Dead Empress Backwater and i choose to survive, whatever it takes

for @Viorel only, to gossip + talk about a future role.

Magg finally felt like she could trust that Aven was truly recovering, that it wasn't just one more cruel trick of hope before she lost another child. Thankfully, she and fate seemed to be in agreement so far; her little girls were precious, and they could not be separated. But would the Backwater continue to find them worthy of protection once her daughter's illness was gone? Magg couldn't be sure, especially when her own blood had sought her demise. If she played her cards right, though...

She sought out Viorel, who she felt had more authority and influence than his co-leader for several reasons. True security required staying within his sphere of protection for as long as he continued to reign. If she was to be outside it, she would never be safe here. It was a little strange though, following after his trail through the woods that had not changed all that much since the first, and last, time she'd come to this place. Magg's head swum with memories of that visit as she walked, and the fragile connections made which had since disintegrated with time.

Is this how it would feel if she ever returned to that bend in the river far west, years from now when the storm passed?

"Viorel?" Magg called out. Her voice was smaller than she liked, and so she cleared her throat and tried again.

"Sir? Do you have a moment?"

(This post was last modified: Feb 03, 2025, 12:53 AM by Dacian.)

Dark head whipped towards the sound of his name, surprised that Magg would be seeking him out, and extra surprised at how young she sounded. Of course, she was young, had her first litter with what he presumed was her first heat and was now a single mother living among what had once been her family’s enemies to keep her children alive. Barely out of childhood herself. He had a soft spot for her, though he knew better than to make her feel coddled, she just reminded him of the struggles he and Clover and Vanadis had faced that first year, when everything had been new.

He smiled softly, getting to his paws and echoing the same sentiment he used to tell Seri over and over again all that time ago, ”You don’t need to call me Sir, Vi or Viorel will do just fine.” He had only been taking a short rest between checking on caches, but he certainly was not too busy to spend some time on whatever had driven Magg to break her semi-reclusive state. He had been allowing her all the space that she wanted, especially with the girl, Aven, being as sick as she was. Which reminded him, ”How are the twins? Better I hope?” Though if she wasn’t he doubted the mother would be standing here right now.

Right, because they were both adults, and that was certainly how she wanted to be seen; grown up, capable. Still, it had and would continue to feel a little weird on her tongue for a while. A growing pain that was far more preferable for its mildness than others she'd recently experience.

Her head bobbed up in down, the relief in being able to answer positive clear all over her features.

"I can't say they're fully well quite yet, but Aven especially is so much better. Thanks to you all."

The gratitude in her tone was deeply genuine. She would never forget that Viorel had allowed her child's life to be saved, when he could have easily turned them away.

"I... I wanted to better explain. I feel like... I not only owe you that much, but that... you should know."

The softness began to harden across her features, a kind of determination rising to the surface.

"So you can protect your own children, incase they ever try to come back."

(This post was last modified: Yesterday, 06:05 AM by Magg.)