nymeria had dwindled; she was but a tiny spark, left behind from what had once been a bright and brimming woman. It had been some months since she had returned from her time of solitude, yearning for the sweet embrace of her kin and loved ones — but illness had plagued her and it had not left. it was cruel and dark and had hung over her heady like a dreary raincloud, dampening her spirit and withering the valour away at her core. she had known (as certain as she could be) after a few days that it was the same sickness that had stolen her parents from her, all those years ago — and it was for that very reason she had decided to take homage beyond the borders of vermeda brook during her final time. to be frank, she could not bare the thought of rendering any of them sick or putting them at risk, and sacrificed her one desire for the sake of them all. even if it meant being an outsider, looking wantonly through the windows of the pride that was her everything, of the place that was her heart and soul and everything in between. but what other choice did she have, anyways?

today, the morning air was crisp and quiet — at least for a few moments. because against the soft lull of the breeze a distinct and bitter sound could be heard building, pulsing from the direction of nymeria’s den at the edge of the woods. if one decided to trek a little closer, they would find her there, beneath the shade of the canopy, coughing uncontrollably as her chest rattled and her bones creaked. the druid’s breaths wheezed their way into her lungs as she finally opted to roll onto her side, ears flat and her eyes snapped into pained, thin lines. there wasn’t much time left now. "—" she tried to say something then, but no words were able to make it out, only another bout of violent coughs that seemed to quake the once-queen to her core.

she only hoped someone would hear her — that someone would come before too long. because she was so, so tired, with each minute feeling longer than the last.

@Gareth @Aquila @Talisa @Morrigan @Cassandra @Heloise @Ygritte @Valkravn @Khal @Roan @Hanneth @Arkyn

ooc: open to any of nymeria’s family/friends/all valours — i tagged a few off the too of my head but are good with whoever. i’d love for someone to show up and call for everyone else, if possible! i will likely have her pass on in the next post // i also apologize for the change of plans; i wanted to do individual threads before putting up nymeria’s death thread, but i think the time has come and this is what is easiest for me - thank you for understanding <3

The brute had used much of his time patrolling the borders of Vermeda day in and day out, searching for @Nymeria. Trying to figure where she would have gone and why she would have left. Leaving all things to worry and trying his very best not to let himself succumb to it and yet loneliness was the one that got him. Every morning and every night, he could feel the air around him suffocating him. Forcing him to feel as though someone was stepping on his throat and making it hard for his lungs to expand. So when he was wandering the borders and caught even the tiniest whiff of her, he lunged. Sprinting as fast as his large body would take him and the closer he got, the more he could smell. The scent that wasn't hers but was. It was pungent and bitter, something that was not right and it only spurred him on quicker. A great roar escaping from his mouth as he called for anyone that was in range and for those lions to call from where they were. Nymeria was here, but something was wrong. Racing through what was left of the Brook and grazing through the Grove he located her wheat body upon the ground and he swore he was flying. By the time he reached her his legs had crumpled beneath him and he was attempting to lift her neck up with his face. Trying to push himself underneath her top-half to give life, strength.. whatever it was she needed. Nymeria.. his voice broke in half, teal eyes watery with emotional turmoil that only grew as he looked into those pained eyes. Please. Nose wrinkled, ears folded into his thick mane as he tried to center himself. I can't. I can't live without you. It was pure love and hope that had kept him alive while she had been gone but this was different. He felt it -- he could see it in her eyes. I'll meet you in the end. Tears rolled.

^{MANIP BY MONO !}

A roar caught her attention as she padded a well worn path in the grove, causing for Valkravn to stop dead in her tracks. Her muscles tightened and it would feel as though ice were running through her veins; she knew who had called and what it was for and she could hear the pain. It was a no-brainer for her to move, no sprint, toward where the call had come from, nostrils flaring as the scents of @Nymeria and Gareth invaded them. But a bitter odor was entangled between the two, and for a moment she wondered which one it was that was ill. She would continue to move as fast as she could, releasing her own series of roars in response.

