(10:36:32 AM) Earthflame: After everyone has drifted away, Khaira remains with Lily White, holding her tightly.
(10:40:46 AM) Ikiryo: The other dryad hugs back tight, resting her head on Khaira's shoulder.
(10:41:47 AM) Earthflame: Khaira slowly strokes her hair, holding her close. "Lily..." She sighs softly, pressing into the other woman. "...We're all here for you. You know that, right?"
(10:43:02 AM) Ikiryo: "I know..." She nods, sounding very tired.
(10:43:34 AM) Earthflame: Khaira moves to stand beside her, an arm around her shoulders. "...Let's get you back to your room, alright? You need to rest."
(10:44:39 AM) Ikiryo: "I have to plan for the concert." She shakes her head slowly.
(10:46:30 AM) Earthflame: "You'll do that better if you have some rest..." Khaira continues to lead her, warmly but firmly.
(10:47:07 AM) Ikiryo: She shakes her head again but doesn't resist enough to stop Khaira.
(10:47:45 AM) Earthflame: Khaira smiles a little... But she can't keep worry off her face. It's unusual to see Lily relinquish control like this... Quickly, she gets her to her room, going to set her down on the bed.
(10:48:48 AM) Ikiryo: She slumps onto the bed, frowning and silent.
(10:49:57 AM) Earthflame: Khaira slips in beside her, holding her again. "...We're a long way from Summerholme, huh?"
(10:52:29 AM) Ikiryo: She nods. "Just a little, yes."
(10:53:42 AM) Earthflame: "Did you ever imagine... Anything like this? Fighting monsters all across the verse..."
(10:54:18 AM) Ikiryo: "When I signed up to be an idol?" She shakes her head.
(10:55:23 AM) Earthflame: "Before that, when you were younger..." Khaira lets out a soft little laugh. "I regained some memories, of when I was very young... Including the first time I ever saw you sing."
(10:55:55 AM) Ikiryo: She blushes. "...I wasn't very good back then."
(10:57:02 AM) Earthflame: She giggles. "You weren't... But you put your heart and soul into it, and it was just... Amazing."
(10:57:19 AM) Ikiryo: She blushes harder.
(10:58:39 AM) Earthflame: Khaira leans up to kiss her on the forehead. "It's why people follow you, and believe in you... You give everything you are to whatever you choose to do."
(10:59:13 AM) Ikiryo: "And die following me."
(11:00:26 AM) Earthflame: "...Sometimes. If it comes to that." Khaira rests her forehead against Lily's. "...But they know what you're fighting for. What you're trying to stop, and how many people you're protecting. And they believe in it. If they didn't, they wouldn't be willing to stand alongside you, knowing the risks."
(11:01:15 AM) Ikiryo: "Two of the understudies were not even eighteen yet...they didn't really know. Not in thier heart..."
(11:02:13 AM) Earthflame: She squeezes her height. "We don't know what happened... There's still hope."
(11:03:45 AM) Ikiryo: "...I...I don't think there is." She shakes her head, looking miserable. "That's more dead following me and people I promiced to help guard gone."
(11:05:14 AM) Earthflame: "...It's hard. When you fight, sometimes you fail... And even if you survive, not everyone does. I've been lucky, since I joined up with the Serpent, but it's always a risk..." Khaira strokes her hair. "It hurts, but... For their sake, we have to keep fighting. If they gave their lives trying to stop the Quori, or Cryx, or whoever it is... We can't let their sacrifice be in vain."
(11:06:01 AM) Ikiryo: "...and yet it was. You saw what happened...the entire Khador fleet, gone."
(11:07:21 AM) Earthflame: "That was one battle, love... A terrible one. But that's not the end of the war." She shifts a bit, looking Lily in the eyes, reaching down to squeeze her hands. "We know what they're doing now... They're trying to use our own weapons against us. But I Know you're better than them, Lily. You're brighter and more beautiful and powerful than those pretenders could ever hope to be... Their power
(11:07:21 AM) Earthflame: is stolen, wicked and wrong. But working together... We can beat them."
(11:09:22 AM) Ikiryo: She nods. "I hope you are right."
(11:10:24 AM) Earthflame: Khaira smiles at her again. "I know I am. Because I believe in you."
(11:14:14 AM) Ikiryo: "A lot of people believe in me. That doesn't make it well founded belief."
