To know that there was a town they could go to, gave Mahea reassurance. Though the depth of the situation, of a whole new world, had yet to really hit Anabelle so she didn't have much to say on the matter. Kieran decided they could leave tomorrow afternoon. It would give Anabelle time to call work and try to explain why she needed to quit or at least take a sudden leave of absence. And Mahea would probably want to bring some kind of provisions too. There was a lot that needed to be done but the sooner they left, the better. Mahea got up when it was time to go, since everything had been decided. "That sounds fair, I never thought I'd have a homecoming quite like this." She said and looked to Anabelle, hoping Anabelle would be alright with the changes that were about to happen. Mahea shook his hand, not too surprised to have him give a more traditional handshake. It had been so long since she had one that held any real meaning. The woman returned it by placing her other hand beside his. It was soon dropped and she nodded to the boy. He was right, they had to be careful about what they wore and what was brought into the other world. Time travel wasn't necessarily uncommon but it could be tricky. The last thing magic needed was to deal with the issues of jeans or zippers or worse, cell phones or guns. "That sounds good, we'll be ready to go, waiting outside." She assured him and ushered Anabelle to get up as well. Anabelle wasn't sure what to make of the plans but she needed to move forward and not backward. "Bye." Anabelle waved to Kieran as he then left. She shut the door as her mother began to straighten up around the small apartment. "So we're leaving? I mean...going to this other world?" She was still in disbelief. Her mother said nothing and went off to begin packing. Ana sat back down and thought about what she was leaving behind. But then she began to think about what she might be looking forward to. Magic in another world, with other people and places. It was so fantastical and hard to fathom. The girl eventually ended up going back to her room to pack. She found a dress and some other clothes which were more organic and casual, and less modern. When the two finally got in bed, it was around two in the morning, but neither got a lot of rest, as they should have. When they got up at eight, there was little spoken between them as they were focused on their own tasks. Ana had packed some clothes which would have to do. Currently, she had on a tan pair of slacks and a cream colored top which was made out of a light fabric and mimicked the shape of a kimono. Mahea had on a dark blue tunic dress and a brown rope belt. They were old clothes from her past but they fit well enough now. It would be hard going back to the old ways but she would adjust all the same. The mother packed some safe medical supplies, bandages and other things and the two headed outside after locking up. Ana had left a message at work, saying a family emergency came up and she had to leave for a week. A week seemed like a safe bet, though Ana wasn't entirely certain as to how long she'd be gone. Their belongings were both hauled over their shoulders in leather packs. As Anabelle looked at the street, watching the cars pass back and forth, she found herself becoming very nervous. It was one thing to talk about magic and another world but her brain was telling her that it would be something else to go and actually defy all logic and reason. It was hard to believe from her point of view but books and stories and tv shows had helped her find some solace. She couldn't imagine it being the other way around, that her mother and Kieran could come and adjust to someplace so different. Ana had left her cell phone in her room so she had no idea what time it was, though that wasn't a problem any longer when Kieran drove up in front of them. "Morning." Mahea said and got in the back and Ana joined her, their bags resting on their laps. "All I had was cereal, I didn't think I'd get it where we're going." Anna smiled a little nervously. "I've brought along some basic rations and medical supplies that I'm sure will be appropriate." Mahea mentioned. "Tell me more about this town we're going to. How was such a thing established and able to thwart off intruders?" She wondered, very curious and a little ambivalent. She had been around when the fighting broke out and had seen her share of death, she could only assume it was still as bad as she remembered it. "This trip shouldn't be a long one, Ana will need to get over the culture shock." She reminded Kieran, her daughter would still be her first priority. Ana looked up and saw they were taking a left turn, she had a feeling they were close to his house. "How are we getting there anyway? How did you come here?" Ana looked from Kieran to her mother, who just smiled. "That is a long story, meant to be told around a campfire another time, my dear." - - - He had hoped that showing her the tree would somehow help inspire her to take control of her powers and life. Devon could feel his own body surging with more power. It wasn't massive or wild. In fact, the tree often gave him reassurance and courage, rather than a raw new-found ability of mind reading or