[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

tagging: Archon

---

Euphemia’s mind was a buzz with all the happenings. It sometimes felt as if she were adrift in a dream, only that she was experiencing it as a very life-like. Sensations still felt as they always did; but still the maiden could not trust if what her eyes saw and her ears heard was true. She believed in God, she believed in many Gods, just as she also believed in no god. In a universe where she felt the pull to answer calls about which she knew nothing, Euphemia now recognized that anything could be perceived as the truth.

She was a woman of the sciences. It was all she had studied since she had been a cub. She liked it when things were cut and dry, black and white – and she appreciated having the agency in order to root out such information, when she found things to be shades of grey. She moved about the world in an inquisitive way, a way that asked, a way that begged for answers. But in caves that transported her places, in purple snow fields, her learning process left her wanting and hungering for a truth that never existed.

Even at home, she felt strange. Supplanted in a way she couldn’t explain, couldn’t rationalize to her sisters. She felt as though, if she were to disappear, no one would mourn her. They would simply wait in limbo for her to reappear, only she might never come back, and she would be left ungrieved by the only souls who knew her well enough to grieve her.

The maiden huffed indignantly as she walked, daring to explore more of the lands that bordered Dawnbreak. Leaving Frostfang used to instill her with fear, but now she welcomed it. The world outside might be scary in its limitless potential, but this was also its power.

Euphemia closed her eyes, and she drank from the cool river.

---

Archon was in a weird place in his life, but honestly speaking, it felt like he had always been in his weird sort of limbo. Like he didn’t know where he was, or what he was meant to do; his attempt to make a pack was not because he had been driven by the grand purpose to lead, or to protect others, like his father - or whatever purpose it took grand leaders to lead.

Archon had dreamt up Avon simply because he had nothing else going on in his life, and thought a pack would fix his problems. In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t - and Archon’s heart was no fuller from leading. Would he lead again? The circumstances with his children changed everything, because he could not protect and provide for them by himself, and making a pack seemed easier than joining one.

Step one was to secure a land, but he lingered over the Meadows that he once called home - pondering, wondering, if more of his children under fable’s embrace would try to escape, - it was likely the only way he’d get to be part of their lives, if they did.

Another bust, at least for the moment, he was about ready to turn around and scope out some actual land when - was that his sister? He had moved the family this close to Dawnbreak to see them, but in all this time, they never came down to see him; just usually ignored him - so why now?

Why was she here now? Who died this time?

Here, it’s dangerous to go alone: take this. He picked up a pretty leaf and sat down next to her with a grin and wag of his tail.

He paused, and then -

Hey, you. It’s been awhile. Everything okay?

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

The lands below and beside Frostfang had always been heavily populated, so it was eventual that she come across another. Hearing a being approach her, Euphemia lifted her head as she drank the cool waters, and barely had time to wipe her maw of the shoreline that dampened her lips and fell from them in crystalline, glistening drops. She turned her head, and saw her brother.

Archon! The words burst from the very mouth that was drinking moments prior, and then split into a grin so large it threatened to throw her off balance. It was so rare that she saw her brother, that sometimes it was easy to go many, many weeks and realize she hadn’t thought about him. No one spoke of him, at least not to her. Once he had decided to leave Dawnbreak, it was as if he had been struck from the family.

– and though Euphemia was sympathetic towards all of the underdogs of the world, she too had been guilty of not ensuring the bridge between she and her brother remained unbroken. It had not fractured, however; instead, it had withered away. The last she had heard, he had found a woman to fall in love with. They dreamed of starting a family, a pack, together.

Things that seemed so distant and inconceivable to Euphemia, who felt like a child in comparison.

She turned to face him, ears turned forward to better receive his every word. Everything is great, she lied, still smiling cheerily. The next part was the truth.

I can’t believe I’m seeing you. How long had he been just outside Dawnbreak’s doorstep? Big family man, she chuffed, rocking her head back and forth as she enunciated each word, almost in a teasing manner. But inside, Euphemia easily felt the pain of having no idea what that could possibly feel like. Just another way she was outside of her siblings; left behind, in all things.

