Ooc: For those coming out of IS.

Hanneth moved with @Talisa, @Fearne, and the others that left the Summit with them. Her pace was slow and she stayed quiet. No words could heal the wound that her friend was likely suffering from the most. She was heading toward the Plains but she could tell that Talisa was growing weaker, the adrenaline wearing off quickly. Let's rest here. She spoke softly as she came to a stop and looked around. They were in the Glade. Not to far from the Plains but she didn't want to push any of them. There is nothing I can say to make this better but know, I understand fully. I am here for you. Hanneth hadn't managed to grab any herbs but she was sure that other would, she looked up and around to see who had come with them, for her own family and Talisa 's.

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There was only the truth and that was that she was beaten, as well as broken. Every part of her being was hurt and perhaps it was the sting of absolute failure that pained her the most. Talisa knew that no one would blame her or be angry at her, truly. Not anyone that mattered, anyways, and yet she could not help but feel like she had failed them all. Despite the fact that she kept telling herself that if Morrigan had ended up fighting, they would not have stood a chance at all but at least with her having fought it was a fairer fight. It didn't lessen the sting of defeat, though.

Eventually Talisa's vision started to get cloudy and her other legs were burdened with the weight and she shifted. Nearly toppling forward despite the consistent help that she given to move and was more than thankful that @Hanneth made the decision to stop and rest. Talisa ceremoniously slumped to the ground, a wince of pain traveling through her body as she moved and kept her right side angled towards the sky and away from the dirt.

Eyes squinted shut as her breathing held ragged, hoping that @Morrigan was following her because she needed her. How her soldier could ever do this over and over again was beyond her but what she knew now was that she didn't feel like even being awake right now. Talisa begged for sleep, for comfort away from her aching feelings of unworthiness. Where no hurt could reach her in her dreams but as an experienced woman, she knew that sleeping while having such a distinctive injury would not be so wise so she fought it.

ART • CODE

His family has been beaten down. Over and over. And so far he's been able to do nothing but witness. It is the way of things, or so they say. Just as they kill prey for their own survival so do lions best each other. And for most lions, Fearne could manage to turn his eye elsewhere. To avoid the hurt, knowing eventually things would pass and they'd crescendo again. But when it came to his mothers? Every pain they suffered brought back horrid memories. Morrigan fighting, the sounds of Talisa's screams as Orei pushes him away... they're still so bright.

The young lion walks up besides where Talisa slumps down. He leans down near to her, his tongue feverishly beginning to groom and care for every cut and every bruise upon the great lioness's body. He is without wound himself but still he winces with every new one he finds to care for. "I love you Mama." He nudges his nose up behind @Talisa's ear and he stays close, hovering protectively and out of pure worry. He's seen both of his mothers fall in hard battles. Morrigan had gotten up. He... he isn't so sure that Talisa is strong enough to do the same.

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

He would follow the group in the descent from the Summit, moving among them to offer Talisa a shoulder if she needed it, but otherwise remaining quietly proud of her. The kind female that directed them- he did not personally know, but he respected her as well, content to follow them down the side of the mountain. There is not longing look for the Summit, his eyes are fixed upon her wanting to ensure that she is okay, that her wounds are to be treated. Only after @Fearne speaks to her, does Eskel rumble soft words.

"You are such a badass." He whispers, affectionately. "I am so proud of you." His words are soft, spoken for her as he looks from @Talisa to @Hanneth. "Are you a healer? Can I fetch anything to help her?" He asked, his paws itching to put him to work, to do something physical -- to do anything to help her. Did she need a drink? Food? Herbs? Whatever it was, he'd do it.

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Inevitability or not, it still hurt as much as dying had. Like a part of herself had been ripped from her chest and taken from her. Not anything so fickle as a crown, no, but the Summit itself. Her home where she had birthed the babes borne of her oldest friendship, the ones her enemies tried to take from her. Where she and @Talisa had raised their own blessed babes in happier days since. And bad days, yes, but like broken bones those had always healed them for the stronger. Morrigan did not feel broken today. She felt as hollow as the socket on her face.

She would be the last of them to arrive, having sought solitude on her slow march down from Illyria, having waited to assure those who left did so in peace. As she approached the group she was glad to see both @Fearne and @Eskel at Talisa's side, and Morrigan looked first to Hanneth, "Thank you, Hanneth. For your whole family, your loyalty... for everything." Then her focus shifted on the true hero of the story, her beautiful, wonderful, sometimes terrifying in the best way wife. "Talisa," she began gently as she bent to meet those beautiful lilac eyes.

