Resplendence gave a gentle nod as he said he would appreciate her guidance. He was… so different. Or… maybe their relationship had made him different. Less formal, more… himself because he knew her and didn’t have to keep that same regal air. While it was vague in her mind, she could recall a time that he had been as polite and she had craved it.

Now… now she was craving it for a different reason. Craving it simply because it meant that she could keep the emotions distanced. That she would have less of a chance of falling back into the hole that she had been stuck in since he had left. She headed off back north – beginning to see the familiar cracked ground that signaled arrival near the heart caves. Oh yes… she had come this way. She couldn’t remember what she had been doing as of late – she just knew that she had been traveling, wandering aimlessly and allowing her thoughts to boil and twist.

”We’re near the caves, if we keep heading north then we should reach the Thistle Meadow” She explained, knowing that it probably meant absolutely nothing to Quilyan, but that any information might be able to help Zarina in locating where it was that they were situated. It was a long journey, and one that was awkward for the pallid mare. She wanted so much to be angry, but she couldn’t be angry at the stag when he couldn’t recall anything. So… instead… she opted to keep it quieter – to concentrate on the land around them, and to have Valiance fly overhead. Always close to Quil – always wary for those who might be able to drop in on them. Yeah. Protector. And a very salty protector at that.

i don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand

KAJ

the aurelight

Why was Kaj here, you ask?

Honestly, you probably had a better idea than he did.

Kaj did not care to examine his desires, the strings of fate that pulled him this way and that, not any longer. What was the use in robbing himself of the encounters and experiences he may have, in favor of endless patrols that others could rightfully fill? So instead he left the tasks to those who were required to complete them, and he ended up...here.

Kaj didn't know what drew him here. The place where he'd received his kingdom and crown, though the colors of the banner he flew now were so very different. There was sentimentality, if only because he had blocked his memories - he had not removed the emotions that he still experienced. There was also a resignation, an awareness that it did not matter where he ruled or who served him. It could all be taken from him in a moment, after all. What mattered was how well he ruled, the impact he made in the present, the changes he made, the relationships he forged. Isn't that ironic, considering you rejected Brisa over something like memories? Snorting softly to himself, the Aurelight twisted away from the caverns ans went striding across the dry, cracked earth. A lone king on a ruined battlefield, a wasteland of blood and fire. He went where his limbs took him, having nothing in mind and no place to return to quickly.

Of course fate had other plans in store for him, depositing him almost on top of the awkward pair traveling together in the eastern side of the land. He recognized them immediately, for he'd not blocked any memories of Quilyan. Perhaps some last minute sentimentality, or a desire to torture himself? But he viewed those memories very differently, with the absence of all the other memories that had transformed him into Other Kaj. That Quilyan had been suspicious of his relationship with Resplendence...perhaps he had nothing to fear from Other Kaj, but Kaj now, here, today? Perhaps he did.

Still, he could read the pain and the anger in the healer's posture, and was beside her almost before he could recognize himself moving. Quilyan was no short soul, but Kaj towered over him, and he drew himself to full height, wings flicking back in a rather disrespectful manner as ears fell flat to his crest. "You better have on hell of an explanation, Quilyan," rumbled like thunder from his chest, his magic coalescing with heated air and sparks that danced between the vanes of his feathers. The Czar placed himself between the once-prince and Resplendence without any care for subtlety, danger and anger covering the gape of his own ignored hurt to see the face of the man he'd called brother, returned with a smile on his face, still daring to call Resplendence terms like "my lady". 

She explained where they were – content with the feeling of Zarina braiding her mane once more as she always had. Quilyan nodded his head, but she could almost tell from the way that his eyes were focusing, that he had no real meaning connected to the words which she was stating. Still, as she was getting more anxious – more ready to be free of this past burden of emotions which had crippled her so – she felt a wave of calm begin to ease its way into her body. The blocked off, guarded half of her was far more willing to ease back and allow the harsh emotions to begin to slide through the cracks.

She goes to speak, ”The Heav-“ but she is cut off far before she could even finish the sentence. Valiance had taken to the skies, a triumphant look registered upon his face (as if he had called in Kaj himself to protect his bonded from whatever sorcery might be occurring). Taken aback, she stumbled a few steps before she finally registered who had come instantly to her side. His posture careening taller and threatening gestures being made with wings and ears. His voice boomed like thunder as his wings radiated the lightning. He was the Stormbringer now, even if he had opted for the Aurelight instead.