---

His darling little sister screamed his name so loud and proud, it blew a dozen of the ice crystallines that fable had deliberately planted on his heart straight up from the root and into the sky, making him feel more free than he had in a lifetime.

His eyes settled on her with his own grin; his tail beating against the ground. Hi, he chuckled, looking her up and down, making sure that she was quite alright.

The last he saw her, she was defending his ass in front of Gheghis, and now they were here - and it felt like the time in between those two memories were far, far too great.

That’s - that’s great, I-I’m so happy for you. He said to her, his voice cracking, with no real clue as to how she was feeling, or thinking - or even what caused her to finally be out here, but he could pick up on the teasing jabs of her words.

Am I still considered a family man when my wife’s gone and left me? Sure, he might be the only sibling - if they could call him that, anymore, with kids, but in retrospect fable had never been worth it.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

It was shocking to see Archon. Like, no, really – all four sisters had remained within Frostfang Vale, but her brothers? They were scattered to the winds. Some dead, some disappeared, some living as anonymous neighbors. The maiden wondered what mothers would think of that, but then Euphemia remembered she herself was living amongst another universe during the time of their mother’s death, and she stopped wondering almost immediately.

Still, even with relationships layered and made deep over the years with the many joys and slights and tragedies that befell the likes to family, it made her happy to see someone with whom she had that sort of blood (or, something akin to blood) relations with. Something that ran bone-deep; and those were the only relationships that ever truly mattered to the silvered maiden.

She found it hard to forge connections with those random souls who walked on the planet, seeking meaning. Euphemia didn’t know how her sisters did it, feeling a romantic pull towards others that had only just met (in relative terms, in comparison,) and welcoming others with no allegiances to Olive or Tiberius or Genghis or even Kuhn… those who didn’t even know the name Archon…

The past was the past, Euphemia always came back to that conclusion. And many of those family members weren’t entirely innocent of harming those around them.  Euphemia found meaning in family, she found meaning in those she was born knowing – and she figured it took a brief stint in another universe for her to really understand and cement her priorities in this one, singular lifetime. So Euphemia smiled over her pain, and attempted to smile over Archon’s own pain,

but he could not hide himself from her, and at the slightest posit of his happy pairing, became undone.

oh, really? oh no... Euphemia’s voice fell, immediately saddened at Archon’s truth. In some places and times, when her brother had crossed her mind, she imagined him happy with his wife – though she could not remember her name, Archon had left Dawnbreak for her and did not return. She had always assumed that meant he was happy and satisfied with his choices.

Perhaps the choices were not what he questioned, for it seemed that two souls in love would go to any lengths to be with one another, even if the outcome was not the one intended. That’s what all the stories tended to say, wasn’t it? That the journey was what it was all for in the end, and that pain in the price we pay for love?

Archon, oh, i’m so sorry… she sighed, deflated. What happened? I mean, can I ask that? After all, she was inexperienced in love, and curious about this part of it. What issues could have been so great that they, at long last, drove the world’s great couples apart? Euphemia thought of mother and father, and Archon and his mystery wife, and she frowned.

---

What happened?

She had asked the question that Archon himself still asked himself - that he still asked her within the holes of his heart that she had willingly created.

There was no need to hide behind the curtain with his sister, was there? He was safe within her company, wasn’t he? Just like we had been safe with fable? His anxiety, like a demon, screaming so loud he flinched.

And it wasn’t untrue, but he was so tired of thinking of her. He looked to his sister. These moments, between them, were so rare. He didn’t want to lie to her; he didn’t want to ruin these moments; didn’t want her to always think that he made things all about himself.

But things weren’t great all the time. His family? Everyone, excluding the sister in front of him right meow, absolutely hated him. His wife? Why, she hated him so damn much that she neglected the children that she bore with him. Yeah sis, things are SO great!

I wish I knew, Archon said softly, his voice cracking. It was the first time he had spoken of it. Sycamore had bore witness, so he didn’t need to speak of it - but Euphemia? An outsider. I wish… I knew. He said softly, again, looking at the sky with a deep inhale.

