Time had passed and things had changed. Aslatiel had changed. She was free from the Armada and with that freedom came both a new sense of purpose and the realization that she had a lot to apologize for. Specifically, she owed extensive apologies to Indigo. It had been weighing on her mind for a while and eventually she made the decision to just go and do it already. It had been a long time since she'd seen her brother. She tried not to think about him as much as she wanted to, but it was difficult most of the time. To stave off thoughts of Indigo, Asla lost herself in Ocean and Chrystelle. They were both lovely, but they weren't Indigo. No one could replace him. She had tried though, just as he had tried to replace her. Gathering up her little group, Asla began moving away from the woods where they'd been holed up. Summer brought safer opportunity for travel, so that's what they'd do. The fawn colored fae sent her falcon to the skies to seek out her brother and his group. She needed to speak with him for her own mental well being as well as his. In time, the raptor returned. Landing on the cart, it whispered the groups location to Aslatiel and, with a nod, she adjusted course. In time they arrived at a place full of lush greenery. There were plants and flowers everywhere. This definitely seemed like the type of place that Indigo would frequent, she thought wryly. Leaving the cart in a shady place and unhitching herself from it, Aslatiel called out for her brother, hoping that she hadn't hurt him so much that he wouldn't answer her. "Asla" -- "Indy"

Time passed and Indigo felt the same. Like he had stagnated and become a shadow of his former self. It started that night when Aslatiel told him that she hated him and left him forever. She tore his heart out that day, and his whole life fell apart shortly after. He didn’t blame Aslatiel, all of this had always been his fault to begin with. If he had been more aware of Duchess, if he hadn’t been so careless.. He’d still have Aslatiel and there wouldn’t be four tiny graves in the ground. They died because of his mistakes, and Indigo would carry that weight for the rest of his life. He should have been raising his children, instead he was here. Alone in his own head, struggling to return to a place and time in the past that had once seemed so perfect.

He didn’t know where the future would take him, he tried not to think about the future because all he could see was a life filled with pain, suffering, and struggle. He was losing the wolves he called family now, and soon he would be left totally alone. Duchess would run off, starved for the physical attention he didn’t give her. Emersyn and Segin would be fine, the two of them would find a place to forget about their past and raise a beautiful family together. Gypsy would find her confidence as she sang her way across Boreas and realized how much she didn’t need him. Indigo would find his way into a forest somewhere and do his best to become one with the plants he always loved. But even they died in the winter.

Hopelessness clung to him as he acted like he was gathering herbs. His eyes didn’t focus and he swayed slightly as he stood over a bed of summer flowers. Indigo was about to give up the act and return to the camp in hopes of finding Gypsy or someone to sit next to him. He almost ignored that voice on the wind. It wasn’t the first time his mind played tricks on him, when he’d hear Aslatiel’s voice or that of small children. Everything it craved. He grit his teeth and shook it off, but he heard her again. Clear and real as the day around him.

Unable to truly believe it Indy slowly paced through the forest and stopped dead, frozen as sapphire eyes landed on Asla’s faun form.

"Speech"

Leaving the group after her call, Asla had moved into the green landscape in the hopes of meeting Indigo alone. On the wind, she could smell the scent of the band and so she knew that she was in the right place. As she pushed through the lush summer foliage, it parted before her into the perfect clearing and, on the other side, stood Indigo. Aslatiel's heart leapt into her throat. Her giant, handsome brother stood there as violet and impressive as he'd ever been. It was his eyes that gave up the sorrow that plagued him. His gorgeous blue eyes were dull and full of melancholy despite the surprise in them. Before he could speak or move towards her, Aslatiel held up a paw, asking him to stay where he was. She had a lot to say. The small, cream and white fae was silent for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. Eventually, her lips parted and she began to speak. "Things have changed since the last time we saw one another," she informed him. The most important of which was... "Naiche was mortally wounded by a bear, so I ended his suffering." Grey ears slicked back against her crown as her mind tasted the golden mans blood on her tongue as though it ran fresh. "Something about that kicked my mind into the place where it was supposed to be. I left the Armada with my children. I chose my own surname so that I could start anew." Asla's ears flicked forward again and she huffed aloud, irritated at herself. "Being able to breathe, seeing things in a new light..." The scarred woman gave her head a shake before raising her galactic gaze to meet his sapphire pools. "I'm sorry, Indigo. I was wrong to say the things that I did to you. I had no right to lay the blame on you. They were my problems and it was my fault." Tears had begun to spring into the woman's eyes, settling just at the corners. "Could you ever forgive me?" She asked softly, as vulnerable as she had ever been. "Asla" -- "Indy"

