There was nothing she could do to hide the injuries she had ultimately suffered from the fall of the Cove, but the Greyflood had done her best to hide the internal damage from her family at least.

She had remained stoic when leaving the brutal scene in the Lagoon to find Sokanon and her youngest children, clinging to a brave face as she reunited with them and tried to get them excited to make their big move to the Brook. But anyone who knew her better couldn't see her hold was tenuous and exhausted. She found herself wanting little more than to be held while she cried once she knew her children were safely beyond the borders.

It had been a painful journey but Morrigan did her best to hide her limp and the way it hurt to speak when the girls asked their questions, her cracked ribs protesting every time. When Morrigan reached the border of the Brook, she sent out a call for Talisa first, and then Khal and anyone else who might need to be updated. She noticed the fresh scents of others who did not belong and it set the fur along her spine on end, but Aquila's markers were strong and fresh and kept her from being too much on her guard at least.

---

@Sokanon, @Talisa, @Bronn, @Aquila, @Nymeria, @Isla ♔, @Yavanna, @Yennefer are all welcome <3

coding by ferus, art by scarf

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

The recent events had renewed Aquila's heightened fervor and protectiveness of the borders. He left less frequently again (surely much to the joy of the healers and anyone concerned for his own wounds) but took plenty of time to check the borders and do what he could to sure them up. Like it had ever helped ....

The batteworn lion was taking his time on the patrol, not rushing himself along and favoring his right front leg. Each step felt a little painful or numb, it alternated, and sometimes his senses left him. Morrigan's call was like a tickle in the back of his head at first and it sounded much further away than it actually was. It echoed, pierced through the veil of whatever thought he was lost in and began to drag him back to a plane of awareness. Someone's here. His brain sang, a sweet voice. He began to trek that way.

Morrigan's presence became assured as he recongized and placed the voice, recoginzed the scent that came with her but... it was different... He arrived pleased to see her (and whomever ends up being at her side) but inherently worried. Seeing her did nothing to soothe his feelings. She looked worse than he. "Morrigan..." He mumbled her name remorsefully, bittersweet sorrow.

ART BY RABS , CODE BY LARS

More and more things were beginning to scare her but even more frightening than that, was that they were changing her. Every bone in her body and every fiber of her being were being altered with every second of the days that passed. Fear was a powerful motivator and times, while in other instances it crumpled her like an autumn leaf. While she had so very little training and gravitasse, Talisa Valour was feeling even more insistant that she needed to know how to fight. She needed to hone some kind of skill to protect and take care of those around her. She was still young and had much to learn but she was prepared for it.

The new children that she had growing (and would soon birth) were a good part of this solid decision. These children scared her but not by who or where they came from, but because of the young boy that she had lost in what seems like yesterday. Scared that one of them (or all of them) would die the same way and Talisa did not feel mentally, emotionally or physically capable of handling that again. So when @Morrigan arrived and called for her, those troubles were willed away even just for a moment. Shaking her head and rising from her den as she went to venture towards the call though the second she smelled blood, it all changed.

As fast as a heavily pregnant woman could, she did. Needing to get to the scene quicker and faster than she was but her legs wouldn't allow it. All it took was seeing the disheveled appearance of her wife to know that something was wrong. What happened? Her eyes roamed quickly over all of the children that were present and accounted for, hardly remembering to give @Aquila a momentary glance but she eventually did. Fearing for the absolute worst of the situation, Talisa looked back over the children and counted them over and over again in the silence. Eventually taking it as best she could in the strides she was given so that she could reach her nose forward to her wife's. I can fix this, at least emotionally she could. Nymeria would have to help with the wounds but she could at least ease her wife's internal damage.

