RP:Short, Sweet, and Serious

Summary: Lanara reunites with Talyara, after an absence of a year, and it's obvious that things have gravely gone wrong during the elder sibling's time in their homeland of Kelvar. After a few awkward ice breakers, the women share a delicious meal and a few laughs, before Lana gives Taly her Yule presents. One of the gifts is a section of their Aunt Sharna's grimoire, and it's proof that their beloved family member had died. The seriousness of the matter leaves both women feeling sad and Lana heads back to Cenril, while Taly waits for Krice to return home to brief him on the matter.

Part of the Lunar Tides and Silver Linings Arc

A few days prior, Lanara had made the trek up the mountain and traversed through snow covered hills, until she had arrived at her little sister’s home in Frostmaw. She knocked on the door several times and upon not hearing a sound from within, she searched in her oversized satchel until she found a spare key that Talyara gave her, years ago. Lana entered the house and used her time wisely, by warming up before the fire, making herself a small snack, and giving the two tikifhlee’s tons of treats and cuddles. Both of the shadow cats had matured over the expanse of a year, and although Cinder was a tad miffed about the fact that Lanara had dared to leave her behind when she left for Kelvar, she had eventually simmered down and welcomed her mistress home with a few affectionate head butts. Thirty minutes later, Talyara still hadn’t arrived, and so Lana took this time to explore the small cottage and do some minor snooping. Krice’s belongings mixed with Talyara’s, meaning that they were still a couple, though a few items were scattered about the bedroom and kitchen and a deck of tarot cards had been haphazardly lined up on the table. It seemed as though her sister had left in a hurry, and Lana nips her lips and prays to the Goddess that Taly is alright. The witch locates a small notebook, but she’s unable to find a quill and inkwell, so leaving a letter stating that she stopped by would be out of the question. Cinder and Ella are playing together in the next room, their paws wrapped around each other’s bodies, as they meow and roll around on the floor, and Lanara gets a wicked idea. Of course she would have to leave some sort of sign that she stopped by, otherwise Taly would think someone had ransacked her house for a cat and some chocolate dipped cookies in strawberry sauce! Lana grabs the large fruit bowl atop the counter and snags all of the oranges, which are then formed into an ‘L’ shape on the kitchen floor. It was a ‘memory’ that would have her sister laughing, scowling, or perhaps both, but either way; she would know that Lanara had been there! Mission complete, the brunette scoops Cinder into her arms and exits the home, making sure to secure the lock.

Talyara had to leave in a hurry earlier that day. She received word that a family had come to the Frostmaw clinic near the market stalls and were struggling with some sort of upper respiratory ailment. The family was a part of the "non-magical healing" group who felt only natural remedies were the way to go. Even certain potions were off limits as they believed they contained some magical tracking device that would allow Hildegarde and other leaders of the war city to find them. Knowing that the witch was adept at making her own natural salves and poultices, the master healer at the clinic sent a volunteer to the small cottage to fetch Taly requesting her presence (and her various healing herbal concoctions). So the witch bundled herself up, stuffed her bag full of glass bottles, and rushed out into the snow to see if she could appease the family. It wasn't until hours later that Taly trudged her way back into the cottage and threw her now empty bag on the side table as she tugged off her dampened cloak, hat, and scarf and kicked off her boots. The family had been insufferable and made the witch explain each and every ingredient she used, how she procured and harvested each herb, and how she prepared them. After explaining her process thrice, the family agreed to take everything she had brought on the premise they would study it further and decide if they would use them after their stringent tests. Seeing the frustration in the normally sweet witch's emerald eyes, the master healer handed Talyara a bag of gold coins, enough to replace her stores and compensate her for her time (and patience), and sent her home. "Cinder, Ella, Taylor, I'm home," she calls out to the feline menagerie who lived in her home. "Krice are you here?" she adds, wondering if the warrior had returned from his walk. When he had days when he was feeling well, he would take to going on walks just to get out of the house and get some fresh air. Taylor was first to arrive, arching her back and rubbing against Taly's shins. Ella is next to saunter out of the bedroom, lazily taking her sweet time and yawning widely. "Where's your sister?" she enquires of the tikifhlee. It wasn't uncommon for the shadow cats to meander off on their own when Taly wasn't home, but the two normally went together. "Hmm? Did she go out?" the witch asks as she moves towards the kitchen. She pulls up short when she spies the tropical fruit not only knocked on the floor but carefully arranged. For a moment she looks confused--she didn't think the cats (however intelligent) would be able to knock just the oranges out of the bowl, nor would they be able to line them up in a lopsided--"Lana?!" Taly's head whips back and forth as she runs down the hall and checks in her bedroom as well as the bathroom, expecting her sister to pop out and scare her. Unfortunately, Lanara wasn't there any longer but there was no mistaking she had been here. It would also explain Cinder's disappearance! Talyara was just about to throw her cloak and boots on once more and go looking for her elder sister, but common sense caught up to her before she could leave the warmth of the cottage. It was late, getting dark, and a bad snowstorm was brewing. She had no idea where Lanara was now and it would do neither of them good if the little witch got blown away by a strong gale. She would go in search of her elder sister the follow day.

...One Week Later...

