[RQ] a toll, a tithe

enemies to lovers, but you'll never own my heart

Feeling far more comfortable with the situation she’s found herself in (her siblings moving back and no longer straying from King’s End, even if it was her choice to remain), Caly is just as golden as the sun that hides behind the multiple storm clouds crossing overhead. Rain and thunder scream across the sky, making Mourn’s valleys a bit drearier as she stands with her sister at the edge of the grasses.

She can see New Haven in the distance, a bit of a dark shape on the edge of where she can see through the thick clouds, and when she turns back to her sister it’s with a wide grin as she surveys the area. “So, looks like the Archon put up markers ‘n stuff to show us where we should focus on.” Thoughtful of him, she thinks. “So I guess we start workin’ our way down the path here. If you could get the animals outta here I can start makin’ the ground ready for the river?” There’s a wagon that she’d paid someone in the town to lug up here for them, full of rocks and stones that she thinks might help make a bank as she inevitably works to dig the edges out.

Calypso

one-sided, it's pathetic how you think you're being smart

Nova

Clad in a bright facsimile of a rain jacket, Nova stands proudly upon the hill next to her sister. She props her hands on the mock rainbow lace painted into the silvery fabric of her calf-length coat, the sleeves billowing wide to cinch at her wrists. The grin she wears is equally as obnoxiously vibrant, seeming to glow despite the overcast weather.

Her siblings are going to live all in one place again. Her family is going to be reunited! Everything is right in the world, and she won't let anything like a little rain dampen her mood!

At Caly's instructions, Nova looks to the markers pocking the grass, tiny flags that indicate the path for their new river. There appear to be a flock of birds scavenging for worms in small holes, the larger ones suggesting rabbits and other rodents may be lingering beneath the surface. It doesn't look like too much work, and Nova flashes Caly a confident grin. "Sounds simple enough! I'll clear out the animals then help with your rocks!"

In a small flurry of sparkles, she rushes down the hill towards the first marker, blonde and green curls flapping in her hood. A handful of birds hop and clack their beaks at her approach, unsuspecting of the compulsion until it's already too late. She grabs forcefully at the bonds like gathering balloon strings in her hands, then launches them away, pushing so hard enough for them to leave that they cry out as they take off, heading quickly for the horizon while Nova giggles and waves.

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how i feel
top of the world, but your world isn't real

“Sounds good, sis.” Caly hums, shooting her sister a grin that mostly aims toward her back as she darts off to start compelling the birds to remove them. She takes her time shifting into her tide jaguar shift, clawing at the damp earth to create the line of where the bank would be with the instruction of the flags to guide her. She digs, places a rock, digs a little more further down and places another rock.

On and on she goes even as the birds cry out and slip away, guided toward the new spaces that would become nests and homes, far more comfortable than this array of a mess. She encounters a small bush at one point, and between her claws and her teeth, she manages to uproot it, but the rock proves a little more difficult to get settled into the hole left behind.

Calypso

your world's an ideal

Nova

The birds scatter in a flurry of feathers, various colors drifting towards the ground as the birds take off in search of less dangerous hunting grounds. Nova watches them go, waving so that her sleeves reflect what little light peeks through the clouds, the billowing material catching the wind like sails. 

Immensely pleased with herself, Nova giggles and spins around to deal with the next group of birds. It goes similarly, with squawks of protest, ruffled feathers, and a departing wave that clears out the first portion of the marked ground. But there are still the holes to contend with, and she taps a finger against her chin as she considers how to deal with whatever lurks within. 

Suddenly, she brightens, tongue trapped between her teeth as she reaches for the bond of a nearby cat. It might not be able to fit in the hole, but as Nova floods the tunnels with water, she compels the cat to chase off whatever pops out, wiggling excitedly in anticipation of the chaotic display.

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how i feel
top of the world, but your world isn't real

As the birds continue to leave, taking flight away from where they are currently working, Caly only notices the way they depart and take to the skies as she digs and places rocks down, marking and ensuring that the space the river will go, would become free of the fauna that currently call it home. Not for much of a loss, though, as she imagines the trees they’re currently located in (until Nova compels them away), would be relocated to the sides of the river, making sure that they didn’t lose too much room.

Mud and dirt streak her pale fur on her paws as she continues, popping her head up about the time that Nova’s working on some of the burrows and holes in the ground. How’s it goin’? She calls over to her sister, slapping another clawful of dirt down onto the side pile she’s making before she shoves another rock in.

Calypso

your world's an ideal

Nova

Starting in the tiny burrows beneath the ground, water begins to flood the space, spreading up and through each tunnel in a slow corral of the creatures. Panicked squeals come from within, tiny paws scraping the dirt as they scurry out into the dim sunlight, seeking escape. She can feel the tiny racing hearts, sense the fear even if she can't influence them, and as they burst aboveground, the cat is waiting for them, tail flicking excitedly behind it. 

