*. ✧ * amara

amara elwood // third in command of the night court // high fae

[astrclisms]

⋆⭒˚.⋆ amara elridge // intro.

‘ phoebe tonkin, cis woman, she/her, 32 / 320 , high fae ’ ― cauldron save you. it seems AMARA ELRIDGE has been teleported to the dusk court, the THIRD IN COMMAND from THE NIGHT COURT is said to be PASSIONATE and is said to describe themselves with A BLADE FORGED FROM THE NIGHT’S EDGE, THE DYING EMBERS OF A FIRE, THE SOUND OF A DISTANT THUNDERSTORM, THE SHARP SCENT OF PINE AND SMOKE, THE COLD KISS OF IRON AGAINST SKIN and with all of this in mind their IMPETUOUS nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time. ; written by ilana.

GENERAL DETAILS.

FULL NAME:  amara elridge NICKNAME(S): n/a NAME MEANING: amara meaning "everlasting" / elridge meaning "sage ruler" AGE:  32 / 320 DATE OF BIRTH: august 1 (leo sun, capricorn moon, sagittarius rising) PLACE OF BIRTH: hewn city, the court of nightmares GENDER: cisfemale PRONOUNS: she/her SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: biromantic OCCUPATION:  third in command of the night court EDUCATION LEVEL:  self-taught in various combat styles and high-level strategy, though she did receive training under the court of nightmares. she is particularly fond of daggers, nightmare manipulation, and conjuring storms. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: in a quiet, secluded part of Velaris - modest but elegant, with a view of the starry sky. SPEAKING VOICE AND ACCENT: firm, clear, and assertive, with an underlying playful tone

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ETC.

FACECLAIM:  phoebe tonkin HAIR COLOR AND STYLE: dark chestnut brown, thick and wavy, often worn loose or tied back in a simple, practical style with a windswept, untamed look EYE COLOR: deep hazel with streaks of gold, seeming to flicker in the light when she's angry EYESIGHT: perfectly sharp HEIGHT: 5'8" WEIGHT: 125lbs BODY AND BUILD:  toned, with a lean build - she's agile and fast TATTOOS:  several intricate, dark tattoos scattered across her arms, including thorns and crescent moons CLOTHING STYLE:  functional, yet elegant. she prefers dark leathers and form-fitting, practical armor for battle, but has a soft spot for the occasional delicate, flowing garment in the colors of deep crimsons, blues and blacks. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: an intensity in her eyes that rarely wavers SIGNATURE SCENT:  warm spices and black coffee, with a earthy undertones of sandalwood and night-blooming jasmine

PERSONALITY.

POSITIVE TRAITS:  headstrong, passionate, loyal, strategic, courageous, independent, compassionate, quick-witted, protective, tactical NEGATIVE TRAITS: impetuous, emotionally guarded, impulsive, stubborn, distrusting LIKES:  combat training, quiet nights under the stars, hot tea, strategizing, nights out in Velaris, dancing, vintage red wines, dark chocolate with sea salt DISLIKES:  weakness, unnecessary political games, being underestimated, dishonesty, manipulation, and anything that reminds her of the cruelty of the court of nightmares FEARS:  losing control of her emotions, failing to protect those she loves, her past catching up with her, being vulnerable HABITS: training endlessly, staying up late working on plans, cleaning her weapons, zoning out when thinking deeply, reading under the stars MORAL ALIGNMENT: neutral good - though leaning towards chaotic when her loyalty is tested ELEMENT:  fire PRIMARY VICE:  pride PRIMARY VIRTUE:  loyalty WEATHER: nighttime thunderstorms COLOR: crimson and dark blue BEVERAGE:  a strong brew of black tea, with a splash of honey and dark red wine FOOD:  fresh fruits, hearty stews, dark chocolate ANIMAL:  grey wolf SEASON: autumn

BACKSTORY. (tw: death)

