At Your Service!

“Yes, why, yes! I do agree, good sir and madam! I certainly think I might use a drink, if you would be so kind!” Rafiel had spent the morning assisting a couple of elderly locals clearing a fallen tree from the front of their den—fortunately, no one had been injured during the storm, but it was a rather tedious obstacle.

He was, as any good knight, willing to assist without payment, lending his strength as they harnessed him to the log with dried, braided vines. It was hard work, of course, and he put all of his weight into it, sinking his paws into the mud and snow. He had no problems with dirtying himself in the line of duty, but he would be sure to clean himself either to keep an immaculate appearance—it was a habit learned from his sister, the beautiful Mirah.

The elderly couple offed him laps of their home brew, and Rafiel was very pleased to taste the sweet beverage upon his tongue. “Ah, it was no trouble at all,” he said in return to their expressions of gratitude, his boisterous voice wafting through the entrance of the den. “Should you need further assistance, I am more than happy to be of service. All you need to do is ask!”

@Edric @Lilith @Merrin

Art by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Despite himself, the Zyphear scholar had found himself looking over his shoulder, as if expecting Lilith to pop out from behind a tree, but she never did. He gathered his thoughts and shook the small white blanket off of his back that had accrued while he was out in the open. There is no logical reason for them to be here. He scolded himself, the left side of his lip curling up in mild annoyance. In what world would five siblings run in the same direction after a fire? Edric knew the paranoia he felt was unreasonable, but he also guessed that it had something to do with the fact that he had so easily saved his own hide, rather than hold back and ensure the others left safely. He figured that, if anyone would, Lilith would be the one to reprimand him for not staying true to his oaths, and while he felt a twinge of guilt he found it as easy to shake off as the layer of snow.

As he delved further into the forest, smells of other wolves began cropping up around him, as if this area was frequented, or maybe even a permanent home for some. Though, looking up at the dwindling canopy, Edric thought they would be supremely dense to be living here during the winter season. Passing through a section of rather flattened woodland, Edric paused, his brow furrowing as he lowered his nose to the ground before huffing in frustration. Rafiel had been here at some point, but the storm had scattered his scent. Torn between following the remnants of the trail and continuing on his way, Edric strolled slowly between the trees until his ears perked up, swiveling to his left.

All you need to do is ask! Edric groaned audibly, hanging his head. He considered, for a moment, wandering off and pretending he had never heard those words. But somehow, he found his paws leading him towards a den that smelled of an older couple. Here, the storm damage was obvious, and many of the logs had been dragged through the snow to the treeline. With a deep, settling breath Edric moved forward, his brother's name singing as a greeting on his tongue.

"Rafiel. Looking dishevelled as ever." The words dripped like venom from his tongue, but any who knew him would hear the sarcastic lilt, hidden behind his prickly words.

@Rafiel @Lilith @Merrin

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da]

It was a day of good deeds and Merrin had found herself in the household of a mother who was in need of service. There were two parts to it. First she had to play messenger, taking a letter to another part of the Mainlands to hand it over to a local tradesman along with items to barter with. The mother's youngest child had come down with a sickness that left her confined to his care and she was having a difficult time keeping up with the needs of her other children.

The second part of this service was a delivery. Merrin followed the woman's instruction, bartering as best she could to procure meals enough for the entire family to last for the next few weeks. She'd somehow been able to to not only return with a hefty bounty, but also had some of the items sent with her to trade returned to the family as she was able to secure the goods at a cheaper cost. Her heart swelled with joy to see that she was finally beginning to make an impact and she could not wait to tell Rafiel about her venture.

In fact, she'd heard the gentle roar of his voice that always seemed to carry for miles, leading her to a den where she was certain she would find the knight. As she approached, she saw another do the same. She slowed her gait, studying the dark umber hue of the man's coat and the emeralds that made up his eyes.

Merrin recognized the other male somehow, not that she had seen him with her own eyes, but a description of him told through story and song. All he had to do was speak and she became more confident she knew of him. "Edric?" She questioned his identity with a tilt of her head as she padded closer, a gentle smile lifting her features.

@Rafiel @Edric @Lilith

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da], click for attributions

T

here was a lot of beauty in nature, one just had to know where to look. In the dirt, through the flowers, up in the sky; it was everywhere. The Knight, despite the more rigorous and technical pieces of training, always felt the most at ease when surrounded by it and often found herself taking walks to clear her mind. There, surrounded by the glory of Mother Nature herself, she could get lost in her thoughts and unwind. Just simply take in the scenery and the inspiration it had to offer.

Her fascination for today belonged to the trees. They were a stunning sight to behold, especially so with the red coloration of the bark that never quite seemed to bull itself. Even now in the harshness of winter, they stood out amongst the stark white blanket of snow like shining beacons of light. Lilith could only stare up at them in awe with a gentle smile. She often wondered what stories they could tell if they could talk, oh what sights had they seen?

