cassandra

She knew the Valour were strong. Knew their faith in the deity Maua was almost unshakeable (though she didn't know her family members' doubts these days), and had to trust in the pink deity that they would make things right with the world again. She had to believe in that, even if no one else believed it. Maua was too kind to allow this to continue without trying to do something to stop it... right?

With regards to @Farrow and her younger siblings... she knew how much pain her parents had been in when her younger brother had been lost. "For the longest time... I blamed myself for his death. To a point, I still do..." Cassandra admitted softly. It was true - there was still a part of her that felt responsible for her younger brother's death. If she had been watching them... If she had been there to help protect him... Maybe he would still be here and Talisa and Farrow wouldn't have to carry that pain.

It was bad enough she had to deal with her own daughter at this point in time now. A dark ear pushed back as Farrow tried to soothe her worries that she'd done something wrong. "I just... I don't know why I feel that way..." She always carried guilt from things that weren't her fault. Tormund's death. The war from her challenge. Anima's death. Those weren't her fault, and yet for whatever reason she felt they were.

The subject of her dislike for Farrow was an interesting one.. and perhaps it was time she revealed exactly why she had despised him for so very long. "I hated you so much when you first showed up... Since Morrigan wasn't around as much as I wished she was, it felt like Talisa was trying to replace her with you. I know now that's not how it was - but to me when I was that age, it certainly felt like it." Cassandra started with a half laugh. "And then the news of my younger siblings... It felt like my brothers and I weren't good enough. That we were replaceable. I know now that's not true.. But its part of what pushed me from the Brook when I was old enough. I despised Arden, Tormund, Renly and Nienna until I realized how precious they were to me when the Brook was challenged for... It must've snapped me right in the head regarding that." She took a breath then, looking between her four children and Farrow.

"And for the hateful words I spewed your way when you returned... lets just blame that on the hormones.." She said, lifting a paw to cover her face in shame about her behavior. She had come to realize she had been far too harsh on him when he returned. "If you can forgive me for how I acted towards you for almost 2 years... I'd like to try again. Make things right, and start over." Cassandra said, her tone sincere as she spoke. She figured it was time to try to make things right with her step-father. She'd been such a jerk for far too long.

Art by Cala & Code by Zodiac

Farrow's lips turned into a frown at @Cassandra's admittance. Tormund was loss in the chaos of it all, snatched away when all their backs were turned, not just hers. “It happened on the back of a war,” he said sadly, staring down at his paws. He was just as much to blame, if there was any to be had. It was easier to forgive himself for the deaths of companions who had journeyed with him and knew the risks. Tormund, however... “He was an unfortunate victim of a trying time. A time we've still not recovered from.” A time they'd still not left. Morrigan and Talisa had aged through the strife, its aftermath written on their very faces.

He pauses and listens thoughtfully to her monologue, nodding every now and then to show her he was still listening, he still cared. He had always cared a great deal about what Cassandra had thought of him; he remembered expressing those very same worries to Talisa when they'd first gotten together, when they'd had their first litter together. Farrow remembers very harshly his hesitance to have his own children, to bring into the world he knew to be cruel and unrelenting to the helpless and innocent. He would never regret his children, though, but he knew just as well that if he'd never had them, Cassandra might have been more eased.

When she finished, Farrow smiled. He'd never anticipated hearing those words from her before, never thought the time would come that she'd finally slip free the walls she'd built around her and let him witness the brilliant, expressive woman she'd become. “There is nothing to forgive,” he told her with a soft purr, attempting to reach down and swipe his tongue across her ear, “You had every right to feel the way you did, especially when there was never any time to try and get to know each other, to voice these concerns before they built to a head.” The day of his return had been trying and difficult, and Farrow would more than happy to push the blame onto her pregnancy. He remembered very well just how Talisa was during hers.

“I'd love to start over. I can start by singing to your kids? I have the most lovely voice...”

Farrow, in fact, did not have the most lovely voice. But he was going to try it anyway.

exit Farrow via fade

cassandra

She hated feeling like she was responsible for something. Even if it wasn't her fault, she felt like it was with certain things. Sure Tormund's death had happened on the back of a war. But she still felt like if she had been home with her siblings things would've gone differently.

Her and @Farrow seemed to finally be starting over with the situation. She had grown up since he'd come into her life, and she had come to realize that her feelings towards Farrow when she was a young cub were unfounded. Plus, her words towards him when he first returned were uncalled for as well, but those she was blaming on the hormones from her pregnancy.

A soft chuckle escaped her as he offered to sing to her kids. "Just so long as you don't wake them up. I just got them settled down." Cassandra said, flicking her tail as she looked to her children.

It was a surreal feeling to have her own children, and to start repairing the relationship with Farrow.

-exit Cassandra via fade-

Art by Cala & Code by Zodiac