[PRP] Sanctuary (Atae, Draven, Kochu & Pyre)

[Skye Starrfyre]

The two of them had parted ways with Grim not long ago, leaving the unicorn to return to his mate and their three children. He would rather the stallion be with Nostalgia instead of escorting he and Pyre home anyways, keeping their young safe from whatever else might be lurking in the night as he had once done for his friend and her first set of foals. The world was not as safe as it had once been... Even if things were still changing.

They were closer to the place that he called home now, at least. If Kochu had been watching out for him then she would be able to catch his scent soon... If not the scent of the smoke and rain that followed him.



The silence between them was heavy; moreso than he would have thought it could be after all that they had been through. The other stallion had insisted her come with him but he wasn't sure why... Was this some sort of trust? Leading him through the woods blindly with their only light the soft glow of embers around his hooves?

He could still smell the fire that had been before the rains came, the smoke stuck in his nostrils and not yet washed from his hair by the water that fell. He would have to find a stream come morning... Assuming Draven didn't just dump him off somewhere before then.  

[TheMadHatter]

She had been fluttering about despite the late hour wondering where Draven had gotten off to. Atae was still solom and didn't seem all that interested in talking to her about what was troubling her. It wasn't like her daughter. Atae had always been able to take to her.

As she flicked though the tree branches she caught the smell of smoke. Frowning she headed in that direction as quick as her little wings could take her. If there was a fire she would need to get the family further into the caves so they were safe ... and she would have to worry about Draven more.

When she caught sight of her mate she squeaked slightly, ignoring that another male was with him, and landed lightly on his muzzle. "Why do you smell like smoke?"

She had gone home and somehow managed not to speak to her mother. She didn't know what to tell her. Daddy didn't seem to be that happy with her and she wasn't sure what he was going to say when he got home. She didn't want to disappoint her daddy but ...  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"Because I was near a fire." He said in a somewhat teasing tone, attempting to lighten his mood more for her sake than any other as he lifted his head, trying to displace her from the tip of his nose. "It's out now... The Spirits gave us rain at the right moment. Right now I would like to be home."

He held back for now, somewhat startled by the sudden appearance of the small mare. Was that... Atae's mother? He swallowed, glancing down for a moment. He really didn't want to intrude on any family thing, especially not if the petite mare had been worried.  

[TheMadHatter]

She frowned slightly and shook her head. "Why were you near a fire...." She fluttered back and set herself on the ground so she could give her wings a rest. "Are you alright?" She rested her nose against light one of her mate. She knew Draven could take care of himself but she would always worry. She knew he'd ignore his own pain if it came down to it.  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"I'm fine..." He closed his eyes for a moment, returning the gentle nuzzle as he ran his nose along her muzzle. "... Thanks to Pyre." His mate knew him well enough that she would be able to tell if he was not telling the truth. He had a few scratches left but none of them were major.

"It was nothing... Really." He murmured, his hoof digging slightly at the ground as he shifted with a bit of unease. "A skinwalker." One with flames that had come after him; that had seemed to know him. "... I should let you go here. It's... Probably not all that safe for me to stay around."  

[TheMadHatter]

She turned her head so she could finally pay attention to the other male with her mate. "Pyre...." SOmehow that sounded familier. Was that the friend that Atae had spoke of once before?

At the mention of a skinwalker she turned her eyes back to Draven and eyed him for a moment. She hoped that he hadn't done anything to provoke that, no heroics. "It's going to storm..." She looked back at Pyre for a moment. "Rather nasty if the smell in the air is right. You shouldn't be out in it"  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"I know a place or two I could go." He nodded slowly, turning to head away only to find his path blocked by the older stallion. He blinked, looking up to him. "..."

"I said that you were coming home with me. I meant it. Grim healed your wounds but it takes more than just a little magic for your body to recover. While it may not be safe to have you around it isn't safe to let you go either. That thing attacked me first, even if it came after you in the end." He took a step back, letting Pyre have room to turn back around before he turned to look at his mate.

