[Miasma]

  Home sweet humid. She smells of flowers and foreigners, but wants only to smell like her. "Sari!" she calls to the dense forest. Jacaranda petals detach from their woven hold as she trots; Miasma remembers this place, and knows where to find her. "Sari!" Excitable as she draws nearer: the roses still smell so sweet. Far better than anything in Inaria. "Sarissa, I missed you. Inaria was lovely-- not nearly so lovely as you of course-- all the purple and puppies." Failing to nose her way into the thorns, she circles to the other side. "I love puppies. They're so small and soft. I wanted to bring you one, but they wouldn't let me. There was one I thought would make the nicest scarf for you..."

  She wiggles her way in, smaller than Sarissa, but not nearly so familiar with the place. This likely isn't the intended entrance, but that won't stop Miasma-- not when she's so impatient to see...

There's no one here.

  Purple petals pulled by the thorns, the smell of death so inextricable from Alteron, she almost hadn't noticed it here, infiltrating Sarissa's sacred refuge. Ice grips her heart like winter killed the roses.

It smells like someone else.

  Miasma backs out, surveys her surroundings. The fragile flowers 'round her neck have begun to dry, crumbling at contact. "S-... Sarissa?"

  The dying forest feels so lonely.

[Sarissa]

The sun was gracious that day, shining through the branches and lacing the ground with light. Some fell on her as she lazed half way out of her den, the soft grass cooling in the humid atmosphere. The woman who smelled of red roses laid to bask in the warm sun to calm her nerves as she had been unsettled as of late. Strange noises and strange substances riddled Alteron. Her father had warned her to stay in her den at night, and now that he had returned from his journey to Inaria, there were a few nights she spent with him. Sarissa was comforted by his presence.

Now she had some time for herself, relaxing in the sun until she heard a familiar voice. Red eyes popped open and she immediately sat up, glancing over to the rosebushes as Miasma strode around it, speaking such sweet words. The sword smiled, and casually rose to her feet, shaking the dust from her pelt. She giggled even, watching her girl trying to shove herself in thorns to get through to Sarissa's supposed home.

"I'm right here, darling." she called, reassuring that she was indeed there. Tail would swing back and forth, her happiness apparent and she'd place a soft kiss on Miasma's muzzle. "I've missed you so." Nights wouldn't be as lonely anymore. Despite her interest in Cancer, it would take a while to wrap him around her finger.

"How was your journey, dear?"

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[Miasma]

  Around her finger, yes, but entire body as well. Miasma breathes deeply the scent that clings to Sarissa's neck, then circles her once, pressed tight to her side the entire time. "I missed you more," she quibbles, licking the side of Sarissa's face, opposite from where she started. The scent of roses leeches all the tension that's been building from the trip. "It was fine, I suppose. It's a shame there aren't any children around here-- they're so cute." Like daffodils-- or a fawn, perhaps. Entertaining enough, and meat so very tender. The dire sighs dreamily, rubbing her face in the Sword's fur. Mia still smells of Inaria, but she wants everyone to know who she belongs to from smell alone.

  Jacaranda crinkles between them, the remnants of an Inarian daisy chain looped about her neck. "Oh!" the girl chirps, pulling on one dangled end until it comes unravelled, where she tosses it over the other girl's neck with a giggle. "I made this for you. Inaria is famous for its flowers."

  She smiles, so seemingly innocent. Miasma rests her chin on Sarissa's shoulder, just behind the boa, and twitches a frown at their own mangled roses.

[Sarissa]

Sarissa laughs as Miasma once again envelopes her with love, the emptiness falling away into the abyss. She will forget for a while now that this gorgeous girl is back home. There is once again talk of children, something Sarissa knows nothing about. Was Inaria full of them? Alteron had once been filled with little bodies eager to learn, she was one of them just before Azuhel had her clutch of dragonlings. "Is that so? I never thought you the type to like children, Mia." she coos, tongue sliding over teeth as she leans into the affection.