Before he got his wits about him Aslatiel was there, keeping him from moving or speaking. He wouldn’t have known what to say. All he could think of for a long moment was the day he last saw her. Indigo listened, trying to rid his thoughts as she told him first that Naiche was dead. She had to end his suffering herself. Arcturus no longer had his father. Everyone was plagued with death. "I’m sorry.” He muttered softly, inconsequentially, as he had no real desire to interrupt.

She left their home pack with Satira and her orphaned brother, she found release, relief, her own path brand new. All while he was here, barely able to keep himself together. Struggling every day to convince himself the fight wasn’t over, that he needed to return to the world of the living when he felt himself wishing to reunite with the dead. While he tried to overcome the loss of the only wolf he had given his heart to. As tears began to pool in Aslatiel’s eyes he realized what a husk he had become. It took too long for his heart to clench and the emotion to rouse within him as she went on.

Aslatiel was asking for his forgiveness. He’d gone cold that day, and her hatred still rang in his head. It was hard to let go, but as the tears poured from her galactic gaze she softened him. Indigo never thought that he would see her again, he did as she asked and stay away and had hardened himself to her and the memories that were so painful with her gone. For a moment he felt like he couldn’t, like the cut had just been too deep. He didn’t feel anything.

But he knew his sister better than anyone else, he could see the genuine remorse. Aslatiel asked forgiveness from no one, and here she was seeking him out to mend the burned bridge between them. He wasn’t strong-willed enough to hold a grudge, and he had craved the feel of her for so long. Indigo had needed her comfort so badly. "I never blamed you.” And he hadn’t. She wanted the blame but it belonged to him too. It all went back to his deeper mistakes. Her words hurt, but his actions had too.

Indigo stepped forward hesitantly, lifting his paw when he was close enough to his once love. He wiped away the tears from her cheek. Even more carefully Indigo lowered his lips to her scarred cheek and gently kissed them from the other side.


"Speech"

He never blamed her. Asla's breath came out in a shudder and she clenched her eyes tightly, the tears finally rolling down her cheeks. Indigo began to move closer and with each step, Asla's heart beat harder. Suddenly he was standing before her, wiping the tears from her eyes. She stared up at the massive purple brute as though he was the only creature in the world. At that moment, he was. His head lowered and Asla half expected him to kiss her, but he placed that kiss upon her cheek instead. Part of her was disappointed, but part of her couldn't blame him. She'd damaged their relationship. They weren't remotely close to what and who they once were. Since Indigo was so close, Asla slid forward, pressing into his plum colored chest with her entire body. She wrapped her arms around him as best she could. "I'm so sorry, Indy," she whispered again, burying her face into his fur. She inhaled the scent of him, learning him all over again. Now that she had apologized and let go of the anguish and guilt that she'd been holding this entire time, Asla didn't know what to do. The situation seemed... awkward. Pulling back from her brother, Asla raised one grey and white toed paw and wiped away the remnants of tears from her cheeks. She forced a smile as she looked up at him, though she didn't feel that smile inside. "Tell me what's been happening with your band," she spoke conversationally. They needed to get over this awkward hump. "Asla" -- "Indy"

He didn’t know what she would do when he leaned down to kiss away her flowing tears. There was something not quite right about their meeting, so much time had passed, so many emotions had been felt. It didn’t feel the same as it once was. Indigo was certain that this was Aslatiel though. The girl who he was born alongside and who from that moment had always kept hold of his heart. Until he’d been a fool and destroyed that perfect bond.

As his lips met her cheek Aslatiel moved, closing the distance between them as she pressed her chest against his and buried herself into his thick violet fur. Her arms were around his neck as she apologized again. He didn’t want them, but he could feel it too. The change in the relationship they had once cherished. They were both older, both had seen more of the cruel side of the world than they wanted to. "I am too.” He muttered softly into her sandy fur.

