"You won't disappear."

<-- Wildnodes were happening!!

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "** an apologetic buzz **."

Great waves crash over one another as they pour in from the north, finally swirling together before solidifying into Tridemon.

With your mighty index finger extended, you poke Tridemon.

You sway back and forth.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "We'll have to talk after the wildnodes. ... Or, I'll have to talk, you respond with muted impressions that aren't quite words."

You blink.

You glance askance.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up, nodding slowly, worry seeping into his features.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "We keep forgetting about fixing that mindball."

You blink.

You think to yourself: ** a recollection of a broken sphere **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... were you worried about it being something else?"

You have emoted: Gurashi frowns, shaking his head and shrugging. He folds his hands together, staring at a wild node.

<-- scorpion attacc!!

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Rude."

You think to yourself: ** startled!! **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "No, I mean the scorpions are rude."

You glance askance at Tridemon.

You pat a pearlescent wyvern with spectral wings of volcanic ash in a friendly manner.
A raspy clicking sound rises from the back of a pearlescent wyvern with spectral wings of volcanic ash's throat as she thumps her tail against the ground.

Tridemon reaches over and ruffles your hair with a fond expression.

You think to yourself: ** a passing, blurred visual of Bizirik, sound asleep on the couch **.

Tridemon pats a pearlescent wyvern with spectral wings of volcanic ash in a friendly manner.
A pearlescent wyvern with spectral wings of volcanic ash gives an icy stare in Tridemon's direction before flicking her tongue out, releasing a small amount of smoke into his face.

<-- waiting, nodes

Minutes remaining: 9
Nation Scores:
-----------------
 Serenwilde:   0
 Glomdoring:   2072
 Celest:       0
 Magnagora:    220
 Gaudiguch:    0
 Hallifax:     0
-----------------

You have emoted: Gurashi sighs, leaning to the side.

You think to yourself: ** grateful to be winning for once... **.

Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 13th of Juliary, 561 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 7 days until the New Moon

Tridemon pats you in a friendly manner.

You purse your lips pensively, gazing off into the distance as you carefully gather your thoughts.

You think to yourself: ** a gentle pulse, a flicker of color - manic chattering about pounds of flax ... insanity **.

You shake your head.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Could you go for a pound of flax?"

You have emoted: Gurashi nods, the corners of his lips turning upward.

You think to yourself: ** recollections: a female voice declaring Gurashi's wife a pound of flax - an ongoing joke - amusement **.

You have emoted: Gurashi's expression fades to neutrality, and he reaches up, rubbing his nose.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Think we can leave them be for the last nine minutes?"

You glance askance at a wild node.

You tilt your head, gaze softening as you frown.

You have emoted: Gurashi plants his hands on his hips, looking down thoughtfully.

You have emoted: Gurashi stands on his tiptoes to look towards the south... then nods.

<-- follow!

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters west to A round chamber.

You reach out through your bond with your beast and dismiss her, sending her back to the stables.
A pearlescent wyvern with spectral wings of volcanic ash bobs her head several times just before trotting off.

Tridemon flops down onto the ground.

You have emoted: Gurashi shakes his head again, waving a hand before his face as if shooing away a fly.

Nocht, the Silent has bestowed His divine truefavour upon you. It will last for 30 months.

You blink.

LOOK ME
He is an ordinary human wyrden demigod. He stands a few inches short of six feet tall with a slim build. His arms and legs are lanky, square hands limply held his side. His sandy skin is flushed, his freckled cheeks and upturned nose a deep pink. A moderately-sized, crescent-shaped scar mars his right cheek. A straight mop of fiery red hair, complete with a few strands at his part that to obey the natural laws of gravity dons the top of his head. A single shock of white hair near his temple is starting to grow in. A pair of vacant gray eyes gaze out from below red bangs, their color striking against all the surrounding warm hues. Tattooed on his hands is an illustration of a bumblebee constellation. Shadows cling adoringly to him, reluctant to surrender their grasp on one with the truefavour of Nocht, the Silent.
He is wearing:
an ebon throwover cloak striated with lilac patterns pulled tightly over his shoulders, hood raised
a circlet of crystal thorns pressed tightly to his head, rough-looking scabs visible near its edges
Boots of the Wanderer which stop at the knees
a Glomdoring friendship bracelet dangling loosely from his wrist
finely tailored black dress trousers which fit him comfortably
a soft cotton tunic of muted blue-grey which seems about one size too big
the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree tightly affixed to his left middle finger.

