Birdsong

Sif Asgaut

The delicate notes of songbirds caressed dark ears, slowly pulling a small form from a peaceful slumber in a delicate tune that could only make one every more tired. A head gently shuffled, turning away from a veil of light streaming from the partially uncovered windows, though a shiver would take hold as the heat of the sun was stolen away. Seeking that ray, she would roll back into it, though a static pain would flood into her body in a wave that made her let out a grunt of discomfort as if a pair of baby teeth had just nipped her nose. It had been a while since her body had felt like this, so stiff and unused but she didn’t really understand why.

Her youngest set of boys had been born plenty long enough ago that she had gotten her figure back, no longer an imobile mess. So why did she feel like she was at the end of her pregnancy all over again, just without the weight of a baby bump?

Opening her eye, a hiss escaped past her teeth, unamused by the twinkles that danced in her vision as her pupil adjusted to the daylight. An ear preened sharply at the sound of gasping and commotion, turning her head to see wolves she had never known prior within her room. Jerking upright, fangs were quick to show as she let out a thunderous growl at the intruders. There was one thing though that made her pause, the scent of their coats belonged here. They didn’t reek of the outside world. Though, it seemed the strangers took that as a sign to leave easily enough, causing her shoulders to relax and with a thrash of her tail in frustration.

The door was left wide open and with it, she sat down, feeling unreasonably tired for having just awoken. Casting her gaze around the room, she let out a scoff at the sight of a golden tawny pelt, though it didn’t seem as vibrant today. Leaning over, her paws gently prodded the form of her husband, lips pressing into the tresses of his fur along his ear with tender affection and concern. “Khep... are you okay? I feel like hell,” she breathed into his fur softly, hoping to rouse him.

She couldn’t help but wonder if they had been sick and had been on bedrest for some time to explain this fatigue, dullness and visitors. There was the scent of her daughters in the room, making her curious if those were some of their friends. It still didn’t really answer why they were here though or where they were running to now.

Should she be hunting them down?

khepri tiamat

He was pulled from his dreamless sleep by the voice of his beloved. His ears flicked at her touch and his eyes screwed shut tighter before reluctantly opening to see the last of a few wolves leaving the room. He'd barely heard the commotion after Sif woke up but now that he was coming to, it slowly drifted back to him. He grunted and then sat upright, turning his head to look at Sif and then staring at her in confusion. His entire body ached and his head was pounding like he'd spent the entire night drinking. But he hadn't had a drink in ages. Yet his mouth was so dry and it was uncomfortable. He opened it to speak, rasping a bit when the words finally came.

"I think so..." he said. He lifted a paw to his head and blinked a few times. The brightness in the room was a stark contrast to the darkness he'd endured just moments ago. It was disorienting and he couldn't quite figure out why. He cleared his throat and stood up, only to find a wobble in his legs. "What the hell is going on?" he murmured. He felt like he had been drugged or something but that couldn't be right, either.

Worry creased his brow as he stared at Sif, her figure coming more into focus now as the effects of whatever was happening to him began to ebb. His ears flicked as he heard a quick succession of paw steps outside the door before Sheik burst in, tears in her eyes and a high-pitched squeal on her lips. She barreled into his chest, sinking into him like she hadn't seen him in some time and he looked to his wife curiously before raising a paw to her shoulders and drawing her into a hug. "Sheik?" he said, the question in his tone evident. She shuddered against him, trying to catch her breath as the tears flowed from her yet she seemed happy.

He would soon learn just what was going on as she sniffed, stepped back and recounted to he and Sif the last five years.

...

Khepri had been stunned into silence and he wasn't sure what to do or say. How was it possible for someone to sleep so long and still live? How was it possible that he was still alive, for he had been old since before this mystery fog had descended upon Rionnach. But when he looked in the dusty mirror on the wall nearby, he didn't seem to look all that old, really. And Sif didn't appear to be horrifically elderly either, though some age had worn her features.

"How can this be?" he murmured, the doctor and professor in him warring with the reality that Sheik had given them.

He dismissed their daughter then and returned his full attention to his wife, uncertainty and fear billowed from him in waves, clouding his gaze and filling his heart. It sounded like the Tiamats still stood with the new King... but where did this leave them?

"We are all young and naive still."