Posts by MEENAH //

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah remembered when her left eye had been torn out, courtesy of the Exiles. Unlike Junebug, the wolf hadn’t held any hope that she’d be able to recover from that wound. Her eye was gone in a bloody mess, all those years ago, and she knew she’d only have one working eye afterwards.}

^{The Suncircle Knight approached Junebug slowly, not wanting to disturb him or his moment of self-consciousness. She glanced at the Morningstar’s reflection in the water before he covered his face. ”You could wear an eyepatch, too. We’d be matchin’,” the woman suggested with a light smile. She understood the Morningstar’s anger, but she didn’t think the two of them were close enough for her to directly address his feelings. He’d probably prefer the space.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah couldn’t help but smile as she approached the young newcomer. ‘Please take care of me’, Lavinia had requested. It was such an innocent, endearing favor to ask. The Suncircle Knight hoped that, soon enough, the kitten would come to realize that her request was Meenah’s sole pursuit. She wanted to take care of and protect every Solarian for as long as she was still breathing. ”I’m Meenah,” the wolf chimed in as well, once Maeve had finished speaking.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Unlike Helier, the Suncircle Knight had unfortunately seen more than her fair share of death and violence throughout the years of her life, perhaps even more than the Queen had. The horrifying, rotting scent on their land was familiar to Meenah’s heightened senses, but that didn’t make it any less detestable. Hearing the serval’s frantic but quiet observations, and then her niece’s stern words, Meenah approached the border not long afterwards.}

^{The wolf was good at keeping her composure. She was the calm strength that the younger members of the Kingdom needed, sometimes. But, Helios - that sight was not normal. Sangria seemed unaffected by the ‘gift’ sitting upon their sands, something for which Meenah could commend her niece. But although the Knight wasn’t squeamish, she couldn’t deny that the rotting corpse wasn’t alarming to see, horribly unnatural. Still - she would remain as calm as she could.}

^{”Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Meenah muttered, unable to approach any closer than Helier had. She had to turn her head away after a moment, remaining by the serval’s side but taking a protective step in front of him. Even with her eye closed, trying to clear her mind for a second of what she had just seen, the mutilated horror waiting for them remained behind her eyelids.}

^{Taking a deep breath of air that reeked of death, Meenah finally forced herself to glance at the horrific amalgamation sitting there again. It was clearly a message. But even looking at the lifeless jays sticking out of the creature’s eye sockets, the Knight didn’t connect the dots to Jaymoon until the Dawningcrown spoke. Immediately, the wolf was hit by another strong wave of dread that she tried to repress. She had to follow Sangria’s lead.}

^{Though she wasn’t sure how far away marigold ; might be, Meenah first tried to reach their other Dawningcrown anyway. ”Marigold, border,” she cast out the message telepathically, hoping it’d reach the King. Then, she slowly approached her niece’s side. ”I can help, kiddo,” Meenah offered quietly.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

            ^{”Welcome back, kiddo,” Meenah offered with a grin as she approached Namjoon. She was fairly certain she didn’t remember meeting the young serval before, unfortunately, even with her niece apparently being the one to train him. It felt like not long ago when the Dawningcrown had been an apprentice herself.}

^{The large wolf took a seat on the sand across from the former Trailblazer, giving him a nod. ”Th’ name’s Meenah. Yknow, her Majesty Sangria was my apprentice,” The Suncircle Knight shared with him, a fond smile hanging on her snout as she thought about it.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{If only Meenah had known that Rosemary was feeling so useless. The Suncircle Knight knew the feeling so well. She could’ve shared some of the wisdom she’d learned with the girl, or assisted her in hosting parties and events - events which Rosemary wasn’t even proud of. But never knowing, never bothering to ask, she had no idea that she could’ve helped Rosemary more. It was too late to think about what she could have done.}

^{If only.}

^{In fact, Meenah found herself heading towards the commune guild building just one morning too late. She desired to help with more events, parties she had no idea the Lightbringer felt so negatively about. In times like these, spending more time with the rest of the Kingdom was something they could all use. But as she approached, Elowen was headed in the opposite direction, storming quickly away. ”Elowen?” the wolf tried to call and stop the newcomer. She glanced at the basket sitting against the wall, but making sure her new Clanmate was alright was more important than checking out what Elowen had been looking at. ”Elowen, hun, everythin’ okay?” Meenah called quickly.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Hearing Jaymoon's nervous voice floating through the thin desert air was enough to draw Meenah's attention, the next to make her way over to the stranger entering their sands. The Suncircle Knight approached slowly, mimicking the unfamiliar dragon's steady trek. It appeared that the stranger was paying no mind to their borders, something for which would've brought out more sternness in the woman - but Jaymoon had already spoken, so she figured she'd keep her mouth shut for now.}

