#howlingstorminside

    "Hey, Elsa,” Anna said, strolling into her sister’s study. A warm breeze drifted in through the open window, and she sighed contentedly. Summer had arrived in Arendelle at last, and Anna couldn’t have been happier.

     “I received your message, Frostbite.” Those were the words with which he greeted her. Nothing to show for the steadily growing feelings that he subconsciously but inefficiently repressed, no heartfelt exchange of ‘how’s it going?’ or ‘hope you’ve been well’. This wasn’t the time, and if Kaldur’ahm was known for anything in particular, it would be his dedication to a mission. He was a leader, and a good one at that, but his social needs… well, let’s just say he was repressing those feelings subconsciously for a reason. Still, there was no denying at this point that his previous missions with Frostbite had been exceptionally enjoyable. So much so, actually, that seeing her again ( albeit to aid her in defeating a villain ) slightly sped up his heartbeat.

A normal day of exploring a new location. At least, that’s what it was supposed to be, when the tamaranean had left Jump City and her friends to travel yet again. Things got a lot worse all of a sudden though, as Blackfire had found her on her travelling and attacked her in the air. The fight was taking place above the clouds for a while, which was good since it meant less danger for other people, but Starfire knew the fight wasn’t going to end well for her and so she had eventually tried to alarm her friends through the communicator. Of course, her sister knew of that device, and didn’t hesitate for a moment to attack the younger tamaranean full-on once she tried to reach for it, with enough strength that sent Starfire straight down towards earth.

If there’d have been water down below, this might have gotten even worse, so in a way she was glad to crash into the ground and leave a big dent behind in the asphalt. Starfire was beginning to feel pain and exhaustion already, and the outlook for this fight wasn’t exactly a good one for her, but now was not the time to take a break. Blackfire would need a few moments to locate her sister, but not very long. A glance around told the tamaranean that she wasn’t in the middle of a city, rather on an outer area - good. It meant less risk for any civilians. However, she then spotted a person nearby; it was hard to tell if they came here because of the crash or they had been here before already; and as there was little to no time to spare, Starfire immediately approached the girl, slightly avoiding pressure on her left leg and holding her right arm with the other. As much as she would wish for a different meeting with someone new, she couldn’t risk wasting time with a nice introduction, so she looked rather serious which was a rarity for her first encounters with someone.

    “You have come a long way since first you arrived at Skyhold, Elsa.” His words wove through the air calm, SMOOTH, and matter-of-fact in the tone presented, if not evidence of INTRIGUE palpable. Seldom had the two spoken in the months passed, widely due to the other apostate’s TREPIDATION a prison from which only her own tenacity could free her. But gossip, like a fire inflicting devastation if not held in CONTROL, spread fast through the ranks. Her progress under the instruction of their own Herald traveled in hushed murmurs--and those a lot less FEARFUL than before.

    She was no longer as large of a THREAT, fingers now deft in the icy crystals they conjured. How the mass presumed a SKILLED mage less dangerous than one lacking, Solas was nearly TICKLED to ponder. But now she was ACCEPTED. Rather, as well as one with magical talent could be to those with small enough minds to abhor every sense of the word.

    Stormy eyes peering out at the weather to MATCH--that which he could see through the tent’s opening--the elven apostate proceeded to speak. “Our Inquisitor has given you proper instruction, and yet his teachings have not SCULPTED you to replicate him; you’ve more GRACE than I had anticipated.” An officer wandered past in his direct line of sight, across the camp in which they had settled. Solas found the BLUES of his companion’s gaze again.

    Now more than ever, the distinct rhythm of footsteps GRATED on nerves already wound tight. The intrusion came slow--he would say TENTATIVE--and yet not enough so that he consciously recognized a lack of familiarity in demeanor: an obvious absence of the strong and unyielding air that carried the Seeker who he presumed to have come to GROWL at him again.

    In the right mind, the commander would have noticed it, and thus turned to ascertain the presence before unleashing the biting remark niggling at the tip of his tongue. But he remained. Back turned toward the door still gaped from Cassandra’s retreat. And the sole motivation behind the minimal angling of his chin was to be better HEARD over his shoulder.

    “If you wish for me to CHANGE MY MIND, you’re going to have to wait longer than a few minutes,” he advised, his tone like a sharpened BLADE. “Could you have the decency to close the--” Finally, he pivoted--brows stitched, lips twitching disapprovingly--to brace for the ensuing dispute. Only to set shocked eyes on a devastatingly UNEXPECTED guest.

    VICTIM of his burst of irritation.

    “--door.”

    He gave himself--much less HER--little opportunity to grasp the situation: the onslaught of curiosities that would have swarmed every trail of thought regarding the Inquisition’s newest mage all but SWEPT aside by a tarnished greeting. Collecting the composure CRACKED upon her very first step into the office’s gloom, he cleared his throat. Dipped his chin--one would think RESPECTFULLY so.

    “I--forgive me. For the, uh... I had thought you were--” A breath to release the tension eased through his teeth, and Cullen temporarily averted his gaze. “That wasn’t directed at YOU.” And yet, he rued the day when such a SCATHING tone would have been nothing but NATURAL in the face of a mage--particularly that of one FRESH to any sort of discipline.

    To many--to the man he ONCE was--she was nothing but a THREAT. A danger. A MONSTER. But here. Now. In his office. She was--

    What?