The castle felt crowded, oppressive. His right eye itched, as if it still leaked fluid over the naked flesh under his eye, he rubbed his ankle over the still raw scar that ringed his eye. Luckily he hadn't lost his sight but it hadn't exactly helped his already rock bottom mental state. Still for all he wanted to shrink into the shadows and keep others from having to look at him, physically marred now by his worthlessness, he at least was out under the sun. After the longest night he'd ever experienced some part of him, the part that clung to the small, withered desire to live, was yelling at him to be out, in the light and warmth.

So he escaped to the plains, found himself a patch of the field that seemed less traveled than other parts of the plains. He settled himself onto his stomach and allowed himself a moment of peace, of feeling the spring sun wash over his sandy form and warm his skin. He hadn't been out in the day for much time even before the sun had disappeared and he hadn't felt the warmth of the day in some time, it felt nice.



Speech

Art by Rivaah

To Lillith the castle was home, its wide spaces and vast hallways made her feel safe. She’d never have described the massive structure as overcrowded. Part of her wondered if they could fit every wolf in all of Boreas and Auster sometimes. But the castle remained dark when the sun returned, and Lillith had thrown open the doors to her balcony, torn down the curtains over the windows, and basked in the sun’s glory. Almost as thankful for its return as she was for the lifting of Roman’s illness.

The girl had grown a lot over the long night, facing the possibility of losing the boy she loved had changed her heart and her mind. She had experienced a brush with death when she was younger, but seeing Romulus nearing his last breath gave her an appreciation for the fragility of life that hadn’t been there before. More than that she gained a better appreciation for those in her life. Their mother was gone, she and their sister were never coming back, Ezra was miles away in Fenmyre. Lillith felt closest to Ulric, but with her illness she had always been a little distant from Jane and Emile.

Part of her felt like it was her fault, she’d been too sick to truly kindle their relationships. Now that she felt healed and better than she had her whole life, one of her goals was to rekindle those bonds. Her dainty silver paws carried her through the plains, she’d caught Emile’s trail while she was out looking for meadowsweet. Garnet gaze found his sandy form soaking up the renewed sunlight and even Lillith could appreciate how peaceful he looked compared to even a season ago.

”Hey, Emile.” She greeted him softly as she approached him with her head lowered and ears perked.

Lillith Adravendi

For the most part Emile tried to be pretty aware, the last thing he wanted was to bump into Bowen while he was out but out of the way out here and with the warmth of the sun lulling him into a sort of calm he had managed to miss his sister's approach her call startled him. Instinct kicked in and he ducked his head so that he was covering the scarred side of his face with his foreleg, looking up at his sister with one forest green eye and then sliding off of her to see if she was alone.

Emile really did not want to be bitter about his sister but he couldn't help but feel it, that gnawing loneliness was only exacerbated by the knowledge that his brother and sister had something he never could. Jane was the only one who like him seemed to have been left behind, missing yet another important milestone in their young lives. Emile was certain he could never have what Lilith and Ezra had found. Emile wasn't someone who could be loved like that. His family he knew felt something they called love for him... But that would be all he'd ever have because it was all he ever deserved. But it hurt, to be reminded by it, and so he hadn't sought out his sister much since she'd found herself trailed by the slate young man. He didn't want to be reminded. But luckily today at least it appeared she was alone.

Hhhhhey, Lil...lith." He managed, burying his face to make sure she couldn't see his scars.


Speech

Art by Rivaah

Lillith didn’t intend to startle her brother, she was no threat to her family for sure. The only one that needed to look out was Roman, as she’d kicked his butt twice in spars now. Lil wouldn’t dream of hurting Emile and she withdrew a little herself as he ducked from her greeting. He looked downright ashamed as his emerald eye looked up to her, and she tried not to see the terror in him. Emile was a much different wolf since their last talk before the long dark.

She couldn’t comprehend the possibility that he could be holding the events of her life against her. Lil didn’t know when she met Roman just how essential to her life he would become, nor would she understand the jealousy her brother would hold for that fact. Romulus made her happy, he brightened her life like no one else, it didn’t occur to her that that brightness did not reflect on those around her. She didn’t realize that warmth would be ice to Emile.

Her brother inverted into himself as he greeted her in return. He looked small and broken, and Lillith wasn’t so certain how to react. ”Are you okay?” She chalked up the distance between them to the effects of the long dark and the illness that gripped the Hallows. Not that she had found her other half in Roman. ”Do you need anything?” Lil continued softly, her slate speckled ears folding her to skull timidly.

Lillith Adravendi