well I've got thick skin and an elastic heart [Set]

[Tantalize]

tantalize

infinity overhead

and i whisper, are you listening?

It was still settling in, the news of Lion’s death. Of course he had been rotting for ages but to her the news was fresh. It soaked into her open wounds and burned as if touched by salt. There was no happiness, no relief in the death of the one that had ripped her wide open. It only left more questions. Anxiety, pain, grief, and anger all twisted apprehensively in her gut, turning her into a creature on the verge of another break down. There was no relief after all, there would never be solace. She would never find peace.

She aches for the cold. She remembers the cool touch of Slaide and how it had seem to ease her flaming body of fire and brimstone. Lion had been different, he had never cooled her… Had only stoked her flames higher. Her thoughts travel to touch in general, it’s been years since she had been caressed or felt the thrill of passion quiver through her body like an overexcited teenager. She can’t really remember what it feels like, she can’t remember what anything feels like. Too out of touch with reality for so long, her grasp on her memories unstable.

There’s the soft sound of paws hitting the ground, much like the way the jaguars hit the jungle earth when they spring from the canopies. Then she remembers, she’s not in the jungle. His voice brings her head around to look at him, golden eyes taking him in warily. A gryffen. Odd choice of an appearance to show up as the meaning of her half-brothers name. She hadn’t sought out the red eyed stallion since her return even though she knew he had come back as well. There’s had never been a close relationship especially since she had been one of the more favored of Cross’s children. Gryffen hadn’t liked that at all.

His words are almost lost on her having been thrown off guard by the strange entrance. Drowning. She was already drowning and there was no lifeguard in sight to pull her out of the pool of her own misery and despair. With a shake he is suddenly a creature no more. Instead she is looking into golden eyes that mirror her own. She takes in the dark stallion quietly. Noticing the scars on his shoulder, that he’s taller than her. The overwhelming broadness of him in general. Perhaps she should recognize him, having heard his name often in that past life when she had once been Queen. Nazul, his consort, having been one of her few trusted companions when she had risen to power. Of course she had always been aware of the fact that Nazul hadn't been pleased when she had stripped her of her rank as General, making them all start over to prove who belonged where. Now she wishes she had told her why she had done the things she had done but alas, as she is learning, it’s far too late for that and you’re left with nothing but regret.

Her own wings ruffle against her side, still rather useless things as she still hasn’t learned to fly. ”You don’t seem to be a man of many weaknesses.” She states calmly, taking in his thoughtful demeanor as her own ears swivel forward and considers him with slight intrigue. Avoiding his question, the way he seemed to have slipped into her private thoughts. Unwilling to display her tattered memories and broken heart for him to see so willingly. ”Why a gryffen?” She asks instead, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world to speak about and she’s not pretending that everything’s fine.. No not at all.

@[Set] @[Dem]