The Lovliest Lies As his days apart from Lirium grew longer and more extended he found himself wandering through the southern lands. The Spring thaw had reshaped the land and all was now far different than he had anticipated. The Falls in particular granted him a lovely view and he could only think back to the last time he had been there. It was with Cél and he had fought a strange girl with two different colored eyes. He recalled how he felt at the thought of Cél possibly having interest in her and having his friend’s attention taken away from him. The thought stung him like an angry hornet. Knowing that Célestin’s carefree and optimistic nature would be challenged in the months following the fight, and how he would come to question the nature of their relationship. He bounded down the rocky cliffs, unable to be lifted from his brooding even by the frolicking animals enraptured in Spring or the fresh blossoms that lifted and carried on the wind. He paced along the rock wall as the sun began to sink lower casting a vibrant array of colors off the cascading waterfall that still did nothing to lighten his mood. What was he supposed to do?  He had noticed that his own feelings toward Célestin had begun to turn since he reached maturity. Now he thought of how Cél would feel under him, how warm and soft his fur was, and how captivating his scent could be. He gave a deep sigh, inhaling the flora around him. The air was humid and alive with the sweet scent of flowers and the scent of damp grass, and realized in a truly disheartening moment that Célestin smelled like Spring.   He shook the thought away and continued on his trek, refusing to even entertain the thought that what he knew and felt for Célestin was some form of mind altering glamor bestowed on him by his parentage. He moved away from the falls following the jutting cliffs heavy with greenery, his tail lax behind him and nearly tucked between his legs. He passed a small grove of ferns and assorted leaves and could just barely make out a small spring flowing down the smooth rock face of the cliff above him and pattering onto the stones beneath it. It was most likely caused by a reservoir at the top of the cliff that had frozen over and had been brought to life by the Spring thaw. The temperate and humid environment of the falls meant that rain would most likely keep the pool supplied during the summer, but for now it flowed free and unrestrained down the mossy wall. A trick of the last rays of sunlight shining through a bare patch in the overgrowth formed a rainbow over the small spring and Peg felt his heart clench at the sight of it. He was becoming obsessed, he could feel himself slipping into madness, and he felt that the only cure would be to hold Célestin against him and never let him go. He sat, simply watching the spring and the rainbow while the sun slowly drifted downward until the prism of color faded. He huffed, almost disappointed to have watched it go then stood to drink from the cool water. The spring itself seemed almost magical; like a hidden gateway to another world, and his thoughts touched briefly on what Cél would say if he showed it to him. Would that bring him any measure of joy? More than his own warring thoughts, his companion’s melancholy mood troubled him and he wondered not for the first time if he was right to try and separate the motley boy from his birthplace. He wished he had come with him to the falls, wished they could go exploring like they used to, but knew that he still needed time to mourn his sister. When he raised Olympia would the rainbow hued boy be ready to join him? Or would his pack spend the first season surrounded by those that loved him that did nothing to quell his loneliness. He wished his father had been there to provide guidance but he was hundreds of miles away in the home he had left behind. The home that had ultimately come to join him in Boreas. His thoughts touched briefly on Philomena; she was strong and capable and he could see her standing beside him when he raised his pack, she would make a fine wife if it ever came to that. That thought disquieted him more than he cared to admit. He pressed his head against the rock wall and let the cold water flow over his head as he groaned in frustration. He needed to stop thinking about this. He wanted a distraction from his thoughts on Cél and his future pack, he simply wanted to explore and be filled with the wonder of Boreas, but he couldn’t. Word count: 821 Talking Thinking You Of All

Sphinx Beaufort After finding Medea in the Redbud Nook, Sphinx had made the decision to stay in the young grove rather than continue her search across Boreas. After spending so many months searching, spending day after day alone in a wilderness unfamiliar to her, it was a great relief to find a friendly face. She would stay with her sister, for now in a shared den, but perhaps the priestess would consider staying for awhile, making a more permanent den in the nook. It was a nerve racking thought for Sphinx to consider, because while on one hand she wanted to never leave Medea's side again, she also wanted to continue her search for Pegasus. If she was to create a home in the Nook, would it truly be a home or more of a base camp while she searched? Then again, she could hardly bare the thought of leaving Medea at all, not after she found her here in Boreas, all alone! The tall woman groaned softly to herself as she hung her head, large paws dragging across the ground as she walked with a slight headache. While the Nook was beyond beautiful this