This was the first place encountered on this new continent that displeased Adora, and it was only due to the recent turn of events ending with her thoroughly snared in thorned brush. Trying to pull herself out only caused the vicious plant to hold tighter, and she had Maeve to consider, who had nowhere to go and so remained tucked close around her neck. The scarf that covered the cotton mouth was thin and would only protect so much. Ideally, she needed another set of paws, but that was the stinger; this place didn't seem to see much activity at all from her kind. Adora sighed and relaxed as much as she could, resigning herself to wait long enough to see if the Mother was willing to send any help her priestess' way. If no one came in a reasonable amount of time, she would just have to grit her fangs and deal with the damage, which would hopefully fall all onto her and leave her companion unmarred. Maeve hissed against her throat, attempting to lend her patience to the young woman. It had been months, and Adora was so tired of constantly waiting. Waiting for guidance, for leads, for passage... but mostly, of waiting for her. Softly, she growled. Damn this thicket. Word Count: 213, for Ellery only.

Having settled what she could with Clouse, Ellery had decided she needed some time to be alone. She had a lot to think about and a lot to question. Clouse didn’t want to go back to the Dell at all, and he also didn’t want to stay with them. That still stung, a pain that she felt acutely in her chest. There was nothing she could do about it, however, and now that she’d finished one goal, she needed to move on to the next. The land they’d entered was so vast that she wasn’t even sure if she could wrap her head around it. Surely there could be a place for them somewhere, somewhere that wasn’t surrounded by packs and somewhere that reminded her of home. Nothing could replace the Keep, but perhaps there was something that could become the next best thing?

For these reasons, she’d informed Ramiel and Judas of her absence for a week or so. It had taken her roughly two days to get to the meadow from the coast and she intended to go even further this time, but no longer than a week. After all, she needed to check in on her younger brother as she’d said she would. So she traveled, long legs taking her over some familiar land and some unfamiliar. She’s turned into a forest and along the way, came to find with disdain that it was full of briars. Lucky for the Hervok knight, her pelt was nice and thick, protecting her from a good portion of the prickles. That didn’t mean it didn’t sting when it pulled out a clump of fur, however.

Just as she was beginning to regret her decisions, the sound of something struggling in the brush caught her attention. She paused, deciphering which way it was coming from before venturing forward. The scene she came upon she was not expecting in the slightest. “...Adora? What the hell?”

"Speech"

Adora tensed as the signals of another's approach tickled at her senses. It only just then occurred to her that she was vulnerable right now, but the prickle of anxiety was short lived as a familiar face broke through the scenery rather than the twisted visage of a villain that she was beginning to imagine. Adora's eyes widened and she was immediately caught between embarrassment and unbridled joy. Exactly the wolf she'd spent months tracking and yet, where she'd wanted to impress her love with her resilience and determination, now she was found, trapped like a pup in a thicket. Heat rushed to her face and her ears curled back, while sunset eyes averted their gaze a moment. "... surprise." Adora looked up almost sheepishly, and offered a small smile. "Lend a girl a paw?" Word Count: 134

It had been several months since she’d seen the dark Priestess, their last interaction being the ending of their tedious relationship just before Ellery had left to find Clouse. Adora hadn’t taken it well, she knew that, but there was nothing she could do about it. She’d had her fun with her and now that she’d be leaving and wouldn’t return for who knew how long it had been time to let her go to find other fish in the sea. She hadn’t anticipated seeing her again for a long while, yet here she was, tangled up in a mess of briars and looking sheepishly at her, a look that she never usually gave. The blond knight’s persian gaze narrowed suspiciously at her ex-lover.

She said nothing at first, simply pushing forward through the briars to reach Adora. Once she was there she began to nip at the places that the thorns had sunk their hooks into, the familiar scent and feel of the woman making Ellery’s skin itch uncomfortably. “What are you doing here, did my mother ask you to come?” she asked as she worked to free the sunset-eye’d gal.

