Messages In This Thread

Hemlock · 9/13/2026, 5:16 PM

OOC

"Flower... fly."

Hemlock watched her, half-fascinated by her novelty ... but also half-annoyed. Why didn't everyone understand what his infantile mind desired? He did not fathom that she may not speak his language. That she may be trying her best. That she, like he, was only a child.

"Hem...lok," she said, finally.

Yes. Hemlock, he confirmed, waving his tail gently as she understood.

Her ears would perk up, excited.

And Hemlock felt it vibrate within his little chest.

Her excitement excited him.

"Lán!"

She shouted. She waved her tail. She danced.

Hemlock would mirror her movements. Oh! Lán! Hemlock spoke again, exuberant, now smiling as he puffed his chest in unison with her own. And for the first time, he would taste her name on his own tongue. It was soft and foreign. And yet, it was so easy to speak. Easy for him to say.

Lán.

Everything made sense now. Hemmy and Lán. That was all. Yes. It was the right place and the right time. Two children meeting in a way that words could not confirm. Just a nod. A wave.

A crush.

It was cute.
Sweet.
Something that would go away.

Or was it something else?

Danger.
Growing.
Invisible. To both of them.

"Bàba... weddin'."

Hmm, he started, pawing at the ground mindlessly as his youthful mind churned and turned. Wanna watch? The wedding. For whoever Bàba was. Hemlock didn't know, and maybe he didn't care. He wasn't sure what he cared about, afterall.

Or, he started, head turning away from her to search for the missing butterflies. We find somethin' for us? Why celebrate the adults when there was space for them? Why should their parents get all the prizes?

Butterflies. For them.

Flowers. For them.

Yes, they could have it all.

Somethin' for Lán and Hemlock? He would add the words, accentuating the internal monologue. And Hemlock would wave his tail ... ever-so-friendly.

Welcome Back!

Greetings Stranger!

Verdant's Grace

the red wraith