Though most days her walks were meant purely for relaxation, today it had a purpose. The young girl was on a mission. Perhaps not as noble of a mission as her siblings had been up to, but more of a person one, one that held great meaning to her own heart. She had awoken early that morning in search of the last flora of the season. Winter was settling in and soon enough all flower species would be hard to find until spring emerged once again. It was not an easy feat, but luckily for the Zyphear Knight, she knew just where to look.

Lilith strolled through the air with a bounce in her step and a soft hum erupting from her throat. Slung over her shoulder was a homemade satchel of sorts, weaved from the various tall grasses that blessed the meadows during the summer. Interlocked in her masterpiece were various dried flowers and other earthly treasures, such as colorful feathers. It wasn’t nearly as good as the work her dear sister Mirah could produce, but the girl was proud of herself nonetheless. Today the satchel held a pair of small hares wrapped carefully in leaves along with a good-sized bushel of wildflowers, including specimens such as Winter Jasmine, Hellebores, and Pieris. There were even various branches of Winterberry spread throughout, providing a bright red pop of color to the bouquet.

Slowly, the girl approached the den that she had visited once so many times before. Here an elderly couple lived, and although their interactions had been rather brief, Lilith found herself taking a liking to them. "Hello dears, I come bearing gifts!" She announced her arrival softly as she neared the den, aiming to move straight through the entrance.

Her intention was so intense in fact that she almost moved past the others already gathered outside without a single act of recognition. ”Blessed morning,” Lilith dipped her head in a nonchalant greeting as she moved past them before suddenly coming to a halt as realization set in. Slowly, she turned to look over her shoulder, a grin beginning to spread across her lips as her turquoise eyes took in the sight before her. ”Edric! Merrin! What a blessed morning, indeed!” A soft laugh escaped her lips as the girl moved towards her brother to embrace him in a gentle hug, being careful not to crush her delicate gift.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

@Merrin @Edric @Rafiel

As a knight, his service to others defined him, but there was no greater pleasure than assisting those who truly appreciated him—Rafiel was certain that he siblings felt the same. He, Merrin, and Lilith frequently served the elder couple who lived here, both wolves of petite frame and cheerful demeanor. They often brought them food or medicine, for the man was a healer of extraordinary skill, the official doctor of choice in the area, and they would bring his wife flowers and feathers, for that was what she collected.

Rafiel prepared to leave for the day, not wishing to intrude upon the elderly couple’s time together, and he bid his goodbyes, stepping out of the den into the winter sun. Today was a cold day, but it was a good one, without storm or thunder. And, what he saw when he eyes adjusted to the light would make the day an even better one.

“Edric?” he said, his jaw dropping, eyes alight with utter surprise. “You’re alive! I can’t believe it—actually, I knew it all along. You would survive the fire, you clever little beast!” Rafiel chuckled and launched himself forward, stopping short, only to bump his shoulder against Edric’s smaller frame. “And you’re here, brother! I’m so pleased! Have you seen the rest of the family yet?”

As if on cue, Merrin and Lilith arrived, speaking their introductions and exclamations. Why, it was a miracle that Edric was here! “This is Merrin,” Rafiel said to Edric as he introduced his companion. “She is a dear friend to the family, and she is training to become a knight! And, Lady Merrin, as I’m sure you’ve already surmised, this is Edric! Our long-lost brother!”

@Edric @Lilith @Merrin

Art by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

As expected, Rafiel responded to Edric's presence with over-the-top enthusiasm making Edric wince. He cringed backwards as Rafiel launched himself towards the younger boy, only for him to simply bump his shoulder against Edric's. The scholar turned his green eyes onto his brother and opened his mouth to reply when a stranger approached the pair, Edric's name on her lips and a smile on her face.

Before Edric could react to this strange woman, another form came trotting between them, singing her greetings. The voice and form of the girl was immediately recognisable as Lilith, and Edric's chest warmed, his heart swelling with love and relief to see her here, away from the fires and chaos, and well. He watched, with mild amusement as she paused, only a few steps away as his identity registered in her head.

He saw the change in her body as she looked over her shoulder, and braced himself for impact, knowing exactly what his sister would do. To no surprise, She leapt forward to hug him, her woven satchel scratching against his skin, her sweet woody scent filling his nose and calming his every nerve. He gently nosed her away, huffing in feign annoyance as Rafiel introduced Merrin, a friend to the family. He turned his eye on the girl and nodded. "Pleasure, Lady Merrin." Edric nodded to the woman before turning back to his siblings. "How long have you two been here?"

@Rafiel @Lilith @Merrin

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da]

Lilith's appearance was as welcome as the warmth of spring and Merrin lit up at the sight of her. Eyes sparkling she beamed at all of them, pure happiness radiating in the company of nearly all of the Zyphear family. Merrin took a couple of steps back to allow the siblings room to reunite, studying the way they embraced each other with soft laughs and expressions of joy shared between them.

Never had she witnessed and certainly not experienced such an affectionate exchange between those related to one another. It was still a shock to her to begin to understand that the compassion and fellowship shared between the Zyphears was the pure image of 'love'. Merrin hadn't realized that a tear had slipped from the corner of one of her eyes until it slid down her cheek. She lifted a paw quickly to wipe it away, hopefully before anyone had noticed just before Rafiel introduced her properly.

