[ P ] home sweet home

NORA SEAFARER
still feels like i can't stop crying

It had taken her a day or so to navigate her way back home but finally, finally she could rest. She'd been dodging guards and nosy citizens nearly the entire way home but with the sea in view, she felt like she could finally relax. The scent of salt and sand welcomed her and she stopped to savor it. It always reminded her of better times, back when life was simple and carefree. But life no longer either of those things anymore and deep down she felt she could never regain it. In a matter of months her world had been shattered and so many things had changed, her head was still spinning from it all. She opened her ocean blue eyes and trailed her way down to the water's edge. It was hardly warm enough to swim but she could at least dip her toes in and relish the cold of the oceans waves. A shiver would run down her spine at its bitter touch.

Her heart began to ache as she thought of the children she'd had to leave behind. She had to get them back, one way or another, but she didn't feel like she could do it alone. That was why she'd put the hit out on Leo, something she still couldn't believe she'd done. She hoped her siblings would arrive soon, if they hadn't already.

There was so much to tell them and so much more time lost with them, wasting away in that damned dungeon. They had come to her rescue just at the end of her sentence and she couldn't be more grateful, not having to spend another day in there. But now they were all in danger and she wished that wasn't so. At least they were safer in the Highlands. A shaky breath escaped her and she crumbled to the ground as tears began to flow. She thought she'd already cried them all in jail but it appeared she was not yet finished. Her entire body ached as she sobbed, burying her face against her dark arms as the ocean kissed her toes.

code by claerie


@Cordelia @Caspian

The emotions that swirled inside never seemed to leave them alone since they escaped back to the safety of the Highlands against their will, never having wanted to leave their sister behind like this after risking so much to get her out. They had paced for hours and hours outside a den, hoping and even prayer for a safe return. That they weren’t back at square one of being one less sibling all over again, their ears pinned in upset as they couldn’t sleep. They couldn’t even get the appetite to eat a perfectly good gull egg that rested in a nest just a little further up the way, though it didn’t stop them eyeing it from time to time up on that little cliff they could easily climb up to if they wanted. Shaking their head they’d mutter under their breath not right now over and over again, not wanting to accidentally hurt themselves just to obtain it out of spite. A groan flooded from their lungs, dramatic as ever like a theater kid trying to get the lead role by being extra. Even flopping over like this whole situation was literally killing them from all the stress, which maybe it was taking a toll but not this dire that they might actually pass away if they didn’t see sister Nora’s face ever again. Before hysterics could increase, crying would make them freeze, ears twitching here and there at every little snivel and weep. Hopping to their paws as if they had a spring in their back that they could unload at any time. They pranced up the way closer to where the sound was coming from, tail alert but swaying with each high step so as to not trip on any wayward stones. It wouldn’t be long till they saw a blue coat and tears of their own would well up reflexively. They turned back toward where they had come, misplacing their brother as they didn’t see him at first glance. “Caspie!” they called for him to come before turning back to the crying figure, running like a rabbit to zip over to their baby sister. “Nowa!!!! Nor-” they cheered with giggles at first to see them but the weight of the situation would melt that smile off their face as realization set in once they got really close. They had never seen her cry before. Never ever, she was always the strong one. Coming to stand a few yards away, that little burst of energy would fall away, slowly moving toward them with a worried yet shy sway of their tail. It would take a few moments to close off the remaining distance before their head would gently rest along Nora’s shoulders trying to pull her face into their chest. “It’s okay Nora, you are safe now. Cory's got you. Please don’t cry or Cory will cry too,” that warning was a little late, tears already overflowing and dampening their cheeks.

art & table ▸ bunny
@Nora @Caspian

Since getting separated from Nora, Caspian had been unable to think straight. If not for having Cory to watch out for, he might have thrown himself headlong into danger and—ultimately—got himself tossed back behind bars. But he couldn't leave his sibling alone to find their way home. It wasn't that they were incapable but they were... trusting and far too sweet. He doubted that Cordelia would be able to stay out of the way well enough. But Nora... Caspian's heart had torn in half when they'd been forced to abandon her. She was out of a cell, yes, but she had just barely smelled of milk at that point. Her pups hadn't been with her either... and she must have given birth by then. He had wanted to look for them, to ask her more questions, but had been unable to due to the difficulty of the jail break.

The not knowing—about her pups and her well being—ate him alive.

For the second time this year, he had returned to Aberdeen. There, he had entered a stiff rehearsal of their childhood life.

He and Cory would wake each morning, them before him, and find food in the ocean water. Then they would wait, often pacing or searching around the town's perimeter, for Nora's presence.

Several days passed before she finally turned up.

Within seconds from Cory's call, Caspian was on the beach. He pushed through the sand, drawing close to where the waves touched the land. Caspian panted, having raced here with chaotic abandon but this was no sweet reunion. Nora sobbed from where she laid and Cory smothered her, threatening to sob as well. Rather than join the pile, Caspian stopped a few steps away.

"Nor..." he said softly, heart constricting as he thought of what she must have gone through.

"We're glad you made it."

There was a weak smile on his lips but it didn't reach his eyes. There was only sorrow there.

template by bean

NORA SEAFARER
still feels like i can't stop crying

Nora was so distraught she hardly noticed someone else approaching but thankfully, by the time she did, it was only her sister. Cory approached, curling around her comfortingly and pulling her into her chest. Nora leaned in, not fighting at all, or trying to stop just for Cory's sake. She was supposed to be the strong one but she didn't feel strong at all anymore. It wasn't long before Caspian approached as well, and finally her sobs began to soften. She finally caught her breath, sucking in air as if it were the last thing she'd ever do, and then she pulled her face from Cory's soft fur and looked up at her brother. "He took them," she whispered.