✧ amara was born to a well-known high fae family in the court of nightmares - a suitable name that seemed to define her childhood years. from a young age, she was taught to wield her power and to survive under the constant weight of manipulation and cruelty. ✧ her family was deeply entrenched in the political games of the court, and it didn't take long for her to realize that she would soon become a pawn in those terrible games, another rung in the ladder for them to climb. her father, a high-ranking member of the court, would occasionally show moments of affection, but they were few and far between, and it was her mother who was particularly cruel, pushing amara to become a weapon rather than a person. ✧ trapped in a life she could not wake from, the high fae slowly and begrudgingly grew to accept her fate - until she finally cracked. after witnessing the murder of someone she had once considered a friend, she hit her breaking point. in the dead of night, with nothing but the clothes on her back, Amara fled the Court of Nightmares, leaving behind everything she knew, including her family and the life that had been forced upon her. ✧ her escape was no easy feat, and she was forced to hide for quite some time in the shadows of the night court's realm before finding the place she would finally call home. ✧ she will forever be grateful for those who found her and took her under their wing. the night court was unlike anything amara had ever known, and she blossomed under those endless night skies. she quickly proved herself in combat, showing an affinity for daggers and a bow, as well as her strategic thinking - something no doubt picked up from her time spent in the hewn city. ✧ she knew firsthand how to fight and survive in the shadows, and after a short time there grew a fierce loyalty to the people of the night court and what it stood for. never again would she wield her power and sword in the name of cruelty - not while she still had breath left within her. as third in command of the night court, she is passionate, cunning and determined in all that she does. ✧ once a prisoner of fate - trapped in a never-ending nightmare - amara's veins course with fire. her past fuels her to become something more, something better - even if she doesn't always believe it to be possible herself.

HEAD CANONS.

✧ although her position within the night court demands strategic thinking and patience, amara is a hot-head at heart. she has learned to bury her feelings deep down, but is fiercely passionate about what is most important to her and can likely snap at any moment. ✧ gifted at manipulating nightmares, she has always found it ironic that she cannot control her own. asleep, she once again finds herself trapped in the court of nightmares, and because of this she often stays awake quite late - taking in the open sky and reminding herself that she is free. ✧ she is also incredibly envious of the illyrian's wings - and now those who ride dragons. ✧ more to come.

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

✧ a family member or sibling whom amara left behind when she fled the court of nightmares. tbh anyone she may have had a connection with there would be so fun to explore. ✧ the fae who first found her in the night court and took her under their wing - whether part of the council or not, amara would not be where she is today without them. ✧ other ideas: unlikely friends, past romances/flings, ride or dies, etc. open to plotting !!

[feathcrcd]

there were so many small space in this court that seemed unreasonably tiny and most of them filled with fae, that it was impossibly annoying to move around this building if he did not find a larger space to stretch out those heavy wings on his back at least a few times a day. that was truly the only reason why he had wandered off to this secluded space. eldar was most definitely a people person and if it wasn't for the fresh air and the bottle sitting on the rail next to him, he would have already been back inside by now.

the second he heard the sound of the door opening behind him, he turned towards it leaning against the railing and offering up a smirk in return. " i don't know, is it ? " he asked, holding up that half-empty bottle of his in return, before putting it back down. " seems we have the same brain. " eldar crossed his arms and studied her since he hadn't seen much of her recently. he assumed times were busy for the commander and all the rest of the night court, and so he liked to stay as far away from busy as possible. " are you hiding from someone ? or just looking for me ? "

[astrclisms]

amusement spread across her features, and the fae couldn't help but smile as she noted the glass bottle mirroring her own. the two always did have quite a few things in common - and amara could admit that some of her own habits, arguably reckless ones, were influenced by much of the time she spent with eldar. but with the constant chaos of the past few weeks and inner circle gatherings, she hadn't seen him around much, which didn't surprise her. if anything, she had first gotten closer to the fae due to a need to escape it all. and this evening was no exception. "can't it be both?" she raised a brow teasingly and closed the door before striding over to the railing, taking in the endless sea of dusk before them. "besides, it would be cruel to let you drink out here all by yourself."

