{se} barefoot and wild

Here she is. Back in Torchline once more, for a longer period of time than she’s distinctly comfortable with. Despite being a child of ice and snow, the summer warmth has grown on her in her time living here, and she doubts her affairs will ever be fully tied up here. There will always be a need to return once in a while. At least she’s not alone; Deimos, for all his reticence and suspicion over this being a vacation, had ensured she’d not returned to face her demons alone. He is more than she will ever deserve.

Still, there are moments of solitude to be had. Deimos is never far of course, but this section still remains unknown to her. The heat is still somewhat stifling despite the heavy rain, which is warm against her skin. Atlas remains staunchly in the grasses far from the shore, though he keeps an eye on his bonded from a distance. Hotaru meanwhile is standing like a mannequin propped up and forgotten in the sand, her long hair plastered to her spine and clothes soaked through. Not that she’s wearing a whole ton with the persistent heat.

Then all at once she comes alive, wet hair flying about as she spins in circles like a little kid, bare feet kicking up wet sand as she tilts her head back to the skies and grins as the rain kisses her face. It’s a good distraction from the thoughts inside her head even if only for a moment.