Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own the characters involved in the Bastard! series, they belong to Kazushi Hagiwara. I only claim ownership of Elira and Rosalia as they are of my own creation as well as any kingdoms and royalty that appear here.
Haunting Melodies
Chapter 12 - The Stars
Days passed, Elira's eyes fluttered open, she sat up slowly on the back of the black wolf, her red irises focused on the creature that she had Called to her from the depths of the ocean, she looked at Lumus who was walking beside her, his lavender eyes stared into her red ones, and he stopped. Kanshi paused as well, his voice was low, "My lady..."
"I'm alright, just a little hungry and weak."
Kanshi stared at the creature, "You need to give her energy." Lumus sighed, approached them, and whispered something in the wolf's ear before placing his hand on a spot that didn't have flayed skin. Elira placed her hand on top of his and he transferred a very small amount to her. Immediately she gasped, she could feel it flood her limbs, her blood boiled, she removed her hand from his, and Lumus returned it to the soft ground underfoot. Elira was breathing heavily, trying to control the flood that was growing inside her body.
She wrapped her arms around herself, shivered, and fell off of the black wolf, immediately he moved to sniff her, she writhed on the ground, gasping for air, and Lumus knit his brow with worry for his mistress. The wolf continued to sniff her until he saw a glow encompass her body, he backed up towards Lumus, and he stated, "I warned you." Kanshi never apologized to him as Elira curled up and wave upon wave of energy emitted from her body. It was then that they heard the thumping sound, both looked up to see a barrier around them. "So that's why Zephyr was unable to reach us. If we had continued to the knights then they may have never seen us." Lumus looked at Kanshi who had turned his gaze to Elira. The waves of energy pushed against the barrier and Yaria was in shock at the power, every time a wave of energy emitted from Elira, it pushed against the barrier that she had erected. Until the cracks formed, the waves were more frequent and intense, she continued to writhe on the ground, but she abruptly stood up, and stared at the barrier. Her crimson eyes were glowing blue, which Lumus took note of, and the energy gave one last wave before the barrier shattered.
The guardian looked at the wolf and Kanshi stated, "We may proceed." Elira bounded towards the wolf, she mounted him, and sighed happily. Kanshi grinned at Lumus as they proceeded through the forest once more on their path to the knights of Metallicana. The amnesic leaned down, grabbed tufts of Kanshi's fur, and the black wolf took off with Lumus following behind him. Elira was grinning at the speed they traveled, the guardian from the trench smiled as he realized that his little bit of energy had done wonders to Elira. The faster they ran, the faster her mind processed things, she felt herself remembering some things, things that were very important, and she grinned even more.
However Kanshi slowed down once more while Elira fainted on his back, Lumus sighed again, "I will not give her any more. Her body can't handle it."
"I know but it was necessary to break the barrier that she had created. Now her dragon can reach us and find our location."
"You're very intelligent Kanshi." The wolf was silent as they continued at a leisurely pace, it wasn't long before they exited the forest, and the camp for Metallicana was just down the ridge. The canine lead Lumus down a side area, it was safe for them, and he was very careful because of the charge on his back, once his paws touched the ground at the base of the ridge, the knights held spears at him. Lumus followed behind, Ike and Yaria were moved from his back, and the creature stood to his full height. The knights paled as he stated, "We are here to bring Lady Elira to Zephyr." The moment that the dragon's name left his lips, he landed, immediately he touched his nose to the ground in honor of Lumus, "We are the same Zephyr."
He nodded and approached Kanshi, they sniffed one another, and rubbed the sides of their faces together, "Thank you for bringing her back safely." The wolf nodded and Zephyr touched his nose to her and sighed, "However my energy will not be accepted at this time. She needs to regain it on her own for the time being." His amber eyes looked at Lumus, "I understand what you had to do, if not then you would have never made it here. Her barrier put you on a different plane of existence that was parallel to this one and I would have never seen you, only felt your presence. Thank you Lumus."
"Thank Kanshi, it was his idea."