^{Like Merlot, the wolf had certainly seen her fair share of large beasts and creatures throughout the years of her life, many bigger than herself. As it happened, she was about one of the largest members of Solaris Kingdom, currently, but she wouldn't mind some larger Clanmates to help use their size to their advantages against the Kingdom's enemies. This dragon could be an asset for them to have on their side, was the main thought Meenah was entertaining - provided he wasn't simply here to wander past their borders uninvited.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah had a couple of her own gold rings gleaming upon her ears, but she couldn’t much remember the feeling of having them done. She was much, much younger then - she couldn’t recall the pain she might’ve felt at the time. Nowadays, she supposed the pricking of her ears might feel not so noticeable - but she figured she already had enough for now. Maybe she’d get more in the future, until her body was littered with gold jewelry. Perhaps when she became too old to fight anymore - she didn’t need it all weighing her down.}

^{For now, she approached the small group and simply watched Merlot from a respectable distance. She remembered the Healinghand’s resentment towards her when she had first made her return upon the Kingdom’s sands. She wasn’t quite sure now what the feline’s opinion of her was today - so she still made sure not to get too close.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah was the next to approach, but like Jaymoon, she maintained a careful distance. Though she felt she was usually proficient at comforting others when they needed it - it was hard to judge when somebody would rather be left alone. Like Jaymoon, the Suncircle Knight too worried about intruding where she wasn’t wanted.}

^{For that reason, the wolf usually began difficult conversations as casually as she could manage. She knew only slightly about what the Dawningcrown was going through, mostly unaware of his current turmoil where he felt as though his Queen and everybody else despised him. But Meenah didn’t despise him. How could she, when she understood his struggles with alcohol more than anybody else? But even more importantly, she’d witnessed Marigold grow up alongside her. She knew who he was, and would always love him as family.}

^{The woman approached Helios’s altar slowly, settling herself down a few feet away from the King. She glanced at Jaymoon, who had already spoken, trying to get Marigold’s attention and no doubt ask him if he was alright too. So, for now, the Suncircle Knight remained silent, only serving to be a warm presence as she turned to gaze at the altar instead of Marigold’s praying form.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Like Helier, the Suncircle Knight had heard of yoga as well, but had never participated in it before. However, she did have a vague understanding of what it consisted of. She agreed that stretching was an important part of training and keeping her body battle-ready at all times. It was the meditative state, the calming of the mind that was completely unfamiliar to Meenah and felt more impractical. Perhaps Oberon would be able to explain the importance of it. ”Me too,” the wolf chimed in once she reached the pair.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{The Suncircle Knight was the next to arrive, settling herself down into a seat beside Jaymoon once she approached. Like the silent tomcat, Meenah wasn’t entirely aware of the allegations between the Cartel and the Thunderlands that Sangria was speaking about, either. In any case, her worries were more focused on the absent King and his wellbeing. She didn’t know what to do, without driving Marigold farther away.}

^{As such, the other news mostly went in one ear and out the other. The Kingdom was continuing to thrive otherwise, with a multitude of joiners and activities to partake in for the week. Even the mention of somebody finally being placed in the Duskbreaker position. And if Meenah had thought about it, she would be honored to fulfill the role if she was the one chosen - but could she really feel like a good second-in-command if one of her own, their other Dawningcrown, was hurting?}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah was the first to arrive empty-handed, it seemed. Despite being a member of the Kingdom for over a year, she still wasn’t sure if she could truly call herself a Helios worshipper. It wasn’t a requirement for Solarians, but it sure did make sense. The sun blazing above in their sky determined their everyday life on the desert, their productivity and such. But she didn’t know if praying to it would make a difference when the sun was mercilessly hot, or hidden behind storm clouds.}

^{At the very least, the Suncircle Knight had adopted the sun god’s name into her regular list of expletives. But she did want to know more. So the wolf only watched while Sangria, Jaymoon, and Helier left their offerings at the altar, and slowly settled herself down upon a pillow afterwards.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Me me me}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{i want a quest!}

^{name: Meenah}

^{guild for quest: Warfare and/or Commune}

^{additional requests: Uhhh}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{The Suncircle Knight returned her gaze to Marigold when she felt him stand up, retreating from his position beside the altar. After a moment of consideration, Meenah too climbed to her paws, turning to face the Dawningcrown.}

^{She couldn’t lie to herself - it hurt, hearing Marigold snap back at the two of them. It stung a little to see him retaliate in defense when all they wanted to do was help him. But Meenah had to understand how the tomcat was feeling. It was his own pain that was causing him to push everybody away. And Meenah couldn’t let that happen.}

