going to the Sound.