still you stand

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

She’d let Deimos hold onto her for the rest of time if she could, but it’s not feasible. They both know this, and for the time being she’s content to be wrapped up in his arms as they slowly break apart – enough of the same of the year prior that has her trembling slowly, because things had gotten better, eventually, before they’d blown apart again. And it terrifies her, because what if next year it’s him? or Amalia? Or Chulane? What then?

I’m sorry. She reiterates through the bond, just as sorrowful, just as sad, trying to keep him together as much as she tries to keep herself together. Chulane’s presence is another buoy to keep her somewhat afloat at she tries to stifle her sorrow. And she hears Deimos’ words through the attuned bond, after news of Weaver spreads, as Deimos tells her that he can’t handle anymore, and she pulses her understanding, her similar thoughts, sniffling and sucking down the tears to be better looked at later.

And so she swallows hard, arms squeezing him tight as she moves to pull away and indeed do as Chulane has suggested, heart heavy but able enough to hold onto the pain until later. “I’m glad you are too.” She offers him, that he’s safe. She imagines he would have told her if Amalia wasn’t alright either, but since it hadn’t quite popped up yet, she hopes that the Shield is just as well.

Her hand lingers on Deimos’ arm, pulling him with her as she goes to grab her bag again and Auni slips up beside them. “I met Chulane just before Deepfrost, when I checked Halo to ensure that the Grounders had a place to stay.” She says quietly, gaze flickering along her father figure for a reaction, unsure if now is the time, but at least it might prove to have a better result. “We’re… Well… He’s my boyfriend. He’s also the Chief of Agriculture for Halo, now.” She offers quietly, as if it might help, iceberg gaze glassy and exhausted focusing on Chulane.

the world fears you

KIADA

DEIMOS

In another world, he would’ve been able to conquer these emotions, these stupefying sentiments. Within the Basin, there’d been no time to grieve, to mourn, to survey the weight of loss over and over again; incapable of giving into the assemblage of anguish when there was a kingdom to run, uphold, and defend. Instead, he’d rushed headlong into danger and spread his fury, his rage, into the lands within, into honing the shadows, into harpooning adversaries. He couldn’t do that here, nothing to conquer, nothing to consume, nothing to uproot except for himself, and it barreled down in streamlines of constant barrages. While his walls were strong, they could only endure so much force, so much heartbreak, so much damage in one accord – and he’d met his limit, felt it in his bones, in the chiseled, crumbling, cracking fortifications around him.

He withdrew from her, from Chulane, the other man’s words conjuring something else, and his eyes flickered away, watching the gathering of Grounders coming from the portal, managing to make their way home. The beast permitted his figure to be pulled along, with a nod and naught more, not even certain what he was supposed to be doing now.

The Harpy’s words took far longer to sink in than he’d realized, gaze scanning the horizon, the familiar glade, but naught absorbing. He hadn’t asked for the explanation, but maybe it’d been embedded in the statement all along, and the clarity amongst insinuations, predictions, caused him to snort. No wonder she hadn’t been very regretful in her letters; distracted from the volleys of whatever Halo horrors they faced by Chulane.

The Sword didn’t have the heart to be a guarded nuisance now; his threatening prowess of if you ever hurt her well within his presence and existence, and he shook his head, glancing from the Harpy to the fellow Attuned while they walked. “You know this means a family dinner.” The words were more pointed, conveyed, to Kiada, and an established warning to Chulane. "Amalia will be glad to see you are well." He wouldn't be able to account for the Shield's reaction to the other man though.

While Deimos might’ve been too tired, too drained, too exhausted, too burdened to give his approval or discontent, Zuriel had no issue. Bounding out of the confines of long grass, and lowering her muzzle to greet Auni with affection, she gave chase to Chulane and Kiada, immediately insinuating her massive head in between the pair.

i'm in the mood to dissolve in the sky

CHULANE

let's set the world on fire

Slowly but surely, their embrace comes apart, though he is loathe to be helping it. He can see that they need each other, that they still cling to each other's hands and arms even as they break apart. Kia tugs the monolith of a man along, and Chuy falls in step with them, relief filling him as he sees motion again, something of normalcy ushered, though it was still heavily afflicted by the weight of the emotions they carried. He walks close to Kia, picking up bags if needed, ensuring Auni wasn't overloaded, falling into step with them easily.

