Rivers of misfortune.
#1
Sometime after Gemma is attacked, before Frodo arrives. Jace will greet Ulilohi at the borders and escort her to Taliesin's house.

She floated on a bed on pain. The pouncing inside of her head matched very well the labored beating of her broken heart. How cruel was this world to let Gemma Sawtooth manage to raise herself up at least with the smallest amount of self confidence and worth only to destroy everything with one single sweeping blow. Destroying every bridge she had built, every supporting beam and brick. At the foot of the bed that had been made for her so generously by Taliesin Tamai laid, vigilant of his charge. As the poor misfortune-ate girl drifted off into an uneasy sleep the white Buffalo stood and disappeared from sight.

When he did reappear it was outside of the Town Hall in AniWaya. The male creature had left Gemma within the care of her family, trusting the pack of Cercatori d'Arte to keep her safe while he reported the incident to the current leader of this branch of AniWaya. He made his way into the building and came face to face with Ulilohi, the tall leader he eyed seriously, almost critically before addressing her. AniWayan flowed smoothly and flawlessly from the white Buffalo's mouth,

"Ulilohi there has been an incident. My charge Gemma was attacked out in the free lands, I was not there to stop the attack but I saw the aftermath. She is, extremely lucky to be still amongst the living. The male that attacked her did more than just maul her Councilwoman. She is currently being looked after by the Cercatori d'Arte healer, Taliesin dir Rhiannon, she has requested your presence Councilwoman." Ulilohi could guess the words he had left unsaid and he hoped he would never have to speak them aloud.
#2
Table by Sunny
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Finally. I'm so sorry, but I resurfaced it for us? Let me know if you don't want it Sad
WC: 524


It had been a calm evening, she had contemplated braiding her hair and conversing in a hushed voice with Atisia within the walls of the Town Hall. There were slits for air to come in and smoke to come out, and her hearth smoldered pleasantly, giving off a faint scent from the tobacco she had tossed into the embers awhile before. It was between the wood in such a slit she glimpsed a great white creature and knew immediately who it was. He was always a pleasant sight in all his majesty, but she felt a chill when she briefly thereafter realized that he was alone, and seeking her. She was outside quickly after and her marten guide quickly joined her by her feet as he spoke, deep voice rumbling ominously. It was rare that a guide would do this, and she was humbled by the situation and his authority.


She said little, but knew better than to waste time speaking. A shocked expression covered her face for a few moments as she tried to gather her mind. "The children...?" she thought, but replied to the beast with only a firm nod, though delayed. She would learn the rest of this when she got there. The Spirit Guides exchanged glances and Ulilohi found herself wondering if there was more unsaid than what the beast had hinted at, though she did not linger on the thought; it was too uncomfortable. The stables were close enough for one with such long legs as her own, but she would not risk a horse's back for her weight, not even now. There would be no more "incidents" tonight. A steady pulse drummed in her chest where she ran in long strides, for once in her secui form, bigger and bulkier than usual (or so she felt). It was strange to view the world from so low a height, and all the while she followed the large creature's pale legs as he ran ahead of her, showing the way. It was too much to think of, what had happened to Gemma, and Atisia said nothing either where he sat, as firmly as he could, self-attached to her back. She avoided wasting breath on speech, confident that the buffalo would understand.


She arrived and shifted again. A wolfess who named herself Jace had met her there, and Ulilohi followed her into the pack's territory, her body tense and worn and shaken. It had taken hours of traveling, and she was exhausted. It was strange to walk into this place right then, with an out of shape feeling and a wholly different atmosphere than last she had been here. She said nothing to the female, though she nodded gratefully at her when they met and as they walked, whenever the context called for it. As they arrived outside a building, Atisia dropped to the ground and ran ahead a few steps, but the councilwoman halted outside of it, uncertain. She looked to the stranger, Jace, and wondered how many in this pack were involved in this grand gesture of goodwill towards Gemma. These were friends, she knew.


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#3
Jace had learned of Gemma's attack and hastened to see the girl, the daughter of Lucifer. Nobody deserved such treatment and injury and Jace found herself feeling a sad fondness for the beaten troubled younger woman. She greeted Taliesin and Myrddin softly as they were making their way out as she arrived and asked after Gemma's condition. She let herself in and made straight for Gemma's room, knowing where it was from Taliesin. The white woman skirted with the edge of unconsciousness and barely responded to her presence.

Speaking in low tones Jace told her a story of her own pack, the creation of the moon and sun that she had shared with Honrin and Dalgina. Not long after she was done that Gemma's spirit guide arrived to tell that AniWaya's leader was here. She excused herself and made her way quickly to the borders where she greeted the very tall woman. She introduced herself and then led Ulilohi back towards the house she had just vacated. She didn't speak beyond giving her name, there was nothing to say really and it would be disrespectful to chatter idly whilst Gemma laid half dead waiting for this visit. She stepped back and gestured that the woman enter the house and spoke for the first time since giving her name,

"Second floor, her door is open, just go straight in. She's expecting you." Jace took another few steps backwards, making it clear she wouldn't be staying. "If something happens just call for me and I will bring Taliesin with me."
#4
Table by Sunny
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WC: 256


They halted outside the building for a moment, but Jace filled the silence that could have risen in place of conversation. The order was clear, and Ulilohi nodded, understanding completely. Taliesin... that was the brother, the one who had witnessed the naming of Gemma's children. It was good to know that someone that was so close to Gemma was also close to her geographically. "Thank you," she said plainly to the female named Jace, before stepping inside and finding the stairs.


She shuddered as she walked up the stairs, almost afraid of what she would find. A warrior was not afraid, however, but cautious. Was she cautious for herself, or for Gemma? She remembered, easily, what the large white creature had hinted at, and the councilwoman shuddered again. And again... there was this anger, an anger and a cautiousness hand in hand. Entering the room where Gemma was, she took a deeper breath.


She looked as poorly as Ulilohi had feared. Saying nothing, the giantess moved carefully to Gemma's bed, so as not to startle or frighten her. Spirits knew she was probably like to be frightened easily after something like this. Finally, the councilwoman reached the head-end of the bed, and she sat there, at first at a loss for anything to say. One question manifested itself, however, and she had been thinking it all along. "Who did this, Gemma?" She wanted to know -- for justice. Or was it revenge? Well, it could matter little; sometimes vengeance and justice were the same.


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#5
Footsteps upon the stairs awoke her and she whimpered quietly as her broken wrist pained her. Her eyes darted around looking for her children before she remembered that they were off with Myrddin, he was taking them around Cercatori so as not to disturb their mother. The door opened and a familiar large figure stepped in. Gemma was no longer afraid of Ulilohi as she had once been but the Councilwoman was still an intimidating sight especially whilst Gemma herself was laid down. Still there was a feeling of safeness that came from knowing she was here, her Alpha would not let anybody else harm her and was very capable of stopping someone who would.

She said nothing but simply watched as she sat down close to her head. Her blue eyes swam for the pain she felt, her labored breathing a give away. Her question was not a surprise and there was no secret to keep any longer, those who had saved her already knew her attacker, and so had she, her own nephew had injured her so gravely, raped and molested her until she was unsure if she would ever be able to give birth or pass waste without intense difficulty again. Her voice was hoarse and quiet, the words and sentences frequently interrupted by her gasping strained breaths, she spoke a mixture of english and Aniwayan, could not focus on one language enough to speak completely in it, and so switched back and forth between the two,

"Councilwoman.. thank you for coming to see me. It means a lot to me." She paused for a bit, trying to get her breath back before speaking again "It was Liam, Councilwoman. My own nephew. He lives in Anathema. He used to live here but... he killed a little girl and escaped. Forgive me, I couldn't fight him off, I was weak.." She tailed off, whimpering to herself.
#6
Table by Sunny
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WC: 321


Gemma's voice and breathing sounded as painful as Gemma looked beaten, and Ulilohi had to stop herself from flinching upon hearing it. It was something strange, to hear the injuries of a person. To Ulilohi, it was particularly difficult; she was here to protect her tribesmembers, after all. And clearly, she had failed. She could not help a strya thought that blamed her former leader for cursing them so. Would it have been different if Gemma had had a warrior who could have accompanied her? It was pointless thought, but it flew across her mind regardless, and she did not have the will to stop it.


