[se] rearranging

Deimos

Long strides swept upward by instinct and curiosity alone, unbothered by the shift in terrain. He and the multitudes of soldiers ran every day, and time-honored endurance, persistence, and determination made him simply take deeper breaths as the scales tipped along the hill. The knoll’s greenery was a change from the way this world had once been – latent, listless, fading, struggling even when so many were trying to ensure it survived. He couldn’t help but wonder if it would have been possible over the last few years, before the war, to have even achieved this amount of verdant life.

Perhaps it didn’t matter.

His brow arched at the mention of the twins, granting a softer smile in some vague fondness. “Are they doing well?” He’d seen Soleil out and about amidst Halo’s comings and goings more often than Luka, but as long as they were protected and thriving, learning and growing, then Halo’s shielding wake was worth something. And perhaps Sah was right in those regards – of a safe venture. “We can get to the top and see if there is anything threatening or dangerous.” Though he could picture the children rolling and tumbling down the hill too – his eyes narrowed slightly in speculation. “The Glade used to be a nice place too.”

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah's demeanor softened as he thought of his twins, warmth coloring his eyes as he nodded. "They are. Soleil is getting restless, always eager to explore." He shook his head with a laugh, "She takes after me more than I'd like at times." His daughter wanted to see the world and experience new things, and he couldn't blame her. "I've been considering teaching her some more extensive self-defense in exchange for a bit more freedom."

Sah had taught both of his pups the basics, but they were still so young. But if Soleil kept wanting to stray further from home, the Abandoned had a feeling that she'd end up doing it with or without his permission. It was why he'd been considering expanding her lessons. He glanced at Deimos, "What do you think?" Sah was wary of going through with it, given his daughter's age. But maybe it was for the best?

Deimos' idea of scouting the area pulled a swift nod from Sah, "I'd appreciate that. " He didn't comment about the Glade apart from a furrow of the brows, unfamiliar with that area as he was. The Abandoned hoped that the Rise would prove secure and not follow in the footsteps of whatever had occurred at the Glade.

Deimos

There was a low rumble of a chuckle somewhere in his throat and chest, as they rose out along the hill. He took a moment to stare over the vastness – something years before, they wouldn’t have been able to do; not with the flatness of the Grounds, or the high-arching trees bordering the Greatwood. Something tugged along his ribs, maybe a sigh, maybe bits of melancholy and nostalgia that would never quite burn their way out of his bones, but if his features had rendered themselves into grim lines, he returned them into some vague amusement. “She wanted to help with the communication devices I made before the war,” to speak to her restless, exploring nature.

At the thoughts of self-defense for minors, and given how early Deimos had begun to learn (no one would be surprised), his brows were raised slightly, shifting his attention back to Sah. “Something suitable for their age would be appropriate.” Pausing, considering, his eyes then meandered back to the open plain of meadows and grass. “What do they already know?” From there, the course of conversation could continue as they rounded further and further along the knoll, amidst the splendor of the day, before needing to depart and head for home.

{FIN}

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts