i won't back down. || family, friends, tundrans

[Romek]

fuck all your dreams; they're not all they seem.

Of course Offspring had a plan. As Romek listens to it, he has a queer sensation in the bottom of his stomach. The Tundran once-king had seen fit to seek out the former monarchs of their once allies. Treated them as if they were worth more than his own dedicated kingdom members. Had he not proven his dedication, his loyalty, to Offspring and the kingdom? Had he not done enough to even command a modicum of respect? To be treated like a tagalong – this the spotted stallion could not stand, after spending so long and working so hard in service. He had fought for the peace of the entire nation, had given the King everything he had – yet this was how he was repaid? Not even being asked to join him in private?

He remembers Demian, and the way he had sought him out specifically. Treated him as if his opinion mattered, as if he was a help at all. He looked to the King, and then to the sky, and quietly slipped away.

He holds no anger for Offspring. He had simply done what he thought was best. But now, it was down to Romek to do what he thought was best – for himself, but more importantly, for those who needed him.

Romek

pls no take this personally ilyall <3

[Offspring]

YOU CAN STAND ME UP AT THE GATES OF HELL, BUT I WON'T BACK DOWN.

  Though worry is carved into his usually solemn, stoic features and uncertainty is etched into the embers of his eyes, his heart warms at the sight and presence of those who had entrusted him with the weight of the throne. Though a heavy burden, he had worn it proudly, his chest broad and rising with the knowledge that many still stood beside him, weary though eager to press on beyond the binds of an ever-changing land, to find what had settled beyond the dust and ashes that have fallen in its wake.

  His dark eyes are set ablaze, but the faintest of smiles tugs slightly at his curved, whiskered lips, which had previously been hardened into a single line of resolve. Thanata's voice is quiet, but certain - she was so often hidden away, tucked within the shadows of the icy edifice she had built around her guarded heart and mind - and it causes his heart to clench slightly within his own beaten, iron-clad chest as she pledges herself to not only him, but to the cause. A sanctuary will be found; a haven in which shelter and structure will once again rise. He knows that it will be all the better with her alongside, and so with a solemn nod and locked, expressive eyes, he acknowledges her wholly, appreciative of her kind words and thoughts.

  The concern that lingers within hushed, whispered voices does not go unnoticed, and his heavy gaze falls upon the two males that stand so tightly intertwined with one another. His heart pulsates slightly, but he swallows his emotions - he cannot waver now, not yet, though he does not steel himself away. His eyes are fiery, but merely burning embers and nothing more, with nothing but a flicker to a flame. He needed to find his family; he needed to find Isle. He needed to find Brynmor, his trusted adviser and closest friend, who - with concern now etched into his solid brow - he realizes may be without sight again.

  At last, his gaze falls upon Romek - and his icy demeanor does not go unnoticed. His eyes meet with his; a clashing of fire and ice - of oil and water - and within his heart and mind, he knows. He can see the disappointment furrowed in his brow, and the frustration buried within the heat of his eyes. Mere minutes ago, he cared for little else but the presence of Maribel, his own precious daughter (who he, too, longed to see - heavily pregnant when he had last seen her, he must find her) - and now, the greed is weighted within his gaze.

  The alliances had been forged years before even a single breath of Romek's name had been uttered to him, and it was beside these allies that he fought for what he felt - in his heart, at the time - had been right. Not only had they become his closest companions in war, but also in heart. Relationships built upon trust, understanding and a mutual desire for peace and respect held a firm place in his heart, and it is where his heart will lie.

  Brynmor had been his closest friend and companion since the beginning - the crown had every intention of being his, within a few short weeks, but fate had a different plan. It was Brynmor's dedication and devotion that would be held in the highest of regards, and though Romek had been loyal and true to him in the short year and a half he had known him, the stability of his own family and of his allies (his friends) held more importance than fickle titles and unimportant politics. He had no time to soothe a bruised ego.

  These thoughts are heavy and rampant as he meets his eyes, and as Romek wordlessly moves away, without even a single utterance of intention, he knows that his loyalty is riddled with clauses. Wariness settles within the marrow of his bones, though he does not attempt to stop him - a wayward soul with a cross to bear cannot be stopped, and for what? He would not punish him for desiring power, for wanting to carve out a place for himself in history - but with his departure, a bond is broken, left in the aftermath of the reckoning.

  He can only hope that his daughter will be well-cared for. Time would tell.

  His voices rises soon after, steady eyes looking across those that stand before him.

  "My brothers and sisters, I will traverse with our allies to the mountain, to ask for forgiveness, to plea for a refuge from this waging war of a storm, and attempt to secure something solid for us. Let us continue searching for our loved ones, for our friends - we will meet again soon."

OFFSPRING

We have secured Tephra; a volcanic land to the East!
I will be posting there shortly! 
This thread is considered closed; no need to reply - trying to merge all of the timelines together.