DEIMOS
A convoluted and elaborate web – Hotaru had always been proficient in setting those. But sometimes they snared back, and she tripped on the wires, on the lines, and it would all come crashing down. He could see, could fathom, why the Valkyrie had bombarded on such a course: protection, Aurelia’s actions upon Atlas, and all the seething, molten lines in between. Where seeds had been sown. Where anger and contempt had gone too deep. And he couldn’t answer for Ru. “That will be up to you,” and his gaze settled upon her for a moment. Whether to try, whether to pursue, or whether to let it rest, meander in its own quiet. As a new sovereign, her thoughts should’ve been with her people first and foremost; and then how to extend, how to reach out, how to preside and provide without compensating her own land. “She has been hurt many times.” Sometimes by her own hand and decisions, and sometimes by the scorching choices of others.
His low rumble ceased at the solemn note, at the distinction of loss in Atlas. His gaze went to Zuriel in that instant, thoughts on bonds, on connections, on souls robbed of pieces and proportions all over again. The notion only ceased at her next words – garnering, instigating a snort. Chosen by Gods indeed. “I received a warning for my last incident,” he obliged with a touch of a self-deprecating smirk.
Aurelia missing in the desert was its own bizarre inflection, and his brows furrowed with it, immersed in the course of confusion and machinations. The usual worse-case scenario reeled through his mind, because that was simpler, easier to fathom – enemies found or dangerous creatures overwhelming, conforming, rushing around the former leader. “What was she doing in the desert?” And so far from her home?
But maybe all of that didn’t matter when the cave’s dweller materialized anyway. When Maeve made no motion to move, scatter, or leave, he took that as some sign of persistence, and watched as the predator came into view. A tiger; but some elemental cousin to his own shift – metallic, bronze-hued, irritated and annoyed at their existence. He released Belial, and Zuriel wisely shuffled out of the way, taking the peryton with her through sheer power of her glare. The piercing depths of his gaze went to Maeve’s whip, and then to the manner of the flames flickering around. “I can try to compel it away, or we can fight.” Because he had no intention of meandering away from the holes – not at the moment. He’d leave the options open.
His low rumble ceased at the solemn note, at the distinction of loss in Atlas. His gaze went to Zuriel in that instant, thoughts on bonds, on connections, on souls robbed of pieces and proportions all over again. The notion only ceased at her next words – garnering, instigating a snort. Chosen by Gods indeed. “I received a warning for my last incident,” he obliged with a touch of a self-deprecating smirk.
Aurelia missing in the desert was its own bizarre inflection, and his brows furrowed with it, immersed in the course of confusion and machinations. The usual worse-case scenario reeled through his mind, because that was simpler, easier to fathom – enemies found or dangerous creatures overwhelming, conforming, rushing around the former leader. “What was she doing in the desert?” And so far from her home?
But maybe all of that didn’t matter when the cave’s dweller materialized anyway. When Maeve made no motion to move, scatter, or leave, he took that as some sign of persistence, and watched as the predator came into view. A tiger; but some elemental cousin to his own shift – metallic, bronze-hued, irritated and annoyed at their existence. He released Belial, and Zuriel wisely shuffled out of the way, taking the peryton with her through sheer power of her glare. The piercing depths of his gaze went to Maeve’s whip, and then to the manner of the flames flickering around. “I can try to compel it away, or we can fight.” Because he had no intention of meandering away from the holes – not at the moment. He’d leave the options open.
think about this
you have the ability to survive anything
you have the ability to survive anything