^{TABLE MANIP BY MONO, CODING BY DUSK}

Bronn was hot on @Morrigan's heels, after everything he didn't want to let her out of his sight. It didn't feel good seeing Morrigan in the position that she was in and part of him couldn't help but think maybe if he had come back sooner all of this could have been avoided. But that was a thought for another day, he trailed along behind her, letting her take the lead on this. He was there to catch her if she needed him but for the time being he kept the distance respectful. He didn't want to throw himself at her, she had been through so much already. Trailing along behind her it didn't take long before they were on the borders of the Brook. Back before he had left, they had had plans to come here and introduce him properly to everyone, to the extended family that he would adopt, but alas things had gone awry. He wished he could go back in time, but he couldn't, and so now things would have to go a bit differently. Though he held back he waited patiently as Morrigan called out, and soon enough they would be greeted by @Aquila and then @Talisa. What happened? The heavily pregnant woman would ask and Bronn could only assume that this had to be Morrigan's wife by the way that she spoke, voice pitched with concern and worry. "There was an accident when she was helping others escape the Cove, she'll be alright it will just take some time.. And rest. He answered, hoping that Morrigan wouldn't mind him doing it. He could only imagine how her ribs felt, hell he had been there before and a cracked rib or two wasn't exactly a good time. He shot a glance towards the woman, more in love with her now than ever. She had exhibited the very definition of strength and here she stood, still forging onward despite her injuries. He paused then, allowing the information to settle before he would speak again, "I'm Bronn. Pleasure to meet you both." He offered then with a nod of his head.

code by javs

THE WIND IN MY HAIR, IT SINGS MY SONG

She trailed behind @Morrigan and the kids, tailing them from a bit of distance for no other reason than her normal scouting self. The gash above her eye had scabbed over and become nothing more than an irritating itch that she willed herself not to scratch. By the time she arrived to the borders of the brook there were already many gathered. Silently, she moved to the flank of her sister, but stayed placed behind her a couple feet.

Honey gold eyes flicked between the other faces that she didn't recognize. She remained wordless as they questioned the events, passing a glance to the kids. There was hope that they wouldn't remember such disarray once they were much older, but who knew. While they spoke she looked at the features of the brook that surrounded them. It was much different than the cove, but neither a good or bad way. Simply an observation. Over the years Soka has managed to adapt to live in various terrains. If they chose to settle here, this would be no different. As long as she was with her family she didn't care. Silent as a shadow she remained.

@Aquila was the first to find her and her small entourage of loved ones, the tone in his voice sending a shiver of finality through the Greyflood woman. A realization sent home that she was a rogue for the first time since entering these lands and entirely at the mercy of someone else. More worrisome were the fresh wounds marking the Valour man. Before she could question his own wounds, @Talisa was there and taking Morrigan's full attention and her eyes widened at the round belly. How much must your pride insist you miss out on? It was suddenly her father's voice in her ear, for once drowning out the fire of her mother.

Overcome, Morrigan was grateful for @Bronn interceding on her behalf so she would not have the add the burden to explaining how they came to be here.

She would lean heavily into Talisa's touch before she spoke herself, "I've come to be with my wife, if you'll have us Aquila," she stressed the importance of Bronn and @Sokanon remaining with her for as long as they wished, wanted to cling to her family without the burden of leadership for a while. "And I don't intend to leave again unless Talisa is coming with me." It was a promise she should have been able to make a long time ago, but now that she finally had Talisa and here together with their children? She wondered what had taken her so long.

"This is Sokanon, my sister, and Bronn is my mate," she explained the former for the both of Vermeda's leaders and the latter for Aquila.

coding by ferus, art by scarf

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

The pale man's explanation was alarming. His brows lifted up a bit and his pupils widened. He looked back over to Morrigan with renewed alarm and truthfully it sounded like things could have been much more dire than they had been. The fact she was walking at all was an amazement to him. "I am sorry to hear that." He felt a wave of emotions, strong and many but none of them conflicting. "And I'm so glad to see you're still here..." Morrigan had been a reliable constant, especially to the Valour male.

"It's not my decision alone." Aquila said with a look of sternness in his eye, but was doubtful Morrigan meant it such a way. Had it just been her he may not have blinked much at the phrasing or question. But this Bronn and her sister (both of whom were given a good substantial look over from the male Valour) should know what to expect here and expect of Aquila. That he was no ruler that was finite or held the highest rung of power. "And I'm fairly certain no one here is going to oppose. Bronn, Sokanon. Pleased to meet you." He turned away from the two more strange lions and over to his cousin with a more calmed and sure look on his scarred bronze face. And having welcomed them into Vermeda Aquila would not impose on the gathering longer than necessary. Let the immediate family members greet each other and have time without his gruff face amongst them.

They were not unharmed but they were alive, the danger passed meant they needed rest.

