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Forward dated to the 12th. Spooky vibes~ Lestan Eilidh Saorlaith

The blood moon hung high in the sky, its vibrant crimson light spilling across the land, painting everything beneath it in shades of horror. The druids had been thrown into panic by the sight. What could have angered the spirits so deeply? Was this the end of all they knew?

Kirain felt a cold dread blooming in her chest, her instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong. Something was happening. Something awful. She hovered constantly over her children, counting and checking them again and again as if her vigilance alone could keep them safe. Her eyes sought Lestan’s, desperate and pleading, searching for answers she feared he didn’t have. Did he know what this was? Could they do anything to appease whatever force had been stirred?

It was morning, or at least it should have been. Yet the world remained dark, heavy, and suffocating beneath that red light. She had tried to keep the pups tucked away inside the den, but they wanted to explore, blissfully unaware of the danger. She couldn’t blame them, but unease gnawed at her all the same. Turning to her husband with wide, worried eyes, she whispered, What do we do? I… I’m so scared. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

Bending down, she offered soft nuzzles and gentle words to her pups, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. Her mind raced, searching desperately for a solution, anything to turn the tide, until a distant howl pierced the silence.

She froze. Ears pricked.
That voice, she couldn't quite place it.

Dread flooded her veins like ice. Kirain’s gaze darted between her mate and the den’s entrance before she made her choice. Keep an eye on them, Lestan. I’ll be back. I have to see that the others are okay.

Without another word, she bounded out into the bloodlit forest. The familiar warmth of Goldenwood had transformed into something alien, its trees cast long, clawed shadows that twisted and reached for her. Every sound made her flinch, every rustle sent her heart hammering harder. Fear coursed through her like fire and frost all at once, yet still she pressed on.

Every den she could remember was checked, reassured, and moved on from. No one claimed the howl she had heard, and the creeping reality only deepened her anxiety.

Before returning to her own den, she went to the wards and pleaded for aid, anything the spirits of the land could offer. She didn’t know what else to do.

All that remained was hope, hope that the den walls would be enough to keep them safe from the horrors that had become their new reality.

[it is a m-most powerful night, children. kirain was beside herself with anxiousness, and while lestan shared part of this, he wanted to be more reassuring than he felt. a b-blood moon can portend many things, but it is one of the nights wh-when witches are at their st-strongest. red light had been poured onto the earth like ruby syrup. he was grateful to see that the little ones did not seem to sense anything amiss. when his mate sped off, lestan took a few helpless steps after her before he remembered himself. right. w-well, he said, d-do not go far. he did not allow the three far from the welcoming embrace of the denmouth, hovering beside it like the day his son had been dove upon by the eagle. it was not quite fear he felt, but something restless and rising and great inside himself. he felt magick. bathed in the blooding light, lestan experienced a sense of settling so profound that his eyes almost stung. when kiran returned, he moved to embrace her. do not be af-afraid, my dove. it looks frightening. i am f-frightened. but -- witches do not f-fear the elements of the world. we w-work with them. his eyes glowed. sh-shall we let them do th-their first ritual?]

it is a m-most powerful night, children. kirain was beside herself with anxiousness, and while lestan shared part of this, he wanted to be more reassuring than he felt. a b-blood moon can portend many things, but it is one of the nights wh-when witches are at their st-strongest.
red light had been poured onto the earth like ruby syrup. he was grateful to see that the little ones did not seem to sense anything amiss.
when his mate sped off, lestan took a few helpless steps after her before he remembered himself. right. w-well, he said, d-do not go far.
he did not allow the three far from the welcoming embrace of the denmouth, hovering beside it like the day his son had been dove upon by the eagle. it was not quite fear he felt, but something restless and rising and great inside himself.
he felt magick.
bathed in the blooding light, lestan experienced a sense of settling so profound that his eyes almost stung.
when kiran returned, he moved to embrace her. do not be af-afraid, my dove. it looks frightening. i am f-frightened. but -- witches do not f-fear the elements of the world. we w-work with them.
his eyes glowed. sh-shall we let them do th-their first ritual?

She could feel the tension in the air. Eilidh knew little of the world. So far, days have been blue, black, and grey. The red though? The red was new, and it appears mother did not like the red. Eilidh would watch as her mother seemed so bothered, and thus Eilidh figured she should be bothered too.

Mother left the den and Eilidh squeaked for her. Father was still around though, so little Eilidh looked to him with her grey-blue eyes. He spoke then, and she tried to understand all that he was saying. There was something…special about this red?

Eilidh moved and poked her head out of the den. She smacked the ground three times with her front paw - a thing she has done every since the encounter with the grasshopper. It ensured that no harm came to her when she left. She stood just outside the entrance, her eyes looking for mother as father hovered over her.

Eilidh tried to rush forward when mother came home, but father beat her to it. Still, she loped to mother’s front leg and pushed against it as father spoke. ”R-ritual?” she asked curiously, wondering what this could be.

Anxiety crackled in the air, and the little bean felt it keenly. His mother had vanished so suddenly, with barely an explanation. Was something wrong? Was Mama okay? Like his sister, he turned to his father for reassurance and guidance in the uneasy quiet.

