Blacktail Deer Plateau wireheart

backdated to jan 15, woo <3 @Zulema to post first, then @Solveig or @Rusalka or both! <3

she could scarcely believe it.

tamar hardly took her eyes from her daughter as they traveled. zulema was both older and still the same, grown into her body but with a girl's mien.

the plateau was nothing like the mountains.  she led zulema along the outside edge, describing the pair of leaders and the pack's gentle culture before she kissed her daughter's cheek and called out in joy for the leaders.

been meaning to set up a thread like this thank you for the prompt <3

it was new; raventhorpe was new and so much for the girl's heart to take in. tamar spoke of the plateau and its leaders with an ardor that assured zulema it would be alright after all.

she couldn't help but think of her siblings, all alone out there. her mother's call for the pair spurred a guilt within her, the thought that this moment was not happening beside antigone or zosime. what had become of sylianos and saleem? zulema felt she had failed.

these pieces would mend, and this marked the beginning. home.

It was possibly too early to tell, but Solveig began to carry herself as an expecting mother regardless, and took note of the light fluttering and gurgles deep in her belly that were familiar to her from years before. She began eating more, so that she might give birth to fat and healthy babies when the time came, fearless of the pain it would inevitably cause her. 

She swallowed down the last piece of the fish she had caught, and licked her lips thoughtfully as she heard Tamar's voice raise. "Ah!" She said, as if she knew immediately why it was that the woman sounded so merry. Of course, she would likely have many reasons- but Solveig knew what the voice of a happy mother sounded like. It could only mean one of a few things, so she moved with an eager step to meet the woman not far from the borders. 

At her shoulder was a young woman, with warm, earthy tones to her pelt and a kindly look to her face. She looked to Tamar and smiled. "Hael og sael," She greeted, more for the newcomer than for Tamar who had likely heard the introduction before. "Ahh, and this must be one of your daughters, yes? Let me look at you- ah, Tamar!" The leader said a happy exclamation, turning then to the mother. "You make beautiful babies- just look at this one!" She praised.

solveig came with much joy.

tamar could not keep her own delight from her face, and wrapped an arm around her returned daughter. "solveig, this is zulema. my girl, this is solveig, our dróttning. and friend," she added tentatively, overjoyed despite her rather placid demeanour.

"she's come to stay, if that is all right."

she looked between her mother and solveig, trying to force a smile onto her face. zulema was happy! the nerves still flickered in her belly at the interaction despite the warmth she felt from the two.

❝yes, i have.❞ she nodded, sucking in a sharp breath as she waited for the pale woman to respond.

[b”Of course, of course!”[/b] She waves off any doubt with a flick of her paw. Any child of Tamar was as welcome as family in Raventhorpe. Her eyes glistened as she looked to Tamar. ”Ah- and finally a friend for my daughter, Thyra- she has gone so long with no one else her age, I will introduce you once you are settled in, yes?” She offered, though she had begun to plan already, thinking of having her daughter bring Zulema a gift as a sign of welcome. 

”Come, come- the threshold is too warm under our feet,” She said, moving forward to touch her nose to Zulema’s cheek, before turning so they might all go into the Plateau as one.

solveig came.

zulema's acceptance was instant, and tamar loved their leader even more for it. the jubilant warmth of the woman enveloped them both. 

"you will like it here," tamar assured zulema. "solveig and rusalka make it a home."

it was then she stopped watching for hostility, a scorpions tail hidden in her words. zulema was welcome, and it sounded others would be excited to greet her too. 

“thank you, solveig.” she nodded her awkwardly, unsure how else to follow her words and affection.

she followed behind the pale woman, in step with her mother. nervously close to golden fur of tamar, she felt small again; not that she minded. being alone certainly did not help her grow.