Kire had a wry smile on her face. “As I’ve never had the experience of being given a talking-to by a father figure in that regard, it’s an oddly refreshing experience.” She fell quiet, thinking over what he said about such dalliances not working out well for him. She still had the stubborn part of her that said it might not happen the same way every time, but what was she defending, really? It wasn’t like she was asking anything more from him beyond the agreement they had earlier. She looked up again when Envy thanked him for reuniting the two of them and for breaking through to him, if only a little. That was a little surprising to her; she hadn’t attributed this to anything she did. 

“Practice, yes,” she said, clearing her throat, the conversation rather sobering. “I’ll try not to break out the new ability in the middle of a big fight. Don’t want any more stranded Amrians here, right?” she said, smiling a little. She turned upon sensing Ysaryn’s and Ruli’s approach, then grinned at the elf warrior’s greeting. “I’m not wrong, though, aren’t I? I’ve already got a scar over one eye, I don’t want to risk getting a matching one,” she said. “I guess I better get going. Ed’s just been reunited with us, and we still have much to catch up on. Plus, you know, still technically in the middle of a war. I might not be back for a while.” 

She turned to Envy. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll—do my best to follow it, I promise. Will you say goodbye to Narda, though? She needs something to tide her over till the next visit,” she teased, standing up and turning to Ysaryn. “Yes, Chieftess, I will come back and bring you to more snow. And more Ed,” she added, meeting the elf’s wolfish grin with her own. “I’ll even bring you to Myka and the ladies. Don’t forget to return what you borrowed,” she added with a wink. 

They headed back out to the caves, where Narda had finished telling Gavin what had happened while they were gone. The lad looked thoughtful, if a little disappointed at what he had missed. “We’re off then?” the giantess asked Kire, who nodded. “Well then. I have my goodbyes to settle.” She stepped back closer to Envy and gave him a hearty embrace. “It has been wonderful. We will do this again,” she said, to which Kire chuckled, moving in for her own hug.
“Take care, Envy. And you, Ysaryn. Keep out of trouble. But not too much,” she said with a grin, embracing her. She pointed at Gavin. “You, though. Keep all the way away from trouble.”
Gavin rolled his eyes. “Yes, mother.” Narda snorted. 
Finally, Kire looked at Ruli. “Well. Thanks again, and all that.” She extended her hand. “Keep well.”

“[i]Not even a goodbye kiss? How cold,[/i]” Narda commented as Kire took her hand. 
“[i]I thought you were cautioning me? Honestly,[/i]” Kire muttered, giving one final wave to everyone before blue light engulfed them.