Matching Misfortune

Fur was all ruffled up as they walked out from the home their sister stayed in for what seemed like the foreseeable future as the news seemed to still buzz in their ears. Another niece or nephew? Or both. Cory would love a little nephew and now prayed to the fae for that as a big grin pulled at their muzzle, one far more rare since the war as it was genuine instead of forced for another’s benefit so they wouldn’t think something was wrong. The action made their jaw hurt a little but the excitement was too infectious to care, feeling like maybe, just maybe Anteros was a good guy and not another Leoric. It was a far-fetched thought in their own head, having issues trusting Nora’s love interests after the last one but he was still here by her side every step of the way. That was something and Nora wasn’t in jail because of him. Try to be positive and supportive, that’s what Nora needs right now. The thought kept repeating in their head as they took a breath to try and ease the energy that bounced around in their limbs. Oh who were they kidding? Excitement would burst forward well past just fluffy fur, bouncing around in glee until their stupid leg would cause them to fumble down some of the dunes and smack into something warm before they could make it all the way to the water. Rolling over a touch, they would look right up at what they ran into and recognition would fuel their ocean eyes as those familiar taupes that made up a a beautiful woman from so long ago. Actually, a year ago they were pretty sure because it was all snowy then but it felt like years. Hopping back to their feet with a small bit of unbalance, they grinned ear to ear a little lopsided, completely oblivious to any damage on the other in their second burst of excitement. “Ony! Cory missed you! Where have you been all these lifetimes?!” they said a bit dramatically with a few flinches from pain. Not taking space into consideration as they abruptly smothered the other woman into a hug, if she didn’t jerk away from them, their tail wagging like crazy behind them.

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Her body was sore, but it was nothing in comparison to the way her soul hurt. Seeing Sethos when she blinked still brought her into a blind rage. If there was one thing she disliked more than a rat, it was a rat who claimed himself not to be one. She was still confused over the way he thought, easily having the option to deny her the names of his kin, but he did not. Instead he gave her what she wished and then threatened for her to keep the information to herself, but the threat was not so light when he desired to make her submit to his words as well. Though she acted, and the act did not fall in her favor, she was glad she did it. It would teach him that she did not fear him, nor anyone who acted so recklessly in his position.

With a heavy sigh she traveled towards Aberdeen, a place she was familiar with, but did not visit too often. She wanted to hear, and see the ocean to find herself some kind of peace. Instead, however, she was greeted by something worth more than that.

Hearing her name caused her head to whip into attention, being greeted by Cory. A smile tugged her lips, a relief that she was not alone, and so she would allow the hug from her companion though her ribs and back still hurt from the prior scuffle. "I have missed you too," she breathed softly, "and up to no good, apparently," she would then admit as their embrace ended. "Have you been okay? After the war and everything?" Her head shook lightly, "we have a lot to talk about," where would they even start?

It wasn’t often when they ran up to hug someone they barely knew that it would be accepted but accepted it was, however, it lacked the force back they had hoped for when their bodies merged into a solid blob for a few long moments. They admittedly thought Onyxia wasn’t exactly the huggy type, having thought she was too much of a badass to get into the cuter side of friendships but the fact she actually did it just made her seem more like a badass to them. Their tag wiggled, growing all the more enthusiastic as they thought about it, though about someone actually smiling to see them that wasn’t family or someone they had in their life constantly. Maybe it was insecurity talking in the back of their mind but they kind of expected the woman to pretend like they never met before like some wolves have done in the past. They would hold the hug as long as the other allowed before eventually releasing her, gems full of happiness as they looked at flame. That bit of excitement would start to flee their eyes, leaving behind large pools as they fidgeted with their paws as discomfort would rise up at the questions. Looking up and down, they contemplated hiding everything like they usually did, not wanting to worry those around them but they felt bad lying at the same time. It was quite a battle in their head. “I don’t know. Yes. No. Yes. No. No. Yes. It depends on what part you want Cory to focus on. Lots has happened in what feels like so long and no time at all. It makes my head spin…” they would answer, hoping she would understand what they meant by all that. “..and my jaw hurt,” they confessed, nose scrunching to pain surging into their jaw. “A snowman broke it with his big ol teeth. Meanest snowman Cory has ever met,” they stated with a small pout, flopping to their bottom like a child having a tantrum and refusing to go anywhere. Of course, they didn’t have to do anything right now, so it was really just an animated display to prove how grumpy they were about the one eyed giant. “There are good things though. Lots of good things. Cory is a Auncle now!” they giggled a little, finding their sister’s kids to be a highlight of their life. A wish they had for a long time come true. If they weren't in pain, they might have gone on and on about things, but they needed a little break from talking as they looked expectantly at Onyxia, silently asking if they were okay back.

