The Summer Bonfire Festival

Despite everything, Audra still smiled when Avantika approached. Her heart melted, and she wondered how she could ever even think of depriving herself of seeing her love's smile. It only took a moment for Audra to stop talking with Laeta and turn to her. A flash of guilt struck her. What had she done to deserve this perfect girl? Running off on patrols to cure her own anxieties --sometimes not properly speaking to her for days at a time?

She barely noticed Tamsyn. All of her attention was on her girlfriend right now. She promised herself and she promised Audra: this would be a good party and just that. She would not let herself even think about what could be happening on the border. Nothing was happening. If anything did happen, she would be out there after to fix whatever went wrong. It would all be fine, even if she took a little break to hang out with her Audra.

She followed Audra to sit down. Art began speaking. Technically she was a season older than her adoptive siblings, but she had no reason to mind being included in their birthday. It was better to pretend that she was their biological litter-mate, and they were old enough that the one season difference didn't seem to mean very much anymore. Art lit the bonfire and released them to the festivities.

Audra rested her face against Avantika's shoulder and spoke up to her. She burned in shame to hear her say, 'I miss you'. That was her fault. She was trying so hard to be a good Templar, but she never could figure out how to be a good girlfriend too. "I miss you too. Of course we can." She was determined to make this work.

"Speech"