Redsand Canyon But the memory fades, everybody knows

Fennec had made a few trips to the Bramblepoint by now and hadn't once stepped a single foot closer to Brecheliant.  A part of her initially mocked herself for cowardice, but it wasn't hard to see that wasn't it.  If it was that she was afraid, she wouldn't want to go so damn badly, and she wouldn't be needing to actively prevent herself.

But if anyone was going to stay in her life, then it was their turn to actually fucking try.  She didn't know if she'd be willing to forgive either of them at this point, but she did know that every time she'd tried to push herself into their lives it had ended with nothing except regret. 

Penn and Bronco both had their chances.  She was moving on.  And next year, she'd find someone new... some stranger, someone whose name she didn't even have to know.  It wouldn't matter, just so long as they agreed to disappear entirely when it was done.  Towhee was right, before, and Fennec had already proven that she didn't need someone else. Just even getting to raise Killdeer had been enough.

Fennec pulled her paws out of the soil she'd been packing and sighed, feeling more at peace now than she had in a long time.  Her paws were pricked with thorns, but she'd need to rinse them before she groomed them clean.  The garden she worked in was set against the canyon wall, surrounded by a barrier of thorns she'd woven together and needed to shove aside to gain entrance.  She'd reset it when she left, but for now she needed the room to work.  She'd found a new plant in the neighboring flatlands, one that brought dreams if it wasn't used in a high enough dose to be lethal, and she was tucking it away just in case.  It was kind of community service - now no one would stumble across it unawares, and she could save it for a rainy day.

mind if we bring this to present? <3

ruenna still had not expressed interest in taking a role in leadership. she was content where she was, and germanicus was dismayed to see that her pain had not abated.

the boys continued their training. alivia was pleased enough to spend her days learning from ruenna, while valiria at times attended the sparring ring with her father and brothers.

the imperator approached and halted some feet away. "good day, lady fennec." he looked at the rich ground surrounded by sharp brambles and thought how metaphorical it was for the woman herself.

and he was reminded too of the first time he had met aquene, working diligently at the edge of the canyon.

no problem whatsoever!

Her ears flicked but it took a moment for her to acknowledge his presence. She was immediately annoyed, knew on some level this wasn't fair, and did not care enough to attempt to change this. It wasn't as though he had bothered to give her the benefit of the doubt thus far.

Is it? Or are you assuming it is, Imperator? She asked, her tone characteristically neutral. She didn't turn towards him or stop in her planting. She could feel that she almost had the new bunch settled and free-standing within the soil but the distraction gave her an excuse to not direct her undivided attention.

the eagle cleared his throat.

his eyes moved from fennec to her work.

"am i disturbing you?" he inquired with his usual impassivity. his stance was balanced, light enough to relax or carry him away if she confirmed she did not want his company.

Would it stop you if I said yes? She asked back, almost without thinking. This wouldn't be the first time her lack of respect for hierarchies had gotten her into hot water. She could even answer for him. Doubt it.

Unfortunately she was finished with the planting that she had to do, so there wasn't much of a valid excuse for her to pretend she was too busy to speak with him. She took a step sideways, out of the circle of thorns, and then sat down next to it with an expectant expression. She'd take care of cleaning up once he had said whatever he came to say.

germanicus was used to her thorny nature. this time however the eagle found himself surprised by her continued ire.

"i would." his yellowpaint eyes studied the plebian. "your work is important to me and to mereo. i will not distract you from it with idle words."

he gave her a short bow, prepared to move on.

Of course now she was unfairly annoyed that he'd interrupted her without any reason. He was the fucking leader, right? Just say what he needed to say and get on with it.

If you wanted to ask something, just ask it. She responded, brushing dirt from her paws and turning to face the direction she surmised he'd gone. I'm pretty much done here.

He was already patronizing her with the comment about her work being important to Mereo. That wasn't true, but she didn't need it to be. These gardens were mostly for her sake, and even if she was the only one to get any use from them, she'd keep the plots going. She was suspicious as to what this was about.

"lady fennec, i am not a fan of small talk. but that was all i wished to share today." for once. 

germanicus did not prickle. but had he done so, he might have taken this moment.

still he stayed. the plebian did not wish such conversation, so onward he would go.

This was Fennec's chance to fix some of this, and to maybe ingratiate herself a bit with the Imperator. Unfortunately her frayed patience made his request nearly unbearable to take right now. Small talk.

I'll pass. She replied unapologetically. Then she pulled the barrier across, catching a briar or two heedlessly with the careless way she did it, and turned to depart towards the water without another word. She needed to clean any remnants of the plant from her - he could do what he wanted.

the eagle dipped his head once and turned away sharply.

he would spend the remainder of the day upon the borders.