A small mountain range known for its black colored rocks and mineral ore deposits. Many mining caves have been dug through the mountain but not all of these are safe. Bears and mountain lions guard the hills and many unsafe tunnels collapse without warning.
Her visions. Her suspicions had been correct. She'd reappeared in Ixora's visions like so many years ago. It had to be Tsillah's doing. What other reason could there be? 'We have been fated together from the start. Tsillah tested us both, and we have prevailed.' Enya wanted to whisper these same thoughts to Ixora as they embraced but opted to live in the moment instead. Ixora's long-forgotten odor engulfed her senses. Where once she feared the odor and dreaded the day she may catch it again, she felt security and safety. Ixora's odor and existence reminded Enya not of their bad days, but of all the good ones that they had together.
Enya lingered in Ixora's embrace like a long lost friend would. Her body hurt but not enough to force her to break away the reunion before Ixora did. When Ixora spoke, she opened her eyes, only realizing now that she had closed them to begin with. Her words hurt more than Enya thought they would. She wanted to apologize to her. She wanted to make amends. Ixora didn't know that Enya had moved past their history and made peace with it a while ago. It was about the same time that she'd realized that her destiny had been there, right in front of her her whole life, and she'd ignored it every time.
The viper remained silent as Ixora pulled away from the embrace and continued to speak. She chuckled. After everything, she was laughing, and she, too, had called her sister. A soft smile came to Enya as she settled back down into an awkward sit, her injured leg cocked out to the side. She was slow and meticulous in her movement as she repositioned. "I'm too stubborn to stay down for long."
She, too, had many things that she wanted to say to the red wolfess with her. "Please, sister, there's no need to apologize." her voice was soft as she spoke. "Our history is behind us and there is nothing either of us can do to change it." Enya would know if there was a way. She'd done plenty of research into the subject of time travel. The amount of time she needed to travel wasn't possible, let alone abide by the possibility that it could alter different worlds or realms. "I've survived Her judgement, lived an immortal life because of it, and..." Enya lingered as her voice drifted off, the soft smile on her face growing larger as she told Ixora her secret she'd been hiding. "I hope to be with children soon, if Caedwyn agrees. Ixora, sister, don't you see? We have been fated together from the start. Tsillah tested both of us and we have prevailed."
Something inside her chest eased as Enya spoke. Their past was behind them and in many ways it was for the best. Ixora didn't want to linger in the pain and judgment of the shadowed memories that had once held her hostage. Those days where long gone and though red wolfess wouldn't have held it against her sister if she had held onto her own anger Ixora was glad that she hadn't. That they could move forward and rebind the bond that had broken between them.
“Your too stubborn for a lot of things.” Ixora huffed with amusement but she went on to grin as she continued to speak. “But I think that is a trait that we both share.” After all they wouldn't have had such a long bout of separation if they had been willing to sit down and talk things through without pride getting in the way. Or at least it had been pride for Ixora.
She watched carefully as Enya sat, the motions pained and red ears flicked back in concern, flashing pale white spots. Carefully she stepped forward to help brace Enya with her shoulder, long tail curling around her. The blood soaking into her fur a reminder of the wounds that they both shared but Ixora was loathe to stop the conversation.
“Immortal and children with Caedwyn?” Ixora asked a bit surprised. She couldn't remember the last time that she had seen the dark wolf. It felt like her history with him was almost as complicated as her relationship with Enya. Not to mention the little tidbit about being immortal. That was something that she struggled to wrap her mind around. “Sounds like you have given rewards equal to your struggles.”
Ixora's smile faded a little. “I fear she isn't done with me yet sister.” She responded with a sigh as she briefly looked to the horizon before turning to Enya again. “I saw visions of you but I also saw more images of myself in places I have already visited.” Being chased by a bear in one, staring down the dark wolf that had almost sworn himself to her in another, and dozens more that showed the same result. Being in places that were far from here and away from her sister again. “They are far from here and if I can I will return but I don't know for sure when that would happen.”
Enya nodded in agreement as Ixora pointed out that they both shared the stubborn trait. It was true. If either of them had been only a little less stubborn, then maybe they could have rekindled their relationship a long time ago. She accepted Ixora's assistance with settling into her sit and nodded again to confirm Ixora's quick summary of her positive outcomes to her life. This was nice, a pleasant outcome to a potentially horrible event. She'd survived her bounty hunter and been reunited with a wolf from her long-ago past. She suffered a broken leg, but what was a broken leg compared to hugging one's long lost sister again?
Then, just as Enya was allowing herself to feel happy, Ixora's smile faded. She remained silent as Ixora went on to explain her visions, the same one that had brought Ixora to her. Enya tried to hide the flare of anger that crossed her face. She wasn't angry at Ixora. She was angry at herself. She'd boldly assumed that Ixora would return with her to her kingdom. She had expected the red tigress to find a place in her kingdom, to earn her Trial of Bones for Tsillah's sake once more and to eventually be named her Noble or Knight. She'd made all of these assumptions without realizing that Ixora could of had a very different plan.
From the sounds of it, she absolutely did.
"Sorry" Enya quickly sputtered out as she realized that she was wearing her emotions out in the open. "I just, I thought for a moment that you might stay in my kingdom. I know you would earn your rank in no time at all. It's was silly of me to expect it." The disappointment was forced away and she returned a smile, "Sister, if you must leave, then go with my blessing. At least let me have provisions brought for you to travel with. Dried meats. Common medicines. If you must leave, I want to do what I can to make sure you have your best chance to return to me." Enya was, at the end of the day, wanting to stock her for completely selfish reasons, but it was only because she loved her dearly. She didn't want this one meeting to be their last meeting. "My children will need you around to teach them how to put up with me and Caedwyn, after all." She offered Ixora a cheeky grin.
Ixora eyed the anger in her sisters gaze but despite the time that had passed she could still read her, especially when she was being so open with her emotions. “I would if I could, but magic doesn't always listen to our requests and the Goddess likely won't either.” It was a bitter sort of realization that here she was with her sister again talking and chatting but the reunion was tainted with the knowledge that they would be parted again. Something that neither of them would be able to control even if they wanted to.
“When,” Because she would do whatever she could to return. “I come back I'll join your ranks.” Ixora promised the blessing that Enya offered along with the supplies making her feel warm and a smile break out across her face. “I suppose I will have to try doubly hard to return so that I can repay you back then.” She teased before barking out in laughter. “Of course you do, and I suppose babysitting them will be part of my duties?” It wasn't a bad thought, and it actually made her all the more eager to leave just so that she could come back faster. Pups had always held a special place in her heart and she had always wanted a family of her own. The thought having always lingered in her mind but one that she had pushed aside for one reason or another.
“Though I think we should get you to your healers before you start thinking about that.” Ixora hummed nodding to the wounds Enya bore. A mixture of their blood had soaked into both of their red hued furs making the red even darker in places.
