World Turning

R

hiannon had always been a disciple of the darkness, a reveller in the night since she was a wee girl. The cold and enduring nights of winter brought no fear into the heart of the wanderer, and she embraced what came to her during these long, enchanted hours. But the days would soon grow longer, as the country stood on the precipice of spring, itself a magical season, though for other reasons. So Rhiannon was making the most of the extended twilight the snowy season provided, and tonight, it was early evening but still pleasantly dark, with low clouds hanging ominously overhead.


The breeding season was, mercifully, nearing the end of its days for this year, and it was with great intention that Rhiannon avoided males. Of course, that was not much different from Rhiannon’s interactions with the alleged stronger sex at any time of the year. She had no use for them and could ignore them, mostly. During this season, however, she remained especially cautious. The mystical fae was sorting through a collection of dried herbs and plants she had collected during the fall and into the winter, with just a few she had remaining from the previous spring and summer. Still, she was satisfied with what she had harvested, as it produced a wide variety of both cures and poisons, and a few things in between.


A foreignt scent caught her senses and dark nostrils flared as she took in the scent, which was glaringly obvious to be male. A sigh parted her lips as she turned away from her collection, careful to hide it from view from whoever else may be present. With any luck, he would not notice her, or not care enough to seek her out. Her facade was an enigma, revealing nothing as she waited for a stranger to reveal himself.


@Sethos

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

It was as every other day began — patrols, walking, endless walking. It had become a habit of Sethos's to wander out of territory despite the endless, worn trail he had beaten into the patrol path. Routine was becoming stagnate, and his mind was searching for a diversion. After all, so much had happened in the span of a few weeks. Now that his sister had returned from her passion kill, he was slipping back into mundane life as though nothing had ever changed.

It was easier to pretend it hadn't.

The undersides of his paws ached as he walked through a clearing, his head low as his nose caught droplets of water from the outstretched grass blades. A rustling could be heard nearby, something akin to shuffling leaves, and he paused in the trek. Although he did not come around these parts often, he was no stranger to the wild things that lurked in the shadows. Maybe he would have turned back the way he came had he still been a yearling.

As he was, he pushed onwards, curiosity peaking. As he rounded a corner, molten-orange eyes briefly met violet hues. Having already suspected he was not alone in this part of Rionnach, the surprise did not slide as quickly to his face. He did, however, feel his jaw slack a bit in wonder. The female was surrounded by different herbs and foraged material, her posture stiff and tense.

Had she expected him to come across her? His left ear twitched forward, a natural inclination that catered to his nosiness at the time.

"Seems like quite the tea party you have going on," he jested softly, without malice or bite. He was only interested in what she might have been doing before he arrived.

code & art by claerie


@Rhiannon