funny how life changes

Gwynevere sat in her infirmary, looking up at the skull that now adorned one of the upper shelves of her supplies and decor. Artorias had gifted it to her, a bit of a gift and proof that the wolf that had started the internal terror and battle she continued to fight was finally vanquished. It didn't feel real yet and sometimes when she looked at those sharp, serrated teeth that were inset into the male's skull she could almost hear his scathing words as if he was still talking, but he wasn't. He was dead and they were all still here—worse for wear thanks to his existence. She let out a slow sigh and shook her head as she looked away from it, turning her lavender and sage gaze down to the vials she had been working on filling with extracts that had been steeping since early that morning.

Her work was swiftly interrupted when Eilwen tapped her on the shoulder and pointed up to one of the windows. She looked up with confusion until her gaze locked onto the familiar form of Ysmir's companion. She gasped softly, a grin pulling across her lips as all at once her day was brightened up with just one look though a window. It always felt like ages between their visits and in some ways it kind of was. There were usually long stretches of time between the times she was able to spend with him, but every time she saw him it felt like nothing had changed and it made all the time in-between worth it.

She quickly placed a lid on the extract she was decanting and then rushed out of the room to head out of the castle. She wasn't wearing her cloak since she didn't tend to wear it while she was within the castle, but as always her precious circlet was resting on her brow. She ran out of the castle and across the stretch of open land between the stone walls and the border, spotting his dark form waiting for her easily. She didn't stop running until she was almost to him and she noticed the stuff that he had with him. She ignored it for a moment, slowing to a stop in front of him to keep from knocking him over before she threw her forelegs around his neck in a tight hug. "Ysmir! I'm so glad you're here!" she exclaimed with a giggle as she loosened her hold around his neck, slipping down to sit back on her haunches in front of him. She glanced to his stuff again with a questioning look before she brought her gaze back up to his, lifting her paws so she could sign to him, "What's all of this?"

"Gwynevere Carpathius"