the Rift


[OPEN] !! Lonely Eyes [Joining?]

Laedere Posts: 84
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Mare :: Pegasus :: 14.3hh :: 5 years old (Frostfall birthday)
Ardere :: Plain Dolphin Leviathan :: Boil Abba
#1
Laedere
But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Her mind was reeling. Each limb pushed forward with new strength. To the south! To the south she must go! She had been there once. She had seen it when Africa was still considered Queen of those lands. When Midas was still ruling the Falls, just after Laedere had entered this strange world. It was a slow trek, one that didn't push her limits. One that allowed her mind to search out some kind of answer. The Falls had been taken over, and she served little purpose there - while they all thrived. Though, she had to admit that the order made far more sense - led by those of the masculine sex compared to having a female leader. Aye, that had to be the reason for the downfall. The lack of Midas, of stags in the lands had been part of the issue.

Had she known this was inevitable, she would have fought - but instead she had been off trying to garner new members to replenish the lands wilting numbers. No. It was too late now, she would not dwell. So, she figured it was time to gather a new future, to try and place a home somewhere else, somewhere that she… fit in. For she didn't quite feel accepted in the Falls. In fact, she felt rather out of place - awkward, worthless to their ways. And, just for once, she wanted someone to care about her - to accept her, to love her and offer her a chance to bloom.

Alas, as she steps up to the border, Ardere floated around - doing flips in the air and just (in general) trying to mess with Laedere and keep her mind from drowning in the uncertain, hollowness of her soul at the current moment. Laedere flicks her ears, head shooting up, and offering a snort as she stared in confusion. Since when was the Throat an island? Her body shuffled, wings ruffling - stretching out and then snapping back into place. She couldn't fly, she couldn't get in, she was stuck outside. And, because of that, her heart sank. Would she even be accepted here? It was obvious that this land had to be meant for those with wings… Yet, she had wings. She just no longer had the gift of flight…

Still, she's too afraid to move. She stands there, soul hollow, mind broken, and body obviously not fitting into the mold these creatures had created for this land. But, she couldn't go north, she couldn't go to the land the others had evacuated, and she couldn't stand to live in the lands she had once called home any longer. So she waited. And she hoped. She begged that even with the lack of flight, she would still be allowed refuge in these lands.

So, as the sun began to set, she was a figure in the sand. Her bandage billowing out around her right wing, and Ardere now floating elegantly beside her. It was as if, from the way the sunset wrapped around her frame, that she embodied that of her previous home of Pompeii. But, if one looked closely enough, they could see that she was far from being that…

"Laedere speaking." | Thoughts/others speaking.

Joining, hopefully, if y'all will let her ;3 And also possibly be used for @[Einarr]'s quest by providing 'acceptance' (an emotional need of children) if Time wishes


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Einarr Posts: 113
Absent Abyss atk: 5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Stallion :: Pegasus :: 17.2 hh :: 8 years HP: 67 | Buff: NOVICE
Time
#2

EINARR
careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire

Gaucho had ordered them to patrol the borders more heavily. The war that had gone on in the northern part of Helovia would surely mean refugees, and Gaucho had given them a duty to give help to those who sought it. The Throat was a beacon of hope and acceptance, and each resident was held to high standards that called to press the herd on to greatness. They thrived despite the war they did not take part in. They held alliances with the two other herds--the powerful ones--and Einarr could only assume that if the invasion was successful, all four herds would be united in a vigil of peace.

How boring.

Wings flapped gently as he flew slowly. Massive, inky wings glided on warm currents as he patrolled the borders. At the entrance, however, the guardian noticed the flickering of a figure waiting at the water's edge. Turning his body, the massive stallion flew with powerful wings across the great blue mote. Bloodied eyes looked down on the image of a pegasus as he drew closer. Landing in a trot, Einarr attempted to close the distance between himself and the newcomer.