And then, when her eyes land upon the two bodies lying on the ground, she can feel her heart lurch before sinking. "Oh Nym," he words would be soft, sorrow and worry flooding her emotions. She could see now, see who were the one giving off the scent of sickness. At the sight of Nymeria's gaunt body would Valkravn move toward her, bending and craning her neck so that her nose pressed softly onto her side, moving gently as she then rested her left ear onto the rugged fur. She could hear the straining of breathing and crackling of her lungs, and as she squeezed her eyes shut a single tear would make its escape, rolling down a light pink cheek and darkening it with its wetness.

One of the most devastating feelings the Viking had ever experienced was not being able to help another. As a medic it was her duty to help ease pain and suffering, to mend bones and make sure others stayed in good health. But when faced with an illness that could not be reverse, it wreaked havoc on her soul. After a couple of moments she would pull herself away and glance around her, moving toward a flowerbed of red flowers. Poppies. She would make haste of her work, and as swiftly as she had moved would she return, poppies hanging from her maw by the stems. Valkravn would then begin to pop off the red flowers from their stems, and using one paw she would attempt to pry open Nymeria's mouth, just enough so that she could scoop the seeds from the flowers and place them into her mouth. "Chew," she would instruct with a gentle but firm tones, "they will help you, Nym." Help ease and numb the pain.

With a heavy exhale of breath would Valkravn then look over at @Gareth, a look of melancholy swimming deep in her eyes. "She doesn't have much time," she would speak to him in a gentle and soft tone, her haunches reclining so that she was now sitting beside the beautiful Vermedan Queen - because that was what she would always be in Valkravn's eyes.

ART BY IRISH, CODE BY LARS

Gareth's call reached her ears, shattering the silence around her as she sat meditatively on the bank of the Brook. Her own voice rang out a moment later, spreading the message through the Brook like the worst game of telephone, before she rose and made haste to his location. It wasn't hard for her to figure out where he was as she drew closer, picking up on two scents that she knew very well, but had never wanted to smell in relation to one another.

Oh, Nymeria, love,she said softly as she approached, moving to sit beside Valkravn. Personally, she didn't think it was fair that it was Nymeria's time, while there were so many others out there who were less deserving of their lives than her, but there was no arguing with death when he had chosen.

Come, spirits, guide her gently into the after life, she continued in a soft tone. Valkravn had already provided her with poppy, which was surely the best thing she could be given at the moment to ease any pain she might have. Heloise could think of some other things as well, but she didn't want to leave the woman's side to go get them for fear of missing her passing. So, she would just handle the spiritual side of things.

