Of those that remained to wait for Ibis's return, there was a core group in the center of the camp. General Amaya, of course, with Gren - and Janai, who claimed she only remained to watch over the wounded of Lux Aurea. Callum and Rayla, and - at the insistence of the others - Soren.
They were camped for two days when a rider approached on a Moonshadow mount.
"Ethari!" Rayla called out, when the rider was near enough to make out.
"Rayla!" the Moonshadow artisan called out, reining in on the outskirts of the camp to dismount, holding out his arms to accept a hug from his adoptive daughter.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, pulling back, then gasped, "You can see me!"
"Runaan is alive!" Ethari said, eyes brimming, "When his flower started floating again, I told the others what you told me, and we undid making you a ghost."
"Then it worked," Rayla said in relief, tearing up herself and hugging the older Moonshadow elf again.
"You know where he is?" Ethari asked.
"He was trapped in a coin by Viren," Callum said, standing awkwardly nearby, "So Ibis took the coins to Queen Zubeia in hopes that she could break the spell. Er, Ibis is-"
"I know Ibis," Ethari said, pulling back and squinting a moment before snorting, "Rayla's Earthblood elven friend, Callum."
Callum laughed sheepishly.
"They'll be heading back here, then," Rayla interrupted, "That's why the injured and some of the main army stayed behind here."
"Army?" her foster father asked.
As the pair started to catch the Moonshadow artisan up to speed, Soren sighed from nearby. There were so many people his dad had hurt - and in such awful ways, too. Looking around, he spied Janai and approached the Sunfire elf, "Hey, um, do you think… there's a way to fix the soldiers my dad…"
"Turned into monsters?" the Golden Knight replied, then sighed, "If there was a way to purify the Sunforge, and we could recover the Sunforge Staff, perhaps."
Soren frowned, realizing the last person he'd seen with the staff was Claudia. He looked down, wondering if she was alright - or what she was doing now.
"Do you know where it is?" Janai asked, "We did not find it with the rest of the dark mage's things."
"My sister has it," the Crownguard replied, rubbing the back of his neck, "Sorry, I don't know where she went after the battle…"
Janai huffed, "Well, once my people and I have returned to Lux Aurea and reclaimed our city, we will spread word throughout Xadia. She will not escape us."
Soren's hand closed into a fist, then he turned and walked away, "Yeah."
He hated it. He hated the idea of people trying to hunt down his little sister - to make her pay for their father's crimes. But what was he supposed to say? Claudia had chosen to stay with Viren. Even after seeing what he was capable of.
Maybe he should have tried harder to get her to come with him. He'd only be trying to keep her from more pain by telling her to stay with Dad - but maybe that had been wrong. If he'd convinced her to change sides with him, then…
He started at a hand on his shoulder, looking back.
"You should join the search," Janai said, then something about her expression softened, "I had a sister as well - I may not be able to forgive, but I do understand."
Soren hesitated, then reached up and clasped a hand over the Golden Knight's - it was warmer than a human's, "Thank you - I don't know if I'll be able to accept, but…"
"I understand this, too," Janai nodded, taking her hand back, "I am now the Queen of Lux Aurea - if we find your sister, you will be able to see her before she faces any judgement. I can promise that much."
"Thank you," the human replied, feeling sick. Still, considering all that had happened, it was a generous offer.
Janai gave him a final nod before heading off.
Soren decided to go for a run - with no Crownguard duties, and with sleep nearly impossible, he'd been pushing himself physically as hard as he could. At least when he was completely exhausted, his nightmares couldn't wake him up. Not that he got very good sleep, but at least it was sleep.
After he'd taken the time to at least rinse off his sweat in a nearby stream before returning in time for dinner.
The others in the core group - plus Ethari - were gathered around a central camp fire. There were several large pots of stew being cooked around the camp, and Soren got one of his own before taking a seat a bit off from the fire.
"Who is that?" Ethari asked, noticing.
"Oh, that's Soren," Callum replied, "He's… um…"
"Viren's son," Gren filled in.
"He betrayed his father to come warn us about the attack," Rayla added quickly, "And he fought with us against Viren."
"That… must have been hard," Ethari said, frowning.
"And now Xadia will begin hunting his sister," Janai added, "She still has the corrupted Sunforge Staff, and is the last remaining member of his army outside captivity. Not to mention a dark mage."
Amaya signed, "And a lot of people are taking out their anger at Viren on Soren."
"I wish there was something I could do to help," Callum said, "I mean, Soren and I grew up together - and he could be a jerk, but he was always a good guy underneath. But anytime I try to talk to him about it, he just… insists he's fine."
"Yeah, with that big dumb fake smile," Rayla rolled her eyes.