[shvdwscng]

"it  would  be  a  disgrace  to  have  a  commander  so  easily  wounded  with  toys."  he  remarked  without  missing  a  beat,  a  brow  arching  as  she  feigned  hurt.  it  was  certainly  not  a  slight  against  her  skills,  he  had  learned  quickly  amara  could  manage  herself  well  with  blades  and  swords  but  his  reflexes  alone  would  not  allow  her,  or  a  true  threat  a  clear  shot  towards  him.  if  she  had  known  of  his  daemati  gifts,  she'd  understand  how  he  could  easily  redirect  the  weapons  and  any  attacks  back  to  the  assailant.  kalore  couldn't  fully  make  up  his  mind  of  the  night's  third  in  command,  she  was  an  impulsive  creature  -  a  trait  he  had  held  little  thought  or  care  for.  her  methods  too  brash  for  his  liking,  but  her  skills  could  not  be  denied  and  that  if  she  wished,  she  could  certainly  instill  in  fear  in  others,  different  from  his  own  methods  but  not  ineffective,  either.  in  truth,  he  would  hardly  be  bothered  if  she  chose  to  wield  a  weapon  towards  him,  despite  knowing  very  well  she  would  not  without  good  reason,  even  if  she  wished  to  practice  on  him  he  would  hardly  retaliate.  in  fact,  he  often  had  a  feeling  she  did  wish  to  toss  something  towards  his  way,  and  this  was  a  response  he  induced  in  most,  he  imagined.  "it's  not  a  question  of  your  skills,  commander,  it's  that  you  presume  to  think  little  trinkets  as  such  could  harm  -  no  matter  the  wielder.  on  another  who  is  not  I?  i'm  certain  you'd  do  extensive  damage."  he  looked  around  swiftly,  and  then  upwards  to  where  the  giant  lizards  claimed  the  skies,  "you  certainly  would  not  wish  to  accidentally  knick  one  of  them."

[astrclisms]

each word the commander before her spoke, though truthful in its nature, bit at her - imperious and cold and calculated like a sharp winter breeze. kalore's eyes, the way he held himself, never gave anything away, and time and time again amara had to remind herself that they were on the same side. they both served the night court, its people, the dravens. even if their methods were different, even if the beating of his heart seemed almost masked by frost... they both worked tirelessly to achieve what was best at the end of the day. "though i'm sure you know it doesn't mean some wouldn't love to try," she admitted - a bit too quickly. amara wasn't speaking about herself. not entirely. she made her way over to the thicket of trees, pulling each dagger one by one out of the ashen bark and placed them securely back in her belt. following suit, she took in the boundless sky above, wishing to see those terrifying, majestic wings for only a moment, despite the impending danger they would signal. trapped under a mountain in the court of nightmares itself to wandering the endless lights of velaris at all hours of the night - amara still yearned to know what the world felt like from above. "on that much we can agree," she mused. "despite it looking like i have a death wish every now and then, i'm not looking to provoke what i cannot contend with."

[alaradraven]

ALARA pursed her lips in thought, not entirely convinced her way of thinking was a correct one. The fae had war & chaos in their nature, it would be very unnatural for them to all see immortal life as she does, wanting nothing to do with bad things that life brought.

she doesn't do well in tragic situations.

"I wonder if any of it would be helpful. We are all forged from the same thing, yet our differences seem to dominate us, overshadowing the similarities. I doubt the fae would be civil for much longer. We wage wars on a daily basis even without a dragon-ridded island. The new court will either change us for better or annihilate us." she shrugged, as if it was no big deal.

"I'm doing alright. This is an adventure for me, but I know the rest of the fae don't feel that way. I seldom get the chance to travel, so this is rather fun. But, I'm beginning to get a little antsy, as well." Alara admitted, then,

"& how are you doing? Are you having at least a little bit of fun?"

[astrclisms]

and there it was, plain as day. despite the common cause bringing the courts together - at times even threatening to splinter them even further apart - the existence of the dusk court was the most pressing issue. did prythian have room for another court, one with creatures and abilities unknown to the rest? would the dusk court suddenly rescind its hospitality? it couldn't be easy to discover a whole new land and then welcome fae of all courts, both enemies and allies, here together. there were so many unanswered questions. "i'd love to believe the best in all of us... but unfortunately i almost never do." it was true life had planted the seed of cynicism in the fae, though there was quiet hope in her heart. "with so much ego under one roof i'd be truly surprised if we were able to make room for one more - and another solar court at that. i suspect some childlike tantrums are likely to be thrown, but hopefully we can come to some sort of resolution in the end." if they were ever able to go home, that is. amara took another bite of the sweet in front of her, savoring the taste as though they were back in their own court. "i'll admit the lands are quite beautiful," she considered, "and i much prefer this change of scenery instead of something more drastic like the summer or winter courts... there, i promise chaos would break out quicker." the fae paused, taking a glance around at the serene foliage shading the two of them. "thankfully fun hasn't been too hard to seek out, though i confess i might need to expand my exploration to beyond just the forest."

