Dragoncrest Cliffs ERESTA

map by lauren!

send-off for @Coraline @Chantale @Raelle & @Arcelia! also tagging @Loko as having been waiting out of game <3 no posting order, reply with a single post! <3 @Chacal @Val Suzu @Theo @Maleah @Ravin @Astera @Chani Sobeille Tousaint @Thibault @Svalinn @Kheviel

at times the sea spoke of places that were not sapphique.
the lwa of their mothers had come to the saltsister coraline and revealed to her a vision of a place wherein their legacy might reach.
it was brought first to the leadership, and then the others; by day's end, even little chantale had decided to accompany her aunt. this forced mireille to confront her inner resistance; instead she kissed her daughter and spoke of her pride that she would be the first to disperse in this way.
a feast was held in siren's bay, complete with the quintessential oyster meat, the eggs of sea urchins, and a competitive swimming challenge.
stories were told, lore shared.
the morning light brought the change that she did not fear, but would grieve in some ways.
embraces given, kisses offered, tears shed.
"we willnae be far," mireille said, not hiding her wet face but shimmering with pride and love for those of them who would go off to found eresta.
eresta, of the fern-forests and caverns carved by craters, of the white-sand beaches and palm forests upon shell-studded shores, eresta of the rich shoals and scarlet mountains cradling a giant which slept for now.
eresta, sisters and brother and niece, seawolves to the very marrow of self, called away to a land wherein the lwa thrummed.
"sapphique will see you thrive."

Kheviel watched the festivities and the goodbyes from afar, not truly knowing any of these wolves yet, and not caring that some were leaving. Too old to join in the swimming competitions, she simply found a spot on the sand to lie down and watch, chewing on an old bone. She lay there for hours, unspeaking, and when it was over, she went quietly away back to her den, walking stiffly on aching legs and hips.

It was bittersweet, in a way. The celebrations were joyful, and yet Astera felt a sliver of sadness for her departing packmates. Still, she wished them well, and part of her wanted to see the world. Explore again. But she stayed, content in Sapphique and its surrounding shorelines. For now. 

In the swimming competition, Astera continued to prove herself as a zealous mariner, some experience beginning to shine through, though she still had much to learn. As they returned home, a single line lingered on her mind.

"You braved the sea before the sea was ready for you. And you have seen shadows beheld by no other."

Astera carried back a single conch shell. Soon, she would leave it in the cliffside forest of the Dragoncrest, lightly covered by gilded strawgrass.

The wolves gathered; some spoke up with the intention of leaving Sapphique, and Tousaint hovered as they spoke together, preparing for their journey. He looked to the women who sought to leave, knowing that they would be going to the series of islands where Loko lived. 

Tousaint considered; and just after they had disappeared from sight, he rushed to his mother, to embrace her. "I will be goin' too," He proclaimed into her warm fur. "I be comin' back someday, but-" the princely boy said, and shrugged. He felt himself becoming more and more sour as he remained, incapable of giving up the grudge he held against Sobeille and Astera. 

He would say his goodbyes to his relatives, most fondly to Valravn, Thibault and Chacal, before he bolted off, chasing after the others so that he could catch up, and travel with them to Eresta.

It had been when the girls finally left that he grieved their goodbyes, bitter in his mind. They would be back, and yet he would miss them. Where they traveled to now, he hoped that it was beautiful. It must have been, in order to leave home.

What blindsided him was Tousaint, rushing into maman. Leaving. Leaving. Leaving? Struck by lightning, the boy felt weighed in place and entirely unable to speak. Out of everyone, he felt closest to his brother. Never too far. Never far at all. So, when Tousaint said his goodbyes to them, and took after the rest, the name finally came out of his mouth in a horrible realization. Somehow still unable to process. He stepped forward, lost.

"Tousaint?"


Leaving.

eresta.

even the name evoked imagery of adventure. val's heart stirred as the old wayfarer's song returned, rousing his blood. even after all these sedentary years, the wilderness called to him.

sapphique was strong. val's chest singed with pride to watch the children and adults alike in the swimming contest. some -- like he and kheviel -- stayed behind. he sat besides the crone for company, eyes dancing with amusement as he watched astera and sobeille cavort. he noted astera carried a conch back to the mainland.

he wondered now if this was how erzulie and rosalyn felt, when each of their children forged their own path -- some paths taking them very far from their mothers. he would miss chantale and tousaint terribly. he did his best to hide the worry and sadness in his heart as he hugged them both -- giving tousaint one last tussle of his perfectly preened fur. you stay safe out there, you two. protect one another. he called to them both, before sharing an appreciative glance to coraline. he knew between her and loko, no harm would befall sapphique's children.

thibault remained, watching the congregation depart with heartbreak in his gaze. val waved them off with subtle tears, turning to thibault warmly. it will be okay, thibault. we will visit them in the spring -- would you like that? he looked for mireille then, proud that sapphique's children had been raised so strong that they thirsted for adventure -- but sad too, that their bright faces would no longer warm sapphique's realm.

sobeille was torn.

eresta sounded like an incredible adventure. as the most fearless of her siblings, questing off into the unknown was practically her cornerstone. this enterprise had her name all over it. so why did she feel so conflicted?

as sapphique gathered, melancholy rode the girl's shoulders. astera was not going. chantale was. sobeille weighed this solemnly. she was on the cusp of declaring she would go anyway, when tousaint announced he was leaving.

at first sobeille was jealous and annoyed. she wanted this adventure, but she also wanted to stay home. she was losing face by staying here like a weenie while her brother was off cavorting on an exciting new enterprise. he made the decision look so easy, when she was supposed to be the confident one.

but a small part of her was grateful he chose to go, for it made her decision clear: her place was in sapphique. a smaller part of her yet would miss him, but not enough in the moment to offer any kind words.

sobeille stood next to astera and her conch, waving off her brother and family with an expression inscrutable.

Ravin was there to watch the members of his pack as they had their sendoff.

Theo joined the gathering for the sendoff of his packmates on their journey