You would think that it would be impossible for Kalaya to hug Ven any harder, but the second she says her name ... [i]oof[/i] yep, there it is.

One last twirl, and Kalaya sets her back on her feet with tears in her eyes.

"Got to be honest here, I'm [i]really [/i]happy to see you too." she chuckles, wiping away with the back of her hand. "I was actually a little afraid there that you might've forgotten all about u-uh me."

"And yeah, I-I get that ... everything that happened ... was [i]absolutely crap[/i]." She glances down, before letting Ven finally free of her grasp. She doesn't ask about the odd hard spot under her robes, or about how the other is acting. If Ven wants to keep stuff to herself then it goes almost without saying that Kalaya will respect that. 

"I didn't get a chance to say this back then. I .. ugh, nobody [i]told [/i] me until it was too late to - until months after it was all - ... well, what's past is past. I'm not letting this chance slip by again."

Pulling herself somewhat together, she places her hands on the smaller woman's shoulders and looks her in the eye.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." she says, emotion roughing her voice. "I appreciate what you're wanting to do with the whole finding-your-way-by-yourself thing - but - but never forget that you have at least one friend in the Kingdoms. If you ever need anything, just ask. I'll be there. And I [i]promise [/i]not to mention your return to anyone."

[Rolling to give Ven a bit of emotional support: 1+4+2 = 7]

A beat, and she breaks eye contact, chuckling ruefully and rubbing the back of her head.

"I'm actually up here with another knight; Petony of the Rose and her retinue. We ran into some weird priestess and godling that are trying to get me to do some stupid quest for the Kingdoms and I'm thiiis close to telling them where they can shove it."

"You sure you don't want some company on your journey?" she asks. "A full escort in case those N'yari come back or even just ... I mean, say the word and it can be just the two of us on the road again. Just like old times?"

Glancing around, Kalaya spots the discarded swords and awkwardly gathers them up before holding them out like some odd metal bouquet.

"Or would these help? I ... I'm not sure what you'd need three N'yari swords for ... but you never know?" she says, with a crooked grin.

[i]Oh gods, way to keep it cool Kalaya[/i]

"Look ... I-I just ... want to make sure it's not so long before I get to see you again."

Her smile returns with all the hope and fragility of the morning sunlight.

She'd like to think that the other woman hesitates before shaking her head - but would that be wishful thinking? And despite the clarity when she mutters "I'm trying to be inconspicuous ..." would it be wrong to read the way that she trails off awkwardly as leaving room for hope?

Call it a flaw or a virtue, Kalaya can be quick to judgement and in this case the verdict is delivered in a split second: Ven may want a bit of space (understandable!), but Ven is happy to see her, she [i]remembers[/i] her, and the two of them [i]will[/i] meet again. Whatever is going on in the other woman's life right now, tonight has been a Good Night and nothing, no force on Heaven or earth, is going to change that.

"Hey, that's fine." she says, giving the girl one last hug for the road. "You go do what you need to do, but look me up again soon okay? I'll be in the area for a while - just look out for any stories being told about the best upcoming young knight in the Kingdoms and you'll find me soon enough!"

She tosses Ven a wink and a jaunty salute at that, before making to head off. However, she stops just before reaching the edge of the path.

"Oh! Before I forget!" she says, turning back and rummaging in a pocket before tossing a small metal object to the other lady.

"Don't lose that again okay?" she calls, pausing long enough to see the other woman snatch the brooch out of the air before disappearing back into the woods.

Despite the distance, the battle and the weight of the trophies, the walk back feels far easier than the trek down.