time of year; purple and pink buds popping along the trees, creating a most alluring sight, it was dull while Medea would go out hunting. Sphinx was not incapable of hunting, but her experience was with small game, just enough to get her by, while it seemed her sister had become quite the huntress since leaving the castle behind. So Medea would go hunting larger game, and Sphinx would be left to her own devices. After a few days, she had discovered every blossoming bud in the entire Nook! Today however, the woman had decided to follow the stream that weaved through the grove, out and towards it's origin. It wasn't exactly a conscious decision made, more like a vague idea thought of while her mind was more occupied with thinking of her next move. She hardly noticed the change in scenery as she walked, her blue gaze trained on the dirt path before her as the Redbuds of the Nook disappeared in the distance, replaced by more ordinary trees and tall grass. Medea wishes to discover herself, perhaps leaving her every once in a while would be good for her? Her mind would chant as she turned and weaved through the wood, oblivious to the tiny critters skittering out of her way. What will I do when I find Peg? Would he come live in the Nook too? What if he has a den somewhere else? Would Medea move to him? Brows knit together as the gears in her mind cranked away, plotting and deciding the best course of action that would keep her siblings together. Suddenly a thought popped into her head. What if neither will move? Would I be forced to choose between Medea and Peg? Another groan would rumble from her throat as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, the throbbing between her temples becoming more aggravated the more she thought. What if they aren't the only ones here? What if the others fled home too? Frustration began to fume within her until she was suddenly smacked in the face by a low hanging branch, causing a shocking pain to radiate across her cheek and snap her eyes back open in surprise. "What in the.." blue eyes looked up and the swinging branch, curious as to how she had managed to be so oblivious. For the first time in what seemed like hours, Sphinx finally looked about the world around her, and noticed she was no longer in the Nook, nor anywhere near it as far as she could tell. The stream she had followed was now a thick rive, and as she stood there in silence, she heard the distant roar of a waterfall. Blue eyes would look to the sky to see a setting sun over the tree tops, alerting to her that she had spent hours wondering, and it would become dark soon. If she hurried, perhaps she could make it back to Medea's den before her sister returned from her hunt. But at the thought of sprinting all the way back to the Nook, Sphinx suddenly felt tired and parched. Suddenly that waterfall, was sounding more and more like a good spot for a drink. Long legs carefully wove their way through the trees, perked ears driving her towards the sound of water slamming against stone. When at long last she had finally broken through the treeline and into the clearing, she stood at the far pool with the waterfall tall and magnificent in the distance. She could not recall a time where she was blessed enough to witness such natural beauty. Warm sunset rays collided with the waterfall, making the droplets shine with every color imaginable. The nearby tree tops were decorated with the reflected light, making the scene before here look more like a fantasy than reality. But just as she took a step towards the falls, towards the brilliant light show of rainbow colors, it was gone. For a moment, a mass of disappointment and confusion coursed through her, only to realized the fading sun could no longer stand above the canopy. The last of the days light would begin to fade, but not before it illuminated movement along the waterfall's wall. Squinting her eyes in an attempt to better focus her vision, Sphinx contemplate for a moment if it was some sort of mountain lion drinking from the falls, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was in fact another wolf. Blue orbs slowly widened as she began to recognize the familiar strike patterns along the males back, the black and white markings that cut across an all too familiar golden base. Sphinx could feel her chest pounding with her erratic beating heart that seemed to swell with hope and joy. Could it be? There was only one way to find out. "Peg?" She would breathe, her voice too soft for even her own ears. Suddenly her legs were carrying her along the edges of water, splashing as she made a bee-line for the wolf. Finally finding her voice, she would call out in a booming yet hopeful voice; "Pegasus!" "Speech"

The Lovliest Lies He lifted his head suddenly, sending droplets of water flying as he searched for the source of the voice that called for him. Almost immediately his eyes fell on his cream colored sibling, his heart beating a staccato tattoo as she drew closer to him. “Sphinx?!” He called disbelievingly. “Sphinx how did you- When-“ A million questions raced through his mind as she approached him and then simply washed away as he moved to press his damp forehead against hers in a  familiar greeting if she allowed it. “When did you get here?” He asked, unable to hold back the question any longer. “Is father alright?” He asked with greater hesitation than before. What if their father had passed while he was away? What if he failed in his mission and Yale died still a slave by the rights of another family. Talking Thinking You Of All