(12:35:57 PM) Ikiryo: There is darkness...and then Khaira finds herself in the river, cold and dark...
(12:38:10 PM) Khaira: Tumbling, splashing, struggling for purchase... The wave of necromantic energy had cast her deep, and if she didn't find her footing- If she had a heart, it would be racing, but she takes a moment to try to calm herself... She needed to know where she was to know what kind of danger she was in... And she was weak. This deep in death, she could run into something she couldn't fight in this
(12:38:10 PM) Khaira: state... It would send her past the Ninth Gate... Or worse.
(12:41:21 PM) Ikiryo: Judging by the deep water and the swift current...she's likely in the fourth precinct. It is relatively safe...but rather deep.
(12:42:07 PM) Khaira: Steadying herself... Less bad than she feared, then... That much power, she would have guessed she'd been in the seventh, or even deeper... She pauses, glancing up into the skies of death... Was the Heron up there watching over her?
(12:43:43 PM) Ikiryo: As she manages to get to her feet she notices two things of note. The first is the heron in the starry sky above...and the second is a familiar figure nearby, a neon blue haired girl with a faint patina of blue scales here and there on her cheeks, looking more like tattoos than real scales.
(12:44:35 PM) Khaira: "Adelinda... No!" Khaira's eyes widen. If she was this deep in Death... It was probably too late for her to go back... She makes her way over to her quickly... There was still a chance...
(12:46:25 PM) Ikiryo: Adelinda is crouched, not actively fighting the current but holding steady against it. Her skin is pale and she's shivering...
(12:47:48 PM) Khaira: Moving to touch her, to get a sense from that contact. "Adelinda? Can you hear me?" She glances around again, wary.... Even against lesser dead, in her weakened state it might be hard to protect someone... Although, if she was truly dead... she quells thoughts of her duty for the moment. She had to talk to her, at least...
(12:49:25 PM) Ikiryo: Feeling a spirit under her touch...and a sense of death. Adelinda looks up. "K-Khaira? What happened?"
(12:50:15 PM) Khaira: "...Nerull was too strong." She feels tears stain her cheeks, as she wraps her arms around her. "I'm... I'm sorry..."
(12:52:23 PM) Ikiryo: Adelinda looks about. "I'm...d..." She bites her lip. "Is North alright?"
(12:53:41 PM) Khaira: "...If she wasn't, she'd probably be here... I think she survived." She nods... Unable to contain a sob, squeezing the other girl tightly... Glancing up at that Heron again, wondering. If Chlorr truly reigned over death... Unlike the Raven Queen, she had been willing to bend its rules. Was it possible? Something insides her screams it's wrong, that she couldn't even consider it... But it had
(12:53:41 PM) Khaira: never been so close before, so intense... So tempting.
(12:55:29 PM) Ikiryo: "I...I guess..." Adelinda can't finish her words, breaking down crying in Khaira's grip.
(12:56:23 PM) Khaira: Khaira just holding her... Trying to stay alert, to watch out... But mostly just holding her tightly, tears falling into the dark, swift flowing waters of the river.
(12:57:32 PM) Ikiryo: "I'm...North is going to be so sad. Can...can you tell her I'm sorry and...it's alright?" She bites her lip. "I...I'd rather she think that I'm content."
(12:59:03 PM) Khaira: "You shouldn't be sorry... It's not your fault..." Khaira strokes her hair, sniffling. "...Nobody knows what's beyond the Ninth Gate, but... But I believe it's something good, Adelinda." She hesitates though, glancing up again... A murmured prayer passing her lips... Just to see if she would answer...
(12:59:31 PM) Ikiryo: Feeling, for a moment, a gentle hand on her shoulder...
(1:00:18 PM) Ikiryo: "North is...north is going to be hurting. She's lot a lot already...can you please be there for her? I...I don't think I can go unless I know she'll be alright."
(1:01:01 PM) Khaira: "Of course I will, Adelinda... She's my friend... I'll be with her, no matter what..." She trails off, squeezing her, glancing up at the stars again... A tremor in her voice as she begins to speak. "I... There is something I could try, Adelinda. Death is... Different, now. Things might not be so... Rigid..." Part of her Knows it's wrong, but...
