[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FC1Vfxq.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/4fnxTW0.png[/img][/center]
[color=0072bc][b]Time: [/b][/color]Afternoon, Day 2
[color=0072bc][b]Location: [/b][/color] By a spring, closer to River Port
[color=0072bc][b]Interactions:[/b][/color][@13org][@Helo][@Potter][@Eviledd1984]
[color=0072bc][b]Outfit:[/b][/color][url=https://i.imgur.com/E6cI2pP.png]Outfit from the Ball[/url]
[color=0072bc][b]Inventory:[/b][/color][url=https://www.renderhub.com/dmitriykotliar/fantasy-sword/fantasy-sword-02.jpg]Sword that's sheathed[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/fF9uExa.png]Bow[/url] and quiver of arrows. Then: 2 hankerchiefs, liquid body cleanser, wayfinder, toothbrush, travel-size hair and teeth cleansers, small round of rope, bandaging, and disinfectant spray: all in a fanny pack that's facing behind him, hidden behind his cape.
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/o4yoa5q.png[/img][/center]

Malachi watched Mathis trip over the rock with a [url=media2.giphy.com/media/4w6g6yOWJYtm8/giphy.gif]glare[/url]. The man took too long getting to his feet in regards to a life or death situation. He had a few questions and thoughts about it but ended up with a simple concluding thought:[color=0072bc][i]he's a moron.[/i][/color] Finally, the slowpoke got around to cutting the bear's arm off. He glanced over at the owlbear Belladonna had been fighting and lifted his eyebrows. She had done an impressive job. It was clear she knew what she was doing.

He was still pissed at her though.

As his attention had been stolen for the moment, he hadn't noticed the scythe moving in his direction. Belladonna's water hit him with force powerful enough to push him off to the side, causing his stomach to ache from the hit. [color=0072bc]"Ah! For fuck's sake! Watch it!"[/color] He yelled, under the impression at first that she had misaimed her blast. His angry expression melted into a perplexed one as he watched the scythe move back in its momentum in Mathis's grip. He supposed it could have been a mistake but the way Belladonna moved to create spheres around himself and Valok right after, and not Mathis, left Malachi with a bad feeling in his gut.

Malachi said nothing and gently put his hand on Valok's shoulder as he had been moving to attack. The one that had lost his arm was dead now and Myra had jumped on the owlbear now and was finishing it off. Valok's attack had helped in finishing the female off, [color=0072bc]"Valok. It's okay. You can take it easy..."[/color]

Myra was vicious in attacking and victorious. He let out a sigh of relief once it was all over. He glanced over at Belladonna, noticing her wound as well. He immediately began taking out his bandages and disinfectant spray. [color=0072bc]"Don't move. Don't waste time protesting either."[/color] As he had been bandaging each of them up, he whispered in their ears to stay close to him once they started walking again.

Belladonna was a bit reluctant and Valok hadn't seemed overly happy about it, but they allowed him to spray disinfectant on their wounds and apply bandages.

A sudden whimper made him glance back over at the corpses. A young owlbear was now laying his head on top of the mother. The look in his eyes was heartwrenching. He stared at the owlbear, his expression softening as a voice echoed in his mind: 

[i][color=7ea7d8]"I can't wait. To see all their precious little smiles...I just wish I could protect them all. Give them all a safer world to live in. It's a dream of mine."[/color][/i]

[color=0072bc]"Ah damn it."[/color]Malachi said with a sigh and gestured to Belladonna to grab her attention as he was aiding Valok, [color=0072bc]"Try to comfort it and feed it if you have a little something. Let's see if we can help it out."[/color] 

It took him a few minutes to make sure Valok was patched up enough for the walk. He turned to Myra and Mathis, [color=0072bc]"If you keep going this direction,"[/color]He pointed north, [color=0072bc]"You'll reach the port town in two hours if you're quick. I am going to rush Valok up there with Belladonna. Walk along the beach if you're afraid of more attacks. It'll be easy and fast travel. Be safe and good luck."[/color] 

Malachi put his arm around Valok to help keep him steady and quicken his pace, nodding to Belladonna to help out. The owlbear cub clumsily ran after Belladonna, confused and scared. He glanced backward at it and sighed. [color=0072bc]"Guess you're coming too, huh? ... I need to focus to do this, so I won't be talking much."[/color] Malachi concentrated deeply as he focused on bending the light around all of them, including the cub to make them appear invisible for a short while. This would keep them safe from enemies in their vulnerable state.[color=0072bc]"Try not to crunch leaves and such. It'll make the whole invisibility thing a waste of time."[/color] 

[hider=Flashback][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ACAK79w.png[/img][/center]
[color=0072bc][b]Time: [/b][/color]99 years ago
[color=0072bc][b]Location: [/b][/color]Sun Elf Village
[color=0072bc][b]Music:[/b][/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYvpy2aDo4Q&ab_channel=ThePreciousLittleWhiteAngel]Nostalgic/Comforting Ost[/url]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/o4yoa5q.png[/img][/center]

[color=lightgray]
The sun was setting as father and son walked down the path, lighting the world in its pink hues. Flower buds decorated the grass all along their way as they began to bloom in the wake of spring. He accompanied the boy on his walk home from schooling every day. Malachi dressed more simply during this time, wearing a simple, white button-down with a vest over it. His son looked like a miniature version of him. [color=0072bc]"Did you learn a lot today, Gael?"[/color]Malachi asked him with a smile as he looked down at the ten-year-old. 

