These beings talked down to them like children. It irritated her slightly but as Ari glanced at everyone in her view, could she blame them? Their group certainly looked like a bunch of kids. Ari, herself, was only 15, definitely not a warrior in the least. Keeping quiet, Ari listened intently to what bits of information were given to them in the conversation between the Cawthians.

Namely not all felt the same as Ebony Cascade, at least his companion seemed much more hopeful and willing to trust them. That only made her guilt for injuring him even worse. He spoke and as he did, it only brought more questions than answers. Red Eyed presence? Boars? Whatever that all meant, it sounded as if they had been conquered, living lives of constant fear.

Nyx spoke up, her words much better than Ari's could have ever been, but as reasonable as they were...it did not have an effect on Ebony Cascade. She learned Ebony Cascade's companion was named Feather Storm. Their names were intriguing to Ari as well as the cities and other names they spoke of that were now decimated.

Ari continued to stay quiet as the other spokes, absorbing what information she could from their words to their gestures, treating this as if she were studying a book back at home in the library. She also doubted there was anything she could add. Ebony was certainly a tough egg to crack.

Quote :

"You simply want information?"

She kept a small smile from forming on her lips, knowing it too early to celebrate. It seemed Ebony may have cracked, even if it was just a little. It was then that Hadley spoke up. Ari turned to look towards her friend. She had felt her presence near her this entire time but with the stress and distraction of trapping the Cawthians, she had almost forgotten her. Ari moved to be closer to her, touching her arm softly and smiling in encouragement as she positioned to stand by her side.

She gave her attention again towards Ebony, giving him pleading eyes. He had to know something.

Ebony Cascade wrote:

The birdman waited out Hadley's reasoning, electing not to answer her question as to the harm their help could cause; he offered no information freely about the worm, either, but shook his head at Hadley's question. "There are no safe places. The Boar patrols are everywhere - they move beneath your feet as we speak. It used to be that the Segothas' cities could be used as refuge for people of your kind, but we spotted several fires earlier while on our own patrol, indicating that at least the closest of those have been destroyed. Where we stand may be as good a place as any, but if your presence is noticed the worms could arrive before you are ready to depart."

Crysdal stilled at Hadley's question, her movements muted as she waited for the response with bated breath; she felt Feather Storm's eyes on her, and as Ebony Cascade responded that there were no safe spaces left to them, she looked to meet the steady brown gaze, her breathing returning to normal. She wished she knew what the being was thinking. She wondered if he was anticipating her route, and, if he were, what he thought about it; of the pair, Feather Storm seemed to be the one most likely to help them, and though Feather Storm appeared to show deference to Ebony Cascade, Ebony Cascade did not brush off the other's comments completely and was swayed by Feather Storm's argument - what was their power dynamic really like? If she could get him on her side, could this work? 

"If there are no safe places," she began slowly, turning her head before breaking eye contact with the burned birdman. She looked at Ebony Cascade without blinking, authority effortlessly settling around her like a familiar cowl as Crown Princess Crysdal Aglaea Ianuaria stated simply, "then take us to Cawth with you." 

She rose to face him, the mud long-dried on her tights cracking, and tried her best to sound like she knew exactly what was going on. "From what I understand, you do not freely ally yourself with The Great Worm, the Boars, or the Red Eyes and I imagine, considering your fears for your families and your people, that neither do the majority of those within your city. Taking us with you is an enormous risk, as you yourself have stated that it could mean death to your people just as other great cities have fallen to these common enemies, but if the risk is that we are seen, we will find a way to enter unseen. 


"As Sailor Hemera has hinted, you have seen but a small portion of our powers," she slowed her speech, encouraging imagination to take flight with the vague statement, and hoped she others wouldn't be so angry with her as she continued on, "and if you help us, if you let us rest in the relative safety of your city and give us time and resources to see to our wounded - if you become our allies, I believe we can help you get your city back."

The statement was meant to be read both ways for the other senshi - while it sounded like a direct offer of help, if Cipiere were the model for Chaos infested worlds then they could keep this bargain by defeating the Great Worm, as they had intended, and not specifically spend their resources freeing one city from whatever chaotic influence held it. If Ebony Cascade agreed to take them, there would be ample time to ask questions about the Worm and its allies - they may even garner support, find sympathetic reinforcements within the city to help battle that enormous creature; while there was no guarantee of any of this, having the possibility open was enough, and if the possibility was closed despite her argument, then at least they had agreed to answer questions.

