| Silently she fluttered on behind the pale princess, keen black eyes watching the yearling duck and dodge within the citadel shadows as though not to be seen. Where was she going? What was she doing? Alba had not been sleeping when Anemone had snuck away from her bed, and the barn owl had immediately abandoned her perch to follow. With Tabbris and Milo keeping a close eye on Regis, Alba knew that she would not be missed or needed. Right now the young prince was safely tucked away into his bed, and with a straying Anemone on the loose, she knew that her efforts were currently better suited elsewhere, being nocturnal and all. Following the wayward yearling in ethereal silence, Alba glided stealthily through the empty halls. It was only after she had found a perch upon a window sill did she let out a few loud pops! with her beak towards the wandering Anemone. ’Pop! Pop!’ Then, through her mind, she reached out to Somnus. While loathing to disturb him from his rest, he needed to be aware of what was happening. ’Somnus. Your daughter is at it again.’ Within their bed, Somnus stirred. Verdant eyes slowly fluttered open, glancing about the room with noticeable lethargy and quite clearly half asleep. It was only the mental nudging from Alba that caused him to shake off the lingering drestiges of sleep, an incessant poking that prodded the back of his skull. Turning his head, the dunalino regarded Eulalie for a brief moment before leaning over to press a kiss upon her cheek. Then, with a remarkable amount of grace given his large size, he heaved himself up and out of their bed to stand upright. A small stretch was satisfyingly rewarded with a number of cracks from his neck and spine, and Somnus let out a long, slow breath. The chill of the autumn evening was unwanted, but as much as he wanted to return to Eulalie’s warmth and cuddle close to her, Alba’s wonderful little reminder in the back of his skull caused him to move. ’Hurry up, Somnus.’ Ducking out of their quarters with one last glance, the Dawn King took to the silent, dark hallways of the citadel in search for his wayward daughter, his golden coat catching gleams of moonlight through every window he passed. It was easy to track her. All he had to do was feel for whichever way Alba went. Along his journey, the hallways stood empty and barren save for the few passing guards on a nightly patrol. To each one, Somnus offered a nod and a tired smile. Goodness, but he was tired… It was late. Quite possibly the middle of the night. So why was Anemone out wandering at this hour? Rounding the hall, he spotted her; a pale mar of light golden hairs standing out amidst the encompassing shadows of the stone hall. Somnus arched a brow and cleared his throat. “And what, pray tell, might you be doing up at this hour?” He wasn’t angry. Not really. There was even a faint trace of a smile on his dark lips, masked by concern and fatigue as it might be. It was only natural and honestly, having Anemone sneak around wasn’t unheard of… Yet with the recent deaths of Moore and Casper, he was on high alert. They all were. |
@Anemone
