Hushed Willows Nothing can die while we are here

Forward dated to the 23rd - Lumiya's return home - tagging for reference but anyone's welcome

The journey home was even more tiresome than the journey away - her paw pads were scarily close to cracking and she was covered in sand. She'd gone the nights without sleeping, making her exhausted but she simply had. to. get. home. There was no time to waste anymore, who knew what the Saints were planning so close to their forest and the Empire?

It was late in the evening already when she arrived, sniffing around for @Orlaith while keeping an eye out for the two pixies, @Cassidy and @Pestilence - while at the same time hoping to bump into @Dante so he could soothe her nerves. She was at the brink of a full on exhaustion-induced breakdown with all she'd had to endure because of these Saints. She prayed and wished and did everything in her might to make sure they'd end up in whatever Hell they believed in.

tags for reference!

Orlaith had been wary of the past few days. With having multiple interactions with The Saints, and smelling their scent around was driving her crazy. She couldn't tell if perhaps @Riley try another mockery somewhere, but failed to find. She also assumed @Eleuthera already went to the Empire to warn, but she hadn't seen the woman before, or after the moment. There wasn't too much time to properly know, as the flaming warrior was diligantly hovering over their territory.

At times, she also dwelved into her secret pleasure..

Oh honey.

While thinking about the secret substance, Orlaith saw that Lumiya had come back. She greeted the other with a wide, friendly grin, "Welcome back," though the smile kept up, she had a serious hint within her tone, "you missed a lot after you left a few days ago."

Dante's mind had been in a constant state of restlessness since Lumiya had left on some sort of Alpha business. Though she'd only been gone a few nights, the time had felt like it stretched on endlessly, nerves coiling within Dante more and more with each second that had ticked by. He knew the trip was something essential for the young woman to make due to one political reason or another, but nonetheless he felt uncomfortable not having had been by her side for the journey. She was intelligent and dilligent and more than capable of making the trip on her own, and yet Dante's stomach still curdled with a dreadful apprehension; with an active aggravator and perhaps enemy of Seelie court not far, his mind had worked it's way into a terrible hole of awful things, miserable happenings that could occur to his...to Lumiya and it just...it had been a lot. 

The chill down his spine had come even before the boy had been able to process the scent that had danced to him on the wind, like a sixth sense telling him that his other half had returned. It was without a single thought that the boy had taken off in the direction the breeze had come, his heart lurching wildly in his chest as he neared the source of the scent. It was only as he grew closer that his mind finally began to race. Was she okay? Had harm come to the nymph? Had she been able to reach their allies? What was-

A lithe body cloaked in silvers caught his eye his head cleared once again, the only thing running through it being Lumiya, Lumiya, Lumiya. A quiet whine from high in his throat escaped the young wolf as he barreled in her direction, skidding to a stuttering stop only when he was in pawsteps from her, and immediately nudging his face into the fur of her throat- the presence of the fire-fae completely unnoticed. Hey, hey, love- how is- are you alright? Pulling back slightly from the girl, he clocked the other- Orlaith- in the corner of his eye, completely disregarding her as he visually assesed Lumiya's physical state. She didn't seem to sport any wounds, but he could see the exhaustion in her eyes, in the way she carried herself, her usual glow of energy still present but dimmed. She needed rest. You need rest, he spoke on an exhale, breathy and soft, but determined and direct nonetheless. His eyes searched her face with concern- Lumiya was among the most resilient of characters Dante had met in his short life, but she wasn't invincible, nor was she exempt from Dante's motherly worries. You...you've been traveling, you must be dehyrdrated...need- um, you need water. Let's get you some water and a kip, yeah? His tone was slightly frantic but quietly so, his words tentative but not condescending as he spoke. He shot a hard glance at Orlaith, pelt prickling with a slightly irrational agitation triggered by his own nurturing instincts; surely they should adress her wellbeing before the business side of things, right?

As the queen stumbled into their queendom, nearly tripping over a branch, she was spotted by the fire fae she'd left in charge of the territory while she was away. Despite the grin on their face, Lumi felt a disturbance in the force. Was there a faint scent of Saint in the air, or was she imagining things? She wasn't that tired already, right? Orlaith's words didn't promise anything great either, and she felt her heart drop in her stomach awaiting what just exactly she'd missed.