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Her heart softened when she spoke with her friend, a part of her feeling relief that she was able to let her guard down and solely focus on Cory in the moment. As they explained if they were okay Ony's audits would tilt forward, a soft frown tugging at her lips when Cory mentioned a broken jaw. It seemed she was not the only one who fought in the war, and had a story to tell about it. In truth she was worried she wasn't going to find Cory, and that they would be a product of what happened after war, when all was lost. It seemed, however, that not all was lost for Cory though. "An Auncle? That's amazing Cory! Congratulations!" Her frown would be replaced with a soft smile, happy that there was at least something going on for them that could replace the heaviness of war with something far more positive.

"What are their names? How many are there?" She wished to live in the positivity for the moment, to allow all that had happened to be pushed back into her mind for now so that she could at least live vicariously through Cory. While war had taken a toll on Onyxia she too did have things to look forward to as well. Ruel. Still, she had been a part from him for some time since the split of the lands and it seemed no matter how many steps she tried to take forward, she would always get kicked back.

Onyxia allowed herself to relax for the time being, giving Cory the space to explain.

There was a mild anxiousness within their eyes, having wished Ony would have been the one doing all the talking from this point on, if only to save them a little pain. Of course, they wouldn’t make this known as they took in a breath and tried to focus solely on the one before them, trying their hardest to ignore the agony they felt. “Yes. An aunt uncle hehe. Since I didn’t care what I was called, I picked both,” they mused, their tail swaying behind them as they explained away what a Auncle was since probably no one else ever used it besides their nieces, having never heard anyone else utter it. It helped them feel more comfortable, not having to conform to one specific gender, preventing that dysmorphia they knew all too well over everyone calling them a girl no matter how much they tried to speak in third person to make it clear. It had been a habit since they could remember but they had been slightly trying to talk more properly in recent months. At the follow up question, their ears pricked, and they had to think for a second, if only to rest their jaw a few extra moments before allowing the surge to find its way again into the bone. “Two and more on the way! Nora is pregnant again! Dahlia and Hyacinthe, two gorgeous nieces from unkind circumstances. Cory wished they had been braver, acted instead of ran away,” they sighed, ocean blues drifting away and back toward the waters that splashed around from the currents of the wind. They wanted to explain what they meant by that, but it didn’t feel right bringing up a story Nora might not want to float around. “Soldiers hurt all of my family a lot, Ony. Cory regrets ever being one once with each passin day for years and years,” they slumped, remembering their days as a cadet and newly turned soldier. How it all fell apart at the death of their father and the death of civilians alike. Their dreams had been shattered when reality wrote a different story than the fairytale in their head. They were no shining knight. No hero that stopped the evil doers. They were just a failure, over and over again, and what more; they were beaten by the true villains of the story. Destroyed nerves, a frail jaw. Brann couldn’t even lift his head up all the way anymore. The blood father of their nieces had been a traitor that cared more about sides than love. Caspian was always in jail. Mom was dead. Now even Onyxia was damaged too. None of this was what they had wanted, what they had dreamed would be their future when they left the army all behind years ago. Dodging the treason on their shoulders had only resulted in more pain for others.

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