[color=lightblue]"Yeah! I learned about the stars."[/color] The boy replied, glancing back up at his father with a wide grin, [color=lightblue]"Did you know they're actually really big?"[/color] He stretched his arms outward to better describe their side, puffing his cheeks up, [color=lightblue]"This big! Huge. And the sun's pretty big too. Way bigger than it looks."[/color]

Malachi laughed and stopped walking to bend down to his size. [color=0072bc]"Wanna know something else?"[/color] Gael nodded enthusiastically in response to the question. [color=0072bc]"Some of those big stars are so far away that the light we see takes so long to get here, that we're looking sometimes years into the past."[/color] 

Gael's eyes lit up with interest. [color=lightblue]"Like a memory glass. It's just an old moment in time."[/color] He mused and stared up at the sky in wonder. It was too early to see the stars, but Malachi had a feeling he was imagining him anyway.

[color=0072bc]"Precisely."[/color] Malachi agreed, straightening up on his feet. His movements slowed as an Amora began to pass overhead them from behind. 

Gael inhaled and bent his neck backward trying to look upward at it, [color=lightblue] "Look at it, pa... Do you imagine one day we could ride one of those to the stars?"[/color] 

Malachi's gaze stayed on his son with amusement. The boy had gone running outside daily whenever an Amora could be heard in the sky. He had a fascination with them. [color=0072bc]"I don't know... Maybe. Your grandfather used to tell me when I was your age, that I should go lay down and ask the stars whenever I had a question that couldn't be answered. He would say they're better listeners than we could ever be."[/color]

Gael listened to his words and pouted at him, [color=lightblue]"Well I'll ask them tonight if you're going to ever take me into an amora. I can't wait until we get to ride one."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Well they certainly won't take you to space, Gael."[/color] Malachi told him, [color=0072bc]"I will take you in one when your mother and I start making more amas."[/color]

[color=lightblue]"I don't even want to go anywhere in one! I just want to see one up close and go all the way up in the sky!"[/color]Gael's excitement grew with every word and he slid down a hill on the path they had been walking on and jogged forward to stand in a spot where he could see the Amora leaving in the distance.

Malachi's smile faltered a little. They had been down on their luck when it came to amas and amora rides had become quite pricey in the tense atmosphere of Avalia. They had moved from the middle-class district into a lower class area to save enough just to get by. Voices nearby made him turn his head. There was a stall selling old toys and random junk. It was composed of a long, wooden table with a small, propped up over it as a roof. Only a few people were gathered. His eyes locked on a small toy ship. Malachi glanced over back at his son. Their house was just down the way. [color=0072bc]"Gael go home. I'll  be right there!"[/color]He called to him.

The following night, Malachi stayed awake all night after Gael had gone to bed. And the night after that, and after that one too. Caralia had not been happy with him, but she was used to him staying up working on strange inventions and whatnot. Finally one day, Malachi led Gael out into a nearby field with his eyes closed. 

[color=0072bc]"And... Open!"[/color]

Gael stared down at the miniature amora that was placed in his hands.  He beamed at it, [color=lightblue]"Oh this is so nice! Thank you, papa!"[/color]He immediately started running around the field of flowers, waving the ship in the air, trying to make mechanical noises with his mouth.[color=lightblue]"Swooooosh!"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Wait. That's noooot all of it!"[/color]Malachi called in a singsong voice, taking out a small remote with a smile.  Gael paused and looked over.  Malachi grinned as he pressed a button on the remote and the amora's fans began turning.  

Gael let go of it as it started to fly into the air. He was rendered speechless. Malachi moved over to him to place the remote in his hand. [color=0072bc]"Control it with this."[/color]He placed his fingers gently on the proper handle. He stepped backward after and watched Gael chase the toy around the field while he flew it around. It was something out of a painting to behold. 

A hand fell on Malachi's shoulder. He recognized the gentle touch without having to turn around and took the dainty hand in his hands, pulling it to his mouth to kiss it.  [color=7ea7d8]"That's  incredible.[/color] Caralia said softly in his ear as she took her hand back to wrap her arms around his waist and lay her head on his shoulder. [color=7ea7d8]"He's never gonna put it down, you know."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Not as incredible as your beef stew."[/color]Malachi snickered at her comment, moving his arms on top of hers. [color=0072bc]"It was the least I could do. He dreams so big and sometimes I feel like I can only give him so little."[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"No... You give him the whole world."[/color] Malachi could hear her smile as she spoke and it warmed his heart. [color=7ea7d8]"But you know... What you created is genius, my dear husband. You could make a lot of other children very happy."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"What are you suggesting?"[/color]Malachi asked her with a raised brow. He turned to face her and retook her hands.

[color=7ea7d8]"Well. With my painting skills and your engineering, we could open a toy store filled with all sorts of refurbished toys. Not only would we do a little better with amas, but the children here in Sun Elf Village might start smiling more."[/color] 

Malachi's expression lit up, [color=0072bc]"Oh Cara that's a brilliant idea! We could start selling right outside our house or by the school then maybe one day buy an actual shop!"[/color]

She smiled at him, squeezing his hands, [color=7ea7d8]"I can't wait. To see all their precious little smiles..."[/color]She drew off, drifting into her mind. In a dreamy tone, she told him with a sigh, [color=7ea7d8]"I just wish I could protect them all. Give them all a safer world to live in. It's a dream of mine. "[/color][/color][/hider]