MAKE PEACE WITH

YOUR BROKEN PIECES

The walk felt like it took years and by the time they did cross over the borders into Wolfbron Bluffs the elfin yearling felt like she was ready to collapse. Her body was weak and emaciated, it took every ounce of her energy to keep up with @Lazare. And though her new mistress was very patient with her she could not help but feel as if she was disappointing her with her weakness. She began to stumble over her own feet and eventually would sink to the earth after one final trip. "Apologies mistress." She would whisper, keeping her eyes glued to Lazare's feet. She moves to stand again, wobbling forward to lean against her for a moment. Pausing to get her bearings she would glance around them. The air here was cold and gnawing against her paper-thin skin, despite the longer ethereal fur that clung to her edges she could hardly keep warm. The ground was uneven and there were various perches about as well as sparse vegetation. Her long-pointed ears laid flat against her petite skull before she would turn her full attention back to Lazare. "Na- sina -yes?" She would ask politely before correcting herself, common tongue was difficult to translate. "Home?" She forced out, hoping to find neutral ground.

---

*Is this it

[beatnik exp]
+5 Use a friendship to your advantage
+5 Be gifted something useful (den)
+5 Convince someone else to slack off (Lazare)

code by flea, art by rabbit

i got lost

It felt like it took forever, because it did.

Lazare does not take the darling Bea home in the most straightforward path; non, they take the long, nonsensical way home. Weaving back and forth, crisscrossing across the neutral lands until finally the red cliffs rise above them. It's not a decision made from cruelty, though: if someone really was following @Bea, then lazare did not want to lead them straight home. Wolfbron might enjoy the grubhub delivery right to their door but lazare did not want to risk it just yet.

She did not want to risk her yet.

Bea stumbles and Lazare stumbles with her -- it's a good thing that the lilac girl is slight, lest she knock them both over. A growl-purr rumbles from her throat even as she braces herself a little better, holding up her new friend with ease -- delayed ease. Even when bea rights herself Lazare follows, keeping her bony elbow shoved into bea's side -- a way to hold tight, since their paws are terribly occupied.

Oui, yes! She says, accent thick over even the common. Surely @Bea could learn both -- and lazare could learn whatever tongue it was that Bea spoke. It was like a melody, in a way that almost didn't make sense. She liked it. this is your -- our -- home. Wolfbron Bluffs. Finally withdrawing from the girl's side, lazare dances ahead a step or two, twirling on mottled paws to face the girl. A bright, beaming grin to welcome her officially to the bluffs -- to her home.

We'll find a den to share! Just for us. She says, all but vibrating in delight. They'd have sleepovers and braid each other's hair, and gossip. about.... everything! And speaking of: We'll do that now, so you can rest! The sooner Bea goes to sleep the sooner she dreams and the sooner she dreams, the waking kind that lazare is more familiar with. Girlish glee hisses from her throat, a squeal of happiness -- surely leaving no room for for bea's anxiety.

for days and days

code by anyu

MAKE PEACE WITH

YOUR BROKEN PIECES

The exhaustion snakes through her bones, rendering her just about useless as she leans into @Lazare, mismatched gaze glancing around her as she would take in the treacherous height of the land she found herself in. Oui, yes! this is your -- our -- home. Wolfbron Bluffs. Her long ears tip forward, tickling Lazare's neck in the process, before her mistress is skipping ahead with obvious glee in her steps. Bea does her best to offer her lady the most grateful of smiles, her eyes shining with the first hint of optimism in days. We'll find a den to share! Just for us. We'll do that now, so you can rest! Her excitement fueled Bea with newfound energy and the dainty elf would take a few steps closer to her lady. She is happy for this new life, but hesitant. The excitement dims slightly when she turns her attention back to Lazare, the question that buzzed on her tongue finally finding it's way forward. "Indóme tye chain me?" Her doe-eyes look a bit watery as she waits for her response. When she is met with a small reprieve of silence she glances down at her thin forelegs, her wrists where shackles were held previously. She could still feel the absence of their weight, the thinner fur there evidence to her life past. "Chains?" She would ask her again, keep it simple Bea. Her long ears flatten lightly, tail curling against her hindlegs in uncertainty. She would not deny anything that Lazare wanted, for she was hers to mold. But Bea did not want to be restrained, she meant only to worship with freedom to move and breathe.

---

*Will you chain me?

code by flea, art by rabbit

i got lost

Oh, she can feel the girl at her side flagging.

It's an easy thing to note; it's even easier to brush past. After all, they're home! There's only just a little further to go. She lures the girl forward by widening her smile, brightening her mottled features. Just a few more steps, little bénie. Maybe even a few more...

But then, @Bea stops.

Lazare's features shift, flipping on a dime. That girlish glee fades to nothing, replaced instantly by concern. it's ill-suited for her but she leans into it -- physically leans forward, as if that will somehow help. Her gaze follows bea's, and only once her pale eyes catch sight of the strange markings upon the girl's ankles does it click. They're not natural markings, nor are they scars -- but they catch lazares attention regardless.

It's rude to stare.

It's rude that someone hurt her friend.

Non -- no. She says, her voice sharp and it cracks like a whip. Pale eyes alight like lightning, and when she takes a step towards bea her features are pinched. No one will hurt you here. And she must believe it -- lazare is many things, but she's not a liar. Bea smells like her, and she'll do her best to keep her siblings away from her; the girl was hers, and she was loathe to share. I'll make sure of it. As she speaks, she reaches a paw out towards bea's -- intent on taking the girls hand in her own, and linking their fingers together.