(11:15:27 AM) Earthflame: "Well, I still do, and I was always the smart one~"
(11:16:10 AM) Ikiryo: "Are we sure about that?" She gives a small smile.
(11:16:55 AM) Earthflame: "Well, it was true before my brain got timewarped. Well. Spirit-brain. Thingy."
(11:17:51 AM) Ikiryo: "Says the girl I saw giggling and staring at the stars the first time we dated."
(11:18:49 AM) Earthflame: "I always liked the stars." She smiles, some vague flicker of a memory... Smile fading. "...Huh. Maybe that was an early clue..."
(11:19:13 AM) Ikiryo: "Oh, yes?"
(11:20:39 AM) Earthflame: "That I was the Abhorsen. There are stars you know, in the River... But you can only see them in the Ninth Precinct, when the clouds have cleared away. Bright and clear and beautiful, lighting up the emptiness with this absolute sense of peace..."
(11:20:59 AM) Ikiryo: She nods. "I've not seen anything like that."
(11:22:12 AM) Earthflame: "Everyone sees them once... Well, they should, anyway..." She sighs, cuddling into Lily. "...It scares me too. Not just peoples lives, but... What comes after. Having to try and safeguard it all..."
(11:52:58 AM) Ikiryo: She nods again, silently.
(11:55:56 AM) Earthflame: "But... It's what I am now. What We are now." She goes quiet for a moment, words passing her lips without reaching her mind first. "Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?"
(12:03:16 PM) Ikiryo: She raises an eyebrow. "That sounded significant."
(12:08:02 PM) Earthflame: She blinks, biting her lip. "...It is important. I... I don't know where I heard it first, but it's one of the things I remember most strongly, and it just comes out at times... Even though I'm still not sure what it means."
(12:13:35 PM) Ikiryo: She hugs the other girl. "I'm sure you'll find out."
(12:15:03 PM) Earthflame: "I think... Part of it is that we create our own meaning. Just like... We choose our own path, but in choosing we are chosen..." She squeezes Lily again. "...and our paths have led us here. And all we can do is walk them, the best we can."
(12:18:29 PM) Ikiryo: "...I wish my path wouldn't get so many people killed. They just wanted to help people...they didn't understand the costs."
(12:20:30 PM) Earthflame: "I never met your understudies, but... Were they new? Was that their first battle?"
(12:23:45 PM) Ikiryo: "Thier first alone, yes." She nods. "Before this, they'd only worked alongside us. The reports...they made it seem unlikely there would be a serious attack, more likely just probing."
(12:25:27 PM) Earthflame: "But they'd fought the Quori before. They saw what you did... They were inspired by you, and fought alongside you... Don't belittle them by saying they didn't understand." Khaira squeezes her hand again. "We're going to find out what happened... And no matter what, we'll avenge them. Not just them... Everyone who lost their lives."
(12:25:39 PM) Earthflame: Khaira pauses at that, blinking... Looking worried.
(12:26:48 PM) Ikiryo: She slumps a little.
(12:31:15 PM) Earthflame: "...Who knew it was just them, Lily?"
(12:32:05 PM) Ikiryo: "The Khadoran forces, as well as most of our organization."
(12:33:15 PM) Earthflame: "...Maybe that was why they attacked. You said that it wasn't an important location... Maybe they attacked it to take out your Understudies... And to hurt you. To make the greatest weapon against them weaker..."
(12:33:57 PM) Ikiryo: "...I'd concidered it." She nods
(12:36:47 PM) Earthflame: Khaira holds her close. "I'm so sorry, Lily..."
(12:41:17 PM) Ikiryo: She holds Khaira back quietly.
(12:41:43 PM) Earthflame: Khaira kisses her forehead softly... Closing her eyes, sensing the soul of the woman close beside her...
(12:43:22 PM) Ikiryo: Her soul slow and and quiet and sad...
(12:49:01 PM) Earthflame: "You need to sleep, love... You'll feel better after." Khaira raises a hand, the smallest bell singing its sweet song... Ranna ringing out as she holds Lily White with her other hand, half-remembered lullabye flowing from her lips, calling her to sleep, to dream, to heal...
(12:52:50 PM) Ikiryo: She offers Khaira a small smile...and slowly slumps into sleep.
(12:53:56 PM) Earthflame: Khaira closes her eyes... Not sleeping, but not moving away... Holding her, being there for her, giving her what strength she can... Knowing there are far greater battles yet to come.