Assailant
He is not the same man that had originally brought this group to the Mountain. He had experienced such a violent swing in his emotions that it had scared him as much as it had confused him. From the excitement upon receiving the fairy’s quest on their first try, to the joy of completing his leg of the journey so quickly, to the frustration of going so long without catching even a glimpse of Adriana. All the way down to the anger and doubt that had begun to fester in their time apart, growing so much that he had begun to wonder if it was even worth attempting to restore Tephra to its glory.
But then a chance encounter brought them together and though it had taken some effort to banish the negativity he’d begun to associate with her, he eventually crumbled and had given her what she needed to crack open her stubborn heart to him. Yes, their reunion had a lot to do with his renewed dedication, but deep down, he’d ultimately known that he would have completed the mission even if she had destroyed every last piece of him.
After a (much needed) brief detour to the Meadow, they now stand at the base of the Mountain, gazing at the faraway peak. It does take an achingly long time to complete the grueling climb, but at the end, he is surprised to find that he is not nearly exhausted as expected. Perhaps it has something to do with the red and gold woman at his side. As he leads her to the clearing where the group had gathered, a gentle buzz of excitement vibrates in his chest. He still has not told her exactly what they seek here, as he is hoping their success will be spoken aloud and he will be able to witness her reaction in its rawest form.
As they come to a halt, he reaches for her, taking a moment to appreciate how the tropical blooms look among the seashells tangled in the ombre strands. He leaves one of the glowing flowers behind, then lays the rest gently on the ground before them. Having nothing else to do but wait for the others, he leans into her cooling comfort, idly toying with the ends of her mane.
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware
--Martin Buber
Assailant found several bromeliad flowers, as well as an unknown flower (permission obtained from Squirt to simultaneously do a flora/fauna quest for the unknown flower)
Proposed name: glowing plumeria (unless someone else has a better idea!)
Proposed description: a golden-yellow center that then ombres from white to hot pink edges. At night, it is surrounded by a bright gold glow and it always smells of a seaside jungle, which can be comforting to the holder. Continues to live much longer than ordinary flowers after being picked.
@Knaught @Kreation @Casimira @Matilda @claudius
(if the last to post could tag the officials please, that would be lovely!)