(1:03:45 PM) Ikiryo: ...and Adelinda flicks her in the head. "Khaira...I've seen what happens to spirits that stay when they should be dead. We've fought a lot of them. I...I don't want to be like that. I fucked up ever proving myself...but I want to at least die well, if I can't live well." She sobs out.
(1:05:31 PM) Khaira: "You did live well, Adelinda... You were a hero... You helped bring down the shade of Nerull... That's an achievement as mighty as any of the Dragon King's daughters." She squeezes her tightly again. "And she, Chlorr... She was a Greater Dead, without harming mortals. She usurped the Raven Queen, but she also saved my life. She wasn't Evil, even if she wasn't of Life." She hesitates again,
(1:05:31 PM) Khaira: and then sighs. "...You're right. I'm being foolish. It's just... I've never wanted it so much before... I have so much power over Death... Why couldn't I use it to save someone?"
(1:06:51 PM) Ikiryo: "Before I met you guys...I wanted to be famous, to have mum and dad be proud of me...I'll never get that chance but...I'm glad it was me, not North."
(1:08:17 PM) Khaira: "They will be proud of you, Adelinda." She squeezes her hands tightly. "They'll know... We'll make sure of it."
(1:09:39 PM) Ikiryo: "Thank you." She hugs back. "I'd have liked to have been there for that but...thank you."
(1:10:32 PM) Khaira: "...I'll stay with you, Adelinda... I'll get you to the Ninth Gate safely... It's the only thing I can do."
(1:11:05 PM) Ikiryo: "Thank you..." She sniffles.
(1:11:52 PM) Khaira: She squeezes her hand again. "...We should get moving. It's a long journey... But you won't walk alone." She offers her a weak smile.
(1:12:29 PM) Ikiryo: Adelinda nods. "Can...can you help me up? I don't feel very strong."
(1:14:25 PM) Khaira: She nods, getting Adelinda's arm over her shoulder, hoisting her up... Staggering a moment, and then gritting her teeth... She Had to do this... With whatever strength she had. It was too important, she couldn't abandon her... There were things in Death that might try to waylay her, powerful enough that even a death ward might not be enough to protect her. If the showed up... She might not be
(1:14:25 PM) Khaira: able to do much either. But she had to try.
(1:16:00 PM) Ikiryo: ...and then she hears a plaintive mew from behind her...
(1:16:35 PM) Khaira: Frowning at that, turning around in confusion...
(1:17:48 PM) Ikiryo: Spotting a familiar little cat, just standing on the water of the river, a faint golden glow about them. They...don't look dead...
(1:18:32 PM) Khaira: "...Doppler? What are you?" They were holy cats, but... How was it so deep in Death? She turns to let Adelinda see it too, staring in wonder...
(1:19:29 PM) Ikiryo: Adelinda is staring...as Doppler pads up to the pair...and tries to pull Adelinda back, without much success. Doppler lets out a very sad mew as they stare up at the pair.
(1:20:54 PM) Khaira: Khaira sniffles... Reaching down to pet it. "You're such a pure soul, Doppler..."
(1:21:31 PM) Ikiryo: Doppler returns to trying to pull Adelinda back, despite a complete lack of success...
(1:22:26 PM) Khaira: "I'm sorry... That isn't how it works... But at least you're here to say goodbye..." she squeezes Adelinda gain... Helping the weakened girl get a hand to his fur... It was a comfort, at least, before the long journey ahead of them...
(1:22:58 PM) Ikiryo: Doppler frowns...and bites Khaira on the hand, pouting up at her.
(1:23:22 PM) Khaira: "Ow!" She flinches back. "I... What do you want from me? There's nothing I can do..."
(1:24:05 PM) Ikiryo: The little kitten returns to trying to pull Adelinda back towards life. Adelinda looks down at them and gently pets them, sniffling.
(1:25:16 PM) Khaira: Khaira pulling back... Letting the cat try, and letting Adelinda spend time with Doppler... She knew they were close... Just keeping watch, to make sure nobody interrupted the chance for their goodbye...
(1:26:38 PM) Ikiryo: ...and then the kitten stops, frowning. They look up at Khaira and let out a sobbing mew, confused and sad.
(1:27:11 PM) Khaira: Fresh tears mark her cheeks. "I... I can't do anything..."
(1:28:17 PM) Ikiryo: Doppler nods and takes a deep breath...and breathes out, the light about them starting to fade...Khaira watching as death flows into the kitten, like a small flame starting to go out...