He scanned over her body. She was small, oddly colored, but still a pegasus. The bloody bandage, however, caused alarm to flicker behind his red-brown eyes. "You okay?" Einarr asked quickly, his voice alive and ringing with a tinge of concern. "Throat have healers." He nodded, matter of fact, locking eyes with the girl before him. The stallion lifted his body up to stand square and straight, easily identified as militant. "Einarr can call healers." He remembered those Mordecai had pointed out to him that had healed her wing when she first came to the Dragon's Throat.

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Laedere Posts: 84
Hidden Account
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14.3hh :: 5 years old (Frostfall birthday)
Ardere :: Plain Dolphin Leviathan :: Boil Abba
#3
Laedere
But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Aye, she trembled waiting - yet still (somehow) managed to hold some air of elegance. It was what she had been taught to do, so she did it with ease and grace. Ardere, on the other hand, was very good at breaking that elegance. She stood, she waited, she watched the skies in an almost contemplative manner. Who would come to greet her? Who would deem her unworthy due to lack of flight? Who would say she was useless to the lands upon that island? She was prepared to be tossed away like some form of garbage. She may be of pure pegasus blood, but she no longer served the same purpose other pegasi did, and it kept her soul at bay, kept her thinking she was worthless, that she would never find a home.

Alas, the one who came arrived just as she flexed out her wings - stretching them out to give some freedom to the cramped muscles. And, as soon as he landed - just far enough off to give him room to stop - she snapped her wings back to her side (forever self-conscious of the way the hole came off, especially to other pegasi who still had the gift of flight). She had learned a long time ago, from Midas and Africa, that it seemed most pegasi here did not know of this 'Pompeii' she heralded from. That they did not understand her strong religious ties to the churches and the strength that came from passing history on through stories. That they hadn't had to live through fire and ash cascading from the sky and suffocating others around her. But, as clearly as she remembered that pain, she couldn't remember much else as the broken body fought with the new, different soul to inhabit it.

As he came in closer, she could see the alarm flickering across his eyes upon inspection of her frame. Mineself isn't that rebarbative? she mused to herself before the questions fell from his lips. His speech was fractured, though alive with concern for her as they locked eyes. Aye, he thought he could fix her. They all did. Ardere was the one who shot forward, interested in the stag before her who stood tall and firm. He was a giant compared to Laedere, and that alone sparked all of the curiosity inside the young leviathan. So, careful not to actually touch the stag and frighten him, Ardere began to circle him - to take in his frame, his muscles, his over all size - before doing playful flips and circles in front of him while Laedere took in a deep breath and settled herself. She wouldn't be rejected just yet, but as soon as he found out he couldn't do anything, she didn't doubt it would come like a sting of a bee.

"Mineself dost not endure afflictions," she reassured, ears alert and forward as she swished her tail and took in another breath. She figured it was best that she show him the wing, to allow his mind to understand it had been healed from time, and then attempted to be healed again by the Falls healers - nothing could be done. Awkwardly, she pulled her wing out from its usual cramped position and rotated it. She held it out, clearly showing the hole in the feathers and the scarring along the bone. "Ye shan't be able to restore mine feathers atop cicatrix. Tis no exigency to locate a 'healer'" Laedere finished with a carefully formed smile, almost forced from embarrassment of the fact that without her ability of flight she was a disgrace to all pegasi. "Mineself tis merely seeking harborage and one mineself might entitle kin…"

Slowly, her smile fell, wing shrinking back into the cramped hold it was generally in before she allowed her gaze to drop. Aye, she was at his mercy now, and as much as Ardere wanted to play she couldn't connect with that joy, that happiness her leviathan felt. She was ready to be rejected, to be tossed aside, to actually be deemed as worthless as she felt when she had returned to see the Falls no longer the same. She doubted they would have accepted her, so she left and found a place where she could only assume pegasi thrived (thanks to it being an island and all) only to realize she might not even be accepted into the folds of their family.

Isn't life just a bitch sometimes?