He listened intently to the words she posed, the talk of Halo, of the Grounders staying there, of them. At her glance to him he offers a soft, small smile, one that reflected the simple and overwhelming joy he felt every time he thought of them, of their togetherness.

But there was anxiety too, as silence stretched on between them all, as Deimos stared off to the horizon, Chulane could only guess at what he was thinking. Was he still caught up in the news from before, deaf to Kia's most recent tidbit of information? Was he thinking of ways to render Chulane limbless?

Needless to say, Chuy's imagination was running rampant in the silence that felt like an age between them.

Then a snort, a glance (Chuy heard the if you ever hurt her message loud and clear; it didn't need to be spoken out loud or through the bond), and finally he spoke. A clear nod was given, a physical display of his understanding - Kia had warned him that a family dinner was on the agenda, and he ultimately welcomed it. It was clearly important to her, to her family, and so by extension, it was important to Chuy as well. "Kia did mention a dinner," he supplied, to convey his agreement and understanding, another soft smile touching his lips.

Then the space between he and Kia was filled with something decidedly equine - no, unicorn, and Chuy had to pause his step to behold the beast. "Oh, hello," he crooned softly, offering a hand to the unicorn, the other hand diving into one of his many treat-lined pockets, coming out with a few biscuits he'd made for Auni (he hoped the little luxere was in a sharing mood) that he promptly offered. "Who is this?" he had to ask, as he made room for the creature to stride between he and Kia, and made to continue walking across the glade.

we can burn brighter than the sun

.

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

She almost hopes he doesn’t hear her as she utters the words, shooting a glance toward Chulane as the silence stretches on. Chuy’s smile makes it easier to endure, between the whiplash of emotions, and she glances back toward Deimos to see if the distraction had simply slipped through the mind of him. And then? Before she has a chance to try and shift the subject, Deimos’ words utter, and despite the sorrow in her heart, her lip quirks slightly up as she sighs.

“I mentioned it was probable…” She trails off, waving a hand in the air as if to gesture about it before she looks to the path they take. And then Zuriel is there, sticking her head in between them – even if Deimos was too exhausted emotionally to deal with it, the unicorn seemed to have no qualms, and as Chuy reaches up to offer treats, Kiada reaches to rub at the unicorn’s ears with a soft shake of her head. “Hello Zuriel. I missed you too.” She mumbles, before focusing on swallowing down her heartache again to try and focus on something else.

Zuri and Auni provide the perfect opportunity, because while Chulane offers treats to the unicorn, the small luxere trips as he watches with jealous eyes, a look that almost seems to say ‘what the hell, Chuy’ before the small creature trots forward, head held high as if to say that he’s obviously going to regret sharing his treats with Zuriel, regardless if he loved the unicorn.

the world fears you

KIADA

DEIMOS

Distractions from the melancholy were welcome; much less damning, much less daunting, as they wandered down familiar paths. The Sword wouldn’t feel the least bit awkward at pending family dinner, since he wasn’t the one due to be examined. He’d be able to sit back, watch, bear witness, and be obnoxious, with routine overprotective platitudes. “At the bakery or your house?” More of an inquiry for Kiada, the arch to his brow at least a minuscule difference from the flattened, reticent affects, striving to hide beneath layers and walls of nonchalance. Then Zuriel altered the subject entirely.

Deimos eyed the unicorn, a narrowed glance giving ample warnings, releasing a long-suffering sigh as she, per routine, ignored them. “Zuriel, my companion.” And while she had proven herself time and time again in mending, assuaging, and soothing those bombarded and sieged upon, it didn’t help to balance her personality. Vanity, and believing herself to be a supreme being, had yet to flicker away. “Someone to have on your side, since she can heal.” A pointed look was given once more to her – and she seemed to nearly puff up at the somewhat, manifested praise, before measuring and sizing up her next victim.

However, the mare felt slighted for a moment, her own gaze sharpening to something that could’ve been considered dangerous, given her horn, but Chulane must’ve been well-versed in animals and their penchant for food. No sooner had he reacted, with a soft croon, and extended the treats, than the equine’s whole characteristics changed. Curious and eager, her soft muzzle was soon in Chulane’s hands (Deimos’ eye roll was evident from up ahead), and she happily obliged any attention, and scrutiny, while she munched. Ignoring Auni’s petulance, since she was quite above such nonsense, the unicorn shook her head and demanded more, ramming her massive cranium into the man’s shoulder.

i'm in the mood to dissolve in the sky

CHULANE

let's set the world on fire

He could only imagine what awaited him at the dinner, what questions might get thrown at him, what expectations he would have to meet. His imagination conjured up all sorts of things, his affinity for fantasy television shows adding fuel to the fire within him as images of all sorts of tortures and delightful ways a simple 'dinner' could go so terribly wrong distracted him from the current pangs of sorrow and grief. The vet remained present, though, even as his attention was pulled towards Auni and Zuriel, with pats and treats given hastily to both.