[sparkledcrowns-deactivated20251]

☆ﾟ*·ﾟWHEN HE WANTED it to, elias' brain worked a mile a minute, ideas rushing around, swirling in his head, confusing him. over the last few hours, he was quite sure he had a plan, but something seemed off and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. all of the papers were scattered around him haphazardly, knowing it was quite a mess. because of this, elias hadn't heard anyone come up upon him until they moved too close to the table. he'd snatched the papers, looking frantic and crazy. but when he spotted who it was, he placed the papers down and crossed his arms over his chest. "in what universe is trying to understand sulking? at least i'm not spying on others."

[astrclisms]

the fae had only peered elias' work for a moment before they were plucked away. a combination of words and colors she couldn't quite decipher - some sort of secret code? no... cauldron only knew what the inner machinations of elias' mind were. it seemed forever ago that the pair had truly spoken, back when she last visited the dawn court on official business. since then, it was obvious they parted with a bitter taste in their mouth about the other. something about the dawn court never sat right with amara, that nearly invisible superiority - and elias had unfortunately taken the brunt of that judgement during their time together. "believe me if i felt like spying it wouldn't be so obvious," she countered, raising her brows as he put the papers back down. "and have you... started to understand anything?"

[astrclisms]

⋆。°✩ amara // closed starter. @illuminatingeclipse

"and you're sure aydin and the rest won't give you hell for whatever gathering you're bailing on this evening?" amara's eyes twinkled teasingly as they strolled through the starlight streets of velaris. the fae had decided it was about time she stole vi away from her hedonistic pack for a night - besides, they both needed to have some fun of their own. "unfortunately, my memory does not serve me well, considering i woke that next morning barely recalling who had gotten me through my front door," she admitted, chuckling lightly as her eyes scanned the bustling shops and restaurants that lined the vibrant street. "but i'm pretty sure we're looking for a red door... or, if all else fails, somewhere with decent music and a lot of wine."

[astrclisms]

⋆。°✩ amara // closed starter. @feathcrcd

the day had been filled with countless to-dos and polite smiles and various civilities that quite frankly impressed the high fae that she had managed to pull it all off. time and time again she found it difficult to bite her tongue - and that was usually with the night court's inner circle alone. now the evening, where the dusk court looked its most remarkable with an array of burnt pinks, blues and gold, amara was in desperate need of some fun. she had successfully snagged an unattended bottle of faerie wine that was guarded close to her chest as she wandered the halls, the dark crimson liquid nearly blending into the silky fabric of her dress that whispered against the stone floor beneath her. she rounded a corner and slowed her pace as she spotted a quaint terrace sheltered from the rest of the court and overlooking the city below - and a familiar fae with night black hair. eldar. amara gently opened the balcony door and leaned against its frame, her hazel eyes lighting up as she shook the bottle of wine teasingly. "is this balcony taken?"

[alaradraven]

BRIBING the other fae with sweets & drinks was something Alara did on a daily basis. She was no politician, nor was she a particularly good courtier - the Night court was supposed to be dark, deadly, volatile & overall hostile to other courts, but the only thing she knew how to do was to be polite & make new friends. It was only partially her fault - the rest of the blame laid with her parents, & her wind-wild mother who sailed oceans in pursue of freedom.

in other words, she was very un-Night courtly.

But, she didn't mind & it seemed like her cousins did not mind that too, since they've made her their scholar. If they minded, she guessed she wouldn't have had a place in their inner circle.

"Don't stress. They'd probably say I've walked into it, & they'd be right to assume so." she waved her hand, than sat down on the blanket.

"I can imagine this whole thing is very stressful. We've been pulled out of our homes & placed in this new court, it's straining everyone's nerves. Even I, with as much political savviness as a fish, can see this has been an uneasy thing for all of us." Alara nodded, then handed the commander a pastry.

"I'm glad I can be of help! Stress is a killer, even for an immortal bloodstream." she chuckled.

