Cassiopeia's View And I'm still so blue,

Gjalla listened intently, periwinkle eyes fixed on Morwenna’s face, absorbing every detail, every nuance of her sister’s description of Swiftcurrent Creek. The absence of rituals, of structure—even of kings and queens—was a notion she could barely fathom. Yet the faint awe in Morwenna’s tone softened her skepticism, and she found herself strangely intrigued, if not slightly wary of the unknown territory her sister spoke of.

“That is... peculiar,” she murmured, a small frown tugging at her brow as she digested this idea of life without expectation, without the layers of reverence and ritual that had been the foundation of their existence. Her tone held a trace of incredulity, but beneath it, a flicker of curiosity sparked. It felt foreign, almost heretical, yet she knew her sister’s judgment was too keen to be easily deceived.

The mention of Akavir drew her attention back, the subtle softness in Morwenna’s voice threading through Gjalla’s heart like a bittersweet reminder of the vulnerability they so rarely allowed themselves. "This Akavir,” she echoed with a faint smirk, masking a surge of protectiveness she hadn’t felt in years, "He is a suitable leader, I trust?" There was an amused lilt to her voice, though a glimmer of skepticism remained.

Yet as she studied Morwenna’s gaze, glimpsing the embers of hope and belonging flickering there, Gjalla felt the rigidity in her own heart soften. If this strange place, with its quietness and unassuming ways, could bring her sister some semblance of peace, perhaps it was worth knowing. Her gaze drifted to the horizon, tracing the distant silhouette of the foothills. She could almost imagine this place, a land untouched by blood-soaked tradition, existing quietly, free of the burdens they had carried for so long. She let the thought linger, a rare openness softening her features as she turned back to Morwenna, something close to a smile faintly curving her lips.

"Very well then, sister," she said, voice low and certain. "If this Swiftcurrent holds the peace you say it does, I will walk beside you. We’ve both earned our freedom from the past... perhaps it’s time to learn what it means to live without its chains."