From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Noah took to wandering around Stormbreak to get his feet under himself when he couldn't sleep. He and Eira traversed around the city, taking in sights and sounds and people and all of what this place had to hold. It was nearing dawn when Noah finally made his way into the gardens, a place that, even though winter raged around them, seemed only mildly touched by the weather. He wandered paths up and down, stopping at the creatures he knew and had seen before. Some he hadn't seen before, and in another life they would have made him stop and take notes. That time seemed so far away, now. He still had the notebook in his pocket, his sketching and scrawling covering almost every page. He did not pull it out, though, his mind too caught up in everything that had transpired in the last few days.
Finally, Noah did stop, before the enclosure of a creature he knew far too well. The hunter crouched, knowing he was safe with the creature behind its bars. The ursur slept, its massive chest rising and falling as it grunted and shifted, surely dreaming of something delicious at its paws.
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
Just before dawn was one of her favorite times – the peek and glimpse of bright colors dazzling over the horizon – and much work to be done. A day ahead of her, in between enclosures and pens, treats and bandages, soothing tones and humble visitors. Lena expected much the same this morning; to repeat and hum in her routine, while wide proportions of their world slept on, snug in the chill of winter.
But lined with her mittens and jacket, wooly hat and bag, the youth traipsed about, warmed by the activities and movements already presided about beneath the horizon of familiar stars. Basket in hand, she came around the corner of the Halo provisions with everything the dear ursur needed – some medicine, treats, and favored meat. Ordinarily she’d permit the massive creature to hunt on its own, but it didn’t seem well enough yet.
Rounding the corner though, she didn’t expect another soul to be there – and did a quick intake of breath, polishing it off in a wide plume of joviality. “Oh, hello!” A hearty wave followed suit, noting the unfamiliar man’s notebook jutting out of his pocket, eyes shifting to her own notations somewhere in her basket. “I don’t usually see anyone around this early.” Head tilting vaguely as her hands began their ritual of unlocking the enclosure to gain access, she pondered and greeted just the same. “I’m Lena. What brings you to the Celestine at this time of day?”
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
Noah hadn't expected to see anyone this early. Most of the city still slumbered, and those that he encountered that were still awake were crawling now into bed. Eira alerted him to the woman before she spoke, causing him to turn his head and take her in. He stood from his crouching position, and Eira took her space between her bonded and the stranger. Though she seemed friendly enough, the griffin was still on edge in this mostly unknown place.
"Oh, I couldn't sleep." He said, turning to look briefly at the ursur as it stirred behind the bars. "I was just wandering, and found myself here." He was honest, and a small smile broke over his features. "I'm Noah." He introduced himself, hand reaching over Eira to offer to Lena. "I've never seen them look so docile." He gestured at the ursur within the enclosure, a chuckle forming on his lips and causing steam to puff from his mouth.
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
Her eyes instantly slipped to the griffin. A habit, a ritual, a routine, to go towards the animals first – but not without permission. While she’d greeted and doted on many a companion, especially her sister’s dragon, it didn’t mean she could set herself directly in their space. So silently, amidst those Attuned fixtures, she greeted the mythical beast; gentle, calm, compassionate as always. Hello there.
Only thereafter did she proceed to pay attention to the man’s reply, unlatching the enclosure, shaking his hand briefly, and then slipping within, hands fast, sure, and certain. “The Celestine is a good place to wander,” and she winked, indulgent as always, while she busied herself with the portions laden in her basket, readying the medicine for the beast within. “Pleased to meet you, Noah.” A little hum began under her breath, some idle melody as she worked, an inherent part of her to the very core.
As for the ursur? “Unfortunately this one is ill, otherwise I’m sure you’d be right.” Not docile at all, but brandishing all its ferocity and vigor. “Have you come across many?” Perhaps he was from Halo.
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
The woman's voice is soothing and kind over Eira's mind, and the griffin tilted her head carefully. So far, she had only heard Noah's and Deimos' voices within her own mind, and it caused a bit of confusion that this woman could also speak to her. The griffin looked to Noah, who nodded his approval, and Eira lowered her defenses. She curled herself down to lay in the snow, though her golden eyes did still stay on the woman.
Noah watched with bated breath as the woman entered the chambers of the ursur. He wanted to tell her to stop, that she should stay out with him and merely observe the creature, but she did not seem to hesitate. Noah's face contorted, curiosity and confusion and everything that held him so tightly since he came to Stormbreak clear across his features. "Too many to count." He nearly snorted. "I grew up as a hunter in Halo. It's hard not to encounter these beasts."
Just as hard as it was to avoid the jingle bugs this year. There was a small swarm of them, jingling away, heading towards the conversing pair.
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
A pleasant smile was granted to the griffin, and then Lena began adhering to her task. Medicine drawn, she took apart a treat, placing the remedy within, and then enclosing it thereafter, as if the curative didn’t exist there in the first place. Mild deceit for an animal who needed to get well – for Lena wasn’t above more pretenses in her tactics. Unaware he was bothered by her presence amongst the creature – for she wasn’t at all and had faced multitudes of dragonlings around teething time (a much worse experience, to be certain) – the woman glided around to where the ursur was dozing.