The woman's cheeks flushed as the goldenk knight introduced her as an aspiring one, her dreams always ever closer to reality. "Ah, yes, please excuse my rudeness. It's just, I've heard so many tales of you and your kin." Dipping her head she glanced at Rafiel with cheeky smile and a light chuckle."I do have to say, Rafiel, your storytelling is spot on if I could recognize Sir Edric immediately." She then seated herself to allow the siblings to converse as she imagined they had a lot to catch each other up on.

@Rafiel @Edric @Lilith

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da], click for attributions

I

t didn’t take long for the area to burst into a scene of clamor and joy. Mere seconds after her own arrival, Lilith noticed her brother appearing from the den beside them and a smile spread across her features. They’d each been spending quite a bit of time in the area, caring for the elderly couple, assisting with various tasks here and there. A part of her thought of her couple as her own parents and she often imagined that if they were still around, she’d be doing similar things for them.

The young Knight stepped away from Edric, allowing enough space for Rafiel to make his entrance and embrace the other. She smiled at the sight, despite knowing it wasn’t Edric’s favorite form of affection. He wasn’t quite like the rest of them, not so warm, not so cuddly. It didn’t matter to the girl, though, as he was family and she loved him just the way he was.

Rafiel and Merrin quickly broke out into a conversation of their own, with him introducing her and then her quickly mentioning his superb storytelling skills. Lilith watched the two curiously, her ear flickering absent-mindedly as the realization of just how close they had become came to mind. She knew the pair had been spending much of their time together, but as she stood there observing their every movement, she couldn’t help but wonder if something else was lingering under the surface.

There was a brief tension that burned in her chest, but it passed just as quickly as it began. This was no time for jealousy. With a soft huff, Lilith tore her gaze away from the pair and onto the more important matter at hand, Edric. ”Oh, sometime now,” She responded vaguely in response to his question. Time had been passing so quickly now that even she was unsure of the exact amount. ”Where have you been, dear brother? Do tell me you’ve been keeping yourself out of trouble?” She smiled softly in his direction as she turned her body so that they could properly converse. Surely he had many tales from his own travels and she certainly was interested to hear them all.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

@Merrin @Edric @Rafiel

The exchange that happened around him was so reminiscent of home. It made him feel at peace for the moment he was in, even if he despised the physical form his siblings affections always seemed to take. As he always had done, he accepted them briefly before removing himself from their clutches. After taking a step back, and regaining his composure, Edric caught the cheeky grin the new woman had given Rafiel and for a moment, his eyebrows turned downwards, until he saw the way Lilith looked at the pair.

Before he could mention her discomfort, she returned with a response to his own earlier question, before throwing it back at him. Edric wondered for a moment if he should bring up what he had just witnessed but decided better of it after a quick glance at Rafiel.

"I left pretty quickly, after everything turned sour." He stated, in a matter-of-fact tone. "Honestly, I'm almost surprised to see you here, Miss Lilith. I half expected you would stick around and help everyone else." He offered her the smallest of smirks, indicating that he was teasing her. "The only trouble I've encountered is how to carry all of the excellent material I've been discovering inside these ruins. I had never imagined to set eyes on so many different tomes!" As he spoke, Edric lowered himself into a sitting position, his tail flicking slightly behind him. In all truth, he would do anything to be removed from such a social situation. But this was his family, and so he would stay and remain pleasant, despite the way his stomach roiled.

@Lilith @Merrin @Rafiel

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da]

It was just as Rafiel thought, and even though his brotherly affections were so rudely rebuffed, he felt no hurt or pain—why, this was Edric, through and through! His long-lost brother was here in the flesh! He grinned, tongue lolling blithely from the side, tasting the nippy winter air. At least, he was able to know for certain that his four siblings were all alive and well. He had hope all this time, of course, carrying that torch with him, even on the darkest and stormiest night, and he took care to kindle that fire, protecting it from the wind and rain, finding fuel when it began to sputter.

Rafiel was an optimistic man, and it was times like these that he was glad for his endless hope and cheer, for it brought him from the brinks of despair in this his longest hours. In this case, certainly, that hope seemed to pay off, drenching today’s scene in light and joy. It was a day of celebration for the Zyphear Knights, after all!

He leaned toward Merrin upon hearing her comment, whispering in her ear. “Just you wait, my lady,” he said. “The longer you know him, the more petulant he becomes.” It was in jest, of course, but that was simply the nature of his dear brother, the cynical, the critical one. In some ways, he was the opposite of Rafiel—small, thin, a natural pessimist. Still, they could hold a conversation, if they so desired. Truthfully, it was when Talfor and Edric began talking that the world moved at a bantering pace.

“Oh, you’ve always been the archaeologist, the scholar, the man with all the answers,” Rafiel said, upon hearing Edric’s explanation. “I take it this place is to your liking?” If they were to settle and find a home here, then, perhaps it would best for all to enjoy it.

@Edric @Lilith @Merrin

Art by Yahtzee-Penguiduck