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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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 Posted: Mon May 29, 2023 9:38 pm
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2023 9:54 pm
Aelin was tired. So very tired. Their little family took a lot of time and energy. She loved them and Wayward completly. She had never know such joy or such exhaustion. Now that they had someone to watch their children for a few day while they looked for a permanet home, it was all Aelin could do to not want to lay down and sleep away the week of time they had to find someplace.
They'd decided on somewhere near the beach, but with fresh water nearby. Something that had good shelter and would be easy to get seafood and land food as needed. They had all but settled on finding a cave close to the shoreline. It would fit everything they needed, but apparently the whole mess was more difficult than that. They'd looked for three days already and had found one cave large enough--only it was filled with hundreds of bats. Literally, hundreds. Not an estimation. They streamed out like some black wind that was terrifying to behold.
Shaking the mental image from her mind Aelin took a deep breath as they walked on the golden sand of yet another beach. "What if we can't find a cave? What else will work with our family? Are we wanting too much?" She tried to keep the worry from her voice as best as she could, but she knew that it slipped in. "Maybe we should just build?" She smiled as she nudged her mate, "Sand dollar for your thoughts?"
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 6:18 pm
Wayward watched the other mare with a soft smile on her face, chuckling inwardly at her flustering. She nuzzled her softly, a gesture of reassurance. This was how it was with them - Wayward as carefree as her name implied and Aelin doing the worrying for the both of them until she was calmed down with gentle words and even gentler kisses.
"We will find something, Aelin. Of this, I am certain. If we can't I will hire a hoard of hippogryphs to fashion us a home. It will take some time but we will find a place."
Her hooves sunk into the sand and she basked in the sun happily. Truly, she would be content to sleep on the sand under the stars each night but the cycles of the tide may make that difficult and dangerous and she knew not all members of their family would be as comfortable as she. No, they needed to find a place and though they had been searching for some time Wayward still had hope - she was certain that their time spent would be worth it in the end for they would find something truly perfect for their family.
Ahead of them, a large outcrop of rocks jutted from the sand, cutting across like a wall. "Let's look ahead - that might be promising," she picked up her pace. As reassuring as she wanted to be she was starting to worry that they wouldn't find anything.
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Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 10:07 pm
Aelin felt herself calming as Wayward Wind's skin touched her own. The touch of her skin focused her, grounded her in a way that nothing else ever had. Aelin sighed deeply, "You're right, I know you're right. I only want to give you-- all of you, the very best." In some odd way it made herself feel bad that she couldn't instantly provide for them, as if she was lacking. She knew that wasn't reasonable, or true. She knew that they didn't need much, not as long as they had love like this she didn't care if the slept beneath the stars for the rest of their life. But she had the need to provide.
She laughed at Wayward's words and felt her heart lighten as they moved toward the jutting of rocks. As they got closer they saw that there was a cave there, just like they'd hoped. The opening was parted by two sandbars but it was out of reach of the tides. When they ducked into the cave, a little giddily, they found that it was spacious and deep. About thirty feet in there was an incline that leveled out into a wide shelf. There was a small pool that was right below the shelf that was only about two feet deep. The cave narrowed and went back until it narrowed into a smaller passage way.
Aelin peered into the long corridor. "I wonder if there's another way out. I feel like--" She moved slightly and felt the air stir her hair. "I think there's another opening, somewhere else. An exit. There's fresh air coming into here. There was fresh water a little way from her up in the trees, right?" It seemed to be almost exactly what they were looking for. The cave was cool, but it wasn't freezing. It looked spacious, it looked like it could just possibly be home.
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Wed May 31, 2023 3:50 pm
Wayward was in awe of the cave they'd found - it was perfect. No bats, to start with and enough sections and room that, should their children decide to stay with them into adulthood, they could have their own separate areas to stay. Wayward could picture it - picture them building a life here and her eyes watered at the images shifting through her mind. Aelin, their kids - their future kids, living together. In the darkness of the cave, luminescence glowed, making the ceiling look like the night sky. The ceiling was not completely closed - there were tiny openings - not large enough for anyone to fly through but enough that breeze should flow in and out easily enough, providing relief during the warm months.
Wayward took a deep breath, looking down at Aelin with a grin. "I told you we'd find something," she said nuzzling her. "Let's head in and get a closer look - make sure it's safe and see what else it has to offer." Wayward didn't need to wait to know Aelin would follow her - that was how it was with the two - they would follow each other anywhere without question.
As she stepped further into the cave, she noticed little rock pools teeming with life - starfish and crustaceans moved lazily through the shallow waters, hunting for food trapped. The pools didn't extend far - that seemed to be the limit for the tide. The rocks at the entry were slippery - but the sand provided enough traction that she could navigate it easily enough and as they wandered further in the rock dried and she could walk confidently enough.
Ahead, there was light from an opening and Wayward could feel the breeze Aelin was talking about. They hadn't seen the opening as they explored outside but perhaps it was hidden and they'd walked right past it. The sound of her hooves clacking across the cave floor echoed back at them over and over almost as if the cave was clapping, welcoming them. The tunnel was narrow but not dangerously slow - it just mean they couldn't walk side by side.
Wayward was the first to exit and she exclaimed loudly - a sharp intake of breath. "Oh my God." Inside was greenery - thick and lush, a canopy almost blocking out the sky. The walls of the cave here extended far but if they looked carefully they could see the light and blue sky from the day looking down upon them. The sound of a waterfall - not raging or furious but calm and tranquil came in the distance. Birds twittered and fluttered to and fro and there were fruit trees and berry bushes. It was paradise laid out before them and for a moment Wayward wondered if perhaps they should find somewhere else - not wanting to disturb this perfect place. Wayward knew that they would respect this place and she couldn't stop the tears that spilled down her cheeks this time - nor did she want to because these were tears she was glad to shed.
"We've found it, Aelin. This is our home."
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Posted: Wed May 31, 2023 4:31 pm
Aelin followed behind Wayward, watching her mate look at the cave. It was beautiful. The place was too, but the pure joy on Wayward's face--the absolute wonder was...breathtaking. Her eyes burned for a moment once they got to the small grotto and she echoed what Wayward said about the grotto but her eyes were only on Wayward. "Yes, this is home." Her voice broke for a moment and she looked at all the perfect imperfectness in her mate before she surged forward and nuzzle her shoulder lovingly. "You are my home. Anywhere you are." She nipped at her mate's neck and inhaled the sweet, soft scent of her. In her mind's eye she saw them building here, growing until it wasn't just their kids but theirs and theirs. There was enough room here for anyone who would stay. And would not want to stay with Wayward?
She rubbed against her lover's neck and let out a low, throaty laugh. "There doesn't seem to be much to do to make this place habitable. And we have the time." She looked Aelin in the eye with a mischievous look, "Why don't we--"But before she could say what she was thinking, her body reacted and she cut herself off with a kiss to Wayward.
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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