[ P ] Say It

Young Nilu had lived here all her life and never once come across this beautiful place. She stared into the lagoon curiously, her own reflection stared back like a glistening void. "Ohh," she said quietly before dipping a paw in and shattering that reflection for a moment. Ripples pooled out from where her paw touched the warm water and she smiled. Soon her face came back into view again and she was left staring at herself for quite some time. Eventually she grew bored. With a sniff she waggled her stumpy tail and then dove into the crystal waters. She resurfaced, sucking in a breath of air greedily before throwing back her head and laughing. Then she began to paddle in circles, feeling the warmth of the water like a blessing in disguise. She didn't much like winter, she'd decided, so this was a wonderful change of pace. "..."

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Summit Hiram Eithne
• • •
Adulthood was mere weeks away for the dual-eyed wolf. Perhaps that was why he was so restless, along with the usual, unceasing search for his little sister. But today, Summit had seemingly discovered a forest within a forest. Flowers bloomed here that he had never seen before, and vines like green snakes crawling up the thin trunks of unusual trees. It was a place unperturbed by the cold grasp of winter, untouched by snow. A perfumed breeze caressed his cheek, drawing him further into bliss.

Maybe it was okay to take it easy for a while. Tense muscles relaxed. He had nearly forgotten what it was like to merely be. A pool of water soon appeared, and within it, a tiny black wolf. From far away, it looked like his dark sister Fern, and he was surprised to see her there. With a mischievous grin, he bounded toward the lagoon. When he was close enough to the water’s edge, Summit threw himself into the water –

”Oof!”

He hit the water hard, belly first, creating a tidal wave that swept away the serenity of the lagoon. The air escaped his lungs in one breath as the wind was knocked out of him momentarily before he could collect himself, laughing as he turned to find… someone who was not Fern at all. Embarrassed, he pushed himself away from the stranger, surprise scribed across his features. ”S-sorry! I thought y-you were someone else,” he stammered sheepishly.



@Clover

template by bean

The peace was interrupted by a tidal wave of water and Nilu's head dipped under momentarily from it. She resurfaced quickly, sputtering a bit, and looked at who had crashed her lagoon party. She didn't know him and when he looked at her she could see confusion written across his face. She blinked, lashes fluttering water out of her dark eyes as he pushed away from her in the water and apologized. She tilted her head slightly as she tread water, peering at him curiously before smiling. "Who did you think I was?" she asked him. "I am only Nilu," she added, a little laugh leaving her muzzle. She lifted a paw and patted at the water's surface, sending a little splash his way. It wasn't often she was mistaken for another and she had to say, it was quite amusing to her. "..."

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"Who did you think I was?" A smile formed across the stranger’s onyx visage; unconsciously, Summit smiled, as well, a toothy grin as he moved his paws to stay afloat. For a lingering second, the awkward adolescent seemed lost for words, though the question itself had been simple enough. But it was rare to meet others his age, unless they were related to him… and in his experience, nearly unheard of to find someone so unique as this wolfess was. Unique, pretty, with a voice like a song… ”Oh – I – sorry. I thought - uh, I thought you were Fern,” he answered vaguely, hoping she would not ask for more details because he was already plenty embarrassed.

"I am only Nilu.” A feminine laugh parted her maw, and Summit’s gaze averted with uncharacteristic bashfulness. Only Nilu… As if she was a creature of simplicity, and not the youth who looked like nothing he had ever seen before. A small wave caught him by surprise while his eyes had turned away, and his chin raised to avoid a snoutful of warm water. His words were laced with newfound timidity when he finally spoke again: ”Hi. I-it’s good to meet you. I’m – well, I’m only Summit,” he offered, following her introductory lead. He had a last name, of course, but it was unimportant now. ”Y-you have a very pretty name,” he said before his anxiety could stop the syllables from falling from his mouth. Quick to change the subject, he pulled his curious gaze away to look around him. ”H-have you ever been here before…?”


@Nilu

coding: gutz

Nilu's joy only radiated more when Summit smiled back at her as the bobbed in the water together. He seemed at a loss for words for a moment but eventually he did speak again, telling her that he thought she as Fern. Recognition lit up in her features as she recalled a young woman among the bodies of the fallen... her name had been Fern and she'd been of a darker color just like Nilu. Not quite as much a void as herself, but close. "I see," she hummed softly, nodding her head as if she were in thought about the whole thing. But her thoughts quickly flitted back to her new companion as he stammered out his name and then asked her if she'd been here before. He seemed nervous and she could not fathom why. "Summit... it is nice to meet you too!" she chirped happily. Then she tipped her head slightly to the side, wading towards the shore so that she might scoop her small figure out onto the grassy bank. "No, I haven't been here before but it sure is nice. I'd like to visit again sometime. The water is lovely." she commented, gazing around the space as if it might be her last time seeing it. And it just might, for she had never come across this place before despite having lived in these woods for so long. Was it a dream? A trick? She honestly couldn't tell. "The fae must keep it safe," she added, returning her gaze to Summit as he waded through the waters. "..."

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The dark girl’s joy was utterly infectious. "Summit... it is nice to meet you too!" Summit’s tail wagged unconsciously and he wore a smile to match that of his new friend, his mismatched eyes alight. He would follow her lead, splashing through the clear shallow waters. The youth pulled himself back to the shore, taking a moment to shake the water from his coat. At the mention of the Fae, Summit’s ears perked forward. ”Oh, yes! They protect the entire forest – the trees, the water, even some of the wolves who live here.” He grinned proudly, counting himself among the lucky ones who existed without the mischief of the Fae. ”My sister’s middle name is even Fae!”

Something occurred to the boy then, and his bright expression tarnished at the realization that Nilu seemed to be all alone in these enigmatic woods. Had she really come here on her own? It was so easy for outsiders to get lost here if they didn’t know which direction to go, and the forest could be disorienting. Summit asked curiously in attempt to tease out the situation and how concerned he needed to be, ”Do you have any brothers and sisters? Or family close by?”



@Nilu

coding: gutz

He seemed to ease around her, his tail wagging behind him now she noticed. When she mentioned the fae he seemed to perk up, talking about how they protected the forest and even some of the wolves within it. She'd grown up hearing many things about fae, some good and some bad, so she didn't disagree with him as her head bobbed agreeably. He mentioned then, that his sisters middle name was even Fae, and she grinned. "That's cool! I don't have a middle name, or a last." she commented, though she didn't really sound all that sad about that fact even as concern crept into the other wolf's gaze. She seemed oblivious to it as she shook her head at his question, a chipper "nope!" popping from her lips. "I was left in the Fae Forest when I was young. I don't even remember my parents." she said, as if it wasn't one of the saddest things in the world to hear. Nilu didn't get all bleary eyed like some might, no, she just held his gaze and shrugged her petite shoulders. "I make my own way," she added. "..."

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