Letters of Uniting

Authors

QueenofOpals

Cast

Published

1 year, 3 months ago

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4205

https://www.deviantart.com/queenofopals/art/Letters-of-Uniting-923651061

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Andromeda had been spying on her father for some time now. The vay had originally attributed her smooth skin and stunning good looks on a good gene pool, but after watching him and his peculiar habits, she got the sinking feeling something more sinister was going on.

She didn’t understand how it worked, but she observed him taking color from his environment, leaving him youthful and energetic. She couldn’t pull on colors like he, but perhaps whatever made him that way also affected her, something passed on through their genetics.

She continued to watch him, content to leave him be, until she noticed a pair of cubs left on his porch at a house he was currently staying at in Warrenfall. The female that had done it looked familiar, although Andi couldn’t put her paw on it. It was the cubs that drew her attention though, and worried the opal female. Amour wasn’t a kind reosean by any means, using creatures and tossing them away when he was done with them. She had hoped he would dump the cubs off at an orphanage perhaps, but he did no such thing. Andi had rocks in her gut as he considered what he might be doing with the poor things.

Watching wasn’t going to change anything though, but what else was she to do? Her solution came in the form of a gray vay with warm pink and peach opal sparkles along her back and mane, reminding Andi of a sunrise.

Andi was nervous at first, the colors reminding her of Amour, and wondered if perhaps he had sent her, but she exhibited a kindness that seemed to evade him.

The stranger extended a paw, a bundle of parchment upon it, and smiled softly at the midnight and jade female.

“I’m Amelia. I need to keep an eye on my mom for a bit longer, but I think you’ll find what you need enclosed.”

Andi was given the papers, and she peered at the other female curiously. “Amelia huh. Then you must know who I am if you are giving me these?”

Amelia smiled, nodding politely. “Andromeda, I have so much I could say, and hopefully the letter explains it, but I hope we have more of a chance to talk later.” She turned to leave, but Andi held out a paw to stop her.

“Is this about the cubs?”

Amelia only nodded, sadness creeping into her smile.

Andi sighed, invested now and as she sorted through the parchment the other opalescent female had handed her, she found letters addressed to a handful of reoseans, and one addressed to herself. She looked back up at the vay with the long mane, who only gestured for her to read it.

Dear Andromeda,

I know we don’t know each other, but I hope that may change. We share a father after all, and it seems to me he holds some peculiar magic that may affect us all. Recently, two full blooded siblings of mine, Nephrite and Star Dust, were stolen and dropped off with our father, and he plans to abuse that magic with their presence. My mother was cursed not to see them again, but she cast a spell on Amour to infatuate him with them, so that he might not abandon them, hoping to protect the children until it wears off in short time, and I will be staying close by in the event he discovers and retaliates.

Still, I know you wish to help. I have given you letters, and a list of locations, for other siblings of ours, I am sure some of them may be able to help. It would also be good to get together to discuss our family, shall we call it, curse?

If nothing else, perhaps seek out Cassia in Roenden first. I believe her to be the oldest, and she is a battle worn warrior who should be able to go toe to toe with Amour to get the cubs away from him. Eamon would also be a good choice, and he is here in Vitalus with you, as is Celestine. I’ve heard of one in Warrenfall, but I will have to look into it more before I can give you a definitive answer on her. I have given an address where I will be staying in the capital for a few more weeks, otherwise you may find me at my normal address in Thedale on the list.

I can pay as well for delivering these letters, as if I know that is normally your job. We’ll be in touch.

Amelia.

By the time she looked up from her own letter, the other opal had already turned to leave, almost escaping as fast as she had come, but Andromeda called out to her.

“How long will the spell last?”

Amelia stopped, pondering it and then shrugging. “A few weeks? Maybe a few months? Depends on if he has other tricks up his sleeve. I do not know him well, and have only discovered our siblings through my travels, but I haven’t researched or even reached out to any really until today. I travel without meaning, you travel with purpose. Please deliver the other letters. Even if they want nothing to do with us, with me or the young ones, perhaps the knowledge alone can help.”

And with that, Amelia turned away, disappearing around a bend in the road as if she was never there.

Andromeda couldn’t find any fault in the other vay, her sister by the sounds of it, coming to her to get word to the others. It would have been nice if the female paid first, but Andi wouldn’t complain. She’d just have to give an upcharge once she came back from the various countries.

Too bad there wasn’t concrete evidence of another sibling in Warrenfall. Thankfully she wasn’t too far from a port city, so Andromeda took her letters and her belongings and headed for a boat.

It would be best to go to Roenden first. The cold frigid place wasn’t as nice as her home of Vitalus, but the letter had been right - getting a warrior on their side might be the best plan of attack.