Lanara’s condition had been deteriorating at a rapid pace, though on the exterior she looked as healthy and whole as when she had left Lithrydel. It’s all thanks to the hourglass pendant she wears about her neck, though it does nothing to hide the fact that her curves are less pronounced and she had lost a considerable amount of weight. In truth, Lanara Banks was dying, and had less than two months to live. She didn’t want to talk about her plague, nor did she want to reveal anything that had transpired in Kelvar, but she knew she could only avoid the topic for so long. As it was, she was having frequent nosebleeds, growing more and more fatigued, and she would have random dizzy spells and spike slight fevers. The witch was often in a terrible mood, a combination of depression and anger, and recently she had taken up smoking cigarettes. Lanara had missed Talyara terribly and she’s hopeful that she will find her home, and that her little arrangement of oranges had alerted her sister to the fact that she was back in Lithrydel. Shivering from the cold, despite the fact that she’s wearing multiple layers of oversized clothing, she raps on the door and waits for someone to answer. Would it be Krice or Talyara? She hoped to have an audience with both of them, preferably separate, but either would be a welcome reprieve from her negative thoughts. Lanara feels as though she’s running out of time, and she hopes that a few things will occur before she ventures to her final resting place.

Talyara :: Unfortunately, the obnoxious family at the Frostmaw clinic was more contagious than originally thought and Talyara found herself plagued with whatever sickness they had brought with them. They had also taken her remaining supply of natural remedies so the witch was left to wait the sickness out, medicating herself with hot tea, warm broth, and the occasional shot of blackberry brandy (an old family remedy passed down for generations within their family). Unfortunately, this put a damper on her search for Lanara, but the younger sister had sent a barrage of letters to every establishment she thought she might be staying at to no avail. A week later, Talyara was finally feeling nearly back to normal, and if she remained fever free for the rest of the day, deemed herself no longer contagious and safe to find her sister once more. Thankfully, her lethargy had dissipated the last couple of days and Taly felt well enough to cook a full meal and she celebrated by preparing a pot roast with carrots and potatoes accompanied by an apple pie (Krice's favorite) for dessert. Her lover had gone to the market for some supplies that they were running low on and supper was simmering in a pot on the fire for later, so Taly decided she would spend her (hopefully) last day quarantined by finishing a book. It was meant for younger teenagers, but she couldn't put it down! It was about a young boy with a cloud shaped scar on his cheek, who finds out he is a warlock and chosen to attend a magical school in a far away land to learn about his abilities! She was just nearing the biggest plot twist in the entire book when a loud knock startles her out of her beloved story. She considers ignoring the call at her door and finishing her tome but decides against it--what if it was Krice and he was too injured to unlock the door himself? What if it was someone requesting her healing abilities? Taly quickly throws the blanket off of herself and shuffles towards the door. The witch hesitates before throwing it open though, the memory of being ambushed outside of her home and abducted by witch hunters giving her pause to at least ask, "who is it?"

Lanara raises a brow when her sister asks who is there, and although the old Lana would be overjoyed at being able to say something saucy or pull another elaborate prank, this new edition clears her throat and speaks over the howl in the air, “Your favorite person in all of the realm, your sister, Lanara Banks.” The unique branding on her inner wrist begins to hum and as soon as the door springs open, it pulses violently, alerting the sisters that they are in very close proximity of each other. Touch, was something that Lanara had begun to avoid at all costs, but she knows her little sister adores affection, so she briefly endures one of Talyara’s bear hugs and manages not to stiffen, pull away from the embrace, or lash out from fear. “It’s good to see you, Sister. I have missed you so much and I’m sorry that my letters haven’t been… Consistent. It seems like there was some sort of problem with the doves delivering the past few months, perhaps it was the weather? Or Kelvar was too far for them? Either way, I’m pleased to see your pretty face again and see that you are well!” Parting from each other, Lana steps over the threshold and removes her neck warmer, fur lined parka, gloves, and snow boots, as she moves over to stand before the hearth to warm up. Taly is likely looking at her sister and noticing the extreme lack of weight, the diminished curves that at one time drew endless catcalls, and the pentacle that she proudly wore around her neck had been replaced by an interesting hourglass pendant that swirled with sand and a few specks of crimson. There is something about the pendant that gives any onlookers a bit of a chill, and those sensitive to magic would feel a strange vibe emanating from the contents within the hourglass. Lanara idly runs her fingertip over the pendant, a constant reminder of her impending doom, as she turns from the hearth and gives Taly a long look over. “It smells wonderful in here!” She hadn’t had much of an appetite lately, but the roast is nearly having her salivate. “So… How have things been? Is Krice here? Thank you so much for looking after Cinder… I’m glad you deciphered my message.” There’s a ghost of a smile on her face as she refers to the oranges, before she bends and greets Taylor and Ella, awaiting an answer from her sister. Her time in Kelvar hasn’t been mentioned, neither has her daughter or aunt, or much of anything. It seems the elder sibling is trying to avoid the topic, entirely.

