Dragoncrest Cliffs Psalm

When the golden hour came, Chacal entered the darkness of the tunnel and emerged into the filtered light, gazing out over the ocean to where the sun lingered yet still above the horizon. She lifted one of her left forefeet, and squinted one eye, measuring the distance between the sun and the horizon with the width of her paw. An hour, she thought, before sunset.

The sand was warm. She, too, radiated heat; from the pain coursing through her vessels to the dark coat that absorbed the sun’s light like a coat of velvet.

She moved to lay in the shallows, where she could feel the cool brush of the waves against her underside. It helped, she thought. It was a distraction, at least.

She called for @Shadess, with much on her mind.

Hated filled Shadess these days. A rage festerind and fueling. A vengeance played out upon her enemies, yet it did not save those who had been lost. Those that had been taken, remained taken. 

Softness could only come to those of Sapphique. Of blood. She had so very left to give. 

Matant. She nearly whines as she calls to her aunt, tail sweeping low, red ears back. Her aunt may never sing again. Shadess couldn't blame her.

Sshhhhhadess,

Some called it a final rally- for Chacal, it came not as a surge of energy, but as a return to her primary state. While her diction wavered slightly, the song in her voice had returned. It had returned when she had spoken Mireille’s name to the sea that morning- and so, she knew…And so, she accepted.

M-my Shadess g-girl,
K-k-keeper of de p-pink pearl,
it be y-y-you, dat I seek.

M-m-Mireille an’ I,
B-b-before she gone by,
We t-t-took de chance to ssspeak.

She felt her throat tighten as she knew the words next were only spoken because of tragedy. She steeled herself, and began to sing again.

We knew de t-t-time was ‘ere,
for Sapphique to ‘ave a new leader,
A new Carnelian, at its peak.

It be you, my sweet Chéri,
W-w-we chose in ‘armony,
To lead us anew, in Sapphique.

It might come as a shock. Chacal trembled lightly in the wake of her song. There had been an hour until sundown- now only three quarters. How dusk drew close so quickly! But the sun fought against its weight, to stay high above the ocean and Chacal revered it for bathing them in warm, hazy light.

She felt some strength return to still her nerves. When she spoke next, it was with a buoyant cadence, but without the crutch of melody.

We chose you, Shadess, t-t-to become de n-new Carnelian. There were words she hoped she would not have to say, so she reached out to touch her neice’s paw. We trust you….Only you. In her eyes, something of a plea.

To Shadess absolute shock, words spilt from the lips of her aunt. Her vocals long and smooth, trailing into one another. A voice that could not speak, only sing. A true siren of the seas. 
 
Shadess sat down close next to her, almost transfixed by her words as she spoke them, like a crewman drawn to drown in the deep ocean depths. 

She spoke of mother. Spoke of their time together, the vision they saw for Sapphique's figure even as they were bound by pirates. Chacal sang of her; the future of Sapphique. 

A jeweled rank of leadership that matched the color of her coating. Shadess evergreen eyes blinked hard. She in still so much awe to hear the famed words of her aunt, that it took her moments more before she understood the meaning of them.

Me...? Her eyes then dancing to the paw pressed to her own. Then to the pleading in her eyes. Shadess was a dominant sort. Anyone who knew her would be aware, hell, even by the way in which she carried herself. Being the big bad boss was not something she would say no to. One day, even in her young years, she imagined being on top. It was just so stunning (and quite honored) to hear these words of want from both her aunt and mother. 

If this is what Chacal wanted, if this is what maman wanted for Sapphique - I will not fail you - eit'er of you. She pledged and lowered her head to press the top of her skull to the Tanzanite.

Y-Y-You. She affirmed.

Shadess showed trepidation, and it was a welcome sight that reassured Chacal that they had made the right choice. She remembered how she had felt, taking on such responsibility, and she felt that with such a thing should be treated with reverence. As she pressed her brow to Shadess', she felt the shared weight of the crown. Weight lifted from her shoulders, and though she regretted having to transfer it to another, it was the way of it.

I kn-know you will not. Your mot'er f-f-felt de same. She said quietly. She drew in a breath, and rested her head against her niece's auburn shoulder, reveling privately in how it felt, for a moment, as if she was leaning against her own mother. Tears came to her eyes at the thought. A little wave rose, and cooled her paws, and carried away the tears that fell into the water.

