[SE] You've Returned from Crossing the Stars

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

The tournament was to begin tomorrow but for tonight, Sah was focused on his quest. It was a full moon, and he couldn't possibly let the opportunity go to waste. Not when he was in Torchline and Safrin's shrine was there. Upon arriving at Aumaku, he had first entered the shrine. Placing an embroidered and fur-lined cuff down, he had bowed his head. "Safrin, thank you. I hope that I make you proud tomorrow."

Now, he found himself relaxing in the shadow of the lighthouse with the moon shining above. Lilly and Pad were curled up in the grass beside him, the silver wolf's head in his lap as he lazily stroked her ears. In front of the trio lay a blanket where his armor lay in the direct moonlight.

Tipping his head back, Sah's eyes traced the stars above. It was quiet, apart from the gentle lull of insects and the crash of the waves below. The Wild Thunder stiffened as one of Pad's ears flicked and the wolf lifted his head to stare into the distance.

Seren

A dark shape blotted out the stars as it passed overhead. A distant rumble of large wings followed like an afterthought, in counterpoint to the rolling waves and the sigh of wind. Disappearing into the dark of night for a while, it returned some minutes later, now burdened with the weight of something large and wriggling in its grasp. As the creature passed right over the wolves a rain of blood and ocean water scattered down on them, and the light of the moon glittered upon the scales of a dragon so deeply blue it might as well be black.

From somewhere close by, a voice called to the creature, ringing and bright with laughter. The night seemed more lit with stars than anywhere else in that direction, outlining the silhouette of a girl with raven hair tossed by the wind. She had not yet seen the others, too absorbed in fending off the dragon who seemed intent on sharing his meal with her.

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

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah's eyes snapped up as a dragon flew overhead, followed by a rain of water and blood. Leaping to his feet, the Wild Thunders' magic crackled to life along his skin. Beside him, Pad's hackles raised. It's nearly an afterthought, but with a combination of wind and water magic, the trio are quickly cleansed.

Realizing Lilly's lack of aggression, Sah glanced at the she-wolf in confusion. She was sniffing the air excitedly just as a laugh was heard on the wind. Sah choked on his breath at the familiar sound. A star-clad figure approached as Lilly swamped Sah and Pad's minds with the face of a friend long vanished. A face that still to this day featured in the occasional dream.

The Wild Thunder took a single step before freezing. It couldn't be. It was impossible. She was in the stars. His breathing came faster as she shook his head to try and clear it.

Pad glanced between his packmates in confusion, ears pinning back as his sister suddenly took off running. The silver she-wolf let out a happy yip, tail wagging furiously as she raced over to the woman. Excitedly whining, she circled Seren, her joy echoing through the bond and overwhelming her stunned Abandoned.

Seren

While the dragon rumbled a warning at the wolf that came charging towards them, the woman only gasped in delight and was on her knees in an instant. Outstretched hands fussed adoringly at the overjoyed canine, and the antics had her laughing still more.

Looking up, Seren gazed across the expanse of night at the man whose silhouette she could barely make out in the darkness.
"Sah? Is that really you?" She got back to her feet, and came wandering across the heather fields and the rocks with light footsteps that barely seemed to touch the ground.

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

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Lilly let out a whine as she licked Seren's face, her entire body wagging with her tail. She reluctantly got down so that the Demi-god could address her bonded. Shooting Umbra a look, Lilly walked beside Seren as she crossed the field.

"Seren?" The word held such weight but was a mere whisper in the wind. Sah couldn't believe his eyes. If Lilly wasn't bombarding his mind with confirmation that this was truly his long-lost friend, he'd have thought she was an illusion. Once she was just a few feet away, he took a few cautious steps forward. His hand half raised as if to pull her closer. Hesitating, he let his hand drop, unsure if such a gesture would be welcomed. The Wild Thunder's longed to touch her and confirm that she was real was overwhelming.

Beside him, Pad glared at Umbra for daring to even vaguely threaten his sister.

Seren

Her name spoken from numb lips was all the confirmation Seren needed. The outstretched hand was taken for an invitation, and though Sah's hand faltered and started to fall, hers did not. With outstretched arms she flew across the last few paces and wrapped the young man in a tight hug, her freckled cheek soft where it pressed against his.

"I missed you!" she murmured, heart racing from the surprise of finding him here. "I thought you'd be in Halo - was going to come see you as soon as I could, but now you're here!" Laughter was a bubbling brook lacing through her voice, and if she trembled slightly it was only because she was excited to find a friend so unexpectedly.

Umbra snorted to himself, unimpressed as always with the wolves. Paying them little heed, he focused his attention on the meal he had caught and left the two-legs to their own devices. This one would not harm his bonded; they had squared that matter long ago.

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

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah sharply inhaled as Seren wrapped him into a hug. In less than a heartbeat, his arms came up, and he embraced her tightly. "You're here? How? I thought you were in the stars." The I never thought I'd see you again., and You didn't even get the chance to say goodbye., were left unsaid. She was here, she was real. The Wild Thunder gently squeezed Seren to confirm it to himself yet again.