Talyara awaits for the person on the other side of the door to announce themselves and she presses her ear against the door so she can hear her guest over the howling wind. The witch's emerald eyes brighten with obvious delight when Lanara's voice carries into the cottage, a voice she hadn't heard for a year, and Taly wastes no time in quickly unlocking the door and swiftly pulling it open. "Lana!" she practically squeals in voice two octaves higher than her normal tone. The elder sibling is correct in that her younger sister not only adores affection but also nearly tackles her in a big bear hug. With all the layers Lana wears, her lower weight isn't noticed. "I have missed you so, so much!" she exclaims, finally releasing her sister and ushering her inside the house and out of the snow and cold, relishing in the buzzing hum of her rune tattoo on the inside of her wrist thanks to her reuniting with Lanara. Snapping the door shut behind the pair she watches her sister curiously--something just seemed off about her but she couldn't put her finger on it. As Lana begins to peel off her outer layers, Taly cannot help but notice her sister's significant weight loss and her elated smile falters into something resembling a frown. When the elder witch touches the hourglass pendant around her neck, Talyara's eyes are naturally drawn there and she cants her head to the side, curious as to what it is and what the uneasy magic radiating off of it was. She gives her head a small shake as Lana begins to apologize for the lack of correspondence and Taly shifts her focus back on her sister, quickly waving her off. "That's okay, it's not your fault! I sent you letters at least once a week, I'm not sure if they ever made it to you, though. I was growing worried." And by the state of Lanara's appearance and her more withdrawn demeanor, her concern was obviously warranted. "But don't worry about it, you're here now and that's all that matters. And I've missed you so!" At the compliment to the savory scent of simmering meat, potatoes, and vegetables that permeates throughout the cottage Taly beams. "I'm making a pot roast! You should stay for dinner, there is plenty! Krice isn't home right now, he went out to the market stalls to fetch some food and supplies we need." Talyara wants to enquire as to what has been happening in Kelvar, to prod her sister to open up about what's ailing her; however, she doesn't want to overwhelm Lana and decides to follow her sister's lead instead. If she decided she wanted to talk about it, the little witch would be more than willing to listen. But if she wanted to keep the conversation lighthearted for now, Talyara would comply. "It was no problem at all! I think Cinder and Ella enjoyed being together again. They certainly liked to cause mischief!  Just like us when we were younger," she adds with a chuckle. "And of course I knew it was you! Who else would throw oranges on my floor?" Taly pauses for a moment and wrinkles her nose. "You were alone when you did that, right? You didn't do anything on my...you know what? I don't want to know." Shaking her head, Taly angles herself towards the kitchen. "How about something warm to drink? Tea? Hot cocoa?" The little witch awaits her sister's reply before going to fetch them their beverages. "So how have you been?" Talyara calls out the question in a lighthearted tone, giving Lana the chance to answer as honestly as she's comfortable with.

Lanara is grateful that her sister doesn’t seem to harbor any ill feelings about the lack of letters, because it seems that Tiber hadn’t gotten any of his, either! “Freaking birds! It’s probably karma from that time I sold the dead bird to a blind kid… At least I glued his head back on!” Shaking her head at the twisted memory, Lana scratches Taylor behind the ears, and ruffles Ella’s fur, “They –are- our familiars, I wouldn’t expect anything short of mischief! Although… Cinder is still pretty angry with me for leaving her behind for a year. I’m sure she would have liked Kelvar, but a Shadow Cat at sea may not have been the best idea.” Lana falls silent as Taly rummages in the kitchen, checking on the roast and offering to make drinks, “Scotch on the rocks!” The shout leaves her quickly, and she feigns a laugh, “Um. I mean, spring water with lemon is fine!” She’s itching for a cigarette, but she knows her little sister is against anything even the slightest bit unhealthy, so she nibbles on her fingernails, which were already bitten to the quick and no longer well-manicured like Taly would remember. “It’s great that you and Krice are still together… Although, I was hoping you would be engaged or married by now…Do you think things will get there soon? I would love to officiate a wedding, while ringing in the New Year!” She pauses as her sister returns with the drink, and after taking a sip, she continues, “Thank you for the drink, and I would love to stay for dinner, if you’re sure I’m not imposing.” At the mention of the oranges, a wicked smirk makes its way onto Lana’s face, “Well… I –did- meet up with Tiber…” She waits a beat, enough to torture her sister, before she chuckles, “No, nothing of that nature happened in your home. I just couldn’t find a quill or any ink, so I used the next best thing to show you that I was here!” The next question wipes the smirk from Lanara’s face, and she wonders how to answer by being truthful, but not by having to give away all that had happened, entirely. This was the first time she had seen her sister in a year, and she didn’t want to spoil their reunion, but there were some things that needed to be said. After all, Sharna and Natianara were Talyara’s kin, as well. “I have been… Up and down? Mostly depressed, stressed, and not feeling very blessed, I guess you could say? A lot happened in Kelvar, but I really don’t want to upset either of us too much tonight, or get into the dirty details… I will admit that things didn’t go as planned, and it’s really hard for me to talk about, but I promise to tell you everything at some point…”

Talyara cannot help but cringe at the memory of Lanara selling the deceased, headless bird to the poor blind child--her securing the head back into place didn't make things much better. The elder witch had even gone so far as to tell the lad the bird was extremely tame and docile so he needn't be in a cage, he'd much rather be carried around everywhere! Still, a ghost of a smile curved itself onto Taly's lips, she out of anyone was all too familiar with Lanara's pranks. "Bird post is, unfortunately, a fickle form of communication, especially when one has to travel as far as Kelvar to Lithrydel and vice versa." As Taly rummages through the kitchen looking for her favorite blend of herbal tea, her head whips around at Lana's quick request for scotch. The little witch's brow furrows, not with judgment but with surprise. She had never known her sister to enjoy the hard stuff! She prepares a mug of lavender tea with honey for herself, and the requested spring water with lemon for Lana. She also brings out a tumbler of blackberry brandy and a bowl of grapes. "I'm sorry I don't have scotch in the house, all I have is brandy." Lana would recognize it as a bottle their mother always kept in their house growing up. It was an old family remedy for stubborn illnesses--a shot of blackberry brandy to kill whatever was plaguing you. Talyara takes a seat across from her sister and wraps her fingers around the mug, a look of disgust marring her features when Lana confesses to seeing Tiber upon her return. It wasn't that Taly disliked the snarky man, but she couldn't remember whether or not she had properly sanitized her counter after seeing the oranges on the floor. When Lana assures her sister that nothing transpired in her kitchen, Taly side-eyes her for a few moments before relaxing into a more neutral expression. She would believe her...for now. "Well, thanks for not doing of -that- on my counters. And for not blowing up the cottage while I was away!" That was also a habit of Lana's--destroying her sister's home. When the topic shifts to her relationship with Krice, Taly's expression softens further, her cheeks coloring pink at the mention of an engagement or even marriage. "We both know we want to spend the rest of our lives together, but I'm not sure marriage is something he wants in life. And even if it is, I would never get married without you, silly!" She corrects her sister with a grin over her mug before she takes a tentative sip of tea. The conversation takes a somber turn at Lanara's sudden frown, and her obvious contemplation over how to answer her younger sister's enquiry. Taly abandons her mug on a side table and leans towards the elder witch, resting her elbows on her thighs. Lana's careful response causes an uptick in Talyara's anxiety, her pulse quickening slightly at the thought of things not going to plan and the ominous message hidden beneath the surface of her answer. Of course Taly wants to beg her sister to tell her the truth right then and there, that her anxiety couldn't take waiting, that she needed to know -now-. But something about Lanara's demeanor helped Taly hold her tongue. "It's okay," she says with a small smile, reaching out to give Lanara's knee a comforting squeeze. "You can tell me when you're ready." Talyara would most likely stew in her own panic and vent to Krice about her spiraling theories later tonight, but she wanted to respect Lana's wishes and allow her to share her tale at her own pace. "Lanara you could never impose on me," she reminds her sister gently, guiding the conversation to something more lighthearted like supper. "I think I've really begun to shine in the kitchen and have grown to love cooking more and more each day. It brings me such joy and happiness to share nourishment with those I love the most and that includes you." A pause, "If I had known you were coming, I would have told you to invite Tiber to dinner as well. I mean you still can, of course, if you think that there'll be time?" Talyara doubted it but she wanted to extend the invitation anyway.