You have emoted: Gurashi freezes in the doorway to the room, blinking in surprise as shadows seep in from the corners of the room and find him.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... well. At least Someone is pleased with you."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Even if the other One is less than enthused."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks very confused, so taken aback by the appearance of the inky blackness that he tries to brush it off of his sleeve. When the shadow returns, he blinks... and blinks again. Nothing happens. He begins to relax, though he still looks quite confused.

<-- some detours, looking at new Sanctifiers guild entrance, opening presents
2/4 weirdly relevant fortunes:
**Your character can be described as natural and unrestrained.
You will always get what you want through your charm and personality.
You are solid and dependable.
**Your heart will always make itself known through your words.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Okay!"

You have emoted: Gurashi nods at Tridemon, smiling faintly and waving his hands jazzily in the air before clapping them together.

You think to yourself: ** small victories - finally, a wild nodes for the Glomdoring **.

You have emoted: Gurashi glances at the shadows that cling to him again, furrowing his brow.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "So! About the sphere that is your mind. ... can you envision it again?"

You have emoted: Gurashi's smile fades a little.

You have emoted: Gurashi makes a soft, breathy noise, slowly approaching the center of the room and sinking to sit, his shoulders bunched. He seems very unsure, shutting his eyes and folding his hands in his lap, bowing his head.

You think to yourself: ** ... O-K ... **.

You think to yourself: ** the words are more like a feeling, a reassuring pat. do the thing.... doing .... nothing. nothing nothing nothing, continued nothing. redoubled effort - focus **.

You think to yourself: ** a flicker of light in the darkness, near and far, disorienting and incorrect **.

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up, scratching his temple, eyes still shut as he concentrates.

Tridemon sits and watches, eyes half-lidded as he focuses on something not quite visible.

You think to yourself: ** slowly correcting, like turning a piece of a puzzle, trying to upright something wronged... all at once the ground becomes visible, a myriad of cracks, each one glistening with tiny bits of glass... a -start- **.

You think to yourself: ** where are you, where are you **.

You think to yourself: ** a bit of light - no. wrong light. reflection off the ground **.

You have emoted: Gurashi fidgets where he sits, rubbing his left thumb over the back of his right hand.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ .... /."

Tridemon hmms slightly, reaching out with his mind to examine the cracks, the bits of... why is it glass?
You think to yourself: ** the vision fades, then becomes solid again, a tinkling sound filling your ears... **.

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "*Quietly* 'lo again, Khep."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm... can you try and pull some of that glass from the cracks? Gently."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *far-away, but somehow close** ... per ... /."

You have emoted: Gurashi nods, scrunching his nose.

You think to yourself: ** you brush over the ground, over the bits of glass... no. not bits. you touch, and it recoils, as if alive. and you recognize it at once: vines. at least the early stages **.

Tridemon frowns a bit. "More of the vines... Really ought to move them all into a corner, if you can manage it. ...seems unlikely, though."

You think to yourself: ** the vines tremble as they are spoken of... tinkling again. a wash of frustration - what were we doing again **.

You have emoted: Gurashi frowns further, doing all he can not to open his eyes and peek at Tridemon.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Right, the vines are irrelevant at this point. The ball. Sphere of your mind."

You think to yourself: ** .... **.

You think to yourself: ** a bit more of a struggle - like a muscle that has not been used in a while - already tired .... a glimmer of light **.

You think to yourself: ** ... a spherical shape, just a glimpse, and only a crescent. it quickly fades from view again **.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "You're doing well. Keep going. You'll be fine."

