little oc animation i cooked up as my entry for the band good kid's animation contest over on tiktok/insta. thought I would share it here.

The letter was held in front of her before it eventually left her field of view. With a careless sway of her arm, it slid across the counter while silence filled the room. As did the stillness of her frame while she held her head downward a moment. The memories of her childhood friend threatened to come back into view as she made the association to the letter's would-be author. Out of reflex her hand curled into a fist as it struck against the counter's surface. At first, there was a numbness, then came the gradual sting of pain.

There was much she wanted to say, but she was a creature of habit and repression. Anger would have just made a mess of her apartment and sadness would have driven her to drink. Neither avenues would give her the satisfaction she needed before bed and thus she turned from her seat and made her way upstairs.

Upon arriving in her bedroom, she made for the bed and allowed gravity to guide her down against it. It seemed the comfort of her lavish bed was enough to convince her to lower her guard. But her dreams did nothing to abstain her former thoughts.

...Kal'ren was back.

@kalren-daelish - thanks for the ask :3

The water had been the only sound heard as the pair made their way to Falconwing Square. It was peaceful, which didn't exactly fit the mood considering the task that was to soon be at hand. Her brother Allasticus, despite having an ability to man up at times, was still likely bothered by the outcome of his spar with the Lioness. Yet, before any words could leave her mouth, he instead took the forefront of the conversation to fill the air.

"Where do you see our family going in the future?"

His words cut right to the point, but his inflection suggested he was acknowledging there was some change. Unlike the eternal spring around them, she didn't know what to think exactly. It was true their father had shown some real signs of growth and progress. But as a whole, she didn't know what that meant for their family.

So, she mulled over the question as they walked and didn't offer any sort of answer for a time.

"If you don't have an answer, we could just-"

"No, it's not that." She said as to cut him off from his nerves and give him a moment to ready himself for her answer.

"We can never hope to guess what lies in wait for the future. But, if I was to make a wish for some sort of future..."

She hummed thoughtful as nearby dragonhawks growled overhead. Their large wings caused moving shadows to glide over them as they walked.

"I would want Father to be happy again, first and foremost. And I'd want for Haldir to have an opportunity to retire. Maybe find a place to stay as a permanent resident at the Estate. For you, brother, I'd hope you'd find someone to give you the same love and adoration as Mother. As well as challenge you on the day-by-day basis. And for me... a day that I could just... breathe."

There was obviously more to that than what she had said. But she wasn't about to divulge any of her thoughts about Kal'ren to Allasticus.

"Ah, well - I'd like to see father happy as well. And Haldir retiring, I could certainly see to that."

He smirked a bit at the mention of a woman. "I didn't know you cared so deeply about my love life, sister."

"Love is an incredible thing, sometimes. Makes you give up the world and remember that you have a special place in it. Not to mention, having someone when you feel as if you can't get up again."

Her brother nodded and the placed his hands behind his back, one coming to rest in the other as they strolled. His head lifted to regard the leaves overhead, but he didn't seem to find her future to his liking.

"What about Kal'ren?"

"...He's gone." She replied quickly as a hand rose to her forehead to temper a growing headache. "He made the choice to leave."

@kalren-daelish

Setting: Some centuries before present time...

"You want me to go with you? But what about my brothers?"

Kal'ren looked around her, as if hoping to see either of her brothers appear before her face turned into a scowl.

"Oh, I see how it is; you couldn't find them to ask!" She said raising her voice at him. Quickly, he brought up his arms in an apologetic and frantic manner.

"No, no you got it all wrong, Kelz! I just... figured I'd ask all of you if you wanted to go. It's more fun with all of us, right?" His ears wilted somewhat, and Kelz huffed indignantly.

"That's fine, I didn't wanna go see the dumb Sunwell anyways! Dad's already taken me there once with Mom!"

"R-Really? What was it like? I've only heard that it's a long way to get there and that its just to look at some magical pool."

"I mean... it did take some time to get there," she admitted. "But I rode on my Dad's shoulders cause I have little Lady legs and can't go -that- far. But..."

A coy smirk found its way to her features before she turned away. "I thought you didn't want to go..."

"I do! Just not alone!" Kal'ren interjected swiftly. "So, will you please go with me, Kelz?"

Kelz again mulled it over and then offered her hand to him. "Only if you hold my hand while we go."

Kal'ren stared at the hand and looked a bit horrified for a moment.

"WHAT? IT'S JUST MY HAND!" Kelz squawked.

"Yeah, but you got cooties... Allasticus told me-"

"Allasticus is a dummyhead. He has boogies and cooties. Take my hand or I'm telling Dad and not going!"

"Okay, okay!" Kal'ren snagged her hand and held it firmly. "Happy now?"

"Nope, lose the attitude." She said with a tone of entitlement.

"I'm sorry... Lady Kelz."

"That's more like it," she quipped and eagerly adopted a new tone. "Let's go find Haldir! We can bring some snacks with us, he always knows where the freshest cookies are! HALDIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Kal'ren would be toted behind Kelz's outstretched arm as she dragged him along.