Emberwood Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light

The shrouded sylph listened to Onyx’s story, face stern. For many moments, Olive did not understand what this woman’s story had to do with her, but she listened earnestly anyways. Olive was a curious wolf, always would be, and her interest in the Onyx’s happenings ameliorated as she covered her various plights one by one. She had moved, found family, found a companion… but also found her past. There was indeed danger — her instincts had been correct! — but she had her protector, so where was her ultimate problem? Which thread was to be her undoing?

It was then that, from Onyx’s tongue, fell the name Olive least expected to hear. Suddenly, Olive understood the role she played in all of this — and the immediate emotion that stirred in her gut was sharp annoyance. Dakarai, stricken by another’s love. Dakarai, forever the hero. It didn’t make any sense, yet at the same time it made the most sense in the world. That was so something Dakarai would do. In reality, Olive had committed a similar act and now bore her consequences, for better or for worse; but the fact that Dakarai had [seemingly] pushed away another woman did not surprise her. 

Olive huffed, knowing that she must keep calm for the sake of the babies [that she was 95% certain were] in her belly.  The woman seemed frenzied, emotive — a little desperate. Olive knew the feeling well. In this situation, she must be the rock and mouthpiece of truth [perhaps this was her purpose now]. An uncharacteristically critical eye fell upon Onyx. Olive regarded her hotly, but not unkindly. “No,” came the sylph’s sage response. “By leaving, you are keeping yourself safe.” This woman, if she were truly Dakarai’s lover and not some cruel charlatan, needed to understand the reality of her situation. For a long time, Olive had disregarded the reality of hers because Dakarai’s love felt so good, and she paid her price dearly.

“— and that is a good thing.” Olive let her voice soften here, conveying intimacy between two women who were in, had been in, similar situations. “Dakarai is a not a man who can be relied upon.”