Talisa had been on her way down to Vermeda to check on things, to make sure that Cassandra was still handling things upon her shoulders and that Myrkvi was recovered or close to. It was the perfect excuse to check in on her grandchildren, too, of course! Though, what she hadn't anticipated was the screaming call from Gareth as she neared their borders. Of course she was on the far eastern side of Vermeda but she cared little and knew her permits. Talisa raced through Vermeda as fast as she could. Moving as swiftly as she could with her mind racing on all the things that could possibly be so wrong that Gareth was calling for the pride and more. An ambush? What was it? Talisa roared herself, not knowing what was happening but it had to be big to warrant such an outrageous scream. Just like the rest she was smothered in the toxic scent of something she had, unfortunately, become familiar with. Her heart sank as she recognized who and what it was mingled with. She hadn't thought it possible but she raced even harder to get to her. To her sister, to her best friend; to the one lion in this entire world (aside from @Morrigan) that had always been there for her and supported her. The only lion that she had ever confided everything and anything into because there was always love to be found. Talisa's stride was slow as she approached. Halting twenty feet out before she became the world's longest walk to them. Her eyes meeting the frail looking ghost of her sister before her eyes moved to @Heloise and @Valkravn, Gareth holding his wife as closely as he could while most everyone if not everyone had tears in their eyes. Talisa could only chant to herself that this wasn't real. Talisa remembered so many times when they were younger and they danced around Vermeda. Playing hide and seek, tag, looking for Maua and bothering their father and mothers at any chance that they had. Playing with each other in the meadow, the fields and especially this Grove. Talisa remembered the struggle they had faced together when the "invaders" had come; remembered how hard she pushed to give them a chance because not all were bad. Remembered telling Nymeria that she intended to propose to Morrigan in Caladan Cove; of when she had been granted children by Maua, when she got pregnant with Farrow's. Even when the secret of her third litter had come about, it was Nymeria that she had told the secret to. Now, that secret would die with her. Taking a deep breath she finally made it to Nymeria's side. Her cheeks were stained with wet tears. She did not sit with the other two women and instead hoisted herself to a lie right next to Nymeria. Poking her nose gently at her older sister's chest. Feeling the dying beat of her heart but more than that, feeling and living the life that she had led within it. Quorum uterque non est finis, sed scimus quia hic sumus. (We both know their is no end but know that we are here...) It was a quiet murmur in their latin language that was hardly ever used. Eyes closing swiftly as she began to murmur a silent prayer for the safe passing of the only other woman in her life that she looked up to. Maua would take care of her, she knew, but it certainly did not make this any easier. Nymeria would go to the Grotto or better; better.. definitely. She had to. Maua would certainly make sure of it. If not: Maua, please take my sister graciously into your light and your presence. Give her a place among your plane. Death cannot be the end for her, I won't let it be. Talisa was going to make sure that wherever Maua put this lioness it would not be in anything but the finest. That she be given every special opportunity she could have because if anyone in this world was worth it, it was Nymeria Valour.

table by cush

In the blink of an eye, his wisp figure is rushed away like a ghost through a vacuum hose. Flying and soaring through the lands with seemingly no end in sight; despite the initial fear of the unknown he begins to relish it as soon as he realizes that he is seeing things he hasn't seen in years. The life and land that he had been forced to leave behind in his death. It takes him a long time to recognize the places that zoomed by, the structures that have also seen the wear of time but still stand strong. The trees and plantlife that have continued to move onwards and lived longer than he, for sure. Most trees did.

With an abrupt halt he was deposited within a forest. Daario took a moment to adjust to his surroundings, looking at the trees from his singular spot as he tried to recall where he had gone. First instinct was fear that he wasn't in Amaryllis anymore at all and had gone beyond it. Memories, however, started to flood back in tiny snippets at first until they began to unwind.

Amethyst Grove, how I have missed you. But how was he here? Daario's heart flourished as he realized he could SMELL every inch of this grove. He could feel the earth below him and the wind that rushed around him. Though, he heard strained and mourning voices and began to travel eastward towards where he knew his old home used to be and where the sounds were coming from.

It wasn't quite the reunion he had hoped it would be but it became clear to him that this was the reason he was brought here.

@Nymeria, his eldest, was dying.

Within seconds his body flew to her, to them, and he cast his gaze to each of them. Heartbreak but also love flowing as he gazed to each one. All of them he knew except the man at her side. Daario Valour, he introduced to the man without anger or frustration that there was a man not him by her side. If anything, he was happy to make the assumption that he was someone worthy of being there. Daario did his best to kneel close and whisper to his beloved girl. It isn't so scary, my dear. I am here now and forever. Let me help you just as Maua will. Because that was something he could do was to ease any fear that resided in her heart for leaving the living and becoming something a little less while also becoming something a little more.

@Heloise @Valkravn

table by sentinel / lion + brook

The current Valour Queen had been busily patrolling the Brook's borders, taking part in her daily routine as per usual. However, the cries that rang out on the air suddenly, including the screaming call of her uncle, immediately set her on alert. Cassandra turned her motion from walking the borders to heading quickly in the direction of the call. Her mother Talisa went streaking past her just as she was getting up to speed, and that's when she knew something was truly wrong. Her mother never acted like that... dark ears pushing against her skull, Cassandra rushed after her mom and towards the source of the calls that had rung out through the forest.

