love this thread already!

It was like Haven Manor. The blocks of stone had been wedged together to fit tightly and perfectly. All these years and the structure had never fallen. She guessed her house was much younger then this relic, and hoped that the mansion would stand as long as this structure had. An earth colored hand touched the stone, it was warm beneath her fingers, almost soft as if all the graininess had been worn away with countless rain showers. The courtyard was expansive, and she wondered what the humans had used it for. No solid evidence was left, and her violet eyes look up the base of the grand building, her awe comparable only to it majesty. Even with the years past, the once home of kings and queens had not lost its initial purpose to enthrall and intimidate those the drew close to it’s boundaries.

Mati was certainly enchanted. Coming ever closer to the castle she could finally see the ornate details that had been carved out of the cornerstones, doorways and window frames. She imagined that the windows had once been filled with stained glass, like the colored pieces of sea washed bottles that the Dreamer had found with Anann along the shore. Nothing lived within them now, only fragments. The tall wolfess looked upwards, searching the towers and marveling at their height.

A voice made her turn, her name being called in a melody that she recognized well. Her gaze came to the face of her sister, and her momentary surprise was lifted to show the same sort of grin that shone on Rio’s dark features. The large wolfess’ long legs crossed the distance quickly, and once she was close she reached out to embrace her half sister. There had been a definite bond that strung the two females together, one that she had not felt when meeting Rio’s full sibling Lucia. Rio, how are you? Mati spoke with affection.

yayy!

It should not be odd for her, since Mati was not stranger to close bonds with those that held a small portion of genetics. But she had never known this with Brooklyn, and never with Salem. Mati did not miss them as she did Haven, and now Rio. She did wonder what it was that they were doing off on their own adventures, and it they faired well. But she did not wonder if they thought of her, she did not feel the need to embrace them the next time they happened to meet. Mati did not give hugs to all she knew, but Rio was a special sort and it was felt in the way she greeted her. Love was so easily felt in the dark furred females presence.

I am good. Mati spoke, her smile not fading a single bit. But its such a beautiful place, of course we were both drawn to it. She replied as Rio spoke her disbelief. Anything was possible, and as rare of a meeting this might be it could still happen. Just as it had. Violet eyes looked at her half sister, finding that it had been quite some time since they had last seen each other. She looked fully grown, though still smaller then she, but it looked as if she was no longer the gangly pup that all appeared to be at a mere six to seven months old. It was easy to see her as a younger sibling then, someone that needed the guidance that the Nanny was willing to give. But now? She seemed all grown up.

How are things in the Valley? The Church female questioned. She knew of their mother’s disappearance, and worried that Rio did not fair well because of Naniko’s neglect. From what she had seen in Lucia’s face when she had told Mati, it had not been a proper parting.

ohhh e'yeahhh

Light was too rare, the blotches of brightness feathered around the edges and faded from their sight too quickly. Her light was centered in the ones she loved, found in the hearts and in the way they looked at her, the colors that shone through in their gestures, in the energy that radiated from them. When the cold was unbearable, when her light had thought to be extinct she had found the one that could change the world for her. Cambria had always been there, but it was Mati that needed to open her eyes and see the blinding glow that she had missed. She was Mati’s sun, and the Church woman’s life had revolved around her for longer then she could commit too. Her heart had wanted her, while her mind could not bare to take the leap. She would be forever grateful that their conflict had ended and that her heart had won.

In her happiness Mati needed to squint against the light Rio shined, what might have come to sully it was not apparent to the artist. But in the moment she spoke Mati felt a hollowed portion of her heart expand. But the words were not sad, seemingly straight forward and told of another connection between them. Mati clasped the darker hand, forming the bond and holding the younger fey grounded incase she couldn’t help but slip back to the memories of the white wolfess. Life was too short to sit in the shadows of Naniko. She was silent in her support, meeting the soft purple gaze.

Lets go inside She spoke after a moment of quiet, then took a step. Their hands still locked.

