Xylo smiled, before scooping her up in his arms, readjusting his grip before he leaned in to kiss her softly, not using his hands on her face since he was busy holding her up in the air.
Luna simply responded, "You're too kind Persepolis." She sighed, before admitting in a long series of words "I'm cold. I wish I wasn't and I'm trying to change, but everything in the orphanage has scarred me. I'm not the cheerful girl I used to be, the one I am around you sometimes. I should be, that's the real me but everything I've gone through stops her from coming out and enjoying life normally." She paused, admitting nervously, afraid of her own words "That's why I don't think I'll ever find someone to love me. Because my love will always be fighting the coldness, and I don't know how long it can fight it for." She trembled at the thought, showing just how broken she truly was. She choked out "You shouldn't have to deal with nonsense."
River`s legs stilled in the air, and she fought off the urge to kick him- she was actually curious as to what he would do- but she didn`t kick him. Instead she met his kiss, cuddling into him.
Xylo kissed her in return , walking around the lake until he reached the waterfall. He quickly walked through the water, so that they could continue their kiss in the privacy behind the water wall.
River didn`t react to the water, she was content. Her thoughts drifted to feeding the Banished. She gave an aggravated huff, she didn`t want to think about that, she wanted to just relax, and spend time with Xylo.
Persepolis listened, fully caring about what Luna was saying. It truly broke her heart to hear her words, to realize that Luna had gone through so much that had changed her, that she was struggling. Persepolis felt Luna's pain about how broken she was. It cut her to her core. "I hardly know what to say right now. I can't imagine how terrible things in the orphanage must have been to change you like this. And I'm so sorry that life there was so horrible, that's not anything you should have endured. I understand that you are cold, and I don't blame you for it, not at all. Finding yourself again and returning to the cheerful girl that you used to be will be a very hard and treacherous journey, and I know that. And I will fully support you the entire way, through every step. I don't know if you believe it, but I believe that you can find yourself again." Persepolis paused, giving the words time to sink in. She was really talking from her heart now, raw emotion that she had never, not once in her life, let make it's way out of her mouth before. "I really want you to be happy, whatever happy is for you. Whether it's finding someone who loves you or being able to break out of the coldness that is what I want for you. And I will deal with all the nonsense there is to get you there. I should have to put up with it because that's what a true friend does. I hope you realize that." Persepolis finished talking. She was dry out of words, she had given her all to Luna just then. Persepolis had never allowed so much of her emotion to play through before. She usually hid almost everything. And for the first time in Persepolis' entire life, she had put someone else entirely before her.
Xylo noted the huff, and asked softly, drawing away momentarily “Is everything ok?” He said it in a tone that wasn’t angered at her for interrupting the moment, he was genuinely concerned as to whether she was ok or not. That would be his priority, coming way before personal satisfaction as he thought it should be.
Luna emptied herself out in front of Persepolis. What more had she to do? What refuge other than her did she have? She began in a sorrowful voice, “They often ganged up on me and stole my food. Name-calling was also common. I went to sleep every night scared that I would awake to someone scaring me or perhaps plucking out my feathers.” She paused, determined not to cry, before continuing “When I left I was like a robot. I didn’t have any feeling left, and then I had to start everything over again. From square one. Regaining everything slowly. Only for it to be shattered by my coldness when I thought I had progressed.” She stayed silent for about a minute, before choking out “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and your unselfishness is just...” Luna didn’t know what more to say. Words couldn’t explain what she felt. He eyes perhaps did, shining a deep appreciation for Persepolis even though they were sorrowful. She slowly embraced Persepolis again, holding her in her own pain. She whispered hoarsely “Thank you Persepolis. For everything you’ve said. I know you’re stronger than me, but when the time comes, if it does, know that I will be by your side as you are with me right now. Promise.” Her words were true and genuine, the promises held nothing but the truth. She vowed inwardly that she would do whatever Persepolis needed from her, just as she had done for her. Their bond was too strong to break, she thought. Even though her coldness had threatened to shatter it like it had with others before, leaving darkness in its cruel and relentless wake.
Persepolis listened to every word, hearing all the meaning behind it and recognizing just how hard it was for Luna to speak these things to her. She felt Luna's pain and Persepolis herself fought back tears for her friend's troubles and past. Persepolis now understood just how much Luna had gone through, how much other people in her life had beaten and broken her. And she was determined that Luna would never again have to go through such terrible mistreatment. Persepolis was relaxed as Luna embraced her, and she allowed Luna to thank her even though she didn't need to. She knew that what she did for Luna meant a lot to her. Persepolis embraced Luna back, gently but firmly enough to show Luna that she meant it, "Thank you for telling me all of this, Luna. I know that it was very hard for you to open like this. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that at the orphanage, you should never have had to deal with that and those people are horrible for treating you that way. I promise that mistreatment like that won't happen to you ever again, you don't deserve it. I hope that one day you can break out of your coldness. It will be hard, but I honestly think you can eventually do it." Persepolis paused, taking the time for a few deep breathes before continuing, "You're the best friend that I've ever had, too. And I'm serious when I say that. Thank you for being here for me when I've needed you. I appreciate you so much and I promise that I will never let the bond between us be broken."
"Yes. No... Maybe." River paused sheepishly. "I shouldn`t think about that but... I`m worried. We have eight people to feed, no meal is promised, hunting won`t be enough soon. We could grow a garden, but where would we get seeds?"