/exit

ART BY RABS , CODE BY LARS

Her temper had gotten the better of her when she had first seen her mother, a sharp outburst of a tempest from such a small being, but one that had been building for far too long. Too much had happened, and in the aftermath of the rock slide, Yennefer was left within the haze of confusion, fear, and anger. Cassandra had remained within the Lagoon with all those strange lions while their aunt @Sokanon had started to bring them to the Brook instead of home, but @Morrigan had appeared before they got too far into their journey. The moment the sight of her mother appeared in her tired vision, the faint limp she tried to hide within her proud steps, the little Greyflood could not control her emotions anymore. Her voice had raised sharply in demand to know why she hadn't been with them already before it quavered down into tears, and she was embracing Mama once again without the intention of letting go. As long as Mama was here, everything would be okay in the world again for their small family.

A man had joined them along the way, one Morrigan seemed to know well, but as she had greeted Kvi at Scilla, she showed @Bronn no mercy as well. Though her bristling and hissing had ceased after a while as they traveled towards the Brook, she kept a wary eye on the pale lion while keeping tight to the side of her mother, siblings, and aunt. With Morrigan injured and her family so tired from the ordeal, Yennefer would take her role as protector quite seriously, her weariness gone in the face of this new importance. When she could feel the slight hitch in her mother's step, the girl would attempt to press her small body up against the legs of her mama, trying to give her what support she could. She knew it wasn't much, but she hoped it would at least let her mother know that she would help her in any way she could. It didn't take them long to reach the borders and for them to be greeted, the familiar face of Mummy @Talisa immediately coming into view after the appearance of a strange male. A soft, cub squeak escaped her in greeting, letting Mummy know all was well as she remained steadfast to Morrigan's side like glue, amethyst eyes flitting back to check on her sisters and aunt in worried concern.

(I know it's a quite late reply, but I really did want to toss Yen in here so I hope it's okay ;-;)

_{art by yumpy}

There was a small flicker of something unlike Talisa as a white male came to speak for her wife. She didn't know him and in the moment couldn't immediately connect him to the white knight that @Morrigan had told her about. After all, last that she had heard the male had vanished so knowing that this was the @Bronn was out of the equation. It was a flicker of something that dissipated quickly, brushed over by a slight shake to her body and her breath as she looked to her wife with the only feeling she'd had lately: fear.

I'm so sorry, she murmured quietly, wishing to extend her muzzle again to graze whatever safe spot she could upon her wife's body. Then turning her attention back to the white male as he introduced himself. A thin smile, a rarity these days, shedding light upon the gathering. Poor circumstances to finally be meeting him, she thought to herself. Ultimately wishing she could have officially met him in lighter days. However, her wife's words were enough to truly soothe her very being and it gave her chills and some light tears in her eyes to hear it.

The words shedding the burden of loneliness in her gut. The knowing that her wife would be here now, to help her and to soothe her when she hated herself for hating everything that happened. Though, a small chuckle escaped her lips as she gazed to Bronn, realizing that he was so much more than just that name now. Welcome to the family, she offered him with tight cheeks and a friendly smile. Her forwardness for such occasions wasn't so profound and obvious anymore. The world around her had changed so much since she had first met Morrigan that she hardly had the courage to be so bold.

Though with all the changes that were coming to light in front of her, it was her gaze that swept to @Yennefer that had her eyes truly light up. The cub seemed healthy and obviously quite safe, but Talisa gravitated to her regardless. A long walk you guys must have had. We should get inside, hm? While her eyes and voice spoke almost entirely to Yennefer's direction, it was to the other adults present as well. Like @Sokanon who she had never had the pleasure of meeting personally aside from the meeting but it was hard to look at the woman for longer than a second at most. The familiarities to her disappeared husband was far too striking, though she tried her hardest to not make it super obvious.

^{TABLE MANIP BY MONO, CODING BY DUSK}

"Thank you, Aquila." As the Vermedan High Sovereign would turn to leave the reunited family to their reunion, the three short words didn't feel like enough for the gratitude she had for him and everything he'd been willing to sacrifice for his family. When @Talisa shared her condolences for the fall of Morrigan's reign, something about it felt like the final nail in the coffin and if she'd had any hope of holding back the suddenly choked feeling they were dashed at her wife's emotional yet subdued response to the Greyflood's vow to stay with her. She was quick then to lean into Talisa's sorely missed touch and would let those around her make their introductions before speaking again, mismatched eyes shining brightly. "Let's get everyone settled then," she would say rather thickly through her emotion and the physical pain that was becoming harder to ignore the more relaxed and safe she was beginning to feel. At least compared to the last few hours. exit morrigan

table by ferus, art by grav3wolf