Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this period of recover… especially for the one who's bold.

~保護者~

"Something New"

~保護者~

With everything finally calming down and his friends understandably focused on other matters, Espio went ahead and slipped out of the house. He stayed on the property, however, just in case he was needed or wanted for anything else. Taking a seat on the roof, he pulled his communicator off of his wrist and texted Armaris. She had been given her own communicator very recently, but he suspected she fully understood how to use it by now. After all… she'd swiped his on more than one occasion by this point.

In brief words, he explained what had happened here (specifically the birth) and how and why, then finished it off by saying, "The child is healthy. They had a girl. I do not know whether or not to be concerned that someone as bratty as Toru is now a father."

Armaris replied rather quickly, likely doing nothing all too important at the moment. "That's amazing. You need to shoot me a picture sometime." A few seconds later, she sent another message. "Also, we need to talk here soon. Someone approached me and said they wanted to teach me magic or something."

"I do not think I will be needed here much longer," Espio responded. "We can talk about it when I return."

"Good. I miss you already. I believe I'm due some snuggling."

"I believe you will survive."

"Not if you're gone for too long. Get your ass over here when you can, and don't forget to get me a picture of that baby."

"I will do what I can, Armaris. As for the picture, Shadow and the baby are both asleep. I will not bother them now."

"No fun. I'll just have to go and see her myself if you take forever."

"You will do no such thing right now," Espio mildly chided her. "Shadow is far from being up to visitors right now. At various stages, it looked as though his life might wind up being taken during his ordeal. He and the baby were both in distress and both need rest."

"...Fuck. Well, I'll eventually see her I guess."

"You will," he assured her. "Now go rest. It is late and I will be home as soon as I can."

"Good. Make sure Toru is doing okay. He probably needs to get some rest, too."

"I will. Now go to sleep." Espio turned his communicator screen off at that point, hoping (perhaps in vain) that if he stopped responding to her texts for a bit she really would go get the rest she also needed. A few more texts came in from her, but ultimately his plan seemed to work as she stopped soon after.

Some more time passed after the cat apparently went to sleep. The silence was only interrupted by the front door opening. Someone soon joined him on the roof with an easy leap, taking a seat some distance away. Toru's father glanced over to Espio, an eyebrow raised. "Everything okay? You've been out here for a bit."

Espio immediately looked away once Caer spoke, eyes reflexively dropping so as to most effectively avoid eye contact. "...I am fine," he answered somewhat stiffly. He was uncomfortable to say the least, but for the most part he was able to hide it.

"You don't seem quite fine," Caer replied, turning his gaze away from Espio since he obviously didn't want to make eye contact. Espio wasn't sure how to reply to that, wasn't sure what manner of lie (not that he liked lying to begin with) would even work on this man. So he opted to fall back on silence as his answer. It was easiest, though not likely to be successful he knew. "You don't really like my company, either. Did I do something that bothers you?"

Espio shook his head and immediately refuted that assumption. "No. You did nothing."

Caer frowned at this, unsure exactly how to approach this for the moment. Soon, he found words to use. "If there's anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable, even if it was balancing on my head, I'll do it. I just don't want my kid's best friend to not feel okay around me."

"You do not need to do anything," Espio mumbled. He wanted to leave. What would happen if he did? It wasn't as though he believed he would be harmed, but he didn't want to upset this man somehow. That would almost certainly upset Toru.

Even if Toru hadn't just gone through the stress of having a child, upsetting him wouldn't have been something Espio would have wanted. Which… left him feeling stuck. If Caer was one to adhere closely to tradition, then he would see it as rude for Espio to abruptly leave. Which, in turn, would cause the aforementioned upset. Espio didn't know this man at all, beyond a few basic details such as the man's name. It would be far too easy to do something wrong here. He didn't like any of this, and it made him even more tense and uneasy. This is why I do not enjoy "socializing". People are far too complicated.

"...Would you rather talk to Toru? I can leave you be, but I did hope I could speak to you a bit." The older man frowned deeper at this, knowing full well that this was definitely getting a bit worse. Hoping to relax Espio, he added, "Of course, if having Toru up here would help, I can go get him."

Do what you want. I don't care. Rather than risk saying that aloud, Espio answered with a shrug and nothing more.

Caer took a gamble and simply teleported inside. After several seconds had passed, Toru appeared on the roof with him, the younger of the two walking over to Espio and kneeling down. "You okay, man?"

As usual, Espio had a much easier time talking to Toru than most others. He was able to reply immediately. "I'm fine," he said, turning his head away to dodge any eye-contact.

"Look, of all the people to lie to, you choose me?" Toru questioned. "What's going on, man? You know you can tell me pretty much anything."

"Leave it alone," Espio responded, standing up. He was suddenly more than willing to leave and go home. "It is nothing important." If anything, it's idiotic at best.

"You know I'm not gonna do that," Toru replied with his arms firmly crossed. "I don't like that feeling you're emanating."

Hearing that made Espio frown, mostly out of confusion. "Feeling"? What? "What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it. No good way to explain." Toru's response wasn't the least bit helpful. Espio decided not to press for something better, though. His friend had a family to get back to, and this was ridiculous. Espio dropped down off of the roof in preparation to leave. It was the only way he could think of to end this situation.

The door opened before he could leave fully and a young, female voice called out to him. "Hey, come here."

Pausing, Espio turned to see Myriu standing there. He didn't know the girl well, but they'd met a few times here and there. He didn't particularly want to talk anymore, but he relented soon with a sigh and walked over. "What?" he asked her.

"Did he say something you didn't like?" Myriu asked with a confused frown of her own. "What was it?"

"He did not say anything," Espio answered, suspecting she was referring to Caer. "To my understanding, he does not make a habit of saying unpleasant things to people."

Myriu blinked once before rolling her eyes. "Then why don't you like him? Kinda obvious that you don't wanna be near him. I could hear that from down here."

"You do not need to worry yourself over it," Espio told her.

"Then, you're saying I'm right. If it bugs you, you can talk about it," Myriu replied. "I'm not the best talker but you likely won't get anywhere with Toru around his dad."