You think to yourself: ** flustered **.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *you feel her, at your side again - it is hard to tell if she is aware of you or not, but you can tell she is looking towards the sphere Gurashi is trying to summon* /."

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "We're seeing about the mind-sphere again. If nothing else, it's a good place to start."

You think to yourself: ** another flicker of... light - oh... a settling sense of regret as the sphere comes into focus ... or, at least what is left of it **.

You have emoted: Gurashi fidgets, sweat beading on his brow as he continues to focus.

You think to yourself: ** before you floats a mere fifth of the sphere that you witnessed before, most of it having been chipped, cracked, and crumbled through repeated stress. hunks of dull foggy glass sit on the equally cracked ground below the sphere **.

Tridemon stares up at the broken sphere in the mindscape, and at the large chunks that have fallen off of it. "This... seems unsettling."

You have emoted: Gurashi furrows his brow a little more, bowing his head as he continues to concentrate. His knuckles turn white as his hands clench tighter.

You think to yourself: ** unsettling? a little ripple of uncertainty **.

You think to yourself: ** you hear a soft tinkling noise again at this, see a ripple of light move across the ground, reflected on the glass vines **.

Tridemon reaches out with his mind, to see if he can manifest a hand of starry night to pick up one of the larger chunks.

You think to yourself: ** unlike what remains of the hovering sphere, the broken chunk is unresponsive , void of color or light **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Hmm... has it become blank? Dead? Just out of energy?"

Tridemon directs some of his own energies into the bit of broken glass- not really a discrete memory, or even an emotion per se, but rather... an impression of music.

You have emoted: Gurashi there is no response to your inquiry. The piece of sphere in your hand continues to feel cold and heavy... you can practically see the music filter through the air, causing the air in the dreamscape to temporarily distort - a flicker of color, hopeful, pale yellow ... but there is no reaction.

You have emoted: You see another flicker of color, and when you look up Gurashi is standing before you in the mindscape, staring worriedly at the sphere.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *You sense Khepqet move, looking down at her arm, at the chain, resisting its pull as the music filters out* /."

Tridemon considers the large piece of glass... and decides to go about doing what he's pretty sure you would do with the real article- gathering up the pieces to tidy them up in one spot, at least.

You have emoted: The pieces ...sort of fit. But as you begin to try and line them up, you realize that there are so many small shards that belong in the middle, the sides. With nothing to hold it together, the third piece you add on slides off and nearly hits the ground, but Gurashi steps forward and catches it.

Tridemon looks sadly down at the broken sphere both above and below. "... I don't suppose that you can manage to melt these bits down and add them back to the sphere above?"

You have emoted: Gurashi stands up straight again in the mindscape, turning the piece over, seeing if it reacts to his touch. No change. You see him move his mouth, possibly expect to hear some sort of sound here. But there is only silence. More than silence - oppressive silence. As if his voice were being forcibly withheld. He doesn't seem to notice, continuing on and holding the piece close to his heart, looking the sphere over at your suggestion.

You think to yourself: ** a little ripple **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm... I don't know what to do with it. I can see the extent of the damage, but... no, it won't be repaired like this. This is an effect, not a cause."

You have emoted: Gurashi tilts his head, then takes his little piece of the sphere, trying to line it up with one of the other pieces you had put there. He sets them together, rests his hand on them, concentrates. Waits. He frowns, talks to it. Nothing. He leans over and looks beneath it, at the pile of shards, then stands up straight again, puffing his cheeks and looking at Tridemon.

You think to yourself: ** a wash of uncertainty **.

You think to yourself: ** ...... you see one of the vines near your feet move, growing a little **.

Tridemon stares over at one of the small vines... and picks up one of the smallish pieces, before dropping it directly on top of the moving vine.

You have emoted: Gurashi continues to fiddle with the sphere. As you drop the piece of glass, it lands on one of the fragile little vines, causing it to shatter on impact. There is a ripple that washes out from the point of impact, and for a moment all of the cracks in the mindscape are very visible, filled with thrashing, confused, afraid. Time passes, and they begin to cease their thrashing ...

