Love and War

A quiet wind blew through the old growth trees, the breeze holding the barest hint of cold telling of the season. Void-black wings of a daemon caught the wind and glided past the old-growth trees, most wound around monolithic stone from the ages long before.

The daemon circled above its human companion. The human held herself tall but walked with heavy steps across the old stone serving as a makeshift path through the underbrush. The fur of her tail bristled from something other than cold- the anxiety radiating from her was palpable to even the weakest of empaths.

“Is something on your mind, Rue?”

“Thoughts. Thoughts are on my mind. Why do you care?”

“You’re acting off, Rue. It’s the whispers of war, isn’t it?”

Rue stopped in her tracks and whirled around, all three eyes suddenly shooting daggers at the black form perched above her.

“They’re at war, not us. This isn’t our problem.”

“Rue, I know you vowed to stay neutral to the best of your ability but now is the time to take a side. The world is on the verge of something- something major. We can’t stay out of this forever. You need to choose.”

Rue’s tail thrashed around erratically, the small patches of feathers running along her face puffing up. Her fists clenched at her sides as she glared at her daemon companion.

“Choose a side?! One side literally just appeared overnight claiming to be the long-lost cousins of the Chimia, and the other just locked off the entirety of Ichorrai’s stable areas for some weird status-obsessed social experiment! I’m not playing into dad’s old self-sacrificing doomsday-prepper paranoia. I’m staying where I am and I’m going to fend for myself.”

Honeysuckle fluffed its wings, briefly exposing the constellation of small white eyes lying underneath its wings.

“I know you resent him-”

“Damn right I do!”

“But he was right in his cautions. I grew up with him, Rue. My being developed with the tales of the old conflicts. History repeats. But you- you’re stubborn in the best way. You’ve got a smart head on your shoulders. I’m not saying you need to throw yourself wholeheartedly into the effort or take up arms but you need to start making connections. It’s time to come out of your shell and give something back to the world.”

Rue’s shoulders slumped, her body relaxing.

“I… you’re right. I’m sorry Honeysuckle.”

“It’s okay. I forgive you.”

The daemon descended from its perch and nuzzled against the human’s shoulder, coughing a single charged esse into her hand.

“Here. We can head into a low city tonight and get information. I’ve heard whispers that the Chimoraa are seeking to survey a handful of old settlements. Your talents would surely come in handy.”

“Okay, I’ll get the Rike saddled and ready. Need something to eat anyway. You up for a fish dinner?”

“You know I don’t eat- but that does sound nice.”