"He was originally going to go on with King Ezran," Amaya continued, (Gren interpreting), "But I was worried the soldiers would be emboldened to take more severe action without me there to stop them."
"Really?" Callum asked, blinking, "You think people are that mad?"
Amaya nodded, frowning sadly.
"It's already happened," Rayla said, "When I would scout around camp, I would hear people talk about it - what they think should happen ta him. A lot of people don' think Soren switching sides is enough."
"But…" Callum sighed, conflicting feelings written all over his face.
"There is nothing more to be done," Janai said, "He chose to do the right thing, and in time, that is what people will remember. Until then, he has the rest of the rest of you to look out for him."
Amaya smiled, and made a sign the Golden Knight was becoming familiar with.
"I am not soft!" the Sunfire elf bristled.
The others chuckled, but the tension remained.
"So," Ethari started, "Why don' any of you invite him over?"
"Oh," Callum hit the side of his head, "Duh. Soren!"
Soren looked up, having zoned out while eating.
Callum waved him over, "Come on, man, come sit with us!"
"I don't-" the young Crownsguard started.
"Yeah," Rayla added, "Come meet Ethari, he's been like a father to me!"
Soren hesitated, then groaned as his muscles protested standing up again to join the rest of the group.
"Still training hard?" Amaya signed.
"Uh, yeah," Soren said, and forced a grin, "Gotta keep in shape so I'm ready to get back to work."
"You can take a break if you need it," Amaya signed, "I know Ezran won't mind."
"Huh?" the young man scoffed, "I'm fine."
Ethari leaned closer to Rayla to quietly say, "I see what you mean."
"I know, right?" the younger Moonshadow elf said back, covering her mouth to add, "Like we can't see the bags under 'is eyes, the big lump."
"Humans," Janai scoffed, "Why are you all so stubborn?"
I thought you liked our stubbornness? Amaya signed with a smile.
"Please stop having me flirt for you," Gren told her - though in amusement.
"Huh?" Callum asked, looking between his aunt, Gren, and Janai.
"I am going to learn your Katolian sign language," Janai said, "As soon as possible."
As the conversation went on, Soren felt… detached. It was nice, to be in the middle with everyone - but he kind of felt like he was intruding. He couldn't shake off his doubts or grief, and felt like a cold spot in their warmth.
He knew they were trying to help, and he appreciated it - but he honestly felt worse taking away from their happiness than sitting by himself.
"I think I'm going to turn in," he said, accidentally interrupting.
"Oh, uh," Callum cleared his throat, "Okay. Have a good night?"
"Thanks," Soren said, and offered the rest of the group a wan smile before heading to his tent.
"Hey, Ethari," Rayla asked, leaning closer, "Have ya ever heard of any ancient elven sleeping techniques?"
"Why d'ya ask?" the Moonshadow artisan replied, arching a brow.
"Well," his foster daughter sighed, "Soren said Ibis showed him some ancient elven sleeping techniques, and I don' really believe tha', because I never heard of anythin' like that. But he did seem to be doin' better when Ibis was around…"
Ethari rolled his lips to keep from laughing, Ancient elven sleeping techniques? That's a new one…
"So?" Rayla asked, "It's nah a thing, is it?"
"Ibis has served as the liaison between the dragons and the elves for many years," Ethari settled on, "I'm sure he knows about many practices we've never heard of."
That didn't seem to satisfy the teen elf, but she just grumbled instead of pressing.
The others continued on for a while before turning in themselves.
Soren laid awake, listening to the camp settle around him. When it sounded like most of the camp was asleep and sleep was evading him once again, the young man sighed and got up to take a walk.
He was surprised to see Ethari was still awake at the central fire. The Moonshadow elf smiled and held up a hand in greeting, "I thought I might see you up again."
"You did?" Soren asked, rubbing the back of his neck as he approached.
Ethari nodded, and pulled out a small kit, "Mind if I see your hands?"
"My hands?" the human asked, walking over to sit next to the older man. He complied anyways.
The Moonshadow artisan nodded, then snorted, "I thought as much - you've been overtraining to keep things off your mind, haven't you?"
"Wha-" Soren started.
"When you lie," Ethari said, applying a salve to the cuts and bruises along the young man's hands and arms, "Everyone can tell."
"... I know," the Crownguard sighed.
"I could tell what you were doing because my husband does the same thing when he's upset and doesn't know what else to do," the Moonshadow elf chuckled, "So I know better than to try and convince you to stop. But… I think your friends would feel better if you stopped lying about being fine."
Soren didn't reply.
Ethari sighed, finished with the wrapping, "Well, in any case, try not to push yourself too hard."
"... thanks," the young man said, and decided to try going back to sleep instead of taking a walk.