“Right. You cheat, of course.” Enasi teased playfully until Seishu called him a street thug. “Hey, I have you know those clothes are immensely comfortable and have breathing room.” He couldn’t help but laugh. With his best “snobbish” impression, he put a hand to his chest. “See, unlike yourself I happen to not need the extra effort to make myself look as fantastic as I am.” Laughing all the while, Enasi kissed the other’s cheek. “I kid of course. You look great.”
 
He didn’t necessarily need his hair washed but Enasi decided to just let Seishu do so. There was no arguing with him sometimes. His breath stills for a brief moment, but Enasi quickly composes himself and pulls away, only enough to pull Seishu along with him. He let out a low whistle to get the trio’s attention and then pointed to the pools not too far from them. “Baths. All three of you. You’ve been running around way too much and probably need one as bad as Seishu did.” 
 
The younger ones didn’t object, hopping off the chair they shared in order to go. Rue noticed Rasha being a bit more reluctant and decided to steal him away. 
 
The dream guardian watched them go before turning and glancing at Seishu. It was some sort of ploy to get the kids to scurry away, but Enasi did actually want them to get cleaned off. He wasn’t really sure what to say or how to respond to the guardian’s antics so he gave him a quick kiss. “The baths are for everyoooone you know.” He wasn’t exactly denying Seishu his offer, but it was some small way to let him know that now was probably not the best time- or rather, place. 
 
~~~~~~~
 
Tiski stood in front of the small clan of nightmares. After hearing of a report so brutal and knowing the dangers that rose with it, it was hard to keep a positive mind. But the minion bared down her will and put a determined face on. “It’s only a matter of time before Master Seishu returns to us. And when he does, we will be there for him. We’ll be there when he takes his rightful place back on the throne.” She slammed her fist into her palm for emphasis. “But we can’t do that if we give up can we? Of course not! I just as you all do want our guardian to return, but I know that if he comes back now, we will never know peace.” She looked out at the trees, where Seishu’s castle stood. “If we are to be there when he reclaims his throne then we must keep going. We must keep fighting.” 
 
The air around the camp changed from its somber mood to a more motivated one. As a collective, they knew Tiski was right. They all wanted to see their guardian again and the only way to do that was to keep pushing forward and protecting each other. 
 
Tiski looked back where Kaila had left and sighed. She wished she could help the second, bearing so much weight on his shoulders, but she knew she couldn’t. The best thing she could do was keep everyone from giving up. It wasn’t tremendous, but it was enough for now. She wanted, now more than ever to let her guardian know of the wrongdoings and the hardships, but the moment he heard it, she was sure he’d come running back, with injuries and all. “Master Seishu, we need you. Guide us.” She whispered her silent prayer before moving through the camp to see where she was needed. 
 
Farther away from camp, Tyar had hovered a bit lower to eye level. “Fear is a strong motivator… but we can’t lose our focus now.” It flew a bit higher, gazing in every direction. “Gin’s power is only so strong. If we were able to sneak close… subdue him…” Now the airy creature was murmuring its thoughts aloud. “Dangerous but...a double agent to get information from Gin… find his weak points.” The creature didn’t think it was the best idea, and it was much too dangerous to risk anyone’s lives like that. But the power hungry minion may have just been blind enough to believe that a double agent would be on his side. It was all just a heavy assumption unfortunately and there was no way to test it without actually sending someone.