Lanara accepts Talyara’s hand, though she does so with caution, as though her younger sister’s nine digits were aflame. Touch, was something the elder witch had become accustomed to avoiding, but after a moment, she returns the gentle grasp and feigns a small smile. “Thanks… I remember the time we went to that play and you snuck a flask of blackberry brandy in your coat, because you had this hacking cough that would just not let up!” It was a funny memory, so the two reminisce, “I remember that one boy in the play, I think he played the role of Shocked Petyr? He was horrible! He managed to butcher every one of his lines, he had obvious stage fright, and his broccoli costume was put on backwards! You kept screaming that he ‘nailed it’ and applauding after every one of his lines! We were kicked out of the theater because you had gotten drunk and caused such a ruckus!” Lanara snags a handful of grapes, which taste like cotton candy, and she knows her sister had been shopping at that overpriced market in Frostmaw. “Ooh, I missed these!” Although she had been itching for a cigarette ever since she arrived, Lana seems to be calming down as the two chat and avoid discussing Kelvar. She frowns slightly as Talyara makes it apparent that Krice still hadn’t popped the question, but she’s somewhat appeased by the fact that the couple has at least agreed to spend the rest of their lives together. As long as her sister would forever be loved and looked after… It made Lana’s heart rest easier, knowing that when she was gone, that Taly wouldn’t have to face the world alone. “So… How are things at the sanctuary? I hope to stop by in a few days and see the animals… Venin, too.” Of course, the ill mannered caretaker is last on Lanara’s list, and she secretly hopes that Taly will tell her that Venin passed away during her absence. That wench was incorrigible and her resting bitch face seemed to get uglier with each passing day! At the mention of Tiber joining them for dinner, her gaze grows frantic and her dark eyes widen, “The last time he climbed an ice covered mountain for me was Yule…” It had been a year now, since the lovers last considered themselves as such, and the witch doubts that Tiberius will be going on any reckless adventures or braving fierce weather to be at her side. “No… I think its best that he stays in Cenril. Our reunion was complicated? But then again… When have we been anything aside from up and down, rocky, complicated, or unknown?” She pauses, gathering her thoughts, “I really do love him, you know? And… I know he missed me and I think deep down he loves me, but he’s too darn stubborn to admit it.” Not that it would matter if he came clean; being that she is on borrowed time. “And I’ve only destroyed your home, TWICE!” A wicked glint is in Lana’s eyes as she lifts the tumbler of brandy to her lips, “They do say all good things come in threes…” She’s jesting. Probably.

Talyara feels a grin tug on the corners of her lips when Lanara brings up the time when they attended a play where she, suffering from bronchitis but not wanting to waste the ticket, had indeed hidden a flask of blackberry brandy inside her cloak to help mask her unrelenting cough. "He was not dressed up as broccoli!" Taly argues with a laugh. "He was dressed as a tree! They were in a forest or something." The little witch had shouted at the stage and clapped and laughed throughout because unfortunately she had imbibed too much on the brandy and hadn't eaten anything that day. Lanara, of course, reminds her that her interruptions caused such a ruckus that they were thrown from the theater. "Yeah, well, you tripped that poor elderly man on the way out! Poor gentleman was just trying to get to his seat and you stuck your foot out and he tumbled down the stairs cane and all!" Talyara is pleased her sister enjoys the grapes--she wasn't a fan of the cotton candy variety herself and she had purchased them by mistake. But they cost several gold a pound so she was relieved they weren't going to waste! Taly is oblivious to Lana's thoughts on her relationship with Krice so she easily transitions into conversation about the sanctuary. "It's doing really well, actually! I, uh, added a reptile room," she says quickly under her breath hoping her sister wouldn't hear, "But it's flourishing! I hired an adoption coordinator to help ease some of the pressure off of Venin, plus we both know she's not always the nicest when it comes to, well, people." Talyara and Venin got along surprisingly well. They weren't bosom buddies and they didn't grab drinks after work but she wasn't cruel and aggressive with Talyara like she was with the older sister. Talyara cannot help but giggle when she recalls the previous Yule when Tiber had to literally climb a mountain to attend a festive party. However, her expression sobers when Lanara mentions their reunion and confesses her love for him and speculates on his feelings towards hers. "Of course he loves you," Talyara says in a tone that's neither placating or mocking. "He probably just struggles with expressing his emotions. It seems to me like he never planned on falling for someone, but then your amazing self crash landed into his life and threw him for a loop. I bet it broke him up when you went back to Kelvar and now he's trying to put all the pieces back together again now that you've returned." The little witch pauses, "I think you guys are good together. He's a bit rough around the edges but he's not afraid to go back at you. And I think that's good for you," Taly adds with a wink towards her sister. Lanara was a firecracker with a very strong personality. The little witch was of the opinion that someone who wasn't afraid to stand up to her was a good thing. When she mentions that good things come in three, Taly narrows her gaze at her sister.  "Don't. You. Dare."

