Hushed Willows And if we should die tonight

dated for 7-19-2020
@Eleuthera
in the order- firstly this thread, this one, and then onto now

Lumiya had set forth to the mermaids, giving them a warning to what was. She had been asked to stay behind, and guard, the usual. There weren't too many in their ranks to be trusted with, but Orlaith always counted herself to be ontop of it all. She preferred to loudly claim to be the leader amongst them, and at the moment Aoibh hadn't been around to deny this claim.

However, the flaming wolf was full of fury. She had a raging storm, whirling around in her mind and forcing it onto her limbs. She couldn't leave the territory, not yet. She was like a tornado, as Orlaith could be seen racing around the territory, a rage upon her face. She wanted to do more- fight more, to wage war upon them!

But she couldn't.

All she could do was warn.

Yet she couldn't help warn either.

Fucking hell.

✹☾❂

 

Eleuthera was doing nothing particularly fascinating at that moment. The days that she spent within the willows were largely spent doing exactly that — nothing. Eleuthera could sing and she could dance and she could talk your ear off, but what could she really do that helped the faeries of Seelie Court preserve themselves in this place for evermore? Eleuthera has really been putting some thought into the value she offered the pack within which she sheltered, seeing as she was now without her other, more useful half.

Séamus…

Well, at that thought took a lot of brain power, so she rested her body and took from the caches whenever she felt that she needed nourishment. Eleuthera was no slacker — she had been traveling a lot as of late, but let’s face it, this was not for the betterment of the pack. It was all simply to satiate her wildwind thirst for adventure, and desire to meet wolves and packs of all types. Add them to the catalogue in her brain, you know? It might help one day, but it was truly self indulgent, and Eleuthera had to be better than that.

On her next trip to the caches, Eleuthera ran into the firewoman, who was fuming.“Orlaith,” Eleuthera called out, prancing closer, the electricity that came from the woman causing the fur along her spin to prickle in a pleasurable way. “What is the matter?"

She was like an active, she erupted once but looked like there was a second strike coming through. She turned to the lilac lady with such a force, it seemed as if the flaming wolf was a beast that locked upon it's prey. She had to relax herself, for a moment upon realizing it was a simple fae that crossed her unfortunate path. If she had less sanity, perhaps Orlaith would've attacked.

"The Saints," she hissed the words like they were poison, "had an unfortunate encounter with a member, and of their new location. They are close. Too close to my liking." Pride was a bit hurt upon a losing battle that did not finish. Not to mention them moving to a location she had not visited, but it was a probility upon Lumiya's speculations that they were in the desert.

✹☾❂

 

Eleuthera liked Orlaith; thought she was dutiful and dedicated, if not to the extreme — but Eleuthera liked that in a woman. Someone who stood for something. The way that Orlaith felt about defending the Faeries was the way that Eleuthera now felt about the willows. If there was a threat, Eleuthera was determined to find it and snuff it out. Perhaps this was her purpose amongst Seelie Court.

Eleuthera felt concern begin to simmer in her gut as Orlaith described the events that had transpired. Orlaith did not speak in details, but details were not needed to quicken Eleuthera’s heartbeat. She felt the blood rush in her veins a little faster — she was soaking up Orlaith’s volcanic energy like a sponge. Her eyes, always dulcet, began to grow wild.

“Unfortunate? What happened?"

"Fought, warned, got scoffed off, came back and told Lumiya." Orlaith refrained  from speaking that it was a near loss, for if she did the fire fairy knew she would grow even more angry. She was huffing and puffing, ready to blow down someone's unforunate nest. She had to hold herself, to refrain from spewing more fire, be it from her claws or teeth.

"Lumiya went to warn our coastal allies." Finally, did she reveal where their Queen had left. It only happened moments ago, but due to the fact the coast was a a few days away, she would be gone for some time. If she wasn't a raging flame, Orlaith would announce she is taking charge until otherwise, especially with the enemy lingering around.

✹☾❂

 

The news of the Saints’ misdeeds was hot gossip in the Teekon Wilds these days. The news of the confrontation had reached her ears far prior, through the whispers of the faeries amongst the trees and in her meetings with other packwolves in the area.

Lumiya was well aware of this new development it seemed — but seeing how enraged Orlaith was, Eleuthera assumed this all was recent. The woman’s fire was infectious, and Eleuthera easily became swept up in it. Coupled with her desire to keep harm from befalling yet another innocent clan amongst the holy willows, and Eleuthera was down. for. whatever. Her mothers had been peacekeepers; but Eleuthera was decidedly not. 

“You say they are too close?”  she further pried, hoping to glean more information from Orlaith’s spewing fervor. Eleuthera’s tail lashed behind her, thinking of the man Donovan in the river. How had he fooled her so? He must truly be good at what he does if he had managed to escape her radar.

“Where?"

"Just beyong the vale, there's a desert just near them, they stake their new claim there." Neighbors to be exact, especially so in the mountain, where space was not far. Prey itself was sparce depending on where one would be, and within these mountains, Orlaith assumed greed to keep the territories to oneself. 

"Removed from the coast only to get closer to their enemies." The fire fae snorted at their foolishness. There was a vast wild, various packs stake claim, yet still so much space to spare. However The Saints, decided they must stick close. Like a thorn in their side, but it seemed as if the group was laughing, and taunting the rest. 