I am not venting about my problems to a child. "Your offer is appreciated, but I will decline," Espio answered. "As I said, this is not something you need to be concerned about."

Myriu stared blankly at him, then let out a low groan. "Look, I've had to learn this lesson myself. Talk to someone."

He had no intention of doing that. Espio didn't bother arguing with her about it, though. Instead he just offered a noncommittal, "I will consider it."

"Yeah, sure. Totally not lying." Myriu stepped back inside the home and closed the door, apparently content to leave him be. With a glance in Toru's direction, Espio simply teleported back to the Highlands.

Up on the roof, Caer gave a small sigh. "I hope I haven't done anything to seriously bother him. Was always a good kid."

"It might have been something to do with when he was a kid," Toru explained after a moment. "I'll do what I can to help out, but for now just… please leave him be. If there's something bothering him, he needs less tension so he can focus on everything else."

There was a quiet few seconds before Caer nodded. "Gotcha. In the meantime, I'll just hang out around here, help out you and Shadow." He tried not to let on just how much this situation bugged him, but it wasn't well hidden in his expression. I hate that I might have upset him.

Toru nodded a bit and walked over to hug his father gently. "It's okay."

"Thank you," Caer replied gently, returning the hug ever so softly. He had a lot of thinking to do, but this was a nice reprieve from the thought of it. Hopefully I can fix this.

~保護者~

Still stuck in his physical form while Cere was away with Locke, Finis was doing his best to adapt to physically feeling things for once. He could feel the wind. The ground. His weight. His feathers and his skin. His shoes and socks. The temperature. On and on the list went. Thus, the longer and longer his list of grievances grew. How does anyone live like this?

In truth, he just didn't understand it. The only way he could be remotely comfortable, even while within his own realm as he was, was by levitating. At least that way he wasn't touching much of anything. It still didn't solve most of his problems, however. Problems which he was thankfully distracted from when he sensed Ghune's arrival nearby.

An instant later and she was at his side, gaze moving all over the realm as her eyes simply focused on anything that was around. "Things seem far calmer. Are you alright?" Finis nodded mutely. "Good. I am glad to see you have recovered."

Forced to rely on signs, Finis asked her, "Why do you appear upset?"

Ghune's gaze immediately shifted to him, intently locked on his eyes before giving a sigh. "My people were attacked. A multitude are dead and my civilization is destroyed to the point of not being properly habitable."

Finis instantly straightened. Unintentional though it had been, he'd been responsible for creating Ghune and, thus, her race. Hearing that they'd been attacked sent negative thoughts stabbing through him. "Who is responsible for this? Nareish?"

"I believe she is most directly responsible. Ryint was protected by the God of Runes, but Akol nearly perished. His lover did." Ghune took a second as a shiver of rage wracked her body, fists clenching. "I have been busy relocating my people to Babylon and preparing to revive the rest. I will likely be incapacitated for a time once I do, unless I am gifted with great aid."

Finis felt a strange, physical sensation of tension throughout his body. "...Utal is dead?" That had been another vampire he'd gotten to know well over the years. He supposed they were even friends to some degree.

Ghune didn't answer him, taking several moments to collect herself before she reacted harshly to her own emotions. "I am exhausted by all of this, but I cannot show weakness in front of a hurting people. Though they are independent as well, they look to me for my strength… but I do not know how much more I have left to show."

Soundlessly, Finis sighed. "Then rest here," he answered, "for as long as you need to. The night is deep here. Time passes very differently. You know this, and that this place is always open to you when you need it."

The woman took in a deep, slow breath and nodded. "I have one thing that must be done quickly. I intend to borrow your aid briefly, as well as one of the Immortals."

Although a bit wobbly and uncertain on his feet (still), Finis immediately stood. "What do you need?"

"Blood." Ghune replied simply. "Yours, and an Immortals. I need to borrow this kind of power to restore those who perished as well as recover some of my home."

Well, she'd certainly picked the ideal time to ask for that, all things considered. "Take what you need," Finis told her. "I doubt it will do me any harm. As for an Immortal, there should be three of them on New Babylon currently. Do not ask the green one. Nareish nearly killed him recently and he cannot spare what strength he has."

"I intend to ask them as a whole, seeing as I am an outsider to them. I simply must hope that they will be willing to aid me."

"It is my assumption that they will be," was the simple assurance.

The woman walked over and a claw grew from her index finger, poking into Finis's skin. "I can only hope. The queen was hospitable despite what I am."

"The Babylonians are generally like that," Finis explained for her benefit. He barely felt the prick. "While they will always defend themselves against threats, violently if necessary, they prefer to foster relationships and forge alliances instead. You would have to try rather hard to make them your enemies."

Ghune nodded a little. "My only worry was the disdain I receive for being a vampire. People do not often like that." The blood flowing over the claw ran along her finger and pooled up in her palm, coated in magic to preserve it. "I would have found somewhere, but being on a planet that is inhabited and can serve to protect my people is preferred in a situation like this."

"You will find no bias among their people," Finis told her, idly watching her work. "Or, at least, you will be hard-pressed to. Regardless, they will do what they can to help you and your people. I can assure you that much."

"My hope is to not need their help much further. Once I can restore my home, I will relocate them back." Ghune ran some fingers through her hair, allowing her body to relax. "Another vampire has been near… but I do not recognize them."

Dark eyes blinked slowly. While he didn't remember any interaction that may have taken place, he could easily sense who had been around. "She calls herself the Raven Queen," he said. "I have never pressed her for her true name."

Ghune's nose twitched and she frowned. "That scent..." Ryint has a raven with this same scent. What the hell? Finis, meanwhile, carefully sat back down once it was clear she was finished taking blood from him. "What does she do? I presume she lives here and that is why I have not come across her."

"She spends her time gathering information and allies," Finis shrugged. "Like most of your people, she is enigmatic. I have never attempted to learn much about her during our brief meetings."

"I believe she has been gathering information on me and my friends," Ghune muttered, peering her way into the distance of the realm. "I do not appreciate that."

"Then perhaps you can discuss that with her sometime," he shrugged again.

"'Discuss'." Ghune let out a soft sigh and looked back to Finis fully. "So, you're doing okay, right?"

