Her mind felt numb, and while she heard his words, it would easily take her a while to swallow and act on them, too focused on her friend's death. The smell of flowers enveloped her like his arms, washing any scent of blood or dust from her nose. Were this any other time, she'd have never allowed him to hold and rock her like this, but today she felt too vulnerable to be left alone. And he had done nothing but help and save her today, showing he was true to his word of being there for her. Would it last, she knew not and believed it wouldn't, but at least for today he had earned a fraction of her trust.
Slowly her breathing slowed as she relaxed further into his hold, letting him rock her to sleep. In the back of her mind she noted that no one had done this before, held her so close and simply rocked her to ease the pain, and she was grateful. Her eyes grew heavy as they sat there, and almost an hour passed of just silence, a comfortable one she needed, before she lifted her head a fraction and yawned wide, showing off her sharp canines.
Without a word she stretched her neck up and caught his chin with two fingers, tilting his head down. Acting on instinct, she had wanted to kiss his cheek in thank you but just looking at his handsome face and those concerned eyes softened her walls a little and she pressed her ever soft red lips to his briefly. Pulling back she caught his confused gaze before sliding back down, curling into herself more than before and resting her head on his chest. With a shaky sigh her eyes closed and sleep took her, nestled and resting within his arms.
~
When Seraphina woke Jeziah had packed up camp, and better secured Octavia within the blanket. He had sent the few things at thier tiny camp with Elaya, asking her not to be there when Sera woke. The teenaged phoenix was already heavily attached to Elaya, something that was good for in the future, but at this moment would only cause grief trying to convince Sera to come along, and leave Elaya behind for two days.
"Your not the boss of me!" she screamed, after Jeziah tried to both calmly and forceably tell her they were leaving for two days, "We need to find her killers! Not go to some lame clan!"
"Seraphina that's enough!" his parenting voice slipped out and she shut her mouth, "You are coming with me and that's final. We are not seeking revenge, we are saying goodbye to a old friend, the way she would want it."
"But Elaya..." she muttered feebly, trying to find some ground, mostly just acting like a typical teen not wanting to go along with the plan.
"Elaya has a group to watch over, and people to protect, and she knows we are leaving. It's only two days Sera. Now c'mon."
Octavia's body was still wrapped in the blanket, and encased in a spell that would protect her from the weather. As Jeziah shed his clothes he changed forms, becoming the tall, massive bird he truly was, fire breathing off his very feathers. He waited until Sera had done the same, her shape and size smaller due to her age and height. Then with his talons he carefully picked up the body and with one massive flap of his wings took off, Sera following in his wake. At their speed they reached the skies within seconds, soaring over the clouds until they too high to be seen as anything more than hawks. It would take them less than a day at this speed to travel to her clan, which was near the very southern shores of the continent. By sunrise they would get there, and by the morning after they would be on their way back, with the hopes Jeziah could get the two of the back safely before dinner.
~
Lairia felt a fraction better, although she was a little frazzled at finding out Octavia was dead, and killed no less by a demon. Other battles were upon them that had nothing to do with Nickens, and it worried the sorceress if this group would fare all of them. After getting back to the ranch house she let out the kittens, who were no longer all that tiny and small. Rhaegal had already put on about a hundred pounds, and for the small cub his head almost reached her hip, and she approximated he could be no more than four months old. Ebony was tinier, and growing much slower, having only doubled in size. It didn't help the blank panther cub that her mother was absent, something Ebony seemed to acknowledge and cry about at night when she was put in with Rythert alone. After the first night Lairia took her in, finding Ebony took some solace and comfort from Rhaegel. Still the black kitten moped most of the day, barely slept or ate, and continued to refuse any social activities. Tatia had been the only one to really bring any life out of Ebony, and now that she was absent, Ebony was resorting back to being fearful and depressed. Lairia had even mentioned it to Elaya, asking what she might do to help.
This afternoon though, Rhaegal was playing with the children, while Jamie monitored at Lairia's request while she tried to get Ebony to eat. The kitchen lay on the porch, her eyes sullen and her mouth clamped shut. After fifteen minutes Lairia sighed and gave up, noticing Elaya's arrival.
"Ebony won't eat, and she hasn't for two days," she exclaimed, standing and brushing her hands off as she nodded to Jamie, who called Rhaegal over and fell into step, knowing what Lairia wanted to do, "She's drank a little for Gerry, but he seems to be the only one who can get her to do that. If we don't get to Tatia soon, I'm fear the worst for Ebony. She's so depressed without Tatia. It's like they stole her only family away."
Rhaegal stepped up and purred as he rubbed his head on Lairia's hip, chatting at her.
"As for this one, he's doing marvelous," she smiled down at him, "But my worries are with Ebony, and of course Tatia. I was actually hoping I could...steal you for an afternoon. Jamie and I have something we'd like to show you but its outside the mountain pass, hidden. I know Jeziah and Sera have left...is Amitiel or Narxis available to watch the ranch for one afternoon?"
She was unaware of what was going on with Arya, as most of the ranch house was. She knew something had happened in the barn that morning, and she had seen the clouds and heard the battle which added to her worries about more coming to a head, but she and most at the ranch aside from the angel and Elaya were out of the loop, and probably purposefully so. She didn't mind, having her own tasks to worry about.
"I can promise, it is something you will want to see," Jamie spoke, having said only a few words to Elaya since he arrived two days prior. He kept out of the way mostly, helping with chores and only speaking to Lairia. No one bothered him as he bothered no one, and Lairia ha vouched that he was here to help against Nickens, because they needed as many fighters as they could muster.
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