She finished, feeling only slightly self-conscious for the impromptu speech, with, "We could help you in your fight for freedom - Ebony Cascade, release your hope for simply prolonging the inevitable and embrace a greater purpose. Take us to Cawth with you and help us save your way of life."

Ebony Cascade wrote:

Ebony Cascade looked taken aback and was, for the moment, speechless. He turned away, apparently thinking. "It would be impossible to enter unseen," he commented quietly, apparently to himself, but the supposition was loud enough to be overheard by the gathered senshi.

It seemed they were slowly but surely winning over the Cawthians as they called themselves. She was surprised when Aegle almost demanded that they brought the senshi to their city, no doubt an incredibly dangerous feat. Hemera had not wanted to involve them further beyond getting information, but if there were truly no safe places to tend to their injuries and—she looked at the still knocked out Gabriel—revive those who were unconscious…

She’d never seen this side of Aegle before, but she kind of admired it. She would never be able to speak with such certainty, even if she were one half of the senshi protectors of her own planet, even if the people were supposed to admire her. Even if…

It suddenly occurred to her that one day she might have to rule the planet as well. The realization came as one that she had never even considered before, and it reeled her. Her—a queen? What kind of queen would she make? She’d always felt like the flighty, undependable one beside Nyx, and had always just assumed her sister would take care of any political or ruling business if it ever became necessary…

After all, Dies Nox had only ever needed one queen before. They could do with one again.

As the conversation turned and it seemed as if they might actually receive help if they could just figure out how to enter unseen, Hemera remembered what they’d seen in the previous settlement.

“What about those tunnels? Are those meant to be a place of refuge or… are they enemy territory?”

They had heard footsteps running into one, but the worm also came from below, so she wasn’t particularly inclined to run into its nest.

The previous enemies were actively engaging in the exchange of resonance with others from the rock one's party, although still in a limited capacity. Xtal-Diamante strained to catch as much of the conversation as she could, even the parts that did not make sense to her, trying to store this information in the event that it became more useful in the future. She did not react to Sailor Aegle's change in demeanor or somewhat less-than-precisely-factual statement(s)—either in agreement or disagreement. They were running out of time. This was the moment for other team members. If they were going to remove the Chaos influence from this world, her time would come soon enough.

Feeling a touch on her arm startled Hadley for a moment, before she realized that it was Ari. That alone made Hadley feel more at ease, and perhaps even a little more assured that what she said had been the right thing. That she hadn't messed up too badly.

It saddened her to hear that there were no safe places to take their fallen comrades, and that the places that might have once been best for them to visit were destroyed. That village from earlier... had that been one such village? The possibility seemed likely. Why was there always such destruction no matter where they turned?

Crysdal began to speak again, and her manner was strong and capable. Hadley watched and listened in admiration of the other girl. And then Hemera spoke up, and it seemed that the bird-like creatures were beginning to be persuaded. If only they could figure out a way to get there.

Hadley tried to think over what could be a good solution to the problem, but try as she might, nothing came to mind. She frowned a little at herself, but still no ideas came to her.

Quote :

There was a faint rumble beneath their feet.

Ebony Cascade wrote:

The rumbling earth pushed the birdman into action. Considering himself out of danger, he strode over to Feather Storm in three strides, his wings brushing against the hard shell of the barrier, and bent down to gather his companion. "We must leave, quickly." He announced, asking quietly of the other, "Can you fly?"

"Perhaps; the burns ache and I have lost feathers, but I am not so useless," Feather Storm answered, rising to his feet and having to stoop as not to hit the barrier. The birdman looked rough and smelled worse, the scent of singed feathers clinging to him. "We will take them to Cawth?" he asked quietly, brown eyes steady on Ebony Cascade. 

The other ruffled feathers about his face in some form of expression, but did not reply aloud.

