Location: Obsidian Beach

Duchess had been pretty standoffish since the band left the Hallows, just a shine of her more hidden anxiety while she tended to stick more to herself even beside Indigo. She still spent nights cuddled up with them, but she was finding it hard to grow accustomed to their new travelling lifestyle.

She was starting to feel a little more comfortable, but not completely. She had decided to ask Emersyn to go out scouting with her this time. She felt like she hadn't gotten to know her much, but Duchess also didn't care much for her company either even after training with her. It wasn't a feeling she was outspoken about, but she felt like she had to overcome it and care for anyone that Indigo did, especially with how emotionally connected he was with everyone. So as much as she may not have really liked Emersyn, she wasn't going to push her away or make her feelings known.

At least her overall emotions were pretty out in the open with how uncomfortable she was in general with the move. And it wasn't easy to hide. She walked towards the ocean with silence next to Emersyn. She hoped when they made it to the shore that they could find something pretty to start a collection of jewelry or anything valuable for the band trading. When they made it to the sands, she hesitated before dipping her paw into the ebony sands before her, "I've never seen anything like this." Her more stale gaze looked up to Emersyn as she held it there a few seconds before looking out at the oceans wondering if a black beach could be like any beach.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Ever since the nomadic band had left the sanctuary of the Hallowed castle, Emersyn felt like she had to have her guard up at all times. The weeks within those strong, sturdy walls had made her feel safe knowing that her demons couldn't chase her there. But now, back out in the open road, that threat had never felt more dangerous. Despite Indigo's reassuring whispers during their pillow talk and Segin's emphatic confidence in her ability to protect them, Em couldn't help but fear for the worst with her new family. What if the bounty hunters tracked them down and attacked them in their sleep? What if one of them was hurt or killed?

It was that concern and sense of duty to protect her new family that had made her so readily agree to accompany Duchess when the smaller woman wanted to go explore a nearby beach the band was traveling past. Duchess was such a small, dainty thing, she would make for an excellent target for someone with ill intentions. Emersyn followed beside Duchess, neither wolf speaking much as they walked. That was fine for her; Em wasn't much of a talker anyway. Duo-toned eyes kept a wary gaze on their surroundings to make sure no one was creeping up on them while also taking in their surroundings. Boreas was very different to Auster. It was notably cooler, and the weather felt muggier and wetter.

The two followed the smell of salt and the sound of gulls until they found the shore, its sands a shocking black as dark as pitch. Em gazed curiously as the beach, coming closer to take a tentative sniff at the ground. It didn't smell any different from the sand she'd known in the arenas, though its color was a stark constant to the pale yellow she knew. Duchess was far more hesitant to approach, nervously placing a paw onto the sand before declaring it to be safe. Emersyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes; of course it was safe, it was still just sand. Em took the first full stride onto the obsidian shore, her paws crunching the sand quietly underneath her as she surveyed the area. There were no traces of any other scent nearby and they were the only ones around that she could see.

"Neither have I," she replied to Duchess, digging up a pawful of the sand and letting it slip between her digits back to the ground. "Were you after something specific out here?" If she was, maybe Em could help her locate it quickly and get them back to the others. It wasn't that she didn't like spending time with Duchess—okay, maybe it was a little bit—but it was also the thought of having someone find them and decide to try their luck harassing the two women. A horny loner she could turn away no problem. A band of slavers or bandits would be pushing her luck. A couple of bounty hunters? They were as good as dead.

"Emersyn"

It was really nothing against Emersyn, or maybe it was a little bit. Duchess seemed to not really care much for women in general. She was fine with taking care of Gypsy when she needed it, she could play nice with the others as best she could. She wasn't much of a talker at least, and that tended to put other wolves off by her. She had maybe gone too far with Segin to prove a silent point if only to herself. Because the truth was that not only were they sharing Indigo, they were sharing each other, in more than one way. Duchess had said more to Segin than she had to Indigo, maybe not everything but just a little more. She didn't feel the same kind of confidence in Emersyn.