"Laedere speaking." | Thoughts/others speaking.

i think i just died because i can never get this much out of her. i love you time ;-;


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Einarr Posts: 113
Absent Abyss atk: 5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Stallion :: Pegasus :: 17.2 hh :: 8 years HP: 67 | Buff: NOVICE
Time
#4

EINARR
careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire

In Einarr's concern for the mare, he had barely noticed her companion. Quickly, the sea-like creature jumped into his view and Einarr visibly snapped to higher attention. Brows knit together as he stared at the flipping, dancing companion. He had not seen any like it in his time here, and he wondered if he had merely overlooked them or if they were rare. Snorting, the warrior moved his muzzle to touch the creature's side, inhaling deeply with wide, curious nostrils. It smelled like the sea in which it should inhabit, but there was no water around it. "You should be under waves." He stated, tail giving a simple flick behind him. Red-brown eyes moved to focus on the mare, ears twitching atop his dark head.

The warrior shifted on his cloven hooves, thick shoulders turning as he took a step forward. The mare spoke, and Einarr struggled with focusing on her words. Her level of speech was much higher than his in this Helovian tongue, and she nearly lost him. All he focused on was that she was not hurt, in fact, and that she was seeking acceptance into their lands. The guardian knew that she was welcome here for the mere fact of her pegasus genetics, but the stallion was unsure of how she would cross the bridge. He did not have a key--for he could fly--but she could not fly. The woman extended her wings and Einarr recoiled, shock expressive on his normally stoic face.

Concern laced his features again and the titan moved forward without thinking of offending the mare. The stallion came close to Laedere, inspecting the old wound that left her without flight. As he prodded and sniffed at her he sorted, muscles tensing along his sides and in his chest. How could she live? She was grounded, unable to dominate the skies and maneuver with the beauty, grace and power of her ancestors. Einarr nearly shuddered at the thought, at the burden, of being restricted to on-hoof travel for the rest of his days. "Throat welcome pegasus." He spoke plainly, shaking his head some and looking to the mare.

"Dragon's Throat have member like you. Maren unable to fly, but she pegasus. Her wings small, stuck behind her ears instead of shoulders." An image of the tiger-painted mare formed in Einarr's mind. He only knew her from her most recent promotions, but still he knew that Laedere would thrive in the Throat because Maren could.

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Laedere Posts: 84
Hidden Account
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14.3hh :: 5 years old (Frostfall birthday)
Ardere :: Plain Dolphin Leviathan :: Boil Abba
#5
Laedere
But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Ardere seemed to confuse Einarr, but Laedere could understand the confusion. Her companion didn't make much sense to Laedere herself when she had been granted her. Alas, Ardere was pleased with the physical contact, and when his muzzle pressed up against her side she pressed back into it with a whistling pitch that resembled joy.

Alas, as she spoke of the wounds and wanting to join she could see his face strain, as if he were getting confused by her words. Trying to reiterate the point that she was not hurt, she flexed out her wing. But, it took all of the power in her not to snap it back against her side when he enclosed upon her space and began to poke, prod, and sniff her frame. Her muscles tensed, the one wing still at her side, trying to protect her and cover her frame from the awkward intrusion. Still, she tried to stay calm - to not offer yet another reason to shove her away.

Then he shuddered, and a few words escaped his maw, saying that she would be welcomed because she was a pegasus. Her eyes flickered across his frame before settling near his own gaze. "Dost not cause issue that mineself not possess flight?" she inquired, body flinching just a little as her wing snapped back up against her side. Though, her question was answered only moments later when another member was explained, Maren - her wings were behind her ears instead of on her shoulders. There is a gentle tilt of her head as she takes this in before she attempts to figure out how to word this next bit in a manner he might understand. "I shan't be… pushed aside… due to injury?" Her words are slow, with a pause to find a 'simpler' word for the form that came so easily to her. "How might mineself… cross this… bridge?" If she could not fly, how was she to garner a way into the lands? Would she always be left at the border, but called a member?

She could feel her heart sinking at the thought, and should he be paying attention, he might even notice the sagging of her frame. Her ears no longer alert - eyes gazing uncertainly along the border. And, as she stood there - it was from Ardere's prodding that caused her to even realize her lack of manners. "Mine name is Laedere - this is Ardere," she explains before adding in, "Mine apologies for thee late introduction…" Her voice slow, mind requiring time to take in and replace the words she would have normally used with something this stag might understand. She assumed he was Einarr, from the way he said 'Einarr' could call for healers - but perhaps he had a hidden companion in the midst that she didn't know about.