The dragon thanked the wolf, "It was my pleasure as I have been instructed, she is my mistress as well. I am to be by her side inside and out of the castle as she saved one of my brethren and asked for nothing in return. Great Wolf has decreed this." Zephyr nodded and lead them through the knights, who were astonished at Lumus and the black wolf, and he took them to the main tent where Lars was waiting. His hands were in his hair, he had a frazzled appearance, the dragon poked his head inside, and stated that his lady had returned with friends. Immediately Lars bolted out, he stared at the black wolf, bowed to him, then turned to Lumus. He was in awe of the creature but bowed to him as well and thanked them gratefully, Kanshi stated, "I am Kanshi, he is Lumus. We are here for Mistress Elira." Lars nodded but it was then that five knights ran up to them all shouting that their lady had returned.
Lars chuckled, "These are the Tidal Knights, five of the bravest, strongest, and most intelligent of the knights of Metallicana, they personally serve Elira." Lumus and Kanshi nodded while Nymn removed her from Kanshi's back, the wolf followed the large knight towards their own tent, he pulled the flap aside, placed her gently on the bed, and allowed the wolf to lay down next to her. Lumus on the other hand, moved his liquid tendrils to show Ike an Yaria, Lars glowered at them. "You two are going to be charged with whatever I decide. Right now my priorities are to Elira."
The moment that the tendrils were released, they were cuffed, Lumus placed a hand over Yaria's mouth, she was saying something but realized that nothing worked, at this point Kall had arrived to stare at the spectacle. "You have no power over mine which is as vast as the trench that I hail from. For harming my lady, flaying her skin, and keeping her from her companions; I will forcefully remove your ability to use magic." She was chanting once more but it fell flat and Kall watched in curiosity as the massive creature's eyes glowed as did the scar on his chest. That glow encompassed the princess of Bastion, when it faded, he removed his hand, she chanted words once more but nothing happened and he glared at her. "I warned you. The trench as much power and many secrets, those secrets will never be divulged to you as My Lady is the only one who knows them. Be thankful that I removed your power and not the Stars."
"What are these Stars?"
"Not your concern but do not anger my lady any more otherwise you may not have a kingdom to return to when this is over." He left it at that, fell to four legs, and walked towards the tent, he sat down on his haunches just outside, and looked at Nymn, they stared at one another for a time before nodding and returning to guard duty. Griege, Jorvik, Richard, and Redford joined the guarding of the tent while Zephyr flew off towards the ocean in order to find something for his mistress. Kall had approached the tent, he entered, and looked upon the large black wolf, those blue eyes watched him carefully.
"I can smell you are a friend of hers." He nodded, sat down at her feet, gazed upon her flayed skin, "She needs something for them." The mage sighed, took one last look at the sleeping woman, and left the tent, "I assume he does not know of how to help her." Kanshi sighed, adjusted his body, and gently licked her wounds, he paused, "I wish there was more that I could do for you, mistress."
Lars was giving orders to the other soldiers the Rogue Riders of Erlendale were still at large, and it was possible that they would attack the camp so he was making preparations to ensure no loss of life. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair and sighed, his mind was always on Elira, and he knew of no way to actually help her except do his best to protect her. He ground his teeth together and entered the tent that held Ike, he was going to get some answers from him.
Meanwhile, Kanshi was watching Elira sleep, "Lumus said that when you fall to sleep to recite something to you." He waited to see if she would respond and said quietly, "The Stars shine brightly upon the Tidal Princess." Blue eyes continued to watch her as she squirmed a little before returning to sleep, "So...that is what she is." He smirked, laid his hand on the pillow near hers, and licked her wounds to help them heal. When she turned over, he did the same on the opposite side until she flipped again, he stopped, laid down at her feet, and watched the entrance of the tent.
-::::::-
A few more days passed, Elira sat up, her eyes were groggy, but no one else knew that she had awoken, instead she told Kanshi to keep it a secret, to which he did. The only time that he left the tent was under the pretense that he was going out for food, when ever he returned, he always had a fish or two for Elira hidden inside his mouth. He dropped them on the floor, she rubbed his fur affectionately while eating the raw fish, this time he had brought some herbs for her. She finished her fish then used the herbs to make a paste, it took her a lot of time since she was weak but she finished, Elira placed it aside, and laid down to get more rest. Kanshi stayed with her the entire time, he always kept watch or dozed off but his hearing was always on the edge. He had explained to her that Prince Ike was not forthcoming with sharing information about his Rogue Riders and she only shrugged since she couldn't do anything. Elira laid her body back down to gain some rest while Kanshi continued to guard her and watch everything that transpired around her.
