Aurelia turned nervously with Despoina as the larger woman circled her, the dark brown wings on her back bristling slightly. The woman’s eyes were still like ice, and it chilled her to the bone. She spoke strangely, in a tone she had never heard before. Aurelia and Despoina had been friends for years now, but never had she seen the brawler in such a state. She thought she might hear desperation in Despoina’s voice, but Aurelia might just be imagining things. The type of love she spoke about was admirable, and heartbreaking to hear about. For as much as Despoina had loved her mate, Aurelia didn’t understand how the slate-eyed miss was holding it together.

The sight of bared teeth made Aurelia’s ears lower anxiously as Despoina spoke of their love. Her heart hurt for the other woman and a gentle whine escaped from between her teeth. The rage seemed to melt out of Despoina a little as she fell silent, and Aurelia hardly dared to breathe. With how hot and cold her friend was, Aurelia had no idea what would happen next. Even as she tried to focus on the shadow and snow woman, however, her mind was racing. Was this what that was, then? This heat in her stomach, this feeling that occurred at the sight of a beautiful woman, the rush when she was around Despoina? Was she - was she attracted to women? A strange churning started in her stomach the more she thought about it, an awful taste flooding her mouth. Wasn’t that wrong? Wasn’t it wrong for her to want to be with a woman? Every relationship she’d ever seen had between a man and a woman, but Despoina was saying that she’d been in love with a woman, had raised a family with another woman.

She told me it was okay, and she understood. Do you understand now? Aurelia finally looked up, day and night eyes finding slate. ”She was safety,” she said slowly, softly. ”She was a haven where you could be yourself.” Aurelia fell silent, looking away and debating what to say next. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, tell Despoina about the budding feelings she had. But - perhaps Despoina was someone she should tell about - about it. ”It’s - it’s okay then? Even if - even if -” she stammered unsurely, ears flattening completely now. How was she supposed to confess something she wasn’t even sure of? Aurelia took a deep breath and said, ”even if I’m not sure? If I’m still working it out? That maybe I’m - or I could be?” The sheila, frustrated by her inability to spit it out, fell silent with a frustrated growl-whine.