[astrclisms]

there was something so refreshing about having alara as a member of their inner court. though a member of the high family, she never made the fae feel anything less - not even for once, begrudgingly, supporting a different court. there were no political games, no self-serving ambition or schemes. she was the court of dreams herself, and amara, though she kept such thoughts to herself, was eternally grateful for the breath of fresh air. the fae chuckled lightly at her response before joining her on the forest floor, limbs outstretched as though they had not experienced comfort in the past few tumultuous months. amara took a slow breath, surveying the canopy of trees dotting the dusk sky above. "i think most courts cannot even comprehend that what's going on is bigger than us - bigger than politics and power and diplomacy. i'm not sure how much these inner circle meetings will help to quell the chaos - especially now that we're here... and there's dragons, for cauldron's sake." she accepted the sweet graciously, pulling apart the flaky crust with delicate fingers before taking a bite. "if only more people thought like you," amara mused, and she meant it. "how are you doing with everything going on?"

[sparkledcrowns-deactivated20251]

☆ﾟ*·ﾟSOMETIMES IN ORDER to map out a plan, elias needed to write everything down, create little maps and color like a little kid. and when he wanted to plan out training strategies it looked even worse. if you weren't him, you couldn't make heads or tails of what the heck it even was. in fact, it was even possible that it looked something that might be some nefarious plan to take over the world. hearing someone close by, elias snatched up one of the papers. "hey now! don't you touch that!"

@ofcourtfablesarchive

[astrclisms]

whenever amara's presence was not needed during the daytime, she often took to casually strolling about the court - surveying corridors, entrances, intricately designed doors and taking the liberty of venturing into dimly lit areas once she was sure she was alone. the dusk court had been quite hospitable, but too many times she had been met with fangs hiding behind smiles. besides, there were dragons flying across the sunset skies - so there was no telling what else resided in this new land. rounding a corner, the fae set her gaze on the nearby general furiously scribbling away. amara stopped, crossing her arms at the sight and raised a brow - not bothering to hide the mix of amusement and slight disapproval that plagued her features. "should i be surprised to find you skulking about and scheming?"

[shvdwscng]

the  return  of  his  abilities  certainly  improved  the  moods  of  the  commander  of  the  night  court.  he  was  not  a  man  who  lost  his  patience  nor  his  wits,  ever,  nor  was  he  easily  swayed  into  his  less  than  ideal  emotions.  however,  the  month  or  so  they  had  spent  with  their  magic  nearly  drained,  kalore  swore  the  fates  themselves  were  testing  his  patience.  only  two  of  the  night  court  fae  truly  kept  him  sane,  one  being  his  shadowsinger  and  the  other  the  general  of  the  night  court.  it  certainly  hadn't  been  as  awful  as  he  imagined,  only  a  tedious  period  of  time  where  he  was  simply  forced  to  utilize  the  old  fashion  ways  of  uncover  the  mysteries  of  this  court.  once  he  could  overlook  the  overgrown  lizards  that  spied  on  their  every  move  from  above.

the  daemati  finds  himself  wandering  through  one  of  many  of  the  scenic  groves  this  court  had  in  spades.  certainly  not  a  sight  that  was  seen  in  the  night  court,  but  for  a  moment  he  could  place  aside  his  pride  in  his  court,  and  admire  the  not  entirely  unpleasant  surroundings.  dusk  would  be  the  closest  they  would  get  to  the  night  court.  what  he  didn't  expect  to  find  was  the  third  in  command,  his  fellow  inner  circle  member  utilizing  the  trees  near  by  as  her  targets.  brow  rose  mildly  when  the  knife  in  her  had  is  poised  in  his  direction.  "careful,  commander.  while  that  dagger  would  not  harm  me  in  the  slightest,  i  will  not  take  kindly  to  a  weapon  tossed  my  way."  of  course,  kalore  wasn't  her  target,  but  that  might  be  up  for  debate  given  the  amount  of  the  times  they  seem  clash.

[astrclisms]

hazel eyes spotted the familiar face emerging from the thick cluster of trees surrounding the quaint grove, but not one that eased the tension gripping her bones. as much as she was partial to her people, her lands - despite at times feeling like an imposter among them herself - amara and the night court's second in command seemed to work against each other almost as often as they worked together. a true collision of fire and ice. she weighed his words carefully, knowing full well that kalore was a man of his word and would indeed follow through on his veiled threat. the fae cocked her head to the side and raised her brows, feigned hurt playing on her features. "not in the slightest?" a moment later, her gaze flicked to a lone birch a safe distance away from the commander before releasing the knife in one fluid movement. amara savored the way the silvery metal caught the dusty hues of the dusk court sky and the soft thud as the weapon hit its target. she craved action and something tangible. something in her control. amara was not one to still her roaring heart and, though it seemed to almost always spell trouble, could not bite her tongue - especially with the fae before her. "your lack of faith in my skills wounds me."

