"I know its Ranger stuff," Felix said stubbornly folding his arms over his chest , "But I'm going."
"Actually, we are going." Carlisle put his foot down, "As I understand it the wolves have their stake in it as well. So ladies I suggest you get acclimated to this situation change as quickly as possible."
"We don't want loose cannon like this Camtamin loose for long," Embry said trying not to look at Destiny focusing on Nikki instead.
"Fine." Raina decided getting up from the table, "Thanks, Esme I think you topped yourself."
She laughed, "I wasn't sure at first you actually tasted any of what you ate."
Raina laughed on her way up the stairs shaking her head as she closed the door almost on Alice's nose even as she let her sisters in.
"I have something for you two, from Dulcea." She said quietly reaching for a bag, "The last time she and I met she gave me these." She said pulling out two oil skin wrapped items. "They have ever been yours, only you were not until now ready to have them."
Leaving the twins to unwrap their gifts knowing what they were Raina reached for her own supplies, selecting some and lifting one item out of the pile to set aside as she changed into something she had been sure she'd never wear again. It was painful in a way to pull on the traditional warrior's garb again, it wasn't even how revealing it was that made it uncomfortable, it was the memories attached to it. She smiled faintly still able to hear her friend's voices and remembered what Tarna had said, lifting her cloak from the bed as she turned picking up a last item smiling as her sisters seemed momentarily stunned by what their mother had sent them.
Nikki held a long, thin blade of shining silver sheathed in a purple wrap that had etched in Phaedosean "The Blade of Fire" – picked to match Nikki's fiery independent spirit while Destiny held in her hands a nearly identical blade but for the etching which she was examining.
"The Blade of the Unwavering." She murmured smiling a bit, "Mom called us that – you were always so full of spirit and me unmovable" she chuckled looking at Nikki, "Guess this means we finally grew up."
"That and we're not letting Raina face him down alone." Nikki nodded in agreement frowning a bit, "Let's go see what she's up to."
Downstairs Raina was aware that all eyes were on her tilting her head, "Like I'm going to face him in anything but." She replied pulling on the loose comfortable Jedi trainee's dark brown robe and adjusted the hood before looking to Jasper before walking to him hearing her sisters on the stairs. "Nikki, I don't know how to say it other than in our tongue would you ah – help?" she asked sheepishly.
Nikki nodded, remembering that Raina didn't always know the words she wanted in English but in their native tongue she could speak fluidly, "Of course, you say it and pause every so often and I'll translate it."
As Raina began speaking she reached around her neck pulling apart the silver chain, revealing the shining tiger's paw gripping tightly an ice-blue prism placing it in his hands.
"I have looked for many years for a way to die, in battle, in an accident, even being in dark enough moods to consider taking my own life," Nikki began to translate, her voice trembling "Now, on a planet so different from my home I find myself finding a reason to live. I do not know what sunrise will bring, but I go into this fight with the hope that on the other side will be you… Alice… and the others." Nikki finished battling tears and failing as she felt Felix's arms wrap around her shoulders. "It is our custom that a warrior give something of themselves to one person whom they love, that their spirit can find its way home." Destiny's voice echoed the last words as Jasper sat stunned saved by Alice, as she often did.
"We'll look after it and you come home." She said wrapping her hand around the pendant over Jaspers her golden eyes glinting a bit.
Raina nodded as she pulled her hood up over her head reaching with a hand for her staff as she looked over her shoulder hearing the others getting up.
"You don't really think you get to go to the gallows alone do you?" Jasper drawled handing Alice one of her jackets.