She builds up some kind of courage – stepping forward and pressing her maw against Kaj’s flank. The pale pink glow of her glitter has not returned since stumbling upon Quilyan – but she doesn’t see him as a threat persay. At least… not a threat to her physical well-being. He had never been one for violence… It had always been emotional ploys which had pulled her down, made her think of herself as worthless. Making her think that no one deserved her because he just kept leaving each time she started to build confidence back in herself. ”Kaj… Quilyan wouldn’t attack me.” She whispers it, uncertainty of the event which is unfolding flickering in her voice. But Valiance. Valiance is all for some shocking and burning. Maybe if the stag was shocked enough times then his memory would be jogged.

i don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand

KAJ

the aurelight

Any attempt to control himself on Quilyan's behalf was lost on the golden beast before him, for a pinch of acquiescence alone could not satisfy his need for total submission, for the apologies that would have to stream from the scum's mouth for eons until Kaj forgave him. He had forgiven too many souls, too many wretched creatures that did not deserve the freedom he offered them. Not again. Not with so deep and profound a betrayal as Quilyan had forced upon him - upon them, he reminded himself as he swung himself purposefully further between the two creatures. Resplendence clearly recognized him within a few tense moments, her touch familiar and angelic across the sin-stained hide of his skin. He would not allow her to beckon him back from the ledge to salvation, not when he was staring down the demon that had wrecked her time and time again. Not when he had called the bastard brother, when he had found Rue for him and happily taken on the role of uncle and godfather. Resplendence could not save the dog from this, not this time. 

"There is no difference between physical and emotional hurt. He already has hurt you," Kaj snarled, wings arching higher in dominance, demanding utter submission and abjection. Nothing would satisfy him, not fully, but it would be a start. Of course Quilyan picked that moment to try and be brilliant, tongue unfurling mulishly, eyes dull and unrecognizable. "What have you done?" Kaj echoed vacantly, some sort of noxious calm before the storm. At first, he chuckled. A soft, inconclusive sound. It grew and grew, louder, disbelieving. Until he finally paused, eyes flashing, and lurched one aggressive step closer to Quilyan. The fates smiled gleefully down upon them, anxious, tittering their dramatic enthusiasm. Two broken, mind-bleached stallions, facing down one another with brotherhood broken and defiled between them. Could Kaj judge him, when he had just as many gaps in his memory? Did it matter that he had chosen this fate, and Quilyan had not? Until Quilyan attempted to speak to Resplendence, a grievance Kaj could not let go unpunished. Not after what Quilyan had done to her. 

Perhaps she should have told him that Quilyan could not remember, for in that moment there was only the call for blood and payment. 

"You LEFT US!" It roars from his throat, the lion Ink had named so long ago shattering chains and bars, wicked claws ripping through his own flesh towards freedom in an exquisite kind of agony. Pale wings swept up, snapping open and slamming forward to try and buffet against Quilyan, force him backwards. The Czar followed after him regardless of how the prince reacted, lips rolled so far up his teeth were on full display, the storm he'd called forth crackling and screaming like a thousand agonized voices as every hair and feather stood on end beneath the static. You are man no longer, beast. "Again, and again, and again! YOU COWARD! You left your DAUGHTER AND YOUR MATE, YOU LEFT ME, YOU LEFT US ALL! YOU DON'T GET TO WALTZ BACK IN FREELY!" And Kaj lunged for him, fury overriding hurt, teeth seeking the left side of Quilyan's crest. Blood, blood, blood, GIVE ME HIS BLOOD! It was the only equivalent exchange, as much blood spilled as tears that had been shed over Quilyan's absence. 

You left me, you left me, you left me. I loved you, I loved you, I loved you.

The small bits of calm had faded quickly. It was as if the lightning spiking from Kaj's wings had sent an electric shock through their systems and made the uncertainty and panic reappear before their very eyes.

Alas, his response to Kaj closing in on his space was probably not the best one to have given. She panics, trying to tell Kaj that Quilyan wouldn't hurt her (not physically anyway); and then he turns to ask if he managed to angry every horse here. "Well… uhm. You see… if they know me… they kinda want to gut you and string you from a tree?" It's a sad answer, one that had been made when Kaj said she had already been hurt - whether it be physical or emotional.

Kaj echoes the question, a calm manner that has her own hair standing on it's edge. And, when Quilyan directed that question at her, she doubted her voice had even been heard over Kaj's roar of an answer. Anger, and he's suddenly slamming forward trying to beat on Quilyan, force him backward - make him feel the pain. Teeth were seeking flesh as he screamed out those he had hurt.

She's crying. She hadn't expected to cry. But tears are flowing. "Kaj stop!" she's screaming, too afraid to step forward - to find herself in the middle of whatever the hell this was supposed to be. "He can't remember. He can't remember like you can't remember loving Brisa!"

And, after choking out the words she begins to hum - a sad song, but one of calm and acceptance. One that should fan out and begin to ensnare false emotions of peace in the two stags. She didn't want them to fight. She didn't want them to bleed. She didn't want them hurt. She may hate Quilyan for leaving her, for not being there for her and destroying her each time she started to gain strength. But she couldn't bare to see the stag who she had loved so strongly be attacked and hurt. "I just want to move on Kaj!" Even when Valiance wanted just as much blood as Kaj did.

---

She's attempting to use her mood altering magic on them ---
:: [ Magic: LightxDark | Able to create false emotions when she hums ]
:: [ Restrictions | Emotions that are contrary to the character trait of the character are harder to create; lasts 20 seconds in battle. ]

i don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand