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monolike posting in

[The first thing Sorey thinks as he falls is what Lailah said as they left Camlann; that without his domain, all of them would instantly be hellions. The ground collapses beneath his feet, the wind drake behind him snaps up his cloak in its jaws and he sees the terror on Mikleo's face just before Symonne's laughter shrieks out and he and the drake fall together.

If they're too far away from me-

He can still feel their connection. He can still feel them, even if they can't go to him, and Sorey prays that's enough.

Wind rushes past them and Sorey tries to wrench out of the drake's grip (It's gotta be a wind seraph, Zaveid had shouted as they were thrown into the thick of battle in the tight corridors of the fortress), twisting and turning, sword in his hand. They'd weakened the drake considerably as a team but he's not sure he's powerful enough on his own to purify it, not even with all the strength he's gathered. Not without the others.

Hopefully, because Rose is there, they'll be okay. Please, please, I can't lose anyone else-

They fall far but hit a collapsed spire at an angle; in the mess the drake releases Sorey (or maybe his cloak tears, he can't tell) and he tumbles, bumps against it and hits the ground hard enough to rattle his teeth in his head and jar his bones. He pushes himself up, ignoring the bruises and aches, the constant, thumping worry of his heart and puts his sword between he and the drake as it sways up to its feet.]

Don't worry, [he promises the poor thing, because thank god, thank god it's not a dragon yet. There's still hope.] I'm going to save you. Don't worry, it'll be over soon.

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From:

monolike

Maybe prayers. [Maybe any prayers not offered to a specifically enshrined seraph go to Maotelus.

His hand pauses in tracing the lines of Deutenimus in the sky as he chews his lip, wondering if he should say anything.]

...I think... [His eyes are already burning. Damn.] I think Alisha came to see me...when she died.

From:

sylphystia

[Dezel is silent for a moment. There's a brief huff of breath next to Sorey, and he shifts just that little bit closer so that his shoulder touches Sorey's.]

Yeah.

[He wiggles his foot gently to a beat only he can hear.]

She said... she wanted to make a world you'd want to live in. She even went and saw ruins with Mikleo, for a while. Before she got on in years.

[Dezel had even spoken to her a few times.]

Some of her descendants became Shepherds. One of them was named after you. He was-- he was a good kid.

From:

monolike

[Dezel's shoulder against his feels like permission so Sorey lets the tears fall, quiet and hot in the night breeze.

She kept Mikleo company. She wanted to make the world his home. She had Shepherd descendents with his name, and they're gone too.

Sorey can still remember a girl crying against his chest about the world being too hard and hopes, in the end, she died happy and smiling.]

I knew she was there, [he hiccups, beginning to cry in earnest. He feels like a child weeping over things he can't have, but Dezel smells like a spring meadow at his side and,] I just wanted to say goodbye...!

From:

sylphystia

Hey... [Sorey is openly crying now. Even if Dezel couldn't tell by the sounds, the wind shares its secrets even if he doesn't want to know. In this case, it's hella awkward-- but he knows Sorey needs him right here, just like Dezel needs him.] Hey, it's okay. Let it out.

[He's suddenly nineteen again and dealing with a redhead pulling at his hair, screaming at him when he says her name, running away and disappearing into the reeds. Dezel shifts and leaves his hat on the wayside, as it's not important right now, and he wraps an arm around Sorey's side. Then, effortlessly and without hesitation, he tugs the boy against him.

It's surprisingly comfortable like this, with Sorey's fluffy head tucked just beneath Dezel's chin. He could get used to this-- and that's the thought that terrifies him. He can't get used to this. Sorey will leave one day, just like Rose did. Just like all the others, and their children, and their childrens' children.

But that doesn't mean he can't be here for Sorey right now.]

She knew. That's why she came to you.

[He threads his fingers through messy brown hair.]

She knew.

From:

monolike

[Still feeling ridiculous, still feeling childish, Sorey allows himself a moment to press his face against Dezel's collarbone and just. Feel sad. He needs to let himself feel these emotions; denying them would be denying himself, denying the reality of the situation and to be honest not only is that something he wants to avoid, it's just something he's tired of.

Dezel's fingers slip through his hair and Sorey lets himself cry, quiet but no less heartfelt, until he feels the sorrow bleed itself from his heart as it's slowly replaced with a low-simmering gratitude.

She came to see him before she passed. The imagined hand he thought he'd felt on his forehead wasn't so imagined after all. And she's sounded...peaceful. Satisfied in a way she never had when he'd known her.

Sorey picks himself up from Dezel's chest, sitting upright and searching for a clean spot on his tabard to wipe his eyes with. He needs to clean this, it's a gift from Alisha...he should be more careful with it...] I'm gl- glad she passed peacefully. That she had a family.

[He hesitates, not for himself but because he knows it must be a delicate topic for Dezel, but decides in the end that maybe he should put a little more faith in the strength of Dezel's heart.] And...Rose too?

From:

sylphystia

[He holds Sorey until he tries to pull away, and then Dezel lets him. Honestly, Sorey could probably do with a good cry but Dezel's not sure he's the one for that. If Sorey needs it, really needs it, then he'll offer his shirt and whatever else... but he never knows what to say. Dezel's never been good with the emotional side of things.

He's content to lay back in the grass for now, feeling the grass blades sticking up between his fingers.]

... Yeah. She's part of the wind, now.

[Rose had many lovers in her time and her children weren't all blood-related, but that suited her just fine. She had a big family, cobbled together and tighter than anything. Dezel was part of it, too, even though he always felt a little odd about it. Hard to deny it now.]

Close your eyes for a second. [He sits up a bit, waiting for Sorey to follow his command. When he finally does, Dezel concentrates. The wind picks up a little around them-- a playful summer breeze in the middle of autumn, warm and scented like a yellow rose.]

Listen.

[Maybe Sorey's imagining it, but if he concentrates on the wind enough, he might be able to hear a very faint giggle, and then it's gone.]

From:

monolike

[Sorey pulls his knees up to his chest and closes his eyes; he can feel a sweetness to the air, like a coy smile or a mischievous glint in someone's eye before they pounce. His hair ruffles and the corner of Sorey's mouth ticks up into a smile.]

It sounds like her. How did you...?

From:

sylphystia

I remember, so the wind remembers, too.

[He drops his hands back to the grass.]

Rose left a message for you before she passed. It's in the keeping of the Scattered Bones... when you're ready.

From:

monolike

[He nods, but by the sound of it Dezel doesn't expect him to go after the message right away, which is a relief. ...but...]

So there's...still a need for an assassin's guild, huh?

From:

sylphystia

Mankind will never be free of conflict. If it's handled properly, people can learn from each other. [Something Rose taught Dezel over her life.] But sometimes there are people that the Shepherd just can't purify. Sometimes a more delicate hand is needed. They're necessary protectors.

[He knows Sorey doesn't like to hear that, so he tries to change the subject.]

Their leader's brother heads the Sparrowfeathers.

From:

monolike

[It's true, Sorey doesn't like to hear that there are still people who want to take the life of another, but if Dezel is familiar with them, if they're descendants of Rose...well, it could be worse. They could be the types who would take any contract at all for the sake of money. Dezel wouldn't let that happen.]

The Sparrowfeathers and the Scattered Bones are two separate guilds now? [They might be associated, but it's kind of nice to think at least that there are merchants who can just be merchants instead of having to be killers, too.]

From:

sylphystia

[Exactly. He keeps them on a good path, since he's the one who started it after all. Though only Rose's actual descendants know that.]

Yeah. The Scattered Bones are sort of a... specialized force, while the Sparrowfeathers make their business as merchants. A few have settled down and opened shops in the city.

[He reaches over and ruffles Sorey's hair]

Do you want to keep going, or should we make camp here?

From:

monolike

[Sorey scratches at his nose, thinking. He wants to move on, he wants to see the others as soon as possible, see Mikleo as soon as possible, but...

Here, in the clearing, with the wind whistling gently through trees and over crags, is so peaceful. It's the kind of gentle quiet they didn't see for weeks leading up to the final confrontation.

Sorey closes his eyes and falls back onto the grass with a sigh.]

Let's just wait a little while. ...could I listen to Rose again?

From:

sylphystia

[Dezel's a little surprised by the request, but then his expression softens.]

Sure.

[They can go at Sorey's pace. That doesn't bother Dezel. The Shepherd's been asleep for a thousand years-- he deserves to go at whatever pace he feels like.

Dezel shifts to follow him into the grass, and he takes the wind with him. As the cool breeze kicks up one more time, it turns warm and playful, gently brushing across Sorey's lips like a smile. It smells like summer, like Rose. And it carries the memory of her calling out to someone, laughing and darting away, daring him to tag her.]

From:

monolike

[Sorey dozes off a couple times, comforted by Dezel's presence and the whisper of Rose's memory around him, the grass below him still warm despite the night chill. He curls up on his side once, reaching out and taking hold of Dezel's arm, but it doesn't last long. When he's rested, when he's had enough he sits back up and rubs the sleep from his eyes.]

Mmm- okay. I think I'm good to go! [And then his stomach growls.]

From:

sylphystia

[Dezel doesn't move from Sorey's side though he's considered going hunting. He doesn't want to leave the former Shepherd alone just in case something happens. Sorey's certainly not in fighting condition. He doesn't want to disturb him, either, so that means when Sorey wakes up... Dezel is all but pressed against his side.

This ought to be awkward, but he's wearing his hat over his eyes like he's taking a nap too.]

Welcome back to the land of the living.

It's your first snack in a thousand years. What'll you pick?

From:

monolike

Madeleines? If you've got everything for them handy. [Not sure what's in that pack but if Sorey can shove some of those cookies in his face first thing after a thousand years, he'll never be happier. Even if he should probably eat something with vegetables and meat. That can come later, dessert first.]

From:

sylphystia

[Dezel actually chuckles at that. Here he was expecting real food, maybe a steak and mashed potatoes or something but no. Sorey goes straight for dessert and it's--

-- it's so him.]

There's a bunch of sticks around here. If you grab a bunch, I'll make a fire.

[Sounds like a yes. In the meantime, he's materializing cooking effects.]

From:

monolike

[The way Sorey pops up to his feet and snaps off a sharp salute speaks volumes about how much of his strength he's recovered in just the short time he's spent awake. It takes him an awful long time rooting around for a bunch of sticks though, and when he comes back he's got an armful of kindling and a very concerned look.]

Dezel, can you help me? There's a bird fallen from the nest, and I'm afraid if I pick it up the mother won't take it back.

From:

sylphystia

[Dezel keeps track of him even if he takes a while. If there was something dangerous over here, he'd know about it. He covers up the bowl of cookie dough and leaves it by the place he's cleared for a fire.

A SMALL ANIMAL IS IN TROUBLE, THEY HAVE TO HELP. RIGHT THIS INSTANT.]

Show me.

From:

monolike

[The more things change...

Sorey grins to himself (okay also outwardly) and dumps the bundle of sticks he'd gathered in the clearing. The nest isn't far, and isn't that high up either; the peeping of the baby bird, still only half-feathered, is clearly audible long before they even reach it.]

Over there. [Dezel can undoubtedly hear it already, so Sorey stops before he gets too close. Wouldn't be good to put a human scent all over where the bird fell, or the mother might not come back to the nest at all.]

From:

sylphystia

[Yeah, Dezel can hear it. There's an undeniable twist in his expression as he hears the frantic, terrified peeping of the baby bird. Dezel steps forward and kneels carefully, gathers the baby bird into his hands.]

Looks like it's uninjured. It fell out of the nest when it was practicing its first flight.

[He turns, then, and faces Sorey. The bird has already brightened up some and it eyes the seraph and the Shepherd curiously.]

You can come closer. Birds don't have a good sense of smell, so you won't actually drive the mother off if you touch it.

From:

monolike

Ohhh, they don't? [Sorey quietly approaches, and rests his fingers on the edge of Dezel's cupped hand, unwilling to touch the baby until it's used to his presence.] Wow, look at that, it's already got all its feathers. You just had a little spill, huh fella?

From:

sylphystia

[The bird peeps and tilts its head this way and that, trying to get a better look at the big creatures around it. Dezel lifts a finger so he can gently stroke the bird's head.]

You'll be able to fly soon enough. No need to push it.

[The bird actually seems pretty happy with this arrangement, and looks expectantly at Sorey when Dezel stops petting it. Your turn, champ.]

From:

monolike

[Hey, don't wanna disappoint the little thing. Sorey pets the baby a few times, grinning over at Dezel. He knows it's a songbird of some kind, but,] Dezel, what kinda bird is this?