Kieran had expected this on some level, and let the woman voice her concerns. “I can understand why you would want her to be free from the war, but keeping her in the dark about her existence is not a blessing. You said that I told her such things for my own personal gain, but that is not the case. I didn’t ask her to join my side. I told her what she was so she could make the decision for herself, because like it or not, your daughter is an adult.” Kieran accepted the tea, and took a sip before he continued.
“Yes, my side would benefit from Anabelle’s help, but there is a lot more than that at play. She needs to understand what she can do, so that she can control it. Even if she does not use her gift for the war, she should understand it well enough to help those here, and to keep her abilities under her control rather than living in fear and doubt of what she can do. I offered her information, and help with learning her abilities. But of course, I don’t know healing as well as you do, Madea. Had I known that you were the same, I would have suggested that she turn to you as a mentor. Because letting her go around with no control will get her discovered by authorities here, or leave her open to attack by those involved in the war.”
“Finally… if our enemies came here and found her…I don’t care how long you have been hiding in this world, I am sure you understand as well as I do that she would be taken. There would be no question as to whether she would help their cause. She would be taken by force, and you would never see her again, probably never even know where she had gone.” Kieran lowered the tea to the table once more. “She might be able to fend them off, but once she was found, it would only be a matter of time before they came back with more forces. Then she would be thrust into the war with little understanding of her own abilities, and cause much more harm than good.” Kieran didn’t like speaking about Anabelle as if she wasn’t in the room, but he had to relieve Madea’s concerns as well. Surely the woman understood the gravity of the situation, and that she couldn’t continue to have her daughter hide out as if she was completely normal.
-.-
“That’s…interesting.” Rhys admitted, though she liked the bartering idea much more than she vocalized at the moment. This town…honestly it sounded like a place she might want to stay. She hadn’t interacted with many of the people yet, but she felt like…if it was everything that Devon seemed to make it out to be, she might be able to let her guard down a little, and actually relax. Devon took care of the ordering, and she followed him over to the bench, sitting across from him at the table. She was surprised by how much there was provided. “Thank you.” Rhys chimed in as well.
She ate mostly in silence, enjoying the variety of food that was provided. When it was finished the man from behind the bar came up to gather the tray, asking if there was anything else that they needed. It was a subtle, and polite way of also asking how they planned to square this away. Rhys answered first this time, getting up the courage to actually speak, which was tough for her. “It was lovely, thank you very much. I don’t need anything else, and I was wondering if there any dishes that needed to be washed, or other tidying that I could do?” She questioned, her voice wavering a little. Somehow, she imagined that he would demand something less wholesome in exchange for the food, and it took a little while to remind herself that this town was not necessarily like that.
The man nodded, accepting her offer. “Yea, we’ve got some dishes in the back sink, soaking already, but they could use a good scrub and dry. And if you could get your dishes as well…” He requested of the girl before turning to Devon. Rhys didn’t mind if he helped her in the back—it was really whatever they agreed upon. She stood up with the tray, though, and went through the door that led to a kitchen. The dishes weren’t that bad, and she assumed that this was likely a common way for people to pay for the meals that they took. There were some cooking pots and cutting boards, and she slipped in the dishes they had eaten off of before rolling up her sleeves and getting started. The dishes wouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to wash, and she let them all air dry until she had finished the washing, that way part of her work was done, and she didn’t have to go back and forth with washing and drying.
The woman from the counter came into the back and helped her put things away at the end, so that they were all in their proper place later. When the dishes were away, the woman thanked her, and told her to have a good evening, releasing Rhys from the debt. It felt weird to Rhys, for the meal to have simply been covered by something she could do and she liked it a lot. When she left and encountered Devon once more, she was actually smiling. “I think I like this town.” She admitted.
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that was exciting! I posted again as well, though it was a bit short. Let me know if you need me to add more depth/detail, etc.
Kieran still wasn’t in the habit of checking his phone often. He hadn’t been asleep yet when she called, but he had simply been distracted. After he had woken from the vision, however, he immediately checked his phone and saw the missed call and message. Anabelle had been in his vision, and Kieran was confident now that he needed to bring her to his world. Kieran checked the message, hearing her address given. Something big must have happened. He jumped out of the bed and grabbed some clothing out of the dresser as he listened to the message. When it ended, he put on jeans and a t-shirt, and then called her back. “Anabelle, I am on my way right now.” He said. It wasn’t just the words in the message, it was the tone. He could feel that there had been something bad, and he wasn’t going to make her go through this alone.
