Foundation

After he had spoken the words of Ashen’s move aloud, the worry took its hold on his heart, and Stolas waited with bated breath for the other shoe to drop. Would Fiametta take issue with the move? Would the greater distance be too much of a strain on their friendship and she’d decide to call it all off now before it got too difficult? All the worst possible outcomes played like dark demons in his head while he waited for her response, dreading that suspicious squint that came over her eyes again that she al2ays did when she was in critical thought. But much to Stolas’ surprise and relief, Fia didn’t kill their friendship on the spot. Instead, she asked if maybe she could stay over in Ashen sometimes too! The glee that came over Stolas’ face couldn’t be contained and once more his tail set to its excited wagging about like it had a life of its own.

"Oh, yes! That sounds great! I’m sure my aunt wouldn’t mind having you over for visits. Ashen and Elysium are allies, after all, so I can’t imagine she’d say no." Between his aunt and father, Stolas’ family reigned over Ashen in totality, and Venom had brokered the alliance between the Empire and Elysium herself. There was no reason Stolas could think of she might deny them their chance to have visits back and forth to each other’s homes. "I’d really like that, actually. It will be nice to have something familiar in all this change," he admitted with a sheepish smile. With how everything in his life had become so upended in recent seasons, having some comfortable stability with Fia felt like just the lifesaver he needed in amongst a turbulent ocean.

"Stolas"