Falling Inside The Black (Open)

[SirDio]

Asteri

"The stars listen, so don't say anything you'd regret."

/// long post get ready suckers ///

A storm graced the inn with it's power that evening - winds slapping the outer walls, rain falling on the windows and sometimes sneaking in via the tiniest of cracks in them. Lightning flashed, thunder rolled as drums of power across the air. In Asteri's room, the scrawny wolf sat before the closed window that looked out into the moor, now hidden by sheets of rain and a fog that settled in with the storm. Eyes half lidded in comfort, she watched the power of thunder, hearing it's sound reverberate over the air, and relished in the memories.

Her first storm was long ago, still a pup, still with a loving mother and tolerating father, during the night. It had spooked her, scaring her awake and causing her to cuddle up to her mother for support. That was when she heard her first story, too. A story of deities whose darts were lighting, their laughs, thunder, their tears, the rain. A story of wonderous beings, wolves like her, who danced among them. Evaded mother earth's attempts of keeping them on the ground. Laughed with the thunder as they dodged the darts of light and power. Their speed was passed down to family, where Asteri inherited their speed from her mother's side. Unfortunately, she fell asleep halfway through the story.

Her first storm with a new friend was after she abandoned her family. She found a group of wolves and foxes who babied her, cherished her fur. Her first friend was a melanistic fox named Coy. He was an affectionate friend, gifted her small flowers, a crown of hollies, and many other such things. He and Asteri slept in the same den, both parties consenting before the decision. He was scared of storms, so when one rolled over the camp one night, Coy huddled up to her for support. She told him the same story her mother told her, and he fell asleep halfway. Seeing his sleeping form, she let out a chuckle and rested her head on his. Best friends, right?

Her first storm to be lost in was when she lost Coy and the group. Terrified, she wanted them back - she told them to wait - and god did she want company for a long while after that. She slept alone as the storm raged on, so stories to tell, no one huddled up and no one to huddle up to. It was lonely, that storm, and so was her.

Her mind soaked in the memories of Coy - her very first friend, who she loved so much before she was ripped from him. It wasn't romantic, a sad thing for Coy, whom she knew had feelings for her. She remembered the songs she sang with him, his cool, silk-smooth voice that resonated with every note sung, every word spoken. He had complimented on her voice, calling it "Just as the sea, sweet and alluring, alluring enough to pull sailors in". It reminded her of when she first met Bai, who she helped lull into peace with her voice.

Thoughts rolling just like thunder, she quietly spoke to herself, "Did I have feelings for Coy...? No, but wait...." She huffed before shaking her fur. She settled back into the memories, humming an old song she and Coy would sing together, able to be heard through her open door.


TL;DR/// A storm rolls into the Inn, Asteri watches it and reminisces. First, her first storm where her mother told her the story of the storm deities, mother earth, and the wolves whose speed could not be outmatched. Her mother says that that is how Asteri was so speedy. Then she remembered Coy, her best friend from a long gone group of wolves and foxes. Then she somewhat remembers her first interaction with Bai. Now she's humming a tune and can be heard from out in the hallway.