So much I'd expected - so please, do report on what's been going on. She responded in a soft tone. It was before anything could be said and done about it that she saw the approaching figure of her little mouse - she was too tired to welcome him with her usual dance, but the smile on her face said enough about how happy she was to see him again. They hadn't been separated this long ever since they'd met - it'd been scary, but not anything Lumiya couldn't handle.

heyy - Hey, I'm okay. Everything went well, I'm just a bit tired. She reassured, eyes whipping up to Orlaith in an apologetic fashion. Though a drink sounded nice, there were more pressing matters she needed to discuss. Her well being could wait - informing their allies could not. Her plan was to rest for tonight, then make her way to the Empire at the break of dawn. After that she could probably make it to Whitebark Stream and back without doing permanent damage to herself... For the rest, she had to rely on Hua. Has there been trouble in my absence, Orlaith?

'You challenging me lover boy?' Orlaith had a pretty neutral stance on Dante, he wasn't a warrior she wished to have, but he was like the light a fairy required. He was alright, she thought, until he glared. The fire fae narrowed her own olives back at the boy, as she tensed up and rose her head further upwards, in domination. A snarl was slowly crossing her muzzle, but she only eased up when Lumiya gave a look of apology. Her stance of towering sovereign, remained.

The flaming wolf looked at him once more, before turning to the Queen, "A Saint member entered our land and marked- we drove him out with severe injuries. Encountered two, in one day." Surprisingly though, Orlaith had little to no injuries. The first was a near-loss that turned to word exchange, but the second was a simple barrage of the Court coming onwards to the intruder, "they're getting cocky." She snorted out in disdain.

Ah, but couldn't forget what happened after. "Eleuthera is off to warn the Empire about them."

The fretting boy was hardly interested by the pompous posturing of Orlaith, responding to her- surely hollow- threats with an unimpressed glance before throwing his attention back to his partner. His brow furrowed slightly at her words but he nodded nonetheless. Though Dante was glad to hear she was okay- the dismissal of the extent of her exhaustion wasn't doing much to ease his fears. He made firm eye contact with her for a moment, cocking his brow slightly, but he couldn't prevent the beginnings of a fond smile from alighting on his features. He turned so he was facing the fire faerie again, his body lined up with Lumiya's and close against her side, should she be willing to lean against him and relieve her surely sore legs of some work. 

He listened intently to the exchange between the two women, a his eyes widening and jaw tightening at the mention of intruders. The court had never been anything but peaceful as far as the young man knew, thus the injustice inflicted upon them was even more infuriating. He huffed a sigh and shook his head; Innisfree had had rivalries in the past, but Dante had been young enough then that he hadn't known the inner workings of it all. Even now he wasn't truly informed of all that had occurred- he couldn't imagine the stress it had put on the silver wisp beside him. The thought ignited worry in Dante further as he shifted his gaze to Lumiya.

Lumi doesn't know Artyom is now the sole leader of Whitebark Stream as they met when Dante was alpha

She hadn't the energy to comment on the weird energy between Dante and Orlaith, instead opting to focus more on words. Her ears were still working as they should, even though her body was shutting down. She knew she should've taken a break on her travels, at least for an hour or two, but the girl was awfully stubborn when it came to her duties. She'd rather die doing something important, something that mattered to her or her court, than sit and watch for a moment... But she wasn't dumb. She knew planning a trip to the Empire so soon after making it all the way past the coast was crazy-talk, that her limits were reached, so hearing Eleuthera had gone in her stead made her feel relief... and worry. Worry not only for Eleuthera alone, but for the whole court. If they were cocky enough to enter claimed lands and urinate on it, then there was no predicting their next move. They were crazy.

Her eyes rolled back for a moment, and she would've taken a tumble right then and there had Dante not been beside her. The contact they briefly made was enough to wake her again - for a moment she didn't know whether she just fell asleep or actually fainted. Either option wasn't good, she didn't need Deidra to tell her that. Well, that takes care of one of my duties... She replied softly. Perhaps if she hadn't been so tired, she would've been angry at Orlaith for letting Eleuthera leave while it was her job to protect their weaker members. Lumi's mind was racing with all the things she could take care of, all she could possibly still do to prevent a war - prevent her court's light from dying out. What was she to do? What could she do, in the state she was in?

