[i]Afternoon?[/i] “What the f—” Kire’s rasped words were interrupted with a coughing fit, “—fuck day is it?” She grunted, footing unsure as the two helped her to her feet, but she managed to keep steady once they’d released their grip on her. Kire touched her head gingerly where she’d had the injury, and found that though the Ring had done its job to speed up the healing, the slaver’s sword had shaved off a little of her short hair. [i]Must be a pretty sight,[/i] she thought sullenly. The atmosphere around the room was somber, understandably, but Kire was glad to note that they were all there and alive. She gave each one a measured look: the half-Kartaian, curious like a child almost, the Gemini, her knife still in his possession, whose signature, though mostly the same, seemed to have shifted slightly, and Rulitus, sullen and sulky as ever. And Ysaryn—Kire was grateful to have her here, and to have her take on the role of Chieftess. Water, [i]gods[/i]. Kire felt like she hadn’t tasted anything sweeter when she finally had her drink. While Ysaryn went off, Kire looked from Gavin to Ruli. “Someone fill me in on what I missed.” 
Gavin looked at her, unspeaking at first. He had gotten a good look while she was still asleep, and now that she was up and about again, and without the threat of death crashing down around them, he continued to see how different she was from the Akuma he knew. But nobody else was answering her question, so with a sigh, he told her a much-abridged version of events, having already done this during the interrogations.

Later, when they finally took their leave, Kire stayed silent, both to conserve her strength and to contemplate what had just happened. The cast was uncomfortable but necessary till the Ring could heal her injuries completely, and till then she wanted to rest before jumping through another portal. She listened as Ysaryn posed her question to Rab and Gavin. “Mountains?” the young man asked. He had removed the black surcoat, which had gotten tattered beyond repair anyway, and wore simpler garb this time, his hair a mess he didn’t bother to fix. 
“I still have questions for you,” Kire finally said. “I’d like you to come back with us.” Gavin paled a little at that. It sounded like a threat. When Kire saw the expression, she sighed, shaking her head. “I’m not going to hurt you if that’s what you’re thinking.”  
“I—I don’t want to stay here,” he said, looking away. “I have nowhere, nobody, to go to anyway. Oh.” He pulled out the hunting knife and handed it to her. “This is yours, right?” 
She took the knife, observed it. He obviously took good care of it. She hadn’t known a Gemini who would keep anything with the Wyvern sigil on their person. “Keep it. Seemed to have served you well.” The expression on his face then as he took back the knife told Kire this was the first time he had actually received a gift freely given. To Ysaryn, Kire said, “I’ll rest in the mountains, but let me know if your people need anything else I can help with. I hope they’re all right.” She offered a small smile to the chieftess. Not long later, they found a spot where they would be unseen, and Kire prepared to enter the shadows. “What’s happening? Are we waiting for horses?” Gavin whispered. Kire smirked. 

To Gavin’s horror, they were not. They emerged in the mountains, where Gavin stumbled forward, breathing heavily from the shock. He knew the Kartaians could do this but hadn’t known what it was like. Kire breathed in the cool, clean mountain air, so very glad to be back here. Ruli had already walked off, still without having said anything yet. Gavin had mentioned this might be the effect of the drugs wearing off, but she was still worried about him. “Come on, let’s show our faces.”