"More or less," Finis signed. "Adjusting to this form is unpleasant, however. I do not understand how beings like yourself tolerate having 'weight' and being able to touch things."

"It's a matter of being used to it," Ghune replied easily. "You live in a state of near intangibility."

"I am aware. My point is merely that it is the only thing preventing me from being fully fine." Finis briefly reflected that he'd be even more fine if Cere was still there with him, but that was a thought he shooed away. He refused to pull her from her current activity… if it could be called that.

"Reasonable. In time I assume you will return to your normal state." Ghune's body faded into a fog of sorts. "I must go to Babylon. If you have need of me, you need only call."

"Same to you."

Ghune vanished through a portal and made her way into the palace on New Babylon, reforming her body as she returned to the medical ward. The three Immortals were still here, and she was quick to approach. "I dislike asking for help twice, but I am in a situation where I must."

"What do you need?" Alana asked, trading a look with Jet while he sat himself up. Sein perked a little, waiting to see what she said.

"A number of my people perished when my home was attacked. I intend to resurrect them, but…" Ghune glanced away, sighing at the fact that she'd need to admit this. "I don't have the energy to do it alone. If I try, I may collapse and not wake for days. I came to ask if I could borrow even a drop of blood from one of you."

Alana didn't even think twice. "Of course we will help," she murmured. "You and your people did not deserve to suffer like you did. This is the very least we can do." She cast a look at Akol, who had been asleep since the last time Ghune had been in here. Even now, Alana could still feel the man's pain and grief… and Ghune's.

Sein nodded easily. "Though we don't know you well, it's obvious that you care. I can feel your intention." He smiled a little, trying to lighten things a touch. "I'll help however I can."

"Please, do whatever it is you must," Alana invited. "You have mine and my husband's full permission." Jet, for his part, stayed silent. He wasn't well enough to help with any of this and he knew it.

Out of comfort, and for the fact that she had interacted with Alana most, Ghune approached her and held out a clawed finger. "I will extract a small amount of blood from you, and the wound will heal moments later. If either of you desire to accompany me to ensure I use this for the purpose I speak of, you are free to come along, though it is a grisly sight."

Alana offered a small smile in an effort to reassure her. "I will not require proof. You strike me as the sort to keep your word, and therefore I am prepared to trust you." She held out an arm for Ghune.

Ghune paused for a moment. It was rare that she was so immediately trusted, but she took it in stride and soon pressed her claw into Alana's arm like she had Finis's, collecting nothing more than a few drops of her blood. Once she was done, the vampire rubbed her thumb over the wound and closed it. "There. That should be all I need. I cannot express my thanks enough, but should you need my aid, I will come."

"We will do the same if you need us," Alana murmured. "For now, we will watch over your friend while you work. If he wakes again before you return, we will find a way to contact you."

She merely nodded and vanished back to her world. Really, she'd been distracted enough that she had taken more than anticipated. Rather than use all of the Immortal blood, Ghune stored some of it in a vial within her cloak and took the rest for her spell. Perhaps it would become useful later, or she would return it. Now wasn't the time to think about that.

The blood pooled in the palm of her right hand, Ghune allowed her mind to briefly succumb to her own magic. The carefully laid bodies were wreathed in black wisps of magic and quickly encompassed. One by one, the corpses rose from the ground they had rested upon and got to their feet. There was untold amounts of confusion, something that was cleared from each individual as they saw Ghune.

It didn't take long for Ghune to resume her leadership, telling the group of newly revived individuals where they needed to go for safety since their home was no longer safe. Of course, some briefly left to try and retrieve any valuables or personal possessions they could collect, while others simply went to New Babylon to try and find their families once more.

Ghune was pleased that they were not dependent on her, but it didn't ease the pain she felt. They had died. She, their leader, wasn't present to protect them. It hurt her greatly, but in the end she conceded that it wasn't her fault. If she had been here at the time of the attack, she may well have perished too. Rather than dwell on what could have been, Ghune finally returned to her castle. The thing was in ruins.

Tears were shed as she sorted her way through the rubble. All of her hard work... destroyed in the short time it took Nareish to also kill her people. It filled her with so much rage and pain that she didn't know how to cope with. Stone crumbled to dust in her hands until she found what she was looking for. She had thought ahead well enough to prepare her potion glasses to not break, though it didn't save them all. Various liquids and chemicals had leaked out from shattered containers, as well as some having been too violently shaken to be viable anymore. She only needed a few, and of course she could make more later when she found the equipment.

Stowing away a few of the remaining concoctions she had created, the woman stood upright and let out a slow, long breath to steady her nerves. Every sense was on high alert, most likely due to her emotions. Letting them get out of hand would result in rash decisions and poor judgment. The woman ran her hands over her face and let her fingers comb through her hair. Ghune's muscles relaxed with an exhale and left her trembling.

Though she was tired, this had gone on long enough. Her people were alive, relocated, and as safe as she could get them to be. Black Doom was (hopefully) resting, but Shadow was about to give birth. It dawned on the vampire that perhaps the baby was already born, but she was going to discover that soon enough for herself. With that in mind, she teleported away.

~保護者~

Though he still felt drowsy and numb, Jet reached for his communicator not too long after waking up. Doctors checked him over to make sure he was healing alright, as per usual, while his parents dozed in chairs nearby. Kath seemed to be passed out in a bed behind them. That meant Jet was left to his own devices once the doctors were done. Steam had asked him to send a message the next time he woke up. Yawning, Jet did just that, though he didn't pay much attention to what he wrote. Just something brief that he was pretty sure was coherent and had no spelling errors. Then he set the communicator down and allowed his heavy eyelids to drift shut again.

It turned out that he'd dozed back off. The next thing he was aware of was blearily opening his eyes and checking the time on his communicator. He had to check a couple times before he could manage to comprehend it. Nearly a full hour had passed since he'd sent his message. He had received a reply by now, so he opened it up.

"You feeling okay?" it read. "Not like you to type like that."

"I'm just tired," Jet answered truthfully while stifling a yawn.

Steam responded quickly. "As long as that's all it is. I have to assume something has happened in the time I've been gone. Anything going on?"

