For this kind of life

NOAH

Noah found himself in Torchline once more, collecting supplies for something Cordelia wanted to create for their home and for their children. But he couldn’t find it. She had described the herbs and plants in great detail, but the void was turning almost everything. Even with the ocean surrounding it, these islands were touched.

Once a paradise of vibrant colors and lush foliage, the tropical haven now lay ensnared. Where once emerald leaves danced in the gentle breeze, now twisted tendrils of deep purple spread like wildfire. The air was heavy with an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional rustle of the void-touched flora.

Even in this place, Noah didn’t hear the chirps of tropical birds. The prickling along the back of his neck that he had grown too accustomed to these days came again. Noah crouched down to inspect some of the pulsing, violent purple leaves. There was a malevolence that seemed to come from each reaching vine and each spreading leaf that made Noah’s stomach twist.

I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone

Seren

Cold water lapped at her bare feet. A numbness was creeping up the legs that made her bones ache. The sensation matched her state of mind, and so she kept close to the water's edge and ignored the grumble at the back of her mind. Umbra was sensible, and had a firm grasp on what was logical and reasonable, and had long since learned that Seren listened to any of those things only when it suited her.

Fed up with the starchild, the dragon left her to her meandering exploration of the island and launched himself into the blustery sky. From a higher vantage point the spread of purple through the green foliage painted a pattern that would have been appealing in its color and shape had it not been for the ominous sensation that followed with it. While the girl might find it interesting for the sheer artistic value, the dragon cared little for the change, and was more interested in the potential for finding himself a meal.

A figure moving on the ground far below had the large Blue dipping a wing into the wind. With graceful ease he took to circling, lazily gaguing whether the figure was edible or not.

I'm ready to start the conquest of spaces
Reaching the starlight and silver fields

NOAH

The unicorn was not always keen on traveling, more than willing to stay home with the wife and children of his bondmate. The griffin, however, had come with Noah.

she circled high, too, with bright eyes and a protective heart. Her mind and soul connected to the demigod was her motivation to confront the other skyward predator when they appeared — even as her heart fluttered and bounced around her ribcage.

The confrontation was not an attack. She simply mirrored the dragon by dipping her own mottled wing. She lowered herself into level airspace to the blue beast, golden eyes searching to lock on and convey her message:
he is mine.

Noah, on the ground surrounded by purple and green and black and all manners of other hues, stopped in his tracks and lifted his glacier eyes — but the sun obscured the two companions.

I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone

Seren

Turning a shimmering head to follow the approach of the little furball, the dragon let out a sonorous cry that echoed over the landscape. Amused more than anything he sent a mental nudge to his bonded, passing on the image of the griffin, and was surprised when Seren responded with a thrill of surprise. And joy? Perplexed, Umbra beat his wings and stopped mid air, hovering in place so that the starchild could catch up.

She came bounding through the vegetation with absolutely no regard for the dangerous plants that littered the jungle. Seeing Eira in the sky had to mean that her bonded was near; and it had been an age since she saw Noah.
"Hello?" she called, voice bright with anticipation. "Noah, are you there?" She couldn't see him yet, but she had no doubt that if he was lurking anywhere near, he couldn't miss her approach.

I'm ready to start the conquest of spaces
Reaching the starlight and silver fields

NOAH

Noah couldn’t quite pinpoint the voice, but when the dark of mess hair and freckles came crashing through the violent purple underbrush, Noah felt a wave crash over him. ”Seren!” He exclaimed, glacier eyes wide with surprise and joy and some mix of other emotions he hadn’t yet evaluated. ”You’re ok!”

The demigod closed the distance between them just as Eira dropped from the sky and landed where he had once been standing. She trilled towards the youngling with a mixture of chirp and purr. Noah didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around Safrin’s daughter and give her a squeeze before his hands went to her shoulders and held her out at arms length. He looked her up and down with a smile over his face, like long-lost cousins who had years of life separating them. ”Safrin let you come back.”

I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone

Seren

Laughing with sheer delight as she broke through the vegetation and laid eyes on her friend, Seren let herself be swept up in the bear hug, returning the affection unreservedly. "Of course I'm okay," she laughed, "you really think Mother would let anything happen to me?"

Beaming up at her once-saviour and first puppy-love, he felt more like an uncle these days, or indeed a cousin. Connected, if not close, and so very uncomplicated to adore. "I convinced her. And look at you - demigod to Vi! I was so proud when I heard the news." Touching his hand with one of her own, the starchild beamed up at him with genuine admiration in those sky-blue eyes. "How are you? How have you been? Tell me everything!"

Eira's trill was greeted with a wide smile, and with a huff of dark smoke and fiery sparks from Umbra. He teased the smaller companion by blowing smoke rings at her, before slowly circling higher into the sky. To keep watch, Seren knew, so that the demigods could speak in peace, safe from surprise attacks.

I'm ready to start the conquest of spaces
Reaching the starlight and silver fields

NOAH

He could hardly believe the girl -- woman -- was here before him. It had been years since he pulled her drowning body from a river and brought her to Halo to recover. It had been years since she stepped back into the stars for Safrin's divine protection. While Noah was no stranger to gods bringing their demigods close to their chest for protection -- through Phoebe's experiences -- Noah was still shocked to see Seren. "I just didn't think she'd let..." He paused for a second, his eyes flicking in the direction of Starfall. "Well, this just must be part of their perfect timing." He gave a small smile, though it faltered as his eyebrows drew up at her questioning.

"It's been...a whirlwind." Noah said, letting out a sighing breath. Then, he gave her some details on how it happened -- how he was called out in the middle of a blizzard, transported to Stormbreak, trained, and then went to war. He didn't give her too many details on the battles themselves. Instead, he opted for generalizations like "dragons" and "old demigods" and "more relics and abilities than I could keep track of" -- so on and so forth.

Then he talked about his wedding. He gave much more detail about that, giving each description of Cordelia's dress and how beautiful she was. How happy he was. How blessed he was. Then, he spoke of his twins. Seren would surely feel the immense waves of pride and love he felt for them over the attuned bond, blotting out anything else in their wake.

"But recently, It's been hard. I've disappointed Vi, wrestled with my own selfishness, and am trying to still get back into his good graces."

But he left out the part where he felt Vi didn't need him any more, or want him, because he had chosen Ronin and blessed him the White Knight, while Noah was still the Forsaken.

I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone

Seren

She listened avidly to the parts of his life that Noah was happy to share. Much of the things pertaining to the war she already knew of, as Safrin's daughter had been kept up to date with much that went on in the world. It was different to hear it from the mouth of friends though, more impactful to see the emotions play across his face and know that scars had been the price paid for doing what had to be done. Seren might not have access to the attuned bond, but she hardly needed it to read his heart; it was right there in his eyes. All the good, and all the bad as well.

Reaching out to take his hand when Noah finally spoke of his difficulties with Vi, Seren hummed softly in sympathy. "What would he have you do?" she wondered, for this was not something she had any insight into. "I don't know if there's anything I can do, but whatever you may need I'll offer all the same." And if that was simply listening to his worries, she was more than happy to oblige.

Leading the way towards the beach, away from the unsettling aura of Void, she hoped that the sun and the wind might help lift his spirit.

I'm ready to start the conquest of spaces
Reaching the starlight and silver fields