[ P ] Questions Without Answers

A R Y T H M E T I K

Arythmetik typically didn’t mind spending time alone. His books were sufficient company when he wasn’t attending or teaching lessons. And frankly, the College was never empty. There were always wolves wandering through the corridors or asking around for medical advice. If he didn’t want to be alone, all the russet male had to do was follow the trail a few minutes from his den, and there would always be sufficient company. But today was different. Maybe it was the falling snow, settling a blanket of stifling silence over the forest. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t gotten good sleep in over a week. Maybe it was his bitter disappointment gnawing a void in his chest.


Aryth needed the company of a friend.


The scholar sighed, his shoulders and tail drooping from the weight of all his unanswered questions. He still couldn’t believe that Prince Jacob would hire assassins to make an attempt on King Adamh’s life. It was cowardly and dishonorable. It was something Queen Aileen never would have allowed, especially not with innocent commonfolk in harm’s way. Aryth was tempted to brush away the accusations as propaganda, and yet...he’d been there. He’d witnessed the brawl with his own eyes. And the worst part of it all was that he couldn’t talk about it, he couldn’t ask for answers, without revealing the fact that he was a Jacobite.


He could be forfeiting his own freedom, perhaps even his life.


Right now, the scholar realized, he was not the one with answers. And he needed to talk to a friend he could trust. So he went looking.

code by claerie

@Morrowen

Oh, how busy her schedule had become! The endless nights enthralled within books, learning, learning, pages and pages... how recently she had spent days locked within her room, researching, exploring. How it filled her heart with joy! And her head with endless knowledge, how it had changed her.

But how it had taken a toll upon her.

She had not realised the fatigue she would feel when she awoke from her head, slumped against decades worth of literature and lore, how weary she would feel through lack of contact-how lonely she had felt. But she was free. Free to make mistakes. Free to wander. Free to live! And if feeling a little weary (and burnt out) was the price, then she would happily pay it.

A groggy sigh, veiled lashes blinked as her body demanded to wake, her mind was hazy, her body even more so. Her head throbbed, licking her lips and taking a few moments to come to terms with the mess within her room. Pages sprawled across the floor, books left open and not put away. "Nice." A heaved sigh pulled her forwards from her slumber, groaning in protest as she rose to weary paws. "Glad I don't have visitors..."

Friends.

It was something Wendy had to make, now she had settled fully into the College, now that she had spent a whole season settling in... now she felt like she could truly start to explore, to see who was out there-what new faces she could meet. Now would be the time to forge the bonds of friendship...

Yet it gnawed at her stomach like a pang of hunger.

Aryth had become a Colleague. A Friend. And that... did not seem to be so bad! "Stop worrying. Fretting gets ya nowhere." Indeed, she was muttering to herself, through paper-filled jaws as she tried to organise some of her study space. Her dark tail flicked in agitation. "Later. Food..." Her stomach seemed to grumble in agreement, yeah... tidy later.

Probably.

So, with a chirpy skip within her step, the dainty woman set off down the halls-seemingly waking up on the right side of the bed, for once.

A soft hum flowed through her jaws, yet her eyes widened at the beautiful scenery that surrounded her. The snow that drifted down, decorating, freezing the Abortorium, adding to the mythical nature that somehow always surprised her. The feeling was euphoric... magical to see something so pure.. illuminate a place so enthralling. "Wow.." She laughed in soft disbelief.

As her head turned to set back upon her way-she paused, a familiar flame of russet and cream seemed to be marching her way. "Aryth!" She called out, her tail wagging to and fro rapidly behind her.

How giddy she always felt... to see him.

A warm smile pulled perfect teeth from her dark lips. Yet her mood slowly diminished as he came closer into view; the crease of his brow. The darkness of his bright eyes. Instantly, a frown furrowed navy brows. "What's wrong?" Well, she had always been good at reading others.

Her Mother once said it was her gift.

A R Y T H M E T I K

The wind whistled its quiet song through the branches, sweeping snowflakes past his earthen coat. It was thicker this time of year, but not enough to keep the chill from sending a shiver down his spine. But oh, was it beautiful. The Arboretum was especially charming when the winter weather sheathed all the trees in an icy glaze. Everything sparkled, and the dotted fir trees added a splash of eternal green to the magical hideaway of the scholars. Aryth should have been delighted. But nature’s beauty couldn’t lift his spirits right now.


It was another sort of beauty that finally lifted his burden of solitude. The familiar voice and scent caressed his weary spirit, and he glanced up, his tail beginning to wag instinctively. “Wendy!” he called out in return, a tired smile creasing his maw. Her midnight frame and purple eyes were an exquisite contrast to the blanket of white around them. And yet when he saw her, the first thing on the scholar’s mind was how relieved he was to see a friend. They’d only met a couple brief times, but there was something about Morrowen that was easy and comfortable. They were kindred spirits and the true beauty of it was their fast friendship. She was exactly who Aryth was looking for.