"Kath's age was reversed again," Jet replied. "We're estimating that he's under a year old in our years. Somewhere between nine and ten months is my best guess. Grandmother and T'alo won't wake up from sleep, either."

"...Huh. That's odd. Has anything else happened regarding that?"

"No, nothing."

Did Steam seem relieved? It sort of appeared that way. "Good. The focus will need to be on one of two things. Another Immortal learning Time powers or somehow prompting Kath to figure out how to do it himself… And I only make that guess because we don't have another real choice besides maybe Chaos."

"Another Immortal cannot simply learn those powers," Jet was quick to argue. "Just as no other Immortal could ever learn to use the Void."

"That's the point I was trying to make, yeah," Steam said. "Who is watching Kath?"

"Different people have been taking turns."

"Fair," was the simple reply. "Who is watching him now?"

Jet yawned again, rubbed his eyes, then looked around. Soon, he straightened. His parents were both dozing in the room, but neither of them had Kath. Stretching out his senses, he soon learned that Arkiri also didn't. But before he could grow too concerned, he sensed a familiar aura. He relaxed again and typed out a reply. "Cyril is. I don't know when he got here, but Kath is with him."

"As often as possible, let Kath stay with Cyril," Steam instructed. "That guy is always an enigma and will likely start being one of our strongest trump cards against Nareish. Not to mention he's great with children and gets along with Kath well."

"Fine. I'll let people know." Jet laid back down. Much to his relief, he noticed that the movement didn't hurt nearly as much as it had hours earlier. "That aside, why did you want to talk to me earlier?"

His question was answered with another question. "First off, how's the recovery going? I'm guessing you're a bit more awake now, yeah?"

"I feel more awake, yes," Jet answered. "Things seem to hurt less, so I suppose that bodes well."

"Good. How's the Void doing?"

Blue eyes idly glanced toward the being in question. "It seems to be fine. For now, it's just resting again. It's odd the way it looks, though. The timing of it, that is. It's taking on a more distinct form right now. Normally it's little more than a vague shadow."

"Odd, but nothing wrong with that. Glad to hear it's resting." There was a slight pause. Then, "Your parents okay?"

"I have to assume they are. They're dozing a bit." Jet quickly switched the conversation back on track. "Was there not something more serious you wanted to discuss?"

"There was, but I like knowing how people are doing. Currently, I'm in the Realms of Death with Saran, Analia's grandfather. He was revived and wants to see Kaden." Again, that slight pause. "Sorry for my lack of focus with all of this going on."

That… was quite a lot to digest from such a short sentence. It was something that warranted further questioning, but Steam still hadn't answered his previous one. "At least attempt to focus, Steam. You haven't told me what you needed to talk to me about, and now I have other people I need to talk to."

"My bad," the hedgehog typed back in what may have been a sheepish manner. He proceeded without further delay. "Once you're up and moving around, I want you to gather these people. Shadow, Kath (assuming he's recovered from being turned into a child), Wave, Espio, and Rose. They are Immortals and will require guidance from you and your parents. They all deserve to know who else they are now kin to, and you are the oldest and most knowledgeable Immortal alive. I may send you the name of one other… but they haven't ascended to that status yet. I'll keep watch on that matter."

"Understood," Jet typed back, almost sighing. This is getting complicated… and dangerous. Nareish is nothing if not observant, persistent, and set in her ways. Even if she doesn't know now that these people are turning into Immortals, she will soon. From that point, it will only be a matter of time before the hunt is on once again. He gritted his teeth for a moment and then sent another message. "Tell me of any and all others, Steam. I need to know now so that I can keep my eye on them. I refuse to allow Nareish to be the only other person out there monitoring the people in question."

"Keep an eye on these people," Steam responded. "I don't know who all will actually get to this point. Black Doom, Saethrim, Teyan, Han, Sonic, and just as a precaution… watch Cyril. I highly doubt he'll become one, but the rest are all very possible."

Jet frowned. "Even I cannot open portals to the Realms of Death, Steam. I possess no Darkness, nor have I discovered any Immortal abilities that would allow me to go there. This means I cannot watch over Han in any capacity right now."

"You're right. I'll remedy that issue as soon as I can, but for now, the others need to be watched." Steam seemed to think for a minute before continuing. "Saethrim especially, as he has a bad tendency to wrap himself up in danger. I don't want us to find out while he's blindly reacting to his rage."

"I know nothing of the man," Jet was quick to remind him. "If there are other issues I need to be made aware of, now is the time. For one thing, I have no way of knowing what may send him into a rage."

"Saethrim is, for all intents and purposes, like a wild animal," Steam explained. "He will respond harshly if he feels that his home, his territory, or his love interest are in danger. I don't see a reason you would ever spark his temper, but he doesn't hide his emotions. I believe even you would be able to tell if he's upset."

Unlikely. Rathering than share that thought, Jet just sent a noncommittal, "Alright."

"In the case of Black Doom, have Saethrim or Ghune speak to him. Ghune is a vampire, so I might recommend speaking to Saethrim instead if you have had a bad encounter with her kind."

"I have had my encounters with vampires, but I know most of them are not like the individuals I once met. If I happen to see her first, I will speak to her." Jet shifted a little to get more comfortable when a small ache made itself known. "Regardless, what makes you think he of all beings will become an Immortal?" It wasn't that Black Doom was "undeserving" or whatever, but it did seem… odd, perhaps? He wasn't sure. Maybe it was just the medicine still making him a bit slow on the uptake.

Steam typed back rather quickly. "There are a lot of positions that must be filled. More or less, there will soon be Immortals to keep watch over things like the existential energies as you know, as well as magic and mythical creatures. Black Doom would essentially govern animals and animal-like beings, mythical or otherwise, while Saethrim handles mythical creatures in general. Han or Cyril would govern magic… That sort of thing."

That made enough sense. "Alright," Jet replied again. "Is there anything else?"

"Are you aware of Cyril's unusual power?" Steam asked him.

"He has a number of those," was the dry response. "Most are magical, and everyone and their brother knows about them by now."