[cresccents]

terror  has  formed  into  distant  admiration  of  a  skill,  the  blade  so  far  from  her  that  it  didn’t  cut  through  her  memories:   hands  stained  with  blood,  ragged  breath  cutting  through  air  before  the  knife  would  slide  from  icy  fingertips.  instead,  it  was  just  amara,  a  familiar  face  spotted  at  a  strange  place  that  felt  way  too  far  from  home.  “  you’re  quite  good  at  this.  ”  a  lazy  grin  touched  her  lips,  smoothing  her  creased  forehead  from  raising  her  brows  in  surprise  only  a  second  ago.  “  i  wish  i  was  only  half  as  good.”  once  she  used  to  yield  all  sorts  of  weapon,  but  never  with  such  a  skill  like  her.  “  you  seem  tense.”  her  gaze  travelled  to  the  other  blade  again.  “  is  there  something  bothering  you?  i  must  admit,  the  dusk  court  isn’t  exactly  my  favourite.  ”

[astrclisms]

amara delicately removed her fingers, one by one, from the blade at her hip - the tension easing from her body at the sight of ilayda. she had been prepared for whatever undiscovered creatures likely resided in the unexplored dusk court lands or, even worse, the inner circle of another court, but this was a pleasant surprise. truth be told, there were not many fae amara would allow to see her so on edge, but the golden-haired fae before her was certainly an exception. "call it part passion and the other half... necessity," she admitted, striding over to the pale birch tree where her blade had hit. growing up, amara had developed an affinity for combat, namely quick, cunning blades, and over time it became even more important to ensure she could take of herself - protect herself. especially now that they all witness just how fast their own magic could fail them. "with all due respect to the esteemed company gathered here," amara started, retrieving the glinting blade with a forceful tug, "the court is entirely suffocating. dusk may be the closest we have to starry skies, but i've never felt so far removed from the night."

[alaradraven]

ALARA hated wasting pretty days. The sun was high, the birds were chirping & despite the winter's chill, it was a rather mild day. Warmer than, she guessed, the Winter court with their perpetual blizzards - not that she's ever been to the Winter court to ee it for herself, but that how she liked to imagine it ; made of ice & snow & such cold that blood chilled in mortals' veins. Fae's blood could never chill like that. She doubted faes could even get frostbites - she should probably investigate that.

Right now, though, she was investigating a way to the pretty grove of birch trees she's spotted on one of her random walks a few days ago. With a book in one hand & a satchel full of pastries, a pretty pink thermos of hot cocoa & another pale blue filled with piping hot jasmine tea.

Making her way to the grove, Alara almost walked into the path of a dagger - the commander of her cousins' court. Instead of getting angry, Alara's lips stretched into a wide smile at the sight of a friend.

"I see you're using a lovely day to get some exercise as well! Though, my idea of exercise I sitting down with a book." she chuckled, then, "I have provisions brought up for a picnic & I always bring extra. Do you want a cinnamon bun? I also have tea & cocoa..." she trailed off, setting a midnight-blue blanked on the grass.

[astrclisms]

her ears picked up the delicate crunch of the fallen leaves scattered across the forest floor. amara knew it was a fae before she even made out the approaching figure and inwardly scowled. ten minutes. it was all she had asked for, almost pleading, and yet the request must have been deemed too much. the fae's grip on her carefully crafted dagger only tightened in anger, and she mentally prepared for the unwanted company to round the bend of trees. a moment later she was greeted by what must have been short-lived shock - and then a familiar smile. the third in command loosed a quiet sigh of relief, easing her tense body that had braced itself against impending danger - whether she was to be faced with a violent attack or prythian politics. "you should take caution exploring these woods," amara warned with a knowing yet softened tone. "i would hate to have to explain myself to your cousins if i threw that dagger a moment too late." she let go of the blade and crossed the open grove toward alara, hands outstretched to help the lady of the night court set down her supplies. "truthfully, my mind seems pushed to the brink with exercise over the past few days," she admitted. "but you're always a welcome distraction... and i suppose the sweets as well."