At least until it is disrupted by the other girl, tossing a lei of jacaranda around Sarissa's neck. They had wilted of course, dead, but they smelled just as lovely as the day they were plucked. The sword giggles, holding up the rope of flowers and pressing it against her nose to smell them. "They're lovely, darling. Thank you." Oh how she wished she could see them. Perhaps the next meeting she would travel with her companion to the land of purple flowers. Romance did seem like a big thing there!

Sarissa relaxes then, a calming sigh running through her body. Muscles eased as she glanced longingly at the rosebush. She missed those giant flowers, the red blossoms that reflected her own eyes. That sweet perfume she used thanks to Umbra's teachings. "Was it beautiful there? I wish I had gone with you, dear, but duty calls..."

Father was so demanding, after all. She hadn't been too lonely, however. Cancer had kept her mind off the hole in her heart.

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[Miasma]

  "I never thought you the type to like children, Mia."

  "Why not?" What's not to like? Adorable, warm and soft-- like the pet she's always wanted, only better. Puppies can learn, and grow, and always answer to their parents.

And, if they don't, you take care of it before they grow.

  "Was it beautiful there? I wish I had gone with you, dear, but duty calls..."

  "I wish you had, too." She smiles, wistful, at the imagining of resting under the falling jacaranda with Sarissa beside her. Eyes glassy, she replies, "It would have been perfect with you there..." The girl blinks to clear it, looking back to her pretty Sarissa. There's no use in thinking about it now. "You make everything better."

Like me.

[Sarissa]

Her head swung gently into Mia, a smirk rising on her features. Sarissa supposed she had a good point. Why not? Children were moldable little creatures, able to be manipulated easily and control easily. Adults were harder, had tested her tactics. They could analyze and realize their mistakes much more cleanly than a pup whose mind was fresh and malleable. So why not, Sarissa? So many opportunities could grow!

The smile softened though, imagining her time spent with her love under those beautiful purple trees. She had missed the roses so much, the darkness of her heart growing with each day passing. If Cancer hadn't been her company for the last few weeks, she didn't know what would've happened. "You're home now, with me." she cooed, rubbing her neck against Mia's wanting to rub the smell of Inaria off and leave her with roses once more.

"Mia..." she whispered, eyes falling into the pits of thorns. "I caught someone else... someone who could grant us children, if you'd like them." Sarissa wasn't sure how this would affect the beautiful girl that she held, but even so, Mia was the only one who truly captured the Sword's heart. Cancer was only to cure her loneliness, yet she felt inclined to love him just as much too. Sharing was a new concept to many, but Sarissa was greedy.

"He kept me company while you were away."

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[Miasma]

  She takes the attention eagerly, rubbing her face against the other girl strongly enough to stagger. One paw wraps around under Sarissa's elbow, toes curling on the forearm, blunt little claws that skin rodents and weave necklaces digging in. As possessive as she can get, small as she is compared to her love. Her life. Her everything.

  "Mia..."

  Her head curls under the Sword's neck as Sarissa stares off, licks a kiss at her throat. "Sari..." Again, a little lunge to reach the chin.

  "I caught someone else..."

  "Of course you did." So smart, her Sarissa. One day she'll have everyone in Alteron pierced on her thorns-- and Miasma will hang lovely gemstones from their protruding wounds.

  "... someone who could grant us children, if you'd like them."

  "I like whatever you like." Roses, red, and-- evidently-- children. She licks at her neck again, elated. They won't look like her, but why would she want them to? They'll look like Sarissa. "Yes," Miasma whispers, overcome by the idea. "I would love to have children with you."

I want everything you'll give me.

  "He kept me company while you were away."

  Teeth show, clenched, so close to her pretty white neck. After a moment of stillness, she rests her head on the Sword's neck. "At least you weren't lonely..."

I'm never leaving you alone again.