And here we meet again. Let's do this.

/

Ari leaned against the wall and attempted to ignore the conversation but it was doing very little good – she still caught little snippets of intimate words and secrets that Mnem and his mother shared, all while standing in his little secret cave. His leg had apparently become of little worry for Mnem, which sent Ari into a fit at first – she wanted it to heal, she wanted him to get better, not make it worse!

But she also knew that no amount of bitching and moaning would keep Mnem from doing what he wanted or felt was right. So here she stood, on the other side of the cave, listening to the conversation – or rather, whatever made it to the surface.

"…Why are you here?" the words were quiet, worried, fearful. Mnem was nervous about something but Ari could not tell just what he was nervous about. After all, the man had been so happy to see his mother since she'd arrived the night before. What had changed-

"…Your grandfather…-"

Aah. That's how it was. Mnem faltered for a moment, his footsteps halting. Ari could practically see him swallowing and holding back his emotions, but his gray eyes would tear up anyway. She could practically feel his legs about to give out on him, feel him fall against her. She frowned, taking the initiative.

Despite what the liar has done, I cannot listen to him in such a state, she thought to herself, moving down the steps.

"Mnem?" she called, smiling down at the man's mother as she looked up at her with an annoyed expression. Clearly, the man had yet to explain their relationship. "…Supper will be done soon." She avoided eye contact with the older female, suddenly feeling awkward to be in another woman's presence. It'd been so long with just her and the guys she'd forgotten what it was like to have somebody of the same gender. "…We have plenty of room for you as well, ma'am."

The woman ignored her, nodding toward her son and allowing him up the stairs first. Ari began to move ahead of him, walking backwards in case he fell forward. Mnem looked at her worriedly and awkwardly, his lips parting as if he were about to speak but it died on his lips. He said nothing at all, finally looking down and they reached the top of the steps.

"…What are we eating tonight?" Mnem asked, smiling weakly. Ari smiled in kind, though it felt empty.

"I don't know yet. I think we're having steak. I can't be too certain."

Mnem's mother piped up, "So you're saying you do not even know what you are eating? My, Mnem, what savages you've been living with,"

"Mother, it is not like that. You don't know who they are and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't be so quick to judge."

Ari glared at the woman and kept silent for a moment before sighing and speaking once more. "What I meant was that I don't know what Mor is making. He and his brother are the ones in charge of actually cooking the meal when I am out."

"Please," Mnem joked, smirking, "You couldn't cook if you tried."

"Har har." Ari chuckled and play-punched his shoulder and wrapped his arm around her own, holding an arm around his waist as she helped him walk.

"…You're still angry aren't you?" Mnem murmured, and Ari scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"What do you think, Mnem? You killed my entire family and destroyed my life. Am I supposed to be overjoyed and thanking you?"

"…Well… no, but-"

"It doesn't matter right now. Let's just… not talk about it. Besides, your mother is here. We don't want to spoil her visit by fighting, now do we?"

Mnem bit his tongue, looking away from her as he attempted to calm himself and kill his last thought.

As they climbed into the little village Ari turned to help the older woman, who grunted and slapped her hand away, staring at her in distrust. "I do not need your help." She snapped, and Ari raised her hands in defeat, frowning.

"…Sorry. I just know it can be a little difficult getting-"

"I see straight through you."

"…E…Excuse me?"

Mnem covered his face with his hands and shook his head. "Mother, not-"

"You're playing on my son's emotions, twisting his feelings and manipulating him!"

Ari pondered this for a moment before shaking her head, "No… no, I don't believe I am, Madam." She kept her eye contact this time, seething silently. "You have it all wrong."

If anything, he is the manipulator here.

"Let's just leave it-"

"Mom?"

Mnem looked up at Alistair, who jogged into the small clearing. Ari smiled at him and erased the threatening expression, turning her back on the older woman. "Yes?"

"Mor was just looking for you, wanted to know if he could use a couple of your materials to take care of his mining-"

"Sure. Just let him know he owes me,"

Alistair smiled, nodding and glancing up at his father. Mnem winced and looked down, fearful of what his son would say – but Alistair only eyed the older stranger nervously before departing, scampering off into the distance.

/

"It's odd having company," Vreagon spoke softly, smiling and looking at the new woman, "We've been living on our own for a long time, so having somebody over with us is quite the pleasure, isn't it Ari?"

Ari smiled deceptively, nodding. "Yes, it sure is."

Alistair pushed his food to the side nervously, glancing between his father and his newly-discovered grandmother. He swallowed what little food he'd had in his mouth before speaking, clearing his throat.

"…So… What brings you all the way here?" Alistair asked, and to his relief the woman's eyes softened as she looked at him.

"I simply had some… business to discuss with my son. I apologize for causing all of you such inconvenience, especially you… Uhm… I seem to have missed your n-"

"Ari. Her name is Ari." Mnem spoke softly, looking over at his brunette lover and the girl blushed, looking down. Even now, almost sixteen years down the road, when he spoke her name in such a manner she could not repress the shivers. She chanced a look up at her black-haired 'boyfriend' and smiled, chuckling as he gave a lecherous smirk. The woman sitting next to him looked between the two before it seemed to click with her – she went from surprise to nervousness and then, once she remembered how she had treated the woman, guilt.