moving things. He was still trying to work on telekinesis but for now, he would enjoy being somewhat skilled with mind reading. He couldn't risk overwhelming himself with too much pressure. Some people could go crazy that way and snap, killing everyone around them or even themselves. Magic was dangerous as well as beautiful and mysterious. He was sure the same could be said for the opposite sex. Of course that was another thought for another night. He caught a small whisper from Rhys' mind as she retreated her hand from the white wood. Politely remaining silent, he stayed still as the girl moved behind him after a wind had blown through. It was safe to assume it was her and not nature itself. "Yes it is, it's a great meeting spot for many people here. Of course it doesn't stop people from making up silly tales or myths about how it came to be. No one really knows. I guess someone has to have seen it grow." He considered, tilting his head. She then mentioned getting to draw it and he smiled. "That would be cool, I'd like to see it when you're done." Devon told her. Though he knew some artists could be protective of their work, which he could understand. He wouldn't press the matter with her, still trying to figure out the best way to interact with her. In a way, they were still strangers, despite chit chatting on and off and discussing their history with magic and family matters. Then he heard another hushed whisper of her warning those around her, or just perhaps him. He didn't think her method of isolation was wise, in fact it was short sided and childish but she needed to have trial and error and figure out how her powers could work for her and not against her. He shook his head a little and turned around when she vocally mentioned getting some rest. "Of course." He nodded. He took them to one of the two inns around the town. They each got a room for themselves and were left to their own devices. Since it had been a while since he had someone to chat with, he was still adjusting to the issue of company so having some space was welcomed. When morning came, he did some cleaning around the inn and was given the okay to head on out and do whatever it was he wanted. He left most of his provisions back in his room, knowing they'd be safe. He wandered around, enjoying the warmth on his face, feeling much safer now. He was home, in a way. And if he could, he would show his parents and siblings such a place. But even with its walls and skilled magicians making patrols and sometimes offering their skills to defenseless villages, he was never sure how safe Yarlow really was. Since he could read minds, he had learned to be more cautious, not matter people said up front. The boy stopped by a small cafe and got a nice strong cup of tea and a small plate of eggs and toast. It was filling and gave him the boost he was looking for. In exchange, he jogged back to the inn and came back with a handful of berries for the cafe to use as they pleased. Once his breakfast was done and over with, he decided go to the library as he had planned. While on his way, he was stopped by a few locals who had he grown close to. Many of them asked about how the world was and his answers were honest but hopeful. "You and your friends must come by for tea." One of the elderly woman said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He agreed that he would make an effort to see her. He had saved her a couple months ago from an attack. He and Kieran had saved her and her husband from an attack while they traveling. And from then on, he and Kieran escorted the elderly couple to Yarlow and since then, the couple has been very generous to the two boys. Devon knew by reading their minds, that they had lost their family to the wars but he didn't want to pry any further. "Goodbye." He waved to the woman and continued to the library. He had spent a good deal of his time there. He wanted to gather as much knowledge as he could. Sometimes it was effective to cozy up to the young librarian who had taken over the job from her mother who had left the town a few years ago. It was aggravating to have a younger person overseeing the library since her knowledge was limited, but she was a Mind magician like himself, so they had that connection. As he was flipping through a red leather bound book, she walked over to him. They tended to communicate through thoughts, as a way to hone their skills and to make light of a serious situation. [i]'You know I'm busy right now, Urkwia.'[/i] He thought to her as she used her mental powers to lift another book and put it back in its proper place on a nearby shelf. The library was two stories high and was filled with high shelves of books and leather stools. [i]'No, you're not really absorbing what you're reading, you're distracted.'[/i] Urkwia thought gently and moved next to him as he stood by a window. [i]'You came here with a girl, should I be jealous?'[/i] She flirted playfully, always happy to enjoy his charms, even if they were mutually meaningless to one another. [i]'You've been training since I last saw you, I'm the one who's jealous.'[/i] Devon thought and closed the book, since he really wasn't paying as much attention to its contents as he wanted to.