how come I never got used to the feeling of sleeping in a cage?
too long driving, too damn hungry; a tied-up hound but nothing stays
Honestly, Valdis half-expected Velk to rush ahead and be the first to greet her. There should be a tether between them after having shared the womb, but when she blinks, there is only Solace is at her side. With mother settling down, her expression less frantic and worrisome, Valdis can only follow in suit. Her eyebrows furrow, only somewhat confused. ”You said once I had inherited dragon fire,” her voice is quieting down now, forcing herself to breathe deeply and not to be so frantic, ”but I’ve never seen him as a dragon.” Beneath the metallic-gold veil of her forelock, Valdis narrows her eyes thoughtfully. She spares a glance down to her hooves, already remembering what the claws at looked like – scaly, grotesque, lethal – before lifting her gaze to mother’s face again. ”They look ugly on me.” Her lips curve into a frown. ”Abysm told me I was the prettiest sibling, but I don’t feel like it anymore.” They had been young children then. Valdis was staring at her reflection in the ice-crusted lake before melting it with her fire when he had stepped out from behind her.
Would he still say the same about her? Is she still the most beautiful among the children even with reptilian claws?
”Magic,” she tries to swallow past her worry, nodding her head slowly, ”okay, that sounds a little better.” Still lathered in a thin film of sweat, Valdis nearly considers submerging herself in the nearest body of water, but she can’t bring herself to peel away from mother. It’s far too comforting in her embrace to leave, especially when her time here in the Cove is limited. ”It’s loud in the forest,” she confesses after reflecting on the volumes of the voices, doubting their ability to pinpoint what is going on. Father didn’t suffer from this, so why is she? Why are her thoughts feeling invaded, her mind no longer quiet when she sleeps? ”It was pretty quiet during the winter, but with spring, they’ve returned.” It doesn’t make sense. None of this does. Why is she exhibiting this later in life and not as a foal? Fire was enough, but all of this? It’s too much.
Shifting her body, Valdis looks around as though answers will fly down and reassure her.
Of course, nothing happens. Only more questions.
”The voices sound creepy, not like you or I. Just… raspy and hissy… Some are randomly rather energetic. It’s weird.” Unable to quite grasp and describe it all, Valdis inches back and sighs. Velk still doesn’t arrive, nor any of their other family members, but it hardly fazes her. More of a mother’s girl, she’s content with only Solace’s company during this trying time. ”I’ve missed you,” she expresses with a delicate smile, pushing past her confusion and bringing to light her love for mother. ”Hopefully you’re doing better than me and not being faced with random changes.” A half-hearted chuckle slips from her, a sign of her settling nerves.
Valdis
@[Solace]