A Hope Through Time: AnOtHeR WeReWoLf!?! Really? (Book 2)

Chapter 6

Daphne's excursion in the woods yesterday supplied some interesting results.
The Ice Witch had located the Nemeton within the Beacon Hills Preserve with considerable ease. The damn gigantic tree stump was practically radiating powerful magic in every direction, acting exactly like a beacon for supernatural beings just like Hope mentioned it would.
The blonde explored the area, along with the root cellar at the base of the tree but Daphne couldn't remain in the cellar for more than 5 seconds before it felt like the air was being sucked out of her lungs. The protections around the Nemeton were quite strong and didn't take too well to Daphne's presence, almost as though the tree was judging her.
Alexandria, on the other hand, was able to enter the root cellar without any hindrances stopping her. The magic of the Nemeton accepted the Thunderbird's presence at the very roots of the sacred tree. Alexandria flew around the room and hopped around the shelves, mentally showing her Familiar what was hidden in the root cellar.

Considering the harsh restrictions around the Nemeton, Daphne saw no reason to stay in the supernatural meeting place for longer than she had to. The Greengrass girl called Alexandria back to her when she realised that Hope's Familiar wasn't able to remove anything from down the stairs and she also couldn't destroy anything with her lightning either.
The Nemeton's magic was blocking any form of violence or destruction or thievery.
Daphne used her own magic to scan the tree and its roots to discern what kind of protections were placed around the Nemeton.

Obviously there were protections to stop notorious actions as mentioned above.
However this probably explained why the Pureblood girl couldn't enter the root cellar without feeling like all the air in her chest was being sucked out of her body. The Nemeton's magic attacked those who had committed unforgivable crimes, such as killing another person or soul, something that both Hope and Daphne were guilty of.
Another thing the Nemeton's protections zero in on was the guilt one feels for their actions. This particular ward was the one Daphne was the most concerned about. Her fear comes from the pain Hope would experience if she comes anywhere close to the Nemeton.

Daphne spent the rest of her day in her animal forms travelling peacefully around the preserve, giving her wife plenty of time to set up the rest of the house.
Between the serenity of Daphne running through the forest and Hope's peace as she finished setting up the art room, drawing and painting. Originally Hope was working on landscapes until she couldn't concentrate on the memories of her wife's universe anymore. Instead images of the past few days entered her mind so she started painting Daphne, Allison and anyone else she considers family. Mixing and matching the universes, placing Allison in Mikaelson family portraits or in Greengrass portraits, showing Allison in the same space as Daphne's little sister, Astoria.

Eventually Daphne made her way home sometime around 5pm, feeling exhilarated from all the running. The blonde made her way up the stairs and into the art room, wrapping her arms around Hope's waist as she rested her chin on the Tribrid's shoulder comfortably.
"Interesting painting darling. Although I am wondering why you've painted 3 wolves under the protection of our archer? Do you think our assassin will be a wolf?" Daphne wondered.
Hope shrugged her opposite shoulder that her wife wasn't leaning on. "No clue. I just painted 3 wolves because they fit into the composition of the painting better than two and it felt right."

"How was your run?" Hope questioned as Alexandria happily flew onto her designated shoulder with a tired tweet, brushing her feathered cheek against Hope's before flying over to the perch Hope had made for the golden bird in the art studio, taking a long drink of water from her bowl.
"Informative, especially about the Nemeton." Daphne answered as the blonde explained her observations from earlier.
Hope finished painting the background with a blood-red moon silhouetting the dark archer and the wolves before adding in the tell-tale light and dark birds hovering over the Huntress' shoulders. "Huh... I never knew that the Nemeton had so many protections. That will make it difficult to pre-emptively stop the Nogitsune before it starts causing chaos everywhere it goes."