"I missed you so much." His eye caught the armor in his peripheral vision. "I'm actually on a quest from your mother, and I'll be participating in the Tournament tomorrow." It warmed him to know that she had been intending to visit Halo.  "So much has happened. How are you?" Her laughter made Sah smile widely into her hair. Gods, it really was Seren. He'd recognize that laugh anywhere. He hardly cared that she was trembling, he was too. Shock, awe, relief, and overwhelming joy. The Wild Thunder wasn't if he was capable of articulating the rush of emotion.

Pad snapped at Umbra's heels as the dragon passed him and it was only Lilly reaching over and scuffing her brother that stopped him from doing more.  The dragon could be dealt with later.

Seren

A soft, happy sound whispered from her as strong arms closed around her. As she was squeezed, Seren squeezed back, her arms a gentle weight around his neck. "I convinced Mother to let me return," she murmured, in no hurry to let go any time soon. "I couldn't stand being safe while you all were not. Not again. Not without at least trying to be there for you."

Leaning back just enough that she could look at Sah, her raven locks tickled his hands while she smiled up at him. "I will be competing too. I'll cheer for you - though something tells me we won't be facing each other." The times where she was able to overpower him were long in the past, she could feel it even in the embrace; not so far removed from the strength of her father, and beyond her own ability by far.

It made for a warmly reassuring pair of shoulders to lean on, indeed.

"I'm perfectly well, now that I have found you," Seren assured with a dimpled smile. "Still settling in, and getting used to the weight of the world. Will you tell me about it? All the things that have happened?"

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

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah sighed softly, relaxing into her hold, "Yeah? I'm proud of you for feeling that way. Let me know if there's anything that I can do to help." Her resolve and kindness were some of his favorite things about her and he'd happily aid the Demi-god in any quests that she took or find time to train with her to increase her strength.

The Wild Thunder softened as blue met gold, "I'll cheer for you too." Sah had a feeling that she was correct in assuming that they weren't in the same bracket. As his eyes gently roved her face, he took in every detail. She'd changed, aged, and matured just as he had. She was still the Seren that he remembered, even in strength. Her grip on him gave the new gap away and it made something fierce and protective rise up in him. Dangerous times were ahead and Sah knew that the Demi-god had an uphill battle ahead to prepare in time.

If he had softened when their eyes met, he fully melted at Seren's words, the tips of his ears just barely turning pink. When was the last time that had happened? He couldn't recall. Sah gently knocked his forehead to hers, "It is a big world." He pulled back enough to continue their conversation, "Of course I will." The Wild Thunder glanced at the blanket where his armor lay, "Do you want to sit and talk?" He was loathed to ask because he'd have to let her out of his arms, but it'd be far easier to converse on the ground. They could find a way to still cuddle though.

Seren

Beaming at his praise, a touch of color spread across her cheeks, barely visible in the low light. She had forgotten the butterflies this man used to start up within her, and was surprised by their reawakening. Sudden, and immediate, they nearly took her breath away.

"Of course. Right here?" Reluctantly Seren eased back out of Sah's embrace. There wasn't a lot of room on the blanket as the armor took up most of it, but it was enough let her make herself comfortable. She patted the spot next to her with an inviting smile. "It's strange. I know it has been years since we last met. But speaking with you it's as though no time has passed at all." Was that a mark of friendship? A sign that they would always be a little bit compatible?

She hoped it was.

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

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah was just as reluctant to let Seren go, but he settled himself by sitting close to her enough for their shoulders to brush. He glanced at the stars above wistfully before meeting Seren's eyes with a small smile, "Five years is a long time. But I feel the same." He had grieved her and their friendship, even if she hadn't died. Yet, he'd been all but certain that he would never lay eyes on the Demi-Goddess ever again.

Being with her now, it felt like something in his heart was simply slotting into place. The space that Seren had made for herself alongside Sah's closest friends and family was reawakening from its slumber. It was warm.

"I'm not sure how much you could see from the stars, but I'll tell you everything that I recall." Sah took a moment to place where to begin. "As you know, the war with The Voice happened. We won, and she sacrificed her life to save her Ascended children. At the same time, her actions awoke Dygra and her Ancients. From what I've heard, many of the Ascended have also become Ancients."

The Wild Thunder hummed in thought as he continued, "The politics in Caido have shifted around some, such as Abandoned now being allowed in Stormbreak and the Ancients making the Grounds their home. Deimos and Evie are the current Wardens of Halo, and they're doing an incredible job. We had a brief period of peace, too.  Now, with the arrival of the Family and the Void, we have another looming war on our hands." That was the short and sweet summary, and he paused to let Seren digest it all.

"A lot has happened with our other mutual friends, too." And himself. But Sah didn't want to overwhelm Seren with everything all at once.

Seren

Pressing her shoulder lightly into his, Seren listened quietly as her friend laid out the events that he had lived through in her absence. Most of it she was familiar with, but she let him tell it anyway. It made it more real than the imagery her mother had let her see, and far more weighty to have it spill from the lips of one she cared about.

