"No thanks needed, Drago," Clara says. "It was my ignorance that caused you to get hurt."
Arista arrives at the common house, where Marie, Lucco, Andres and the kids are playing out front. Marie breaks away from the group and approaches the aasimar.
"Is everything alright?"
Sādhanā frowns slightly as Clara blames herself. "We'll make sure to factor in how energy affects you and make sure we have adequate healing around in the future, Drago. How did you get by when you were on the run from your mother?" the Anizari warrior asks.
"Mortimus, a necromancer we had the pleasure of escaping with," Ylrhea says, slinking from around a corner. "What in the Nine Hells happened to him?"
She jerks a thumb at Drago. "I leave you alone for an hour and this is what happens?"
Trying not to upset everyone she looks down and shakes her head. "Do you think you can walk with me back to my room in the fort? I need to talk to you, but I don't want to upset everyone."
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"That's not the first time Drago has gotten close to death, first time we nearly killed him trying to heal him. Skaar's a fighter and he's wondered off before, with Nicatha's guidance I'm sure he'll find his way back. There's too much to worry about for me to go off the deep when mistakes are made. I just have to do the best I can." Cyna squeeses her partners hand.
Cyna lifts Sienna's chin to meet her gaze. "You'll find your strength when you need it the most, until then I'm not going anywhere."
"I was hoping to find Alethrio's sister, Elsa....but, that can wait until later. I just need to talk for now I think." She gets quiet again and looks down at her hands.
Sienna presses her lips against Cyna's. "Thank you...for everything."
"No thanks needed, Drago," Clara says. "It was my ignorance that caused you to get hurt."
"Somehow I don't think so. I have the feeling that bomb would have dropped me anyway. That's not what concerns me, it's the vision I had while I was out." Drago replied.
Marie takes Arista's arm and nods at her husband and brother. "Come on, we can talk."
The sun begins its descent below the horizon.
Arista is pretty quiet on their trip back to her room at the fort. Once inside she locks her door and sits on the bed sighing.
"The others came back from their mission, but two of them are missing, and from the looks of it....Drago was nearly killed. The two missing are Skaar and Nicatha...the ones that Harakhty talked about seeing the vision of or whatever. This is just going to kill Corda I'm afraid....I...I don't know if I can go and face her alone. Do you think you can come with me to tell her? I promised her I would tell her....but....her heart is going to be broken."
Marie puts her hands on Arista's shoulders. "There is only so much that you can deal with. You have a wedding tomorrow. Nobody said that they are dead, so you have to remain hopeful. She might need some time right now, so just concentrate on what you can control for now."
"When we get to Micheal's we should also let him know about the shadow prison, I guess Sienna can get the writing copies she made to him later." Sādhanā says as the make their way slowly towards the wizard's home.
"Hi, right here," Ylrhea says to the magus. "Michael's still asleep. I left the copies with his servant, Niels."
The Ranger allows herself a moment to melt into Sienna's soft embrace, happy to act as the troubled woman's replacement for the drink. It takes Cyna a fair amount of will power to pry herself from Sienna's lips.
"You've helped me more than you know, I'd do anything for you Sienna." Cyna says with a smile.
"Ah sorry, forgot you were doing that. It's been kind of a distracting day." Sādhanā apologizes with a shrug.
"I don't see how I helped," she says, running her fingers along Cyna's cheek. "Well, let's go find Ylrhea. It's not like someone's going to steal an empty handcart."
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Cyna agrees with a nod and takes Sienna's hand. "Any ideas where to start looking or should I just keep an eye out for really small footprints?"
"Or we can just turn and look," Sienna says, pointing at Ylrhea, Sādhanā, Clara and Drago.
"Well. That just takes the fun right out of it, doesn't it?" Cyna says. The Ranger shakes her head mildly embarrased and the two fiend-blooded make their way th the others.
"There you are," Ylrhea says.
"You missed out on all the fun."
"Looks like it," the gnome says with a thin smile. "So who did that to him?"
She points at Drago and indicates his burn marks.
Arista lets herself just sort of lean into Marie and accepts the offered comfort. She nods her head slowly, "I understand what you're saying, and I know I can't control everything. It's just...I kept things from people before because I thought it was in their best interest...and it didn't turn out too good. Do you really think it's best just to leave her be for now until she has a chance to calm down? I know I still have stuff to plan for tomorrow...I needed to speak with Elsa and see if she could offer me any ideas as to what to get him as a gift, but if I don't see her tonight I guess I could try to talk to her tomorrow. Most of the shops will be closing soon anyways, and I also needed to see Esme about planning out tomorrow evening so I don't wake her up too early. She was going to help me with my hair and stuff." She sighs, "You're right, there really is alot to do." She tries to laugh, but it's not as full of joy as it usually is.
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"Called himself a collecter and a buisnessman. Didn't get a name but I made a porcupine of him nonetheless." CYna replies.