Still, she was uncertain if she was worthy of acceptance - and she could only hope even a giant with, what she assumed was her language as a second one, would be wiling to call her a sister. Be willing to call her kin.

"Laedere speaking." | Thoughts/others speaking.

ooc goes hurr.


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Einarr Posts: 113
Absent Abyss atk: 5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Stallion :: Pegasus :: 17.2 hh :: 8 years HP: 67 | Buff: NOVICE
Time
#6

EINARR
careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire

Einarr shifted his weight over his cloven hooves, ears pressed forward. His eyes narrowed some as his brain strained to catch and translate her words. She spoke with an ancient form of the Helovian language, and even the most common way of speaking was hard for the stallion to grasp. His face relaxed, however, and he nodded his head. "Dragon's Throat welcome pegasus always, but even accept those with no wings at all." Einarr nodded. Some of those who had helped Mordecai heal when Rhoa and Megaera brought her back to the Throat did not possess wings, and they were well off in the herd. Being well respected, even without the ability of flight, was still achievable.

Einarr's eyes moved to the companion as the mare introduced herself and it. "Einarr never see one like this." He did not have a word for what the companion was. He knew it resembled creatures that lived in the depths of the oceans, but in this bonded, compact form the primitive stallion had no proper compartment to fit it into. "Einarr, Dragon's Throat Guardian." He nodded again to her, offering his name and title. He felt himself more than a guardian, however. He was elite, the warrior class in the Dragon's Throat small but still mighty--even smaller now with Megaera's recent ascension to Khaleesi. Even still, Einarr was a blood rider. He stood at the protection and service of his khalasaar and would never fail them. It would be his duty and direction to use his abilities the way he knew how, for the sake of the herd he resided in.

"Laedere enter Throat by key passage. Einarr can fly over and ask someone with key to open bridge." He eyed her up and down once more, waiting for her word to alert a key-holder. "Do not be afraid."

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Laedere Posts: 84
Hidden Account
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14.3hh :: 5 years old (Frostfall birthday)
Ardere :: Plain Dolphin Leviathan :: Boil Abba
#7
Laedere
But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

He speaks of the Throat always accepting pegasi, saying that the accepted those even without wings. Yet, there was still a pang in her heart. Her eyes scattered around before finally going to lock back upon his. She introduced herself and Ardere and the response she got most definitely followed her own train of thought when Ardere had floated out of the hatched egg. "Aye, mineself is… not sure what Ardere is either," she responds meekly before he gave his name.

Slowly, her demeanor began to shrink a little. Those who could not fly were restricted to keys. She could feel his eyes upon her, and she pulled her wings in even tighter to her bodice. There is a small breath as she looks up to him. "The Throat may welcome those without wings… but do ye still believe those such as mineself… worthy of being called kin… called family?" she inquires, eyes trying to meet his. Being allowed inside… aye it was something far different than being called family once inside. And she… Laedere longed for this family, to have a purpose and to be loved.

The words, to not be afraid, rang in her head. She took in a breath - still trying to hold his gaze. "Mineself dost not mean the Throat as a whole… Mineself means dost ye, Einarr… think those like mineself are worthy of being called family…" she rephrases, trying to ensure that she got the correct answer.

There is a pause, a break as she tries to work up the courage to accept the offer. As she tries to work up the offer to not be afraid of being shunned once more. "Aye… a key would be rather nice," she finally answers - eyes flickering back to the bridge. Then, a small additive, "Thank ye, Einarr…"

"Laedere speaking." | Thoughts/others speaking.

