craneia

wood elf wood elf wood elf wood elf

A smile is drawn across the Magnolia Druid's face. The missive is folded and stowed elsewhere as she sets out.

Almost there. The surface is within reach. And just as it is breached - there is… dirt? The ‘ame coughs and splutters, having felt the water in her lungs, suffocating her - flooding her every sense… just moments prior. But nothing is expelled from her lungs. Her clothes are dry, and the empty breeze brushes past her. The weeping tide pools of that foreign beach are long gone... as are the creatures that studied her curiously within the bluest of waters ever witnessed by the drugged druid. There is no sea to swallow her whole, here. It wasn’t real. Shaking palms are pressed flat against the dirt, bleary emerald eyes wide open, struggling to focus. Her strength wanes, joints unreliable and bound to buckle. With heavy breaths and the remnants of a now fleeing panic, the vague shape of a tree is made out… close enough to allow her to grab onto and pull herself up out of the dirt. As soon as she is upright - the urge to surrender to the ground that pulls her is strong… tugging at her legs and promising her the sleep she so desperately needs. Fingers, metal and flesh alike - dig into the tree’s bark, leaving splinters beneath her fingernails… but that is the least of the druid’s worry. She takes only a few wobbled steps forward… legs giving out, immediately collapsing into the dirt. But it is different, this time… no effort made to combat the exhaustion. Instead, a moment to reflect is presented to her, an option begrudgingly taken as she draws her legs inwards, folding them and binding them to herself with shaking arms. Her heavy, aching head is set atop her knees as dark, blurry eyes look out across the water. The moon hangs high in the sky, shining down upon the disoriented woman at the base of that tree. Stars twinkle, reflected in the ocean below. This time of night is quiet. The nocturnal fauna of the mountainous forest terrain go about their business as usual - skirting around her when need be, as if she were not even there. A few moonflowers unfurl a few feet away upon the cliffside bathed in a soft silver glow. It should be peaceful. But that head of hers wasn’t the only thing heavy… aching, splintering. She is alone now, on that cliff. There is no one else here. The bustle of the Amathine clinic, the serene clarity of the Glade of Hileia, the comfort of her personal grotto... are all far off, as is the chatter and warmth found around Nevaehlen's fires. Just the waves that claw at the cliffside, the breeze, and her. There is nowhere to hide anymore. Even if she ran, right that second, with everything in her - scaling that mountain frantically - there is no escape. No longer can she run from herself. Running is all she knows to do. And now that has been taken from her… she stares - for a long while, unmoving - out towards the vast expanse of sea just below the cliffs where she sits. This is the eye of the hurricane. This grief is not yet done with her - more is to come just beyond this pocket of solitude. They echo in her mind, words that she had so frequently spoken to her brother. A piece of her that now rests within the Eternal Forest. I am Emerald. I endure all things. But you cannot endure what you do not allow yourself to feel. Feel it. The grieving druid rises, from the dirt... slow moving, half-drugged. With a fortified mind - one that endures all that comes, and what will come to challenge it - the trek onward, the journey home begins. Uneasy, unsteady, but surely, Arle staggers onwards... reaching a sturdy wall of stone that now blocks the way forward. She stares up at the mountains that lie ahead, dread washing over her. The ‘ame turns about, orienting herself. This land is familiar. The song of nature around her is known, well enough, but still does not guarantee a smooth route back to the Glade. There is a long ways to go. There is a rocky platform within reach, though. A sigh is exhaled, and shaking hands reach upwards to hoist herself up onto the plateau… a task that is just barely accomplished, followed by a buckling of knees and a labored wheeze. There is so much green, so much life, blooming and swaying - some slumbering, in the middle-0f-night time that it is, in this moment. It feels endless, this range of mountains. But the path is perilous, wrought with devious ledges, steep drops, and deceitful protrusions - seemingly a perfect hand-hold, until it breaks apart the very second any weight is placed upon it… leaving Arle scrambling and slipping. An already sluggish woman now battered, scratches and scrapes littering her sun kissed skin. Arle’s feet ache, arms sore and head pounding. A brief reprieve provided by a small, grassy plateau - giraffe reaching upwards to feed upon the leaves and apples of trees swaying in the wind, and abundant blossoms blooming in shades of pink, yellow, violet, and white. It does not remedy the physical impairment the ‘ame currently faces… but it offers the tiniest bit of peace to the druid as she passes through. Not long after, she is greeted by more to scale, with tricky footing… an easy task, surely, if she were not as worn down as she is - her collapse inevitable and impending. Against her better judgment, a rather jagged rock is reached for as the 'ame seeks higher ground... the only way home. Fumbling, she slips, a sharp gasp drawn from heavy lungs as an unexpected gash is torn through the skin of her inked palm. It bleeds profusely, forcing Arle to take a small break as she retreats back to a small patch of grass nearby. In this state, in this place, all she can do is tear a strip of fabric from the bottom of her robe-like skirt, wrapping it tightly around the injury and dragging herself up to stand. Onwards. Her breathing is labored, every step reinforcing and feeding the exhaustion that threatens to take over. Over a few hills, though, something in the distance is spotted. A spire belonging to Amathine’s capital city - within it, her home; The Glade of Hileia. A small laugh slips from the delirious druid, met nearly instantly with a wave of pain and a bout of dizziness. Without care, ignoring everything in her body that advises against it… the woman breaks into a sprint, stumbling - and taking a few tumbles. (The last of which nearly took her out right then, with just a little farther to go.) Nonetheless, the Sirame picks herself up - making her way slowly, clumsily, through the forest to the city’s entrance and through the square, into the glade. Dawn is not far off, the sun beginning to push up through the horizon to chase away the moon and stars… but it was no matter to that Magnolia. She was home. No effort is made to get to her own room as she reaches the Vulnrith hall, as there truly is no energy left to expend for such an endeavor - and so, Arle drops down onto one of the sofas. Eyes closing and sore body relaxing, her very soul soothed by the familiarity. The soft, sweet lullaby that is the song of nature around her is heard as sleep takes her for the first time in days… with no drug induced visions. Just rest. At last.

