Stavanger Bay It's quiet, I'll bet that everybody thinks I'm done.

Her summons tapered off and as their voices faded to the seaside winds, the wait began in earnest then as she lingered on Dacio's expression just a little extra. Afterwards, she stood poised, anxious, and watchful while she kept a careful, shaky lid on the tumult she could sense swirling in her gut, now spinning with anticipation that was very real her with a stranger's borderlands in her nose. So much had happened and even for her, who had been there to see it all play out and then remain in the aftermath, it was not always easy to place it all on a timeline, or see how it had affected her. Dalia had grown into a more distant memory than she truthfully liked to admit--but hopefully, they could remedy this here, soon.. assuming this was a good lead based on the hints their mother told her brother in his dreams. One step at a time, she reminded herself, breathing deep, and putting her best foot forward for what may come.

She had started to grow suspicious that soon they wouldn't be alone, but in all of her tension, a yip prompted a start from her--yet it never blossomed into full-formed panic. One glance, and relief came rushing fast in its place. She was really, truly, here! Much as the almost-yearling remembered, too, from her prettily pale silvers, to her own shades of mismatching eyes. She was maybe not as tall as she could remember, but then again, Opalia was not so small any longer--and there were pieces in the subtle ways she was put together that were a sight for her sore eyes, for they reminded her of their beloved mom. Dalia! wide-eyed she chuffed back before she could even catch the name to stop it, and even besides the conflict in her heart that wanted her to reach out desperately and whine excitedly all over her long-gone (natrona) sister, she stayed at Dacio's side and composed herself soon; he began the news shortly after, starting with one of the heaviest pieces of all: Drageda has fallen.

Opalia listened with a short nod of her own, sobering quickly, for she knew what else they had to tell her and dreaded it. Sequoia abandoned them. Their mother was dead.. and dad had lost a part of himself then as well. Heda, too, has gone. The sea.. the past commanders took her back, she added quietly, for that had likely sealed Drageda's fate then and there, or at least been one of the major turning points towards what had landed them here. And, since she might wonder, considering the bad news they bore about Portia, she felt the need to mention where dad had gone before she could worry about him. Father went with Blixen, Tirgatao, and the others back to Trigeda not too long ago.. we've scouted since, and.. Well, this had been the plan's goal, here face to face with Dalia--the main stepping stone forward that they had needed to get done. There was so much else she could say but this was already a lot all at once, so Opalia searched her sister's face for her understanding, or otherwise.