Solemnity

The woman didn't answer. She didn't confirm that her children were dead and gone, but that was confirmation in itself. Valtiel knew the tricks, the little mental games. Mentally, spiritually, the obsidian fae was far older than her few years of life. She knew that leaving out a few words or skirting past something uncomfortable could put someone in the state that you wished them to be in, but Val was wise to these tricks. She didn't blame the woman for trying, however.

Suddenly a man was there and he was the one to confirm that her children were gone. Gone with the gods, as he put it. Valtiel held her eyes wide, lest she let the tears flow again. A short nod of acceptance was given and the action pulled at the grievous wound on her neck and shoulder. The flesh there felt heavy and went and she would surely need stitching.

Now that her fears had been solidly confirmed, Val was somehow able to move past it. They were gone. She was alone. She could now focus on the present. On the here and now. That was when she first realized that the antlered woman wasn't crying for her, but with her. The pain that she was feeling was known to this pale, gold flecked fae. The gentle stroking paw was there to sooth not just Val, but both of them. A midnight paw rose, caught the gold-dipped digits and gave them a gentle squeeze, a wordless thank you.

The bears head was to be kept, the rest for the scavengers. Val would have done much the same and was thankful that the other woman had the mind to take this bit of revenge on her behalf. Then the woman was back at her side, helping her to stand. Gold and orange eyes noted the tender exchange between the man and woman; a kiss bestowed. They were a bonded pair. No wonder she could see the woman's pain reflected in the man's eyes.

It hurt to stand. Hurt to move. Hurt to exist. She would do it though. Her children were dead so she had already gone through the worst pain imaginable. Walking with a shredded shoulder was nothing. "I will walk," she spoke low through gritted teeth as she tested her weight on the left front leg. The limb quivered involuntarily and she was in obvious pain, but she would walk. After a few steps towards the doorway, Val stopped, breathing heavily. Spots swam before her eyes and she looked to the large fae. "I may fall..." And she did. Darkness swallowing her whole.

"Valtiel"