The day had gone by in a daze, a fugue state only enhanced by the late winter rain. It seemed as if time - even if her lands were ruled by him - was slipping through her fingers like molasses. What now? After all of this...her happiest day had turned into her darkest, where she found herself without direction or companionship. A sole matriarch over a crumbling empire, that mourned their king who had served them faithfully for so long. Don't need to decide now, Alice gently probed into her mind, trying to comfort her. Pack will work until we heal. Hotaru was reluctant to believe her, feeling so lost in the wake of the absence of her friend and co-leader.

He had taught her so much. He had agreed to Ophelia's recommendation of Hotaru, lifted her to his side and granted her the grace and serenity of Ladyship. She owed him so much, and he was gone. Leaving her the only leader of one of the most historic herds in Helovia. The sole parent of a family that was only just beginning to heal in the first place without the added wound of his absence.

Nonetheless she walks. She patrols. She seeks the solace of her own company and thoughts, trailing along the borders with slow intentional purpose. Alice accompanies her, the only soul she can accept right now. It is she who notices Eldala's approach, probes gently at her bonded's mind to grab her attention as softly as she can.

Her name falls from the mare's lips, and though her spin prickles with distaste, logically she knows they cannot hesitate any longer on their defenses. Especially with Deimos' absence, the one who had superior skills on the battleground compared to the Valkyrie. She turns to face the weaver, and though she doesn't do it consciously, her bodice strengthens and lifts itself to a more dominant position. Lifting her cloak of grace around herself to be the Lady that her herd needs.

"Eldala," she speaks softly, Alice momentarily eyeing the goat with curled lips before Hotaru shoots her a glance and the hellhound settles. "Yes, that would be great. I think we should have two trip wires, with a gap between for others to come through. If we were ever under attack, the forces would have to trickle in two by two at the most, and we could cut them off far easier." Then she realizes that she doesn't know what Eldala has been doing in her spare time and glances around for any materials. Not that Eldala would have lugged them along with her, she assumed. "Do you have the materials for that? I'm sure we can hook up the initial wires to more that will trigger some sort of siege, but for now...merely being a nuisance will have to be enough." Her shoulders are weary, and her face must appear even more so, but now isn't the time for hesitation or doubt. They have to keep moving forward.

I'm not a girl, I'm storm with skin

Hotaru does not know much about Eldala. Despite the mare being her crafter and the antics of her goat companion, the earthen vixen is essentially a stranger to the Valkyrie. She wants to remedy that, but her tongue is thick and heavy in her mourning mouth and she cannot bring herself to muster the friendliness necessary. How can she when her heart aches with Deimos' absence? When her mind is a veritable landmine of anxiety and doubt? So instead she merely holds herself before Eldala, her silent graceful countenance the only mask that won't slip from her tearful face. There is no other persona to embody, no act that she can summon when so silent with her own grief. But she respects the courage the woman holds, seeking her out and trying to be proactive in the face of their Reaper's demise. It lifts the weaver in her eyes.

Even if her exuberance could not be matched, a benevolent smile curls on the Lady's face at Eldala's sincerity. Amused, perhaps. Heartened by the sight of cheer in the wake of demise. Prepared and armed with vivaciousness to combat the darkness that encroaches on all their hearts. And she must speak if only to impart her own feelings on the mare.

"Thank you Eldala. Your cheer is...appreciated. As is your diligence," Hotaru articulated with a small smile. She would not forget to compliment Eldala's forthrightness and determination, even if it was her joyous countenance that she was most grateful for now.

The weaver bounds off with barely a second between for Hotaru to say anything, so the woman cocks a hip and waits patiently. The goat was an amusing addition to their little group, its nervous blest prompting a small huff of laughter from Hotaru. She knew Alice was quite protective and could not blame anyone - companion or equine - for fearing the royal beast.

Luckily Eldala returns swiftly and Hotaru returns her attention to the material, intrigued by the process as she'd never witnessed it this close. "Medium length I would say. Two lengths each?" Truly a rhetorical question all things considered but if it helped Eldala envision it properly then all the better. "We can add simple wooden stakes to hold them, too. I'm not sure if it's within your capability but the lighter colored the twine the less noticeable it would be as well." Perhaps if she used the wool? That was a rather pale material. Not that Hotaru knew much about crafting.

I'm not a girl, I'm storm with skin