Mystake passed by the spare bedroom on her way to the front of her shop, letting out a sigh at the bandaged child shaking and whining on the bed. She wasn't sure if she'd make it. All the herbs and teas she'd tried hadn't worked.

The teas she could find, anyway.

The doctor from the city had said the likelihood for her survival was slim, but it surely wouldn't hurt to try.

Lost in thought, Mystake almost didn't hear the bell ring when someone entered the shop. Heading toward the front now, she grumbled. "Welcome to-" Spying the blonde siren entering her shop, the old woman grinned. "How long has it been since you had legs, Laria?"

Grumbling and gripping a nearby counter, Laria wobbled as she walked to the main counter. "Longer than you've had this tea shop, Oni."

Mystake chuckled and turned to the shelves while Laria laid her head on the counter. "Stabilizing tea with anemone, right?"

A shaky grunt of confirmation was her only answer, so she began making the tea.

"How have you been? I haven't seen you since you settled in Ninjago.." Laria barely lifted her head to speak, exhausted from trying to walk.

She paused in preparing the tea, looking over at Laria. "You remember that far back, Pearlie? That was nearly five hundred years ago."

Laria smiled, now staring at the counter in thought. "I think so, that was when I came out of the water for the first time, though you could've been here longer than that."

Mystake chuckled and sat the cup of tea down. "Oni fled shortly after Ninjago was created, Laria."

Laria nodded, looking back down at the cup before frowning. "Do you have any octopus?"

She shook her head. "I haven't been to market in a while, I'm afraid. I've been rather busy with other expenses lately."

Laria toyed with the teabag in the cup, silent for a moment. "Someone suffers, do they not?"

Mystake tensed up a bit at her words, then sighed. "As empathic as ever, aren't you?"

Laria chuckled and took a sip of her tea. "A trait of my species, Mystake."

Mystake glanced at the hallway to the back. "I found a child a few days ago in that nasty storm that destroyed half the forest. She's fairly young, about five years old I think."

Laria frowned and listened to the worry in Mystake's voice. "May I see? I'm curious about why you worry so much." She got up and went to the back, carefully opening the door to the spare bedroom. Opening her mouth to speak, she immediately closed it when she saw the shaking child wrapped in bloody bandages from head to toe-aside from her mouth and nose. Turning to Mystake, she looked...saddened. "The storm did this?" Her voice was a whisper, as though worried the child may hear them.

Mystake nodded and looked to the side. "She was burned badly, I assume by a direct bolt of lightning to her back. I'm not sure how she survived...she kept saying she could smell the ocean breeze."

Laria raised an eyebrow, shaking her head. "How strange, but..maybe she was hallucinating?" She watched the girl tense and try and relax, to no avail. "Did you hire a human physician?"

Mystake nodded.

"...Is she going to die?" Laria frowned and watched her.

"The doctor said her chances to survive were fairly slim, but..who knows?"

She was silent for a moment, shaking her head. "It's a shame, she's not just in physical pain is she? Her heart is full of loss. Did you find anyone else?"

The old woman shook her head and walked to the front of the shop, seemingly deep in thought.

Laria caught up with her and carefully sat back on the stool at the counter, sipping at her tea. She looked up at Mystake. "Can you not heal her?"

Mystake paused in cleaning off the counter, shaking her head. "I'm afraid my magic is in teas, and I don't have the means to make such a tea of that strength. I don't know if it would even be safe for her."

Laria nodded and looked at the remaining tea in her cup. "I understand.." She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I never pegged you for a motherly type, Tea Flower."

The old woman stopped while she was looking over her many boxes of tea, shutting her eyes. "I suppose not, but this realm the First Spinjitzu Master created is quite lovely...many of us Oni treasure it and the life that resides in it. She is part of that life, you know. If she dies, she will not be cold and alone, and certainly not in pain. But if she lives, she will be taken care of. I won't cast her out on her own."

Laria was silent for a moment, watching Mystake take a box down from the shelves. "The humans trust you..don't they? Oni love destruction, but you.."

She chuckled and opened the box, putting a few leaves into a new cup and pouring some hot water from the kettle into it. "Strange, am I not? No..I get my destruction needs in other ways, and destruction isn't a constant need." Mystake paused, closing the box and putting it away to let the leaves steep in the cup. "I suppose destruction doesn't have to be violent, Laria. A fellow oni runs a tavern in the city..she used to be a deal making oni. Feeding on the destruction that came from taking the soul of the person who made a deal with her when it was over. She left that behind when she realized she could be free to do anything she wanted. Now she runs that tavern to shelter people of all kinds, no matter their troubles. She takes pride in protecting people."

Laria nodded and finished the tea in her cup, looking at the tea Mystake had just made. "What is that?"

Mystake gestured to the back room. "A safe painkiller of sorts, it's time for another dose for her."

She nodded and followed Mystake to the back room, watching her help the girl drink the tea.

The old woman frowned when Laria didn't leave. "Are you alright?"

Laria nodded at Mystake's question, giving her a small smile. "Can I just sit with her for a little while?"

She nodded and went back to the front, so she could clean the teacups.

Laria carefully sat down in the chair next to the bed and watched the now calm child laying in the bed. "You've suffered quite a lot, haven't you?" She was unsure if the girl could hear her or not, but she kept talking. "You know... the least I can do is help you, yes?" She looked at her hands and then at the girl, carefully placing one of her hands on her bandaged forehead. It was a quick transference of elemental powers, though it came coupled with exhaustion for both of them. When Laria came out of the back room, she could barely stand.

Mystake frowned and took her hand, trying to help support her. "Are you alright? What happened back there?"

Laria lifted her head when Mystake spoke, seemingly confused by her question. "Hm? Oh I just..all you need to know is that she'll be alright."

She sat Laria down on the stool, pouring her another cup of stabilizing tea. Mystake watched Laria in confusion, setting the cup down. "You didn't..."

Laria chuckled and took a sip of the tea, not saying a word for a few moments. "I didn't what? I told you I was just sitting with her, Mystake. I merely talked to her for a few moments. You worry too much, you know?"

She sighed and looked at Laria with concern. "I only hope you haven't done anything drastic, Laria. I know magic takes a lot out of you these days.." She frowned and put her hand on the siren's shoulder.

Laria shook her head and patted Mystake's hand. "I'm alright. Don't worry so much about me, hm?" She finished her tea and carefully stood, coming behind the counter and giving Mystake a hug. "I will see you again, I promise."

She frowned when Laria headed to the front door, still a bit confused. "What did you do back there? I know you said you sat and talked to her, but.."

Laria held up her hand, weak remnants of magic faintly glowing on her fingertips as she smiled. "I merely gave her a parting gift."