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!
Her voice is a fearless proclamation of protection She lives what's within her out loud
Normally if Hotaru is visiting the Sea of Branches, she is doing so on two feet. Shopping and the like is best done when capable of human speech after all. Today however, she prowls lazily through the rows as a giant golden cat, leisurely placing huge paws against the weathered boards. The Fae know her well enough by now - and have their own animal shifts in their older ages - to be unbothered by her proclivities.
Long tail swaying, the Valkyrie does nothing to ignore the feline instincts that overtake her when she's shifted, and though it's right in front of a stall (and arguably with her size, half the walkway) the lays down with a thump of furred weight and stretches out, massive claws raking slightly at the wood boards before retracting. Tail flicking at the end as she soaks up the magnificent heat overhead and the way it has warmed the wood beneath her.
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
She doesn't go through the portal this time. Not with the skyship available for her to hop onto so easily. Her shift aiding her in hiding away from the prying eyes of adults. The young Attuned didn't really know where she was going, but it wasn't hard to follow her nose. There are so many smells here. New and old. She scurries along, ducking and weaving between the legs of the others milling around the market, pink nose twitching as she pauses to sniff the air. It's only then that she gets a scent that screams predator.
Her instincts tell her to run and hide and stay low. She stills, black eyes darting back and forth as she hunkers by a crate, finally spotting what has her on edge. It's only the fact that no one else seems to mind the large cat that makes Paige reconsider running. She stands on her hind legs, paws against her chest, Hello? She calls out tentatively.
Love you to the moon and to Saturn Passed down like folk songs, the love lasts so long
Her voice is a fearless proclamation of protection She lives what's within her out loud
She isn’t unaccustomed to random voices reaching out across the Attuned bond at this point. Sometimes it’s an older Fae, especially in these parts, but they’ve opened up their lands enough that anything is really possible. When a tiny voice prods at her, one eye lazily cracks open to scan her surroundings. Small as the child’s animal form may be, she still sticks out amongst the two-legged crowd, and the huntress’ gaze is unerringly accurate.
The darker tip of her tail flicks leisurely as if in invitation. Hello little one. What brings you here? Though she doesn’t open her other eye, Ru filters out the concern from reaching the child as she searches for a guardian in attendance.
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
The voice that reaches back out to her is older and distinctively reminds her of her mom. Calm and even, soft as it slips into her mind, clearly accustomed to the presence of children. Paige relaxes significantly, her curiosity strong along the bond, sparking brightly as she takes the opprotunity to rush forward through the foot traffic. Paige doesn't get too close, knowing better than to be within swiping range of the big cat, but it doesn't stop her from examining her with interest. Hotaru will find no guardian accompanying the Attuned. Not when her mother was back in Torchline working.
She shrugs her shoulders mentally, huffing out a tiny breath, I'm just exploring. What are you doing here? Paige asks, as if she's trying to put on a brave face, posing her own question to the woman.
Love you to the moon and to Saturn Passed down like folk songs, the love lasts so long
02-21-2022, 12:12 AM (This post was last modified: 02-21-2022, 12:13 AM by Hotaru.)
Her voice is a fearless proclamation of protection She lives what's within her out loud
The girl's emotions are unfiltered and unrestrained, and it makes Hotaru smile internally. That sort of control will come with time, if Paige desires it at all, but it's amusing and endearing to feel everything so clearly before the child even speaks. The lioness keeps a careful, if lazy watch as the slinky body maneuvers through the foot traffic. More than willing to take some poor shopper's leg off if they accidentally kick the little creature. Luckily she doesn't have to rouse herself (or perform any unplanned amputations) as the girl makes it over easily enough. Hotaru lets herself be observed, tail flickering in heavy thumps against the weathered boards below.
I am being a pain in the ass dear, she explains kindly, amusement clear in her tone. The Fae and random humans walk around her as she lays taking up half the walkway, clearly unwilling to go toe-to-toe with the lioness. I am sunbathing, she deigns to correct, flexing her paws leisurely and closing the eye she'd kept open when it's clear there is no chaperone around. Ears still pricked and alert all the same as she shamelessly and presumptuously takes that role upon herself then and there. The market is not too interesting a place to explore, especially if you're not in human form to trade. Where are you from? Somewhere without a similar collection of sellers? It's unlikely, but it's an easy way to get some more information about the girl.
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
Perhaps the control will never come. Not that Paige even realizes such a thing exists. She doesn't know it to be possible. Something to learn another time. Not right now when she's standing practically nose to nose with a lioness that could easily swallow her with one bite. Something else Paige doubts will happen. This Attuned doesn't seem like she would eat another Attuned. Especially not a kid. No, she's likely just fine here.