"…I must apologize even more than before, if that's how things are. Then you, my boy," she looked at Alistair, "must be my grandson?"

Alistair nodded slowly, becoming even more uncomfortable under the woman's gaze. "Y-yes. I am."

"Well. Then I'm glad to have shown up when I did." She pushed the last bit of food in her mouth before leaning back, watching in silence as Ari and Mnem finished eating. "May I speak with you both, then?"

"…Yes, mother."

"Yes ma'am. If you'll excuse us, boys." Ari smiled and pushed back her table, following both Mnem and his mother.

/

"Please forgive my rudeness – I was simply worried and I'd been having awful dreams of my boy being hurt, and I thought you may have been the cause, I never could have imagined-"

"It's fine." Ari spoke smoothly, laying Mnem down on the bed and propping up his legs. He protested quietly but allowed his head to drop on the pillow as she ran her hand through his hair, smiling weakly.

"What is it you have come for, mother?" Mnem asked, tilting his head curiously. The woman looked about the room before deciding to sit on the side of the bed – Ari allowed her to do this and sat on her knees before them, holding her hands next to Mnem's arms.

"…Well… I had gone to your hideout by the jungle but when I saw you were not there… I became worried."

"And you found us here?"

"Yes, I found a few signs of life every once in a while, so I assumed they were from you – and judging by the giant crater in the center of the jungle, you found the Portal?"

"We did. We destroyed every last bit of the portal, and the stronghold with it. There will be no more disturbances from that damned dragon, I assure you."

The woman smiled weakly, nodding. "Of course, of course. However, there's… a bit of a problem."

Mnem blinked, glancing up at her. "…Problem?"

"On my way here, I came into contact with one of Them."

Ari felt cold. She stiffened up next to Mnem and the man drew in a surprised breath, clutching the blankets within a tight fist. "…you… you did?"

"I did. They seemed utterly lost, though… They were carrying dirt. I don't know why – they just decided to walk about the land with dirt clenched in their fists."

Mnem frowned, squeezing his eyes closed. "You mentioned Grandfather earlier. What happened?"

"There was an explosion while I was visiting him. A creeper, I believe."

Ari stiffened even further and her eyes slowly fell, closing as she hid her face. Mnem set a comforting hand on her shoulder. "And?"

"…I managed to escape, but not before… I'm sorry, Mnem, I tried to save him but it was far too late."

Mnem refused to look at her but he nodded slowly, licking his lips. "I understand. He was an old man, it was his time. I am surprised he even lasted this long." He joked, and the woman chuckled halfheartedly.

"Yes, well. He was on his death bed, anyway, so I'm certain he would have perished whether the Creeper came by or not. But that is not all I came for… I found more of your grandfather's journals, and I do not believe you will like what they say."

Ari nodded. Mnem followed her lead – the three sat in silence as the man opened one up and began to read.

/

Alistair blinked. He knew he'd heard something… He absolutely knew it! It sounded like… like whispering. But what were they saying? No, never mind that, he could focus on that later – who were they? As far as he knew, himself, his parents, and Vreagon and Mor were the only ones for miles and miles. So what was it he'd heard?

Whispering, to his left.

Alistair whipped around, eyes wide. His chest thudded violently and he closed his eyes, frowning. He shouldn't even be down here in these caves, not so late – but he'd spotted something in the distance, a dark shadow. It'd looked humanoid and curiosity simply caught hold of him…

Perhaps he should've just told his parents.

No. I can do this myself, I'm almost sixteen.

More whispers.

This time Alistair took a step forward, following the sound, only to hear the crackling beneath him as the dirt under his feet gave way. He yelped as he fell, a purple glow filling the cave's now widened hole. Alistair clung to the side of the stone, whimpering and holding on to whatever was keeping him up – his mind was racing, he couldn't even tell what he was holding on to. It felt... cold, but like it should have been warm. Fingers wrapped around his wrist and he looked up into the eyes of his savior with a smile, believing it to be his mother or father – after all, they were always coming to his aid even when he thought they knew not where he was.

Purple. All he could see was purple – The figure clutching his hand froze, its jaw dropping. Alistair could feel his chest nearly bursting.

Didn't father tell me something about this?

"They are black, long limbs and terrible teeth – and they have quite the temper, you know."

"Papa, stop making up stories!"

"No, no – they are not stories… at least… they weren't. The creatures no longer exist but the danger will always remain real. Just remember…

Don't look away."

Alistair kept his gaze on the creature steadily, eyes widening further as it began to shake. He couldn't blink. Couldn't look away.

Don't blink.

Don't blink.

Don't blink.

Don't…

Don't…

His eyes felt dry. His lips were numb and his entire mouth felt like cotton. His feet dangled above the ground and the eerie amethyst glow still elongated their shadows further than they should have – at least, it did so for his. The creature before him seemed to lack a shadow. He could only assume it was because it was a shadow itself.

He couldn't hold on much longer. He was afraid to scream, afraid to make the slightest move in fear that it would retaliate and harm him. At least like this, he was safe. It wouldn't touch him. He knew it wouldn't.

All he had to do was keep looking at it.

Don't even blink.

His eyes burned. His vision blurred before watering.

He blinked.