The vibrations from the ground resonated dissonantly within her crystal core, and she could not help the immediate flash back to the terrible previous arrival of the worm. Her eyes darted around, once again searching for clues. She adjusted the weight of Sailor Aldrin and glanced at her teammates—particularly Sailor Aegle, who had been forced to land here.

Someone would need to assist the healer with flight, yes? Despite her fairly reliable strength, Sailor Xtal-Diamante wasn't sure that she could manage it in addition to the burden already carried. She increased her own height above the sandy terrain, although not so far as to be too distant to assist should something be required of her. Right now, she agreed with the feathered one's statement: they needed to leave.

The feeling was faint but there was no mistaking the rumble she felt. Ari quickly dismissed the barrier so Ebony Cascade and Feather Storm could fly freely. She found herself grasping Hadley's hand protectively before lifting herself off the ground just a few inches, motioning that Hadley should do the same.

"Maybe we should figure out how we will get into Cawth while we head there?"

She wondered if going to Cawth was actually a good idea. While being able to rest and heal their bodies and companions would be beneficial in the evident upcoming fight against the worm, what if they were just attacked by others? How much say do Ebony Cascade and Feather Storm have among their people and leaders? Ari wondered about the Red Eye and the Boards. There were so many questions and little time left to sit and ponder.

It had worked. 

The moment Ebony Cascade spoke to himself rather than rebuking her, a wave of relief washed over Crysdal and she looked over to Sam and Hex and the charges in their arms; they'd be okay. She took a risk and it worked out. They were going to Cawth, and they could be save there She set her jaw and returned her gaze to Ebony Cascade, listening as he turned down Hemera's suggestion of tunnels, and another idea took shape in her mind. Not on the issue at hand - for the moment she had no idea how they would get into Cawth, having no idea of its layout or any assets in their favor, but for when they got there, for they would. As difficult as it may be, they would get into this city, they would revive Gabriel, and Aldrin, and they would quiz these people up and down for information about the worm, but then... could she push her luck that far? ... it had worked once... 

As the ground shook and Ebony Cascade brushed past her to get to Feather Storm, her brows tightened - the arrow. She'd be a liability to Hemera again - she needed it taken out. Sam didn't have anything sharp, Gabriel's sword was just too long - maybe Ari? But she couldn't ask little Ari to --- 

Gritting her teeth, hoping this display of trust wouldn't be taken as an opportunity, she used her left hand to brush the hair forward from the wound and stepped closer to the birdmen and their sharp claws and beaks. "I need this arrow removed to fly; my body has healed around it - could you make an incision and get it out?"

Ebony Cascade and Feather Storm wrote:

The pair of birdmen stood straighter as the barrier disappeared, and while Ebony Cascade looked to fly off immediately, Feather Storm kept him in place long enough to answer the cat-tailed senshi, looking pointedly at her. Ebony Cascade breathed quickly through his nose, "Fine, yes - " and made to jump off again when the healer asked for their help. 

Though agitated in the further delay, the birdman nodded once, briefly, in acquiescence; the smaller being turned away to reveal the protrusion, but the skin was hidden beneath white fabric. Using clawed hands in an adroit fashion, Ebony Cascade quickly tore open the fabric around the wound as not to obstruct vision and paused, his facial feathers twitching for a moment, before reaching forward with one finger. Feather Storm took the arm closest to the arrow to steady the patient just before the sharp instrument bit into soft flesh. The girl flinched, causing the incision to jump up unexpectedly, but working quickly, a deep cut the width of the arrowhead was made. "Brace," he instructed, then reached in with index and thumb claws to grab either side of the bottom of the arrow and with a sharp tug, pulled it free.

Once freed, he examined the arrow critically, then wiped the blood and bits of tissue off on his own bloodied jacket, and slipped the weapon back into his own quiver. "It is done."

Aegle loses 3 HP

She hadn't expected the abruptness of the response. Hearing her senshi attire rip so easily disturbed her - did so little lie between the outside and her own vulnerable body? Shouldn't it provide more -- but then a hand grabbed her arm, startling and distracting her just as what felt like a knife cut into her. She flinched in spite of herself and felt the blade cut through more than it had intended in response, and closed her eyes, stiffening, as the impromptu operation continued. It felt so strange and uncomfortable and terrible to feel anything within her own body, and it hurt so much she felt she could scream, but she could barely breathe, fearing it would hurt worse, and weathered through until the other announced it was over. 

