After getting out and watching him drive off, she moved to sit down on the nearby bench, paying no mind to the wetness seeping through her pants. Magic was real. And it was involved in a war in some far away world. Anabelle had no idea what to think, her mind had just stopped working. One of her coworkers found her outside and asked if she was alright. Ana answered honestly and said that she wasn't and that she needed to take a couple days off to feel better. The woman took a cab home and surprised her mother with an early arrival. "Darling, you're wet. What happened?" She asked.

"A boy came to me...and we talked."

"Oh, a boy." Mahea smiled. "What was he like?"

"He can do magic. Like me." Ana said flatly and sat on the couch, pulling a blanket around herself to warm her up and also as a means to feel a bit safe. She was sure a fight would ensue and neither women enjoyed such things. Her mother turned pale and the two then began a back and forth about lies and deception. It grew heated but Ana soon got up to confront her mother who had remained standing during the argument. "I can do things for people, good things, mother. Why can't you let me embrace it?" She glared. Her mother insisted that she was inexperienced and therefore dangerous but Anabelle didn't want to hear about it. "I was terrified of myself for the longest time, you made me feel ashamed and crazy!"

"I did it to protect you and our life here!"

"There's some war going on and I could help!"

"You could die!" Her mother retorted.

"Shut up, just shut up! I'm old enough to make my own choices, I'm tired of being tucked away in the corner, not living a real life!" Ana said and suddenly her mother began to cough violently. Mahea began to shake and she fell to her knees. Suddenly blood burst from the older woman's mouth as she continued to cough up blood. "Mom!" Ana knelt down with her. "I'm so sorry!" She wasn't sure what she did or how to help now. Mahea raised a hand and began to tap her collar bone. Suddenly the pain stopped and she wiped the blood away with the back of her hand. "You can...heal too." Ana got to her feet. 

"I can." Mahea said horsey and went into the kitchen to make them some tea to calm the waters. "Call this boy of yours, I need to talk to him and you together." She said. Ana nodded and pulled out the number she had been given. It was a bit late but she figured he'd want a call sooner rather than later from her. She accepted the cup of tea from her mother and waited for Kieran to answer, it seemed he was sleeping since she had to leave a message. The girl gave him her number and address and mentioned her fight with her mother and how something weird happened but that things were okay and that she wanted to talk to them. She then hung up and remained rather quiet as her mother sat beside her in the living room of their small apartment.

- - -

He too had fond memories of foraging with family in the past. Of course those days seemed so long ago and people might mistake the faded memories for fantasies but they were real. Devon wasn't about to question the validity of his past. It would not end well for him. "Like hunting for food, gathering simple herbs and berries is a task generations use to bond." He smiled to her. He began to collect a few handfuls of things that caught his own eye. A few herbs and leaves which he knew could be useful for healing or cooking. The dark haired boy sighed as he noticed that Rhys had become rather engrossed in their activity.

Rather than bother her, he went about making sure the area was safe. Even if no humans were around them, animals could still pose a threat. And if caught, they could have a great meal. Sadly, no such luck was granted and they finished and went back on the main road to continue walking through the forest. After several hours of walking, making idle chit chat, they seemed to be approaching a town. He could tell with all the faint thoughts and clamor entering his head. He glanced to Rhys when she asked where they should camp. Where they were, or in the town up ahead. 

He had been to it several times and had good fortune there. It was the town he and Kieran had agreed to meet at. It was welcoming to people with magical talents. It was like a cozy second home and a refuge for others like him and Rhys. "Normally I would prefer to camp here like you but this is what we've been looking for. We can stay here for a few days and maybe Kieran will pop up." He told her and continued to walk, rather glad it hadn't taken too long to reach the town. He wasn't sure of Rhys and her abilities but so far she was keeping up and he was impressed with that. "I guess time moves a little faster when you have good company." He smiled to her as they walked.

When they approached the town, there were tall brick walls around it and people were guarding it with torches. "Friends!" He raised an arm at the gate.

"Devon, it's been too long. Who is with you? Is that a girl? I'm not too surprised there." One of the guards joked and opened the gate. Devon shook his head and motioned for Rhys to go ahead of him. 

"Have you seen or heard from Kieran?" He asked as they entered the city. It was made of grey stone and had torches lit, lighting many of the streets and alleys. "This is a safe heaven for magicians, we even have a library of information maybe we'll find someone to help you." He mentioned to Rhys.

"I believe we got word from someone in the other world that he had found a healer." An elderly man approached them. "Hello. I'm Edbris, I foresee everything in this, the Town of Yarlow." He said and bowed to Rhys and looked back to Devon who seemed intrigued by the idea of a healer. They were rare. "He may be arriving any day now." Edbris said, stroking his long curly white beard thoughtfully. "The best portal between two worlds is inside our city, at the center. It isn't the only means someone can use but it is quite good." He said to Rhys with a proud nod. "We all take pride in our magical skills and people who don't have them are still welcome to live here in harmony. When everyone works together, the world is a much better place." He said. Devon sensed a long old story coming on and put an arm around Rhys' shoulders.

"We'll just go get something to eat, it's been a long day for us." Devon said and bowed his head before quickly leading her down another street towards a selection of taverns and other restaurants.