"Right, but I wanted to know if you noticed something even more unusual." Steam told him. "I suppose mentioning it to you specifically isn't a big deal, but he has a luck power."

"If you want specific answers, ask specific questions," Jet told him, quoting Kaden directly. This was something the man had said on many occasions in the past. "I know about that ability, but you left your question vague enough that you could have been referring to any number of oddities."

Steam took a few seconds longer than usual to type out his next message. "Bad habit of mine. My bad. Make sure Cyril doesn't get too acclimated with it personally. He has a habit of accidentally stepping into deep water. Luck can only protect him so much, and he won't realize that until he's in that situation. Just let him know it won't protect from everything."

"No one can prevent him from acclimating to an ability he has," Jet said. "It will happen naturally no matter what anyone says or does. Speaking to him about acting with caution is doable, but it will not prevent acclimation in any capacity."

"I more meant that once he knows about it," Steam warned, "he may rely on it too much instead of using his common sense. He's likely to get wrapped up in knowing he can help people without stopping to think if he should. Tends to be way too willing to put his life on the line."

"Regardless, there is only so much that can be done," the hawk reminded him. "He will make his own choices in the end, as we all do. Wave or I will speak with him, but we neither can nor will try to force him to act how we want."

There was yet another pause before Steam gave an answer, but it soon came. "Good. That should be everything for now, and I plan on checking on a few people once I get Saran to Kaden."

While that was all fine and good, Jet had one final thing to bring up. "I have one more question before you go. To your knowledge, is Nareish going to remain interested in Shadow even now that Gerald is dead? He is under my protection. If he remains in danger from her, I need to know."

"Yes. As you know, he's one of the few living Black Arms mixed with another race, and he's descended from Kaden and Black Doom. Now he's a vampire with intense magical prowess, ridiculous combat ability, and is likely to give birth to a baby like him. She will not lose her interest."

Damn it all. Some naive part of Jet had hoped Steam wouldn't say something like this. Clearly that had been foolish. "Alright," he said for the third time, despite how much he often reminded people that he hated repeating himself. "Go do whatever you were doing with Saran. I will not keep you longer."

"It should be wrapped up soon. When I leave, I'll check on Tails and the others and let you know how they're doing before making more preparations. Assuming Tara doesn't kill me for vanishing without warning again." Jet sent another vague agreement of sorts. "Rest well, Jet. When you're up on your feet, shoot me another message."

"I will. If things go well, I should be allowed to leave the bed by tomorrow." Jet let himself indulge in a tentative stretch, then set his communicator aside. There was nothing else for him to do right now except talking to other people and trying to sleep the last of the meds off. It seemed that the best plan was to do the latter first, so he closed his eyes. Further texts and calls could hopefully wait another hour or two. At least, if he was lucky.

~保護者~

For the time being, Teyan and Eona were taking a much-needed break from reviving people. Neither of them had any prior experience with doing this, and so their endurance wasn't quite what either would have liked. They had taken a few smaller breaks here and there, like when Eona had gone to tell Kial about Vun or when Teyan and Ythene had taken time to try and help Ylden with Han. Those just weren't enough for them to reclaim their energy.

Eona had left to do… whatever it was she tended to spend her time doing. Ythene was off observing existence as always. That left Teyan alone within her realm. She didn't like that. We're finally free after all those millenia, and yet here we are… not traveling anywhere. Ever. Sighing, she closed her eyes and flopped onto her back on the ground with her arms spread out.

If I had the energy, I'd be out of here in a heartbeat. Hell, I'd take a tour of Nareish's realm right this second if it meant being able to leave this place for a while. In truth, she knew she wouldn't do that. The sentiment remained true regardless, however. She just wanted some excitement. Something different and new to experience after so long. Was that really so much to ask?

An incredible burst of rainbow magic exploded within the realm out of the blue, almost as if in answer to her thoughts. It was closely followed by a loud cry of surprise and a thud nearby. This caused Teyan to jump up and whip around to face the source of the energy and noise. It was a yellow finch, face down on the ground in a small crater created by his sudden impact. Within the next couple of seconds, the man was up on his feet and brushing himself off. "That's never happened. One minute I'm traveling back to Mobius to check on everyone and the next I'm… surrounded by… what?" He completely missed the sight of Teyan nearby, examining the sky with an observant gaze. "Feels like… Sonic?"

Hearing the name of her potential future successor caused Teyan's faintly glowing eyes to widen. Just like that, she was grinning. "You know him?" she demanded. "If that's the case, I simply must know your name and what that strange magic of yours is."

Cyril yelped and jumped at the sound, rolling back and summoning up a quarterstaff of magic. This evoked a short laugh and a placating hand motion from Teyan in response. After a moment, the finch relaxed and let the defense he'd summoned vanish from his hands, rubbing the back of his head. "My bad. I, uh… don't really know where I am or what's happening. Name's Cyril, and I'm the God of Magic."

"You are?" she questioned in surprise. "My, I wasn't expecting that." Teyan put a hand on her chin thoughtfully, then gestured widely around them. "My name is Teyan. Welcome, Cyril, to the Realm of Chaos. You are among the only visitors my home has ever seen."

"Oh! That'd explain why I don't recognize anything about this place!" Cyril exclaimed suddenly, walking up and offering up a hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Teyan, and I'm honored to be one of your first visitors!"

Though unsure what to make of the offered hand, Teyan went ahead and lightly grasped it after a moment's delay. She offered him a fresh smile. "I suppose you have your magic to thank for why you're even here," she said. "Nothing here will overtly harm newcomers, but even so the energy in the air can be a bit… much for most. Magic makes people resilient to much, however."

Cyril grinned and shrugged, letting go of her hand. "I'm a man of magic, so I'm not surprised that that's the case." He lied as naturally as he breathed, seeing as he did not know this. "I'm quite fond of my new abilities since I got them, so I can't really be disappointed that they've let me meet someone as pleasant as you."

"Do not get too flowery with your words," Teyan warned jokingly. "I may be tempted to keep you here for my own amusement, you know."

Cyril nonchalantly pulled a card from one of his decks and flicked it up above her head, causing it to activate and form a crown of ice on her. "I'm an amusing man, as many might say. Perhaps even entertaining!"