W-w-we 'ave long 'ad our traditions...An' I b-b-believe dey 'eld us toget'er. She spoke. We chose S-s-Sobo to lead wid us...Our blood be what made 'im w-w-wort'y. L-L-Lafayette may one day prove 'imself. Brot'ers, Tears sprung fresh, grief summoned from loss. Brot'ers, s-s-sons, Her voice shook, knowing she would not see any of her sweet boys ever again. She could not go on, to speak of their merits. She felt Shadess would know- that men of the family could be respected and trusted, if they proved themselves.

She was quiet for a moment. Y-y-your sister, A tough topic. We saw darkness in 'er. T-t-trust 'er only if you f-f-feel you can create balance. Ot'erwise... A wan laugh, and she lifted her head, shakily balancing on her own as she lay in a sphinx-like position. De lwa be wid you.

She gazed out to sea.

I will sleep on de T'oughtst-st-stone tonight, She declared. After all, she had much to think about.

It was a moment that Shadess did not think to forget easily, as their crowns touched, as her mother's placement at Chacal's side was replaced with her very self. Shadess eyes burned salt of sea and they would silently ease down her cheeks. 

A deep breath, a nod to her aunt's words. The warmth of Chacal on her shoulder was a welcome one. A moment to just be had not been granted to the Sapphique siblings in months. She was certain it had been worse for Chacal and the other captives of Murkwood. Because of it, they too were no more. 

Now she speaks of their traditions. Speaks of that which had insured the survival of their people through the many years, and the men. Yet, brothers. I dun t'ink dat I want more men in de pack. Not unless blood. Not unless pack-born. She had run off a man with Chani and Sobeille once before. Had thrown another off the cliffs. Those men who came to her home had only been met with rage. Yet as Charcal had said, it was their blood which made them worthy. Only those may be considered for a postion that might otherwise be more fitted to a woman. 

Then... 'Your sister'. Shadess ears perked. It was between Mireille and Sobeille which Shadess received most of her instruction, her learning. Sobeille had been gone for months, then her mother after. Though she always seemed to have one. 

Shadess was quiet though in the end nods to Charal. Her thoughts heavy and evident on her face. Shadess did not know all of which Sobeille had ever done ill, for she was as old as Shadess was now when they met. Yet Shadess thinks hard on Sobeille's command and how easily Shadess had adhered to it by tossing another off the cliffside. But he had been trespassing who refused to leave and he had been man. 

Okay. She then murmured, answering her aunt's last words. T'ank you, Matant.

She had faith the future would be good, with Shadess leading as Carnelian. Change would come, she was sure of it- but she hoped that with her passing, perhaps the veil of misfortune that had plagued them for years might be lifted. New wolves might come to join them, new babies would be born- but Chacal would be far from here, in a place she felt hopeful would be free from anguish.

The heat that curdled the blood in her veins was not tempered by the cool waves. She squinted at the horizon, where the sun had seemingly begun to sink more rapidly than before. An illusion, she thought- but such was life!

She smiled wearily, and blinked languidly at Shadess, who was now doubled in her vision. A ringing in her ears had begun, and to lose two of her key senses rattled her conviction some. She knew what waited for her, on the smoothe, flat stone- two pale, of slender seeds stolen from a forbidden herb that promised nothing but sweet release- and convinced herself to remain strong, for the sake of her niece.

T'ank you, Shadess She hummed warmly. The matriarch stood, holding her eyes shut until the dizziness passed. A thoughtful smile pulled at the corner of her lip as she glanced down to Shadess once more.

Sapphique, toujours.

She waded through shallow waters to the thoughtstone, warmed all day by the sun, but almost cold against the hot pads of Chacal's feet. She would wait until Shadess had disappeared from view before she pulled her white pearl from where it had been tucked between her pawpad and her toes, setting it on the thoughtstone at her feet. She inspected the seeds- so tiny and unassuming to the untrained eye. Where she had worn this medicine once before as a toxic powder, she consumed it now as a poison. Fifteen minutes was all that it had taken for her mother to succumb- but there was much less left of Chacal, and the speedy potency of the herb was a mercy.

The waves would rise to wash away any trace of her final struggle, and bear her pearl and her spirit toward the hot and copper horizon.

last for me <3 thank you so much for joining!