"Pyre is a friend of our daughter's... And he will be staying with us for a while."  

[TheMadHatter]

"Mm.... maybe he can make Atae smile then." She grinned as she turned so she could head back toward their home. "She's been moping ever since she came back ... and she wont tell me why."

She looked over at Pyre again as she headed off toward home. "If you got in a fight with a skinwalker then you need somewhere safe to rest and i can't think of anywhere better than Draven's caves."  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"Mm... Because I sent her home and told her that we were worried." He nodded once before turning to head back to the place that they had called home together for nearly a year now. There had to have been other reasons, of course; several of them being something or other that would link back to the stallion that he had brought along with him.

He sighed softly and resolved himself to say nothing else on the matter beyond a slow nod. It didn't seem as if there would be any arguing to be had with either of the two at the moment... And he just didn't have the energy to try.  

[TheMadHatter]

She trotted easily back toward their home and smiled as the rocks came into view. The rains wouldn't take too long to get there and she'd rather have herself and her wings under the cover before that.

When her hooves touched the stones she smiled. "Atae?"

She heard her mothers voice from where she was deeper in the caves. When she turned she frowned slightly at the warm glow coming from the entrance. What in the world?  

[Skye Starrfyre]

He looked around for a moment upon entering the cave, brow furrowing slightly. "... I take it Kuro is still with Nostalgia and Ina is with Memory?" He would have rather had them home; his daughter, at least, not liking that either she or Memory were out wandering around when there was a storm or trouble...

He shied back for a moment, seeming a bit uncertain still on following the others. He wasn't used to such close spaces; hadn't been since he was younger. It felt comfortable but he had seen comfort like this destroyed before and he didn't want it to be his fault if it was.  

[TheMadHatter]

"As far as i know." She nodded. "Ina knows to keep out of the storm so i'm sure she and Memory are safe. They're smart girls." She smiled as she nudged Draven's nose, not wanting him to frown. "IF Kuro is with Nostalgia then he is well too, you trust her."

Her eyes widened as she recognized the flaming hooves. "Pyre?" She stepped out of the darkness of the further reaches of the caves. "Daddy? .... what's going on? Did something happen?!"  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"Yes, I trust her... And Grim." He nodded slowly, returning his mate's nudge with a gentle nuzzle. Nostalgia was one of his dearest friends in this land that he'd made a home of and he knew that, if anything, she would care for his children just as much as she cared for her own; as he had cared for hers.

"I..." He swallowed, flames flickering with his unease as Atae approached. He wasn't sure if this story was his to tell or if Draven should be the one telling it... Or hell, even what he was doing here.

"Careful." He stepped up between his daughter and the other stallion for a moment. "He's going to be staying with us... Until he's better, at least." He nodded slowly. "Show him where he can lay down and rest for the evening. It's been a long night."  

[TheMadHatter]

She looked up at her father for a moment, looking as if she' dlike to tell him something, before she nodded. "Over here.... there is some warm flat rock..." It was where she usually slept. She wanted to ask Pyre what was wrong, what had happened, but she knew she wouldn't be able to while her daddy could hear. He obviously didn't want her near him anymore still.

She raised a brow as Draven stepped between her daughter and the other male. He had said Pyre was Atae's friend, so why step between them like that?

"Draven .... you should go lay down yourself." She nudged her mate. "You look tired yourself."  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"Atae..." He called his daughter back towards him for a moment, taking a step closer to her so that he could lean in, wanting his words to be for her alone. "... Don't ask him too many questions tonight. You can speak with him as much as you want come morning; once he's rested." He gave one of her curls a light tug before nosing her cheek.

He glanced over his shoulder, wondering exactly what Draven was saying to his daughter; what Atae's mother had said to him... What he was doing here. There were three of them now between him and the door and it didn't seem as if he'd be going anywhere any time soon.

Sighing softly he lowered himself to the ground, trying to ignore how strange this all felt. How long had it been since he'd been around a family?