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

the  illyrian  had  spent  most  of  his  days  away.  yearning  to  be  without  these  constraints,  scaling  the  mountainsides,  observing  the  perched  drakes  as  those  un  -  bound  observed  him.  he,  walking  with  all  the  silence  and  clandestine  presence  of  a  shadow,  kept  to  himself  and  said  not  much  to  others.  arrows  nocked  in  the  midst  of  hunting,  with  no  game  present  to  be  found  as  of  yet,  he  was  not  tired  in  his  body,  but  in  his  mind.  he  thought  to  himself,  if  i  rest  upon  a  rock,  i  fear  i  will  never  rise  from  it  again.  for  some  kind  of  tension  drained  him,  as  though  the  dusk  court  itself  had  personality  and  continued  to  argue  until  it  battered  down  his  defences.  hulking  shoulders  slumped  over  the  rest  of  him  as  he  sighed  deeply.

the  fallen  leaves  rustled  near  him.  adept  hearing  encouraged  ear  to  cock  towards  the  sound  source.  his  gaze,  dark  and  mischievous,  soon  to  follow.  he  did  not  hesitate,  part  of  him  aching  for  a  threat,  for  some  kind  of  danger  to  give  him  a  reason.  arrow  fletched  by  his  own  hands  in  bright  red  bird's  feathers  fallen  from  dusk  court  avians  who  migrate  across  the  skies,  strewn  into  the  bow  as  he  stepped  out,  levelling  it  at  dagger  -  wielding  fae.  eyes  that  glistened,  also  narrowed.

“…  it's  dangerous  out  here.”  cheeky.  “you  never  know  what  could  be  lurking.  what  if  there  are  little  dragons  the  size  of  dogs  who  sprint  like  monsters  after  you?”  he  left  the  question  to  the  metaphor. 

it  was  no  strain  on  him  to  keep  bow  strung,  though  he  did  lower  the  arrowhead,  only  slightly  to  be  aimed  to  the  ground  instead  of  towards  fine  clavicle  and  torso.  “unless  you  expected  someone  else.”

[astrclisms]

perhaps it had been foolish to go off on her own in a new land - around new creatures she hadn't fully assessed, ones capable of destruction she hadn't even begun to imagine. but amara craved the solace, the threat, the danger far more than the implosion that was sure to occur if she remained around the court and all of those people. the fear and impatience and politics that polluted the air only seemed to make escape a distant dream. she saw the flash of red before she saw the fae. a warning, lethal yet beautiful, pointed straight towards her. and then she turned her attention to the silent hunter, taking in his narrowed eyes. his playful, forward caution. amara let out a breath, curiosity and amusement playing on her features. "and yet all i see lurking out here is you," she replied, raising a brow. "you wouldn't happen to be seeking out those deadly pups yourself, would you?" the fae kept her hold, though loose, on the small knife as she watched the expertly crafted arrow spare her body. "truthfully, i wasn't expecting anyone at all. i didn't think there'd be a single other fae thoughtless enough to come out here alone," amara mused.

[astrclisms]

⋆。°✩ amara // open starter.

t r a p p e d. the word that had plagued amara's childhood as she was molded and perfected to suit a life unwanted in the court of nightmares. the dusk court was no hewn city, she continuously reminded herself, but once again the feeling she worked endlessly to rid herself of had wrapped itself around her - clouding all her senses. she much preferred the change of scenery to that of the capital, but it had the high fae on edge. dragons. there were great big, beautiful beasts flying high amongst a land and people unknown, and she had been powerless. almost out of fear that it would once more drain from her fingertips at any moment, she tuned in to listen to the steady thrum of it living beneath her skin time and time again. it was all too much, and without an end to the never-ending chaos in sight, the high fae felt as though she would CRACK at any moment. slipping away for a moment of much-needed solace, amara landed upon a quiet grove, save for the rustling of branches in the cool autumn breeze. she savored the quick whir of an intricate throwing knife as it cut through the air before landing firmly in the bark of a pale birch tree. her hand slid down to reach for a second blade tucked in a belt by her side before hearing the rustling of fallen leaves nearby. fingers slowly wrapped around the smooth handle before her gaze flicked to inspect the source.

[carolinegifs]

[sunwishmidnight]