XD no worries!

Rio deserved better then she had been given. Something inside Mati told her that Phoenix Valley was not good enough for her, but she was weary of any pack that was not her own or one that housed close friends of hers. Cours was safe, for Haven lived there and so did Strel, Anann and Vigilante, but the other places were foreign to the Church female and they made her skeptical. It was impossible for her to trust their mother, and impossible for her to trust any decision that Naniko made. Never again would she be able to, and at times Mati felt like she would be forever followed by the haunting past the white wolf left heavy in their hands.

But there was no reluctance from the dark colored female, her lavender gaze lighter then before and clearer rather then the cloudiness of unhappy thoughts. Hand in hand the two female’s wandered towards the castle’s doorway, her gaze drifting to the doorway and then curiously to the insides of the old building. The light was cut, though the sun generously flooded through the windows, and her eyes took a brief moment to adjust.

Inside there was what Mati could imagine was the entrance, a room smaller then what she had thought. To keep the cold out, she figured as she looked at the stone walls, the details that had been carved out dulled by wind and rain that leaked through the broken doors. Mati let Rio’s hand go, drifting away to examine a small statue that was broken at the chest. A figure stood on a pedestal, though not even half her height the likeness of the human being had more grace and detail even if it was decapitated.

Mati had so very little strength against her imagination, her creative ability had been unleashed as a young pup and it was hard to reel it back even know as an adult. It was easy to fall into the wonderment that arose while standing such a grand place, a place with so much history that seems so unreal for a pack wolf. But unlike Rio she did not want to get lost in fantasy and her imagination, not for lack of magic and love in her own life. No, the artist couldn’t help the paintings of tapestries and candle light that would lead them from the entry and into the grand hall beyond it to be created in her mind. It was a world away, a thing from story books and visions of creatures that were very much extinct. But it was not a world that she longed to have, but more simply wished to explore.

While her gaze was lost on the headless figure Rio’s voice almost gave her a fright, the ceiling’s height bouncing the words back to her a second time. Was she? Mati asked herself, remembering what a princess was to the human world. She was beautiful, fragile and made of royal blood. This was only stone, and what it represented was beautiful and obviously fragile in it’s broken state. I don’t know. Mati admitted. Maybe. She concluded, looking at Rio with her own smile. She cocked her head to the side, motioning for her to follow. This place was big, and there was plenty of rooms to explore.

As the thought passed through her mind Mati walked though the doorway and into the largest room she had ever seen. The light streamed in through windows twice her height, the floor a swirled and dappled marble, the walls long and everything that still sat in the ransacked hall pointed towards the small stage that was raised at the far end. It was expansive and empty and yet there was still so much to look at.

lalalala!

Her legs would have become numb if her half sister hadn’t put out her hand and looked to keep up with the tour. Mati’s mind had fallen away into another time for a moment or two. It was so easily to get lost in her imagination here. She was susceptible to daydreams else where, even places that were so very ordinary, but here it was just so very easy for the artist. The bronze fey took the hand of the darker woman and stood up straight and ridged. Her back strained slightly, and she arched it as her other hand held the crook of her back for support. Trying to stay in character, even though she had put on quite a show as she stretched her back, Mati gave a small curtsy as she spoke with a falsely arrogant voice, I suppose. giving a small huff to make it seem like she cared.

She walked slowly down the steps, and as if she had walked out of one world and into another she looked back at Rio with a great big smile. There hands were still clasped together but she tightened her grip, and led her away from the great room and towards a doorway off to the side.

There was a big heavy door leading to the deeper points of the castle. Her earth toned hand pressed itself on the wood. It should be rotten away, eaten by weather and insects, beaten down by the raiders of years and years ago. She jimmied the handle, and the piece of iron fell off the wood when she tugged at it. She looked down with wide eyes, Woops She spoke with surprise, purple eyes turned to look up at Rio and she held back a smile knowing that that wasn’t any sort of laughing matter.