Oceanic Breeze

Question me? All of your doubt feeds my desire.

Life, it seemed, had not been kind to either of them. For Tavain, it often played cruel jokes in the form of the men… or in her case a singular man who frequently entered and disappeared from her life. There was no creature more beautiful or angelic on the earth and Nox would have seen anyone flayed alive for their transgressions against her friend. Nox looked deeply into the duel-set irises, one of tarnished silver and the other an icy blue. She furrowed her brows, unable to disguise the concern that she felt. Before she even spoke, Nox could feel the sadness that had taken root inside her soul. It seemed they shared in one another's struggles but for one of them, it felt there was no other choice but to take the more difficult path, and it left her wondering why Tavain had chosen to walk it too. Often she did not reveal her true emotions and instead chose to harbor them. However, for Tavain’s sake, she stripped her defenses and allowed the vibrant colors of emotion to flow freely onto the page. There were few she would do that for but Tavain was one of them. Nox only hoped that she would not find herself regretting that decision as she had many times before. The damage would be irreversible and the slow process to repair herself would once-again be delayed.

Slowly Nox lifted a paw and gently pressed it against Tavain's left cheek. Waves of sympathy radiated from behind her eyes and showed in the gentleness of her touch. "I am so...so sorry." There was little she could express with words. Nox knew how Tavain felt even without the longing that occupied her voice. It was something only a fellow mother could understand. It was something she had experienced herself and knew the agony associated with it. Loss, loneliness, and grief all sometimes shared a face. It was at that very moment she saw those emotions reflected in the depths of her friend’s eyes. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could say to ease that pain, but sometimes simply being there was enough. Beneath the soft slated down, she could feel the definition of her cheekbones. True to her maternal nature, she fretted over Tavain’s current state… It had been so long since they’d seen each other, and something had surely changed other than her appearance. Darkness hung over them both along with a sense of instability. Other than that, she worried about trivial things like if she’d been eating or sleeping properly, and other concerns of a similar theme. Nox had not the answers for either, but if she knew anything about grief, physicality often suffered along with a weakened mental state. Maybe, if Tavain decided to stay, they would find strength and healing in each other's company.

After some time, she lowered her paw. Her claws caught on strands of fur which she carefully detangled before once-again moving away. “It seems all of us hurt in the absence of those we love. Wherever they might be, for their sake, I hope they do not miss us as much as we miss them.” She blinked slowly, her gaze gradually pulled out to the ocean that Lupa drew attention to. She was glad that he did because the sight brought her great comfort. The scene was like a reflection of their lives. There was a false pretense of peace on the outside but on the inside… chaos. A cold breeze drifted from across the ocean. Salt and rain lingered in the air foreboding the storm that loomed ahead. Befitting for a somber landscape, Lupa recited some sort of foreign blessing or poetry. "How beautiful." She whispered. The words radiated hope and light in times where both were lacking. Now that she really thought of it; Discovering Tavain there on what felt like the edge of the world? It seemed far too good to be true. “She inherited that from her mother, I believe. A strong and defined will to help others and show compassion to those she cares about? Sounds very familiar to me.” She said and turned back to face Tavain. A tender smile lifted either corner of her face. If Tavain were to look closer, however, she would find it bittersweet with a twinge of guilt. “I do hope you did not come all this way just to see us. I am overjoyed to see an old friend but certainly, those you parted with must miss you dearly?” It was Nox's way of indirectly asking why she was there and so far from home. Maybe it was silly to assume responsibility for such a thing, but if her concerns were not misplaced, then she would have much to atone for.

I'm gonna make my own empire.