I thank you for every word you said

To say that she flew across the Roost would have been an understatement. Water splashed noisily beneath her paws as she ran over the lake's shoreline until she peeled away from it and dove through the forest of the valley. The dappled sunlight shining through the foliage glinted off the silver in her coat, almost reflective as she made her way after the scent she was tracking. She would skid to a stop every so often, only to make sure she was still on the right track, before sprinting off again.

There. There, there, there!

“Qēlosjehikagon! — Starshine!” Savan lept, soared through the air to tackle @Tove, tail wagging furiously. She had always been a bit more expressive with her best friend, the only other girl in their quintuplet. They toppled to the ground together and Savan wasted no time in shoving her head against Tove's, closing her eyes and whispering, repeating. “Nyke ūndegon ao. Nyke ūndegon ao, nyke ūndegon ao, nyke ūndegon ao. — I see you. I see you, I see you, I see you.”

Oh, how her heart sang. Everything her father had stolen from her, from her brother, from all of them, was being regifted to them by the Star Mother's will.

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@Faust

---

Hunger quenched for now and anxious for the reunion, Tove, alongside Faust, had begun their journey to find the others. Besides the gentle and lingering looks from her, she stayed fairly quiet as they walked, her mind never giving her a moment's rest.

She stayed close to him, trailing behind ever so often as it took multiple strides to match one of his, given his much larger stature. When they would match pace, she’d occasionally let her tail brush against him in what she’d tell herself was playful. A fun gesture amongst friends. There was no way it was something else, right?

Lost in the depths of her mind, Tove was a little late to take notice of loud and crashing steps coming towards them and for a moment, she was overwhelmed by a scent that was familiar. Her nostrils flared and her ears would perk. It was a floral, sleepy lavender scent she hadn’t smelled in too long… But it couldn’t be; there was no way.

It belonged to someone who had joined the Star Mother herself, in their previous life. Who had already found home in Emperium.

So..

It couldn’t be…. Could it?

As her mind raced, Tove had not been able to ready and brace herself as much as she’d like and it was a sudden shock when she found herself toppling over, a mess of limbs and bodies. What the fuck? She was ready to start snapping at whatever had crashed into until it hit her - that voice, that scent and… well - Savan.

It was Savan! On top of her, entangled with her.

Tove was rocked to her very core and swore her mind was playing tricks on her. Had the Star Mother truly gifted them all once more? How? Why? What had they done to be so blessed?

Unsteady and spiraling and still on the ground, she met the other she-wolfs embrace, eyes wide and wet. More tears, huh? She blamed it on the dying. It was messing with her hormones and her mind, it had to be.

“Nyke ūndegon ao!” — I see you! she whispered back, shivering and weeping. Her dear friend! “Savan…. Savan. Ao sagon alive. Ao sagon kesīr….Ao sagon kesīr. Nyke ūndegon ao, Nyke ūndegon ao!” — You're alive. You're here... You're here. I see you. I see you!


Still embracing her dear friend, Tove stole a glance towards Faust and couldn’t help but frown. Had he known? Based on his lack of surprise, she was quick to assume he had… But why hadn’t he told her? Did he think she was unworthy? Despite her veneration and genuine care for him, she couldn’t help but feel a pang in her chest and spark of anger.

While Savan was his sister, she was still kin to Tove. Important. She too had fallen apart when they had lost her. She too had never been the same.

Pulling her gaze from him, Tove turned back to Savan and pressed her face into hers again, breaths heavy and wavering. More tears fell from her face, getting both of them wet but she didn’t care. She couldn’t believe it.

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She laughed heartily, a bright brilliant sound that no one had heard in a long, long time. Not even her. She saw that look stolen towards Faust, the fire that sparked there for all of a second. “Surprise.” She grinned, tail thumping against the ground. “I told him not to tell, but I didn’t realize you would be here too. Just wanted to keep it from the boys.”

A quick, affectionate swipe of her tongue over Tove’s nose broke her words then, happy to simply lay on the ground with her closest friend. “I hope those are tears of joy,” Savan would say with a wry smile before rolling onto her back and stretching her paws upward for a moment before letting them rest against her chest. “Faust did not tell me of you, either. When did you… arrive? Awaken?”

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The walk back into the heart of the vale was nice. It was quiet and solemn, and the birds sang a harmonious tune as they fluttered above, trailing and teasing behind one another. He felt smug when her tail brushed against his flank. He reflected the action with his own tail, swiping it against her hips.

But there had been a voice. A shout. It was Savan. She came racing down the fields, launching herself forward at Tove. A smile blossomed on his face, but it quickly ebbed as he realized he was fucked. He didn't tell Tove about Savan. Was there a reason he didn't? He supposed it...it didn't come to his mind. He was too focused on her. It always seemed he was.

It was the same now when he watched the two wrestle one another, tears falling from their eyes. 'I see you,' they'd weep, and Faust would take a few steps backward, laying himself down in the stalks of fresh grass.

When they still embraced, Tove caught his eye. A frown covets her face. He gave her a look of sorrow, brows folding upwards and head tilting to the side. He didn't want her to be angry with him, but he understood if she was. He didn't tell her. That was the error. But it was purposeful.

"Sȳz tubis mandia." — Good afternoon, sister. He'd say. "Nyke jeldan jaelan surprise ao." — I thought I would surprise you. Faust would add, his voice softening as he turned to Tove, and he gave Savan a brief glance. It was a joint effort.