Emersyn had asked if there was anything specific she was looking for, and Duchess shook her head slightly while moving forward closer to the shore, "Not really," her voice was more stale than anything. She wasn't intending to come off rude but it was a possibility from the eyes or ears of her comrade, "I thought maybe we could find things washed ashore for the trade." Her eyes stayed on the black sands of the beach, searching only the tops of the grounds instead of digging. Maybe she was just wasting their time at this point, and she was starting to feel like it was a bad idea to ask Emersyn to come out scouting with her. It really wasn't Emersyn's fault, Duchess had only dug her grave farther down as her time with Indigo and the band continued on.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Duchess kept her distance and gave only short responses, confirming that she wasn't looking for anything in particular. That was fine by Em's book; it just meant she could wander and keep her eyes up for anything interesting or suspicious. The fact that Duchess didn't talk to her much did nothing to ruffle her. Em wasn't the most talkative wolf to begin with, a trait she developed from a lifetime of being told to sit down, shut up, and do your job. She had become very observant in that time, settling much easier into wolf watching than starting up conversations. Her larger paws moved across the black sands with a gentle crunch of the sand under her toes, walking just along the edge of where the waves lapped against the shore. She liked the way the cool water felt against her paws; it was a sensation she had never felt until recently. Most of her life had been in cages. Freedom still sometimes felt like a foreign concept.

As she walked, Emersyn turned over a few empty shells, finding some closed oysters that she popped open with a claw to check for the rare pearl, but ultimately coming up empty-handed. Every so often she would glance back at Duchess just to make sure the little purple wolf hadn't wandered off on her own and didn't need any help from her. Something gave her the distinct impression that Duchess didn't much care for her. Probably because she wasn't Indigo and didn't have a dick. Duchess definitely seemed to have a type: male and with a pulse. While Em didn't exactly consider Duchess' proclivities towards finding self-worth in the arms and legs of men as good in any way, she wouldn't degrade her for what she enjoyed. So long as her personal habits didn't start interfering with the band or their interpersonal relationships, then she was fine with it.

The second they did, however... all niceties were off the table.

"Emersyn"

Emersyn started to move forward as they split ways only a little bit. Duchess just padded a little slower as she moved closer to the shore line, her paws getting washed by the waters that moved in and out from the ocean. It seemed there were still normal critters here at this odd, black beach. She spotted crabs digging out their sand burrows and silver fish swimming in the deeper parts of the ocean. It was neat to think a beach like she had never seen still had the same, very regular inhabitants.

But as they moved along, she started to really not feel well. She slowed at first while her concentration was falling away from the ground below her and she looked forward. She started to feel a little dizzy as her vision blurred only slightly before she came to a halt. "Emersyn?" She called out almost quietly, mumbling. "I think I need a break." She really wasn't sure what the rest of the band knew. Aslatiel's outburst she could hear from a visable distance. But she wasn’t sure what Indigo had said to the band if anything. She liked to think he wouldn’t have have said anything, he tended to keep everyone’s word to himself. She felt it was more her own right to tell everyone, or that they should have come together and told the group as a “couple”. She took a seat where she was, waiting to feel better before even thinking of joining Emersyn on the search again.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Emersyn had been in the process of checking another oyster for pearls when Duchess called out that she needed a break, her voice barely heard over the lap of the surf on the share. The dusty violet fae looked back at her companion, making sure that she was okay before tossing the empty oyster aside and making her way back down the shore to the littler woman. Of course you need a break... Must be so hard carrying all that guilt... She kept her snide thoughts silent and inside her head, but it was impossible for Em to look at Duchess and not see the little conniving whore throwing herself all over Indigo desperately trying to impregnate herself.

"Let's take a break then," she said, glancing around to make sure no one else was around so she knew they were safe. "It's a nice day. If you want to take a nap in the sun, I'll keep an eye out." Yes, she would protect Duchess. She would protect Duchess because it was what Indigo wanted. That was it; that was the only reason. Otherwise, Em was severely tempted to drag the little bitch into the shallows and hold her under until the bubbles stopped, or tear her paw across her throat and let her bleed out in the sand, or let her fall asleep and leave her out here for whatever predators wanted an easy meal. That would solve two problems at once. No more Duchess to fuck up and put them all in danger, and no more unwanted puppies for Indy to have to stress over.