She kissed her own hand quickly and felt the tissue start to mend as she looked up, ready to meet the gaze of anyone who may be looking on with any sort of concern. She was fine. She'd be fine. Feeling the sun beating down on her shoulder, she glanced to see that the white half-robe no longer stayed where it should, instead piling on her right arm and pulling from the rest of the bodice uncomfortably; she'd manage, but part of her wondered what would happen if she just took it off entirely. Would her defenses be lowered even farther? Would taking off part of the uniform lessen whatever protection it afforded as a whole? Her brows furrowed, she waited for the birdmen to take off before summoning her wings - she'd figure it out later. 

Quote :

6 Aegle uses Aegle Kiss (1MP) 
--4
--CTRL 11
----Total of 15 12 points healed

The party departs for Cawth

---

They fly towards the mountains, their path taking them south and east; the sun overhead stretched shadows as time passed, and just as even the strongest among them might have asked for a break, the sound of waterfalls shook the air around them. The cliff-like features within the mountains were soon overflowing with water from high above, the scenery beautiful, especially so when compared to the stark desert they had just left. As they turned into a valley the soft greenery was welcome, but the sight they came upon was most welcome of all:

Cawth

They had arrived, and soon, implementing the plan they had constructed on their way, they separated, both from each other and from the Cawthians. Exaggerating his wounds, Feather Storm leaned even heavier on Ebony Cascade, and the pair went shouting towards the main landing point, drawing attention from everyone gathered to get medical attention and share news of their mission. While they created this distraction, the senshi split into teams as not to be spotted so easily, and flew, hugging the walls and the ground, towards an agreed upon spot in the lower parts of the city that was mounted upon the cliffside. 

Upon landing, they hurried within the structure, dismissing their wings to be even smaller, and waited in the agreed upon empty store room for Ebony Cascade and Feather Storm to return, laying out both Gabriel and Aldrin to let them rest peacefully, checking on them for any other signs of distress. With night upon them, they separated into shifts and slept, still awaiting the birdmen's return.

Stats:

There was silence as they waited in the storage area of Cawth, to members still unconscious by stable, and many others resting for the night. Only a few senshi were awake now, and Chalybs did not feel exhaustion as strongly in this state. She could stay up for hours longer, and so she took watch to make use of herself. She had not been able to remove the arrow, but the bird creatures, the Cawthians, had assisted Sailor Aegle. Now there wasn't much to do but be patient until their tentative allies returned.

Chalybs was near motionless as she sat, watching the entrance with a level of focus that could probably only be achieved with the Tech-Spliced chemical control systems. The thought of boredom didn't even hit her.

They had made it in, and so far, they seemed safe enough. As companions settled in for the night in shifts, she stayed awake, barely hanging in there in an attempt to both watch over Gabriel and Aldrin (more for the former than the latter), and be there when Ebony Cascade and Feather Storm returned. Her shoulders ached from flying so long with such atmosphere, her eyes were dry with sun and sand and heavy with sleep, but still she made sure that both Aldrin and Gabriel took water before she sat straighter and looked around again, trying to ignore the sleeping forms else be tempted to join them. Nyx was awake, keeping to herself for the moment, and she couldn't see Hadley's face from where she was, but everyone else looked to be soundly sleeping. 

Except Sam, who looked wide awake and stared at the door with determination. How did she do that? Hoping to catch whatever Sam had, she crawled the short distance over to the armored person and sat beside her, looking in the same direction. "How are you?" she whispered by way of conversation, wanting to know how the other was holding up and help her if she could.

Nyx wasn't really sure what happened, nor at which point they actually started getting through that winged creature's stubbornness. But she did not expect that they would actually be willing to guide them into their city, considering their earlier discussion. Aegle's diplomatic skills were rather commendable. And she had to admit, Hemera didn't do badly either in that respect. Nyx wasn't so sure her sister had it in her, her impulsive nature usually getting the best of her.