Tridemon gives a little sigh, watching the thrashing of the vines... "I have no idea what to do with this."

You have emoted: Gurashi throws up his arms as well, watching as the thrashing vines relax further, now, inquisitively poking around the injured one, at what it was that injured them...

You have emoted: Gurashi steps closer to Tridemon as the vines poke and prod at the bit of broken sphere.

Tridemon gives you a small shrug, looking over the injured vine. "It's you, it's Tiso, it's the both of you together, operating on instinct and memory, without music, without the light of the sun, without the stars to shine in joy..." He seems to be getting a little more depressed with every word.

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

You have emoted: Gurashi tilts his head at the vine, then blinks, looking up at Tridemon in surprise. He says something, placing a hand on his hip and gesturing incredulously.

You think to yourself: ** ...no joy ... ? **.

Tridemon shakes his head slightly. "I'm fairly sure the bits of you that are Tiso are mostly operating out of instinct, fear, and anger. Stuck on a point of the past, hung up on pain. Not unlike being impaled, I suppose."

You have emoted: The vines poke and prod at the glass shard, begin to creep across the ground, suss out the other bits of glass, almost as if it were sifting through them. Gurashi frowns at this, slowly looking at the vines near his feet, then at the sphere. His shoulders slowly bunch up, and he looks for a moment very guilty.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up at Tridemon, shaking his head, a flicker of gray clouding up around him as he mouths an apology, folding his hands behind his head in frustration.

Shadows swirl around your arm as the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree digs itself more painfully into your finger.

You have emoted: Gurashi gestures to Tridemon, bobbing his head to the side and saying something else, mouth moving too fast for you to follow, almost blurred. He shrugs again, looking up at Tridemon earnestly, shoulders sagging.

Tridemon shakes his head slightly. "No need to apologize. The pain wasn't your fault from the beginning." He says, watching the vines sort through things. "I just rather wish Tiso would let you speak."

You think to yourself: ** soft little washes - guilty - desire to fix, but cannot? making Tridemon sad - it is hurting Tridemon now -**.

You glance askance.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *you hear her try to say something, but it is muted. everything feels quiet, you realize, save your own voice* /."

You have emoted: A few of the finer vines seem to reach up, interested in the sphere, but the rest continue onward, growing slowly, so slowly, a pace you'd hardly notice were you not looking. Spreading mindlessly like weeds. Gurashi scratches at the circlet in his mindscape, looking confused by what Tridemon says.

You have emoted: Gurashi moves his mouth but you hear nothing. He waits. Looks confused. Touches his lip.

Tridemon glances around a bit more, frowning... and leaning in to poke one of the little vines. Several times. "I can't hear you."

You have emoted: Gurashi gazes at Tridemon in surprise as he realizes he is unheard, puffing his cheeks. His entire body seems to suddenly blur in the mindscape, as if he loses concentration, turning and looking down, small tendrils of vine moving over the front of his imagined boot. The ones you poke withdraw the few few pokes, then lash out, suddenly grabbing onto your finger, numerous tiny thorns digging in and holding on tight.

Tridemon hmms a bit, not really responding to the pain... and proceeds to simply pet the thorny vine with fingers from his other hand. "Settle down, little one."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks as if he gasps, blurred hands flying to his mouth as he steps towards Tridemon, ready to intervene. But the vines do not lash any further, merely clinging, squeezing tight just once before loosening the slightest amount. Too forceful to rip free easily. They tremble.

Tridemon continues to pet the vine. "Come now, little one... there's no need for your fear. You're alright."

You have emoted: They do not relent, nor do they worsen, merely holding tight, continuing to shake. The fear radiates from them in little sparks of blinding white that flicker before your vision as you pet the vine. Gurashi Takes another step closer, lips drawn into a thin line, arms folded over his chest, hands tucked against his elbows.

You think to yourself: ** ....... soft little ripples of isolation - fear ....... **.

Tridemon frowns slightly, and... well, he does the same thing to the vine that he'd been done to the piece of glass. Music.

You have emoted: Gurashi's fingers tighten around something in the mindscape - the shard of the sphere. The vines grow still as the impression of music seeps out into the air... listening... Now, they merely are. You can feel them slacken slightly, perhaps enough to pull free from if you tried. Still fearful, yes... but now... something else. Foreign. Familiar. You can't quite work the feeling out, a pulse of numbness, parsing again through feelings.

You have emoted: Gurashi stares blankly at Tridemon's hand, his form flickering again in opacity, expression unreadable.

You think to yourself: ** ........ desire for safety ..... **.

Tridemon hmms a bit, but doesn't pull back. And comes to a decision, starting to pulse and glow with a whole rainbow of colors and hues... and as the light shines upon the mindscape, it carries notes and tones for each color. A lullaby in light.

You have emoted: The vine slackens, then tightens again, the vines barely resting gingerly against the wounds they've already left. You feel the impression of tired. so tired. and hot, and miserable. so uncomfortable, heart racy, wanna go home want to be home ... You can sense it is soothed, but the consolation only makes the suffering more apparent, giving it less time to fretfully move and more time to sit, and focus on this misery. Gurashi stands very still, tears brimming in his eyes. He tries to say something, but abandons the thought mid-sentence, shutting his mouth again.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *you feel her move forward, towards the sphere, towards you and Gurashi, though you can't tell if she can see you, her attention on the vines in the air where they grip your hand* /."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ ...... *you see her grip the spear, unsure* /."

Tridemon gives a small, sad smile. "Little one, you cannot continue to sit like this. It's not healthy for you, nor for anyone else." He says softly, continuing with the lullaby of rainbow lights.

You think to yourself: ** a rush of concern - no - moving forward means ... moving forward... means ... **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Moving forward means saying goodbye."

You have emoted: The vines squeeze again, not intentionally painful. Then, you feel pressure near your legs, noting that the vines that were previously seeking out the sphere are now slowly wrapping around Tridemon's legs, creeping up. You can see them on Gurashi as well, though they have have always been there.

You think to yourself: ** ... will disappear ... **.

You have emoted: The vines tremble uncertainly, cling tighter. Gurashi flinches as he sees the vines visibly squeeze Tridemon's hand, reaching out as if to touch them.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *suddenly, she steps backwards, and you can hear her utter a broken curse, kicking away the vines near her legs, causing the nearest ones to thrash in response* /."

You have emoted: The vines suddenly thrash in response to some unseen presence, whipping around your legs and the ground, tightening and loosening in uneven bursts. Gurashi quickly withdraws his hand, looking uncertain as to whether or not he started it.

You wince in pain.

Tridemon glances over at the unseen presence, and the disturbance, before sighing, knowing he probably won't be heard. "You won't disappear. You will move forward and become the same person. Tisohepsut is not just the past of Gurashi. Tisohepsut IS Gurashi. And you're ripping yourself apart. The future of yourself isn't a different person. It's you. Hopefully better. But still you. Because while he really rather wouldn't, Gurashi needs Tisohepsut to have been brave and leave the tunnels."

You think to yourself: ** ...... .... ...... weighted silence - strange - the anxious writhing of the vines as they spread across the ground makes it look like it should be loud... ...... **.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ Ke... ..! *you feel her backing away, away, where the vines are smaller, more fragile, less developed. They reach for her, cling when they can, break with painful little snaps * /."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Khep, stop MOVING. He's afraid and you're HURTING him."

The depths of the dark of night herald a new beginning, and a new chance to make the world a little better.
It is now the 16th of Juliary, 561 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 4 days until the New Moon

You have emoted: Gurashi stares at Tridemon's hand, oddly calm as the vines freak out around him. He makes a face, tentatively touching the vines himself, wincing as they lash out instinctively, slicing into his hands as well, wrapping around his fingers, gripping - but he stays perfectly still, and for a minute you see the tiniest bit of psionic energy pulse from his chest. An attempt at calm.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *she stumbles a few more steps back, then embeds her spear into the ground, driving it into one of the cracks the vault herself away, free from the vines and their reaching hold. She lands somewhere just beyond your periphery, still hard to pinpoint in the first place, and as the spear leaves the ground there is a great groaning noise, and the entire mindscape feels like it... sags, several inches* /."

You twitch spasmodically.

Tridemon sighs again, the lights slowly stopping, and the music does, too, looking up at you. "... Perhaps... why don't you sit down and start telling these vines some nice stories. The nice things that have happened to you since you ended up stepping from the portal of fate?"

(clan): Tridemon says, "A narrative that can only be heard from one side and that side isn't mine. <_<."
(clan): You say, "You have good stories of hanging out with gurashi too!"
(clan): Tridemon says, "I do! But the point of the exercise is to convince Tiso that moving forward and becoming Gurashi isn't a terrible fate of disappearance."
(clan): You say, "Tiso: NOOOOOOOOO / gurashi: are hurting my feelings in many ways :T."
(clan): Tridemon says, "'But I don't WANNA be Gurashi! He's all fleshy and even more orange than ME!'"
(clan): You say, "Gurashi: WAIT WE CAN FLY LEMME CHANGE ;;;."
(clan): Tridemon says, "'HEIGHTS!'"
(clan): Tridemon says, "Lol."
(clan): You say, "*lol*."

You have emoted: Gurashi nods once subtly, gazing at Tridemon. He opens his mouth and begins to move his lips as if he were talking, though he is as silent as ever, the air around him warped. The vines, however, begin to retreat, and Gurashi stops talking after noticing that he does not seem to be helping.

You have emoted: They unwind from your finger, from your legs, from Gurashi's hand, back into the nearest cracks, glimmering just below the surface as they had when you arrived, leaving you to stand in the cracked mindscape with only a glowing, floating fragment of a sphere...

You think to yourself: ** wait - where are you going ...?? **.

You think to yourself: ** ............ *the spot where Khep drove the spear cracks, crumbles* ...... ........ **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Oh, dear."

You have emoted: Gurashi shifts, as if to move, but you notice that the vines have not yet released his legs. Or. Are they the same? It is hard to tell, ethereal in appearance at times, fading from sight without rhyme or reason. He makes a face, looking at his hand where the vine had gripped, rubbing the marred but unbloody skin.

Tridemon sighs a bit. "That was Khep, by the way. She's alright. But I don't think she can hear you, and you certainly can't seem to hear her. And I think she accidentally made Tiso very, very sad."

You have emoted: Gurashi watches Tridemon's face, flailing his hands and looking very worried, reaching out to tug at your sleeves in the mindscape.

You look at Tridemon, expression filled with concern as you frown.

You think to yourself: ** ... Miss Khep? ... **.

You think to yourself: ** ....... k.... hep .... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi follows Tridemon's gaze, confused. He sees the crumbled spot but fails to register its significance, squirming with confusion.

Tridemon nods a bit. "Khepqet has been just as worried about you as you have about her. I didn't want to say anything because you couldn't actually hear her or sense her in any meaningful way. ... Most of her questions were about how to fix what she's done."

You have emoted: Gurashi's hand rises to his mouth, and he looks momentarily wounded, tears flooding his eyes again. You can see him clearly sound out Khepqet's name, ask what you imagine is how she is, then looks at the crumbled spot again, folding his hands atop his head.

You think to yourself: ** fix - she wants to fix, too... **.

You think to yourself: ** .........k ... **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "She's fine. Completely unhurt as far as I could tell. She's still got most of Memory, Unyielding with her. I was hoping to help her find the flower so it could be returned to you properly."

Tridemon looks over at the crumbled spot. "She was here. Removed from you somehow, but... she reacted when the vines started to grab her. Broke the vines, rejected them. Ended up stabbing the ground with her spear to get away."

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly looks at Tridemon again, looking very confused and unfocused. You see him recall her pull away, a chain wrapped around her arm. Then, the flower. The flower! Oh....! You see him cry out in surprise at this news - so close! She was here and we didn't know? A deep, colorless throb of regret.

Tridemon shrugs slightly, looking down at the ground. "... I'm not sure much more will get done just now, with the retreat. Poor Tiso. Poor Gurashi."

You have emoted: Gurashi's expression twists from horror to regret, and he shakes his head in a furious blur of orange. All at once, he seems to phase out of the mindscape, whether intentional or accidental you cannot tell.

You have emoted: With a soft gasp, Gurashi lifts his head, looking around the room in a daze. He takes a moment to catch his breath, then focuses in on Tridemon, eyes widening. With a bit of effort, he wrenches himself free from the center pillow, scooting the short distance to where you are situated, and throws his arms around you in a sudden embrace.

You think to yourself: ** a sense of urgency - please do not be sad **.

Tridemon blinks.

You think to yourself: ** pulsing with psionic energy, a fluttering sensation like bird's wings - please do not be sad for me **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... but you're the one with the bigger sad. ... You need to find a way to give pastries to Tiso."

You think to yourself: ** hard to collect a single, coherent example, but many small flickering examples of joy - like starry rocks scattered in an ever growing, darkening river **.

You have emoted: Gurashi squeezes tighter. Tridemon can tell this is taking quite some effort, arms trembling as if he's been lifting heavy objects all month.

You think to yourself: ** no bigger sad - sad is sad - sad is -sad- **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... You seem tired. You should sleep."

You think to yourself: ** regret - an urgency to not let this sad become YOUR sad - but if it -does- then please-- **.

You think to yourself: ** ..................... far-off willful isolation ................ **.

You have emoted: Gurashi lets go, sinking back onto his knees and staring at his lap.

You think to yourself: ** a sudden heaving quiet **.

Tridemon ponders the situation.

Tridemon reaches out with one hand, and, with great ceremony, touches you lightly on the nose with two fingers. "Boop."

You think to yourself: ** ... not that tired, but will go if-- **.

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi wrinkles his nose.

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

Tridemon nods his head sagely.

You have emoted: Gurashi makes a face, then begins to look around for his pack, which sits just out of reach.

You have emoted: Gurashi huffs, scooting away to pull out his notepad. You see him scribble something in it, then scoot back over to Tridemon, expression serious as he holds up the page: 'am not giving up'. He has underlined this, and followed up with: 'is O-K if are sad! is big sad! but no being sad alone!!' He has again underlined the word alone several times, tapping it with his quill as you read.

You look at Tridemon, expression filled with concern as you frown.

You think to yourself: ** soft pulses of guilt and urgency **.

You have emoted: Gurashi makes a face, suddenly taking the notebook and writing something frantically. He offers it again to you, though it is hard to read: 'am happy too'.

Tridemon pats you in a friendly manner.

You have emoted: Gurashi heaves a great sigh, lowering the notepad and staring blankly into space for a few moments...

You shake your head.

You have emoted: Gurashi wrinkles his nose and puffs his cheeks at Tridemon, tapping approximately on where he thinks he wrote the word 'alone' without looking. He taps a blank space.

You nod your head sagely at Tridemon.

You think to yourself: ** not alone! **.

You think to yourself: ** ............ ...... continued .. familiar ... isolation .... **.

Tridemon flops down onto the ground.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... I found the way into those tunnels, from below."

You think to yourself: ** ... oh - nothing to give... **.

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

You think to yourself: ** confused - tunnels? **.

You think to yourself: ** ........ familiar isolation - dark, stone walls, no sense of direction.... **.

You shake your head.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "The one leading down from Balach- you just have to go about it completely backwards by starting at Duum."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "They're far easier to navigate if you've got these."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks at Tridemon in confusion, as if he doesn't understand the topic at hand, slowly rising to his feet.