I left home because I didn’t feel seen, you know. It was always Ma and me, and then came Dad - and that was cool. Then you guys… and it felt like there was no room for me anymore, and that was okay, so I just went on my own way. And that’s how I met fable. And I tried to do what Dad did, tried this whole, I’m ‘An Alpha Thing’ to feel important cus I felt like a no one, Euph. Archon shrugged.

He shook his head. Part of him really did not want to unload all of this onto his sister, because a) what good would it do? It wouldn’t change fable’s mind and even if it did, Archon wouldn’t take her back after the damage done on his children.

She didn’t talk to me like she’s supposed to do and she neglected our children, Euphemia. He said softly, lowering his gaze with a sigh, his tail coming to curl around his paws.

At least two of our daughters have come forward with claims that they feel neglected and unsafe in her presence and I can’t just sit back and ignore that. I don’t want to be that type of parent. I never thought she could hold so much hate in her heart for me, but.. He sighs and shakes his head, allowing his voice to trail off for a time.

.. I wish things were really great as you say - and that I could introduce to you to them, because they could really use a positive role model, but I don’t know where we’ll go, or when the next time it is, that we’ll even see each other is - but I want to go as far away from here as possible. He turned to lift his head, hoping to meet her eyes.

Would she understand the implication?

Please, come with me

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

Euphemia listened with something akin to childlike terror as Archon went into the details of the rupturing of his relationship. Euphemia did have an appreciation for the macabre, for it provided much information for her analytical mind to churn over and spit out. She loved to chew the details of a thing and absorb it into her very being. It was because of this that Euphemia felt her emotions very deeply, and loved even more profoundly; for how could she not marvel at the art of imperfection, which existed in nearly every corner (if she looked hard enough)?

He said he didn’t know, and Euphemia doubted that greatly. She thought it was more likely that he didn’t want to say – and, of course, it left the maiden with far more questions than it answered. She hadn’t known the details of why her mother and father also ended their prolific love story either, and somewhere in the recesses of her mind, a whisper spoke of a burgeoning belief that heartbreak was inevitable in every relationship one would find themselves in. To be alive, was to suffer.

Not that suffering was entirely a bad thing. It kept life from being boring, and Euphemia watched life like a most delicious telenovela. and this was how she regarded Archon’s story of failed love; without being given the gruesome details, it felt like a scary movie that she enjoyed as much as she loathed. Perhaps love here had failed, but maybe it was still beautiful and valuable and worthy because it had existed at all. In a world where nothing was permanent, that’s all one could possibly hope for.

Wasn’t it?

She found herself jealous, insides beginning to simmer with the heat of a dream unrealized. When would it be her turn to be heartbroken? When would she get to feel such passions, and weep such tears? When would her struggles with Dawnbreak would initiate her into new struggles of life and love and loss, like it had with Dalmatia and Tiberii and Golde and Archon?

Before she knew it, Archon was talking about why he had left Frostfang Vale in the first place, of his children and their mistreatment, and Euphemia had to force her attention to point in one direction, towards Archon, who was speaking of his own many pains and woes. The silvered maiden kitted her eyebrows together in concern, looking towards her brother with compassion. It came to her easily, once she stopped being so in-her-own-head.

That’s okay Archon, you’ve gotta keep them safe. she spoke softly, as if Archon was made of fine china, and her words were the velvet cloth that enveloped it and kept it safe. I still would love to meet them, she said as she maintained her calm composure, but she felt it was amazing that she had nieces and nephews, whom (prior to now) she had no idea existed. So, she did have family outside of Dawnbreak. For some, Frostfang Vale was not the place they were destined to pass the rest of their days, simply because they carried the Shakti-Vaes name.

With all of these realizations, Euphemia could not reflect her brother’s sadness. It’s amazing that you are a father, she noted with earnest, and it was all she could do the stifle the forlorn sigh that lay so shallow in her throat, so ready to be uttered. I don’t care what happened afterwards. You’ve made babies, and that’s just… She looked at Archon, her expression full of eternal longing and unexpressed, unmanifest desire. I haven’t even had my first kiss. Whatever was left of her smile slipped off her maw, a bit surprised that she dare say such a thing.

---

Archon didn’t know, truly, if venting to his sister, was the best thing he could do in this situation. He didn’t, truly, but somewhere deep, deep in his heart, he wanted to trust her, because she was still family, and if he couldn’t trust his own family, then there was no one else on this planet he could trust, was there?