She had traveled by boat before, but usually she preferred the teleporting circles that got people around the floating city and various islands. She wished they were used outside of Vitalus, but alas, mundane means of transport it was. She could feel the air grow cooler by the hour, and in the three day journey, she wished for thicker fur, but was grateful for her puller body to have at least a little more meat on it to insulate her.

Cassia was supposedly stationed with other off duty soldiers near the town of Zento. The world may be in a state of peace at the moment, but many places kept themselves ready for war at a moment's notice, and warriors continued to train and hone their abilities.

If Andi thought the trip by boat was bad, she was practically freezing through her trip across the country. Zento was one of the most northern cities, and the road there led through the mountains that divided the continent. She regretted not taking the boat through the waters once more, as there was a port near the city, although she was sure she’d have gotten restless by then. The extra time by sea with the ocean’s spray might have chilled her further yet, so it was very much a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.

The journey across the frozen tundra took her nearly a week, and she wondered if she should only deliver this letter, and skip the others. What exactly was Amour doing to the cubs? And would they be safe for however long it took for her to find the rest of the siblings?

She was contemplating this when she arrived at the warrior output outside of the city. As someone who prided themself on appearances, even covered with snow flurries, Andi stood out amongst the reoseans that bustled about. Scars and haggard appearances, weapons and rough fur, claws and teeth sharpened to formidable weapons.

Andi wasn’t sure who she would even be looking for, when a large puller approached her.

“State your business.”

He was straight to the point, so Andromeda picked up her head and spoke clearly. “I have a letter here for someone named Cassia.”

He looked her up and down, and snorted. “Should have guessed. Second largest tent on the west side.”

Andi thanked him and headed in the direction he indicated, finding the tent easily. Considering its size, she reckoned this Cassia might be someone important, and after seeing someone else exit her tent with rolled maps, and a pair of guards preventing her from entrance, she confirmed that suspicion.

“What business do you have with the commander?” One of the guards spoke, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“I have a letter for her, if I may go in to deliver it?”

“We will need to inspect your belongings.” The guard reached for her bag, eliciting a squeal of indignance from the opal puller.

“Oh for the love of-” An angry voice sounded from inside the tent. “It’s just a letter, I’m not defenseless you morons. Let her in.”

Holding back the urge to stick her tongue out, Andi trotted past the guards, entering the tent.

Cassia was a puller practically identical in size to Andi herself. She had layers of fluffy fur, some fearsome armor and a cloak, all of which tricked the eye into making her appear bigger than the midnight puller. Her coat was gray with splotches of white, looking as if the puller had dragged herself through the snow. She was scarred, including one that went across a sky blue eye, but none of that held her attention long when compared to the beautiful cinnamon colored sparkles that covered the other puller’s rump and tail. She wondered if all of her siblings would hold the opalescent markings, and theorized that the magic of their blood traveled with the genes for the sparkle.

“You have a letter for me?”

Andi nodded, digging in her bag for the one addressed to her. As the warrior read the parchment, Andi wondered if coming to her was a mistake - she was a commander, a general, and was clearly not in a position where she could just leave.

“Wait here.” Cassia’s voice shocked the thin furred puller, who stood in place as commanded (and who could have even thought about disobeying the authority in that voice), as the duve left the tent.

She wasn’t gone long, and came back only to gather some belongings in a rush, tossing a pack over her back.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

Cassia cracked the first smile Andi had seen since arriving. “No one dare question The Ice Queen. You must be Andromeda, and you have other letters to deliver I presume? I’m coming with.”

“You can call me Andi.” Andromeda mumbled under her breath, and the smile widened, indicating Cassia heard her.

The pair of pullers found themselves on another boat soon after, daring the longer ocean trek on the trip to Andi’s home country.

Cassia wasn’t much of a speaker, although she did ask questions, gathering intel like a proper general might. Andi spoke a little of their family, her first impressions of Amelia, and the bits she saw of the cubs. She spoke of her own childhood and her suspicions of the ‘curse’ Amelia mentioned. She spoke of Amour and how she never witnessed anything dangerous, but he gave her the creeps the longer she observed him.

“And what of you?” She dared try to ask. Cassia stayed silent, and Andi wondered if she had pushed too far. “At least, why did you agree to come so easily?”

The duve sighed, waiting a bit longer before replying.

“The truth is perhaps I am lonely. I am nearing my 214th birthday, yet I really cannot tell anymore the passing of time. I am only now starting to feel the effects of aging, but it isn’t as much as normal people might feel. I knew of our curse a long time ago, I have had run-ins with Amour, and I know the true nature behind it all. Watching others die around me has been a curse indeed even if he calls it a blessing. I do not want him to benefit off others, and our blood may very well be a key to adding to his power. We would be wise to take them from him by any means necessary.”

