I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

Pyralis flopped down next to a raspberry bramble as the afternoon stretched on. It was a decent day, sunny and warm. Around her the trees swayed softly in the breeze as squirrels and birds chattered away in the trees. In Auster it really felt like spring was finally returning and the days of freezing weather would be behind them for a little while longer. Pyralis stretched her arms out and rested her head on her forelegs. It was a lovely day. A boring day. She was eager for some action but at the moment it was too risky for the pirates to get up to much trouble. With such a little group she wondered when they would finally go on their first raid.

thinking "speech" "others" Every other moment, he expected to find himself feeling something for the lands where he'd grown up. The strange emptiness that had taken root between his ribs once he found out Agria was dead seemed to settle further into his bones with every passing hour. As he skirted around brambles and idly chewed the pathetic bud of cannabis he'd managed to scrounge up that day, he caught sight of a vaguely familiar figure. Cerulean gaze squeezed tight against the sun, he plodded closer. Oh, it was his aunt. Or.. was she his cousin? the family was so immense, with so many offshoots and branches, he wasn't entirely certain what her relation was. Part of him was amazed to find her alive and well, though he did recall her tendency to defy expectation and warp reality to her will. The things that stick with you from childhood. "Glad to see some of the old guard stuck around," he commented upon his approach, spitting the eviscerated wad of cannabis back and over his shoulder. He wasn't interested in offending her with the smell of it or the sound of his chewing. Most of the effects had already kicked in anyways, and he felt a looseness in his joints and the beginnings of a haze within the confines of his skull. "it's good to see you, Aunt Pyralis." he rumbled warmly, trying to play off the outright guess at their relationship. When in doubt, go with something vague. I'VE GOT LIES TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN, WHEN MY SMILE PIERCES THROUGH YOUR BONES

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I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

Pyralis lifted her head as a voice broke through the lazy haze of the day. She glanced at a youth that she realized was family but the exact relation escaped her. She was getting to old to keep up with everything and considering her abandonment of the family faith she doubted it really mattered. Of course, that little detail was something she'd keep to herself for now. Heretics tended not to last long in her family. She grinned. "Well, around after a fashion. The fate of our family and pack rests in the paws of the younger generations. I'm simply lingering around waiting for death at this point." She got to her feet and stretched. She truthfully had never expected to linger this long.

"Mephisto, isn't it? You can forgive an old woman her memory I hope."

thinking "speech" "others" He was glad to see he wasn't a stranger among family, and returned her grin with one of his own. The phoenix settled on his haunches a respectful distance from his aunt, keeping enough space between them that she shouldn't feel crowded. "Well, around after a fashion. The fate of our family and pack rests in the paws of the younger generations. I'm simply lingering around waiting for death at this point." she commented as she rose to her feet and stretched her legs. Somehow she was smaller than he remembered, but that may have been youth warping his views. His sire had seemed gargantuan during the days that they lived in the empire, but he had come to match his sire in size by the time Kaine died. A wry twist to inky lips preceded an amused purr, "I fear you may end up waiting a while then, you don't look a day over six to me." he assured his aunt. She did look to be in good health and spirits, having outlived most of her siblings by all accounts. Some of her nieces and nephews, even. Word travelled slowly through the grapevine, but he had heard of a few deaths while he was away. "Mephisto, isn't it? You can forgive an old woman her memory I hope." her words didn't come as much of a surprise, his name was certainly a mouthful. His sire had truly been aiming high when naming him. "You're half right, so I suppose I can forgive you this time." he chuckled, cerulean eyes twinkling. "Mephistopheles is my full name, but mostly I get called Meph." he added with a small shrug. She could do whatever she wished with this information, he wouldn't fault her for anything. He had settled comfortably into his haze, shoulders rolling once as he relaxed the tense muscles. "What have you been keeping busy with, since the Empire fell?" he finally asked, lifting a brow curiously. I GOT LIES TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN, WHEN MY SMILE PIERCES THROUGH YOUR BONES

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I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

"I fear you may end up waiting a while then, you don't look a day over six to me."

Pyralis barked out a laugh and winked at her nephew. "Flatterer! That silver tongue will either lead you to great fortune or trouble, mayhap both!" Alas she had not quite gotten his name but she was at least close. Her memory was still passable if not entirely accurate. She shrugged a little at his question. "Oh, I wouldn't say the empire is gone entirely. It still lives in some fashion in the form of Aerie under Eligos' rule. But I uh… have gone in search of other pursuits. Just looking to get into some trouble before my body is given back to the worms." Eligos was a serious sort, very much all business and she doubted he'd care much to have her causing trouble for the pack. "I've gone and joined a little Pirate Band. You'd be welcome to join of course if you don't have plans of heading to Aerie."

thinking "speech" "others" He appreciated that she took his flattery in good spirits, as jesting was second nature to him. She seemed to care little for the loss of the Empire, and he couldn't say he disagreed. There hadn't been enough time for him to get attached, between his sire's constant forays in search of the missing half of his new family. He was certainly a little sad to know that the family had not been able to maintain its grip on the southern continent, but it was the nature of the world to be in turmoil and strife. "Oh, I wouldn't say the empire is gone entirely. It still lives in some fashion in the form of Aerie under Eligos' rule. But I uh… have gone in search of other pursuits. Just looking to get into some trouble before my body is given back to the worms." she admitted, and he hummed thoughtfully, eyes falling shut for a few beats. Well, he supposed it was nice to have a name to put to the pack who had ignored his call at the borders. He opened his eyes again and directed a small grin her way. "I can certainly appreciate a desire to maintain chaos," he quipped with a light laugh. There was only a brief moment until she spoke again, an offer that was almost too good pass up. "I've gone and joined a little Pirate Band. You'd be welcome to join of course if you don't have plans of heading to Aerie." Pyralis said, which he met with a quirk of his brow. Pirates? He hadn't seen many of those, but he was still fairly young, so perhaps he should be getting out more to rectify such errors. "I may have to take you up on that- or simply pay you a visit to take some of those ill gotten gains out of your paws, for a fair bargain of course. As my favourite aunt, I'll refrain from robbing you blind." he purred with a soft chuckle, shooting a broad grin her way. Auburn banner thumped lightly against the terra in amusement as he revelled in the banter. I GOT LIES TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN, WHEN MY SMILE PIERCES THROUGH YOUR BONES

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I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

Pyralis was glad someone could appreciate her need to keep life interesting. She was the sort to sit contentedly growing old and telling stories to wee pups. She intended to get into trouble and push some boundaries before she was, hopefully, killed during battle. Oh it would be so irritating to be taken out by old age or a disease. It just wasn't her style.

She cackled. "Well, good. I'd hate to have to chew the paws off a relative of mine. And you should. Our band is still small but it is slowly expanding. I hope we can raid soon. Should be exciting." She stretched out again, yawning as she did so. "Ah, now, if you'll excuse me. I am late for a nap."

-end?-