Aye, look at Laedere trying to alter her speech for poor Einarr


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Einarr Posts: 113
Absent Abyss atk: 5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Stallion :: Pegasus :: 17.2 hh :: 8 years HP: 67 | Buff: NOVICE
Time
#8

EINARR
careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire

This woman before Einarr was full of confusion, the stallion thought. Even she did not truly know what her companion was. A frown laced over Einarr's dark lips. He knew well what he desired out of a companion, but this mare must have just stumbled upon the egg by accident and just happened to become bonded to it. Einarr, on the other hoof, wanted a phoenix. He wanted the fire bird to sit with him and help provide counsel, as well as become hell fury in battle. His father had a phoenix companion, and as did his Khal, Gaucho. It only seemed fitting that Einarr discover and bond to one of his own. The greatest bloodrider he had ever known had done so, as well as a king. The Warden was deserving of such a prize, for it was in his blood and in his path.

The conversation seemed to shift more seriously, however, and Einarr continued to strain his ears and struggle to grasp the full concept of her words. His frown still stuck to his mouth and he cast his eyes above the mare, clearly thinking deeply. He did not know how to word what he felt, what he wanted to tell this mare, and frustration clogged his mind like a thick fog. "You be strong in Dragon's Throat, no flight needed." Was that what she was looking for? It did not seem so, as she clarified her words. Sienna eyes snapped back down onto the mare's pupilless eyes, and widened. She was not only seeking approval, acceptance, love from the herd, but from him. He visibly stalled, mind sputtering with what he wanted to say. "Einarr get key. Laedere and Ardere wait here."

Massive black wings moved powerfully as the dark stallion took to the skies, going back the way he had come. His thoughts raged inside of his head as he glided over the sea. Could he accept this mare? He knew she could serve a purpose--be it healing or more scholarly duties--but could she serve a purpose in his life? Her injured wing did not automatically throw her outside of his realm and ability for love, but he surely saw her as weaker. And she was puny! Just like the other mares of Helovia he had met. The stallion grit his teeth, eyes scanning down for the ashen prince.

[Time lapse, permission from Aud to get an extra key from Rhoa.]

Sweat clearly formed at Einarr's joints as he flew back over the ocean. Around his neck a key hung loosely, bouncing against his chest with foreign weight. It was different than the armor that Cera had made for him--which he left safely in the Oasis with Mordecai when he did not need it. It was light, touching him with the touch that a horsefly might. Like before, Einarr entered the presence of Laedere. Landing, a clear sign of relief painted over his face. "You are here. Einarr bring you over bridge." The stallion nodded, eyebrows furrowed. He turned his body to face where the fiery wings would soon embrace them, but turned his head over his shoulder. With labored breath, he gave his word. "Einarr welcome Laedere into rhojosor...family."

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Laedere Posts: 84
Hidden Account
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14.3hh :: 5 years old (Frostfall birthday)
Ardere :: Plain Dolphin Leviathan :: Boil Abba
#9
Laedere
But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Aye, the fact that she did not know what her companion was, exactly, seemed to confuse Einarr even more. Or at least, she assumed it was confusion and hoped it wasn't anger when the frown crossed his lips. Uncertainly, she offered a little more information - trying to ease the situation. "Thee God of Earth… gave mineself an egg to care for… after flood…" she struggled for simpler words.

Alas, whether it helped or not, she shifted the conversation and while the frown stuck, she could see in his eyes that it was more from concentration than anything else. He said she would be strong, regardless of flight - thought it wasn't what she was asking. She wanted to know if she would be accepted as an equal, as a member of the family. Aye, she wasn't expecting it right away - but she also wanted to know it was capable of being gained in this herd. His eyes widened, snapping back to meet hers before he broke to say that he would get the key.

The sudden flight bore at her heart. Had she frightened him so that she would not get an answer. Alas, as time passed she folded her limbs, resting upon the hot sand and watching as Ardere played in the water. It was only when she began to notice the flapping of wings that she pulled herself back to her feet. He says the he would bring her over the bridge and she simply nods. It is the last words though, that cling to her mind. He would welcome her into the family. Rhojosor.

Before she could say thank you, though, fire erupted around her wings. It covered them in flames, filling in the hole. And, when she flapped them to attempt to get rid of the fire (which wasn't harming her) she could feel the weight of the air capture under them. Her eyes widened - mind filled with joy at the thought of floating through the skies again.