Her eyes lit at the sound of the jingle bugs though. “And these? I can’t imagine many of those have been out.” Her hand lifted to the snout of the polar bear, watching as it began to twitch, one eye sliding open. “What brings you to Stormbreak now?” And so far out of reach of Halo?
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
Noah watched every move the woman made carefully. He felt the instinct to want to protect her surging forth from the bear that (unknown to him at this time) was the only shift to take up residency within his soul. Should the ursur give any motion that indicated it might harm her, Noah would be ready to strike. Eira's golden eyes turned to the oncoming jingle bugs, however, as the feline parts of her makeup took over. She pounced as they glided lazily around, the chimes and bell tones high pitched, yet almost whispered, because of the size o the small swarm. "No, I haven't seen many of them." He chuckled some, shooing a bug from his face.
Her next question was loaded. Was he ready to give her all of the information? No. Was he ready to lie? Also no. So, he gave her some of the information. "Well, that's kind of an interesting story. The short of it is that Vi brought me here." The hunter's hand lifted to rub the back of his neck.
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
Lena laughed a little, tracking the movements of both the insect and the ursur, though the former seemed innocent and carefree, and the latter far more tired and fatigued. “They are lovely,” she hummed another little tune, changing it to something whimsical, before kneeling and crouching before the bear. With treat and medicine in hand, and without the slightest bit of fear, she turned her palm over, flat and offering, to the creature.
She watched as its eyes lifted a little, rumbling out of the deep, healing slumber, for more provisions. “Here you are, dear,” she murmured, soft and quiet, as its nose twitched and the notion of food seemed readily apparent. In half a moment, the treat and medicine were gone, and the Caretaker’s fingers still intact, unaware of Noah’s concern or worry.
Brushing off her hands, she kneeled beside her basket, rifling through its contents again – only lifting her gaze from the task when the man answered her question with a very short statement. It only brought on more of those foundational spouts and sprouts of curiosity, arching her brow delicately. “Oh? Are congratulations in order?” For Vi didn’t do that for just anyone – last she recalled was Amalia, and the assortment of other demigods coming and going.
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
Noah did laugh when the woman said the ursur were lovely. Up close, they were impressive creatures. Their strength and might were nearly unmatched in the tundra, and they thrived as a top predator. But lovely was not the word he would choose for such creatures that aimed to take his life more times than he could count. "In Halo we say other things about them." His eyes sparked with a bit of jest, but it was clear to him the devotion the women held for the creatures in her stead.
"You could say that." Noah shrugged some, his face draped in humility. While he was not ashamed of his new title, of the role he would play in the world, it was odd for him to be treated any differently than others. In Halo, Noah was well known and well respected, but he had spent years earning all of that from the people he helped keep alive. For people--strangers--to have an awe of him made him feel twitchy and uncomfortable. He batted away another chiming bug as it danced around his shoulder, looking for a place to land. Eira, on the other hand, leapt and swatted at the whole swarm, mewling away like a kit.
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
The response did manage to elicit a laugh from the Caretaker; a joyous, melodic tune. She snagged at a few more treats and medicines, preparing them for later as the ursur returned to its slumber, resting away the illness residing in its lungs. “Oh, I can just imagine.” Another hum spiraled, mellifluous and light, little singsong airs as she worked in her diligence, tossing a treat to the griffin from over the enclosure with a slight wink. “But when working with the nature side of Frey, we have to respect prey and predators.” Nature and its vicious cycles – what fed and remained, what strengthened and turned.
Her brows rose only slightly when he offered nothing more, and then she shrugged. If he didn’t want to tell whatever nuances circumvented through the nonchalance, then it wasn’t her business to pry. Things altered and changed rapidly in this world, from one day to the next – like the insects floating along before them. Another inspiration from Frey, drawn and mastered because there’d been a need. She watched as one landed on the edge of the gates, and she came back through, carefully locking it behind her. “I have some dragonlings to feed. You’re welcome to join me.” And if not, that was fine too.
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
"I wish I could." Noah said behind a smile that carefully hid the lie. Dragons were especially not on his list of preferred creatures, though they did roam Stormbreak quite freely. He had heard that the Dragoons all held a dragon companion. In Noah's eyes, that was a truly fearsome thing to face in battle. Once she had pulled her attention away from the jingle bugs, Eira gobbled the treat that Lena threw down with ease, the calm presence of the woman totally settling down her protective ire. "Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to." Noah's lips frowned slightly, desiring more to stay here in the Celestine than to go back to the Tower. With Lena's reaction what it was at his mention of Vi, he imagined that she could put the pieces together about what his next days might entail. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Lena. I'm sure I will see you again." He lifted his hand to wave at her, and his frown perked up again for a moment to leave her with a smile, before he and Eira headed out of the garden.
don't want to end this but SE declares it FIN
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
