let my shadows prove the sunshine
Solace’s laugh brings joy to his face, his crystalline blue eyes sparkling brilliantly against the stark white of his handsome face. As she shakes her head, the particles of frost and ice are brought to his attention once again and he cannot help but reach forward to lip again at the near-frozen tendrils, curious and equally delighted at their presence amidst the white and blue of her mane. “Twins?” Svedka murmurs, bringing his chin to his chest to gaze at her with tenderness from beneath his beautiful crown that still sits so perfectly on his poll. “I’m glad I’ll be here to meet them,” His voice is genuine and emotional as he kisses her cheek. His time in the mountains meant he had missed meeting his other nephews and nieces that are now grown themselves. He wonders if his sisters resent him for his absence, thinking he had been out galavanting with women and men, indulging in selfish pleasures while he missed major moments with his growing family. He swallows hard; it would be better for them to think that for the time being, if that was even the case, he tells himself.
His attention turns to Kagerus as she informs him of all that he’s missed - the rise and fall of their time as queens in both Hyaline and the Cove, leading them to where they are now. She mentions her own death (so casually, flippant in its reality) and Svedka’s head snaps towards her, offsetting the flowers adorning his head from the sudden movement. Without hesitation he reaches out to touch her again, to feel her solidity and warmth, making sure that she is in fact here with them and not some kind of dream-version of herself. He exhales exasperatedly, a small and thankful smile finding his pink lips.
When the panther’s figure warbles into reality before them, Svedka doesn’t think anything of it. There is the briefest second where his cerulean eyes take in the feline, head tilted ever so slightly, that same soft smile on his face. That gaze immediately turns black - there is no slow fade or rippling from one shade to the other and once this was all over, Svedka would not even remember the shift because the lion overtakes him with such ease.
The crown of flowers is a crumpled mess of foliage and petals between the large paws of the lion - but that only lasts for a second. A growl peels from black-lined lips which turns into a howling scream as the puma leaps towards the apparition. When the big cat doesn’t collide with the other, there is another angry and terrible howl that comes rolling out of its throat in confusion. It then whips its head over its tawny shoulder towards Kagerus and Solace, its deep and abysmal gaze flickering questioningly between the two before it lowers itself towards the earth, shoulder blades piercing against the pull of its skin as he slowly turns towards them. Yellowed fangs frame his flickering tongue, his tail whipping like a snake behind him. The moment is suspended like this for a time, the predator watching the two as if debating whether or not to leap towards them. With a sudden and swift movement, he reaches out with one clawing paw towards Solace, a grating hiss accompanying the warning as he comes within inches of her. He scrambles back a step; the low growl in his throat never-ending as he sways before them with his body lowered and poised like a viper ready to strike. Rage and now hunger ravages him, but the lion knows the chances of him taking on two full-grown horses and succeeding were low.
Somewhere inside the black, cold gaze of the lion Svedka sleeps, unaware of the change in his body or the fact his worst fear has come to fruition.
svedka
@[Kagerus] @[Solace]