The response makes her giggle, bright and bubbly, tinkling into Hotaru's mind as her little paws press to her belly while her shoulders shake as if she was actually laughing. Is that cause none of them can make you move? She wonders, head tilting to the side curiously before Ru decides to correct herself. Her pink nose twitches as she scurries closer, stretching herself out slowly to sniff at the predator, almost touching her nose in the process. Why are you sunbathing? Aren't you supposed to bathe in water?
Sure, the market wasn't that interesting, but it was different. Plus, it was new and not home. That in itself made it interesting. It's kinda interesting. We don't have Fae in Torchline.
Love you to the moon and to Saturn Passed down like folk songs, the love lasts so long
Her voice is a fearless proclamation of protection She lives what's within her out loud
Amusement pools between them through the bond, mischief and a noble sort of arrogance flowing freely from Hotaru’s side. Well-earned ego that she is not afraid to defend. Precisely, little one. They can certainly try, but they know they cannot move me if I do not wish to. The Fae know she is stronger, with how often she trains in the Village in lieu of the Barracks in Halo. Many of them had been subjected to training with her after all.
Hotaru holds still as the young girl approaches, inquisitive and at odds with human desires and animal instincts that tell her to flee. It’s an expression dear. People call sunlight pools of gold, it has often been compared to liquid. But the fun of it is to lay beneath its warmth and doze away - like a blanket all around your body. Her tail thwaps against the weathered boards, resuming its happy flicking. Torchline is a piece to the puzzle though, and the Valkyrie slides it into place. No, they don’t travel far from their home. Is that why you’re here? To see the Fae?
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
When you see something out of the corner of your eye, turn to look, and see nothing at all, what should you conclude? That you were having a hallucination? Or that your peripheral vision is perhaps not to be trusted. Ask yourself, are you tired? Drunk? Under the influence of something? Is the lighting good? Are there lots of moving shadows about? Are there reasons you have to think that your mind is playing tricks on you?
Because...well, because it would be absurd to think that out of the corner of your eye you had just seen a house. A house with a figure slamming its hands against one of the upper windows with enough force to shatter it, and then...
The idea of this is funny to her, causing waves of laughter and amusement to roll along the bond, little pink nose twitching with the movements. She skitters closer again, plopping down in front of Hotaru, paws braced against one of the big cat's. I don't think they would try, Miss... She trails off, realizing that she doesn't have the woman's name, suddenly remembering her manners.
Oh, I see. It's not really bathing, but it feels like when you go swimming in the ocean during Longheat cause it's warm all around. Or like when your mother draws you a warm bath during Deepfrost after you spent all day playing outside and your nose is all numb. Her fuzzy shoulders lift in a bit of a shrug, Kind of. The skyboat goes here now so it's easier to visit. One of my friends lives here sometimes. I wanted to see him. Paige flops dramatically onto her side, huffing out a breath, But it turns out he's in Stormbreak right now! I didn't even know. I was gonna surprise him. The young Attuned laments.
Love you to the moon and to Saturn Passed down like folk songs, the love lasts so long
Her voice is a fearless proclamation of protection She lives what's within her out loud
Hotaru, she fills in gracefully, her own amusement languid as it rolls through the bond in harmony with Paige’s, charmed both by her good manners and the juxtaposition of their paws against one another, one massive and the other tiny. And your name, little adventurer? Clearly she has her manners, but the prompt is gentle, reminding her there is still a remaining exchange to be done.
Precisely, she purrs, both internal and aloud, maternal pride like seafoam topping the larger wave of her steadier emotions that fluidly exchange down the bond. Ru can’t help it, she has a habit of tucking lost ducklings beneath her wing and conveniently never releasing them again. Ah, I understand. But a trip made is never wasted so long as you don’t mark it down as one in your mind. You’ve gotten to see the Fae market after all, hm? And the girl would have another chance to get the timing right.
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
Oh, it's Paige. Like in a book. Not spelled the same, though. Paige remembers her manners enough to provide that too. It doesn't matter that it came after a reminder because she would have done it anyway. At least, that's what she tells herself. The feeling of pride coming from Hotaru isn't something she expects, but it's a pleasant feeling none the less. Paige moves a little closer, pink nose twitching as she lets herself flop onto her side between Hotaru's large paws, twisting around a few times.
She had a point and Paige sighs, I guess not. I just really wanted to visit my friend, is all. I guess I'll have to come back another time. She says along the bond, looking at her upside down as she stays flopped on her back. I probably should go home, though. Before the skyboats stop running. Now, had she known that this woman was the mother of Enzo, she likely would have said something about telling her son she said hello, but she didn't' know that and there was little else to be done. It was nice to meet you, Miss Hotaru. Paige chirps, getting herself up and trotting off, glancing back one more time.
With that final look, she scurried off, intent on going home before she got into too much trouble for being gone.
~FIN <3~
Love you to the moon and to Saturn Passed down like folk songs, the love lasts so long