Blue eyes watched those friends of his mistress come and go through the tent, they each took turns to check up on her, and it was one of these times that he decided to pretend to sleep. His ears were listening to their foot steps, they quietly poked their heads inside then left, and he smirked but there was noise in the distance. Immediately Kanshi got up, he exited the tent, Richard was standing there, he stared at the black wolf, "Something wrong?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"Clanking armor and pounding hooves come this way. The Rogue Riders of Erlendale stampede, sounds like more than your knights."
"Stay here!" The Tidal Knight leader ran off to warn Lars while Kanshi entered the tent and nudged Elira. She woke up, he told her of the riders, she nodded, he laid on his stomach while she climbed on his back, and the pair quietly snuck out of the tent. Elira kept close to his body while he climbed the ridge that over looked the surrounding area, Kanshi sniffed the air.
"What is it Kanshi?"
"They are close. Can you see them?" She squinted her eyes and nodded, "They come for their prince and for you."
"They will not have me." He nodded in agreement while they returned to camp, she still sat on his back while Lumus trotted around, helping where he could, and listening to the Tidal Knights discuss a plan of action. Once more there was that sound of a catapult, only this time, the ball of fire was aimed towards Elira. Kanshi dodged while the others did the same, she gripped him long enough to dodge the falling fire ball but fell off of him soon after, immediately he crawled towards her, she pulled her way onto his back. Elira was breathing heavily but her eyes were already changing to blue, the wolf stated that she should not use any more of her power, "I know but they are my family as are you." That blue color faded from her eyes when she heard a draconic scream, irises looked up to the sky, "ZEPHYR!"
The dragon fell to the ground in a heap, he shook himself off, but extended both of his wings while Kanshi ran towards him. His membranes had been torn by many arrows, Elira's eyes welled up, and she heard Nymn grunt, she turned her head towards him, there was an arrow in his chest, and he fell to the ground. Immediately Jorvik ran to him, he yanked the arrow out, and Nymn was gasping, "No..." Her voice was barely audible in the commotion, Nymn sat up, her amulet had protected him from the arrow piercing through his skin, he shook his head, and got to his feet; he grunted and turned to face the fray of the Rogue Riders. "No..." her voice was still quiet in the midst of the battle, Kanshi stayed near Zephyr, the dragon was grateful, and took note of his mistress.
"My lady," she looked at him with tears in her eyes, "You can do nothing in your state. You do not have enough energy and you are still wounded." The wolf kept silent as he knew it wasn't his place, Elira stared at the ground, but looked around once more as other soldiers began to fall prey to the arrows from the sky. Elira slid off of Kanshi's back, she was unsteady but spread her feet apart, her eyes hardened to rubies, and she clenched her hands into fists. "My lady!"
"No, no, no, no, NO!" Her voice was quiet during the battle, her red irises were only focused on the Rogue Riders, they were harming her family, even killing some of them, and she couldn't take it any more; weak or not. Elira took in a deep breath to steady herself as she began to concentrate on the front lines, Lumus was busy fighting but he could sense her small energy, and her dragon companion and wolf stayed near her. Kall was fighting his fair share of soldiers, however he was distracted by the energy that was flooding through the current fight, he glanced to see Elira standing, and focused on the enemy.
He simply stared before decimating the man before him, he brought up his Ice Sword to cleave another man in two but succeeded in only blocking the attack because of the energy that Elira had begun to exude. In an instant he froze the man before him and gazed at Elira, her hair began to float around her, and she focused on the one page in her spell book that she knew she would need. "Hmm..." Quickly Kall found Lars and yanked him from the fight, he shoved him towards the area where Elira was, and he paused to watch her; all sorts of energy ribbons formed around her, they collected from all different parts of the land, and he could feel that power in his blood. Zephyr had glanced at him momentarily before putting his nose to the ground, Kanshi did the same, and Lumus finally arrived at the spot, he sat on his haunches, and the others watched in awe as those ribbons formed something far greater than her sphere of purity; and the one thing that stood out were her red eyes, they had faded to a glowing blue.
