The festival had been long in the making, and it seemed ephemeral in the face of their laborious preparations. But Hotaru had deeply enjoyed the festivities, the fireworks and storytelling - even though, privately, she could not cease pondering over the images and fortunes that Aisling had revealed to her. Whether she could call it a fortune in the first place was...questionable. It seemed more a doomed message from the future than anything fortuitous, if it was reliable. But coming from Aisling, the dear woman she'd become quite fond of, Hotaru could not help but entertain the notion of omniscience and an aptitude for things to come. What was she supposed to do? Her heart was torn, and she never imagined she'd be here, in this kind of position. It was still preposterous to the woman that anyone would be interested in her in the first place, much less two at the same time. Two who, admittedly, were not only handsome but more than capable of securing a lover far better than she. It had haunted her thoughts since Thranduil's...visit. And ensuing proclamation. Confession. 

Alice's soft whine caught the Valkyrie's attention, ripping her from the familiar spiral of confusing notions. Things she could never escape. A winding circle that went nowhere, as no further meetings took place and no routes were made obvious to her to draw her from the situation she found herself in. So deep in her thoughts, she'd dismissed the sound of Rexanna's call subconsciously until Alice had urged her from the dark spot within her mind. Beta calling for you, the bitch announced softly, turning to look over her smoking violet shoulder towards Hotaru, pointing the way with one lazily bent knee towards the echoing source of the sound. Hotaru physically shook herself, trying to focus. Thinking would achieve nothing if she hadn't found a solution by now. Rexanna would be a welcome distraction, able to sink into her best friend's presence and even confide in her. Perhaps the Thief would have some ideas for Hotaru, if the Valkyrie could not come up with them on her own. 

The comfort of that notion lasted only a moment as she came face to face with her Beta. 

The gathering of her bodice, the place she stood, awaiting them...even the soft rustling and voices from Rexanna's cavern, one of them unmistakably Kiada and the other Tembovu, whom Rexanna had mentioned to Hotaru as being the father of the girl and her twin...it was like a kick to the gut. It was too familiar, too fresh. She could blink and see Ashamin's apologetic face in Rexanna's awaiting form. And she knew exactly why Rexanna had summoned her forth instead of seeking her out. Her joyous smile fell immediately from her face, an icy, impermeable countenance replacing it so quickly it almost spun her head. You're leaving me, too? her heart cried. It seemed every time she let herself love someone, they turned and abandoned her in one way or another. And for what? To find themselves, as Ashamin had? For love, as Ophelia had? And apparently now Rexanna as well, if the Elephant King's presence meant anything.

"You're leaving." It came from between her parted lips so icily that even Alice winced, a soft, barely audible whine curling off her tongue. Hotaru stamped a single hoof and the bitch fell silent, retreating away from Rexanna with lowered eyes, obedient beneath the cold storm of Hotaru's anger and hurt. Even she would not go out on a limb for their dear friend, their Beta. "For him?" and the spit of her voice only grew more venomous, the barbs sharper as she lashed them forth at Rexanna. She was not her Lady, now. At least she'd managed that with Ashamin. But somehow, Rexanna being her best friend instead of her lover removed any kind of control Hotaru had over the situation. 

"Is being a King's concubine so much more preferable than your position here?" she hissed, the vitriol of her insult only dulled by the way her eyes were perhaps a little too shiny. Her voice a tad bit too choked to be believable. Idle sparks flicked at her hooves, anger stirring in her veins. A shield, defending her from the reality of her own hurt. I didn't leave when Ashamin did. Why can't you do it too? Her heart was shattering even as her face remained like ice, hard and unforgiving as she stared down at her dearest friend. Must she lose everyone to those better than her? Was she incapable of keeping her herd, her family together? What was she doing wrong? 

Please, just stay.