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Savan’s laughter made her heart swell and sing in a way it hadn’t in a long time and the pang of betrayal she’d felt seemed less important now but it was still there and she figured she’d bring it up another time. Not now, though. This was a gift and gifts were not to be wasted.

One more small glance would be thrown at Faust, hazel gaze dancing with a quiet fire and she gave him a nod as if to let him know he was off the hook - for now.

Tove gave a small chuff as refocused her attention and leaned backwards from the star kissed woman, inspecting with a furrowed brow. Scars. Too many to count littered her beautiful face and upon closer inspection, the dark woman noticed they traveled farther to her neck and danced across her body. Had her father done this? When he…. She inhaled deeply and quickly, her chest quivering as she took it all in. Her face was etched with more emotion that one could decipher and without waiting another moment, she lurched forward and gently rubbed her snout against Savan’s. "Nyke ūndegon ao." — I see you. She whispered again, her heart breaking.

A few gentle but meaningful laps were pressed against the scars that now found home on her face. Tove could only imagine the horrors and the pain Savan had endured and it made her weep more, the sounds quiet and hushed and full of unspoken sorrow. Sorrow for her beloved friend.

When she finally was able to quiet down and think more clearly, she leaned away and watched Savan roll on her back with an ease and a comfort that she envied. After everything, she still seemed like herself. How?

Chuffing quietly, Tove crawled closer to her and let her body drag across the grass in a lazy but hurried move. Savan was now asking about her. How had she come to be here? How had she also been given a second chance? Her eyes would narrow and she’d flinch at the thought, remembering her fall and what came after. She shuddered, feeling sick to her stomach before she let out a quiet cough in an attempt to hide her previous act. “Only yesterday - or the day before.” she said quickly, looking away and up towards the sky. “We were blessed, by Her.”

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Her friend's tears brought sorrow to Savan's heart, alongside pangs of shame and guilt. Her smile would fade slightly, the ease of her presence shifting as she rolled back and closed the distance between them. She should have been stronger, should have been quicker to descend upon him, should not have hesitated when the time came to take his life. But she had, and he'd taken that opportunity to tear at her flesh and fur, to mar her face and throat, to take her life from them, slowly, little by little.

“I told Faust the same. She has brought us all together again, and I will not forsake such a gift. Now,” She nosed Tove's cheek, tail sweeping the ground as they lay there together. “No more tears. There is no reason for them.” For Savan knew that the pain in Tove's heart was similar to the pain in Faust's. Surely, they'd all known of her death; Savan could not imagine what it must have been like. She did not want to imagine it, not after getting a taste of their reactions to her rebirth.

“Isn't this place lovely?”

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The shame the dark woman felt at spilling more tears was only made worse when Savan took note and she’d hold back a frown, hazel eyes cloudy. She knew Savan meant no ill will and like her brother, would most likely keep it between them but it still embarrassed Tove and she wanted to hide herself away.

But...

Now was not the time. There were more important things at hand here: Savan being one of them. A miracle and gift Tove had never seen coming.

Their closeness, the skin to skin, the shared space - it was never something Tove thought she’d be able to experience again. She never thought she’d get her best friend back again, not like this and certainly not in their previous lifetime. Thank the Stars there were other plans in store for them.

A smile, one full of warmth and gratitude spread across her features at the star-kissed she-wolf’s question and she nodded in agreement. It was lovely. Emperium on earth is what she’d been calling it. ”Yes, it’s quite a sight.” Her eyes drifted to Faust then, clear of any previous animosity and she’d continue with a small chuff. “Someone chose the perfect home.”

With that said, Tove offered a soft nudge towards the she-wolf and pointed her snout towards the mountain peaks that kissed the skies. “Have you seen it at night yet?” How much had she explored? How long has she been here? Had she seen the others? Tove had so many questions she wanted to ask but she could be patient.

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Neither of them liked to have attention brought to them when tears spilled down their cheeks, and yet Savan did it all the same. There was no reason not to have mentioned her sister-by-choice's emotions, especially when they so closely matched her own.

“Oh don't give him all the credit.” She laughed, sliding a look to her brother. “The stars led us here, after all.” Something she would always hold in high regard. Savan loved that they had been seen to be fit for such a second-chance, and would be forever thankful for.

“I have. I will show you the peak I arrived on sometime soon.” Her tail waved now, brushing the forest floor.

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 "Yes," the woman laughed in agreement and it was a joyous noise, full of fondness and warmth. For Savan, for their second chance at life, for all of it. Her eyes, muddled and viridescent like a blooming forest were shining and wet as they rested upon as sister as she spoke. "You're right." While Faust may have been the first, there was a reason he had happened upon the Vale. A reason that this is where he found home.

 "I'm looking forward to it," Tove promised, sincere but patient. She felt no urge to rush matters or demand for Savan to show her the peak that had blessed them. There was no need. They had all the time in the world now, didn't they?

 A gentle and whispered chuff was whispered into the winds and she settled more comfortably beside Savan , ushering to @Faust with a small dip of her head. It was a silent invitation and it was one she hoped he would welcome but understood if he chose to stay put.

  Tove grew silent then, her breaths calm and centered as she peered up at the sky and the dazzling stars that called to them, enjoying her time with two of her most beloved friends.

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// ok to end here? or if you guys wanted to get one more post in, idc!
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