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Stardust

The dream had happened. The land was fracturing. So many unknowns. It terrified the little dame. She feared for her family, her friends, her pack, her allies. What would become of them?

It didn't help that the air was still filled with the dance of flowers, the sweetness ever invigorating, pushing the Toisiche harder in her tasks. Kirain had been up since dawn, tending the wards, making offerings, talking to the spirits. What had they done? What could they do?

There was no response other than the clear cry of agony from the land.

It was enough to make her weep.

So alone she sat at one of the wards, stacked high with offerings of various kinds, weeping as the floral winds invaded her senses. How could feelings be so conflicting? The tears fell for all those who suffered, and yet there was a giddiness in her soul. She wanted to laugh, to smile, to dance, to seek out her husband once again.

It was all too much for the little dame to handle at once.

They all had the dream, once again. This time, Stardust was there to comfort Ket afterwards, but it wasn’t like Stardust still wasn’t VERY uncomfortable with the whole thing herself. At least she wasn’t alone when she woke up anymore.

Stardust sought Kirain on this morning, knowing the dreams were encountered by everyone. The wards were most certainly the place she would be on this morning. Offerings were the way of Kirain and the druids, even if Stardust still didn’t quite understand it, she still helped where she could.

The woman of night hues walks quietly from ward to ward until she saw the sitting figure of white, unmistakably Kirain. Although, Eilidh was growing to be quite like Kirain in stature, the young pup’s colors meant she would always stand out. Kirain was the only wolf so bright in these lands, shining like the beacon of hope that is needed.

Ears pulled back as she approached, the sweet scent filling her nose. She quite enjoyed it, and deep in her mind she wished to figure out the source of it so she could replicate such a perfume. For now though, she comes to Kirain’s side and nudges her.

”Another dream for all of us, eh? This place just can’t leave us alone!” she complained, cyan eyes flicking up to the sky. If she had a fist, she would be shaking it right now.

Oh Stardust!

She nearly tripped over herself in her rush to embrace her friend.

It’s terrible! The land is in so much pain! Things are falling to ruin! I… I don’t know what to do. I’ve made offerings, I’ve spoken to the spirits… but they’ve not responded.

There was a desperation in her voice, one that typically did not invade her tone. She hated being in a panic, but the dream…

Should we go seek out runes? You and I as a team? Maybe that could help. The dream visitor said that the runes are the way. What do you think?

Kirain was well aware of the stance her friend had on all this chaos. Stardust loathed the magic, the dreams, the mystery of it all. She simply wanted peace.

Peace Kirain was certain they would eventually find.

But for now? They needed to be proactive.

Stardust allowed the embrace, knowing her friend was oh so stressed in this moment. Who could blame her? This land was cursed, this much Stardust knew, and Kirain had children to worry about! Were these cracks in the land real? So far, the dreams had not been completely wrong. She sighed as Kirain spoke, ears drooping as her expression sank.

”How do they usually respond? Do they need more offerings? What can I do?” she asked, completely unsure of how to handle these things. Her pack…they never did these types of things but…at this point, Stardust would try anything, especially with Kirain showing her desperate tone in her voice. She knew that Kirain always tried to be a strong mother. She had already gone through so much, and now THIS?

Kirain mentioned the runes, and the dream did indeed mention them. Stardust nodded her pretty head. She did not quite understand what was going on but…who did actually? Stardust lifted her head and looked around again, seeing the offerings stacked high.

”Maybe if we find these runes and make them as your offerings?” she asked, turning her gaze back to Kirain. ”And do you smell that? I have been wanting to figure that out…it doesn’t seem…normal, does it?” she asked, though the scent is on the fainter side, it had permeated the air with a scent that was just so…tantilizing.

Shaking her head sadly, a soft sigh slipped free.

I don’t think any more offerings will help. I think they need to see us fight for the land, for the people who call this place home.

Offering a sad smile to her dearest companion, she paused for a moment. Did Stardust always seem so… glowy? Her pelt was always impeccably beautiful, but there was something… more. Was she trying something new with her fur? Had she found a new scent? What… what could possibly have changed?

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she grew flustered and let out an awkward laugh.

M-maybe! I know Ket has a rune. It brings her comfort after the incident. Would you go looking with me? I won’t pressure you to do so. I can’t promise it will be safe.

But then Stardust mentioned the aroma on the wind, and silver eyes widened.

It does seem kind of strange… doesn’t it? I… don’t know what could possibly be causing it. It’s too cold and early in the season for anything to bloom.

Stardust really was quite stunning.

How had she not noticed it before?

Stardust did not exactly understand what was going on, but who really did at this point? Kirain’s offerings were apparently not enough for this particular situation, so hunting for these runes it is. Stardust nods slightly.

Was Kirain looking at her funny? Stardust lifted a brow at her, blinking her cyan eyes as she tried to brush off the odd looks. Sure, she is quite pretty, she cannot blame Kirain for staring at her every now and then! A little smirk could be caught on her lips.

”Oh yeah, that thing is weird! I have yet to see another one but…if we gotta find them, we know they exist at least,” she confirms, seeing the rune often now that she and Ket share a den at night.

”Maybe we can head towards the scent and look for runes along the way? I don’t know how else to find runes really, so might as well! Come on!” she says with a casual shrug, nudging Kirain with her shoulder before loping forward. Her form was full of grace. Her fur was well groomed, the only blemish being the scar on her leg from where she first met Kirain. Perhaps, her toes might be a little stained from paints, but nothing too noticeable on her dark features.

She keeps a look out on the ground as she heads out, leading the way. Her heart felt a little heavy, but she took it as being from the invasive shared dream, not realizing that it is…perhaps, caused by this lovely scent that only grows stronger as they go forth.

