[Luckily this is voice because Lexa definitely goes a little cross-eyed trying to work out when gold became liquid and why the fuck Peony would want a ton of it and a cow, even in jest.
It was definitely too late of an hour for that kind of joke. Lexa rubs her eyes, finishes strapping on her weapons and calls Kova to her before she says anything else.]
["Before you know it" isn't strictly true, of course. It's the woods and even a tracker takes time to find their way, especially in the dark. Lexa is good though, as one who had no choice but to be good or die tended to be and after a time she finds herself at the base of a tree looking up as Kova purrs against the trunk.]
What animal in their right mind would want to eat me?
Watch out Lex.
[She isn't addressing Lexa, but Kova, as she jumps down to meet them. Despite whatever misgivings Lexa may have about Peony wandering about the forest at night by herself, she had come equip. Her long blonde hair was coiled tightly around her head in their customary plaits - but bare of the usual flowers and sparkling accompaniments.
On one hip she wore the dagger she had won at the Summer Tourney, the other she wore a curving sword. A small quiver of bolts was strung onto her belt and a hand crossbow was strapped onto her back.]
I half expected you to leave me out here for the wolves.
True. [Who knew what Peony had been in, consumed, or just generally been up too? She might poison the poor beasts. Kova purred and looked like he was about to bound up the tree after her when Peony jumps down, all Lexa does is turn slightly to look at her, a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. When she's down, Kova rushes over and bumps into her legs, purring loudly. He was getting quite big.]
Hello Lexy. Hel-lo. Hello. Who's the best predator in the world? Who's the best predator in the world? Is it you? It's you!
[Fearless as she ever was, Peond crouched down on level with Kova, babytalking at him and making kissy noises as the greeted her favourite big cat.]
Others have tried. [Peony turns her attention to her other favourite predetor; Lexa!] Now. Don't you go getting jealous. I give you chin scratches in a minute.
[Kova loved it, even though he did occasionally look back at Lexa as if he was wondering if Peony meant him or his master. At least he got his pats. Those were very important.]
I don't doubt you'll make an attempt. I believe you had an actual mission in mind, however?
Arguing with fair folk in the middle of the night sounds like an excellent plan. [How did you survive to adulthood, Peony? Lexa will never understand.]
[Now that they are walking Kova is all business, slipping ahead to see what Peony and Lexa could possibly be searching for and likely trying to decide if he should eat it for them. Most of the time when Lexa brought him out here it was to hunt, after all. ]
Why out here? [That Lexa hadn't moved out into the woods was equally as surprising to her as the idea Peony might want too. If one of them was comfortable boarding with others it was certainly not Lexa.]
I was born in a forest. My people, those I was born too, all were. That is why we are called Trigedakru. In Gonasleng you could call us The Woods Clan. [Or various other expletives, depending on who was talking about them in Lexa's experience. Clarke had no hesitation in making it known she thought them to be savages, the mountain thought her people savages, monsters and a source of medicine all at once.
Her steps wobble for a second as she remembers the mountain before she straightens herself up.]
For a long time my home in Polis seemed like more of a prison. Encased in stone, lit by candles rather than the moon or sun. The wind stealing through rotted windows and sneaking under rusted doors instead of whistling through the trees. It was too high up, too unnatural.
It became home, eventually. [Never more than her favourite tree near Tondc or the little caves and hiding spots she and Anya would squeeze into. But it was something, and she had bled for it, those like her had died for it. To not appreciate it seemed like some kind of blasphemy.]
My home was a prison, Lexa. They locked me up for seven years. Most of my adult life spent with my family, they treated me like a child that needed to be corrected and kept safe from herself.
The difference between me and you is, I wasn't anyone actually important. Keeping kings or queens safe, I can see the point in that, they mean something. I was just a bargaining chip for my family to attain more money, power and land.
[Time for a bit of Peony lore!]
I had to run away from home to get free of them. Bespell them to think they had permitted me to leave for a year. If I hadn't, I have no doubt I would still be locked up on the family estate now like a pampered bird in a cage.
This is where I want to be. I love Titania and I owe her my very life, but, if I spend much longer in the castle than I have to then I'm going to lose my mind. It's too like when I was 'kept safe'. It sets my teeth on edge.
[In practice there was both no greater freedom and no greater restriction in life than being the natblida who survived the conclave and took on the flame. She was the supreme ruler, of all her people thanks to her coalition, but she could not eat anything without it being tasted, could not have friends, lovers, family, she wasn't allowed to have anything that was just for her unless she just wanted her favourite horse or a piece of clothing and even that was discouraged.
Personalities and feelings weren't favoured attributes amongst her line.
Lexa isn't so sure their situations are as different as Peony thinks.]
Then we will secure your clearing for you. [Lexa never was much for explaining herself or sharing too many of her thoughts at once, but she gently squeezed Peony's shoulder as she slipped past her to get a better look of the forest ahead of them.]
[Peony's eyebrow raised at Lexa's gesture but it wasn't comment-worthy. Or at least, she wasn't willing to comment on it and ruin her chances of actually getting some help. She liked to think that the Commander wasn't out here just because she thought that Peony was a threat to herself but also, she still wasn't sure as to how close they were.
