a shadow passes overhead. the wailord is a welcome sight. torrents of water sweep over them, making quick work of their section of the forest. murktide's back fin flutters and freya smiles. she's a prideful thing and doesn't appreciate being shown up. 

"dampen the outer ring. we'll adjust," freya says. she shifts, eyes narrowing with annoyance, and snatches humidity from the newly drenched air. it coalesces, blooms into storm clouds, and patters back down from her rain dance. 

"oh? i'd think i'm more known for setting fires than putting them out," she jests. it's no secret her approach to battles and combat. gunner had borne witness to it during their dive into the ultra deep sea. 

"i'm well, by the way. sorry about not replying on the app. i forget it exists."

Gunner Graves

☉

in most respects, she had recovered in full. in those that mattered, at least. freya has never quite considered herself vain - though she wouldn't lie and claim genetics hadn't been kind to her - but her ruined patch of blotchy, shiny skin on her shoulder is an eyesore she can't bear to look at. 

his mention of it ghosts a phantom pain over her and she shivers. jostled, murktide's concentration wavers, and the rain comes down lighter. but with a bubbly snort and a toss of her head, she settles back down. 

"it means more than you know to hear that," she admits. "to be honest with you, i don't have much more to do. but that's a whole can of worms."

she pushes some wet strands of hair out of her eyes. "were you there until the end?"

Gunner Graves

☉

"yeah." her response is distant. she doesn't really recall the hour. the days that bled into one long, endless night. the deep sea and its dream mist warps the mind. it stretches and pulls and looking at it now is like looking through murky water. she'd been drunk on pain and loss of blood too. 

"i don't know actually. i ran into Eva Morales by dewford. she helped stitch me up." she swallows. "i lost a couple of dragons.

"it was hard after that, hearing that we lost." she tilts her head back. rain drips down her cheeks, resting in droplets on her lashes. 

"but there'll be another battle," she says with a breathless laugh. "always is." her gaze slides to him. "and we'll just have to win that one."

Gunner Graves

☉

"she's the best person i know," freya says with a nod. envy is still a hateful little wyrm in her heart, but it's a shadow of freya's other feelings for the woman. admiration, devotion, and something else that's lingered since her return from galar. 

she turns her face away, gazing out at the trees. the burnt trucks shine with water. glowing embers whistle under the dampened earth. everywhere are murmuring sizzles and pops, the drip-drop of never-ending rain. 

murktide sprays the occasional bush as they go by, ensuring no stray embers can cause anything to catch again. 

"i'll have to take you up on that. my dragons need a challenge." her sentiment is warm. she means every bit of it. 

the volunteer groups are being called back now. there are enough rangers on the scene to continue monitoring the situation. freya gives murktide an appreciate brush on the cheek and returns the kingdra to its ball. 

Gunner Graves

☉