Tridemon reaches up to tap the spectacles he's wearing.

You think to yourself: ** ...... waiting ....... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi pauses... then holds up his own pair of glittering spectacles with heart-shaped lenses.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Secret exits can't hide."

You think to yourself: ** again - tunnels...? confusion **.

You think to yourself: ** ............ now we wait .......... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up, his gaze going in and out of focus. He looks at Tridemon, confused. then at the door, then around the room expectantly.

You think to yourself: ** confused - was doing something? **.

You have emoted: Gurashi slowly sinks to sit on the center pillow again, frowning.

You think to yourself: ** ... we are doing something ...?? **.

You think to yourself: ** a wash of confusion - tunnels - what were we doing? Tridemon's here so we must be about to do a big brain thing **.

You think to yourself: ** ...... waiting ....... **.

Tridemon just looks a little sadder, washed with grey along the edges.

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

You think to yourself: ** oh - do not have any ... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi raises his hand, suddenly rising to his feet with some effort.

You have emoted: Gurashi flails, gesturing for you to wait.

<-- bakes some ice cream

You have emoted: Gurashi returns, huffing softly, sinking to his knees beside Tridemon and holding out a ... still steaming from the oven bowl of ice cream.

With a nod, you give a plate of pomegranate ice cream to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters.

Tridemon quickly devours a plate of pomegranate ice cream.

You have emoted: Gurashi puffs his cheeks, smiling apologetically.

You think to yourself: ** flustered embarrassment for making wait **.

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

You have emoted: Gurashi's brow furrows, expression twisting with concern, noticing the faded color.

You think to yourself: ** are O-K ....? **.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks Tridemon up and down, concerned.

Tridemon seems to have fallen into just a pensive silence. No more grey around the edges, though.

You have emoted: Gurashi pauses... slides another bowl of ice cream across the floor that isn't padded.

Tentatively, you give a plate of pomegranate ice cream to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters.

You have emoted: Gurashi frowns a little... then leans forward, rubbing his eyes, suddenly looking quite tired.

You think to yourself: ** a wash of exhaustion - like a heavy blanket **.

You think to yourself: ** ........... ........... ... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi offers Tridemon another unknowing, apologetic smile, reaching up to rub at his forehead. He sits up a little, then sinks back in his spot, opting to settle on the nearest not-orange pillow. He doesn't quite look like he wants to get up.

You think to yourself: ** ... confused - wowee, so tired **.

Tridemon pats you in a friendly manner.

You have emoted: Gurashi puffs his cheeks, patting the pillow and giving Tridemon a permissive glance.

You think to yourself: ** another wave of sleepiness - now we ... **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Sleep. Maybe things will be better upon the waking."

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

You think to yourself: ** they are not good... ?? **.

You think to yourself: ** .............. a sigh ... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes glaze, and he lets out a little huff, rubbing his face before turning away, pulling his blanket with a few effort-filled tugs from his belt. He shakes it out over himself and teeters over onto the pillow, properly burrito-ing himself in his spot with a huff.

You have emoted: Gurashi casts one more sleepy look at Tridemon, offered his best tired smile. You think he might be giving you the thumbs up under the blanket.

You think to yourself: ** ...little pulse of unknowing joy! gratitude. do not know what is going on, but happy to be here yes - safe here **.

You have emoted: Gurashi drops his head against the pillow, pulling the blanket up to his ears.

You think to yourself: ** ........ .......... ...... .. **.

You think to yourself: ** goodest of nights, bestest of dreams **.

Tridemon is briefly washed with grey for a moment longer.

(clan): Tridemon says, "You think to yourself: Am I helping? It doesn't feel like i'm helping. helpless. hapless. more damage done than repaired no mending no relief." <-- UGLYYY CRYYYY

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes close after a while, and it doesn't take long before you can sense he is no longer waking, his breaths slow and even, as if nothing had ever happened.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ ....... *you feel her reach out, apologetically, from somewhere - determined - she WILL find you* ... /."