On top of that, they even managed to get Aegle back in flying shape after they helped her remove the arrow from her shoulder. Nyx was looking the opposite way during the entire process, obviously because she wanted to make sure they weren't getting ambushed. With all that dealt with, they made it in the city, separating so as not to attract attention, and they met up again in an empty store room.

Night fell, and as tired as she was, she did not quite want to sleep yet. It felt refreshing. After all, this was the time of day that she was normally active on back on their planet.

Would things ever go back to the way they were?

Chalybs didn't visibly react as Aegle approached her, though she did know she was there. Was there something wrong that required her attention? She was sure nothing had slipped by her sentry watch or her radar systems. What had drawn Aegle's concern to her? 

"...I am...functional." Her armor was scraped, but unpierced, and therefore still useful. Chemical levels were stable. Breathing filters were clear. She couldn't recall anything else to be worried about. All the emotions from earlier in the day had been shoved into a tiny box she was barely aware of, and she had no reason to touch it at the moment. 


"Are you satisfied with my performance?" she asked, almost like she was taking a survey. That had been the goal, to be useful instead of a liability. This was just a mercenary mission now.

Functional? Satisfied with her performance? Crysdal frowned, glad she wasn't looking Sam in the eye, feeling a little ashamed of herself. Had she made Sam feel that useless in some way, that she thought only her - functionality - her abilities or whatnot mattered, and not who she was as a person? Satisfaction with performance... maybe it had been earlier, when she had asked for help with the arrow; she had thanked her, she knew she had, but maybe she should've done something else besides, but now - to think that Sam thought that she thought her worth was somehow tied to her abilities, she felt horrible. Maybe it was how tired she was, maybe it was everything else that had happened that day, but she found herself fighting back tears. She drew her knees to her chest and hugged them, facing forward, and carefully monitered her voice and breathing so her whisper wouldn't crack or show her discomfort, "You've been great, Sam, and I'm sorry if I did something to make you feel like you haven't been. I didn't mean to. It's been a rough day and I'm not at my best. Do you ever feel that way? Just - overwhelmed? Like you're trying to swim but something's pulling you under?"

Chalybs was even more unnaturally still as Aegle spoke to her, something actually piercing her self made trance enough for her to question things again. Did she... apologize? For what? Chalybs had not been productive, so she had changed to be more efficient. But Sailor Aegle was... happy with her? As if it had a mind of its own, her hand reached for her gauntlet again, and began tapping a series of codes into her suit's settings. 

"...Chemical levels are no longer artificially stabilized."  The AI's voice was quiet, but Ferrum was loud enough being right next to Aegle for her to hear it. Chalybs released a slow breath as everything seemed to wash over her at once, including shame at how easily she'd succumbed to the lure of being dulled. She needed to be coherent to say what she wanted to say. 

The emotion Aegle was describing was much more than familiar. It was something that chased her wherever she went. She wasn't cut out for any of this exploring, or fighting, or dying, but she was here anyway, and it was terrifying.


"I'm...I'm sorry. I just... after the burning town, I couldn't..." SAM stumbled over her words, her hand moving to touch the side of her helmet. "It was too hard to deal with it, so I wanted to stop feeling it. E-Everything, I guess. I didn't want you to be sad because I wasn't doing something right." SAM braced herself for whatever came next. Crysdal was probably disappointed in how weak she was...

Another voice startled her and Crysdal flinched with its mysterious appearance, barely able to catch the words but knowing, for certain, that there had been some sort of language coming out of Sam that was not Sam's voice. She carefully looked over, concerned as much as curious, though didn't dare stare full on in wondering if by admitting such a feeling had somehow alienated her further - but the apology in Sam's voice - Sam's voice, the familiar one, not the one that asked odd questions or made statements in an odd tone - helped ease her worries and the stress that had built in attempting to make amends for whatever she had done. 

The burning town... Crysdal hugged her legs tighter, thinking back to that awful scene and the tunnel and trying not to think any more about it but failing, her mind running in circles connecting dots presented by what she had seen and what Ebony Cascade had hinted. No safe spaces to stay, the last destroyed by fires that very morning. Tunnels formed by worms that Boars used to get around unseen. Cities destroyed by them. Sam moved beside her and Crysdal took a deep, quiet breath, trying to keep hold of herself. Those people. All those people. She didn't blame Sam for not wanting to deal with it. "I'm sad for a lot of reasons," Crysdal admitted, "But nothing you have done caused it. You did your best - we all have done our best, and against what we are up against that's impressive - but to turn off your feelings?" She shook her head. How did one even go about that? "You don't need to stop feeling things, Sam. They're important, and they're valid, and on some level they're what keep us together, you know? I agree that sometimes we have to move past them, and I haven't been so good at that today, but please don't think you need to put them aside entirely, especially for my sake or for anyone else's." 