However, the scene in front of her as she approached was not what she expected. As she got closer, the cloying scent of sickness was thick in the air, and she spotted her mother sitting next to her aunt, along with her uncle Gareth at Nymeria's side as well. Heloise and Valkravn were also there, and she realized it had been them who had also added their voices to the call. Someone she didn't even think would be there, however, was. Her grandfather Daario. Slowing her pace, Cassandra hesitated a moment on the outskirts of the gathered lions. But steeling herself, she stepped forward. "Auntie Nym.." She said softly, approaching her mother and aiming to press against @Talisa's side, knowing that she herself needed reassurance and the strength from her mother. She could only hope her mother would appreciate her gesture as well.

actions. "speech." thoughts.

Art by Amphispiza | Table code by Zodiac

The pull was undeniable.

Calls would echo in his ears, the roars bringing him to 'life'. Something felt different, wrong even. And as his spectral form gravitated toward the grove Valhalla would feel the distinct emotion of sadness overwhelming him. He would be kept guessing until his form appeared, a soft shimmery fog before he appeared behind @Nymeria's body, looking almost as if he were alive. Almost.

There were several familiar lions gathered around, his golden gaze looking at each one and taking in their aging features. He would linger on his sister, feeling the sense of guilt that he had went to search for his family only for him to die before they even came back to their native land. As a steady exhale of breath left his nostrils would he then look down to the ground, and there his heart sank. "Nymeria," the Viking would say in his deep voice. This couldn't be the end for her; she had so much more life to live. But fate was cruel and death did not discriminate. Slowly, massive paws would carry Valhalla to stand next to @Gareth, giving him a sorrowful dip of his maw before he reclined back onto his haunches. A forepaw would extend toward Nymeria's face, stroking the fur on her cheek in soft and gentle motions. "We are here," he would croon to her as he stroked, glancing up at @Daario as he spoke. There wasn't anything more that he wanted to do than to help the Valour woman transition as easily as she could to the next life.

And then she greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.

FORTUNE FORTUNE SMILING FATE
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU MUCH OF LATE
NEED YOU NOW AND CANNOT WAIT
BUT WANNA LOOK, YOU'RE NOT AROUND

He's dreaded this day. Knew it was coming, knew it came for them all. But it wasn't supposed to be her. If any of them deserved to conquer death it was Nymeria. If Maua should show any of them one last grace it was Nymeria. And as they had time and time again their god failed their faithful. Gareth's cry filled Aquila with dread, that pain seeping deep into every fiber of his body. It was coming. It was time.

And Aquila was too scared to go see.
In her last moments Aquila fails Nymeria one last time.
He began to run, legs propelled him
----as far away from that sound as he could get.
Tears uncontrollably falling.

enter & exit

ART BY RABS , CODE BY LARS

and we don’t need saving

We’re hell raising

Everything happened so quickly. Ygritte had been keeping up with her mother's scent, noticing it had been absent from the Brook for a while and when she had gone searching for it, finding it among others; she panicked. Pushing forwards, ygritte found her family and their scent surrounding Nymeria's. However this was a not so new scent and she froze in her tracks. She knew it all to well. It haunted her dreams. Haunted her mind during the day when it wasn't calmed by Cerberus. Aquila was noted, he came and went as soon as she arrived. Others were there, others she couldn't quite figure out the smell of. But it was Nymiera she focused on.


Mama... @Gareth was there but her voice broke and ahattered as she felt the loss and pain that came with it. Oh but she didn't run. Tears fell no doubt staining her Merle cheeks as she tried to bury herself into her mother's fur. She was small. She felt smaller than ever now. Back to when she was a cub of the beach being found by nym. She hadn't told her mother all the good things that had happened in her life recently. Don't leave me... please...

code by corvus / image by kim