5/12/2026, 1:01 AM
Retirement had its perks.
Aurelia no longer rose quite as early these days, indulgently allowing the sun to crest over the horizon and warm the earth before emerging from her den. Nothing seemed urgent anymore. No impending sense of doom, no pressing matters of leadership; just the steady roll of routine and the pleasure of sleeping in just a little bit longer.
Except something was very, very urgent this morning.
Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly in the darkness of the den. She, too, had come away from the rebirth of the world marked in some fashion, and now her gaze - piercing enough as it was normally - held the illumination of the stars themselves. It didn't particularly bother her since it wasn't something she could outright see or experience, unlike her sisters.
Speaking of which.
Tiberii's voice, strange and echoing, cut through the early morning hours. Her tone seemed laced with panic, a sound not unfamiliar to Aurelia. Tiberii was not known to be the most emotionally well-regulated of their siblings on the best of days, so this was either something as simple as a stomach cramp or as severe as an amputated limb.
Dalmatia was already on the scene, whispering soft reassurances into the dark woman's ear with practiced care. How easy she always made such things look, Aurelia thought distantly. How easy they were for some, and so difficult for others.
Aurelia no longer rose quite as early these days, indulgently allowing the sun to crest over the horizon and warm the earth before emerging from her den. Nothing seemed urgent anymore. No impending sense of doom, no pressing matters of leadership; just the steady roll of routine and the pleasure of sleeping in just a little bit longer.
Except something was very, very urgent this morning.
Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly in the darkness of the den. She, too, had come away from the rebirth of the world marked in some fashion, and now her gaze - piercing enough as it was normally - held the illumination of the stars themselves. It didn't particularly bother her since it wasn't something she could outright see or experience, unlike her sisters.
Speaking of which.
Tiberii's voice, strange and echoing, cut through the early morning hours. Her tone seemed laced with panic, a sound not unfamiliar to Aurelia. Tiberii was not known to be the most emotionally well-regulated of their siblings on the best of days, so this was either something as simple as a stomach cramp or as severe as an amputated limb.
Dalmatia was already on the scene, whispering soft reassurances into the dark woman's ear with practiced care. How easy she always made such things look, Aurelia thought distantly. How easy they were for some, and so difficult for others.
Tiberii?she called out, emerging from the den with a look of concern. At least it wasn't an amputated limb, but something had clearly distressed Tiberii enough to summon all of their siblings to discuss the matter.
What's wrong?
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