Now that she was so close and he was breathing her in there was no stopping his deep affections. He missed her. As much as he tried to forget everything he lost, her memory haunted him every day. Having her warm body pressed against his chest Indigo couldn’t help the way his arms wrapped around her thin torso. He felt her soft fur against his toes and the sweet scent of her filled his nose. He sighed heavily, furrowing his brow and gritting his teeth as he remembered everything. Tears very nearly spilled over from blue eyes at the relief he felt while holding her again. It was a privilege he didn’t think he would ever receive again, yet here she was.

It was hard to let her pull away, but by now he was well aware she didn’t belong to him, she was the master of her own self. Quietly he sat back, vibrant blue eyes taking in her beautiful feminine features, and her sparkling galaxy gaze. He would have been content lingering in silence, it was easier than thinking about what they had lost, but she spoke again. Indigo looked away for a moment as he collected himself, thrown off by her asking after a band of wolves that she had claimed to hate so passionately.

"Struggling to survive.” He answered her honestly. Duchess would likely leave them all together soon, like Cosette had eventually disappeared. He barely had a hold on them anymore. He was no protector, he was a terrible leader, and his dreams were dying, just like his children. "I don’t know if we’ll make it past the season together.”

"Speech"

Indigo held her close and for a moment everything felt right. She still loved him more than anything and she had missed this. Them. They were together just like they were always supposed to be. Aslatiel inhaled his scent again just as he inhaled her own. Their embrace was perfect, their bodies fitting together like the puzzle pieces that they always had been, but the tension and awkwardness made Asla pull away. She didn't like it, but they needed to find a balance again. They needed to find their standing with one another once more. After asking after his band and hearing the response, Asla's brow furrowed. She'd said a lot of nasty things the last time that she'd seen him and some of those things had been about his bandmates. Grey ears shifted backwards and Asla's swirling purple gaze found the area between their paws. Lifting her own, she placed it upon one of his. "I'm sorry," she spoke softly. The band had meant a lot to him and she knew it. This made her ashamed of her hurtful words back then all the more. "Indigo, I didn't mean what I said about your friends then. I was jealous of them. Jealous that they could have you and I couldn't." Shifting forward, she nuzzled into his chest again. "Aside from my children, I've never loved anyone as much as you. Not being able to be with you..." she trailed off, not wanting to say anymore. He would, or should, understand anyway. He wasn't sure if the band would last another season and Asla frowned, searching his oh so sad face. "You're welcome to join us as we travel. You and any of your bandmates that care to follow," she added. There was no animosity in her now towards them. She'd grown past it. Well... she still didn't like that one purple bitch that she couldn't remember the name of. The skinny one that had been a little pawsy with Indigo when she'd been there. A dry chuckle pulled from the woman. "What a sight we'd be with a train of your lovers and my lovers behind us..." With a sigh and a shake of her head, she placed her forehead back against Indigo's chest. "Asla" -- "Indy"

There were many apologies between them. They created a huge rift between them, one that Indigo hadn’t expected to ever mend. He’d lost her. He had been stupid and blind, and he’d made this horrible mess he was living through. Everything was broken, nothing was right… except for this moment. He had Aslatiel back in his arms, she was a flicker of light in a life that had turned to dark. She looked up at him, looking very much like he felt: apologetic and regretful. She spoke again, taking back everything she had said as she explained herself and her actions.

She was jealous. The band had him and she didn’t, it all stemmed from her deeper feelings. Indigo never meant to make her feel like that. He was doing what had been best for him, and to cope with her being so far away he had created a substitute. Nothing could take her place though, and as she told him he was the only one she had ever loved like this he couldn’t disagree. From the womb he had been in love with her, and though he’d been forced to ignore the feeling just to live it returned. Brighter and more intense he was scared. Indigo couldn’t lose her again. "I know.” He’d done things to cover the yearning, blinding himself was the most severe. He’d been so naive…

He tried to let the memories of the past fade because the present was almost too sweet to enjoy. Indigo couldn’t help but wonder if he had died or was trapped in a dream he was so desperate to live. She soothed his worries as best she could, she no longer belonged to their father’s pack and he was free to join her as were the rest of the band. The words were genuine, and she hadn’t been deceitful when she said she hadn’t meant the words that had hurt so much.