Dante, I have an urgent message for Artyom, mate of the Alpha of Whitebark Stream. I'd like you to carry it there. She spoke with a tone befitting a queen, having finally made up her mind. She trusted Dante, and she was sending him further away from the Saints in a way. As far as she knew, their terror did not spread to that part of the realm. He was young and fast - faster than her in her state of being, that was for sure. Would you like to? She asked then, ears draping over her skull apologetically. She hadn't meant to sound so stern at first, but she was terribly tired and worried.

The young man's shoulders tensed visibly as the nymph beside him seemed to slump momentarily. She needed rest, and wouldn't be able to complete her leadership duties if she didn't take care of herself sooner rather than later. 

He was pulled from his stewing on the situation at Lumiya's address, her voice commanding and calm- the alpha voice they had discussed the first time the two met. It was centering for the young man, almost, to hear her so clear and certain, his body language shifting to something more attentive and focused as he listened. Furthermore, the boy had been entrusted with a duty for the well-being of his pack, and he swore in that moment a sense of pride swelled in him like it'd never before.
He was nodding before the woman had even finished speaking, maw poised to respond when the sylph cut in with a meeker tone. He smiled at Lumiya reassuringly for a moment, before answering with a straightforward, Yes. Absolutely. Where am I headed? Oh, and, what am I to deliver?

A tired smile crept upon her face. She knew she could count on him. She hadn't needed to ask, but it was in her nature to do so. Sure, she could be all stern and leader-like, but she saw her faeries as equals - advisors, in charge of their own fate and destinies. She wouldn't force them to do anything they didn't want to. She cleared her throat and would begin her explanation, sure and steady.

They're locacted east of here - through the plains and over the moraine. To your right will be a forest. It's just straight from there on out until you come across their border. She explained. She'd explored the area vigorously before she'd settled down in their own forest. Call for Artyom and make sure to mention my name. Tell him our court is in dire need of help against a threat that might spread to them if we are unable to drive them out. That was the most important bit. Tell him this threat is called the Saints, led by a man named Donovan. He is not to be trusted under any circumstances. She pondered after this part, not knowing what else to add - but maybe that was a good thing, otherwise Dante might not be able to remember everything. you got it? She asked.

The conversation soley reflected to the two, and with Dante's glaring earlier, she had no real desire to talk to him anymore. It felt like a challenge that Orlaith wished to continue, but knew Lumiya would disapprove. Especially so now, the other was given a mission. She didn't know there was a land beyond with a pack, but even so, she couldn't do anything.

Her duty was to currently stay and guard. 

"Well, i'm out. Call me if you need anything." The fire fae was getting tired of watching the hearts bounce off of these two. Christ.

Dante nodded along to each of Lumiya's notes, heeding each instruction with care. East. Dante could find his way, he was sure he'd seen the hints of a stony moraine during his exploration of the plains that laid not far from it. His stomach curled slightly at Lumiya's words. He knew the situation was incredibly urgent, and having accompanied Lumiya in the meeting of the perpetrator, Donovan, he understood the threat they were facing, but still to hear the words she spoke made the young man's heart beat a little faster. 

Got it, He was already repeating the instructions in his mind, making sure no bit of info would slip away from him before he began his trek. The other woman was forgotten as Dante's gaze swept Lumiya's face, indulgin himself in a long look at her; it was nearly unbearable for him to leave her once again, having only gotten to be graced by her presence momentarily and with the state she was in, but Dante knew it was what would likely be best for everyone. 

Please take care of yourself, alright? Just- rest, okay? It'll ease my poor heart a bit, he said with a sad chuckle. After waiting for any last words Lumiya might have for him, he stepped forward to embrace her briefly before pulling away and turning on his heel.  Sparing her one last look over his shoulder, the boy was off at a brisk pace, eager to deliver the message before any more havoc could be wreaked by the cult.

I'll archive! <3

I promise. She said, barely having noticed Orlaith's leaving. That was a bit mean of her, she should make it up sometime. She stuck her nose in the fur on his neck, cherishing this moment of finality before she needed to miss him for at least three nights or so. She was bad calculating time, especially with her head so drunk of sleep. She padded behind him till the edge of their forest, watching him with big, sad yet proud eyes and a melancholy smile. Be safe. She said as a goodbye, not actually wanting to say the words. She wouldn't stop looking until he was out of sight, then sighed and turned back.