The red light spilling through the den’s mouth made his fur prickle. It didn’t feel… natural. He couldn’t quite place why, but something about it set his nerves alight. A soft whimper escaped him as he pressed himself closer to his father while they waited.

When Da surged forward to greet Mama, Faolán tumbled to the ground in a graceless heap. An embarrassed yip slipped out before he scrambled upright, edging toward the den’s entrance. From there, he could see his parents embracing, little Eilidh nestled safely against their mother’s leg.

Faolán wanted to join them, but the trembling in his legs rooted him in place. Then his father spoke the word ritual, and his ears perked. What was a ritual?

Help? he asked softly, eyes full of hope and uncertainty as he looked to his parents for an answer.

skill: seer (1/5)

Though they were young, the children felt the same sort of energy their parents seemed to be responding to. The moon was heavy with a strange glow, the color was never a shade Saorlaith could remember before. Dutifully she had waited for guidance from her parents, the reassuring touch from her mother returned with a quick peppering of her kisses before Mama had gone. Nervously, Saorlaith found herself checking the edges of the den, the familiar safe haven they were provided with needed to be inspected, she needed to be certain that whatever she was feeling now did not get worse. Nothing looked different and nothing smelled different, everything seemed to be exactly where she had come to expect everything. The herbal scent she associated with their family was just as it should have been. She didn't notice the return of her mother until she heard her father speaking and her little ears perked. She came forward to weave her way from one parent's limbs to the other, nuzzling gently against each parent before she looked to her siblings.

This ritual - this was different. It was new.

But the budding druid was not afraid. There was in her a great curiosity, and perhaps that would someday prove to be her ruin. Now though, Saorlaith stood at the mouth of their den with her socks 'soaked' in the red. It might have been like blood, if she had much of an inclination to think such a way. Faolán, She left her parents and sister to gently press her nose to her brother's soft cheek. Come? She would stay with him - supporting him forward, with all the love a sibling could muster. Do not fear She parroted what Lestan had said only moments before - although with the sort of confidence only a child could claim. She'd never known bad and so this meant it would be good, right?

To be greeted so warmly by her mate brought Kirain at least an ounce of relief. She steadied herself with slow, deliberate breaths. Lestan was right, witches and druids do not fear nature; they thrive within it.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the gentle nuzzling of her daughters against her legs. She offered them a tender smile before speaking softly. Da is right. Don’t be afraid, my loves. All will be well, so long as we are together.

Her silver eyes drifted further into the den, where her son stood frozen in fear. She sighed softly. Come now, little ones. Your Da has a wonderful idea. Let us show you the strength that flows within your blood.

Turning back to her husband, a playful grin curved her lips. Shall we perform a ritual at one of the wards? It should be safe, so long as we stay together. I’ll let you lead, of course, my witchling mate.

She lowered her head to nudge her children toward the nearest ward. Stay close, little ones. There is much for you to see.

Her tail swayed gently behind her as she kept pace with her pups, careful not to walk too quickly and risk them stumbling.

Stepping beyond the Goldenwood sent a trill of anxiety through the mother’s chest, her eyes scanning the skies for any sign of danger. All was quiet, and only then did she let out the breath she’d been holding.

The walk was both beautiful and haunting, a night they would not soon forget. The fog hung heavy in the air, cloaking the world in ghostly silence. Kirain kept a watchful eye on her pups, ensuring they stayed close and didn’t wander too far from the safety of their parents.

[eilidh had learned her own rites, lestan observed. she was most consistent with that paw and its blow to sacred earth. he put his paw around her shoulder as she came close to himself and kirain, seeking to reassure. their voices piped, all three. come here, faolán. your sister saorlaith is right. come now, and his accent thickened lovingly. in this thy must all be united and ready. and when the little family stood together, lestan gestured upward at the moon. this will pass. this moon is not m-meant to scare, it is m-meant for you to say your f-fears aloud. then the moon will c-carry it off, he promised carefully. tell the moon. watch, the witch instructed, and pointed his gaze now to that round red curve. i am afraid that wh-what i love might be h-harmed, he said directly into its glow, voice singsong as he picked up the old cadence of an older song. thoir air falbh e, thoir air falbh e, (take it away, take it away,) tones becoming jaunty, almost a dance, as he looked to kirain and nodded at the moon. her turn to give up the fear into the bloody hands which would carry it off.]

eilidh had learned her own rites, lestan observed. she was most consistent with that paw and its blow to sacred earth. he put his paw around her shoulder as she came close to himself and kirain, seeking to reassure. their voices piped, all three. come here, faolán. your sister saorlaith is right. come now, and his accent thickened lovingly. in this thy must all be united and ready.
and when the little family stood together, lestan gestured upward at the moon. this will pass. this moon is not m-meant to scare, it is m-meant for you to say your f-fears aloud. then the moon will c-carry it off, he promised carefully.
tell the moon. watch, the witch instructed, and pointed his gaze now to that round red curve. i am afraid that wh-what i love might be h-harmed, he said directly into its glow, voice singsong as he picked up the old cadence of an older song.
thoir air falbh e, thoir air falbh e, (take it away, take it away,) tones becoming jaunty, almost a dance, as he looked to kirain and nodded at the moon. her turn to give up the fear into the bloody hands which would carry it off.