Lanara cackles at the memory of her drunken sister’s behavior during the play, the ‘innocent’ sibling’s youth had just enough cracks to show that she was indeed not –that- innocent. “That old man stepped on my toes! I was just giving karma, and his geriatric arse, a little push!” The witch narrows her eyes, “Wait. Wasn’t that the night that boy tried to woo you with some cherry candy!? Where did he even come from?! I remember we shared a carriage on the way home, and he kept ramming the red ropes up his nose and then trying to offer them to you as though they were a bouquet of roses!” Perhaps the shot of brandy is hitting Lanara harder than it should, as she refills her glass and carries on, laughing so hard that she’s starting to snort and tears are leaking out of her eyes, “I remember that he practically fell into the street once you zapped him with some magic, and he kept calling you the ‘Devil’ and WAIT!!! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!” The witch didn’t need liquid courage to snap at her little sister, “You put in a reptile section at the sanctuary?! As in SNAKES?!” Lana’s clench on the tumbler is so tight that her knuckles are turning white and her vision is growing a little blurry, “How could you do that?! What if one of them gets loose? I refuse to care for any of those disgusting, slimy, evil, legless, creatures! The only good thing would be if one was hungry enough to swallow Venin, but her vileness would probably kill the snake! Don’t even get me started, Sister! Don’t they eat other animals?! I will not stand for any bunnies being slaughtered! It’s bad enough that on your first day doing pet care you put too much cleaning potion in the fish tanks and you killed about thirty goldfish!” The large aquarium was donated by none other than Nick, and since he was used to Lanara damaging his heart and any gifts he gave to the witch, she had taken the blame for that little mishap. “Why can’t you have another little ‘accident’ and kill all the snakes? Or just let them go in a forest –far- from Sage? Taly… How could you do this? No one cares if they live or die!” A string of curses fill the small cottage, as Lanara hems and haws about how ‘betrayed’ she feels from her sisters actions, and it’s only when the topic shifts to Tiber, that she simmers down. “You think he loves me? Well… He is the only one that dares to go back at me, and I allow it… I guess it’s good that I’ve met my match… I also think that Krice is perfect for you, because he cares about your well-being and I’ve never seen him connect with another, at least not the way he connects with you. The man loves you, and I had hoped to find you engaged, but I’m sure he will get around to it soon enough.” She blinks and glances at the door, vowing to get back to Cenril in time for Yule, so that she can spend the holiday with the lycan. “I have a present for you… Remind me to give it to you after dinner. Can I help with anything?” Walking over the sink, Lana washes her hands and prepares to help Taly set the table, “Have I missed much in the past year, here? The land looks the same as when I left, and I read the boards in the local taverns, but not much seems different.” Talyara takes great offense at the comment about her house being blown to bits a third time and Lana smirks, “I would dare, but I won’t… Because, I missed you terribly and I love you.” It’s bittersweet that the elder witch is suddenly open about her feelings and spilling sweet words towards her sister, because it shows that Lanara is in trouble, or that she’s short on time.

Talyara grins over her glass towards her sister as they continue to reminisce about the night they went to that bizarre play.  It was supposed to be horror themed as it was during Samhain season but it wasn't even spooky!  In fact, it barely made sense!  It was true that in their younger years Talyara was a little less innocent than she is now.  After all, she was known to escape into the woods to get out of domestic chores at home and she often snuck away to meet up with the lad who lived not far from Taly.  "That boy was horrid!" the little witch recoils at that memory, having repressed it until Lana brought it to the forefront of her mind.  "That was also the night you thought you saw that man Marco, the lead singer of the band Sweet Beam!  You got so excited you punched me in the arm and since I was wearing those heeled boots I lost my balance and fell against his carriage as his driver was pulling away!  And then instead of helping you started laughing hysterically because my button got caught in the handle of the door!"  Truthfully, it had been one of the wildest nights of their young, teenaged lives.  The joyful swapping of memories is soon squashed by Lanara overhearing Talyara's admission of putting in a reptile area at the sanctuary.  She attempts to interrupt her sister, to ensure that it's not just snakes that are rehabilitated and adopted out, but other animals such as lizards and frogs.  She had also made a point of only allowing smaller snakes in, outsourcing the larger ones to a breeder in Gualon.  The younger witch, realizing her sister is reaching hysteria levels, simply sighs and allows Lana to rant herself hoarse.  When she quiets to take a breath, Talyara quickly interjects before her sister can interrupt.  "It's not just snakes, I promise!  And the ones that are there are smaller.  There are secure locks on all the enclosures plus the room itself is locked.  I hired a specialty caretaker for them and he came highly recommended.  I promise you never have to go in there and deal with them."  She's not sure whether her reasons will actually appease Lanara but it was worth a try.  Hopefully it would give her -some- sense of calm about the whole thing at the very least.  She is glad that talk of their significant others is enough to distract her from snakes and the little witch bobs her head in assurance that she does indeed believe Tiber loves her.  "He hasn't been able to shake you yet!"  Talyara adds.  "That's good you let him go back at you.  But likewise I think it's good that you don't let him get away with stuff either!  He's handsome and he knows it, he can be charming when he wants to be.  That's why I think you two are perfect together, even if you do infuriate each other from time to time," the younger witch says with a chuckle.  Taly's expression softens into something more shy when Lana speaks of Krice's love for her.  She was head over heels for the warrior and she was so consumed with love for him she thought she might burst.  "A present?" Taly enquires, pushing herself to a stand and trailing after Lana back into the kitchen.  "You didn't need to get me anything!  I know you were busy..." she trails off, not wanting to bring up Kelvar since that seemed that a sensitive subject at the moment.  "I don't need any help with the food but maybe you could set the table for us?"  Taly knew her sister was all too familiar with the cottage's layout and she didn't need to be directed where things were.  She pulls the large pot with the roast and vegetables out of the oven and places it on the burners of the stove.  "Honestly, it doesn't feel like much has happened this year.  like as if goddess decided to give us a year of hibernation."  Talyara pauses as she begins to transfer the food from the pot onto a platter that would be brought to the table.  "Krice had an incident that caused him to be injected with a strong poison.  It's taking a while to heal but I am doing the best I can to help him."  Talyara crinkles her nose when Lana says she does dare to blow up the cottage for a third time and the truth was she believed her sister would and could do it.  But her latter comments about loving and missing her give Taly pause.  She didn't doubt her sister's love for her and it's not like Lanara never told her these things, but the younger witch was normally the more affection one, the one who spoke openly and vulnerably about her feelings.  While the words almost seem foreboding coming from Lanara, Talyara smiles and gives her sister a one armed hug while balancing the platter of food in the other.  "Yeah, well, I missed you more and I love you the most!  Now cmon, let's eat before this gets cold."

