9 ♐ Voice/Action ♐ The leaves of memory

[aim_exorable]

[In the background, the faint sound of leaves rustling and the soothing waves of the ocean can be heard before Darkleer speaks.]

Tell me, if any are so willing, but what do your people do to honor the deceased long after they have passed, whether out of respect or simply to calm any vengeful spirits?

[Action]

[Anyone wandering about by the beach this evening may notice a certain tall troll sitting cross-legged on the sands. Before him are two very small fires, and two small rocky platforms set in the sand. It takes a bit to go and see what is on them- both items are very small, a pen and a hairclip.]

[In the meantime, Darkleer himself seems to be in the process of making a pair of arrows. He's a lot more absorbed in the task than one might think. High up in the air, a large white bird circles about.]

[He won't be much bothered by any company, should someone care to come closer to him.]

Comments

[bestestfurrend]

[The only people she'd fuss over more are Tavros and Equius; as it is she looks close to grooming his face and wounds just to ascertain that he really is okay.]

Ohhh...and it worked? But then what happened?! How did she stop?

[aim_exorable]

[Nepeta. Nepeta please don't. No grooming.]

She simply had to be guided home. That's all.

[bestestfurrend]

[Nope, sorry, too late. At least there's noone around to see them.]

You helped her... [Her eyes shine with tears, but happy ones, and she leaves off the grooming to burying her face against his shoulder for another hug, a muffled 'thank you' just barely audible.]

[aim_exorable]

Mmm. I suppose if you wish to think that way.

[He was really more helping Dualscar, he thinks... But if she wants to think that way, well, okay.]

[bestestfurrend]

[She snuggles against him and burrows into his chest, her voice filled with gratitude when she says again:] Thank you. Thank you, Darkleer. She needed it so much and I wasn't there and she'd lost him again...

[aim_exorable]

She has others she can rely on much better than me. I think she would prefer to. As I thought, she rather despises me for my actions, as she should.

[bestestfurrend]

She didn't right then...I was too upset and Psii was devastated and...I'm really glad you were there fur her at least, Darkleer. And I'm sure that that's not all she feels about it either.

[aim_exorable]

I am rather sure it is the majority of what she feels.

[bestestfurrend]

Shhh. You don't have to think that people will think the worst of you that they can.

[She chuus his forehead and then twists around so that she'll be comfortable in his arms, back to his chest, looking out at the ocean.]

Tell me what you were doing before I got here?

[aim_exorable]

[Yes, please, let's turn away from that conversation.]

I am preparing a small thing for the deceased. At least, two of them.

[bestestfurrend]

Two of the friends that you told me about?

[She tips her head back far enough to be able to look up at him, a little curious but mostly sad. She doesn't like to think of Darkleer losing his friends.]

[aim_exorable]

One of them is from my squadron.

[Avoiding her gaze, he simply leans over to tap the rock with the pen on it.]

For Sila.

[bestestfurrend]

Sila...

[She smiles just a little to see the pen, a familiar symbol to her, and she snuggles down a bit further into Darkleer's arms.]

And the other one?

[aim_exorable]

[A long pause. High up, Dural gives a long, lonely kind of call.]

Her name was Eerin. She... was my matesprit.

[bestestfurrend]

[Nepeta is quiet for a long time too - she can't really imagine that kind of hurt, losing someone so close to you.]

Did you...did you know her for a very long time?

[aim_exorable]

Fifty sweeps, give or take.

[And sadly enough, in comparison to some highblood lives, that's not very long at all.]

[bestestfurrend]

Fifty sweeps?!

[She twists around in his arms to face him again, looking anxious and upset all of a sudden.]

Oh my paws, Darkleer, that's... [Forever, a lifetime, she can't imagine losing Tavros after a few mere perigees and Darkleer'd had a matesprit for fifty sweeps and lost her and she feels so awful for him now.]

[aim_exorable]

[He tries to smile, and he's not quite sure how well it comes out. Not very, really.]

It was a good run, while it lasted. These things happen.

[The kind of truth he's learned to accept, however reluctantly.]

[bestestfurrend]

[She pats gently at his cheeks - no, she's not shooshing him! Just offering comfort to a friend! - and presses her forehead to his chin.]

I'm glad you had her for such a long time, then. And I'm so sorry you lost her.

[aim_exorable]

It was a very long time ago. There's no reason to offer condolences.

[bestestfurrend]

You're still remembering her...so I think that I should, it's only right when you're still missing someone.

[She bites her lip, wanting to ask about her, not sure if this is the right time. Not sure if any other time would be more appropriate than this either.]

[aim_exorable]

Ha. [It's not much of a laugh.] Equius said something similar.

[bestestfurrend]

Did he?

[She smiles at little at that, but it's still sad. Her moirail was better at protecting than pacifying and she'd always known it, so she was always extra proud of him when he said the right thing to comfort someone.

She's not surprised that someone was Darkleer. She knows how Equius feels about him.]

Well, I think he's right.

[aim_exorable]

I am not particularly surprised at that, Miss Nepeta. You would agree with your moirail.

[bestestfurrend]

[She gives him a wide, beseeching kitty-eyed look.]

And you don't agree with your descendant??