^{”We don’t need nothin’ from ya, Mari,” the wolf finally responded, her voice gentle and careful. ”Nothin’ but the chance to help you, if it’s possible. We’re by yer side here.” She could only hope that their King would understand. Her voice petered out, unsure what else to say or offer.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah was the next to approach, following not far behind Jaymoon. She trotted over to the other side of the serval, aiming to nudge him gently with a foreleg. ”Attaboy, kid,” the Suncircle Knight praised him with a grin, thinking back to when she had chosen to join the Warfare and Commune Guilds. Sort of opposite ends of the foreign relations spectrum. Events with allies and battles against enemies seemed to be the wolf’s strong suit, especially the latter.}

^{As for artistic endeavors - making crafts and such were fun, but that didn’t necessarily mean Meenah was good at them. She’d prefer to keep her mediocre creations remaining as a hobby, rather than her duty for the Kingdom. She believed in both Helier and Jaymoon to take charge instead. ”I’m sure you two are awesome at it.”}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{There it was again, rising in the desert air. Rotting with the heat of the sun, morbidly familiar. The scent of death.}

^{Apprehension filled the Suncircle Knight’s insides, quickly, like the tide rushing in to swallow the sands whole. Her sense of smell was extraordinarily powerful, even more sensitive than that of the other animals around her. She could practically taste the blood in the air from all the way at the border - though she wished she was wrong.}

^{The wolf had no choice but to force herself in its direction, slowly beginning to grow more angered as she trudged across the sand dunes. No doubt this was another murder, placed upon their land like a gift basket waiting to be discovered. The latest display had already been incomprehensibly horrible. Solaris didn’t need any more of this sick bullshit.}

^{But it wasn’t a meticulous, horrifying display this time, carefully set up by another killer past their wits. It was just a mess, a bloody pile of what used to be -}

^{Oh, Helios.}

^{Meenah froze, mere feet from the body, unable to turn away from the sight of his insides ripped and exposed. When was the last time she had seen Witchsmark? The Knight wracked her shell-shocked mind, but she couldn’t remember.}

^{This could have been done in cold blood, for mere sport, as a message of war, a warning - Meenah didn’t know. The killer hadn’t bothered to mask her scent, but the wolf didn’t know that this was Witchsmark’s daughter. She didn’t know why this had happened. With her fellow Solarian dead, forever silenced, she might never know.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah was the next to approach, the alarm in her Clanmates’ voices enough to make her stomach churn with unease. She was beside Jaymoon within seconds, peering carefully and sniffing at Raeliana’s weapon as though trying to convince herself that the two were wrong. But she’d heard them loud and clear and it was evident what had happened. They were too late.}

^{Taking a step backwards, and watching Jaymoon leave, the wolf glanced back towards the camp. ”Mari!” she called for him telepathically, casting out her thought in the hopes that marigold ; would hear her voice in his mind. Technically, he was not the other Dawningcrown at the moment, but the Knight had never stopped treating him as such.}

^{While she waited for the King to hopefully arrive, Meenah stepped closer to the blade again. Her unease was quickly morphing into anger. A Ruiner was here, within their territory, and she had no idea. She wasn’t there to protect her fellow Suncircle Knight, as she was supposed to. Meenah’s anger towards herself was a weapon all on its own.}

^{”No,” the woman responded to little Demeter, collecting her emotions for the moment. ”Hell no.”}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

            ^{”Me too,” the wolf added as she approached, expression growing serious the moment she heard Kinship’s words. The feline looked somewhat familiar, but Meenah wasn’t sure if she had even been to the Dark Dynasty before. Still, she was ready to go and fight on their behalf, without a moment’s hesitation.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah approached the border soon after Ashe, the thought also crossing her mind of how strange it was to have a snowball fight in the summertime - but she supposed groups in other territories might be shocked at their desert heat in the winter. To each their own, but she’d gotten quite used to the Derelict Expanse’s sunshine.}

^{”We’ll be there,” the Suncircle Knight confirmed, having the ability to accept the invitation. She nodded to the npc with her usual relaxed grin, before heading back to camp to inform others of the event.}

^{WELL I THINK I'M GONNA BURN IN HELL —}

^{Meenah was the first to arrive for the discussion, but she wasn’t sure what she could possibly say, if anything at all. Marigold never stopped being Solaris’s King in her perspective, but there was a reason for his temporary demotion.}

^{There was tension between him and the Queen, and while she loved them both, Sangria was her adopted niece and she loved the Dawningcrown as if she were her own child. If the savannah cat was unhappy in her position, Meenah could not be happy either. But she didn’t know the extent, the full details of what had happened before Marigold’s injury. Each side had their own story, undoubtedly.}

^{For now, she supposed it was important for Marigold to come and make his statement, should he choose to attend at all. In the meantime, the Suncircle Knight settled down nearby Sangria and waited in solemn silence. If the time came to speak her mind, she would - but everyone else’s opinions seemed to carry much more weight than hers. She simply longed for the Kingdom to be happy and prosperous.}