And maybe, maybe his family could help him. Get over whatever anger they had for him, to help him - for the children. I would give my life to keep them safe, he whispered to her softly, because his life was nothing compared to theirs. Truly, I would. He added, his eyes sweeping over her with a feeling of hope.

You can meet them and be part of their lives, whenever you want. I have five daughters. Their names are Kyros, Aisling, Eidola, Illithya, & Nausica. And then he would go to describe what each of them looked like, so that his sister would know who they were, upon sight. And right now, I only have Kyros and Eidola with me. Though he paused, offering a humble smile when she said it was amazing that he was a father.

Thank you, though some days - most days, really, it doesn’t feel that way. It’s very scary, because the whole world is a threat to them, and now I’m the only one keeping two little, perfect angels safe. I understand now why Ma and Dad created their pack. My next pack is going to be geared towards them and their future, definitely.

And then came her confession, and Archon blinked. Just as surprised as she was. He wanted to tell her that kisses weren’t all that important, but this seemed very important to her, and he didn’t want to ruin his relationship with her, too.

So he pulled his thinking cap on, and turned it on, and he thought really, really hard. Okay, Archon. Your little sister has just confessed that she hasn’t been kissed. He was quiet for a long, long time. And then, he smiled.

Fret not, dear sister! He proclaimed, standing, quite suddenly, like he had all the answers: I shall take you home, and my two girls will give you all the kisses your heart shall ever desire! He said with a nod.

No boy will ever match the kisses my girls can give! He added, with the wag of his tail and the wink of his eye.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

In Archon, Euphemia saw something become more clear. In a world of obligation and birthright, he represented freedom and the restraint of obligation. Discernment, was a likelier word for it. Her brother was a man who made decisions, and was not afraid to follow through with the path that best supported his values. She remembered how her sisters chastised him, bordering on hatred. She had been audience to the advice that Genghis had provided to Archon, to beg for Tiberii’s forgiveness. Even in the face of such indignation, Euphemia saw a soul that was able to forge his own path, time and time again.

Euphemia could not say the same for herself. When she thought of herself, she imagined a meek and senseless character. She had rarely, barely ever, left the Frostfang Vale. She hadn’t even been able to attend any of the several festivals that their neighbors had hosted – one having been hosted by Archon’s own ex-wife. Euphemia simply sat and waited, always waiting, for the universe to make her disappear. Just as it had with mother, with father… with almost everyone, at one point.

It was then that the introspective point made itself clear to her: the constant fear of being displaced, as she once had, kept her frozen in place, unable to establish herself in a valuable role within Dawnbreak. She was afraid to yield her heart, lest she lose everything once more. If she had human hands, she wouldn’t be able to count on one of them the amount of times she had to rebuild her own shattered heart –

But here was Archon, who had experienced the same, and did not seem burdened by it. Instead, he seemed emboldened.

I see, the maiden commented at Archon’s admission that he only has 2 of his children with him. It must be painful, she admitted herself, to not have his entire brood. She wondered how that happened – how children split themselves down the middle, and chose one parent over the other. How could one possibly say goodbye to their own progeny, when they still walked in physical bodies upon the same land? Euphemia thought of her own father, and then wrested her mind back to the simple idea that she had nieces and nephews. Her family had grown.

I’d love to meet them, brother. They are my blood! I am so thrilled! she cheered, wanting Archon to leave this experience with her happier than he was before. There were enough difficult family relationships to be had, and this did not need to be another. Next pack… she repeated as he said. Are you… going to claim land? If that was true, she had not known another to be quite as brave as Archon was. Not Tiberius, not Tiberii, not Aurelia, not even Genghis.

Ha. Ha. Haaaa. she laughed sarcastically as he offered her plenty of puppy kisses, glossing over her embarrassing admission. I’ll take anything but… you know that’s not what I'm talking about. She looked to the side and rested her chin on her own shoulder, suddenly unable to look at him, not sure exactly what she expected from him or wanted him to say. It seemed so silly and small, when compared to Archon’s own grandiose issues of life, love and liberty.

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