Teyan blinked and took the crown off long enough to examine it, then put it back atop her head. "So I can see. What are those little objects in your hand?"

Though he didn't quite expect that as a question, there wasn't even a hint of hesitation before he answered. "Playing cards. You can do all sorts of games and tricks with them, but in my hands they become magical and let me use elements such as fire and ice." How did I make that crown? I've never been able to control these…

Only after absorbing all of this information did Teyan reply. "That word is foreign to me. Are 'cards' common where you come from?" She looked around. "As you can see… there isn't much of anything here. This vast emptiness and swirling energy all I have known for much of my existence."

Oh my god, that's sad. Cyril immediately snatched up one of her hands and stared at her. "You are totally going to have to go on a tour of Mobius and Babylon with me someday. I cannot allow you to keep living without seeing all of the amazing things that exist in our universe."

This time, Teyan didn't immediately smile at him. She was sort of stunned into a brief silence. "I… have seldom ever set foot outside of this realm," she said slowly. "I have never set foot on a planet before."

"That's why you have to try it," Cyril replied immediately. "You never know what you're missing out on until you try. For all you know, your next favorite thing is some place you've never been and you don't find out until you're actually there."

"You are… serious about this," Teyan observed. She mustered up some of her usual courage, as well as the determination and desire from earlier in the day, and managed to resume smiling. "I suppose I cannot refuse, in that case."

"You good to go now? I was already heading back to Mobius, so this could be a perfect time to show you around." Cyril said, letting his tone and posture relax. As much as he wanted to do this, he had no intention of making her feel pressured to follow along.

With one last look around her home, Teyan nodded. "Yes, now would be the best time. I'm on a break of sorts from a rather… daunting task. I could use the distraction, you could say." Before they could leave, however, she focused her energies to transition her body from one of mostly energy to one that was physical in nature. Like this, it was clear that she most closely resembled a Tokarian, just one that had an ambiguously "exotic" look of sorts. Her fur was white, but the tips shimmered faintly with a rainbow of colors.

The finch blinked twice at the sight before simply smiling and nodding. "Awesome. As long as you're all good to go." Cyril turned and waved a hand, opening a portal back to Mobius to gently lead her through. "I'm super sure you're going to love this."

"I will trust your judgement," she agreed easily. With her own free hand, she gestured for him to lead the way.

Without hesitation, he did. They appeared in the sky above the planet, Cyril tightening his grip on her hand and creating a platform for them to stand on just in case she couldn't fly. "This… is Mobius. My home planet, and the place I've spent so much of my life trying to defend," the finch explained.

It immediately struck Teyan as unusual (though not unpleasant) that this world was so bright and warm. What held her attention more, however, were these massive, white, fluffy things surrounding them. She had no idea what they were, only that they looked soft. When she reached out to try to touch one, she realized she couldn't. My hand goes right through it. Perplexed, she looked down instead. Everything below was… green. "What… is all of this?"

A bright little smile broke onto Cyril's face and he chuckled. "What you just tried to touch was a cloud. A collection of water and dust. What's below us, the green stuff, is called grass." He wordlessly teleported them both down to the surface, away from any cities, and let go of her hand.

Teyan immediately bent down to touch the grass and was delighted by how soft and cool it felt. Pleased beyond words, she let herself flop down onto her back and laugh. She held the crown in place with threads of Chaos. "This is amazing."

Cyril got an idea in his head and flopped down beside her, letting his magic stimulate the earth around them and spring up with flowers all around them. "I'm glad you think so. There's a ton of other cool stuff to show you, but we'll take it one thing at a time."

Using one hand, Teyan reached out and lightly touched the petals of one flower. "These I've seen before," she said. "My sister brought me one once, long ago. She felt the need to bring me a gift when she went exploring." Removing her hand, she asked, "Is there truly that much out there that neither she nor I have experienced?"

"Definitely," he assured in an instant. "I've already got a ton of things in my head that you totally have to see. This is just the beginning." The finch sat up, looking over to her with a gentle smile. "Lots of people you could meet, too. I've got a bunch of really cool friends, like Sonic."

"How do you know him?" Teyan asked, looking over. "My sister and I have watched over him for most of his life, but we have never caught sight of you before."

"It was recent. A friend of mine, Wave, sought me out so I could help them in the whole war going on," Cyril explained briefly. "Because of that, I met him and a lot of their allies."

"I see." Teyan thought everything over like she had earlier, then said, "I would like to see more than this someday… if you wouldn't be opposed to aiding me. I admit that going about it alone is somewhat daunting."

"Totally." Cyril beamed at her. "I'm more than willing to help you. Whenever, obviously provided that stuff isn't happening. Just let me know!"

"Thank you," Teyan answered warmly. "You're… much kinder than I would have expected a stranger to be, Cyril. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to be helpful."

The finch rubbed the back of his head. "Not everybody is as nice as I am, sadly. I hate it, but it's the truth. You might come across people that would try to hurt you for no reason other than because they want to, but around me you'll always be in good company." He smiled, then added, "Of course, that's assuming you consider me to only be good company. I firmly believe that I'm great company."

He provoked another laugh from her with that last statement. "My, full of ourselves, are we?" she teased. "I suppose I can't fault you for being correct, though." Teyan propped herself up on her elbow so that they were eye-level again. "I know how people can sometimes be. I know wickedness exists, for I have experienced it for myself. My sister and I very nearly didn't survive it. But here you are now, living and breathing proof that that isn't all life has to offer." The smile she offered him was truly happy. "I would be honored to call you a companion, going forward."

"Couldn't ask for more," Cyril said, reaching behind himself and plucking a flower softly. He imbued it with magic and handed it over to Teyan. "Flowers tend to wilt if they're not in the ground, but this one should last you A long time. Might not be a bad idea to collect a thing or two from places you go so that you can always have memories of the places… even if your memory is really good."

Carefully, Teyan took the delicate object from his fingers. "Chaos has a nasty habit of disintegrating things from outside our realm, but I… believe I can remedy that." For now, she tucked the flower into the crown. "I will keep your suggestion in mind."

