Funnily enough, Remedy had never met Arkrael or been to Eridanus before this. When Cure had told her about the wolf and the group she'd been gathering, Remedy had asked simply, 'do you want to go with her?', to which Cure had replied with carefully trained excitement, 'yes!'. That'd been it. The whole conversation. Remedy was happy to go where her twin wanted, because for the hybrid lady, Cure was more Home than any cave or crevice could ever be. So, to Eridanus they went, and she'd met Arkrael. The wolf was nice. She'd been the one to care for Cure after Hasira's misdeeds and during the battle.
Remedy recalled that time with grim dullness. While their parents had gone off to war, she'd sat uselessly in Canis, trying to practice her flight on stale winds.
She noted with some level of interest that, despite the crowded plantlife, Eridanus was lively with gentle, rolling winds. She could fly here, so long as she carefully avoided branches and hanging rocks. For once, she was thankful to be so small. She could fit into the tunnels and archways here, unlike some winged folk.
Today, she sat in the mouth of one such tunnel, high on the wall. Ferns grew around her, hiding her black and red visage. Here, she sat, observing her new kingdom with quiet thought.
She could see why her twin loved this place, and she hoped their brother would be fond of it as well... once she retrieved him. That would take some planning. Would Aza'zel let him go? The cub was the last link the Bone King had to their father. Was their mystery relationship close enough to cause strife now? She mulled over the matter with a sober expression, outwardly bored.
@Cure
She could feel a stirring in her skull, like rolling mist. Movement. Cure, she decided. It was a feeling that had, over their time together again, grown into a recognizable and tangible thing, now as familiar to her as any emotional pull. It meant her twin was nearby, and by the churning that refused her to doze, growing nearer. There was no refinement to the feeling, though, so as Cure approached behind her, Remedy was none the wiser. It wasn't until the last second, a shift of movement, fur against fern, that Rem turned, just in time for Cure to shout and pounce.
Remedy squawked, the sound loud and high-pitched, as they tumbled down into the moist plant life below in a tangle of limbs and feathers...
...and with a skillful twist of smaller frame, arching wings and a swing of her long tail, the smaller of the two managed to end up on top once they'd come to a stop. She crowed victory, talons carefully pressed into her twin's ribs, keeping her pinned.
"You dare challenge me, dear sister?" She barked in mock outrage. She couldn't keep it up. Laughter broke past her act and she bent to nuzzle her beak into Cure's neck and jawline, full of affection and bubbling laughter. "What the heck are you doing, sneaking up on me, anyway?" She'd move to let her up after a moment, but remain close enough to brush fur and feathers if given the chance.
@Cure
On my toes, huh? She smirked, thoroughly amused, as Cure flopped down on her talons. She parted her beak to feign biting at those offending paws as they came towards her face, purring in that dove-like coo in response to the purring. At the mention of food, she regarded her twin with incredulous expression, then tugged her paws free to frame Cure's shoulders again- this time settling her weight down over her, basking in the physical contact.
"I caught a rat this morning." So no, not in earnest anyway. She wasn't hungry, though. While Cure could probably woof down an entire stag, the littler sibling ate, well, like a bird. Her frame matched her lean diet- slender and toned with muscle but not a gram of fat to be found. "You probably wanna hunt, huh?" The tone was teasing, lazy. Remedy would, if encouraged, but she'd much rather just laze about against her twin's softer pelt and let the day float by instead.
As if to make that desire known, she settled her down, close enough to share the same air.
@Cure
"Oh yeah," She laughed into Cure's fur. "You're practically wasting away." Sarcastic tone was light, dazed. She could feel her muscles settling, wings slacking over them once Cure settled. The soft hush that fell over the pair was soothing, and Rem found herself drifting, eyes slipping shut to focus entirely on the soft thrumming of Cure's heart, the pull of their magic between them, subtle, something Remedy had always associated as typical but...
...today, admittedly, that pull was a little stronger. Less imaginary. She pushed the feeling aside, basked in it rather than thinking too hard on it. She figured it to be nothing more than their long-time sibling bond, or her own muddled feelings playing into that.
Slipping into a dreamy doze, she let her mind wander. She thought of their time together as cubs, how it'd been so short lived, but somehow their bond had survived it. Their reunions. Plural, of course, and each time more euphoric than the last. She considered Cure's scent, how it had become carved into her memory as clearly as the lay of her own plumage or the feeling of air across her wings as she flew- familiar, eternally present.
"Loovee you..." Her voice came out in a slurred murmur, tender and barely above a whisper. Lazy in her half-asleep state. Goofy, even, because she felt too safe to be anything but happy.
@Cure
There was calm. Peaceful, quiet calm. Then suddenly, a warmth, one at first comfortable, as soothing as her twin's rumbling purr. It continued to grow, though, covering her like a blanket and hot, suddenly so hot. She squirmed in her sleepy state, as if to dispell it- but it only grew hotter. White hot. Burning, and strangely, cold, all at once, and then Cure gasped, clinging to her and Remedy's own eyes snapped open.
She couldn't see. Or, she could, but she couldn't. She could feel panic. Worry for her twin, a concern that didn't make any sense. Fear. Protective terror. There was a flash of blue light, or perhaps it was red? The heat didn't fade. She moved to stand but Cure's paws around her kept her secure. Cure. Oh god, there was fear and confusion and was her twin safe!? Was she okay!? She couldn't see- but with open eyes, she could see Cure, face contorted in panic- but she couldn't see! Oh god, why couldn't she see!? Was her twin okay!?
And realization. Cure calling her name in a horrified cry. Cure. CURE. Her voice failed her, probably because amidst the panic, she'd started keening, and her vocal chords were too busy sounding the alarm to bother with words. CURE STOP CAN'T BREATH TOO TIGHT CAN'T SEE CAN'T SEECAN'TSEE Her wings flared out and began to thrash, as if trying to take flight, or right herself, because she was belly up and that wasn't safe, but her paws were seated on the ground and that made zero sense and nothing made any sense and wait.
Wait. Stop. Freeze. Poison. Poison defends. Safe. Fine. Nothing bites the poison. Nothing hurts it. Calm. Calm. Calm.
The panic was still there but now that the heat had faded, there was more to it than just feeling. There was a disconnect, sort of, that told her this emotion wasn't right. Wasn't her own. Influenced. Whatever. Panic wasn't safe. Panic leads to mistakes. Horrible, horrible mistakes. Calm. FREEZE.
The keening in her throat became a lower octave, a rumble that could be more felt than heard. It vibrated deep in her chest and against her twin's ribs and it carried with it a steady note that wouldn't die, despite her breathing rapid, but slowing down. Steady. Easy. Calm. Calm. Calm.
Is Cure alright? What happened!? Can't speak. Throat's all tight. Ugh. But she could feel and finally see again and she pushed herself flat against Cure with that rumbling vibration, stable. Steady. I'm safe. We're safe. It's okay. Nothing's hurt. Nothing's wrong. Please calm down. Please please please calm down.
@Cure