"You are my fucking hero, you know that?" she said vehemently with a smile, but there were tears in her remaining eye. "And you have always and will always be my Queen. The laws of the living can't change that." Morrigan looked to Eskel again with gratefulness that he was already seeking out aid for her wounds, and to Fearne she simply watches with a tender look as their youngest tends to her wounds in the way he can. "We can rest here safely for a while if she needs," she says to Hanneth, "We're among friends in this place. @Gareth, @Nymeria, @Cordi, @Daario," she stresses the last name for Talisa especially.

"Can't you feel them, my love? They are all here for you, always have been. You can rest here."

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She trailed along, respectfully keeping a distance between herself and the gathered family unit because it wasn't her place to intervene. She wasn't a healer, after all. But she too was quite impressed with Talisa's showing. It had been a good fight, and while it was unfortunate that the other woman had proven to be stronger, it wasn't for lack of trying on their sovereign's part. Could have gone either way, really.

She was more preoccupied with looking behind them, waiting for her parents to arrive, and thankfully her mother seemed to be hot on their heels as she came in mere minutes later. Which was equally impressive given her shorter stride and the lead time they'd had on her from when Roan had to go collect her.

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS AND EDITED BY ZENA

The snow falls soft

drawing the world down to a whitened hush, forcing us to pause long enough to take stock of everything that we miss in our crazed pursuit to gain everything that we can. One would say she is a woman who wears a gown of winter frost that blinds the eyes.

It hadn't been ideal, having @Roan arrive at their den and inform her that they needed to pack up and go. It certainly hadn't been the news she expected to receive. But, luckily, she had been packing up a bundle of herbs just in case of that very result, and so it was simple enough for her to grab it and head out, though she was loathe to leave the mountain and their den behind. They'd lived there for so long, after all. Part of her had hoped to be able to die on that mountain, so like their old homes. Ah well, in the end it wasn't where you lived that was important.

She caught up to the gathering in the glade, moving past her daughter to join the larger group, plopping the bundle of herbs at her paws as she joined @Hanneth. We can help with your wounds, she said softly to @Talisa, with a warm smile, unaware that @Eskel had just asked that of Hanneth since she was coming in a little late to the party. Blame her little leggies.

It is growing cold

code by corvus

THERE'S A DEAD CANARY IN THE COAL MINES
Well that had been a hike. She knew it would be, because going down the mountain in winter always was. It was why she didn't do it often this time of year. But she felt sad doing it now, because this might well be the last time. It also took a while because they had to corral little cubs with them, but at least she had @Jazz to help with that. Which was good because some of them were quite big despite their young age and while she didn't mind giving them all a ride down the mountain it really wasn't ideal. Much easier for her larger brother to do so.

Don't run off, she instructed firmly when they reached the glade and everyone had gathered to rest for a bit. She just knew she'd immediately lose track of them in the tall grasses if they did.

Probably best to wait for their fathers here, she thought. No doubt they would follow the trail of lions down the mountain to this same place once they were done gnawing on whoever that one guy had been.

Oh, look what I found, she said brightly, knowing she had to keep the little ones occupied and distracted. There was a mostly round rock partially buried in the dirt nearby, and she went and unearthed it, bringing it back to them. Watch this, she said, giving it a little nudge and letting it roll down the slope like a ball.

@Benjamin @Petyre @Aikaterini

_{ART BY SPU · CODE BY DEE}

Orei Saxe

He followed respectfully behind @Fearne and his mother, not wanting to intrude but refusing to leave Fearne. He sticks to the outside of the gathering, dual toned eyes weary of everyone that appears. The scent of Illyria is heavy, but now it will begin to slowly fade from their pelts. He hates it. Hates that Fearne and his family are having to go through this. Losing your home was like losing a part of yourself. Orei had lost his home long ago, and still it held room in the back of his mind.

For now, he would say nothing, do nothing, but sit and watch. He would seek Fearne out once things had settled down, and they knew Talisa would be healed. Some of the rouges that had appeared seemed to be Healers, eager to aid the fallen Queen. They had strength in numbers and allies to lean on, they would not stay down for long.

"Speech."

code by corvus, art by rabbit

Petyre Kriger-Latsym

set a course for brighter days

ooc:

Petyre was more jumping to keep up with her older siblings than she was walking, her little legs were finding it hard to keep up with theirs. And it was about half way that Benjamin had awoken to find himself swinging in Jazz's maw by his scruff. And it was about that time when he started to vocally complain about having to go see their dads and make sure they didn’t lose track of them.

Petyre would put her trust in the adults around her however and looked to @Aikaterini with a worried but hopeful smile. Moving to nudge her sister seeking comfort in her. They arrived to the rest of the adults gathering and she frowned now. Why was the scent of blood so strong? It stunk!

Nose wrinkled while she moved towards @Sariel 's legs to press up against them. Watching the dirt covered rock roll down the hill she was partly enticed but was too worried to go for it. “Where is papas?” she asked her siblings confused.


"talk"

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