This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of inebriation and attempted suicide/dark thoughts Time was a fickle beast, one that felt all consuming. Sunder had been adrift for awhile now, lost in a sea of anger and bitterness. Time and again she had thrown herself into her duties as Queen. Her blood, sweat, and tears had been poured upon this very beach. Though it had been easy to slip back into her role of complacency, a role that she had played years ago as nothing more than a servant, bitterness crept up inside her. It became an all consuming fire. And the only thing she knew to do, was to squash those feelings at the slightest turn. It was midday as she strolled across the beach, the wind howling in her delicately flopped ears as she staggered once before planting her haunches firmly beneath her. If one would get close enough, the smell of ripe Mango along with a few other herbs still lingered on her lips. She looked disheveled, in a wild and untamed way. The wind caressed her face as she sat, icy stare fixated on the distant ocean. Come to me. It had lured to her, it's whispers beckoning her forward. For a long while she sat, until the sun made it's slow decent. It was then that she moved forward, her steps weaving as she trudged through the sand. She plunged into the cool depths, until the water lapped against her chest. She wasn't the tallest of women, and she knew how easy it would be. Perhaps if she hadn't been inebriated, this wouldn't have occurred to her. But she had become a shell. And this anger, it festered within her. It was a beast she did not wish to release upon anyone. Her daughters, her precious daughters, would continue on. They would not forget her and the lessons she had taught. Would they think her selfish? Would they hate her entirely? Silence. She begged, until the ocean began to grow hostile. It matched her energy, until one of the nearest waves toppled her head over heel. She was thrust under, the water burning in her lungs. She fought for a few kicks, her water-logged head bursting out of the water before being submerged again. And this time when the seawater filled her lungs, she did not fight. She coughed and sputtered, bubbles pooling to the surface. She was nothing, she felt nothing. It was easier this way. Note: Sunder may be powerplayed if chosen, see to this as you see fit! @Zabrina @Kvare @Lagertha

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This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of another's inebriation & attempted suicide by another character

Zabrina had been wandering around the Cove, searching for herbs and some stuff she could use to make her teas that she'd been starting to enjoy to help her soothe her mind before she went to sleep. She hadn't seen much of Sunder since the lioness had taken a step back from her position as Queen, even if Zabrina herself will only ever see Sunder and Kvare as the true rulers of the Cove. Anyone else in the position was merely a stand-in. The wind howled through the cove as it had the other night when she's spoken to Kvare about the situation with why he felt like Sunder hated him lately, and she thought she was mistaken when the smell of Sunder mixed with some other things blew her way.

Lifting her head to trace the scent, she spotted the floppy eared queen staggering along the ocean's edge. Taking a step in Sunder's direction, the chimera wasn't sure if the queen was okay at all. She studied her for a moment at a distance, and when she spotted the smaller lioness plunge herself into the waves, and didn't see her resurface after a short time, she immediately raced to the water herself. No mind was given to her own safety, her only intent was to make sure that Sunder was going to be okay. Spotting the bubbles coming from the surface, Zabrina would dive under the water to grab the smaller woman's scruff. Paddling strongly to the surface, the chimera fought the memories she had of her own encounters with the water the last time she found herself in the ocean. Steeling her mind, Zabrina pushed any of her own fears out of the way. Her only concern was Sunder at the moment, and she would do whatever she could to keep the floppy eared lioness alive and well.

Pulling the brown lioness out onto the shore, Zabrina would allow herself a moment to heave from the exertion of dragging her to the shoreline. After a moment of catching her breath, and would immediately start tending to Sunder. She didn't have any herbs near her, but she knew the first thing to do would be to get the water out of Sunder's lungs. Rolling her over onto her stomach, Zabrina would start to apply some light pressure to the lioness's back in an attempt to start getting the water out of Sunder's lungs. "Nu mă lăsa iubire. Încă ești nevoie de tine aici.*" A soft mutter would escape her in Romanian, in her concern swapping over to her native tongue. Her head would lift, immediately looking for anyone else around who could bring her something.

