Cfhiraeth - Hiraeth

[ MELISA ASLI PAMUK, 34, CIS WOMAN, SHE/HER ] AMARA AYDIN just walked down main street. They are a MANAGER who have been in Silverkeep for 3 YEARS. They are part of the DAWN coven and act as MEMBER. People know them as EMPATHIC & FRIENDLY but also as DISOBEDIENT & SECRETIVE. They are described as BARE FEET IN THE MORNING, THE SMELL OF RAIN IN THE AIR & ORNATE OLD FASHIONED RINGS.

There was a time when Amara had it all; family, friends, love. But it all went away slowly. First, her parents died in an accident, then friends were lost as she grieved the dual deaths, and then, tragedy struck again as her fiancé was killed during war.

Grief was too much for her and she left behind whatever left she had, her sisters and the only life she ever knew, and moved to the United States.

First, she moved around a lot, unable to find a place that felt like home. What she needed was a coven, a place to ground herself and start over. New Orleans called to her and she decided to move there.

She hadn't been in the city for more than a month when she sought out the Dawn Coven and they welcomed her with open arms. She started to work at the Apothecary, finding her place among the other witches of the city.

Still, there are moments when Amara lets the darkness of her past swallow her and becomes sharper around the edges.

Having Kayden by her side in all of this was almost soothing. It was anchoring, the other having been in her life for so long. Who would have thought that they would end up here, from trying to raise hell in town to protecting it. Not that they have had anything against it, never tried to hurt anyone, at least anyone other then themselves. And now here they were, all grown-up and responsible. The thought almost made Charlotte smile. It was ridiculous how much the simple act of him telling her they would figure it out was enough to renew her faith. The process of leading the pack had not been easy, still wasn't. But Kayden was there and that helped. Charlotte had to lead with confidence if she wanted the pack to respect her, to follow her. Confident was the last thing she felt and with Kayden, she could show the doubts she had in herself. "It's the only reason it was in the town's square. I didn't see any signs of struggles near. No blood around, no signs of attack, just the body." What was left of the body at least. A game of cat and mouse, as if they needed that. Charlotte nodded at Kayden's words, it was exactly what it was. Someone was taunting them. "We can't let that happen, not a second time. It shouldn't even have happened this once," she grunted. "We all need to be watching ourselves and find out who did this. Some people will blame us." /@kaydenbedard

The only positive thing to come from all of this was the act of prioritizing how this information was spread through the pack. At the end of the day, they all had to be united. Personally Kayden didn't think any of them were the culprits, not because they weren't capable of such violence - but they were better then that. The whole premise of who they were within was they didn't act on their urges. Just because they were animals in nature didn't mean they had to have that aspect take control of who they all were besides that one aspect of who they were. "We will figure it out." The man promised. There was no other option. This was their town and it wasn't going to be messed with. "I didn't want to draw unwanted attention. But you're right, whoever did this wanted to flaunt it." In making a scene at least. Kayden had this nagging feeling that whoever was behind this wanted to send a message of sorts but that message was still unclear. "Something tells me they're playing a cat and mouse game. I'll keep my eyes and ears open, someone's gotta know something. If they're so unhinged - it's only a matter of time before something like that happens again." The tone of his voice was laced with concern and dread.

*remembers im attracted to men* unfortunate 

Gabriel could be counted on to be there for the coven and it was with a kind smile that she looked at him. It was impossible to deny that things in town had taken a wrong turn this morning. Amara had been here only for 3 years, but it was not something she saw since moving here. "I'm good, all things considered," she said warmly. "What about you?" An animal attack. Code for werewolf attack. It didn't involved the coven, but since Gabriel was on the council, it involved him. "Here," the witch said, taking a special treat for Penelope from behind the counter. "Maybe that will put her in a better mood." It had taken a little time to get used to the bat, but now Amara liked seeing her and she kept a few things around for her. She did for a lot of animals. "Yeah, I feel it too. It's not just the poor soul in the town square. It feels...bigger." There was a shiver that ran down her spine as she said the words. It was impossible not to feel like this was only the start of something and she didn't like it. / @tcurniquets

As he did, many other times, Gabriel looked up toward the crystal and squinted at it. Perhaps it needed a kind word a recharge given all its work. "I came to see how you were," he said, glancing around the shop. He could be convinced to buy something, truthfully. On his lapel, a very tired and annoyed fruit bat opened its eyes to yawn and scowl before digging into him harder. "You didn't have to come," Gabriel reminded the bat, as if she was a child, as if she wasn't latched onto him. He found it funny — what he was, what she was, and irony of it all. "The Balance seems to be skewed this morning," he hummed, wondering if she could feel it too, he felt everything. He was able to look through all the world, into the dead world, and things were off.

Apparently it does. The words sank deep in Charlotte and she couldn't deny them. It had happened here, the other was right. Still, it angered her, somehow. Charlotte couldn't say if it was because of what happened or because it was being put in her face. She had to turn around not to try and stare him down, a second to control herself. She had been a brawler once, not thinking before rush head first, but she couldn't do that anymore, hadn't been that version of herself in a while. "Wonder if they'll arrest the animal who did that," she said with a tired smile. That was the official cover up, one they hadn't use in a long time. "Guess it happens more often in zip codes near a forest or something." Downplaying it was what she had to do, what was expected of her. "Can I get you anything?" / @tcurniquets

Those that were in the know knew. Now, this level of brutality was something that Cord didn't need — he wasn't really into the whole human aspect of things. They tended to just get in the way, if he was honest. Thought they were powerful. Then, you had people like the Crescent pack who patronized them by pretending to work with them. Most might've called it a noble cause, but Cord saw it for what it was. Fear, in both directions. He needed something to eat, he'd been awake since well before dawn. Unsure that he liked it here, he preferred places he could roam. But he was here, and that was that. "Apparently, it does," Cord drawled. "What's the old saying..." Cord tried to think of the leasing agent that showed him his property and her nervous chuckle of, "Crime doesn't have a zip code, or so I was told."