"Emersyn"

Emersyn had stopped when Duchess called, being kind enough to let her take the break. But unfortunately, that's not how Duchess saw it. She could have been grateful, maybe she was deep down. And it wasn't hormones, it was really simply how she felt about the woman in general. "I don't need to... take a nap." She blinked her eyes, trying to make her vision clearer while her brows furrowed, probably showing an obvious offense to what she said. "I just need to sit down a minute."

Just like Emersyn would protect Duchess because it was what Indigo wanted, Duchess would do her best to stay kind, or at least civil with Emersyn. Because that's what Indigo wanted. They seemed to both have the same interest at least. Thankful for Indigo saving them or helping them. But of course Duchess didn't see herself as equal to the others. Not Emersyn, not Gypsy, not Segin, she did believe she deserved to be the most prized of Indigo's. And that included above his sister. They were going through a rough time in their relationship now, but Duchess also believed that since she was carrying his pups, it kept her secure in that make believe position. That had been her plan after all.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Emersyn shot a harsh glower at the back of the woman's head when she snapped back at her. Gods, this little cunt was really trying her patience... Had she been a less composed wolf, she'd be sorely tempted to revert back to her gladiatorial days and rip her apart. It would be so easy. She was such a weak, pathetic creature—really it might even be a mercy to her. She probably wouldn't even feel anything at all before it would be over... probably. Ah, but then she'd have hell to deal with when she got back to the band. Indigo would not take kindly to the coup de grace, even if it was in the best interests of the band. Honestly, Duchess would probably be the reason Emersyn ever left the band if it came to that. Stupid whore could drag the rest of them down with her, but Em was already mentally preparing to cut the cord because of her. The only ones she felt some pity for were Segin and Gypsy. If it came to it, she'd gladly take them away for their own safety, though something told her that was easier said than done.

With a growled sigh, Em rolled her dual-toned eyes and turned her head away from Duchess to stare at literally anything other than the bitch. "You can stop with the passive-aggressive snark, you know. It's no secret you don't like me, so save yourself the effort and stop trying," she muttered beneath her breath. "Did you only ask me out here to be your silent bodyguard since Indigo doesn't want to be around you anymore?" Was she trying to be hurtful? Maybe a bit. But Duchess had made zero attempt to reconcile or show peace when she'd done nothing to her, so fuck her. If the whore wanted to fight, she'd fight. But she didn't think Duchess was prepared for what Em was willing to bring and what levels she'd stoop to.

"Emersyn"

She would have in no way thought that Emersyn would have come back at her like that. As much as she didn't really care for Emersyn, maybe she thought the feeling wasn't mutual. Duchess did have pretty low self esteem, but somehow maybe she thought her life was, or should have been perfect. Minus everything that was going on right now with her and Indigo. She didn't expect any of the band members to blow up on her like Emersyn had.

She was really speechless at first, not sure how to react when Emersyn had stated that Duchess didn't like her. That was a little strong for the way she felt, Emersyn hadn't really done anything wrong to make Duchess not like her, Duchess just simply didn't see them as friends or like minded. She didn't know for certain if she had been with Indigo, but she had her own suspicions. Emersyn wasn't looking at her, but Duchess had a big expression of shock across her face.

It was her next words that really hit her hard. Duchess was very non-confrontational mostly because of her submissive demeanor. On top of that she was also petty, if it wasn't necessarily through her words. She did feel a good amount of annoyance, less than anger in her. The thought that Emersyn would even say it, call it out, it was embarrassing and it really hurt her. She grit her teeth while tears started to weld in her eyes, but she looked more angry than upset. She could see a little straighter, but she still wasn't exactly okay to move on. "I'll just leave if I'm that much of a problem to you." She went to stand, heading back towards camp. And within her first few steps she had tripped but caught herself. But it wasn't too much farther where she had gone dizzy again, tripping, and falling onto her chest and laying down. She would have laid here by herself and slowly made it back to camp herself. Maybe she had made it out here without a problem because she had rested so many days prior. She had also come to the conclusion that dying out here was fine too, because she didn't believe that Indigo would come out to help her if Emersyn left.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

