you'll come back

Tears fell from lavender eyes and Iolaire grimaced when her own face was out of view. She didn't like seeing her former lover so broken. Didn't like it one bit. However, it did raise a bit of fight in her. She would take care of Deathbelle. It would give her purpose. Something to live for. Something to occupy her time and possibly bring her back to a semblance of what she once was. Iolaire was a fixer of problems, a teacher, a mentor, a friend, a hard truth, a loving embrace. She was all of those things even though she hadn't been for a lifetime.

Her words seemed to break a dam within Belle and the speckled fae cried harder. Io continued to hold her for a time, then decided that they needed something else. Somewhere more comfortable to be. "Come," she said softly, pulling away to scan their surroundings for a suitable spot. With summer claiming the land, it was a little warm for dark coated ladies like they were. Io was feeling the heat beating down through the foliage up above. The minuscule fae moved through the gulley, glancing back every now and again to make sure that Belle was following.

In time, Iolaire came to the perfect place. There was a little stream and a dip in the land with a rocky overhang. It would provide them with shelter from the sun and the water and rock would cool their dark pelts. Reaching into her satchel, Io pulled out a skin. It was thin and had been oiled to be waterproof, but it would be enough to shield them from the dirt and rocks that they would be laying upon. Spreading it out, Io placed her bag atop it. It was large enough to use as a pillow if either of them were so inclined. After that, she motioned for Deathbelle to join her upon it. "A bit of rest will do us both good. Come on." Her tone broached no debate from the larger woman. Io settled upon the pelt and waved Belle over again, holding her foreleg up, already ready to embrace her once more.

"Deathbelle & Iolaire"