This is not where Lexa expected to be. In the span of weeks, everything has changed — violently and dramatically, and it leaves a hole in her, an abyss greater than anything she's ever known. Losing the Rainforest feels minuscule compared to this, compared to the agony of not having Cupid by their side, of not waking up nestled into blonde curls. It still doesn't feel real, and she is little more than a ghost of herself.

The only driving force that keeps her going is what remains of her family. For the sake of their children, for the sake of @Roarke, she cannot crumble now. They need her. The burden of knowledge that she shares with Roarke and @Madelina is a weight that doesn't feel made easier by their shared grief, but they hide it just enough from the little ones to pass off the somber attitude as disappointment about losing their home.

She'll tell them, just... not yet. She'll wait until they're settled here to break that news. One by one, they'd ferried the cubs across the waves to the offshore island where Roarke's crew lives. Now, beneath the rays of a sun that seems too warm, the family waits at Calhoun's border, dripping saltwater into the sands. Lexa presses silently against Roarke's shoulder, as if she can glean her missing strength from him, and for once, she isn't the first one to break the quiet.

high achiever, don't you see? nothing comes for free

table by sentinel / art

Their journey to the Cay where Lexa had said they would be going was done so in quite a bit of silence of the yearling's part. The news of Cupid had hit, though arguably not as hard as it had @Lexa or even @Roarke. The most she knew of Cupid was that he had been there a year ago at the Passage when she had Iskander had showed up. He had been there when Zoticus had taken them into the Bluffs and he had been there at the Bluffs' challenge and had told Lexa to challenge for her if he didn't win.

Madelina had very few memories of him personally but they were strong ones that basically made her feel quite void. The only thing driving her forward was focusing on the attention she needed to give to her younger siblings. Remembering how many there were, which one's might take better to her picking them up and setting them down. Which one's might want to walk themselves when they could, et cetera. Now that they had journeyed across the water and ferried the cubs across, she was exhausted and was just about ready to go hide herself amongst the sand. Anxious about meeting new folks but just as anxious about not being good company.

table by sentinel / lion + forest

rivia

A stroll along the outskirts of their little island brought the dark pirate to happen upon a sight she wasn't sure she'd see. She knew @Roarke and his family were always welcome in their home and she would be lying if she said her gait didn't quicken just a little to get to them. Her eyes found that of @Lexa, flickering between the children, @Madelina and back to the folded eared woman.

Her brows knit a fraction, looking between them with a thread of concern on her face. "It's good to see you guys," Rivia finally spoke as she arrived, looking beyond them a moment to the mainland at their backs. Cupid's absence was noted, but not remarked upon. However, their appearance at the crew's island seemed like it held more weight than a simple visit to meet the kids. "What happened?" she asked, looking between the adults and getting right to the point.

Blood has long dried, turned to scab, by the time Roarke and his small family move from the temporary shelter to find his brother’s crew. He has not yet washed off the excess; he longs for the sting of salt water to cleanse him rather than the tepid water inland.

It can’t be said he cares that he looks like a bloody wreck, appearing behind Lexa and Madelina and the children (bringing up the rear to protect from anything that might want to ambush a small group with so many young in their care). Even though he failed to defend Firnen or protect Cupid, he would still give what is left of his life for his family.

Rivia finds them. The giant lets his gaze settle on her for only a moment, unable to hold it for long. Shame and defeat follows him like the flies that seek to get in the wounds littering his body.

"Firnen fell. Apparently loyalty means little here." Blunt, without detail, Roarke explains. Rivia is smart enough to fill in the gaps, of that he is sure. He sighs, letting out some of the tension in his mutilated shoulders. "Where is my brother?"

if you're lost, then i'll find you "Dìreach an seo," comes the voice of Calhoun as he approaches, having been slower to reach this end of the Cay than Rivia, though his reassurance for @Roarke is swift. They all look more weary than even he had anticipated, with the cubs seemingly half awake at Lexa's paws. He offers a small quirk of his lips to the golden woman and a tip of his chin, halting alongside Rivia. "C'mon, we got a spot set up fer the little ones," he ushers with a gesture of his chin, inviting them in. He has no need for lingering around on the borders when this is his family. The 'keep out' sign on their door never would have applied to them anyway.

code // art // do not use without permission