Pinky promise.

Cross her heart and hope to die.

for days and days

code by anyu

MAKE PEACE WITH

YOUR BROKEN PIECES

non -- no. Her words cause her to flinch involuntarily, large doe eyes locking onto @Lazare but there is no fear there, only adoration. No one will hurt you here. I'll make sure of it. She can feel her own hands trembling as the fellow yearling reaches out, interlocking their fingers and pulling her in close. Bea for the first time in a very long time feels the slightest sense of comfort. "Thank tye." She all but whispers as she leans into Lazare, allowing her much smaller body to sink against the chest of her new mistress. The exhaustion is quick to creep back in and she lets out a soft sigh, finally taking a few light steps forward and further into the bluffs. She wondered then if they would find a den upon one of the high up cliffs, or if there would be some underground cavern nearby. Her imagination wandered but she did not voice her thoughts and instead cast her gaze upon the girl that would lead her. "Where care- emme linne-?" She asks her then, "Go." She redirects, already establishing that if she wants to remain within her new master's good graces she would have to work harder at the common tongue. Bea was just thankful that no chains would be required, and at the very mention of Lazare keeping her 'safe' her own heart would pound even harder in her chest. There is a warmth that moves through her, enough to send butterflies flipping through her stomach, and she settles into that feeling. Already deciding that she likes that far better than the fear she had become so accustomed to.

---

¹ Tye - you
² Where do we go?

code by flea, art by rabbit

i got lost

Her long, skinny tail flicks in consideration. Truthfully she's never had power, not over another. It'd be so easy to say anything, wouldn't it? Fortunately there is no malice in her heart, nor cruelty -- not for darling little @Bea. Even if the rush of power makes her feel sick, in the very best way.

Back to the matter at hand, though. Wolfbron is a mess of game trails and dizzying paths; fortunately, lazare knows most of it like the back of her hand. And at least half that knowledge was real. this way! She says, urging Bea along. Just a bit further, until they're at the perfect spot.

The den is dug into the bluffs themselves, accessible only by a small, easily missed trail as it branches off from the main path. The trail is windy as it curves down, depositing them at the mouth of a den -- quiet and far too large for just the two of them. Perfect. What do you think? Lazare says, gesturing for the little lilac lioness to go and investigate should she chose. We can, ah, make it pretty later! It was terribly barren right now, but it was theirs.

for days and days

code by anyu

MAKE PEACE WITH

YOUR BROKEN PIECES

This way! @Lazare urges in a sing-song voice and Bea takes a few tentative steps forward. Onward, just a little further. Though her legs were weak and trembled she would continue to follow Lazare dutifully as they wound downward. Perhaps part of her was relieved that they would not be up high, where the risk of falling was surely tenfold. The trail they take branches off and away from the main path, curling downward and in onto itself. It is tucked away, hidden. Bea hesitates outside the mouth of this new den, her mismatched gaze watching the shadows before her. We can, ah, make it pretty later! Lazare speaks and her voice echos through the large cavern. The elf takes a few tired steps forward, she is sheathed by darkness and her eyes quickly adjust. Truthfully, she did better in the dark, it was what her body was most accustomed to. But the dark held secrets and memories from a time past; a time that Bea wished to never remember.

Pretty. They would make it pretty. She was not sure what that meant but she would do whatever was required of her to ensure that Lazare was satisfied. "Okay." Her voice is timid and though it is quiet she can still hear it bounce off the walls around her. Dainty haunches are pulled beneath her to sit prim and proper as she finally turns her attention back to Lazare, curiosity bubbling through her but disciplined behaviors warped her mind. She did not voice a single question. Did not move or hardly breathe, she could not afford to speak out of line or out of motion. She would offer a small smile as her long ears laid themselves against her skull, fingers laced together anxiously as she waits quietly for what was to come next.

code by flea, art by rabbit

i got lost

The little elf still seems apprehensive and were Lazare any other girl, she might take offense.

But here she simply smiles through the slight, pressing close to her new friend. Curling her larger frame around her gently, the fur along their sides brushing together. You can rest, now. She says, her voice a soft lilt to fill the rest of their den. A crooning little melody meant just for @Bea, for this wonderful friendship Lazare is crafting. See? Look how nice she was. She'd fed Bea, brought her home, and gave her a nice bed to sleep on. The mottled princess beams, pleased as punch with herself, but she knows it's not enough.

Not yet.

I will stay, while you sleep. No one will hurt you. If it's a lie, then at least it's a pretty one. Paired with shining eyes the size of the moon that reflect the light outside in a dizzying array. Like a cartoon snake trying to hypnotize its prey, but lazare's smile is so soft and cotton candy sweet -- that just can't be the case! Gently, oh so gently, she nudges her shoulder into her companions, bopping the top of her skull there too. A sweet little embrace, before bedtime.

for days and days

code by anyu

MAKE PEACE WITH

YOUR BROKEN PIECES

You can rest, now. I will stay, while you sleep. No one will hurt you. @Lazare's comforting words immediately move Bea into a state of relaxation. Couple that with the shoulder boop and the head nudge she was basically purring against her. The warmth provided by her companion was enough to get her to settle on the den floor, curling up into a tight little ball both to protect herself and keep herself warm. She had never known what it was like to have a family, but she felt like Lazare could be the closest she'd ever get to having one. Her mismatched gaze shines up at her, grateful for this guardian who had taken her in under her wing. Unaware of the shark that lurked beneath the surface. Blissfully, unaware.

exit.

code by flea, art by rabbit