He was pleased to be given the name of the companion, and the tidbit of information about her ability to heal. "Zuriel," he repeated, smiling as Kia greeted the beast as well, chuckling softly as she seemed to accept his presence (or rather, his treats).

And then there was Auni, who he hadn't forgotten about, but had hoped he wouldn't hate him too terribly for sharing his attention and his treats. "Auni," he called, even as Zuriel made to press herself upon him again. "Auni, if you go too far you won't get any treats at all," he called to the luxere, pressing another handful of treats forward for Zuriel's muzzle to feast upon. The whole scenario reminded him so sorely of home, of being surrounded by animals who all wanted a piece of him, that he might've wept from the wave of nostalgia that swirled through him.

But he persevered, swallowing the emotion away and continuing to walk in step with the others, returning to the present moment, to the light and the fun that was tainted by the weight of recent sorrow and loss. He was aware of the conversation on exactly where the dinner might be held, but did not participate directly in it, knowing he had little say on the matter and honestly not minding either way.

we can burn brighter than the sun

.

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

The bakery or her house? The choice is obvious, and her head snaps toward Deimos through the sorrow to break a small smile forming at some semblance of normalcy. “My house.” She decides. It’s the only way she could actually control anything else. The Bakery? Was hard to say, she couldn’t tell whether or not it would be better or worse to have them invited into her home to scrutinize Chulane.

But she looks toward him as Zuriel begins to bump into Chulane to accept the treats and snag more, while she feels Auni’s disinterest and jealousy. Her gaze flickers back toward the luxere, stomping around, before Kiada sends him what exactly Chulane is saying. As soon as it hits, Auni pauses in step, one hoof lifted, ears perked before he turns his head and stares at Chulane.

He stamps his hoof down, snorting, waiting until they’re close enough as he ducks his head and his ears flicker back. Kiada’s gaze flickers back toward Chulane and Deimos then, a shrug granted in response to Auni’s antics. “When do you want to have dinner?” She asks the two of them, uncertain if Deimos and Amalia have plans and if they should prepare to have dinner sooner rather than later.

the world fears you

KIADA

DEIMOS

A walk into a monotonous sort of haze droned and drowned out the soulless platitudes – movements bringing them closer and closer to the settlement. The world hadn’t dissipated, hadn’t been dissuaded, straight back into its dose of reality, the hum of normalcy, used to losing its monarchs, to the rise and fall, to pariahs and fools. He raised his head to stare over the ramparts, for his gaze to routinely scrape over surroundings, and circumvent back around to those gathered, watching as the misplaced Grounders found their way back to their homes. The fortunate, fortuitous ones might find nothing misplaced or out of turn. He didn’t permit his thoughts to wander towards those who wouldn’t have any foundation of the latter; jaw tightly clenched again as he stilled, to let them pass, to witness their movements down into so-called sanctities. He wasn’t certain if there were any sanctuaries any longer; save for those created with people, rather than places.

And even those were lost, over time.

The beast could feel his moroseness returning, and had no intention of allowing it to linger here, in the stead of Kiada and Chulane. One sharp inhale had Zuriel shaking her cranium, snagging another treat (and intentionally nipping lightly at one of Auni’s ears), and lingering near his side, the silent summons entreating the end of today’s schisms. He nodded towards Kiada’s decision, indicating the place, but not the time. “When you are ready.” No rush, no fervency, no zeal; the grief too poignant, the aftermath too overwhelming. All of them had hordes of sentiments to resolve, contemplate, and digest without being pummeled into the seams by an impending dinner. He trusted the Harpy would let them know when she’d want them there – and he could prepare Amalia, and whatever dishes were meant to be served.

Then the Sword gave a nod to both, presuming he’d see them come and go soon – considering the circumstances surrounding them now, in between pyres, funerals, and memorials. “See you then.” A wave, a sentiment of contentment sent to Kiada, before he took his leave, parting ways with them at roads and crossways.

{FIN}

i'm in the mood to dissolve in the sky