The feline begins chasing them off, squeaks and sharp cries echoing as it scatters them without rhyme or reason. Some flee together while others take any opportunity to find safety, even if it means striking out on their own. 

Nova giggles as she watches the chaos unfold, only turning her head slightly away when Caly calls to her, keeping her gaze on the insanity. Good! I'm almost done with this part! There would still be more to clear, but their markers only went so far. 

You?! she calls back, ready to assist if needed.

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how i feel
top of the world, but your world isn't real

She can feel the slight shift around them as the creatures begin to erupt from the little burrows her sister’s currently flushing. As the tiny creatures begin to move, guided toward the freedom of other areas that wouldn’t be torn up to make a new home for themselves, Caly focuses on continuing to carve out little lines for the markets, uprooting little shrubs and anything else that gets in her way that she can.

The soft, soaked ground is heavy as it is dirty, and the pale fur of her legs are painted dark with the mud from the work as her sister responds. Her whiskers twitch but its an amused sound that leaves her as she shoots a glance over toward the hybrid. Almost done with this half! The other side still needed some work, but for now, trying to make the space as uncomfortable for the fauna to return to was her main goal.

Calypso

your world's an ideal

Nova

Leaving her sister to the mud and stones, Nova floods a few more tunnels. She calls the cat back when more rodents flee the water she summons, letting it chase the critters while she steps into the next section of land, pushing away groups of birds until the space is clear of every form of life other than Nova and Caly. 

She spreads her arms, breathing in like she's conquered a mighty kingdom, beaming bright when she comes to find her sister. Still need help? But she pauses, gasping as she takes in the caked and muddy appearance of the white tide jaguar. Oh no! Your fur's so dirty! Nova shakes her head, clearly distressed. This won't do. Let me clean you off! She waits for confirmation, but her magic is already rising to the task, various elements ready to work in tandem to clean and clear off Caly's fur until it sparkles with an internal glow.

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how i feel
top of the world, but your world isn't real

I’ll always take some help. She chirps playfully back toward her sister once Nova’s done flushing out all of the critters that have called this area home. It had been a lot of work trying to get the borders secure, but she knows her sister also has earth magic and that could help immensely with trying to flatten the space they’re trying to make the river (or at least carve out enough of it so she doesn’t have to try to figure out how to do it with just two pawfuls at a time).

But before she has a chance to add onto that, her sister’s rushing over with all kinds of elements to clean up her paws. Laughing lightly, she shifts back into herself once her paws are glittery, shooting her sister a playful look and her tongue for good measure. “Alright, well, since ya cleaned me up I can’t get dirty again. I made the lil borders for the edges of the river, can ya carve out the ground there for me?” Batting her eyelashes at her sister, she sits on the edge of the bank with a wide and amused grin. She won't stay there for long, though, stepping in to help out where she can when she's needed.

Calypso

your world's an ideal

Nova

Magic swirls and spreads across Caly's white fur. Earth magic strips away the larger pieces before water magic rinses it and finishes off with a little burst of air (and an appropriate amount of glitter). Only once the white fur is shiny and shimmering and Caly's shifting back does Nova release the attentions of her magic, giggling through a proud grin. 

Glancing back at the work to be done, she doesn't waste time, happy to step in if it means keeping her sister's fur clean. "On it!" Then she hops to it (literally), magic threading out from her to grasp at earth. She shoves it aside, flattening out portions and redistributing others so that the space between the markers is clear and ready for a river to flow into it.

When she finally stops, Nova has to catch her breath, the exertion of so much magic on such a large section of land taking its toll in the slight flush of her cheeks. But there's still a smile on her lips, a small shine in the air around her as she asks Caly, "Did I miss any spots?"

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

enemies to lovers, but you'll never own my heart

In her regular form, her hands have the rainbow sheen of glitter against them, shuffling off with each movement of her fingers as she settles at the edge of the would-be bank. Beaming up at her sister’s agreement to help with the carving with the earth magic, Caly finally finds it in her to stand and help, without much use being only attuned as she is. She helps direct where the extra earth can go, carved out between the markers to make it easier to see the ridges of where the healing river would go.

As Nova stops to catch her breath and her question hits the air, Caly wraps her arms around her sister, tugging her in close. “Nope. Looks great.” She beams, all golden and content, though she can see the toll it’s taken on her sister just as it had taken one on herself. “Whattya say we head back to the Sunbean and get some coffee?” She asks, already nudging her sister away to leave it for someone else’s next steps.

- FIN

Calypso

one-sided, it's pathetic how you think you're being smart