Hushed Willows Keep watching over Durin's son

@Dante & @Fionn
Forwarded to 7-13-2020

Orlaith started to settle back in routine once she came back upon her mission, and started as well to associate herself with those new to the courts. However most meetings were unintentional, but embraced nontheless. Some fit fine within the court, some did not. She mattered not, as long as they shown submissive toward her, and respect. Perhaps it was selfish to want it to focus on herself, but the fire-fae, was determined to be the lead guard. Not be the leader, she trusted Lumiya enough with that.. Despite being weak-willed (so she thought).

While she saw new, the older fairies were of question. Usually Orlaith saw Aoibh, but she wondered how the others were doing. There was of course Siofra who came to earlier, and some were met along the way, as the girl ventured up the mountains. She did not know if the Queen yet to lure the restinto their courts. If they did, she did not see them.

New and old, as long as peace was here. She was at peace, walking along the willows.

He caught sight of the firecracker from behind, ears flattening as he made his way towards her. He was sober for today, as he often was when not traveling, happy to be at home in the willows and not needing the hallucinatory world that poppy seeds gave him. Orlaith he had talked with little in recent days, but from when they were young he had quickly learned her temperament, and though always willing to sacrifice his own desires for those of the women, Orlaith it was especially so- for he would not risk her anger. Orlaith, He called gently, wagging tail lowering itself between his legs without him even thinking it.

Dante felt free. He felt free, and unburdened, and so full of life he hardly knew where to put his energy. It was strange, honestly, how good the boy had felt recently. A stark contrast to the mood that had consumed him before the young man had met the silver wisp that changed his life, his new mien was. He supposed, though, that maybe the happiness wasn't neccesarily strange so much as the loathing had just been within him for so long that it had become Dante's new normal. So perhaps, in one odd way or another, Dante had simply left a long period of strange, and was finally getting to his normal. 

Such was the babbling train of thought that flitted through the little mourning dove's head as he did his daily patrol, marking along the borders as he often could be found doing when the breeze was as gracious as it was today. It would never compare to the winds that found their way unto Dante's pelt when he'd llived by the seaside, but it was a relief nonetheless. 

It was this same sort of little gust that carried the scents of the two strangers to the boy then, catching his attention from where it had been fixed on his little trail, and quickly setting him into motion. Ever the runner, Dante's silvery form danced along the forest floor with a surprising speed (he did need to put that energy into something), before slowing gradually as he found the new scents getting nearer. The yearling found himself skidding to a stop several paces away from two figures, one cloaked in a silver not unlike Lumiya's, and the other a mix of several brilliant hues. 

His breath heaved slightly as he watched the interesting pair, head cocked and eyes with bright curiosity apparent. 'Lo! He called out breathlessly, eyes squinting shut with the force of the friendly smile lit upon his maw. They definitely smelled like Seelie, but Dante was fairly certain he hadn't come across either before.

vague vague

"What's up Fionn?" She hadn't interacted too much with him, but valued him nonthless despite being doped up half the time. He came in time for a spat the other day, so she greeted the fellow with a charming smile. She also appreciated his more yielding side to her, as many of the old court knew of her wrath and temper when it came to the play. Orlaith was quick to such anger when it came to those trying pull supremacy on her. She prefered to be on top.

Though the more warm side of the fire fairy ceased, as she craned her head toward the stranger with narrowed eyes. He looked friendly, smelled of Lumiya, but Orlaith didn't know him. He hadn't gained her approval, "Now, who are you?" There seemingly was a pattern going on, as with each new fae, she would size him up. While easy-going toward those she knew, her chest was always above in a dignified matter. However now she rose moreso, tail held high, and her head over in a looming way as she looked over with a solemn look. Her questions seem more of a demand to present oneself, then of a question. She acted as a general, of the realm.

Nothing much, He answered easily in response to her question, slight smile touching his maw almost hesitantly. He did not want to bother such an important woman with his troubles- related to Deidra or otherwise- and so acted that life was perfect rather than the dumpster fire that it was. A call of lo caught his attention, and he swiveled his head to find the pretty stranger, whose coat had Lumiya all over it, and scent smelled of the willows. Orlaith demanded a name, and Fionn was obediently silent, head dipping as his gaze fell awkwardly. The interaction with Memory was fresh on his mind- and he prayed this boy would submit easier than the last had.

They were just a bit odd, the greetings- or greeting he supposed- that Dante was offered. The towering woman seemed to be guarded at the least and the smaller man that Dante spied didn't spare a word for him. Still, if he was to befriend the faeries of the court, he supposed he would have to become accustomed to whatever they threw at him- which in this moment happened to be strange greetings. 

His eyes were drawn away from the silvery boy and back to the fiery woman, her stance one of dominance. The young man wasn't interested in any sort of conflict at the moment, as unnecessary as it seemed to him to respond to a friendly hello with such a domineering pose, so he was more than happy to lower his head slightly and give another amicable wag of his tail. Dante, s'a pleasure. You're, I mean, you follow Lumiya right? You're Seelie? His gaze was inquisitive though he already had an idea of the answer in his mind, flickering between the two intermittently. He kept his posture neutral still, edging on a subdued submission with the hopes that he wouldn't further provoke the new woman.

He wasn't like Memory, which gave a more positive out-look toward it, "I am Orlaith, Guard of Seelie Court." He did smell like Lumiya, but so did most of the wolves who newly entered. What mattered most was whether, she accepted them or not. His pose wasn't ideal, as she always preferred total submission, but it wasn't one beaming of a fight, and took an edge toward the way she wished.

A slight motion toward her approval, so her body eased on hostility. However, the flaming fae was always one for a prideful, and arrogant stance.

"You're a new member?" She asked, raising a brow.

sorry for the wait. pulling Fionn out for now

 

The man lowered his head, and Fionn smiled lightly to himself, happy that they would not have any conflict on their paws, or so it seemed. Both of them introduced themselves, and the boy knight's gaze flickered awkwardly between them before he looked finally to the mousey boy. I'm Fionn. Forgive my poor manners, but I really should get back to patrolling for now- but welcome to Seelie Court, I assume, Dante. He dipped his head to the male, then one to Orlaith, and he was off again into the willows.

going to exit orlaith too since it hasn't been replied for a while!

Her ears flickered, "I have to as well." Orlaith didn't explain further, but she could've sworn she heard something. It seemed common recently, as they held so many visitors to the willows, that she was constantly checking so. Often meeting visitors, often driving out visitors, the list went on.

She had no time to properly see if he was worthy, and another day it would have to come. A sigh to the thought, but the flaming wolf left the male alongside Fionn. They would depart on different roads eventually so, as their patrols were different for the day.

Finally getting around to closing this up lmao. Sorry for the wait!!

It was just as the young boy had begun to open his maw to speak that the two suddenly seemed to have other matters to attend to. A bit put out by their sudden departure but eager to keep his face under control, Dante coughed out a gentle laugh calling out a, Um, we'll speak...later! His voice hesitant and trailing off, the young man cocked his head at the odd encounter before huffing out a soft sigh. There'd be another day for Dante to make friends. For now, he'd go back to picking his way amongst the willows, perhaps he'd go and bother the wispy songbird he loved so much. All would be well.