Remember When

With each moment he couldn’t find a sibling, each moment he couldn’t understand the point of this stupid celebration, the more he grew agitated with each struggle of his limp. He had been tasked with protecting the border back when the war had ended with what seemed like a pathetic excuse for a tie with the outcome being a nation split and now he wasn’t supposed to harm anyone that dared to cross it? It made little to no sense and it seemed like the day was forged with seeing faces from the other side of the pond he was meant to keep off the land that the fae he so earnestly protected. He couldn’t imagine his father was happy with any of it, knowing his rage was stronger than any other. Still, he did as he was told by Jacob’s messengers. He still couldn’t believe this was a reality after all the horror that had happened. His heart was heavy and his fear of what could be echoed in his mind like busy fireworks that had become too overwhelming to take in all at once.

He would slowly enter where the festivities were being held, his view of the world rather black and white as he tried to maneuver around far too many bodies of those that he wasn’t sure where their alignment stood. There were even some scents that had never touched his nostrils before and that alarmed him all the more. He had gone from the top to the bottom of the lands and had never encountered anything like it, making him glance around in search of what could be a culprit to the perfume.

Though he would fall short quickly, feeling like differentiating strangers wasn’t going to be so easy and additionally dangerous, making his ears constantly swiveling in anticipation. In the end, it was all just a sea of pelts and chaos that made him all too uncomfortable. He rather be curled up in his den away from it all. The only thing keeping him motivated to stay here were his kin and the boy that haunted his thoughts, neither of which he would find.

There was a different pelt he would come across that caught his attention as he stopped in his tracks, taking in the monochrome blanket of a healer. He didn’t approach her.

A name echoed in his ears as the only peace he had witnessed in his cell what seemed so long ago and yet as if it was yesterday. Calla. A girl as beautiful as she had been strangely kind while he had been laced in quills tipped in poison. Happiness wasn't quite the feeling that filled his heart as he took a deep breath in to calm the cruel memories of his prison.

code: elyon | art: pixel

N

ews of the parade spread through the barracks. All the soldiers had been talking about it, most had negative feelings over it and were really hoping that a fight would break out so they could either throw more souls behind bars, or just rip them to shreds. It was tough for Calla to hear this kind of behavior, and just force herself to ignore it. She would not go against the crown or those who served it, but it really was terrible - some of the things that came from their mouths. She was glad at least she had her head on straight and could take care of the ones who got the crappy end of the stick. She attended the parade, and while the floats were nice to watch, she could not shake the sinking feeling that something bad could break out in this public area - much like that of the protests. What if it happened this time? She would need to have an exit strategy to make sure that she did not get hurt and could also fix up any that needed it.

Calla wandered through the crowd. Seeing the happy faces of pups was something that really warmed her heart. Today was a day where all of them were just wolves. It didn't matter what side they were on or who they served. She was sitting now, looking at the puppies, and thinking that someday she would be able to have a family of her own. It was never a thought she had before, but now that she was watching the enjoyment of this whole thing from such an innocent creature - she decided she wanted it. Someday. Right now, she had little prospects int hat, and she was very concerned with her work. She caught herself staring and quickly snapped herself out of it. Her pale eyes scanned the crowd until her eyes met a pair of red orbs that burned like fire. He did not look at her in the harsh way that he had before. She gave him a genuine smile and a respectful bow of her head, as though asking if she could approach him. When she felt it was a good time to do so, she cautiously made her way towards him, all the while trying her very best to still her tail. He was alive, and well from what she could tell right now. "Dia duit a dhuine uasail"1

Translations:
1. Hello sir."

@Raith

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

He remained staring at the ghost girl for a long while, probably uncomfortably so, though his focus was hardly on her directly as he faded in and out of the present. It wasn’t until those delicate eyes would find him in turn that he would catch his breath, feeling a little sheepish as it felt like it confirmed she really could see after all. He was often left wondering if she was blind due to how pale her eyes were and how the light reflected off them as if hazed over, though it couldn’t be coincidence that she acknowledged him so easily in a crowd like this. A smile, a dip of a head, as if they were old business partners of some sort which had been far from the case. Drawing in a deep breath, he hesitantly started to move toward her, though would glance around just in case it wasn’t him at all she was trying to attract the attention of.

He expected someone to fly around him and jump in his way or even for a guard to appear in her company to drag him back to the depths of the barracks. He hadn’t exactly left under the imperial’s choice, he had escaped with the help of his mother, elder sister, and a stranger or two.

Once they breached that bit of distance, he would stop a few feet away still, cautious as he glanced her up and down for any signs of hostility. By the softness of her smile and her gaze, he had a hard time believing she had gotten in trouble because of his jail break, which he would consider a good thing for the time being unless she gave him reason to reconsider. He shook his head at her formality, finding being called Sir awkward, still often feeling more child than adult. Moving a couple steps closer, he’d brush his nose against her shoulder if she let him, giving a very subtle sway of his tail. "Go raibh maith agat as iarracht a dhéanamh cabhrú liom féin agus le mo dheirfiúr roimhe seo. Tá brón orm go raibh mé chomh naimhdeach, bhí mé i go leor pian agus scanraithe," (Thank you for trying to help me and my sister before. Sorry I was so hostile, I was in lots of pain and scared.) he’d address immediately, ears tilting back apologetically.

He had thought long and hard and after meeting more than one nice Mainlander, he had decided that maybe she wasn’t someone he had needed to mistrust as much as he had.

code: elyon | art: pixel