Leilan had finally indulged their twins on a long-awaited trip to the Isle. Oren and Roselin had passed their first birthday and Lilliana knew they'd be fine with their sire. Her youngest set of twins share many (icy) attributes with him and really, it had only been a matter of time before the journey happened. She had been telling herself that for months.
What she hadn't been prepared for was the silence that followed.
It settled and scattered around her like the leaves that fell from the trees. Lilliana tried settling it by walking the edges of the Taigan territory, always careful not to drift towards the path that she knew the Freyr and their children had taken. The chestnut mare had ventured towards the south with the idea of visiting Tephra again before deciding against it. Yanhua and Amarine were somewhere within the vicinity of the Redwoods, as well as Borderline, and it was with that knowledge that she promised her youngest child a trip.
Ischia held fond memories for Lilliana and her boys, Yanhua and Nashua. It seemed fitting that she bring her youngest, Reave, for some of his own. The growing (and obvious) absence of Neverwhere is troubling. Brazen's death is still something she is struggling to make peace with and the theft of her gravestone is something that weighs heavy between her and the littlest of her children.
But for today, she tempts the roan colt with a gentle smile and the journey to Ischia is an easy one thanks to the low tide. While autumn has started to frost and set the tone across many places in Beqanna, the tropical island that Aquaria watches over remains one place that the chill does not touch. The main island and the smaller islets remain lush and green while the rest of their world grows dull and weary, tired under the bronzed season of fall. While the rest of their world waits for snow and sleep, Lilliana brought her youngest child along for a long over-due visit with the Dame and some respite for them both.
A storm the night of their arrival keeps them to one side of the island. And when dawn emerges, so to do mother and son.
The boy makes quick like the tide and he is already ambling down one side of the beach before Lilliana can tell him to not drift too far. Once the sun is further up, they'll make their way to the main side of the island and find Aquaria. She looks out to the sea and something pale glints in the corner of her eye; turning her head, the Taigan sees him. Pteron. It's been years since their last meeting. Aten disappeared some time ago and Lethia now seems to exist at the edges of where those memories linger. Ruth is much like the debris watched on this shoreline; she washes in and out after the storms.
Neverwhere had been the only one left (aside from herself) in the North from those turbulent years and she is-
There is a moment where she considers stepping back into the lush greenery of Ischia. But the sun is too far in the sky and when she looks at Pteron, there is ample time for him to see her. Casting a glance down the beach, she makes sure that Reave is still within her sight and then nods towards the cremello pegasus. "@[Pteron]," she says carefully. "I didn't think to find you in Ischia."
She hadn't thought to see him again at all.
i had a half-written reply from last night while watching bridgerton so here ya go
but it's all in the past, love
it's all gone with the wind