With how Lexa pushed her away, it was difficult to tell at times.]
Shouldn't be too hard. It's mostly small fae around these parts. We're a good mile away from the nearest Owlbear nest.
[Heda and Panther alike stalked ahead through the trees with nary a sound, each step careful and practised. Lexa made a gesture and Kova slunk off into the underbrush in the opposite direction to her.
Lexa almost wished there were owlbears, at least she would be sure of what to expect and how to hunt it. She nods in acknowledgement, pausing only when she sees a creature move up ahead of them, her hand instinctively raising just by her hip to signal to Peony, her other hand resting on her sword hilt, fingers flexing around the leather wrapped metal.]
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[Honey. No.]
People call them mermaids.
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And why would they drag me home? I mean -
Well.
[She's heard a story or two, okay, but they've never actually tried anything and she'd stab them if they did.]
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It's what Nimhue's lot do.
That and sing sailors to their deaths. They're kind of cool.
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Do you need me to gather anything else before I come?
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A cow as white as milk, a ton of liquid gold.
[She's joking.]
Just the bare essentials.
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It was definitely too late of an hour for that kind of joke. Lexa rubs her eyes, finishes strapping on her weapons and calls Kova to her before she says anything else.]
I'll be there before you know it.
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[But Peony clambers up a tree and sits herself down there to wait.]
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At least you didn't get eaten.
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Watch out Lex.
[She isn't addressing Lexa, but Kova, as she jumps down to meet them. Despite whatever misgivings Lexa may have about Peony wandering about the forest at night by herself, she had come equip. Her long blonde hair was coiled tightly around her head in their customary plaits - but bare of the usual flowers and sparkling accompaniments.
On one hip she wore the dagger she had won at the Summer Tourney, the other she wore a curving sword. A small quiver of bolts was strung onto her belt and a hand crossbow was strapped onto her back.]
I half expected you to leave me out here for the wolves.
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I wouldn't do that to the wolves.
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[Fearless as she ever was, Peond crouched down on level with Kova, babytalking at him and making kissy noises as the greeted her favourite big cat.]
Others have tried. [Peony turns her attention to her other favourite predetor; Lexa!] Now. Don't you go getting jealous. I give you chin scratches in a minute.
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I don't doubt you'll make an attempt. I believe you had an actual mission in mind, however?
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Yes!
I'm trying to clear out an area down here; teach the small fey that it isn't theirs any more. I want to live out here.
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Lead the way, then.
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[And Peony will lift her unstrung crossbow up.]
Small fey don't know when to quit.
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Should I have brought a bow?
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This is more to distract bigger predators if something decides to show up.
[And Peony leads the way to a clearing.]
This is where I want to set up in a few month time. Out here all the time.
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Why out here? [That Lexa hadn't moved out into the woods was equally as surprising to her as the idea Peony might want too. If one of them was comfortable boarding with others it was certainly not Lexa.]
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[Peony shrugs.]
It's a good spot. There's a natural spring nearby and those cliffs should stop any wings that'd knock my shelter over.
I'm used to sleeping outdoors, Lexa. I've been doing it for nearly two years.
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Her steps wobble for a second as she remembers the mountain before she straightens herself up.]
For a long time my home in Polis seemed like more of a prison. Encased in stone, lit by candles rather than the moon or sun. The wind stealing through rotted windows and sneaking under rusted doors instead of whistling through the trees. It was too high up, too unnatural.
It became home, eventually. [Never more than her favourite tree near Tondc or the little caves and hiding spots she and Anya would squeeze into. But it was something, and she had bled for it, those like her had died for it. To not appreciate it seemed like some kind of blasphemy.]
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The difference between me and you is, I wasn't anyone actually important. Keeping kings or queens safe, I can see the point in that, they mean something. I was just a bargaining chip for my family to attain more money, power and land.
[Time for a bit of Peony lore!]
I had to run away from home to get free of them. Bespell them to think they had permitted me to leave for a year. If I hadn't, I have no doubt I would still be locked up on the family estate now like a pampered bird in a cage.
This is where I want to be. I love Titania and I owe her my very life, but, if I spend much longer in the castle than I have to then I'm going to lose my mind. It's too like when I was 'kept safe'. It sets my teeth on edge.
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Personalities and feelings weren't favoured attributes amongst her line.
Lexa isn't so sure their situations are as different as Peony thinks.]
Then we will secure your clearing for you. [Lexa never was much for explaining herself or sharing too many of her thoughts at once, but she gently squeezed Peony's shoulder as she slipped past her to get a better look of the forest ahead of them.]
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With how Lexa pushed her away, it was difficult to tell at times.]
Shouldn't be too hard. It's mostly small fae around these parts. We're a good mile away from the nearest Owlbear nest.
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Lexa almost wished there were owlbears, at least she would be sure of what to expect and how to hunt it. She nods in acknowledgement, pausing only when she sees a creature move up ahead of them, her hand instinctively raising just by her hip to signal to Peony, her other hand resting on her sword hilt, fingers flexing around the leather wrapped metal.]