And, with a few sure steps she takes off - floating through the sky with a grin plastered upon her maw. She was exhilarated, and when she finally landed upon the other side the fire disappeared and she could feel the weight of being forced upon the ground fall back upon her shoulders. "Rhojosor," she whispered under her breath, taking in the term and trying to place it into memory. "Thank ye, Einarr.. Tis means… thine world." For, it really did mean everything to the mare with no family to finally have one once more. Finally, she had a place. She had at least one who would be willing to call her kin, or even a sister. Finally, she was accepted for who she was - broken or not…

"Laedere speaking." | Thoughts/others speaking.

ooc goes hurr.


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Einarr Posts: 113
Absent Abyss atk: 5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Stallion :: Pegasus :: 17.2 hh :: 8 years HP: 67 | Buff: NOVICE
Time
#10

EINARR
careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire

The wings of fire engulfed them and lifted them. Slowly than normal flight, they soared over the tossing ocean below. Einarr let his reddened brown eyes scan the ocean as they passed over it. It was not unlike gliding with his own wings, close to the ocean, but something about the unburning, yet fiery, wings that carried them across made him uneasy. It was like being in the caves. He felt claustrophobic, caught in a grasp he could not demolish and tear away from. The stallion held his breath until his cloven hooves touched the sands on the other side of the bridge once more.

Trotting a few steps away from the ocean, Einarr lifted his head and shook out his wings. The stallion needed to stretch after being consumed by that feeling, and he looked back to Laedere to see her reaction. Turning once more, Einarr went forward in an attempt to close the distance between him and the flightless mare. A small, yet handsome, smile broke his primal features. "Laedere explore Dragon's Throat. You welcome here as member, but seek leader to be placed in rank." The inky stallion lowered his head towards the smaller mare. He stretched his neck out and attempted to place a soft, kiss-like touch on her right cheek with the tip of his nose. "Einarr must finish patrol now." Backing up, the stallion shifted his weight and flicked his wings open. "Welcome home, Laedere."

With his final words, the blood rider took to the sky and went to finishing his patrol.

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Laedere Posts: 84
Hidden Account
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14.3hh :: 5 years old (Frostfall birthday)
Ardere :: Plain Dolphin Leviathan :: Boil Abba
#11
Laedere
But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

The joy, the gift of flight. It was amazing! Oh how she had missed it! And this fire, oh it had given her the power to soar through the air again. Slow, much like gliding, but still flying in the air. Then, when they landed, the joy clung. It stayed right next to her, warmed what was left of her soul. But it was a different soul. It wasn't the one she was born with - even if her mind didn't understand that at the moment.

Einarr turned, landing just before she had. His body lumbering forward a few steps as he shook out his wings. Then, he began to close the distance between the two of them. Her wings were finally outstretched - no longer tense, and the gaping width of her hole could actually be seen. There is a smile that breaks across his face - a gorgeous one that showed the sincerity she had been longing for from anyone, even just friends.

He told her to explore, that she was welcome as a member but to search out the leaders to actually be placed in a rank. However, what came next shocked her. Aye, no one had wanted to touch her once they saw the hole in her wings (or that she had wings). Yet, he dropped his head and gave a butterfly-kiss to her right cheek. The warmth of his breath imprinting upon her cheek as her audits lifted upwards. Her breath caught in her throat, eyes instantly searching to meet his gaze. He said he had to finish the patrol before backing away - shifting his weight and opening up his wings ready to take off. And the last words - they clung to her mind.

Welcome home. She moves forward a step - as if to go after him as soon as he takes to the sky, but stops herself mere seconds later. Aye, she can't fly after him, and that idea still sickened her a little. But… now she had a home. And even though he couldn't hear her she allowed a few more words to cling to the breeze, only to be heard by Ardere. "Thank ye, Einarr…" For more than ye shall ever know.

Now… to just hope that this acceptance would resonate with most of the rest of the herd. To hope that she wouldn't feel alone.

"Laedere speaking." | Thoughts/others speaking.

GUH THE FEELS


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