|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 4:32 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 5:07 pm
Morana stood before the bonfire feeling the heat it was giving off. Her plan to help bring her Mother and Mom closer together depended on this fire and them opening up with each other. She had to have her younger brothers help make the bonfire, Bitey gladly gathered the sticks and logs for it while Runar kept a close eye on him before starting the fire. Her other brothers, Tricky and Sleepy, were with their father, Wolffish, off doing some hunting or gathering or something; she honestly wasn't sure where exactly they were as they hadn't really said anything before leaving.
Her various mice moved in her hair and on her back, keeping watch for her since she could not see. She had asked her friends Summanus and Fechin to get Amund and Nsia and bring them back to the fire. She turned and took a few steps away from the fire, she was starting to get hot, when she heard some wings flapping. One of the two were back with one of her mothers, or maybe it was both? She strained her ears to try and make out if she was hearing one or two sets of wings. It sounded like one close by and another further away. With her mice's help she turned to face the direction the two mares and familiars were coming from.
"Thank you Fechin and Summanus." She said when both groups had arrived, "Hello Mother and Mom. I heard of an interesting fall tradition that I thought we should try. I already did it with Bitey and Runar... I think they wandered off to find Dad and the other two from the triplets. But any ways.... the tradition is a bonfire reflection. To hang out around the fire, stare into the flames and meditate, reflect on the year that has passed so far. They say the bonfire gives us a place to voice our thoughts and worries and to let them go, much like the embers that drift up into the night sky.... or day sky? It's supposed to be getting closer to dusk right now but I can't tell for sure. I thought that this would be a perfect thing for us to try. What do you two say? I can start if you want." (Morana wc: 382) Amund had been watching Runar chase after Bitey after they got back from helping Morana with whatever thing she had been planning. Her eldest had been a little secretive the past couple of days, working with her brothers to set something up that she wasn't sharing with her parents. She looked up when the raven that hung out with Morana swooped down and landed on the ground before her. "Hello Summanus. You're usually not one to leave Morana's side." She said."Ah yeah you know how I have to herald her arrival to wherever she wanders." Summanus replied, "Well this time I'm here to pass along an invitation. Morana would like to request your presence over at the bonfire." He waited only a moment before taking off circling around Amund until he was sure that she was following him. Amund was a little confused and curious as to why Morana was having Summanus come invite her to a bonfire of all things but after a moment of hesitating she began to follow the bird. It didn't take long until they were approaching where the bonfire had been made and where Morana was. Turning her head to the side she saw the little winged wolf was leading Nsia over as well. Well this wasn't just a mother daughter moment if Nsia was also going to be here.
"Hello Morana. What do we owe the pleasure of you calling both of us to this... bonfire?" She asked. She listened as Morana explained about this tradition she had heard of. She wanted to scoff and call it a waste of time but she caught the look on Morana's face, an expression practically begging them to cooperate and do this bonfire reflection. The tension between Nsia and herself must have been building up enough to worry her daughter about them getting along. She sighed and moved a little closer to the fire. "Sure why don't you start and show us how exactly this works." (Amund wc: 330)
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2026 2:28 am
Nsia had grown distant as of late, ruled by the uncomfortable twisting in her stomach that ached whenever one of them spoke a name too familial towards her, or a gesture of warmth was offered. In the beginning, back when her life was first invaded by colors of bright reds and oranges, Nsia hadn't acknowledged emotion — it was easier to ignore, back then. Back when she had thought their meetings would come with a shorter end.
But it hadn't, and she found herself returning to their side, never straying further than the edges of the family territory, and even helping raise their children. With the slowly building routine came discomfort, for Nsia did not know what this was. Family had never been in her life, nor even friendship; did she enjoy this?
Did she want this?
And so, she had started to drift. She'd return home later and later, often when everyone was long asleep and retired for the night. Her responses had a brief hesitation, as if caught from deep thought or interrupted. What might be the most telling was the distance she kept between herself and the others, even when she was sharing the same soil. It had been a subtle thing, inches stretching throughout the nights until one might realize the witch no longer was within claw's grasp, when previously she might have laid a possessive tail over one of the children she had become fond of, or tweaked a wing to only just brush against Amund's. Touch had always been a delicate thing for Nsia, but perhaps even that had changed because of these circumstances.
Whatever the feeling meant, Nsia did not enjoy it; not one bit. It left her vulnerable — weak. At the mercy of those who did not even know the power they held over the witch. What if they did not feel for her as she felt for them? Was she even certain that was how she felt? Was this care? Affection?
Hope?
No, Nsia was neither a conversationalist nor prone to self-reflection, so she created a space between her and them — especially Amund, who was most likely to rebuke her. Or, at least Nsia assumed. That space would have grown, had not Fechin found her; fetched her. Her tail had lashed in the swamp water, knocking reeds and cattails while she debated if she'd even listen to the little creature. She was not something to summon, like a pet, or dog, or...
Another uncomfortable twist in the gut, another bubbling frustration. She allowed it to propel her from the water, away from the herbs she had been gathering and the ponderings that plagued her. Fechin had no time to react before she carefully snatched him in her claws and took to the skies, although he was likely used to it by now. She didn't need him leading her; his arrival meant one of them wanted her, and she knew exactly where to find them.
The bright colors of yellows, oranges, and reds broke through the monotony of greens and browns eventually, and they would be joined by the witch and wolf. She took care to set him down before landing with a strong flap of her wings. She prowled towards the gathering, wings folding against her back by the time she could hear Morana.
'Hello Mother and Mom.'
Yet another twist in her stomach, buried by her normally stoic expression. Her jaw gritted, stopping herself from smiling towards Morana, a child she remembered wrapping her tail around during the colder nights, or assisting with her bandages when Morana needed someone more dexterous for the job.
"Child," she greeted. Her eyes flicked towards the fire, her damp skin praising the heat blanketing over her. She was grateful Amund had more words ready for her disposal, so that Nsia could simply nod in agreement. She had heard of similar traditions before, but had none to celebrate with until the recent years. It seemed far more introspective than Nsia ever cared to be, but...
Well, she was already here, wasn't she?
[WC: 676]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