Aslatiel chuckled softly with her next words as she leaned back into his thick violet fur. The two of them leading a train of wolves they called lovers through the lands. It brought a smile to his features as he tried not to think how far his little family had come from the relationships they had held before everything. He wrapped his arms back around her, finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He saw hope and he saw future. "A most glorious sight.” He agreed despite the warring thoughts in his mind. "But not as much as the sight of you just being here.” He added as he buried his muzzle into her soft faun fur.

"Speech"

They were together and, though their reunion had started off a little rough, things began falling back into place. Aslatiel leaned into Indigo's thickly furred chest, rubbing her cheek against violet. He was already forgiving her, though she still couldn't forgive herself. "I was such a child then..." she remarked softly. One paw raised to absently pull claws through Indigo's coat. As he held her close, Asla could no longer resist. Tilting her muzzle upwards, the cream and grey fae placed a soft kiss upon the man's chin. She had missed the scent of him, the feel of him. No one had ever made her feel the way that Indigo could make her feel. No one would ever be able to hold a candle to him. Sitting on her haunches, Aslatiel brought both grey and white toed paws to rest upon either violet cheek. Galactic orbs searched her brother's deep blue eyes for a moment before she brought her lips against his. "I missed you so much," she whispered against his lips, her paws never leaving his cheeks. She was no longer a Fatalis. If Indigo was okay with it, they would never have to be apart from one another again. Again she spoke against his lips and there was heat and promise in her words. "Will you stay with me?" Her tongue flicked over his lower lip. "We never have to explain ourselves to anyone ever again." She kissed him sweetly, placing a few smaller pecks along the side of his maw. "We can be together how we were always meant to be." Her gaze was softly, but silently pleading. She didn't want to be without him ever again. "Asla" -- "Indy"

Many of his views changed drastically when he witnessed the birth and death of his puppies. No moment had been so profound as that, however close some moments could be counted. Nothing had hit him so hard, and he had thought for a moment he was going to die after Aslatiel left him. Losing them had put a lot of things in perspective, and as Aslatiel spoke another depreciating word he knew that she had learned a lot as well. What she had to do to Naiche… They’d both been through too much. "Shh,” he tried to brush away her worries but he knew from experience and his own struggle forgiveness from herself would come much more slowly than his.

She seemed soothed slightly, as he held her Indigo could feel her relax further into his chest. Aslatiel snuggled into the thick fur of his chest. His mane seemed to extend with every year he lived. By now it was beginning to thicken down his belly. He felt her stir again, and his deep blue eyes lowered to find her brilliant violet sky gaze. Almost hesitantly she looked up and sweetly kissed his chin. Then her delicate toes reached up to take his cheeks, and slowly to savor every second she leaned in to press her lips to his.

All at once the world was as it should be again. There were still challenges, there was still sorrow, but the subtle shift back to true brought relief he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Aslatiel gave him his fire back, she brought the spark and reignited the flames within. He’d been hollow for too long. Feeling the heat again Indigo could pour his affection into their kiss. Deep and as essential as the air he breathed. She pulled away eventually when the both of them needed a breath.

Aslatiel spoke words he felt keenly. He had missed her, he’d had to face a future where she wasn’t in it. He’d been torn apart because of it. He smiled into her sweet kisses, she spoke in between, nearly pleading he’d remain with her. "I will.” He promised her quietly. They could be together, they didn’t have to avoid each other, they didn’t have to hide. They spent far too much time apart. "I never want to let you go again.” Indigo whispered to her as he held her tighter in his arms and wrapped hie neck around hers, burning his muzzle in her scruff.

He breathed her in, remembering just what he had lost. She returned to him, and patched up the massive hole that had been festering through his chest. So much had happened, he was so different now, but still she fit against him like she had since birth. "I always knew you belonged right here.” The soft whisper fell from his lips, as he nuzzled against her fur. He pulled back reluctantly, if only so he could claim her lips again. He loved truly and deeply and the love he had for her outshone everything else.

"Speech"