there's nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home || rou, any

[Ellyse]

Ellyse

I know some things that you don't; I've done things that you won't
there's nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home

  The sun has already begun to set, its dim light bleak beneath a thick layer of haze that carries low across the vibrant plain, illuminating the emerald stalks of vegetation in its splendor of lilac and auburn. The humidity is palpable, and a faint grunt of irritation emerges from her throat as her long legs carry her away from the shallow waters’ edge and onto the densely compacted sand that lay across the long, sprawling beach. A pause is taken to outstretch the length of a wing towards her waiting mouth, as her blunt teeth pluck and gently preen the pale feathers that line the hollowed bones, tucking each back into place with precision. 

   Her hazel eyes cast a glance behind her, observing the solid line of muscle moving beneath the dark, rust tone of his skin – he is quiet, and brooding (but she does not mind – she is quiet herself, most of the time) even as the looming shadow of the volcano comes into view. There is a thick, but low haze lingering over the isle, drifting slowly overhead with the gentle, prying push of an updraft from the ravenous sea. The thick, heavy and wavering stalks of vegetation caress her legs as she becomes still, awaiting his presence along her side.

   Averting her gaze, she searches the fading horizon for familiarity, and finding none, she is content to look upon him once more, tracing the old, faded scarring that lay across his hide. He is tired, worn and weary – and beneath his two-toned eyes lay a deep and dark shadow; she could only hope that he might find solace and feel any semblance of belonging as she had found within Tephra.

   Only time would tell.

   ”Welcome, Rou – to Tephra.”

head of war of tephra
daughter of elysium & speck

@[Diable Rouge]

[Diable Rouge]

 The trip had been relatively short, a three day walk from his usual hideaway, and as Diable Rouge approached his new abode, the climate began to change. Rou emerged from the water to find an effervescent plain, budding with beautiful grasses and vast arrays of other vegetation. The humidity was unfavorable, and his rust colored pelt grew generously damp with perspiration, but he assumed time would allow his body to become accustom to it. The cool water and boiling lava caused a thick steam to cover the earth in a gray haze, which took his eyes some straining to be able to see through. As his hooves emerged from the water to the warm sand, he felt a mixture of incredible awe and terrifying anxiousness.
Rou, head held high, gazed at the feminine figure in front of him. His jaw was clenched tight from lack of talking, but he didn’t mind. He was quiet, brooding, and enjoyed taking in his surroundings. He watched as she stretched her magnificent wings and preened them to her liking before moving into the dense vegetation that awaited. Her head turned ever so slightly to gaze at him, and he found his lips curl into a gentle smile. His muscular legs lead him to a place beside her as the tall reeds of grass danced around them. His body ached from walking, his eyelids were heavy from lack of sleep, but he felt comfortable at her side.
“Welcome, Rou – to Tephra.” Ellyse muttered to him. He looked over to her and nodded.
“It is beautiful…but I don’t see those boiling pits of magma you’d been promising,” He joked, letting a chuckle escape his lips. The pair began to walk again, and Rou took in his surroundings as well as he could, considering the mist that enveloped them.
“Who…” He paused, waiting for words to find him again. “Who leads here?”