Kieran got to her house about a half-an-hour later, thrusting his phone into his pocket as he walked up to the door. Before he even knocked on the door, he could feel the energy inside. Her mother was a magic-user too, something that he had already suspected. The energy felt a lot like Anabelle’s though, and he had a strong suspicion that she was also a healer. On the one hand, he felt like he might have found two healers to help their cause. At the same time, he was worried that the mother had convinced Anabelle not to help him, so that they could continue to hide in peace. He knocked on the door before he could spend too long debating the different things that could happen once he got inside. He wouldn’t know until he went in and actually spoke to the pair.
The door was answered promptly by a woman who looked like she could have been Anabelle’s sister. Since he knew that Anabelle was an only child, however, this had to be the girl’s mother. “You must be Anabelle’s mother. My name is Kieran.” He held out his right hand to shake hers, trying to be friendly. He had never lied to Anabelle, and he hoped that they would both be open-minded.
-.-
Rhys was surprised that this town was magic-friendly, but she trusted Devon…at least mostly. Rhys stayed quiet as Devon greeted the guards, who let him in happily. “Yea, maybe…” Rhys said, nodding to Devon at the prospect of finding someone to help her. She imagined, at the least, that if she lost control of her abilities, all of the mages around could at least stop her from destroying too much.
As they continued into the town, she learned that Devon’s friend had even found a healer, which would be quite a talent indeed. Even with the veil she put over her own eyes, Rhys knew that finding a healer was an amazing feat. Rhys greeted the older man politely—he seemed a bit like a grandfather, not that Rhys had ever met hers, but in that he was very nurturing, and seemed interested in talking to Rhys quite a bit. “That… is very nice to hear. Thank you.” She said to the man. She jumped a little when Devon put his arm around her, but nodded in agreement with him when he said that they needed to get something to day. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” Rhys said, and turned to follow Devon away.
“I feel as if I am still in disbelief that a place like this exists.” Rhys admitted to him. They walked by a few restaurants, and Rhys wracked her brain for a few moments trying to recall how much money she had. “Devon, I am not sure if we have enough money for a restaurant…but I contribute what I have.” She offered, pulling her bag off of her shoulder.
Kieran got to her house about a half-an-hour later, thrusting his phone into his pocket as he walked up to the door. Before he even knocked on the door, he could feel the energy inside. Her mother was a magic-user too, something that he had already suspected. The energy felt a lot like Anabelle’s though, and he had a strong suspicion that she was also a healer. On the one hand, he felt like he might have found two healers to help their cause. At the same time, he was worried that the mother had convinced Anabelle not to help him, so that they could continue to hide in peace. He knocked on the door before he could spend too long debating the different things that could happen once he got inside. He wouldn’t know until he went in and actually spoke to the pair.
The door was answered promptly by a woman who looked like she could have been Anabelle’s sister. Since he knew that Anabelle was an only child, however, this had to be the girl’s mother. “You must be Anabelle’s mother. My name is Kieran.” He held out his right hand to shake hers, trying to be friendly. He had never lied to Anabelle, and he hoped that they would both be open-minded.
-.-
Rhys was surprised that this town was magic-friendly, but she trusted Devon…at least mostly. Rhys stayed quiet as Devon greeted the guards, who let him in happily. “Yea, maybe…” Rhys said, nodding to Devon at the prospect of finding someone to help her. She imagined, at the least, that if she lost control of her abilities, all of the mages around could at least stop her from destroying too much.
As they continued into the town, she learned that Devon’s friend had even found a healer, which would be quite a talent indeed. Even with the veil she put over her own eyes, Rhys knew that finding a healer was an amazing feat. Rhys greeted the older man politely—he seemed a bit like a grandfather, not that Rhys had ever met hers, but in that he was very nurturing, and seemed interested in talking to Rhys quite a bit. “That… is very nice to hear. Thank you.” She said to the man. She jumped a little when Devon put his arm around her, but nodded in agreement with him when he said that they needed to get something to day. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” Rhys said, and turned to follow Devon away.
“I feel as if I am still in disbelief that a place like this exists.” Rhys admitted to him. They walked by a few restaurants, and Rhys wracked her brain for a few moments trying to recall how much money she had. “Devon, I am not sure if we have enough money for a restaurant…but I contribute what I have.” She offered, pulling her bag off of her shoulder.
I know how that feels. I liked the post, and I hope you are still getting caught up!