Lanara snickers at the mention of that prepubescent boyband that had been all the rage back in their homeland, “Artificial Additive Adoration was nearly as entertaining as Sweet Beam! Remember when you body slammed me through their table at that autograph signing?! You always were the aggressive little sister!” Lanara hadn’t forgotten how Talyara had spanked her during their mud wrestling cage fight, or how she had single handedly beaten a frost boar to a bloody pulp so that the Adventurer’s Guild could have a pig roast! The younger sibling may be tiny, but she’s mighty, and if triggered she’s far more fierce than her big sister! Lanara is truly angelic, though none will ever admit it, least of all the woman herself, as she has a reputation to protect. Speaking of said reputation, many think that Lanara has multiple personalities, and if split down the center she would be equal parts devilish and angelic. “Satan- Erm, sorry, I mean, SISTER… This food is delicious!” It’s not as good as the tuna salad that Lana had made over the summer a few years back, which gave poor Talyara stained underpants, but it’s nearly as tasty. “Should we be eating without Krice? Don’t forget to make him a plate!” The sisters continue their meal and for a few rare minutes, Lanara is quiet as she eats her fill and is relieved that Taly doesn’t think anything is amiss. Sure, she hadn’t mentioned her niece or aunt, their homeland, or the fact that she didn’t look or feel well. As the meal comes to a close, Lanara rises and offers to do the dishes, “You go and rest, Taly. You made dinner, so I will clean up, then you can have your Yule presents.” A small smile is given to her sister, though there’s a wicked glint in her gaze, “Speaking of presents… I hope that Krice is still getting use from that lovely coat I gave him last year?” The coat that she had stolen off of the corpse of a bum, covered in stains, and torn her several spots.

Talyara huffs in indignation and crosses her arms over her chest like a petulant child. "I did not tackle you!" the younger sister protests. "You were so excited to see the 'bad boy' of the group that you tried to rush past me in line...and I happened to have my foot out and you tripped and went body first into the table!" Despite her pout, the glimmer of a smirk can be seen as she recalls every detail of that memory. "And there was someone from the newspaper there! They did a whole article on you because they thought you were trying to assault the band!" Talyara would deny that she was overly aggressive. Sure she had moments of being tough, but if she was privy to Lanara's thoughts she would remind her that the smack to her rear was completely coincidental (and the whole reason for the fight was the elder sister's doing), and that while she -had- killed that frost boar it was a lucky shot with a bow and arrow--and if Krice hadn't been there to slaughter the other two she would have been dead. Taly was one of the few that knew of Lana's secret soft side, and she knew of the younger witch's troublemaking past. They were both angelic and devilish in their own ways. "What did you call me?" Talyara asks with a curious expression when Lanara comments on the food. "But thank you!" she quickly recovers. "As I've gotten older I've really honed my domestic skills, but cooking and baking are especially enjoyable to me. I'm glad you are liking it!" The rest of the meal pasts in companionable silence, although the little witch does steal glances of her sister while she hopefully wasn't looking. She was definitely thinner, and she just had a general look of someone who was unwell. Oh so badly she wanted ask her what was wrong, but Taly held her tongue. Talyara stands with her plate and is pleasantly surprised when Lana relieves her of the dish and instructs her to go rest. "Thank you, that's so sweet! I'll make up a dish for Krice while you clean." Following her sister into the kitchen she begins to riffle through the cupboards for smaller containers to keep the leftovers for her lover. "I never know when that man is going to come back," she explains although there is nothing but fondness in her tone. Lanara's smile and wicked glint aren't lost on Talyara who visibly gulps when she mentions the Yule gift. "Oh no.  It's not another fighting doll with a magical music box that will wake me in the middle of the night is it?" Talyara shakes her head as she finishes transferring the leftovers and places the platter in the washing basin. "Do you honestly think we kept that coat?! I swear it had fleas! And there was definitely some type of bodily fluid stain. And the smell! It was putrid! Goddess knows where you actually found it!" Talyara shakes her head, remembering her sister's antics the previous year. "Maybe you should make him a neck warmer this year?" she teases.

