Lion Head Mesa winged sun

the morning was painful.

today she did not hide the grief in her heart. she wept freely and took comfort in her sister's presence, her brother too if allowed. all the flowers in the world did not feel like enough. all the trinkets and food and comforts. she wished there had been more and more and —

none of it would fix either her mother or her.

makono could have stayed here all day, weeping and laying next to soon sun warmed stones.

but other things were planned, needing her attendance. at once she wished she could banish it all to live in her own grief openly for a day longer. such things could not be done.

---

the grief felt heavier and harder.

siblings. they looked very much like herself, like her father. there was some level of darkening on their backs that seemed to not be fully kitted.

toula and sethnakht.

it was horribly hard to feel good things right now, and she was not sure whether she should blame them or not. but her eyes could land on the form of treva with a glower. to be recognized as queen the same day her mother met the earth. there was distaste heavy in her heart for the bear-ish woman.

suddenly her departure to mereo could not come quick enough.

---

the time had come finally.

she kept nazli close to her. of course, she mumbled softly, a polite dip of her head. she would send a messenger the moment she arrived, aware of the time it would take for a messenger to arrive.

they will all know. she whispered back to her father. a deep breath shuddered into her lungs. glancing to her sister and brother for the last time for the next month. she was the first to fly the coop it seemed. not even Ashikaga had preparations to leave yet, from what makono could tell.

she felt bittersweet pride.

collecting the guard and her lilac servant, she departed from akashingo.