Soteria is determined that everything is going to go perfectly. Mistral Jamboree has been her very favorite festival since she was a hatchling, and this year, her mother (and clan leader) has entrusted her with the clan's delegation. (Delegation is such a formal word. Then again, "everyone who was interested in coming" didn't sound very organized.)
Her mom has also made the journey from their home, but she is a quiet dragon, and growing more cautious in her old age. The Guardian will remain at their camp and keep watch over her charges there.
"Mom," Soteria complains when she is told, "It's a festival! There's no threat to our camp!"
Her mother's narrow violet eyes turn upon her. "Look up, child."
Soteria hates being called child. She is a grown Fae, and has been for quite some time. Still, she looks up obediently. "What?"
"The wind, Soteria. The Twisting Crescendo is spinning the wrong way. Plague and Nature are on the verge of open war, the Crystalspine Reaches have grown at an unprecedented rate, my contacts in Water flight tell me no one knows where the Tidelord has gone, and there's an Emperor in the way of our usual route home. There is always a threat."
Soteria is stunned into silence. The other day Poikilometes was whispering that there was an Emperor on the loose, but, well... Po was known to play jokes. And... and... and...
Her mother notices that she's short-circuiting, and sighs heavily. "I do not mean to trouble you, my daughter. But this is why I must stand guard over our camp. Go. Enjoy the festival. Look after our clan. Tell Keladeinos that her poetry will be as beautiful as always, and that she needn't worry. Keep Gelos from detroying anything at the cooking pavilion. And... be careful."
Soteria shakes herself, nods, and flutters off in the direction of the festival grounds, relishing the way that the constant breezes of the Windswept Plateau makes flying so much more effortless. She does not think about missing gods, or shifting landscapes, or a legendary horror ransacking her home. She does not. She does not!
Mom will handle it, she tells herself firmly. Mom can always handle it. She refuses to allow herself any further thoughts on the matter, and manages a smile as she enters the Mistral Jamboree. Nothing is going to ruin this for her. Everything is going to go perfectly.
Artemis | She/her | FR+1