Hushed Willows All connecting love becomes a human shield

For @Valium - probably a bit backdated

And so the trio journeyed through the flatlands, into the mountains and ended up at the mystical forest of the faeries. It'd been a long journey, no doubt about it, but they'd made it eventually. She made sure the boy rested enough, she didn't want to deliver damaged goods to their doorstep after all, and bug Deidra about getting his injuries looked at. Loinnir scouted out the areas they'd need to cross to see if there was danger lurking, but luckily he returned with good news every time. Her paws were hurting, her back aching - she couldn't wait to rest after all this was over.

When they finally stood outside the willow curtains, obscuring their view, she smiled. Well, we have arrived. This is my forest - and yours, if you want it to be. She told, heart swelling with pride. It was her own soft, little piece of the universe and she couldn't wait to share it with the first pixie to enter their realm.

He too was tired after the long, almost never-ending walk. He stuck closely to Lumiya's side, being the only one he sort of knew after their ordeal and stayed a little away from the stranger they met up with. He assumed he was one of Lumiya's friends, but still, he had a hard time trusting anyone right now other than the only one who came to his aid.

Trying his best to not come off as tired as he was, he kept up with the adults the best he could. His wounds hurt, his legs hurt, his head hurt above all else - but he was stronger than this and was certain that Lumiya's home would be a good place to rest up as soon as they got there. A safe place. 

And it was. Well, it was pretty at least that's what he found. Safe would be something he would have to determine for himself later. The branches swayed and the light was abundant in comparison to the shadowy forest from back home. He didn't feel like he quite belonged if he was being honest, this place was too nice for him, but it would do. 

If he wants it to be. A little confused by this, what if he didn't want to? Was she just going to send him off on his own to find somewhere better for his own taste? How weird. He nodded instead of giving her lip, mostly because all he wanted to do now was rest. It's nice. He let his eyes wander the forest of weeping trees, he couldn't imagine what would be in there to find.

Of course, she wasn't about to dump the child somewhere in the mountains for the birds to feed on him or something if he decided his place was not with the faeries. She just wanted to make sure the boy did not feel forced to be here and become one of them simply because Lumi had saved him from his captor. She knew how damaging it could be to force children to be a certain way, behave a certain way - and she wasn't about to put him through something like that! Her own traumas with it were a tale for another day, right now the kid needed a nice spot to rest.

She pushed her nose through the curtain and pulled it aside to reveal the lush forest - the buzzing of insects, the faint rumble of a waterfall in the distance, the slight accent of seawater on the wind... She wasn't exaggerating when she did call the forest magical. As soon as the boy was inside, she'd close the curtain and ask; Do you have a preference on where you'd like to sleep for tonight? We've got options, such as the Denning Area with small caves - the grounds are covered with moss, so it's nice and soft. We've also got a little secret spot behind a waterfall, if you fancy some noise to get to sleep... Or you can pick out a nice willow, if you want to sleep in the open. This was getting awkward, no?

As soon as her world was opened up to him, all he wanted to do was chase all the little moving things. To explore every crevice and see what was beyond it all - and avoid most adults for now until he felt more situated. Despite the fatigue, the awe of the moment kept him alive and very much awake. He stepped through, ahead of Lumiya as she spoke and took a look around. Once, twice, turning around as he saw it all from where he stood, what he could see from here. 

A preference to sleep somewhere? Somewhere private he supposed... it was the offer of a secret cave that caught his attention. Ears perking up almost immediately in a shot, turning to face the pretty lady who so graciously took him in and offered a wag of his tail. Secret spot? I like secrets. Secret meant not everyone knew of it and thus... private. All for him. His little secret, a place away from everyone else.

He didn't even register the last option she gave, the whateverthefuckitwas he was clearly not listening to anything else after a secret spot was offered as a choice.

The girl smiled as she observed the boy - he seemed pretty impressed with the place, and not so tired anymore. She hoped it wasn't going to be a hassle to get him to sleep, as she could definitely use the rest right now. The girl chuckled upon the boy's comment - the secret cave it was.

I thought you might. The girl added mischieviously, beginning their small journey towards the Herbalist's fall. The lake itself was already a very peaceful place at night; the glow of the moon reflected on the busy waters of the deep lake, the call of owls and other nighttime creatures drowned out by the rumbling of the main waterfall that split into multiple during its descent. She led the child towards a stairway-like structure, adding a small; Watch your step. as she ascended on the steps. Slipping and falling was a possibility, but you'd most likely just end up falling through the waterfall and into the lake - it was only a problem if the child couldn't swim, and even then Lumi was a strong swimmer and was confident in her abilities to save him.

It was outside the entrance she waited, wanting the boy to be the first to see inside.