Lyric watched him as he disappeared into the shadowed entrance of the tunnels, his staff glowing faintly, a sliver of silver in the dark. For a moment, her heart clenched, the weight of what she had done sinking into her like a stone. She had dragged him into this mess, but wasn’t that always how it went? At least in the past it had been Aki or Ronan, now it was Tibs.
Bel purred in response, the deep vibration soothing her aching body as the sleek panther padded across the wet sand. Lyric let her eyes drift shut, trusting the creature to carry her safely home. The city’s jagged skyline loomed in the distance, but she could feel the warmth of the hearth in her little room already, could imagine the way Tibs would storm in, covered in soot or blood or both, and scold her with a kind of ferocity only he could manage.
The big cat gave a soft chuff, and Lyric smiled faintly, her exhaustion pulling her under as the sea breeze whispered through her hair. When she woke again, it was to the sound of Bel’s claws clicking against the polished stone of the estate floor. She blinked, the familiar scent of juniper and ink surrounding her as the warmth of the house embraced her. The servants, silent and efficient, ushered her inside, clucking softly over her injuries.
She let them help, her thoughts growing hazy as they cleaned her wounds and wrapped her in soft blankets. But even as she lay in her bed, the fire crackling softly in the hearth, her thoughts remained on Tibs. She knew he would be angry when he returned, but she also knew he wouldn’t leave her side for long.
The house fell quiet around her, the kind of stillness that only came after chaos. But Lyric was safe, and she knew, deep in her heart, that Tibs would come back to her soon. For now, she would rest, her dreams a strange tangle of shadows and light, of whispers and warmth, of the faint hum of the sending stone still clutched in her hand.
@Tiberius Umbra
He’s grumpy now, Bel,she whispered, leaning forward to rest her cheek against the big cat’s soft fur.
But he’ll understand. He has to.
Bel purred in response, the deep vibration soothing her aching body as the sleek panther padded across the wet sand. Lyric let her eyes drift shut, trusting the creature to carry her safely home. The city’s jagged skyline loomed in the distance, but she could feel the warmth of the hearth in her little room already, could imagine the way Tibs would storm in, covered in soot or blood or both, and scold her with a kind of ferocity only he could manage.
You’ll tell him I tried my best, won’t you, Bel?she murmured.
You’re such a good listener.
The big cat gave a soft chuff, and Lyric smiled faintly, her exhaustion pulling her under as the sea breeze whispered through her hair. When she woke again, it was to the sound of Bel’s claws clicking against the polished stone of the estate floor. She blinked, the familiar scent of juniper and ink surrounding her as the warmth of the house embraced her. The servants, silent and efficient, ushered her inside, clucking softly over her injuries.
She let them help, her thoughts growing hazy as they cleaned her wounds and wrapped her in soft blankets. But even as she lay in her bed, the fire crackling softly in the hearth, her thoughts remained on Tibs. She knew he would be angry when he returned, but she also knew he wouldn’t leave her side for long.
I’ll make him tea,she decided aloud, though her words were slurred with exhaustion.
And I’ll tell him…She trailed off, her eyes closing as sleep claimed her at last.
The house fell quiet around her, the kind of stillness that only came after chaos. But Lyric was safe, and she knew, deep in her heart, that Tibs would come back to her soon. For now, she would rest, her dreams a strange tangle of shadows and light, of whispers and warmth, of the faint hum of the sending stone still clutched in her hand.
@Tiberius Umbra
01-21-2025, 08:07 AM
