Noctisardor Bypass The first season saw me weak as straw

While Rivenwood crumbled around her under earth-shattering shockwaves, Goldfinch danced among the ferns. She leapt and spun, snapping wildly with each hop at the bird which flitted and bobbed above her as if dancing along. Her teeth never connected; there was no true threat of it.

They were only playing as they often did. The girl had grown to prefer the company of her feathered friend over that of her siblings. Goldfinch was a strange and quiet child who communicated largely in chirps and twitters not unlike her familiar. She knew how to speak, of course, and sometimes did.

But what was the point?

She would much rather play.

Etienne knew well existing in silence. He had often done it. Still did. For when he spoke his wants, needs, thoughts, they were largely ignored. He didn't know why he was surprised everytime by this as more and more did this to him.

So it was with silence he found one of Druid's children. Silence with which he settled and watched. She didn't need to speak with him. Or even acknowledge that he existed, but he would keep her in eye.

Children wandered so easily. And bad things happened to children unattended he knew this so well. So he simply watched and kept guard.

his timeline is a mess, but have Eti.

!! <3

Were Goldfinch to choose a favorite adult, Etienne would have been a strong contender. So his presence was met with more acknowledgement than most. She paused briefly in her game to tilt her head at him as if in greeting. The bird sang out cheerfully.

Then she only continued to play for a time.

Eventually curiosity got the better of her, and one of her twisting leaps ended in a darting serpentine strike for one of Etienne's paws. A testing of the waters — would he play with her? Would he be any fun? These were the things that mattered most to Goldfinch.

He tilted his head back to her. A small smile on his face. Cute little baby girl. He gave a soft chirp back to the bird. He didn't like birds, but this one was important to Goldfinch and as such earned a little more than apathy from him.

Etienne shifted his sandy paws and tapped her paw back. Getting to his 4 paws. He bent at the waist a small play bow. Tail up and over in a wag

He was fun! Goldfinch's tail waved merrily while her familiar sang a cheerful song above. She rolled to her back with legs kicking in the air — and just as quickly rolled to her feet to bolt away.

She wasn't nearly as fast as any adult just yet, of course. Blissfully unaware of this, Goldfinch put her all into an outright sprint. The girl was certain that when she next looked back, Etienne would be far behind.

Etienne wasn't certain how well he could do at play. He had never truly played now that he thought of it. He had tried before Reki was taken. And den a serious of misfortunes had befallen his family and he had grown up rather quickly.

Etienne watched with laughter on his face as she rolled and then ran. He followed after her, with a slower step. Letting her stay ahead of him. There was no fun if you ended it too early.

He trotted after her, with laughter gentle and lyrical as the voice that he spoke with.

Fortunately for her, Etienne was obliging. Goldfinch felt like the fastest puppy alive as she raced away from him! But she, too, was not without generosity; eventually she slowed to dance around and face him, falling into another playful bow. She barked several times.

Come on! her body language said, butt wiggling impatiently. The moment he neared her, however, she would dart off again.

Etienne followed at a slower clip. Though he would speed up and just almost catch her, before he would let her get the drop on him and run faster away.

She danced on little golden legs around him. Her bark stirring the day. He chuckled and bent into his own play bow.

He ghosted forward as if stalking her and would leap at her, but timed it just so he barely touched her as she danced away.