"Come hither from thy home, into mine world you shone, as bright as the rays of sun, I shall not from you run. I call forth from the deep, into mine world you seep, let mine voice be the sea bud, and complete this pact of blood." Elira reached up her wrist to her mouth, she bit into it, the drops fell from her left wrist, Lars was going to jump forward but Kall stopped him, the blood pooled around her in an ancient symbol that appeared to be a cross between a flame and a drop of water; it was encircled by a spinning star and they noticed that Lumus was entranced. The blood symbol rose up around her, moved behind her body, and it opened a portal that lead deep into a dark trench, no light shone there, it absorbed everything that entered it, and then a straight line of glowing stars appeared. From the portal emerged a large creature, it held the appearance of a lizard with spikes jutting from the ridges above the eyes, and two massive spiked horns just behind them. Long ears flicked back and forth, the large eyes glowed with the same light that was dotted along its body. The skin was black with a hint of purple and the stars were glowing just like its eyes, luminescent of their own accord. Just as Lars thought it was finished, another head emerged from that portal, and another until there were seven of them; all alike. Their bodies slithered out, they had longer mid-sections than the typical lizard, and stronger hind and fore legs. There were frills behind their heads, they were laid flat against their smooth skin, their tails held something akin to flowing coral fans but were poisonous as purple ribbons moved through out them. Each creature stood at the height of Lumus when he was bipedal but they were twice as long as the Argonite.
They poised themselves on either side of Elira, they hissed, snapped their jaws, and without another word, lunged into the fray. Lars watched as these creatures didn't kill any of the soldiers, instead they separated the Rogue Riders from the Knights, and he noticed another figure emerge from the portal. It was feminine, she had long sleek legs, a tail similar to the creatures, and a round face. Long black hair, glowing starlight eyes, she was two heads shorter than Lumus with much smaller horns, she wore simple clothing that only covered her chest and lower torso, and there was a scar on her chest that ran from naval to collarbone like Lumus' and the prince of Metallicana looked at Kall. "The Stars," he said.
The woman placed a comforting hand on Elira, she looked up at the beautiful woman, even though her skin was similar in color to Lumus', it was paler, but her eyes brighter. "You have Summoned the Stars for protection." The amnesic nodded, "You have a good heart, you wanted revenge on them for killing your family but you pushed those feelings aside in order to better protect them." Elira nodded once more and the woman brought her into an embrace, it was returned, and the silver-haired woman closed her eyes in that comforting embrace. "You still have much to remember my lady but I can sense that you have good friends on your side." Her voice was soft but could still be heard over all the raucous of battle, Lars was staring entranced at the spectacle, when they separated, the woman glanced at the fallen soldiers. "You yearn to help them." Elira nodded, wiped the tears from her eyes, and the strange woman smiled warmly at her, "I shall help you."
It simple for this creature, one of the Stars slithered towards her, the nose touched her palm, and began to gather up the fallen soldiers, once they were in a single line, the Star took in a deep breath, and blew lightly across all of the dead bodies. Within moments, they gasped to life, they were confused, but grateful as they looked upon their Healer and her friend. "Thank you Healer!" they cheered and got up, Elira smiled at them and told them that she was glad to help. "Thank you! Thank you!" When they jumped into the fray once more, the woman looked down at her.
"They love you very much my lady." Elira nodded, "Then you have all that you need here. Why would you want to remember?"
"Because I still yearn to help those of the sea. I can help those of the land but the sea requires something more, Luna."
She smiled, "You know my name and are still the helpful Tidal Princess as ever." Elira tilted her head in curiosity, "You'll figure it out soon enough." Her starlight eyes noticed the black wolf and Zephyr, "I am sorry Argonite but I cannot heal you."
