She doesn't notice the panther. Its sleek black coat becomes another shadow in the Taigan fog and Lilli instead focuses on what lies ahead, on the careful intonations of her words and leading Neverwhere to a remote northern beach where the two of them might go unnoticed by the Comtesse. The chestnut is very much aware of the growing tension between the two kingdoms and Lilli, refusing to turn away her first friend in Beqanna, intends to take Neverwhere somewhere where the fog and the surf might temporarily shield them.
It's still an unusual feeling for her, to lead Neverwhere and to feel her reliance in the damp chill of spring. Its something that Lilliana takes seriously with a determined tilt to her chin and keen glance in those blue eyes. If only she looked behind them, if she hadn't been so focused on what might lay ahead of them instead of behind them, she might have seen him.
But she doesn't.
Instead, she finds relief that Neverwhere begins to sound more and more like her old self, that dry witticism coming through and Lilli grins to her silver friend as she comes alongside her. This feels more like the Neverwhere she has come to know and her sarcasm, perhaps too sharp for some, slices straight to the point as it always does. That amused grin on Lilli's face broadens and out here where the fog and the waves meet into one endless sea of gray, Lilliana laughs.
She shouldn't adore a beach like this. It is a hollow and barren place that should perhaps be left to wilder and more primal things. Maybe its the old magic of Beqanna that draws her out here; maybe it just that wild imagination of hers and Lilliana likes to imagine everything this beach could be, what it should be. The roar of the ocean is impossible to deny and Lilli finds her thoughts, whether whimsical or troubling, are often pulled away with the outgoing tide.
"You're probably right," she acquiesces to Never. Still, her blue eyes regard the outlines of the breaking waves as they draw closer to shore through the veil of sea smoke. "You'll have to keep it a secret." There is one more regarding glance for the tide and Lilli turns her attention back to her dappled companion, tilting her head playfully to the left. "We wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly good beach." The conversation drifts towards Neverwhere's sight and there Lilli intends to ask what the dappled mare plans to do - will she return to Nerine or will she return to wandering?
But then the conversation careens from that course.
Neverwhere spins while a familiar voice overrules the fog (and for a moment, her senses) and Lilli angles her head over her shoulder to see Wolfbane's masked face beaming at her.
She is quick to turn to face him and quicker still press the remaining fog between herself and Neverwhere, a firm touch of the shoulder to silently tell her friend to rein in the scowl that starts to darken her pale features. "Easy, Never," she murmurs, words meant only for her ears. Words that carry the edges of a warning on them before Lilliana addresses the Commandant.
"Absolutely," she teases back at him, an easy retort she gives with a shrug of her slender shoulders. "We were just getting to the best parts." The chestnut meets his hungry gaze with a glittering one, unable to tame the reckless grin that tugs at the corner of her dark mouth as she regards him, fangs and all. "And now it will have to wait. Neverwhere," she says pointedly, tearing her gaze from the olive green of the pegasus stallion to the silver form of her friend, "Wolfbane." There is a slight incline of her head from the dappled mare to the shapeshifter, a slight dip where she makes the introduction. "Neverwhere got turned around in our fog. I thought the ocean air might do her some good."
It's still an unusual feeling for her, to lead Neverwhere and to feel her reliance in the damp chill of spring. Its something that Lilliana takes seriously with a determined tilt to her chin and keen glance in those blue eyes. If only she looked behind them, if she hadn't been so focused on what might lay ahead of them instead of behind them, she might have seen him.
But she doesn't.
Instead, she finds relief that Neverwhere begins to sound more and more like her old self, that dry witticism coming through and Lilli grins to her silver friend as she comes alongside her. This feels more like the Neverwhere she has come to know and her sarcasm, perhaps too sharp for some, slices straight to the point as it always does. That amused grin on Lilli's face broadens and out here where the fog and the waves meet into one endless sea of gray, Lilliana laughs.
She shouldn't adore a beach like this. It is a hollow and barren place that should perhaps be left to wilder and more primal things. Maybe its the old magic of Beqanna that draws her out here; maybe it just that wild imagination of hers and Lilliana likes to imagine everything this beach could be, what it should be. The roar of the ocean is impossible to deny and Lilli finds her thoughts, whether whimsical or troubling, are often pulled away with the outgoing tide.
"You're probably right," she acquiesces to Never. Still, her blue eyes regard the outlines of the breaking waves as they draw closer to shore through the veil of sea smoke. "You'll have to keep it a secret." There is one more regarding glance for the tide and Lilli turns her attention back to her dappled companion, tilting her head playfully to the left. "We wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly good beach." The conversation drifts towards Neverwhere's sight and there Lilli intends to ask what the dappled mare plans to do - will she return to Nerine or will she return to wandering?
But then the conversation careens from that course.
Neverwhere spins while a familiar voice overrules the fog (and for a moment, her senses) and Lilli angles her head over her shoulder to see Wolfbane's masked face beaming at her.
She is quick to turn to face him and quicker still press the remaining fog between herself and Neverwhere, a firm touch of the shoulder to silently tell her friend to rein in the scowl that starts to darken her pale features. "Easy, Never," she murmurs, words meant only for her ears. Words that carry the edges of a warning on them before Lilliana addresses the Commandant.
"Absolutely," she teases back at him, an easy retort she gives with a shrug of her slender shoulders. "We were just getting to the best parts." The chestnut meets his hungry gaze with a glittering one, unable to tame the reckless grin that tugs at the corner of her dark mouth as she regards him, fangs and all. "And now it will have to wait. Neverwhere," she says pointedly, tearing her gaze from the olive green of the pegasus stallion to the silver form of her friend, "Wolfbane." There is a slight incline of her head from the dappled mare to the shapeshifter, a slight dip where she makes the introduction. "Neverwhere got turned around in our fog. I thought the ocean air might do her some good."
LILLIANA
i left home on account of snow
(buried all the things i know)
(buried all the things i know)
@[Wolfbane] @[neverwhere]
but it's all in the past, love
it's all gone with the wind