Vanea was having trouble getting Egil to settle down and just sit , think through what to do next. Shulk being out there was a danger, especially since the only place he could go was up , towards everyone's family… But Egil right now? He was… caught up on everything.
His wound on his side still oozed and yet he wanted to push forward. He stared out, towards the Colony and beyond, barely registering her at his side, trying to pull him down to the ground. He needed to get patched up!
"Egil, please…" Her voice shook as she once again tried to ground him. "You need to calm down."
"I can't, Vanea. I can't just leave him like that." He shook his head, flinching as he moved too suddenly. "I need to do something, before it's too late. The longer I'm not with him, the less chance I have. I need to-"
"Egil!" She didn't mean to snap, but there was no stopping it, it seemed. "Stop this! You can't do anything for Shulk if you're hurt like this!"
"I don't need to be physically well to speak to him!" Egil pushed her away, gripping his side and grunting in pain. "If you all need more time, fine! But I'm going ahead-"
"You can't-"
"Vanea." Alvis approached the two, stepping between them. "You go get patched up, alright? I'll talk to Egil and get him to calm down. Both of you getting upset won't do much for us, hm?"
"I…" Vanea bit her lower lip, but nodded. "Thank you, Alvis."
With Vanea with the rest of the group, it was just Alvis and Egil. Alvis watched Egil before approaching, holding out a hand to grab Egil's with. He rubbed circles into the back of it, humming before speaking.
"Now, now. You need to slow down, Egil."
Egil was shaking a bit, staring down at their joined hands. "I can't, Alvis. If I don't do something… Shulk will end up just like…"
His voice cracked, killing the sentence in his throat, but Alvis knew just what he meant. Maybe was the only one to truly know what he meant, given how much he had been allowed to learn about Egil.
He pulled Egil down with a little more force than any Homs should realistically have, pressing his forehead against Egil's. "He won't be like Arglas, Egil. You know more now, can do more… I think, no… I know that you can save Shulk."
"I can't if I'm too late."
"You won't be." Alvis closed his eyes, smiling softly. "We won't take too long with the healing if you just cooperate, and we can get to Shulk before you know it."
"Alvis…" He was still shaking, ever-so-slightly, but he relaxed a bit. "You're right, but I can't help but be afraid."
"You can be afraid, but remember you aren't alone." He pulled his head away long enough to place a kiss on his cheek. "We'll be with you to the end."
Egil nodded a bit, eyes closing. "You're right… thank you."
Linada could tell Vanea was worried about Egil, very much so. She kept staring over at him and Alvis, watched as the Homs slowly calmed her brother… But who would calm Vanea? Linada knew a direct approach wouldn't work, so… She guessed it came to her and an indirect approach.
By, of course, appealing to her want to help everyone, not just Egil.
"The Homs seem to be in a right mess after the Mechon attacks." She spoke as she wrapped one of Vanea's wounds. "Maybe, after we finish up with Shulk, I'll come back. See what I can do to help."
"Ah, what a wonderful idea. I should make sure everyone knows I'm alright, but after that…" Vanea hummed. "I would want to go back to Colony 6, perhaps. It seems like Sharla could use more help keeping the rowdier ones in check."
"That sounds just like you." She chuckled, shaking her head a bit. "I would want to go between these colonies, surely there's more than just 6 and 9, after all. Offer my help to any that were affected."
"That sounds just like you, Linada." Vanea looked back at her, a bright smile on her face. "Let me guess, you plan on extending help to High Entia, too?"
"But of course! I can help them be more precise with ether in healing, open up their options!" Linada couldn't stand to see how they had to limit themselves. She knew about the Telethia gene and healing with ether, she would be helpful!
Vanea giggled and seemed to relax her shoulders a bit as Linada continued to patch her up. Good, it looked like her plan was working. Indirect could be good sometimes, Linada supposed, even if most of the group was bad at that.
Oh well, that's what she was here for. She didn't mind being indirect if it meant the others could keep being themselves. Besides, being direct was usually a little more helpful than indirect… That was why she tried to master both of them.
"...By the way, Linada?" Vanea spoke up and Linada blinked a few times.
"Yes, Vanea? What is it?"
Vanea gave her a smaller, shyer smile. "Thank you, I think I needed that distraction, as embarrassing as it is for me to admit that."
Linada chuckled a bit, shaking her head. "Not a problem, Vanea. I'm here to help, it's what I do."
"Of course, you and Oka are the group's biggest helpers!" She placed a hand over her mouth for a moment. "If you don't mind being compared to Oka, that is."
"Not at all, in fact, I find it to be a compliment~"
"I thought you would!"
Oka had been keeping her eye on Tyrea since she joined up, and right now? Well, Tyrea was clearly upset. Not that Oka could blame her! Things with Shulk had gone very badly and who knew what would happen after this…?
But watching the High Entia react hurt her heart. Hurt it so much she decided she had to do something about it! Tyrea never had anyone to lean on before this group and well? Oka was thinking it was time for her to have a permanent person to lean on!
Oka just so happened to be the Nopon for the job, too!
"Tyrea, Tyrea! Oka has had wonderful idea!" She smiled at her, swaying from side to side.
"Hm?" Tyrea tugged at the bandage on her leg, a frown on her face. "What is it? Speak quickly, Oka."
"Tyrea very much a lonely bird lady… But Tyrea no have to be anymore!" She hovered a bit, happy as could be. "Because Oka is going to adopt Tyrea!"
Tyrea paused, blinking a few times before looking at Oka. "Excuse me?"
"Oka going to be Tyrea's mamapon! So Tyrea can always tell Oka how she feel, and have nice cozy home to come back to!" Oka nodded, as happy as could be. "Tyrea no have to sulk alone when sad anymore!"
"You… I…" Tyrea looked away and Oka was pretty sure it looked like she was holding back tears. "I don't want your pity!"
"Not pity!" Oka shook her head. "Is love! Oka loves Tyrea like she loves every other littlepon she has."
Tyrea wiped at her eyes and Oka wanted to pull the poor thing into a hug. She clearly wasn't prepared for this, but… oh well! Oka couldn't back down now! She was going to show Tyrea she was serious about this adoption!
"I… I doubt Kallian will simply allow you to do that, that fool seems to care for me as well." She sniffled a bit, trying to sit tall.
"Easy-peasy! Oka adopt Tyrea and Tyrea's siblings!" Oka nodded with a giggle. "Then we all be big happy family!"
"You are a strange one, Oka…" Tyrea pulled Oka into her lap, burying her face in the top of her head. "I'll see about letting you adopt me…"
Oka pat Tyrea's leg with a wing. "Oka wait with baited breath for Tyrea's answer!"