Like they are untouchable.

"Lumiya is warning our allies."

"If it was me, i'd gather them for another warning to leave."

✹☾❂

 

Séamus had always told her that she had a temper, but she never believed it. In fact, she thought of herself a demure and quiet creature, but there were moments when self control fell away and she was prone to bursts of shouting and being quite argumentative; not that it ever really mattered, or that there was much at stake. Eleuthera felt her question being answered by something in the great beyond — that she was being filled with purpose.

Eleuthera pawed at the ground upon which she stood; which she vowed to protect. “I agree with you. The first gathering procured no change," she noted, using this opportunity as her chance to use words to convey the intense, flaming emotions she felt. “Perhaps they have… dark intentions, that prevent them from leaving." Clever and sly wolves were the worst, in her opinion — and she had not appreciated being tricked in the river, and she did not appreciate it happening to her friends, now.

Eleuthera sighed without having meant to; perhaps her parasympathetic nervous system was trying to calm her down. Eleuthera held Orlaith’s gaze, not to challenge an already riled up wolf, but hopefully to convey a sense of solid support. “I met Donovan before. He seemed to be a fine man—" Eleuthera hoped the red guardian would not think she was idiotic for this. Based on what Orlaith was telling her, Donovan was diabolical, harboring lecherous souls behind a winsome smile. “We mustn’t let them fool us with their silver tongues. Not again."

"They want to show dominance." She couldn't help but think their relocation was a simple gesture of their kindness. It was a simple flipping off to the other wolves that in reality they do not care what the neighbors think, or else The Saints wouldn't have moved so close, "Arrogant." She hissed out with disdain over their haughty behavior. Later, Orlaith would be proven simply how concieted they truly are.

"Theyre slick with words," she huffed, not blaming the lilacian wolf, "to cover up a false facade of self-importance." However perhaps the meeting with their leader should've been hidden, as it seemed to rile up the flaming wolf even more-so. She felt disturbed and angered, that they would even dare come across the courts fairies with their slick tongues. Orlaith saw it as a way to make some see them in a 'better' light to take pity, on the horrible deads they are slowly committing over time. Gain a few onto their side for a rainy day.

Absolute bastards.

"It'll take a few days to even discuss it," but she had to calm down, "going from the sea back to the mountains and to other packs will take time."

✹☾❂

 

It was at this point, listening to Orlaith seethe about false facades and shows of dominance, that Eleuthera’s rational problem-solving mind took over and put the bandwagon part of her brain to rest — but the energy remained; the electricity, the fire and zest for life that she desired more than anything. This was the best she had felt in months: she had been depressed, slovenly, unable to do anything but mourn Elysium’s memory. Now, she could channel her angst and do something productive with it.  

“It is fortunate that this fighting saint came across you, instead of preying upon someone weaker. " Eleuthera’s voice came strong and certain; a far cry from the lyrical tone her words usually took on. "My entire family perished amongst these mountains. It cannot happen again." Orlaith and she had talked about this before, and they both had been in agreement then. Now, it seemed the unthinkable might come to pass. 

Eleuthera pranced in a tight circle, unable to control her frenetic movements. ”Our friends to the south need to know the danger on their doorstep. We’d be back before anyone knew we were gone. " She assumed Orlaith would know what she was talking about: going to speak to the packs in Lumiya’s stead. It was not what the Faerie Queen had ordered (not that Eleuthera knew at this point) but Lumi would be thankful for it at the end of the day, no?

"Perhaps so," Orlaith gritted, "but it was only one. We don't know their numbers."  Perhaps the biggest flaw that made the fae grit her teeth in fustration. The Court itself was not of the warrior-kind. they took more of nature-friendly terms, and a love for life. She grew up like that, but even so, with an ample amount of guardians in their mix. The realm was still small, and only a few took the reigns of fighters. It was even worse when there was only one, she could truly trust with her life on the lines.

It was a weakness.. However, they had allies. It filled a portion of what weakened Seelie Court.

"All need to know, and it would take time for Lumiya to inform all. However, I cannot leave, the borders would be weakened." She couldn't deny the fire guard thought of it. However, her duty, which Lumiya asked of, was to stay and guard their territory. Orlaith's ears flickered with an unfamilar call, ringing out, she side-eyed in the distance...

There was someone intruding.

"I would not stop you, if you went," Orlaith eased her tension to Eleuthera, "but I must stay and defend- there is someone here already." She heard the faint call 'Esme?' in the distance. She knew not of any familiar faces, and with such a ferocity coursing through her veins, she was ready to lunge at anybody. 

With it being said, Orlaith charged toward the sound.

✹☾❂

 

Eleuthera’s attention was torn away as soon as it was clear there was a foreigner inside the willows. Orlaith’s too; she turned to greet the intruder baring teeth and ready to fight. Eleuthera was astounded at all of these developments and threats — not to her home! Something must be done! 

Eleuthera followed Orlaith and saw the man, smelt Donovan on him, heard the Faeries congregate to expel this wretched man — but Eleuthera turned to run. She skittered outside the willows and turned due south, running as fast as her lithe body would take her, running straight to the doors of the empire past the spires. They had to be alerted; clearly, there was little time to waste.