Aryth trotted closer to the other scholar and lowered his head in a bow, his soft smile fading. He might have reached forward to hug her, but it was rare for the humble man to initiate physical contact. His tail continued to wag gently, but low against his ankles, as he struggled with how to admit what was on his mind. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, Wendy,” he started. The Professor’s voice, typically warm like an autumn fireside, was haggard. “I...was at the King’s Ball a week or so ago. I don’t know if you heard, but...there was an assassination attempt on the king’s life while we were there. The banquet devolved into chaos and some wolves were injured.” The scholar paused, mostly to gauge her reaction.

code by claerie

@Morrowen

Since it was her first Winter here, the first snowfall literally took her breath away. How ancient, how god-like the Abortorium seemed... frozen over: Forever stuck in the same moment. A mythical air lingered around and how it was everything Wendy dreamed of and more! It was like she was living in a fantasy world, in one of her many dreams that she vividly grasped onto as a child. Away from the nonsense of her family. The fae had gripped them too much, turned them mad. Unable to see rhyme from reason...

And now look where she stood.

They would not be proud, but Wendy could not be happier.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes, Wendy,” Glazed amethyst eyes snapped into the present, daring a small smirk to dance upon her soft lips. "Ay! Becoming a Professor 'aint easy, as you should know." Her dark paw lifted to teasingly "bat" at his broad shoulder, pale tongue poking out in a childish retort. There, her fiery friend stood. So bold, shining brilliant like the sun with a dusting of snow. Somehow, he seemed more bright, despite the weariness of his expression.

The time for jests were over.

“I...was at the King’s Ball a week or so ago. I don’t know if you heard, but...there was an assassination attempt on the king’s life while we were there. The banquet devolved into chaos and some wolves were injured.” Her chest felt tight, where happiness ate away the stress that gripped her, now replaced with anxious worry. Her eyes widened, a small gasp befell her dark jaws. She had been too busy enjoying the party to pay attention... she could have helped "I could have been there to help the injured..." Her expression mellowed, a frown casting over her bright gaze. A pang of guilt tainted her wild heart. Was this the price she paid for having fun?"Trying to take a life is inexcusable... but the King and Jacob will get that. That is what they get for ruling with blood and not the collective from others. The words fell from her mouth in a flurry of speech, for once letting her views take over her rational thought. Her eyes opened wide. Oh how she worried now, worried how Aryth would perceive her. Would he judge her? Say treason for not supporting the King? She took a step back, ears pinning to her navy skull.

She would not fight for her cause, but she was no coward---or at least tried not to be, either.

A small sigh flared through her nostrils. Jacobite, Royalist... they were both the same. Monarchy was not fair. The best leaders had been those driven by trauma, the nobodies from mixed heritage. The books said so. Wendy believed.

Her tone was soft and quiet, a low rumble. Her gaze broke from him. "I am a Voxi." She might as well push the sword in further, let it all out in the open....

Shit. Shit. Shit!

Had she just ruined her only friendship?

A R Y T H M E T I K

Arythmetik laughed, light glittering in his gaze as he friend nudged him. Oh, he sure did know. Countless hours spent studying ancient and dusty tomes, searching for tidbits of information to confirm midnight theories. Days practicing the speech for his thesis. Not to mention the intimidating prospect of addressing his new role with Anola, their benevolent matriarch. If only he and Wendy could have spent more time preparing together, it probably would have eased the burden. At least Aryth wasn’t completely alone anymore. He had Grigori, and of course, he had Morrowen. Retaliating playfully, the russet male’s warm laugh accompanied a half-hearted swat from his paw. It didn’t reach his friend as he leaned away, then straightened again in the dying echo of their mirth.


It had to be short-lived. There were serious matters to discuss. Even Aryth didn’t realize how serious it would become.


He shook his head sympathetically. “No, don’t blame yourself… There’s not much you could have done in the pandemonium.” Then Wendy said something quite shocking. Aryth saw that she realized it, too, from the way the slick woman froze, her violet eyes widening. Aryth paused as well, more to contemplate what she meant than to pass judgment. Quite the contrary—he initially sought her out to reveal a rather treacherous secret about himself. But he could see that she was battling with whether or not to come clean. His heart started to beat faster, and he glanced around quickly to make sure they were alone. But his eyes never left his friend for long.


And then she admitted it. Wendy was a Voxi. There was a moment of stillness that passed through the glade.


Moments later, Aryth laughed strangely, then reached forward to embrace the woman. It was a rare show of affection, borne of intense relief. “If you’re a traitor, then so am I.” Aryth pulled away, his eyes serious and his ears pressed to his skull. “Your secret is safe with me.” He paused, a sadness settling into the creases of his russet features. Aryth glanced down and murmured, “But in my heart I was a Jacobite. I...I find it hard to believe that Queen Aileen’s son would do something so low. And if that’s true, then I…” Then he was at a loss.

code by claerie

@Morrowen JUICYYYY