Andi was silent, contemplating all she had said. Suddenly the other two letters she carried felt heavy, and she was unsure if she wanted to bring that news upon anyone. Yet at the same time, wouldn’t it be best to know your own limitations and abilities?

“What exactly is this curse you speak of?” Andi asked hesitantly, her quiet voice almost stolen by the ocean wind.

Cassia glanced at her sideways, and considered her options before speaking. “He steals life from others in the form of color. He takes their pigment, in splotches or fully, mimicking albino. It adds to his own life force, which seems to have passed down to children that share his sparkling marking. I have met children of his without that shine, and they live normal lives. But us, we’re targets for him. He will take your color, only it steals just your opalescent brilliance, not the rest of your pelt. It comes back with time. Amour can gain endless life force off of us with enough time. Perhaps it shortens our own. My theory is we somehow got some extra life of his.”

The two sisters were quiet for some time. They spoke no more that day, or the next, and it was only when the boat docked in Vitalus that they spoke again. Cassia hid her awe at the dock, while Andi booked them a teleporter to the capital city that floated well above their heads.

Andromeda always liked her home. Crystals grew like flowers, adding sparkle to the everyday lives of the residents. It matched her vain personality, and her shining hide, so she felt it was only natural she stayed here. It seemed her siblings were also of a like mind, as two of them lived here as well, and after meeting Amelia and Cassia, Andi fully suspected the others she was sent to meet had similar opalescent coats.

Andi flashed her citizenship identification to allow her expedited place in line, and rang in Cassia as a temporary guest. The soldier was uneasy, her claws gripping the circle with a steel grip. Andi was worried that she might chip the stonework, but to her amazement, Cassia’s paws instead coated with ice, holding her fast to the ground as the magic activated. How it remained stuck on the second teleportation ring was beyond her - she hadn’t exhibited any magic of her own yet. She wasn’t surprised to learn her much older sibling had though.

Leading the way, Andromeda headed towards the center of town. Her gray and brown sister kept glancing around nervously.

“I know you’re some soldier, but you need not worry. You won’t be attacked here.”

Cassia snorted. “No, I’m just worried the damn island is going to wobble, or worse, fall.”

Andi’s laughter echoed down the streets. Sure that was a fear of some, but even tyrians that had harnessed themselves to the islands could make them move much at all. It was secure and peaceful.

Cassia grumbled a little under her breath as they walked, until they came to a great library. Andi headed in with no issue, but the soldier scowled.

“What now?”

“If we’re going to a library, that means one of them works here, or lives here, or spends lots of time here. We don’t need a bookworm. What we need is able bodied people.” She grunted, her eyes narrowed and hard.

Andi shrugged and decided to just leave her outside, not caring to see if the warrior decided to follow her in or not. Granted, with all her armor she might stand out a bit much inside the library, hell, she stood out a lot in Vitalus in general, her sparkling hide her only saving grace.

Knowing who she was looking for a reo that practically lived in the library and likely had a glittering coat, Andi scanned the aisles, her eyes peeled for another flash of sparkle. It didn’t surprise her to find it, although what did surprise her was how that fur was portrayed. The other female was a runner, but she was large as runners go, likely as tall as her two puller sisters. Her ears were comically large, but they didn’t detract from her appearance. Tobiano markings stretched delicately across her hide, while underneath lay a sparkling sea of purple and blue, almost looking misty. Extra white speckles dotted through the shine, and Andromeda was struck by a pang of jealousy. This delicate runner was stunning, and Andi just wanted to be her, or at least paint her claws with a matching sparkle paint.

The puller considered leaving, lying and saying she never found her, but the runner lifted her head, pupiless eyes meeting hers.

“Yes? Do you need assistance?” Great, even her voice was pretty, and Andi fought to avoid frowning at that.

“Are you Celestine?”

The runner nodded, so Andi dug in her bag to grab the correct letter. Clestine had immediately reached into a pouch of her own, handing Andromeda a few coins as a tip. She didn’t wait for Celestine to open her letter, instead turning on her heels and starting to walk away. What she hadn’t expected was for the armored puller to be standing practically behind her, and Andi just barely managed to avoid impaling herself on a jut of metal.

Cassia smirked at her while the opal behind them scanned the letter, squinting at them in confusion.

“And who exactly are you two?”

“Cassia. Andromeda. Cass. Andi.” The soldier pointed to each of them in turn, and Celestine nodded.

“You can call me Celeste if you would like. I think you two should come with me. That is, if you want.”

Cassia pushed past Andi to follow her upstairs, while Andi stood in the aisle. Cass only looked back at her once, and it was enough to make the dark puller sigh and follow them up the stairs. Jealousy was a bitch.