Kieran wasn’t surprised when she agreed to help. He nodded, trying to be confident when she was hesitant. “I am glad that you are not going to simply leave and forget about this. Even if you don’t want all in, you need to learn how to control what you can do. I can help you with that…Or I can part the veil and bring you all in. But if you want that… you will need a day or two off. We will be traveling. Give me a call and let me know what you decide. Thank you Anabelle.” Kieran let the girl depart, finally, and then pulled away and began to drive back to his house.
He hadn’t wanted to scare her, but a healer who was untrained could cause major chaos. In addition to healing, a healer could suck the life out of a person, or even unleash a plague on humanity. She might choose later not to join the fight, but she needed to understand what she could do. Kieran could help her some of the way, but he hoped to find another healer who could help guide her, someone who knew what they were doing. Kieran would certainly talk about focusing energy, but it might not work for her.
He went back to his own house, and organized a few things, debating whether he should go home, or stay here for a while. He ended up going back to his world for the afternoon, for a few hours, checking his letters at that house. Kieran sent a few messages, coded some of his plans and sent messages to his comrades in different areas. Some were working undercover, some needed aid, and to be set up with contacts. Kieran helped negotiate things when he could, but right now, his mind was preoccupied with Anabelle. It was evening, was she off of her shift now? Was she already home, confronting her mother about the deception? Perhaps he should be in the other world, in case she called. Kieran made himself some dinner, and then went back to Anabelle’s world, hoping to receive a message from her. He rarely slept here as an adult, but he did tonight. As he slept, he had visions.
Kieran stood on the side of a mountain, looking over the forest and the small towns off in the distance. There were fires, some still going, and others having just been stopped. One of them had spread to the trees. Kieran turned to the side, where Devon stood, pointing his finger out towards the horizon. Beside Devon, there always stood another woman. Kieran had never seen her face before, but this time… she had a face, and it was one he recognized. Anabelle stood there, with a look of concern, following Devon’s pointed finger. Kieran tried to turn the other direction, to see the other face that accompanied them. He could feel that there were four of them, he knew it, but the vision changed and became muddled before he could see the final person.
-.-
What Devon had seen and experienced in terms of fighting surprised Rhys a little. She was naïve because she chose to be. He had seen groups burn buildings to the ground. She had heard rumors about that sort of thing in the taverns, but she hadn’t seen it, apart from an accident in her own childhood. Devon changed the subject a little, saying that he wanted to be a part of the solution. Rhys gave a small nod, but she wasn’t sure just how this fighting could be simply ended. To her, there was no end in sight. It was just going to get worse and worse until everyone killed each other. Perhaps she needed a friend who had visions of the future, so that she had something to give her hope.
“Yea, let’s forage.” Rhys agreed. She filled her water once more and began to walk along the river a short ways, knowing that berries would grow well near a source of water for their roots. Rhys took out one of the spare garments in her bag, and clustered the dark fabric in the shape of a bowl to hold the berries she found.
“When I was a child, I used to forage with my sister and brother.” Rhys said. Her brother had taught her which berries were good to eat. She remembered him teasing her when she had approached him with some berries she found without him.
”Elijah! I found berries, all by myself!” Rhys told him. She couldn’t have been older than six years old at the time, but the memory was still fresh in her mind.
”Oh. Rhys-ee…” Elijah began, shaking his head. “You can’t eat these.” He protested. Rhys asked him why not, a huge look of sadness and disappointment on his face. Elijah looked more closely at the berries, and then picked one up. “Rhys…these are poison.” He said, and popped one in his mouth.
”No! Elijah!” Rhys yelled, reaching out to stop her brother, but he ate the berry, and then fell to the ground. She began to cry, but a crackle of thunder on the otherwise sunny day made him jump.
”Jeeze, Rhysee… I was just playing.” He said. “You don’t have to cry.” He sat up, and reached for the other berries she had gathered, which were now in a pile on the ground. “I should probably have another, though, just to make sure that they are good.” He said, taking a handful and eating it quickly.
Rhys relaxed and began to gather the berries once more, eating a few as Elijah said that they needed to return home before the storm came. Fortunately, whatever storm had been approaching missed them entirely. Unfortunately, that meant they had to help hang up the laundry. With their mother caring for their infant sister, Elijah and Rhys tried to help make things easier for their mother by doing whatever chores they could manage.
After they gathered berries, Rhys shared what she had procured with Devon, and then continued to walk until night fall. She could see a town on the horizon as the sun set, only another mile or two away. She preferred to camp in the woods, even with the possibility of bandits, but it wasn’t just her choice. “Do you want to camp here? Or try to find a place in that town?” Rhys asked, gesturing to the path in front of them.