"Good to hear." The finch laid back in the grass, content to relax. "Now, would you like to see some more stuff, or do you need to get back to your realm soon?"

"Eona has not yet returned, so I believe I have time," Teyan answered.

"Oh, you know Eona?" Cyril asked immediately, suddenly excited. "I met her! She's super nice."

"I've known her from the moment she and Zenith were born," Teyan smiled. "They may be ancient beings, but I will never forget how small and tender they were when I held them in my arms that first day. In a way, I almost view them as my children or little siblings. I love them both dearly."

Cyril blinked. "Woah. That's… really sweet and nice. I bet they were absolutely adorable as babies."

"They were, though they aged quite quickly. I didn't get to enjoy it for long." Teyan stretched, gazing into the sky placidly. "Ah, well. That aside, though, it pleases me to know that Eona met someone like you. Your heart is nearly as kind as hers is, as impossible as that sounds. Few can live up to her reputation."

"Someone who's life is fueled by Light… I can't imagine being quite as kind as her." Cyril chuckled. "Even I have my moments of anger. Some of my friends were killed or hurt by Tianak, and I just… couldn't stop myself. I was so mad that I wasn't able to protect them. I don't want it to be a habit, but I'll always do what I can even if it puts me in danger."

"You shouldn't punish yourself for a normal emotion," Teyan told him. "You also shouldn't be reckless. Cyril, you have great power and a strange amount of luck on your side, but your life isn't a toy. Take care of it, will you?"

The finch nodded a little. "I can't just give up my life, not while there's so much to live for." He smiled gently at her. "Not going anywhere. Nothing in existence can stop me from sticking by my friends."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it." Teyan reached a hand up and closed it briefly. When she opened it, a sparkling butterfly borne of pure Chaos flittered away from her palm. "Life is precious to me. I hate to see it wasted by anyone."

Cyril flicked a finger, creating a large flower that sprung right up next to the butterfly. "No intention of wasting a thing. If I can bring more life to the worlds I see… that would make me really happy."

As the butterfly settled to get its first taste of nectar, Teyan laid herself back down. "Good," she repeated softly. "I'm glad."

The finch responded with a small nod before letting his eyes close. He'd been going mostly non-stop for a while now, and it was just now hitting him that he'd need to get some rest fairly soon. "You know, maybe just relaxing here isn't a bad idea. I'd hate to overwhelm you by jumping into a lot."

"You need sleep," Teyan said. "I suppose I do as well. We can rest for now, at least until I have to leave again."

Instinctively, Cyril waved his hand and created a bubble of magic around them that served multiple purposes. Protecting them while they rested, preventing them from being seen, and shielding them from some of the sun's glare. "Not a bad idea… not at all…"

"I'm glad I met you," Teyan murmured, almost too quietly for him to hear. She put her arms behind her head and closed her eyes. Thank you for this. All of it.

This is… nice… The finch certainly heard it, but it didn't fully register as his mind drifted off to sleep. Magic flowed off his body and softened the ground around them both, while a blanket of grass formed over Teyan. Both of them wearing similar smiles, they slowly drifted off to sleep.

~保護者~

Haru hadn't explicitly agreed to stay put. Nevertheless, he found himself doing just that. Ryuji had admitted to being concerned about him for some reason and, in truth, Haru was worried about the other man to some extent as well. He didn't know much of Ryuji's story, just what little he'd opened up about regarding that Kal woman. It seemed like he wasn't used to having good company. Haru wasn't, either. Having someone decent to talk to had been pleasant enough so far. His temporary companion was relatively quiet, plenty respectful, and more than capable of acquiring good alcohol. Staying here wasn't so bad.

Rather than occupying Ryuji's sole bed any longer, Haru vacated it and settled himself in a tree next to the house. The only time he left was to briefly get himself a new shirt. He acquired one from a recently abandoned house within the nearby village (supposedly it was the new Hyale), as well as a new detached hood. In essence, he was wearing the same outfit he'd been wearing before. He intended to find something other than a plain shirt, pants, and socks to wear eventually, but for now this would do.

He pulled his new hood up and returned to the tree. Ryuji didn't say anything to him, which he was grateful for. Putting his arms behind his head, he let himself relax. He even dozed for a while. That is, right up until he sensed a faint source of Light. That sat him straight up… partly because of an anomaly he detected straight away. It's close, but it feels so weak that I can hardly pick up on it. The fuck?

It took some time to reach him, but that Light was definitely approaching. It seemed to almost pulse as it got closer, as if to let someone know they were approaching. Haru shifted into a crouch on the branch, but didn't immediately reach for his knife. It was his only means of defense in terms of weapons. He just wasn't sure about one thing. Do I really need it? Uncertain whether or not to be on his guard, he simply watched and waited.

A white cat soon walked into view, glancing around briefly as if searching, then continued on quietly towards where Ryuji's home was. Haru silently peered down at them, a frown on his face. I somehow doubt that's the Armaris girl Ryuji spoke of. Who the hell is this, then? More than a little suspicious, he silently edged closer to the house as well. He was determined not to lose visual contact just yet. Her pace was relaxed the whole time before she paused briefly, raising up her hands when Darkness flared to life from within the home.

Now seemed like an ideal time to intervene. If there was going to be trouble, he didn't exactly want Ryuji dragged into it. Why, he wasn't sure. It wasn't worth questioning right now, though. He dropped out of the tree and onto the roof and then called out, "Who the hell are you? Why are you here?"

"Eila," the cat replied. "Came to see if you were still alive."

That wasn't a name he knew. Thus, it didn't relax him at all. "State your business beyond that," he answered. "You could have merely asked someone else and left, rather than specifically seeking me out this deep into our territory."

"I was the one who fought to stabilize you," Eila answered, lowering her hands. "After you were attacked by Nareish. You were dying."

Well, he knew that last part to be true, at least. He had indeed been dying. What had happened between the attack and him waking up in Ryuji's bed, however, was mostly a blur. Try though he might, he couldn't recall seeing anyone else at all. "I don't remember you," he finally admitted, though he didn't doubt that she could guess that much on her own.