Sending a call out for @Kvare and @Lagertha, Zabrina would continue her efforts to massage Sunder's back to make sure the lioness would have no more water remaining in her lungs. "Încă mai ești nevoie. Lumea asta nu s-a terminat încă cu tine.**" The chimera would continue to murmur as she did what she could to keep the Queen with them.

*Nu mă lăsa iubire. Încă ești nevoie de tine aici - Don't leave me love. You are still needed here.
**Încă mai ești nevoie. Lumea asta nu s-a terminat încă cu tine. - You are still needed. This world isn't done with you yet.
"She starred in one of the ones that became nothing."

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This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of inebriation and attempted suicide - Sunder's innermost thoughts while unconscious - The icy depths of the ocean had enveloped her, had sunk its claws deep into her chest, even as she gasped and tried to ascend to the surface, her legs were far too weak, and her body felt deflated. She had stared wide-eyed at the surface of the water, immediate regret rushing through her entirety. Eventually there was a wall of darkness that overcame her. It was an odd place to be in, especially considering she could see @Zabrina fighting the waves and pulling her waterlogged body from the depths. She stared, her head cocked slightly to the side, floppy-ears preened forward and draping her face. Her body was lifeless, her sides gaunt and motionless. Again, she watched as Zabrina patted her on her back, fighting to get the water out of her lungs. Fighting to give her air. "Don't leave me love. You are still needed here." The words drifted around her, like a soft sweet melody. She could feel the warmth behind them, could feel the desperation in her wife's tone. But Zabrina was so far away, she felt like there was a great distance between them even though she was standing right next to her. I don't know what to do. She wanted to say to Zabrina, wanted to offer her comfort even now, but she couldn't figure out how to go back to her body. Why had she even done this? Had her life really been so bad? Why had she even attempted to do this to begin with? Was it because she was no longer a Queen? Was it because she felt like a failure to each of her partners because she brought nothing else to the table without that title? "You are still needed. This world isn't done with you yet." How many minutes had it been since she took a breath? Breathe, breathe you idiot. She shouted, but no one could hear her. No one could even see that she was right here. That's the problem, you weren't seen anymore. The voice echoed back and she ignored the tears that streamed down her face. Hit me, do something Zabrina! Sunder cried, reaching out to lay a paw on the woman's back but even then, it went right through her. She needed to return to her body, she needed to go back.

art by hush

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of another's inebriation & attempted suicide by another character

A frustrated growl escaped the chimera lioness as @Sunder refused to breathe despite everything she was doing to clear the water from her lungs. Damn her… she couldn’t lose Sunder now. not when she’d begun to realize her feelings for the floppy eared lioness. No matter what rank the lioness held, she would always see Sunder as a Queen. Because that was what she was. She was strong, beautiful and regal. But she was also powerful, more cunning and sharp of wit than she realized. And it was from spending time with her since she had washed up on the shores that she had realized just how much her feelings had grown for Sunder.

And she wouldn’t lose her today.

Not if she had anything to say about it. "Respiră, la naiba, Sunder.*" Zabrina growled as she aimed to light smack Sunder’s back. She had to get the water out of Sunder’s lungs. She would not lose her now. Not when she knew how to save her, and could do it. Another smack to Sunder’s back, gentle but hard at the same time. And then more hushed words. "Respira, te rog... Nu te pot pierde azi.**" Zabrina said, choking on her words as she spoke. She had faced her own fears of the ocean to rescue Sunder from its depths. She’d be damned if she’d lose her to the waves that had nearly taken her from this land back then. "Nu te pot pierde... nu doar când am învățat că te iubesc...***" She didn’t even realize the words had left her muzzle until they’d been spoken. Another smack to Sunder’s back.. and a soft sob would escape the chimera as she aimed to press her head against Sunder’s. "Please… you cannot leave me.." She said, her words hushed and broken by sobs as she spoke.

* Respiră, la naiba, Sunder. - Breathe, dammit, Sunder.
** Respira, te rog... Nu te pot pierde azi. - Breathe, please... I cannot lose you this day.
*** I cannot lose you... not when I have only learned that I love you... - Nu te pot pierde... nu doar când am învățat că te iubesc...
"She starred in one of the ones that became nothing."

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