He hadn’t wanted to scare her, but a healer who was untrained could cause major chaos. In addition to healing, a healer could suck the life out of a person, or even unleash a plague on humanity. She might choose later not to join the fight, but she needed to understand what she could do. Kieran could help her some of the way, but he hoped to find another healer who could help guide her, someone who knew what they were doing. Kieran would certainly talk about focusing energy, but it might not work for her.
He went back to his own house, and organized a few things, debating whether he should go home, or stay here for a while. He ended up going back to his world for the afternoon, for a few hours, checking his letters at that house. Kieran sent a few messages, coded some of his plans and sent messages to his comrades in different areas. Some were working undercover, some needed aid, and to be set up with contacts. Kieran helped negotiate things when he could, but right now, his mind was preoccupied with Anabelle. It was evening, was she off of her shift now? Was she already home, confronting her mother about the deception? Perhaps he should be in the other world, in case she called. Kieran made himself some dinner, and then went back to Anabelle’s world, hoping to receive a message from her. He rarely slept here as an adult, but he did tonight. As he slept, he had visions.
Kieran stood on the side of a mountain, looking over the forest and the small towns off in the distance. There were fires, some still going, and others having just been stopped. One of them had spread to the trees. Kieran turned to the side, where Devon stood, pointing his finger out towards the horizon. Beside Devon, there always stood another woman. Kieran had never seen her face before, but this time… she had a face, and it was one he recognized. Anabelle stood there, with a look of concern, following Devon’s pointed finger. Kieran tried to turn the other direction, to see the other face that accompanied them. He could feel that there were four of them, he knew it, but the vision changed and became muddled before he could see the final person.
-.-
What Devon had seen and experienced in terms of fighting surprised Rhys a little. She was naïve because she chose to be. He had seen groups burn buildings to the ground. She had heard rumors about that sort of thing in the taverns, but she hadn’t seen it, apart from an accident in her own childhood. Devon changed the subject a little, saying that he wanted to be a part of the solution. Rhys gave a small nod, but she wasn’t sure just how this fighting could be simply ended. To her, there was no end in sight. It was just going to get worse and worse until everyone killed each other. Perhaps she needed a friend who had visions of the future, so that she had something to give her hope.
“Yea, let’s forage.” Rhys agreed. She filled her water once more and began to walk along the river a short ways, knowing that berries would grow well near a source of water for their roots. Rhys took out one of the spare garments in her bag, and clustered the dark fabric in the shape of a bowl to hold the berries she found.
“When I was a child, I used to forage with my sister and brother.” Rhys said. Her brother had taught her which berries were good to eat. She remembered him teasing her when she had approached him with some berries she found without him.
”Elijah! I found berries, all by myself!” Rhys told him. She couldn’t have been older than six years old at the time, but the memory was still fresh in her mind.
”Oh. Rhys-ee…” Elijah began, shaking his head. “You can’t eat these.” He protested. Rhys asked him why not, a huge look of sadness and disappointment on his face. Elijah looked more closely at the berries, and then picked one up. “Rhys…these are poison.” He said, and popped one in his mouth.
”No! Elijah!” Rhys yelled, reaching out to stop her brother, but he ate the berry, and then fell to the ground. She began to cry, but a crackle of thunder on the otherwise sunny day made him jump.
”Jeeze, Rhysee… I was just playing.” He said. “You don’t have to cry.” He sat up, and reached for the other berries she had gathered, which were now in a pile on the ground. “I should probably have another, though, just to make sure that they are good.” He said, taking a handful and eating it quickly.
Rhys relaxed and began to gather the berries once more, eating a few as Elijah said that they needed to return home before the storm came. Fortunately, whatever storm had been approaching missed them entirely. Unfortunately, that meant they had to help hang up the laundry. With their mother caring for their infant sister, Elijah and Rhys tried to help make things easier for their mother by doing whatever chores they could manage.
After they gathered berries, Rhys shared what she had procured with Devon, and then continued to walk until night fall. She could see a town on the horizon as the sun set, only another mile or two away. She preferred to camp in the woods, even with the possibility of bandits, but it wasn’t just her choice. “Do you want to camp here? Or try to find a place in that town?” Rhys asked, gesturing to the path in front of them.
That is true. Hope you are doing well!
Did Wolf bump the int check too? Because I am sure no one was looking at the OOC to find a game to join.
I'm doing alright. Got good sleep last night, so that's a plus!
I'm good. Thanks for letting me know!
I can see why Wolf wants to wait, and I'm pretty patient in any case. :)
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