"I don't blame you." The cat raised an eyebrow at him. "Mind calming Ryuji down, Haru? I'd appreciate not having my torso bisected and left for the hollows. Not a pleasant way to die."

Haru clicked his tongue and disappeared inside, not bothering to question her knowledge of their names - this time. He flipped his hood off and knelt down where the other chameleon was sitting. "Oi. You know her?"

Ryuji scoffed a bit. "She's an asshole, but what she said was true."

"Descriptive, thank you," Haru muttered, his tone somewhat sarcastic. "That explains everything."

"I don't like her. She used some form of mind control on you." Ryuji paused briefly, then relented the rest of the information. "I was struggling to keep you awake. She forced you to while she and a hedgehog worked on your wounds."

Almost, Haru scoffed. Great. A psychic. Just what I needed. His only saving grace here was that chameleons were trained to be able to guard their minds, and he'd long ago made a habit of always doing so when he was able to. "You're certain that's what she did?" he pressed.

"Yes. She exhausted herself in her efforts to keep you alive, and didn't immediately relinquish her hold on your mind. Only once someone went and spoke to her did she release you," Ryuji explained, blinking once. "I wholly believe that her intentions were pure then, but that does not remove my desire to see her bleed a little."

This time Haru did scoff. "Yeah, well, you're gonna have to wait for now. Cool it, will you?" He stood up and pulled his hood back into its previous position. "She seems to have come here for a reason, and I won't likely get much more out of her if you're in here radiating murderous intent."

Ryuji sighed and let his Darkness settle down. "Fine. Just let me know if she needs to be removed. I believe I could throw her back to the place where she stays."

"Hm, noted." Haru headed for the door. "I'll be back in a minute. Try to take it easy or something. You're too tense all the damn time." With that, he returned outside and jumped back down to where Eila stood. "Alright, he's calm and you aren't a liar. Now that that's been settled, what do you want?"

"Come closer," Eila said. "I want to inspect your wounds and make sure they're actually healing. Nothing could be worse than letting your body mend itself incorrectly."

Although tempted to refuse, Haru obliged eventually and walked within arm's reach of her. Had he been able to tell for himself how healed he was, he would have argued. However, he seemed to recall having been unable to see most of his wounds. That most likely indicated internal damage. Her words had merit. "Fine."

She boldly reached out and touched her hand to his shoulder, letting her magic calmly course through him to inspect the wounds. "If it would help you relax, you can hold your weapon. I don't particularly care one way or another." Onyx eyes rolled in the shadow of his hood, but Haru didn't comment. After some time, the cat let go and pulled her hand back. "Good enough. I didn't expect wounds from what is essentially an Immortal to heal well, but it's not horrible. I'm going to check them again in a few days, but for now… you're doing okay. Be careful and try not to get into fights if you can help it."

Haru jerked a thumb back at Ryuji's home. "He has me on house-arrest. I don't think that's going to be an issue." While that first part wasn't entirely true, he didn't bother to say so.

"Good." Eila inspected him and raised an eyebrow. Observant eyes noticed many things, but she decided to focus on only one. "The way the dust has settled on your clothes there… I'm assuming you recently acquired them?"

"Yes," he admitted readily enough. Doing so wouldn't harm him in any way. "I was lacking a shirt and hood when I woke, so I chose to remedy that."

"You should probably collect your clothes from a place that is… less ruined," Eila pointed out. "I could bring you a few things to call your own, if that would keep you out of less than healthy places."

"There are few other options out here, sometimes," Haru shrugged. He briefly eyed her choice in outfit, then indulged in a moment of curiosity. "What kind of clothes are you thinking? I know little about the wardrobes of outsiders, especially these days."

She brushed at her robe a little, suddenly a bit self-conscious uder his gaze. "It'd be stuff similar to what you already wear. Just cleaner."

He supposed he could be amenable to that. Maybe. "Do what you will," he said, crossing his arms. "I don't care either way."

Eila cleared her throat and glanced fully away from the chameleon. "I'll do just that, then. Expect me back within the next couple hours."

"Yeah, fine. Just hide your Light next time. It's faint, but that shit will draw in Hollows from miles around." Haru turned his head to frown in the direction of Hyale. "The people of that village have suffered enough carnage recently as it is."

The cat paused at hearing this and frowned a bit. "I didn't realize. My thoughts were on a chameleon noticing a being of Light trying to hide and taking it the wrong way. I'll be more careful."

"So long as you keep it in mind." Haru looked at her again. "Answer one question for me. I'm no Immortal, and neither are you. So who the hell healed me and why?"

"Her name was Alana," Eila answered quietly. "She healed you because Ryuji said you needed help." She took a long moment before adding, "I understand that you may not trust them… but the ones currently alive are okay. One of them saved my life, and his parents have given me a second chance where I never deserved it."

…Ryuji asked an Immortal to help me? More than a little perplexed, Haru pondered what he'd been told. He wasn't sure what to make of this. For now, though, he let his posture relax again. He hadn't even noticed tensing up before. "Fine, then."

Eila blinked once at this, allowing herself to relax as well. His tension had caused her to feel the same. "If you have any other questions, you can ask whenever. Understood?"

Onyx eyes slanted toward her, slightly narrowed. "You are bold for an outsider," he informed her.

"If I'm not bold, I'll get killed. Only way I've ever known to live my life," Eila answered, looking back to him. "The universe doesn't give a fuck how uncomfortable I might be."

"Be cautious not to let boldness be your only trait." That vague warning given, Haru waved a hand. "Don't stick around on my account. You can leave if you want."

"If you're lucky, you'll see the other traits in due time. I just woke up about ten minutes ago," Eila murmured, vanishing seconds later.

Haru clicked his tongue as he did earlier, then turned back to the house. I can't remember the last time I calmly spoke to anyone that wasn't Ryuji or Shei… and now her. Why did I engage with her for so long? No shinobi should be that starved for companionship. It's unbecoming. With a soft huff, he jumped back onto the porch and headed inside.

~保護者~

11,111 words this time. Hope you all enjoyed, and many thanks to Blazing Winds for all of his help and support. Posted (at about 12:10 a.m.) 09-19-22.