#musesofolive

@musesofolive

Another long, uncuttable starter. Continued from here.

While Nova had remained blissfully unaware of the petals, and Shepard had done her best to keep everything under wraps, she couldn’t help but get the sense that something was wrong. She just couldn’t place what exactly it was. So, she did what she usually did, and just waited silently for the feeling to go away.

The Skywing adjusted her pack, checking her skin of water and realizing it was empty. She turned to Shepard. “I’ve completely run out of water, so I’m heading to the stream we saw earlier to fill it up. Is yours getting low too? I can fill it for you if you want,” she offered.

Shepard checked her waterskin, finding it also nearly empty, and handed it over with a smile and a stifled cough, which she tried to play off as simply clearing her throat. "Yes, thank you." 

While she waited for Nova to come back, Shepard sat to rest on a nearby stone, one hand drifting to her aching chest. While at first the flowers had just been an annoyance, over the past few weeks it had actually started to get more difficult to breathe, leaving her lightheaded, with less stamina than she was used to. 

The cough from earlier still tickled at the back of her throat, and with Nova not around to see, she indulged it, knowing it would only come back at the worst time if she didn’t clear her lungs while she had the chance- as much as she could, at least. 

Of course, that didn’t go as planned.

@musesofolive

Aaravos chuckled as well, then put her own arm around Isla’s waist. Pulling her a bit closer.

“Yes, that is a shame… But knowing you, I’m sure you will find a way around this still~”

Not much had changed, really, it seemed.

(“Yes, that is a shame… But knowing you, I’m sure you will find a way around this still~”

Not much had changed, really, it seemed.)

-@musesofolive

...well, in hindsight, maybe Nova should have seen this coming. She knew she wasn’t nearly as well-researched as she should have been (but could that blame really be put on her? It wasn’t her fault most mentions of Dark magic was that it was bad and never to be used. She had to overturn every pebble in Xadia just for the smidge of information on the spells she found.) but she had grown impatient, she was ready to be fixed! Though, maybe she had gone overboard with the items she thought she needed, and the incantation spoke was a little funny on her tongue. But it was her first time doing such a spell, and she didn’t understand the science and nuance behind it. When the last of the spell left her mouth, everything happened so fast. It was like a bomb going off, a dome of bright light exploding from the items, catching Nova in it before she could even think to get out of its way.

It launched her into this unfamiliar place, she couldn’t use any senses other than sight, as strings of light blew past her. She had been knocked out of orbit, spinning wildly, unable to breathe. She needed out of whatever this place was and now, she didn’t care where she ended up. She focused on the nearest string, using all her energy to gravitate towards it and the world went dark as she felt a connection to it.

Shortly after, she let out a grunt as she fell on something hard. Nova sat up quickly, taking ragged breaths as she looked at her surroundings. It appeared to be a library? Well, it wasn’t the worst place to end up in, though it definitely felt the strangest after everything that had happened. She stumbled up from the cool floor, and reajusted her hood to cover her face. Her brows furrowed as she looked for the exit, she had never seen this place before.

A strange person in my prison-- human or elf? They lack horns, that much is clear despite their hood, but the hair and skin would indicate elf. A halfling? Whatever they are, they look confused.

"Hello, little one."

@musesofolive

"I am sorry, love," Aaravos apologised to me, pulling me into his arms almost desperately.

"You have no need to apologise, dearest," I coo, rubbing his back gently, "I am only regretful that you will leave your true home so soon after our escape."

"Xadia is still out for my blood," Aaravos sighed with a grief I cursed myself for being unable to heal, "But political strife ebbs and flows like the tides. Soon enough, in a few years, I will be able to return. They will have stopped looking for me, and I will be free to stay with you."

I take his hand and kiss it worshipfully, the starlit scent of his skin tickling my nose. His palm shifts to cup my cheek and he graces my lips with a loving kiss, arm curled almost possessively around my waist. It feels like someone has set off a chain of firecrackers all throughout my body, like every happiness in the world has seeped into my blood.

We pull away so reluctantly, with excruciating hesitation. He rummages through his pocket for a midnight blue ribbon, embroidered with a delicate pattern of stars. His hands tie it in my hair, the silver thread shining against my umber curls, the tapered ends falling over my tanned collarbone and hanging in front.

"This will help me find you, no matter where you go," Aaravos promises, "Hopefully, it may serve as a small comfort to you when I am gone."

I bring the ends of ribbon to my lips and kiss it devotedly. His ears turn the slightest bit crimson at my gesture and I can't help but laugh at how a little mortal like me has made Elarion's Midnight Star blush like a maiden. I hope to make him blush all the more when he comes back.

We spend the afternoon sitting in each other's arms under the shade of a tree bantering back and forth about all sorts of things, from our plans for the future to memories of our past. Then, the sun sets and it is time for him to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I force the memory to stop playing in my head, unwilling to be brought to tears by our final parting. My feet hum with a distant ache from walking as far away as possible from the escape point. Out of safety, I cannot frequent any of the places we had stayed in post-escape, even towns we spent barely a night in.

I have walked for days now, subsisting on whatever edible grasses and berries I could find in the forest. I have not seen anyone except the birds and stray deer for so long.

Suddenly, I come across a river and something that looks a bit like houses in the distance. It's secluded, perhaps I can seek work there undetected.

I kneel by the banks of the river and wash the grime from my face. A haze of dizziness comes over me, perhaps from the sudden cold sensation of water against my heat stroked skin, or general fatigue. I feel my body lean over to the side, eyes fluttering shut. Just before consciousness flies from my mind, I catch an indistinguishable figure rising from the water.

Starter Call + @musesofolive

It wasn’t often Adam found themself lost in an unfamiliar forest, and yet here they were. The trees were far taller than they were used to, and they could swear some of the flowers glowed. Overall, it wasn’t entirely unlike the central gardens of the Seelie Court, except that everything grew wild. Through the trees, they could just make out a figure, and they approached, keeping just out of reach.

Aaravos had told Riley he was a little supernatural, and Riley entertained the idea, but didn’t think much beyond it. He was an elf, naturally he was a little more supernatural than he was otherwise used to. But still, there Aaravos was, in full Werecat, and all he could do was stare in shock. “You know, you really could’ve warned me better,” he deadpanned.

"I could have, yes. But it's more fun this way." Aaravos's deep voice sounded strange coming from a long-furred gray and black cat. He rolled over and blinked up at Riley. "Admit it, you love it."

(Do they know each other at all really? Absolutely not lol but this gives them a chance to I think XD)

where is the music coming from what--

--oh, good morning little Skywing. How are you this fine day-ish-time?