Golden Glade hibiscus

Wanted to get a quick one up to kick off their reunion!! <3 I'll still reply to the other one once my brain has the juice to wrap things up!

Another night, another day, and there came night again.

Orestes rested within a forest he supposed must be beautiful at any other time of year. Hadn't Chandor had trees like these? They had burst like fireglow in that early autumn rust when he had found Ariadne, tucked behind scent lines belonging to strangers and swollen with children who would have been killed if her refuge had still been Beserion.

If only he had sat with her to watch their branches change. If only they'd had time to name the winter stars.

She's left you, you know.

The whisper reached ugly claws towards him. He dug his paws into the ground.

Just like Ariadne.

No, he said aloud, and the shadows retreated into the song of coming night.

She had not left him.

He called for her again. Urgent. Pressing.

@Thalassa.