(1:28:49 PM) Khaira: And her eyes widen. "...What?" This was unlike anything she'd seen before...
(1:29:40 PM) Ikiryo: ...and a very mundane looking kitten spirit falls into the water, not able to stay above the water any more...
(1:30:11 PM) Khaira: Khaira quickly catches it up, gathering it in her arms... Holding Doppler up as her eyes follow that light...
(1:31:52 PM) Ikiryo: Feeling the same senstion she got from Adelinda...that of a departed soul...as the light flows into Adelinda, a golden spark igniting in her and starting to chase away the darkness. Weak but enduring...
(1:32:39 PM) Khaira: Khaira can only stare... Even for all she knew of Death, this... This was a miracle.
(1:33:20 PM) Ikiryo: Doppler mews again, gesturing towards life with thier head...looking very tired.
(1:33:51 PM) Khaira: Khaira starts to walk, holding Doppler in one hand, reaching out to Adelinda with the other...
(1:34:53 PM) Ikiryo: Doppler bites her again...and gestures further into death before gently touching thier own chest with a paw. Then looking at Adelinda and towards life.
(1:36:05 PM) Khaira: "...I could take you to my Garden... I could give you a little time there, at least..." She pets the cat again, moving over to let Adelinda stroke it too... Knowing how this would end...
(1:36:32 PM) Ikiryo: Adelinda gently pets doppler, biting her lip and crying.
(1:36:39 PM) Ikiryo: "...please, let me take them. It is the least I can do." A gentle voice speaks up from nearby.
(1:37:20 PM) Khaira: Khaira blinks and turns around... She hadn't sensed a presence.
(1:38:37 PM) Ikiryo: Spotting a blonde haired woman in white and gold rokugani robes...her warm expression marred by horrible scars. Searing manacle marks around her wrists, jagged scars across her skin and faint traces of blood around her lips and eyes. Despite that, however, for a moment it feels like day even this deep in death.
(1:39:51 PM) Khaira: "..." Khaira trembles, almost falling to her knees. "...Amaterasu... Pelor." She pauses another moment, and then steps forward... Offering the spirit of Doppler up into the arms of the God. "I'm so happy they were able to save you..."
(1:42:32 PM) Ikiryo: "...and I am saddened by the cost that was paid doing so." She shakes her head as she tenderly takes the spirit of Doppler in her arms. "Please, allow me to balance the scales in at least some small way."
(1:43:23 PM) Khaira: Khaira smiles, scritching Doppler between the ears one last time. "...I'm sure he'll be happy with you."
(1:44:29 PM) Ikiryo: "I will be honored to have such a brave spirit with me, if only for a time." Doppler nuzzles against Khaira's hand.
(1:45:18 PM) Khaira: "Thank you..." She smiles, crying again as she strokes Doppler... Turning and taking Adelinda's hand, bringing her forward... Khaira realised she was a little more used to dealing with gods than most people... She had one as a room mate...
(1:45:23 PM) Khaira: Well. An ex-one.
(1:49:41 PM) Ikiryo: The blonde woman smiles at Adelinda...taking her hand briefly...and the blonde haired woman's face disfigures as all the unnatural aging that had happened to Adelinda flows onto her, instead. "Do not tarry...even if I am here with the heron's blessing, this is not a place for the living. Do not make this sacrafice in vain."
(1:50:07 PM) Khaira: "...The Heron... She's helping us?"
(1:53:21 PM) Ikiryo: "She cannot aid you in returning the dead...but she can look aside from this place, for a little while."
(1:54:35 PM) Khaira: She nods.. "...I'll give her my thanks. And thank you again, for everything you've done..." She smiles, bowing deeply, giving Adelinda a moment to make her farewells... And leaning in to scritch Doppler again, planting a kiss on the little cats forehead.
(2:01:19 PM) Ikiryo: The kitten gives her and adelinda a kiss on the cheek, the dragonblooded girl crying loudly.
(2:02:42 PM) Khaira: Khaira getting Adelinda's arm over her shoulder again. "Come on... We have to get you back to life... To honour his sacrifice..." She spares a glance back to Pelor and Doppler... Wondering if she'd ever see something like that again...
(2:03:26 PM) Ikiryo: The maimed goddess gently holding the kitten as Khaira leaves death...