Ulilohi merely nodded as the injured female thanked her for coming. It went without saying that someone should heed the call of a tribesmember in need, but Ulilohi still understood that to Gemma, it was perhaps extra significant. It was hard to know, to someone from the Great Tribe, how the wolves from these lands thought; they were so scattered, and many were broken and filled with hatredand estruction. Like whoever did this to the pale female. We have your name. she thought as Gemma expained, trailing off with excuses "Shush, Gemma. You did not cause this - there is only one place the guilt can be placed, with this Liam person." The pale female asked forgiveness, and Ulilohi's refusal was firm, but gentle and warm. "I will not give forgiveness where none is required, Gemma." She paused, hesitant to make the female talk more; obviously, it was tiring her. "How did your children fare?" This was a discgrace, though primarily to Liam. To attack a lone mother with her children? Did this world never have an end, an upper level, to the suffering it might impose on its inhabitants? Anathema. They would pay a visit there, as soon as was possible. If Liam was still there, Ulilohi knew what her demands would be.


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#7
Tears filled her eyes and overflowed, her threshold for pain reached. She turned her head away, not wanting Ulilohi to see her crying like a young child. Io she could handle because she was her friend but Ulilohi it just seemed too much and too close to the stupid silly creature that had accidentally let loose the sheep once upon a time. But her self pity grew, why should she hide her pain when so much had already struck her to keep her down. Her children. Ulilohi's question only just made sense, and she struggled to respond through her thick throat,

"They don't remember. But they saw everything. Thankfully they don't remember..." She stared unseeing at the ceiling above her head. A cold shiver worked its way down her body as she thought of what Liam could have done to them, their fragile bodies broken and destroyed like her own, worse because they were small. Her remaining ear flattened even more. She was speaking to herself now, a freezing tone of hysteria in her voice,

"Why did this have to happen to me again! What did I ever do to deserve this life. Isn't it enough.. the countless men who've taken what they want from me. My children dead again and again, struck down before they could even live." She managed to tilt herself onto her side, curling into a ball despite her screaming ribs. Now she spoke to Lucifer, "Daddy.. daddy.. why Daddy. I loved you, why did you hurt me." More tears came, unstoppable as the white fae cried for herself, for the years of suffering.
#8
Table by Sunny
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WC: 364


The pale female's struggle to stay in control was to be expected, Ulilohi thought, and it was also plain as day to observe. She was weary and in pain, and yet she struggled to hide herself from her tribe's head. She said nothing, but awaited Gemma's answers patiently. She would not stress her further - it was the wounded female who was in control of this conversation, or so Ulilohi aimed to make it.


Gemma explained that the children were unharmed, at least physically. Ulilohi was glad, though only on some level. What these children had suffered had been nothing compared to their mother's suffering, but still great. What they had seen was reserved for adult eyes, no, nobody's eyes when paired with such violence. Just as well they did not remember anything -- it was a gift for which they, and their mother, should be grateful, even if Gemma would likely not be able to forget it. "They are blessed with the loss of these memories. Suffering is best forgotten, whenever possible." It was something her aunt had used to say. Suffering is best forgotten.


Gemma finally gave in to her struggle and immersed herself in her pain, asking questions of a magnitude that Ulilohi was left silent. She wished she could answer the questions, but there was no one who could. These events..they were meaningless. What could motivate someone to bring such hurt and pain to another being, no, to their own family? His aunt and cousins had been the target of his attack - what pointless actions. She made no attempt at answering the questions but merely took one hand and placed it on the pale female's shoulder, very gently, afraid to stir something that ought not to be stirred. Gemma spoke to her father now, delving into a history that Ulilohi did not know nor understand the contents of. She merely sat there in silence, listening.


Finally, the female spoke with some kind of consolidation. Perhaps the only one she could find that was worth saying. "Your family will bring justice for this, Gemma. We will leave for Anathema soon, Claudius and I." There was nothing else she could offer.


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