The silence that immediately followed her retort was deafening and oh so satisfying. Ever since the day they'd met, Duchess had been standoffish and cold towards her, but up until recently she hadn't actually been anything more than a nuisance in the periphery of her life. Em couldn't even recall a single instance of some offense she'd made towards Duchess. The prissy little princess just seemed to have a problem with her. She could tolerate her existence and coexist without much interaction on their behalf. But now Duchess had done something so absolutely stupid and reckless and selfish that it put them all in danger and directly harmed Indigo. Duchess was no longer a band mate in her mind; Duchess was a threat and a problem that had to be dealt with. Were it not for Indigo's word keeping her safe, Emersyn didn't know what she'd do—but she knew that Duchess wouldn't be a problem anymore if she had her way.

When the problem in question did finally respond, indignantly remarking that she'd just leave, Em turned her head just enough to watch the wobbly wolf stumble down the beach away, almost falling right away, and then completely face planting to the sand not even a minute later. Gods, she looked so pitiful and pathetic. She must have been a fantastic fuck for Indigo to ever stick his dick in something so dumb and screwed up. With a frustrated sigh, Em got back up and walked casually over toward the downed wolf, sitting a couple feet away while she fixed Duchess with a hard leer. "You done acting stupid now, or are you gonna keep at it?" she asked, mostly rhetorically. "Don't fall too hard. You're carrying precious cargo."

She said the last couple words with a harder emphasis, clueing Duchess in that she knew what the bitch had done. She didn't outright condemn, damn, or degrade Duchess—yet—but she wanted her to know. She wanted Duchess to know that they all knew of the sin she'd committed and how she betrayed Indigo and the band.

"Emersyn"

Duchess couldn't look at Emersyn when she came and stood over her, and her expression was edging on an angry, frustrated side. But she was upset really. At this point she couldn't take back what she did. And if Indigo wanted to get rid of the pups than she would want to die with them. Because if Indigo didn't want their pups, she saw it as he didn't want her either. And she couldn't live like that.

Without turning towards the larger purple woman, she spoke almost through her grit teeth that she loosened, "Would you just... fuck off." Her voice was more hurt than showing the anger that was more physically evident. Through her voice she was holding back tears, maybe not that Emersyn really cared. "I'll go back to camp myself. If you're so worried if I don't come back then have someone come looking for me." She was done, she felt like she was burdening everyone. But she also wasn't asking the others for help. She was mostly keeping to herself, making herself absent and secluded. If Indigo didn't want her, than no one did.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Emersyn was a thousand percent done with Duchess' theatrics and bullshit. The small purple woman was making a fool of herself, a spectacle for everyone to watch crash and burn, and no doubt the little attention whore was loving every fucking second of it. With a roll of her duo-toned eyes, Em rose to her paws and shook the dark sand from her coat. Duchess wanted her to fuck off? Fine, her wish was her command. Maybe if they were all lucky, Duchess would walk into the sea and spare them all her pathetic whining about how terrible her life was, and oh woe is Duchess! Like none of them had suffered, struggled, faced tribulation and agony before. The only difference was that they built themselves up from it, improved themselves. Duchess didn't. She used it like a crutch every time she wanted attention, refused to do anything about it—hell, she even seemed to be enjoying it!

With a huff, Em turned from Duchess and began to walk off back toward the camp, leaving the other woman facedown in the sand. "Whatever. I'm done trying with you, Duchess. It's no wonder Indigo wants nothing to do with you anymore. Whenever you're ready to grow up and stop acting like a whiny bitch over not getting your way, you know where we'll be." This was it. This was the moment Emersyn stopped seeing Duchess as a person and instead as a parasite. She was draining the band, draining Indigo, all to feed her own mental illness that she had no intentions of trying to soothe. She would be the death of whoever she clung to, and Em made it her mission to minimize the damage the little purple leech could do to her new family one way or another—even if that meant eliminating her.

- exit Emersyn -

"Emersyn"