An emerald gaze falls to the lifeless body of Taliyun, the look of utter defeat displayed across the scarred face of an 'ame now grappling with the loss of her elder brother - one of the strongest mali she has ever known. "Rest, now, mal'onn... you have earned it." The grieving sister whispers to her brother, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Tears are shed, a promise is made, and nature sinks into solemn silence as the druid takes her leave - penning numerous letters to estranged kin with a heavy heart and a shaking hand.

YEAHH!!!!!

A very worried looking druid grimaces, unease coursing through her body as nature abruptly shrieks - cutting through the serene air around her jaggedly

Clan Val'taelu's current Tyuth'szyr'mo holds her title with pride, sea-green gaze cast out over a vast expanse of sea. Ashen hands set something into dampened sand, watching as her offering to their Ancestors is taken by the tide.

A druid bloodied and battered returns to her home, a candle lit for the fallen - no matter how short a time spent alongside the Knight. It only felt right to thank the departed for such a sacrifice. A prayer in ancient elven is muttered, alongside a few words in common; 'It was an honor to fight alongside you.'

A reclusive 'ker packs her things... which are few in number. Most importantly, her fishing rod. Off to sandier shores, she hopes.

go live your life my friend <3

A pallid shepherd wakes, rubbing blear from her eyes. Along the deck of a ship, she paces, repeating the words obsessively. As the last of them slip into the night, a sifted thought finds its way onto her tongue; Al’Kfurl’sek shai, urk’lakzut... davu badurz-thismi? What to do now?

so real creamynoteblock

A forlorn daughter weeps - news of her mother's passing just hardly reaching her hideout, sickly white peaks engulfed in eternal darkness.

ame ito narne ♥︎

"Hm..." Hums a pale vasoyev, frail and sickly in her smaller stature. Setting the missive down atop her desk, the woman wraps herself in a thick shawl as she rises from her seated position - heading down the hall. A sigh is released from her crimson colored lips as she ducks into a darkened room, keeping quiet. Heavy footsteps are heard, and the front door creaks open. Those footsteps come to a halt just behind her, and the dame's anxieties ease as she leans back against the armored man. "So this means war?" Her voice is barely audible. The man gives no reply, only wraps his arms around her. The shepherd's pale gaze remains glued to that sleeping figure buried beneath layers of thick fur blankets. As his chest rises and falls, she cannot help but notice the striking resemblance he bears to his father.

A tired vasoyev sets a pot of tea atop her stove - stoking the fire beneath it, somewhere deep underground. She paces as she waits for the sound of the creaky door and the heavy footsteps that always follow.

Tired eyes skim over that missive. With furrowed brows - Nadia sets that letter down on the sofa beside her. A prayer of sorts is uttered from that vasoyevi... "Do nem betray the trust of us all." Perhaps it is a plea.

A wild haired dame looks up from the tomes sprawled around her... briefly taking a break to watch that 'ker pace about, muttering to himself. Silent she stays, observing from atop her perch. Some semblance of a smile splays 'cross her tanned cheeks... soon consumed once more by her studies.

A green eyed 'ame watches as her home by the sea falls... "Aspects..." The screams of nature ring through the drui's ears as she reads the missive, nodding her dazed head. As the wailing of nature prevents her from sleeping... she can't tear her gaze away from the burning city. "May we prosper."

"Ah... wonderful! Look..." Kodazius nudges his grouchy counterpart - a wide, idiotic grin splayed 'cross his pale face.

"Interesting... well - it's about time." A certain Sirame murmurs - nestled between branches of a tree somewhere within the woods surrounding Amaethea; approving of the unity and the peace it may bring to the realm.

Nadia Samardzic prays within the walls of her home in Adria - the only thing she knows to do after not seeing her friend's face among those who returned to the beloved duchy following their victory. With shaking hands and tears streaming down her face, she pleads and bargains with God - begging for him to allow her dearest friend to come home.