The sisters each work in their own area of the kitchen, making small talk along the way, and soon enough the room is spotless, the dishes rest in the drying rack, and Krice’s left over’s have been placed in the ice box. Lana clucks her tongue over the mishap with yet another boyband, and she wonders just how many bards the two of them had come to know over the years. The musicians seemed endless! At least the sister’s had good taste in what they chose to listen and dance to, which brings to mind that single wretched rock song that Lanara had been –obsessed- with in her teens, “Oh my gosh! Remember the time I made you rehearse this absurd wedding march that I wanted you to perform if I were to ever marry?! It looked like some sort of drunken rage! At one point you were swinging your arms, then you were kicking your feet, and a few times I thought you were having a seizure! I will never forget how ANGRY you would become when I kept urging the local boys to restart the tune! They couldn’t play in tune, you were exhausted from marching for hours on end, and I’m pretty sure you ended up with pleurisy from all that jumping around.” The elder sister is laughing so hard at the memory that tears are leaking out of her eyes, but it felt so wonderful to laugh after all the horrors she left back at Kelvar. “Remember we nicknamed you ‘Buffy’ because the final move looked as though you drove a stake through your heart, as you bared your teeth?!” The mention of the musical box with the twirling wrestler has her cackling even more, and she pauses to catch her breath for a moment, before they head into the living room. Taylor and Ella curl up on the couch and watch the sister’s with wary eyes, because they are far too familiar with their antics, and when together it’s straight double trouble! Lana takes a seat between the two felines and rummages through her bags, “I found that coat on a dead bum in the Gualon swamps… I cleaned it…” For the most part! At least she had rinsed the blood and let it hang out to dry for a few days, before she wrapped it and gifted it to Krice! “And it’s so strange you should mention that, Taly! I actually made you BOTH matching neck warmers for this Yule!” True to her word, Lanara hands over two knit squares that are only a little larger than an average napkin, both showing shoddy sewing and with threads sticking out all over the place. Krice’s is a masculine green, whereas Taly’s is crimson, and it looks as though Lana had difficulty sewing a snowflake, so she ended up melting a few marshmallows for a ‘unique’ look. “I think they came out lovely!” The warrior will never wear this, she knows, but it’s the thought that counts. At least this present didn’t come off of a corpse! “But that isn’t all I made for you, Sister! Ever since we had that painting course with Meri, I have really felt my creative juices awaken… And so! I painted you this!” A large, circular, piece of stained glass bearing a parrot is removed from the bag, which is to be hung over Taly’s kitchen sink, so the light can shine into her home. Lana clearly hadn’t figured on it –always- snowing in Frostmaw, and she mistakenly grabbed red paint instead of blue, so it looks as though the birds head is severed around the neck. “It looks just like Petey!” The paint is a tad tacky on the edges, so she’s careful as she hands it over to her sister, excitably bouncing on the sofa. “I’m going to ask Meri if I can rent her gallery at some point, maybe have my own show? People can commission me and maybe I will become famous like that guy that lopped off his ear!” Once the excitement of gift giving dies down, Lana pulls one more final gift from the duffel bag, “Um. This is from Aunt Sharna… I know you have the end of Mom’s spell book, and I have the beginning… So it’s only right that you inherit the beginning of Sharna’s as I’ve kept the end… And the middle, of course, we each hold our own magic.” Hesitantly, the witch hands over the elegantly scripted pages, knowing that it would hit home in a second. Sharna Banks, their aunt, had died.

Talyara is finishing up the packaging of the leftovers when Lanara conjures up the memory of that bizarre march she made her do when they were younger. Squinting her eyes in a glare, Taly turns to face her sister, giving her the most sour expression. "Uh of course I remember that Lana! You literally had me doing it for hours! One day you had me going as soon as we woke up until it was dark out! And you made mother come and watch! Then you had the grand idea that I would walk into my future hand fasting like that!" Talyara crosses her arms over her chest as another memory forms in her mind. "And even Marcus saw me doing it one day! And you know how much I liked him!" Ah, to be a teenager in love. Taly had been quite smitten with the boy and had all but convinced herself that she was going to marry him one day. That had been the premise of the choreographed march--Lana insisted that he would be most impressed with it! But all he did was laugh. Sighing, Taly stores the leftovers into the ice box and follows her sister into the living room where Taylor and Ella look up wearily. They share a look, as if passing a telepathic message between them, before stalking off towards the bedroom. The sisters sit opposite one another and Taly rolls her eyes when Lana explains the origin of the cloak she had gifted Krice the previous year. An amused smirk plays on her lips and she shakes her head. Her darling lover had accepted the gift in stride but had tossed it in the bin as soon as the guests had left after the Yule celebration. The little witch's eyes widen in surprise when Lanara hands over two neck warmers, which more resembled folded napkins, one each for her and Krice. "Oh! How, uh, nice! It looks like your knitting skills have improved..." Not by much. If the tightness of the stitches was any indication, her sister had most likely bent the needles in half! Talyara's eyes bulge even more when Lanara mentions having found a passion for art and she fixes a forced smile on her face. She loved her sister, and admired the skills that she honed so flawlessly; unfortunately, art wasn't one of them. Still, it was the thought that counts and when Lanara hands over the stained glass of what appears to be a decapitated bird, Talyara holds it up to her face to hide her grimace. "Oh it's so pretty Lana, thank you! It will certainly, uh, bring some color into the kitchen!" She wondered whether Meri would allow her space in the gallery or if Lana's pieces of art would end up in a darkened hallway somewhere. Taly excuses herself for a moment, to place the stained glass on the counter in the kitchen, and to fetch Lana's Yule gift as well. It seems that the elder sister isn't finished though, and as Talyara sits back down, she is handed half of her aunt's grimoire. A frown tugs on the corners of her lips as she carefully takes the pages and traces her fingers over the delicate script. A witch's book of shadows was only passed down after their death.  If Lana was giving this to her that meant that... "What happened?" she asks in a voice barely above a whisper, tears shining in her emerald eyes. Talyara hadn't had the chance to get to know her aunt as well as she would have liked, and in a family where there weren't many members left, any loss was a hard one.  