The door ahead of them opened slowly, pausing Crysdal's words, and a dark figure blocked out the starlight beyond, its silhouette against the stark night at once comforting and horrifying for those who recognized it. Tall and broad shouldered, they could clearly see the outline of a cape and an unmistakable twisting branched hat, but if there had been any doubts, they were cleared when green moss light began to shine from atop a gnarled staff held in the being's right hand. 

It was the Hermit.


"That you are here gladdens my heart," the old soul stated, his tone warm and friendly and all too sincere, his voice cracking with age near the whispered edges as he hushed his volume in sight of the sleeping few. "Cipiere, then, is saved, and now again you risk your own lives to fight evil to save another planet not your own. Sailor Senshi, truly this universe is undeserving, and will forever be in your debt."

"How is everyone? May I be of help?"

She...she wasn't mad with her? Crysdal wanted her to feel things? The concept of emotions being anything but a detriment to perfection was nearly a foreign concept to her. Sacrificing one's personal thoughts in order to do something greater was how Planet Chalybs operated so smoothly. She might not have liked it, but she did believe that their philosophy was overall true.

This was something different. SAM wanted to ask Crysdal even more questions, but they were interrupted by the storage room door creaking open. No longer primed for conflict, it took SAM more by surprise than it should have to see the Hermit again.

He was back, and now they had to pretend they didn't know his real identity. She swallowed hard. 

"W-we're fine..." she said, struggling to not sound like she wasn't speaking to some twisted form of Chaos. She wasn't good at lying, and she looked to Sailor Aegle for some kind of cue on what they should be doing.

Her heart beat painfully in her chest as fear and rejection, hope and betrayal all battled for supremacy, her eyes widening and her breathing quickening with recognition. She knew him to be evil - his potions had nearly killed them back on Cipriere and the Crone had told them so - and yet she could not help but feel comforted by his presence and warm words, and frightened even more for it. What kind of control over himself and them did he have? Or... was it just her? 

And what should they do? They couldn't face him - the Crone had warned as much. She had said to act as though they didn't know anything, right? She glanced over at Sam for support, for backup, for something to show that they were together in this, but all she could see what the helmet she wore, and Crysdal could only hope that they wouldn't give each other away. The response, and the look back in her direction, made her feel marginally better. "Destore has been a little kinder than Cipriere," she lied, employing that fake-it-til-you-make-it improvisation her Dad instilled in her. "We still have the potions you gave us," she lied again, forcing a small smile she hoped looked genuine, "we kept them, waiting for our need to be dire, and we somehow managed without them, though d I'm afraid I lost a few when we first landed here." 

Should she be standing? Would she have stood if she didn't know the truth of him? ... did she have the power to stand right now? She swallowed, keeping her smile in place, and forced herself to her feet and to approach, her heart beating wildly. She tried to look a little ashamed as she reached into her pocket to present one of the vials, "Though I seem to remember you saying they're inefficient now, we were hoping there would still be some magic leftover in case we may need them."

Could one speak of a dark daze? Where a person would be in a daze, but everything around them was only utter darkness. Maybe was it a touch too dramatic. That particular one, however, would have shot awake from his said daze if it wasn't for the poor state he was in. Instead, he woke up slowly, almost as if he had only been asleep, a pained moan (that he'd deny having uttered ever) leaving his lips as his eyes opened. The world was moving around him. Were they running? Was he flying? A lack of response from his wings alerted him, but only another plaint actually came out.

Had they been ripped out?

Memory serving, one hand shot (weakly made its way? hard to tell for his brain) to his throat and the other tried to find... whatever... whoever?

Where was Crysdal?
Where the hell was he?
Was he dead?
Back at his planet, dying from an enemy he fought as the Messiah for his people?

