The Sentinels When the tequila runs out

deirdre nodded. then you shall, and she would take this up with both aria and constantine, when the rain cleared and after speaking with skellige so that he was informed, too. he was a good man, to care for the cub as he had; though the moniker was strange, she did not think the man to be a creative one, and to name the girl after a flower--which the girl reminded deirdre of, sweet and pretty as she was!--did not seem his way at all. but he had kept her darling friend in good health, and this mattered greatly do deirdre. larkspur was afraid, but not beaten or harmed.

deirdre blinked at the inquiry, and then nodded. deirdre rose to all fours, removing herself fluidly from the others embrace. she grabbed rocks she kept in the dens corner, each colorful and lovely. among them was the gift larkspur had given to her some time ago, which she looked at for a moment, before circling her friend and depositing the rocks down one at a time in a circle around her. there were five stones, and the fifth she placed within the very center, where she sat alongside the honeyed woman. the place was already cleansed; deirdre had anticipated to a different sort of spell during the storm, but did not mind to do this one.

in the ancient language she and the mayfairs shared, she summoned the elements. as she called to water, she felt the rain brought in by a whipping wind. the den felt warmer as she called to fire, and a particularly fierce wind blew into the hollow as she called to it! the earth trembled beneath them as she called it, though this was more likely due to the rolling thunder from the storm that drew nearer by the moment. and spirit, spirit filled her, invigorated her! she drew herself taller, her bearing regal and indomitable as the witch stood strong at the center.

she looked to larkspur with new eyes, fierce and strong but no less warm and loving. the witch was here, embracing her power, and leaves gusted into the hollow and clung to her furs. she felt the moon above them, unseen in the hollow, but a shard of its light illuminated the mouth of the place they lingered in.

do not break the circle, she instructed, before she began.

deirdre chanted, assuredly, lovingly, and in command: tine, sruthán trí na bacainní a caitheadh nuair a thabharfar an aigne! uisce, iompar na smaointe go tapa ar ais tríd na línte ceart! gaoithe, a thabhairt ar ais go dtí a méid a bhí caillte i am! cré, coinnigh í bunaithe ionas nach ndéanann sí a chailleadh cad a dhéanann sí a aimsiú; spiorad, urghabháil di go tapa, agus ansin an ceangal! the winds howled outside, and the lightning flashed and flickered; the rain began to pour, and deirdre's eyes cast to the girl before her. so mote it be, she spoke in time with the thunder, her voice pure and unfettered power; she looked away, thanking the elements ardently, each of them, before she closed the circle.

it might take time, she whispered to larkspur, continuing the process of finishing the work she had done.