Tilting her head to nudge against his, her sigh carried with it a scent of lilacs and, more strangely, of paint. "I'm sorry I wasn't there," she said quietly. "I should have been. Even if only to lighten your loads..." It was a regret she might never get over, no matter how she understood why her mother had sheltered her as she had. "What of our friends? I do know that Hotaru had her children, and... that one of them has passed on." Sadness shadowed her eyes. She had been the first to hear of the existence of the twins; she had been looking forward to seeing them grow up. That was yet another regret that weighed on her. In a strange way, they were her siblings. That she didn't even know them - it was downright shameful.

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

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah nuzzled Seren back, "Don't be. Your mother called you. You had to answer." Not moving his head, Sah let out a sigh, "But yes. Ru's son, Enzo, died in the war. His twin sister Flora is now the queen of Torchline. Ru understandably suffered and struggled for a time, but she is doing well now. Recently, she moved to King's End to be with Sunjata." Her departure had been painful to accept, but he'd given her his best.

The Abandoned moved on to happier news: "Deimos and Evie have gotten married and are expecting their first child soon." Sah wondered briefly if he was overstepping by sharing the news, but given how close Evie was, a single glance would give it away. It was that realization that let him relax as he spoke. His lips twitched as he spoke of the last couple, "Noah and Cordelia also got married and have had their twins, Margot and Marcus. They're both Abandoned." Sah chuckled, "Marcus is a sweetheart, and Margot is a menace. I adore her." He looked forward to seeing what chaos she brought in the future.

Sah let out a content hum as he leaned against Seren. That covered the more immediate of their shared friends, at least. "I don't know if you've met him but the courier, Talyson, lived in Halo for a long time before also recently moving to King's End." Grimacing, he glanced at the stars before finally sighing, "Don't tell him I said this. But even if he drives me up a wall most of the time with his annoying antics, he's probably my best friend." The Wild Thunder tilted his head to meet Seren's eyes for a second, "Seriously, please don't. I'll never hear the end of it. He's insufferable enough already." It'd be a nightmare if Tal found out. Sah might need to change his name and flee to the Draig.

"As for me... gods...it's been a whirlwind. I ended up having to take over Halo as Warden for a season during the war after Morgen was killed and Neron fled. It was a relief to step down once the others were able to return home. I was still far too new to Caido to be leading a region." That had been an incredibly stressful time, one where Sah could practically feel the frayed ends of his well-being snapping under the weight.

Not wanting to think about that time any further, Sah happily turned to the brightest of his news. "My twins, Soleil and Luka actually came through one of the last portals. Luka is a homebody, but Soleil loves to explore and often visits Torchline." He smiled softly, "I truly never thought that I'd see them again. It's been the greatest blessing to have them back and be able to watch them grow." Seren had been the first person that Sah had even talked to about his twins. He sincerely hoped that she got the chance to meet them. He had no doubt that she and Soleil would get along.

"I found my other companion Pad too." The dark wolf glanced over at his name and eyed Seren appraisingly for a moment before returning to where he had curled up beneath a tree. Sah rolled his eyes with a chuckle, "He's a grumpy one."

"I've learned how to craft magical weapons and have grown my magic immensely." Sah scooted a little closer to Seren and held out this palm in front of where they sat. With a grin, he let his magic flicker to life. Lightning sparked across his thumb, then fire flickered on his pointer finger. A stream of water circled endlessly around his middle finger as an earthen crust coated his ring. His pinky blurred as a small cyclone of wind encased it. Closing his hand, the Wild Thunder let the elements dissipate into the night.

Seren

So many things had happened. Good and bad, monumental and completely ordinary, and in the meantime both Sah and all their friends had grown and changed. For perhaps the first time, Seren felt as though she had fallen behind in that aspect, because not only had he caught up to her, but had long since passed her by in maturity and strength.

Watching Sah's profile as he regailed her with tidbits from the bygone years, a quiet smile lingered on her lips. She laughed and promised to keep the friendship between him and the Messenger a secret, and gazed fondly at the wolf as it raised its head to look at her; she had a grumpy companion too, so it was easy to relate.

But it was the magic that truly took her breath away. All the element represented, mastered and in exquisite balance; when he closed his hand, Seren placed hers over it and felt the residual warmth of fire and lightning prickle against the skin. "That's amazing! You must have worked so hard - I have absolutely no right to be proud of you but I really am!"  

The briefest memory of lightning striking sand crossed her mind, stealing her enthusiasm away... But it only lasted for a moment. It was a long time ago, and Sah was not that impulsive young hothead anymore.

"I do admit that it is strange to think of you as being a father," she mused. "Even though I've known it all this time, it never quite felt real as we were so close in age." And Seren had never even considered children. Was still so much of one herself that the idea only seemed strange. "What is it like?" she wondered now; thought of her own fathers, and wondered if it was any different being a mother.

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