Had he hallucinated everything happening? Bastet, Cosima, Valdis and him battling the tree? The birds? The Crone and Hermit? Had it been his mind giving him fantasies before he expired?

Cosmos, thinking hurt. Stop brain, stop.

The Hermit nodded at Chalybs's response benignly, his bright green eyes then moving to Crysdal as she spoke and stood. At her approach he seemed to open more, his head tilting to the side quizzically as he listened. "Oh, you didn't need to use them?" he repeated, a smile coming over his face, "That is wonderful. The power of friendship and the strength of allies can make all the difference in this horrible war, and I am glad that you all have found that. But you are right," he smiled kindly, pointing a crooked finger at the potions in her hand, "Those have gone stale and are not potent any more. With such little time left to this world, I would like to offer you the same array in order to aide you, less this fight is more strenuous than the last -"

As he reached into his pouch,  Amarachius Sworn stirred, drawing the attention of the eyes beneath the bushy grey brows. "Is he all right?" he asked with concern, his long fingers around the neck of a blue bottle.


Take the potions, thank him, and he'll leave, she mentally repeated to herself as he replied and reached in for more of the poisons he carried around and presented as healing supplies; just as he retried a few, however, a strange, strangled sound cut through the otherwise still air and into Crysdal like a knife of panic. The groan was deep and she placed it instantly: Gabriel. He was waking up, to this - darkness and an unknown place, with an unknown enemy just beyond him. If he was at all muddled, this could go badly - "It's probably a nightmare," she spurted out quickly, wishing she had thought more beforehand and sounded more casual about it. "We've survived," she explained more slowly, trying to regain composure in his eyes, "but it hasn't been all that... easy."


"Hmm," the Hermit hummed, nodding in response. "The evils of Chaos are not so easily forgotten. I could create a deep sleeping draft to hold off the nightmares until morning --"

She was pleased that her helmet was opaque enough to hide her expressions, as she was stunned at how easily Crysdal could form a believable lie. And the Hermit did not appear any wiser, to her relief. Maybe they could get him to leave now... They were about to get another handful of poisonous vials disguised as "potions" when a groan from Amarachius drew everyone's attention.

He was awake? SAM rushed to think of a way to keep him calm if he panicked at the sight of the Hermit, but Crysdal was already one step ahead of her, faking a story about nightmares. But now he was offering another potion, and who knew if anyone would wake up again after drinking that?

"U-um, actually..." She tried to make up something as well as Crysdal did. "It'd be rude to ask you to do anymore than you've already done for us. And... he's too proud to accept it, we wouldn't want your potion to go to waste."

"Hmm," he hummed again, "Pride is troubling... but understandable," he reasoned, then handed his bottles over to Crysdal's awaiting hands. "The hour grows late, and there is much rest to be had. Be at peace, senshi, and good luck on the morrow."

He nodded, gripping Crysdal's hands companionably, and turned towards the door. 


With some quick thinking from Sam, they appeared to be in the clear. She continued to smile at him, hoping it looked grateful more than forced, and deposited the potions in one of her pockets as he turned to leave. "Thank you," she replied quietly.

He heard voices. The feeling was familiar enough for him to think that Sailor Jin had been an hallucination indeed. The slightly scary feeling was enough for him to almost think he was back in the early years, when the facts surrounding his father's death had been explained.

He couldn't conjure up a face for the female voice he could faintly hear (the man's voice was much clearer to him, frightfully so), but the fondness he felt must have meant something.

"No..."

Not again. Never again.
He had worked so hard that nobody had the right to hurt his family again.

Where was his sword?
Was that man the one who had dealt him the final blow?

"Please, don't trust... him..."

If thinking hurt, talking actually sounded more like he was choking on his voice than anything else. Not quite his throat being slit (or he wouldn't be able to talk), but he ended up coughing around his words.

A weaker spasm, but his mouth opened without any sound but another grunt leaving it.

The Hermit paused in the doorway, then turned to angle back towards them. "What is it he said?" he asked, his tone hurt and confused.

The Hermit was just about to leave when Amarachius groaned something that made her blood freeze. How awake was he? And was Chaos onto them?

