Hope
begins in the dark.
Eulalie stepped outside the walls housing the Dawn Court with a delightful stretch. The morning was still early, an autumn nip in the air as the sun hid beneath a blanket of cloud cover. She glanced at the sky and wondered if they were expecting rain or if the clouds would pass eventually and the sun would come out. At her side stood Tabbris, proud and alert as ever. The gryphon scarcely left her side unless she asked it of him, especially on outings. His presence was both a gift and a comfort, and she was glad for it.
Eventually she began to walk, her steps carrying her north along the Rapax toward where it splits south to become Amare. Above her, Tabbris’ shadow fell over the ground as he flew. The ivory maiden’s eyes lingered on the expansive and empty Illuster Meadow, considering heading there for a peaceful morning graze, but suddenly a feeling of alarm rushed through her. It was both a foreign and familiar sensation, and she knew it was not her own feeling but Tabbris’. The gryphon landed on the ground with a dull thud, the crest of ivory feathers on his head fanning out. ”Danger,” was the first thing that he said and Eulalie glanced about, ”I can smell blood, it comes from the forest.”
At first Eulalie didn’t think much of it. If anything, Tabbris could be a little overprotective, but the tension did not leave him and she knew that, if anything, she would need to appease him in order for her to enjoy her morning. "Lead me to it,” and already Tabbris was launching himself back into the sky. He flew lower that before, a few feet in front of her so that it was easy for her to follow. Their path brought them closer and closer to the forest, where the river passed into the trees.
At first the only indication Eulalie had that anything was wrong was the strange hiss he released, a sound she had never heard from him. Her own apprehension rose, as she entered the scene on the heels of her bonded. Her heart stopped at the gruesome image of death laid out before her, bodies mangled, hardly recognizable. Somewhere behind her Tabbris landed with a thud, and she needn’t look at him to know he was in full guardian mode, feathers puffed up, dark eyes sharp and piercing. She did not see Messalina, curled up in the shadows as she was, as they stood among the desolation.
Others were there, two of which were strangers to her. Unsettling, considering the circumstances. The other was Sloane, who was tearing into those same strangers with frightening words. “Sloane.” Eulalie breathed in deeply, stepping closer, the word spoken short and with a command that Eulalie rarely wore. In some ways, Sloane was as much a stranger to her as the two she did not know the names of, and of all the displays she’d seen from the mare, protecting her court was not one of them. It didn’t sit well with her. “Look at them: no blood, their hooves do not match the marks in the ground. Think.” Her accusations would get them nowhere.
Eulalie may not be a queen, she may not be more than a soldier—a tactician—sworn to protect her people in whatever way she could, but she would also not allow these strangers to be alienated. Her dark eyes traced the scene, her chest tight, her stomach roiling. Oh, growing up in Solterra had made her witness and victim to many horrible things, but even such carnage had not been one of them. Still, she would not dishonor these dead by refusing to search for clues. They hadn’t been saved from whatever fate had befallen them, but the least they could do was find the creature that did it and get justice for them.
She glanced at the strangers. One was scarcely more than a boy, and it made her heart ache to think that he was now privy to the darkness of the world. She thought of Regis, and couldn’t bear the idea of her own son coming across something like this. Her son was a year old now, and she could hardly believe it. He grew ever more adventurous each day. She did not want him to see this. ”Tabbris, go find Somnus. He needs to come quickly. Please be sure that Reggie stays, I know how much he loves to tag along.” The gryphon said nothing but with a shove of his wings was gone, headed back to the court.
“Now… would you like to explain who you are and how you came to be in Delumine under such unfortunate circumstances?” Her earthen eyes leveled on both, and although her voice was not harsh it was still firm. Though the smell of blood was overwhelming, it too was not fresh. Whatever had done this had done it under the cover of night. She only hoped that they were not all in danger now, here in the day time. Perhaps they would have to enforce a curfew for the court, if they could not find out what had done this. Oh, she thought, Tabbris please hurry.
@Sloane @Pan @Metaphor for the interaction @Somnus because there's a big bird boy coming to fetch you