After a moment, she pulled back so that she could look at both her siblings. "My... my children. He took them away before you came." she said. If only they'd come a little while sooner she might have been able to birth them in the safety of their home but alas that was not the case. She didn't blame them for that, of course, she only had herself to blame for all that had happened to her. It was her fault she fell for a soldier, her fault she lost their son, her fault... her fault...

A sob racked her shoulders and she buckled, looked down at the sand between her toes for a moment as she tried to collect herself. It felt so much better than the stony dungeon floor.

"I..." she swallowed, wondering if she should tell her siblings what she'd done in return. Leoric wasn't the only one who could be evil, apparently. He'd twisted her into something she didn't even recognize.

code by claerie


@Cordelia @Caspian

The lack of teary restraint would cause the most sporadic of the siblings to lose any composure that might have remained, nearly needing consolation in return but would have pushed it away had it happened. Their brother’s voice would make their head turn, looking over at him with a shaken breath, ears pulling back with a wary look pulled along their split features. No words would come out but there was the faintest happy smile that they had her back, had Nora right back in their arms and it felt wonderful if it wasn’t for the anguish that could be felt all around between all of them. Their own body was sinking at how broken Caspian’s voice was in the moment but it was Nora’s voice a moment later that would make their ears pin and a whimper crawl out of their throat in confused ignorance. Before they could say who, the feeling of the other would withdraw some, answering it without the need for elaboration. Children. Children!? Oh right Caspian had mentioned that Nora was pregnant when they first collided back together a couple weeks ago. Their lips twitched, still finding it hard to believe that they had nieces or nephews or whatever came out eventually. Wait one stinking second. Taken them away? They were already born? Their head craned to the side, starring down at the belly of their sister, eyeing it as if there was an illusion there. She didn’t even look much like she had puppies, not noticing any overly engorged mammary glands needing to be released for one's own comfort. Had they taken them as soon as they were born? None of the questions playing in their head would surface, feeling like all the questions would just make it worse until they could piece it altogether one by one. “Let’s go steal them back!!!” they declared abruptly. “Where are they? Cory will do it now. You stay here sweet sister o mine and rest. Brobro you take care of her. And if it's Joffree, I'm gonna bite his stupid booty for real this time,” they hopped to their paws again, pulling away for Nora with one step ready to march right to the Mainlands. Assuming that was where they were. There was no time to waste to acquire their new kin!

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@Nora @Caspian

NORA SEAFARER
still feels like i can't stop crying

As she relayed what had happened, Caspian attempted to console her but ultimately remained quiet. Cory was the one to speak up and say they should steal them back. Nora's ears perked slightly and she looked at her sister, blue eyes glistening with tears. "No! No... don't go yet. We can't get them yet... but we will. I'll get them back, we will get them back!" she said, breathing in deeply and steadying herself with resolve. There was no way she would let this stand and let Leoric keep them... those children were hers and he did not deserve them. "His name is Leoric, their father..." she added, unsure of who Joffree was that Cory spoke of.

Nora stood up and brushed against Cory, kissing their cheek gently before looking to Caspian sadly. "Let's go home," she said. Though their home was not home anymore since mother had died she wanted to return to a place they knew and were familiar with, somewhere comforting in a way. She wanted to make plans and figure out what to do next and most of all figure out how to get her babies back as soon as possible. She turned and headed towards home, looking back at both her siblings and smiling briefly as she hoped they would follow.

[ exit nora ]

code by claerie


@Cordelia @Caspian

The pitbull of a wolf in that moment wanted nothing more than to fight, to be the villain the army considered them now just for not seeing eye to eye with their practices. This instance only added more bitterness toward those that they once stood in arms with, wanting to see them fall, shattering upon the land in a way they never had before. Their mental state was breaking in a new way, one that only wanted vengeance and they didn’t like this toxic feeling within their body yet they didn’t want it to go away. They had to stop running from the horrors of this land and accept them to be real, just like the feelings that blossomed in their gut couldn’t be glossed over toward another. The quick denial would make them pause, their ears pinning as they came to a halt, that energy that had them wanting to run stirred only in their eyes now, looking at their sister with a hardened gaze. “Okay…” Cory drew in a breath in defeat and accepted their wishes to do so later. It appeared she needed more consoling than she needed a hero or villain right now and Caspian was the only one giving it this second. A name would surface, making their ears perk forward, that last puzzle piece finally took its place that had been missing. They had gotten close with Leon and a few other renditions but never landed on the right one. “Yes, him! He and Cory were cadets together back in the day…I’m not surprised he did this. He’s always hated us Highlanders, a real jerkface that just wants us dead,” a huff and grumble of a few more words in their native tongue that couldn’t be heard well enough to decipher fled from them. As Nora closed the gap they had created, they did nothing to stop the invasion of space and accepted the kiss with a smile, returning it without a thought in their head. The middle child would take a deep breath and let out all their negative emotions once prompted to head home, deciding to put it at the back of their mind for now. Being a support beam mattered more in the second as they nodded less eagerly, though a prance returned to their step as the larger two siblings took her flank, accompanying her back home. “Love you, Nora. You’ll always have us to lean on,” they said softly, giving her a shoulder bump before offering another smooch as their tail swayed happily behind them to at least have these two back. Now it was time to find Black once all nerves were settled here and let her know everything, since they knew everyone was far from the jails finally. There was no chance to lose her now too trying to help them save these two. They also couldn't wait to tell Brann the good news while maybe glossing over the bad for now. -cory exits with sibs-

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@Nora @Caspian