"...That injury to the head combined with the trauma has him saying all sorts of strange things..." SAM said. "Apologies for his rudeness, he's not thinking straight."  Please, just go away... "All the blood-loss wasn't good for him."

And suddenly things stopped running so smoothly. Gabriel's choked words worried her, but their content made her blood turn cold. Her eyes turned back to the door, where the Hermit had stopped his outward advance, and turned back around, his voice hurt and confused and completely sympathetic. Her voice froze in her throat - what could she say? And by not saying anything, was she making things worse?! Was this what would undo the entire --- But Sam had their backs. She nodded in agreement with her, "That combined with everything we've gone through..." 

She braced herself, snapping the fastenings of her belt together to emphasize they were on his side. "He didn't mean it, and I'm sorry if his words upset you. You have been nothing but kind to us, as we wish you no ill will." Stepping forward, she loosely embraced him, trying not to smell the scent of him, that mix of earth and moss and fur with the slightest hint of... decay, but even so, she knew the smell would be etched into her memory forevermore. Too, she tried not to think about the person she hugged in any capacity beyond it being an old man and, in a way, she attempted to use that to let go of that initial impression of him. He was not a kind old man, but a Chaotic manipulator that gave away poisons as potions to naive senshi in need. She wasn't one of those anymore. She pulled back, her skin still crawling creepily in a cold, unsettling way that made her feel sick to her stomach, and tried to smile again, faltering. "I'm sure you have other places to be. Do not worry yourselves over us, we can keep each other safe."

What was she saying? 

If he left them, would he remain on this planet, or would he go off towards others?! How many other senshi has he poisoned - how many others has he killed?! The thought of just letting him go was sickening, but the warning of the Crone was not to be ignored so easily. Maybe she had been other places. Maybe, after hearing their story, she had gone off to warn other groups against him. Maybe she wasn't sentencing others to death by shooing him away.  

And maybe she was.


He looked a little taken aback by the sudden show of affection, but as her arms encircled him, he put a large hand on her back and patted it gently in a grandfatherly gesture. When she pulled away he nodded, though his eyes still showed concern. "Be safe, young ones," he said, looking back at Chalybs and nodding gravely.  With one last glance at Gabriel, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

She guided the door shut behind him and as its latch clipped to, she wanted to collapse. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream, she wanted to bathe and she wanted to throw the potions over the cliffs, but she would do no such thing. The potions could be useful. Screaming and crying would only disturb everyone else, in more ways than one. There were no bathing facilities and possibly no time to make use of them anyway. She had to keep it together. She took a long, slow breath, and turned to face Sam, offering a broken little smile as she pulled herself together, knitting the pieces tightly, and walked determinedly over to Gabriel to kneel beside him, gently taking his hand in hers. "It's okay," she whispered gently, "We're safe." 

Quote :

 Aegle (unintentionally) uses Aegle Hug(Handhold) on Amarachius
Confusion, Fear, and Panic reduced! 

Stats:

He didn't know if it was because he was finally dying, but the small hint of panic on top of a great deal of repressed anger seemed to relax, as if muted, muffled or chased away by what he would only asume to be the end.

He felt the hand in his much after, as if both were separated by minutes (while it had been silmutaneous) and he blinked, his breathing labored (whether he really has trouble breathing or he was just still lost in his own head stayed a mystery). He opened his mouth again, trying to turn his head (was he really? had he enough strength to do that? he couldn't say) and watch the blurry figure.

Was it blurry or was he too stupidly slow to comprehend?

Was he awake or already gone.

"Who...?"

And to the darkness he returned.

He was gone. At Crysdal's weak smile, SAM made a sound that was a mix between a whimper of fear and a wheeze, and tried to relax again instead of curling into a ball like she really wanted too. That was too close for comfort. She didn't think she'd had to lie that much in her entire life. Had she even had to lie before? It never seemed necessary until now. It took a few long moments to find her voice again.

"He's okay, right?" she asked Crysdal, looking over at Amarachius. He had spoken before, but now he was silent again. She noted how easily she touched his hand, with no hesitance whatsoever. How did they just... do that? It was as if no one feared infection or illness. Before, it made her skin crawl just watching it, but now she was slightly curious.