[2913] [13757] Weighted Relief [Tranquil p3]

The soft trickle of water echoed around Pyrrah-Vos and Theneras as they were led deeper into the Tranquil Clan’s sanctuary. The glow from the crystals embedded in the walls bathed everything in a peaceful light, but despite the calm atmosphere, Pyrrah’s heart still raced. He couldn’t shake the heavy feeling that had been sitting in his chest all day.

They entered a large chamber, where waterfalls tumbled down from the rocks above, filling the space with their gentle music. Sitting at the centre was Pyrri, the leader of the Tranquil Clan. Her delicate wings, patterned with glowing hearts, looked like they were part of the very light filling the room. Her eyes were closed, clearly deep in meditation, but the moment Pyrrah and Theneras stepped closer, her eyes fluttered open, calm and knowing. Pyrri radiated a gentleness that seemed unrivalled.

Pyrri motioned to a smooth stone nearby, a gentle smile on her face as she invited her guests in.

Pyrri~"Come, sit with me. I can feel something is troubling you."

Her voice was soft but full of warmth, like a breeze passing through the quiet chamber. Pyrrah hesitated, glancing at Theneras, but eventually stepped forward. He took a seat across from Pyrri, feeling the warmth of the stone beneath him, hoping it might calm the storm inside his mind.

Pyrri~"Your heart is heavy, like waves fighting against a calm shore. Speak, and let us still the waters."

Her words were reassuring and yet filled Pyrrah with some amount of unease, and yet, as he took a deep breath, it seemed easier to let go of the tension building inside. Still, he wasn’t sure where to start. The beneath had already been quite the adventure, and he still felt himself shaking off adrenaline thanks to Zarod. Pyrrah shot Theneras a wary glance, hoping – for once – he might take lead on this.

Theneras was starstruck seeing Pyrri and sat down gently in front of her. Her words went right over his head before he spoke.

Theneras- “You remind me of… my companion.”

He started, his voice light and in wonder. He couldn’t explain the radiating familiarity that the Haedian displayed, but all of his feelings and worries and concerns- they all started bubbling up within the chaser. His eyes watered and Pyrri smiled.

Pyrri- “Would you like an embrace?”

Theneras- “Yes, please.”

He spoke with a sadness in his voice, a longing for home. Pyrri opened her arms and Theneras found his feet dragging him to her, burrowing his face against her chest. The fur drowned him. His breath escaped him as he curled up against her, taking refuge in the familiarity she provided. He’d been away from his clan for so long and never acknowledged the aching longing in his chest. 

Pyrri wrapped her arms around the chaser nestled against her, knowing that her actions did more for him than her words ever could. Her gaze then turned upwards, looking towards the other chaser in her domain, awaiting.

Pyrrah watched, caught off guard by Theneras’s sudden vulnerability. It was strange seeing his usually confident, cheery companion look so… Small. Pyrrah shifted uncomfortably, feeling unease at the rawness of the moment. He’d never seen Theneras this open, this… vulnerable. But maybe that was the talents of the Tranquil Clan—to pull things out that others tried to keep buried.

Pyrri’s gaze drifted toward him as though she could see right through the walls Pyrrah kept up.

Pyrri~"And you? You carry your own burdens. Will you share them here?"

Pyrrah tensed, feeling an urge to deflect, to shrug it off with a grin or a careless word. He’d always been good at keeping his troubles to himself, hiding them under layers of sarcasm. But something about Pyrri’s gentle, unwavering presence made it harder to brush her question aside.

Pyrrah-Vos~“I… don’t really know where to start.” 

The chaser admitted, glancing away, if not just so that he didn’t have to be confronted with seeing Theneras embrace the Tranquil’s arms. The chaser’s previous pained expression upon the realisation of his longing for home had long since faded away and his breathing had been stable- easy and resting- as he was slumped against Pyrri’s soft fur.

Pyrrah-Vos~“There’s just— The Forgotten, the Brutes, Zarod… All of it, it’s just been a lot. And then there’s… More”

The confession surprised him, as did the strange relief that followed, even if he couldn’t bring himself to face some of it even now. Pyrri listened without interrupting. She closed her eyes briefly, as if reaching for something between them, an unseen thread that connected his soul to the quiet strength of the Tranquil Clan.

Pyrri~“If you’d like, I can guide you into meditation. You don’t need to confront everything at once. We can take it slow, focus on one thread at a time, and release some of the weight you carry.”Pyrrah eyed her, feeling an urge to scoff but finding no energy for it. Instead, he nodded, letting out a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. Pyrri motioned for him to close his eyes, and he did so reluctantly, the world dimming around him as he focused on the sound of her soft, rhythmic breathing. Both of the chasers, then, were lured into the safety and security that the Haedians provided.