”Do we have to like…dig or something?” she asks while she pauses, turning back to look at Kirain who is just sooooo cute right now!

Wow. Had her voice always been so melodic? So hypnotizing?

It took Kirain far longer than she cared to admit to properly register the words her friend had uttered. Growing even more flustered, she emphatically nodded at the suggestion to go seek out the source of the scent, and perhaps runes themselves.

When Stardust brushed against her, butterflies erupted in Kirain’s stomach. The sensation left her slightly dazed, and before she knew it, her companion had already loped off.

Panicking at being left behind, she raced after her friend, watching her graceful movements through the snow. How did one learn to move like that? She was like a dancer.

The thought struck her hard, and she stumbled before quickly righting herself with a small clearing of her throat. Her face burned with embarrassment, but she tried to pull herself together.

Um… I don’t know. Ket’s was out in the open. The only other one I found was partially buried in the sand. I guess they can be anywhere, really…

Not exactly helpful commentary, but it was the extent of her experience on the subject. Hopefully it would be enough to satisfy her.

Rune Discovery : 「 Success — Tectonic Tampering 」 

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Your search meanders. Distracted so by the sheer, inexplicable elegance of your very, very dear friend, it seems at first success might be better defined in terms of strengthening your bonds for the trials ahead.

But you are, after all, Druids (or Druid-adjacents) and in the end, nothing hidden by natural means was meant to elude you forever. A beat of wings catches your attention, and the beautifully stratified feathers of a turtledove flash like the frantic pulses of your hearts through this gentle snowscape.

Its holding something. A rune.

And like the sudden realization of a long buried love (but worse, actually) the ground it fled from trembles. Echoes of ancient pain run up your paws. A brilliant blue pulse nearly blinds you after so long in dim morning.

The fissures are spreading. This one, specifically, is spreading directly across your path. It is divisive and terrifyingly rapid, forcing you both to scramble back on opposite sides of the breach to avoid being swallowed.

With a startled cry the bird drops its rune.

Over the fissure.

Catth ut! (Catch it!) A Voice cries in your mind, near frantic. If one of you jumps, now, you might just manage to do that…

Stardust looked back at Kirain rushing and stumbling. She lifts a brow. What was her problem? Was she that frazzled from the dream? She thought on it, and of course it made sense. Kirain had a lot to think about, a lot to worry about with the whole pack and her growing pups…who were so big now.

It was still sorta cute how she was so flustered, but Stardust simply blinked her cyan eyes and looked forward, eyes on the lookout for…blue glowy things. She at least understood what the runes looked like. Kirain explained how the first two the pack had were found, and Stardust sighed slightly.

”I guess we just…look around,” she said with a touch of irritation because…what the hell. This was bullshit. They had to go searching around for these things and for WHAT? What did they DO? As her mind swirled, and the scent of flowers she had never quite smelled before got stronger, a bird flashes before them.

Stardust stops in her tracks, cyan eyes flashing upwards and seeing something…familiar. But she could not focus on it. A bright blue light comes from where the bird fled, and Stardust took a step back one paw crossing in front of her small companion. Her head turns as she closes her eyes from the blinding light.

”Watch out!” ARGH!” she called out, but the land cracked between them, and she feels unable as she wobbles a few steps. The blue crack separates them and she gets her vision back. The voice calls out and Stardust blinks, seeing the rune falling. Instinctively, the tall woman leaps out, catching the rune in her jaws…but not realizing the ground had cracked so much, so fast.

Her front half hits the ground, and her back half hangs into the newly formed crack in the ground. Air had been pushed out of her mouth, and with it, the rune at her paws. She grips as much as she can with her front paws, her back legs trying to gain traction. Her chest hurt and she gasps for air. She could barely think in this moment, but the crack was getting worse as she scrambled with her back legs.

”Kirain…you…gotta go…NOW! Take the rune!” she demanded, the pain still shooting in her chest as she tried to keep the strength to hold on. The fear of the sudden situation had not completely set in yet, and the adrenaline was keeping her going as she felt like her heart was about to run out of her chest.

She wasn't sure if she was going to make it.

A shiver goes down her spine.

It was just two gal pals going on an adventure… until it wasn’t.

Stardust noticed something was wrong far sooner than Kirain did. One moment they were wandering, the next the world itself seemed to be falling apart.

Literally.

Stumbling back as the fissure split open between them, the little dame took far too long to grasp the horror of what was happening. Before she could even react, Stardust was airborne, leaping across the divide with effortless grace.

The rune no longer mattered.

All Kirain could see was her friend.

A strangled scream tore from her throat as Stardust failed to make the leap, scrambling desperately at the crumbling edge. At last Kirain’s body jolted into motion. She lunged forward, teeth catching Stardust’s scruff as she hauled with every ounce of strength she possessed.

The ground continued to give way beneath them.

Stardust was shouting something, words lost to the roar of Kirain’s pulse in her ears. All she could see was her best friend.

Memories flooded her mind in a dizzying rush. Their unforgettable first meeting. Finding a home together at the Rise. Stardust being the best aunt her children could ever ask for.

So many moments.

So much life.

Tears streamed down her face as she held fast, refusing to release her grip.

If Stardust fell, then Kirain would fall with her. Her friend would not face that fate alone.

In the chaos, she had managed to kick the rune away, sending it skidding across the ground, far enough that someone else might find it if the two who had discovered it were suddenly no longer able.

Silver eyes flicked downward into the yawning abyss below, its eerie blue glow seeming almost to beckon them closer.

Forcing her eyes shut, she began screaming silent prayers to the spirits.

Please. Help them.

Do not let them die like this.

She would give them anything, her heart, her body, her very soul, if they would only spare Stardust.

Anything but Stardust.

The taste of iron flooded her tongue as she strained harder, dragging with every ounce of strength her small body could muster.