"Speech"

Ellery moved in to help, and Adora's embarrassment was washed away by the warm waters of yearning. The blonde's scent easily overpowered the smell of dirt and brambles, and she wanted keenly to lean forward and embrace the other woman. She was reminded of dark nights, shared breaths and a deep sense of contentment she hadn't been able to find anywhere else. Even Adora knew things weren't that simple, however; she remained still as the gilded paladin worked. Maeve twisted against her quickened pulse, eager to be freed. "Not... your mother, no," she answered; Adora knew that Ellery did not agree with her religion, and so she simply tried to keep things short when it came up. "You were so upset, Elle. I... had to come. I want to do what I can to help you and your brother." She hadn't realized how hard it would be to make up that time she'd spent indecisive, praying to the Moon Mother for guidance. Word Count: 162

Adora, thankfully, remained still as Ellery worked. Her lips and gums stung from the small cuts they received from the thorny brush but she remained silent against the pain, even as she began to taste her own copper blood. She would heal quickly from the small abrasions. Her gaze looked to see the scarf around her ex-lover’s neck wriggling, proof of Maeve’s ever present, scaly body. Elle had never been fond of the slithery creature, but it had never seemed to both her so she never bothered it. In that way, they coexisted.

The Priestess spoke and from her words, she knew she was talking about the Moon Mother. The blonde knight suppressed a sigh. Of course she’d come because of the entity she supposedly served. Adora was extremely devoted to her faith, something the woman had admired even though she didn’t necessarily agree with it. It had caused some arguments in their time together so it was a rather sore subject, but she didn’t comment on the matter. She didn’t feel much like fighting at the moment, especially not surrounded by brambles. The dark woman told her that she’d come to help her find Clouse, as she’d been upset and still was a bit upset. She appreciated the thought, truly, but why had she come after Ellery had ended things? Surely it wasn’t her place anymore to worry for her.

With a final nip and pull, Ellery released Adora from the clutches of the briars, tongue swiping across her lips to lick her mouth clean. “You’re free. Let’s get out of this place,” she said, taking a step back so that Adora could get herself turned around before leading the way through the thicket, using her body to push through the more prickly parts. Tufts of her fur hung behind as a result. “I appreciate it, but I’ve already found Clouse,” she said over her shoulder. Her responses were clipped and unnecessarily cold, she knew this, and she cleared her throat. “Did you have any troubles on your way?”

"Speech"

Adora noticed the blood that spattered Ellery's lips before it was cleared away, proof of two things she loved about the woman; without fail, the Hervok was direct and tough as diamond. Adora sighed, though with relief or in swooning it was difficult to distinguish. Regardless, she reigned her feelings in as she escaped the snare and followed after her rescuer. Maeve's own relief was whispered into the wolf's ear, but the latter was focused on the blonde's words. Her ears picked up and eyes widened as Ellery informed her that they'd found Clouse. That was good! "Not at all. Is Clouse alright?" She wished dearly that their path would widen so they could walk side-by-side and she could see Ellery's face. It would be far easier to guess at what she was thinking with that evidence, as the ice that had resided in the other woman's voice ever since their final disagreement gave her nothing to go on. Word Count: 159

She smiles like a georgia summer

It was a probably a good thing that Adora was behind her so she wouldn’t see the wince that passed across Ellery’s face when she was asked about Clouse. Of course he was alive and well, that much was a blessing considering his company, but she was still trying to determine what it was, exactly, that she should do about the current state of their relationship. It wasn’t on good terms, but it wasn’t exactly on bad either and she knew she wanted to try and mend it, show Clouse that he wasn’t a bother and that he was valued and had more potential than he knew.

It took a few long moments before the blonde knight replied. “He’s fine, but our plans have changed. We won’t be returning to the Dell. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing,” she said, though there wasn’t really a hint of actual apology in her tone. The dark woman had decided to come of her own volition, her wasted time was her fault on her own, but the apology felt proper anyhow.

she laughs like the sound of thunder