Celestine led the pair to a separate room in the library, unlocking it and ushering them inside. There was a small balcony, exposing the vast expanse of sky and a view over the city, while some sort of magic must have been in place to prevent the wind from disturbing the contents of the chamber. A table was covered in books and parchment, and one bit in particular stood out at the top of one of them, ‘Faire L'amour’. Drop the first part, it almost sounded like-

“I don’t know if I can help retrieve the cubs,” Celestine interrupted her thoughts, “but perhaps some of the research I have gathered might help?” It was hard to tell with her milky purple eyes, but Andi could have sworn she saw them stray to the warrior. “You know, help strategize perhaps?”

Andi sighed when Cassia immediately seemed interested. “I suppose I can go look for Eamon while you two go over all this.” She waved a paw and back out of the room, still having one more letter to deliver. Celeste immediately had gone into details over a particular paper Cassia had turned her attention to, and Andi shut the door on them, making her way out of the library.

Her last stop hopefully should be the palace. While it was part of the capital, it sat on its own miniature island, just large enough for the building and courtyards, floating above a crystal clear lake. Andromeda knew the way well, having delivered many messages for those there, and trotted off at a comfortable pace.

Even though her face was recognized, she was still screened for entry, her bag searched and the letter given a quick inspection before she was allowed to teleport into the sitting room, where she waited to be called up.

“What may we help you with today Miss Andromeda?”

The clerk was a familiar face, and the opalescent vay smiled. “I have a letter for one of the royal guards, he goes by the name of Eamon. I was hoping he would be on duty today?”

The clerk nodded and the door opened. “We’ll seat you in one of the waiting rooms while someone fetches him. It won’t be long.”

And the clerk was right, it didn’t take long. It didn’t surprise Andromeda when another puller greeted her. She had expected someone who worked as a guard might be a tougher sort. She was pleasantly surprised by his own genes, as a small constellation marked between his spots and sparkles, his blue pelt so much like the night sky. He spoke softly, and while he was perhaps more alike to Cass than Andi herself, he was far less gruff and more approachable than the soldier.

“I have a letter for you.” She noticed him eyeing her as she dug it out. Unlike with Celestine, she didn’t really have an option to leave until he was done, and stood quietly, waiting to be dismissed.

“Are you here alone then Andromeda?” He asked, putting down the letter as he spoke.

She shook her head. “I don’t know what Amelia put in your letter, but there are two others here. Cassia from Roenden is over at the great library with Celestine. Apparently Celestine has been taking notes on Amour.”

Eamon nodded as if it didn’t surprise him.

“I can take some leave, but it will be a day or two before I can. I will assist with the retrieval of the young ones, but I will have to come back here at some point.”

Understanding, Andi nodded. Professional, and taking his job seriously. He continued though, squinting slightly at her.

“I’ve seen you around before. You live here right?” She nodded again and he smiled softly. “Give me your address. I’ll come visit you once my shift is done and let you know when I get time off.”

Andi moved to grab some spare parchment out of her bag to write it down, when she hesitated. The male sensed it, and questioned it with a look.

“It just seems too easy, you know? Everyone agreeing to help just like that for people they don’t even know.”

“Ah.” Eamon’s eyes nearly sparkled like his pelt. “You’re still young. Perhaps once we might have felt the same. But not much excites us anymore. The thrill is gone, life seems boring. Perhaps with like minded others, it won’t be that way.”

It was another way of wording the exact same things as Cassia had said, and it made Andi nervous for the future. She already had noticed she was slow to age, and Cassia herself was hard to believe had lived over two hundred years yet only looked to be perhaps in her forties. Scary stuff.

She quickly jotted down her address and handed it over. Eamon put both it and his letter in his bag. “Anything else then, Andromeda?”

“Nah, but you can call me Andi if you’d like.” She smiled, glad to have another kind sibling. Well, none of them seemed bad at all; Cass was a bit rough around the edges, and Celeste was just prettier than her, but they weren’t bad.

“Andi is it then. It is a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better.” Eamon led her from the room, dismissing her to the seating area.

Andromedea sighed, her letters delivered and feeling conflicted, but relieved that the job was done. Just as she was walking out the door, the clerk called for her.

“Andromeda? Could you wait just a moment? We could use your services.”

Andi sighed again but smiled. It seemed her work was never done.

-End-

ICQ Messenger for Andromeda 13536

CP for Amelia 14887, Celestine 14189, Eamon 14957

Others Present Cassia 11637

♦ Messenger: Draw your Reosean on their way with an envelope, a document, or the like.

Andromeda 13536

WC 4041 + 40

Personal +3

Corresponding Land +1

ICQ +2