#yunal

“Mmm, still up hun?”

Ebrius groggy voice echoed in the greenhouse, and Yunal turned to give him a peck on the side of his hood as he embraced her from behind.

“Yep. Can’t shake the feeling I’m needed tonight.”

Ebrius nuzzled the crook of her neck, glancing at the materials in front of them. “...Need anything for when you get back?”

She chuckled and turned around, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving kisses to his forehead, nose, and finally lips. “Just tea, you, and Sabeh?”

“Duly noted.” He placed a kiss on her forehead, giving a quick squeeze to her hands, and left to find their other Mate. She watched him exit the greenhouse, before gathering her materials in a basket and rifting to a small lake, where a lone tree brushing it’s leaves on it’s crystal surface. A figure sat beneath the swaying branches, chin resting on her knees and tail reflexively curled about her.

“Kinda late isn’t it, even for a midnight swim?”

Vilinaya’s head whipped around, golden eyes scanning the area until they found her, and her shoulders slumped. “Hi Auntie...Can’t sleep,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes and stifling an yawn.

“Nightmares again?”

“Mmm.”

Yunal placed the basket to the side and wrapped an arm about Vili, giving gentle pats as she pulled her in closer. Vili leaned into the touch, eyes drooping dispite her best attempts. Slowly, the images haunting her began to drift away, of fires and darkness where there should be none, of crystaline gates crashing to the ground, the rubble scattered for miles about. Of beings of light trapped and their anguished cries as their brethren fell. Of menacing laughter and piercing claws bringing abrupt ends to those cries. All of it started to fade away, not replaced, but temporarily hidden for now.

It didn’t take much after that, and the tea that was pushed into her hands only made her limbs feel heavier. Soon, she was curled up into Yunal’s side, breathing becoming slower as she drifted further into a more peaceful slumber. Yunal stayed like that for a few minutes, just brushing Vili’s hair out of her face and watching as she descended into a dreamless sleep.

It was a simple matter to bring her back to her home, and tuck her into bed, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. She made sure to check on the other residents of the home too, even the studious angel who finally was asleep for once. Once she was satisfied, she checked on the rest of the small outpost, soothing nightmares and drifting through shadows, until soon there were no fears for the night, the gaurds less jumpy and the children curled peacefully, not afraid of the darkness in their closet or under their bed.