Lanara nearly breaks her ribs with the roar of laughter that escapes her lush lips, as she literally convulses from a fit of intense giggling. “MARCUS! Wasn’t he the one that was possessed by demons?!” She continues to laugh as Taly continues talking about the absurd wedding march that Lanara had choreographed, which had been their primary focus for an entire summer, from dusk until dawn, every single day! Mother had thought Taly was feverish when she started to swing her hands in her sleep, and their stepfather would suspiciously watch from the shadows, thinking that the sisters were disturbed. Talyara is still talking about how her childhood crush laughed at her and Lana is deep in thought about how she wanted to be a dance teacher from a young age, that she meets her sister’s gaze with a blank stare, “Marcus? What about him?!” Clearly, she hasn’t been paying attention! But that had always been the elder sibling’s way, she certainly marched to the beat of her own drum, and her attention span swiftly changed from one thing to the next, without warning. And forget transitions! Lana is known for diving into one tangent and then another, dropping subjects without warning, and she’s notorious for either forgetting someone’s name or calling them something else entirely. The apple didn’t fall from the tree between mother and daughter, as Natianara was equally as bad at addressing people as she chose fit, with whatever name she ‘gifted’ them! The neck warmers and headless bird painting are exchanged, and Lana nods with a warm smile, delighted that her sister enjoys the presents. “Yes, the neck warmer will match Krice’s duster from last Yule. I hope to see him wearing it the next time I stop by!” Lana never tells Taly when she’s coming for a visit, so hopefully the warrior wears the melted marshmallow poorly-knit napkin for the rest of the winter, otherwise the elder witch will think he loathes her gift! Sharna’s fair face is in the forefront of Lanara’s mind as Talyara runs her nine digits over their late aunt’s grimoire, and the mood in the little cottage shifts from a joyous reunion to one of melancholy. “She died.” Lana’s answer is expected, simple and to the point, but the emotion in her eyes is raw, so it’s no surprise when a flow of tears trickle down her cheeks. She hopes that Taly won’t press for details, as she’s panicked to tell the entire tale, especially the gruesome ending! Lana abruptly rises from the couch and collects her coat and scarf, suddenly eager to flee from the warmth of her sister’s home. She wishes to avoid an interrogation for as long as possible, because she’s not ready to delve into that emotional territory just yet. “Sharna passed the day before I arrived in Kelvar… I believe that she passed from the plague, the Kelvaravirus, and sadly I didn’t make it in time to say goodbye.” She pauses, locking watery eyes with her sister, “We held a beautiful funeral for Aunt Sharna, and I’m certain that she’s in a much better place.” A few seconds of silence pass, as Lana slips into her jacket and pulls Taly in for a quick hug, “Thank you for dinner, and I’m sorry that I have to leave so soon, but I have to get to Enchantment and go over a few things with Lunalesca…” Taly has no idea that there are Kelvarian Elves residing in the fairy city now, or that Lana had brought back two dozen refugees, and for now the secret is kept. It’s not the first time Lana has kept her sister in the dark, and it likely won’t be the last, but it’s for the best that Taly digests the news little by little. “I will drop by soon, I promise… And we can talk more!”

Talyara had a habit of following her sister's whims, no matter how ridiculous and without question. It had started when they were little girls and Lana would convince her younger sister to sneak fresh chocolate chip cookies with strawberry jam from the coven so that way if caught, she would catch the blame. This habit continued well into adulthood up until now (need she bring up the boar hunting incident?). So the whole summer with learning the wedding march had been a bit odd, but Taly went along with it without much questioning much to the confusion of the other Kelvarian's and especially her parents. Thankfully, Lana's lack of transition in conversations wasn't so bizarre to Talyara who had dealt with it her entire life. She was used to her lack of attention as well as her inability to remember people's names. She recalled a very awkward evening when the girls had been shopping at the bookshop near their town and Lana had practically tackled a poor young man she thought had been in the coven years ago! She spent fifteen whole minutes holding the poor guy hostage, regaling him with memories from their childhood. Only once he had escaped after a forceful hug by the elder sibling had Taly informed her it hadn't been their childhood friend after all. Taly wishes they could continue to keep the visit lighthearted, but the revelation that her aunt had passed away--without her knowing--causes her to pale, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutches the book of shadows. Lana's lack of explanation is met with a small frown. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't frustrated--she was trying to be patient and allow her sister the time and space to come to terms with whatever happened, but at the same time, this was her family, Kelvar was her home, the inhabitants were her people. Whether Lana senses this or she really needs to leave, Taly doesn't know, because her sister shoots up out of her seat and scurries towards the door, tugging on her layers, before giving Taly a quick hug. The small frown tugging at the corners of her lips persists, but she returns the affection and wishes her sister safe travels down the snowy mountain. Only once she locks the door after Lana's departure does she see her gift still laying on the couch wrapped.

...A Few Days Later...

A beautiful, snowy owl would find Lana wherever she was, and with him a package for the elder sister. Once unwrapped, Lana would see that art had been the theme of Taly's Yule gift as well. A beautifully, intricate frame wrapped around a canvas in which Taly had sketched and water color painted a picture from their youth--a pigtailed Lanara and Talyara laughing with their mother's arms wrapped around them. In the bottom corner is a small inscription--To my Big Sister, my forever best friend. Here's to all the laughs we had in the past, and those that we will continue to have in the future. All my love, Taly