[center][img]https://images.cooltext.com/5248721.png[/img][/center]
[center]Interacting with Alexina [@Aerandir], Celosia  [@Kitty] and anyone else lurking nearby[/center]

The light from Castle Bloodrose was dimmed considerably by the ever present glow of Celosia’s hair. The forest, used to be kept away from the castle wall, now covered up to and through the gate itself. Thin vine wrapped themselves in between the bars of the gate and ivy covered every part of the wall until it shown green, rather than grey. Tiny buds had recently appeared, threatening to cover the walls in thousands of flowers by the time it was midsummer. Tiny trees had also made themselves at home along both sides of the wall.  None of this would have been allowed when Medusa was in-charge, she strived to keep order in all parts of the coven. Alexina...Alexina seemed to welcome the wildness and embrace the forest with open arms. 

Taran and Celosia had traveled the remaining  distance in utter silence. Every once in awhile, traces of the fog would reach their peripheral vision. Always vanishing the second they’d turn to look closer.  The danger had passed but the fog would not be forgotten. 

By the time the gate came into sight, Taran’s body ached with exhaustion.  Everything hurt. His feet, legs...all of it. But it dulled in comparison to the icy pain that still hovered around his wrist.  His mind overly occupied with the vision of the bed that lay waiting for him  just beyond the gate.  His thoughts kept him so distracted that he would have walked right by the witch waiting for them at the gate--had Tod not taken off to rejoin his Mistress. 

“[color=708090]Alexina [/color],” He said, approaching the witch. “[color=708090]I’m sorry if  I kept you wait-[/color]”  his statement was cut short by Alexina’s warm arms wrapping around him and pulling him into a close hug.  Taran’s whole body tensed at the sensation, before relaxing slowly into it, offering his good arm out and returning the hug.  He let the moment linger longer than he should, the sensation of it was all too familiar and left an ache of longing for a another life. A life where moments like this occurred often and were taken for granted. When he did pull back from the embrace, a cold emptiness quickly over took the warmth left behind.  

Taran cleared his voice, using the few seconds to collect himself.“[color=708090]Alexina, may I present Celosia[/color],” he said, gesturing to the girl. “[color=708090]She was the witch you...sent me for[/color],”  The smell of rain had overpowered the area, the sounds of an oncoming storm falling some distance behind them. “[color=708090]Celosia, this is Alexina...she is...um[/color],” With Medusa, the words would have come far more easily. She was Coven leader, or the mistress of the coven or...any number of things. “[color=708090]Our...leader[/color],” He finished, the words struggling out of his mouth.