Marie smiles. "Let Corda have tonight to herself."
She nods and tries to smile, "Okay then, so what now? We can go back to the common house if you like. That's where Esme is staying anyways, and she should be waking up soon."
A bit surprised at such a visitor, Harakhty greeted the aasimar. "Zeph, you say? Please, have a seat." He pivoted to face the man. "Do explain a bit more about these elders of Malwen."
Truth be told, this mystery man was a perfect diversion from his thoughts - torn between striking out for elder sister to more directly meet his own ends or investigating the Skaar matter further.
But it seemed their meeting was no coincidence. "Me? What makes me special?"
"You are a...well, what are you?" Zeph asks Harakhty. "I'm not trying to be rude, but I haven't met one such as yourself before, as I said."
***
Marie takes Arista's arm. "Then the common house it is."
"As expected from our captain," Ylrhea says with a smile. "So, he might have been working with others in the area?"
As the others speak, Clara knocks on Michael's door.
Niels opens the door. "Yes? I'm afraid Master Andimus is asleep still."
"Seems likely, gotta do buisness with somebody. Maybe one or more of the necromancers?" Cyna shrugs.
Ylrhea shudders. "Probably. So what're you doing now? Wanna grab a bite?"
Arista just lets Marie hold onto her as they walk back to the common house. Arista is still unusually quiet and a little more subdued than she is normally.
"I am but a humble servant of the Magelord. It is odd you haven't met one of us; we are found in many lands." Perhaps this man is from reaches I've not heard.
"Arista...the world isn't yours to carry," Marie says. "You are still fighting a war...even if it's a war of a different kind. You have to expect wounds and losses...and you still have to hold your head up high because you are a Seraphis. You are our family's history in the flesh. Zeph's stories, mom's stories...those are great, but you're the real deal here in front of me. If those stories were remotely true, you wouldn't be down like this. You'd find a way to fight, to make it to the next battle. Don't lose hope...okay?"
"I meant your race," Zeph says, embarrassment creeping into his old cheeks.
Cyna nods. "It's been an adventure, I could use a bite."
"We can go to Hadrinn's, my treat," the gnome says cheerfully.
Hearing the truth in Marie's words, Arista stops in her tracks before reaching the common house. She shakes her head as if trying to clear it of some kind of fog. She stands there and then smiles at Marie, "I'm sorry, of course you're right. I guess it's just hard for me to separate things sometimes. Mother always said I was too sensitive for battle, and I always argued with her over it. I guess I never fully understood what she meant until now. She meant my heart....my heart was too sensitive. I didn't think it was....but, now I care for these people. I love Alethiro, and for the first time in my life....I actually have people that I care about to lose in this war." She laughs a little, "Wow, I can't believe it's taken me this long to figure that out. I've allowed my emotions to have too much control over me lately. I guess waking up the way I did, and then seeing how much I lost affected me a little more than I thought it did." She shakes her head then, "Thank you Marie, thank you for being here for me and the talk. I think it really helped me sort some things out. I'll be okay, I haven't lost hope....I was just worried for Corda, but she's strong too and we will all make it through this. One way, or another. C'mon, lets go see what the others are up to now. The sun is almost down, so Esme will be awake soon." Her step seems a little more lively, and there's now a real smile on her face as they continue onto the common house and the others.
"Sounds good. Free food is always tastier." the Ranger replies.
Lucco, Andres and the children still play outside as Marie and Arista return to the common house. Marie gives Arista a hug. "Go see your friend. I've got to get these kids cleaned up and ready for bed. Come on, time to get ready for sleep."
Both children collectively 'Aww' at the same time, prompting Marie to go running up to them. "Hurry up or no story."
The kids and the adults head inside the common house.
"Not going to argue with that," Sienna says, taking Cyna's arm.
Arista hugs her back and holds her for a second before letting go, "I will, thank you."
Once Marie has the kids rounded up and inside, Arista goes in herself. She heads straight for Esme's door and knocks normally.
"That was unusual," Esmerelda says, opening the door. "What's wrong?"
"I meant your race," Zeph says, embarrassment creeping into his old cheeks.
"Ah." Harakhty takes a drink of his tea, sighing internally. You're not exactly common, yourself. "We are known as vanara. While our tribes are found in many lands, none are native to Zhavroma, to my knowning. I am of the Suntooths." He'd had people inquire about his race before, and while he didn't find it offensive, explaining his origins was a laborious process when he did get into it.
"Your plane-touched selves are rare, but there is another of your kind here. She is known as Arista, but she is also ... far from her home."
Giving her friend and "adopted sister" a half smile she shrugs, "Oh...nothing and everything. You know how it is...."
"Ah, a vanara. Quite interesting. You'd be surprised how common aasimars are here, Suntooth. Or were, as it stands now. I am familiar with Arista and her family. I suppose you could call me a historian," Zeph says, sipping his tea. "So are you the only vanara here on Zahvroma?"