"It is alright Lady of the Trench. I will heal on my own."
Luna nodded, her eyes focused on the wolf, "You are noble indeed."
"Mistress aided one of my own and asked for nothing in return. Great Wolf has decreed that I stay by her side to return the gesture."
"You are loyal as well." Luna approached them, she stroked his fur, "We are the same, no royal motives are at work." Zephyr and Kanshi stood up, her eyes then focused on Lumus who was sitting there when she turned around to see him, "By the deep! Lumus!" The other Trench Guardian ran up to her, they embraced, and kissed one another, Luna was laughing, "I see you have been Called here." He nodded, "With that free will you can visit me any time Lumus. We are no longer separated." Luna turned to look at Elira, "Thank you my lady. You have done a greater deed than you can imagine." She smiled and turned to see that the Stars had rounded up all the Rogue Riders, they were quivering as the creatures snapped their jaws. "You're scaring them children." They looked at Luna, all of them grinned, and returned to snapping and hissing at the captives. Luna laughed, "For allowing my love to return to me any time, I will give you a gift my lady."
"I need no gifts Luna. You are my friend."
"Still humble as ever."
"You should not refuse a gift from the Trench Guardians my lady," said Zephyr.
Elira smiled and bowed, "Forgive my insolence."
"Nonsense, you are the same as I remember but with a much sharper edge." Elira chuckled while Luna turned to the portal and whistled, an dark orange dragon emerged, it had long legs like a horse, but the build of a lean wolf. It had webbed spikes going from the crown of the head down to the shoulders, and on the joints of the front and hind legs. A long tail swished behind it, with the same webbed spikes on either side. The skin was mottled shades of red, yellow, and orange with a few traces of white, and the eyes were a beautiful shade of pale blue. The creature touched the nose to the ground and Luna rubbed her forehead affectionately, "This is my gift to you Lady Elira, an Anemone Dragon so she can carry you to where ever you need to go, land or sea."
Elira bowed, "Thank you so much Luna." The creature approached Elira, she nuzzled her chest and Luna stated that she liked her. "I like her too. I bet she'd be good for Zephyr," she stated and glanced at Zephyr who put his nose in the air. She laughed, "He'll understand when he's older." Luna nodded while the Anemone licked her, when those blue eyes saw the flayed skin, they narrowed, she turned towards Yaria; who had gotten free in the midst of the chaos. The creature hissed, bounded towards the princess of Bastion, and wrapped her tail around her throat, she hissed once more, and Yaria's face began to turn blue. "You can let her go, she can't use magic any more. Lumus saw to that." It appeared that the dragon thought about it before letting her go, she fell to the ground gasping for air, she hissed once more, turned around, kicked dirt on her, and trotted back to Elira; she snaked her head around the amnesic's body and hissed again.
"She's very protective of those she likes." Luna smiled while she watched Elira praise the dragon, "She needs a name." Elira looked over her colors and thought about what she remembered about the sea from her spellbook, and smiled while rubbing her forehead.
"I think Astrea would be good." She made a high pitched grunt, nuzzled Elira once more, and the woman chuckled, "I think she likes it." Luna nodded, hugged Lumus once more, and watched as her Stars continued to toy with the Rogue Riders. Elira looked at them, "What about them?"
Immediately Lars had the knights tieing them up, stripping them of their weapons, and removing the armor from the horses. Elira nodded while Luna said, "It's time to part ways. Take care of her Astrea." The Anemone Dragon nodded, Elira watched as the Stars began to move through the air towards the portal, she made sure to touch the belly of each one in thanks, as they disappeared. Luna kissed Lumus, and said, "Do visit often. You have that freedom now." He nodded and watched as the female Trench Guardian hugged Elira in farewell then waved to the others, she disappeared into the portal, and it sealed. Red eyes glanced down at her wrist, Astrea licked it gently, and she watched as it healed, and the Anemone grinned.
"Thank you." She made that same sound once more while her pale blue eyes turned to look at Zephyr, he turned away from her, and Elira approached him. "You are still my little Zephyr." The Argonite growled in joy, she kissed his head, and he shimmered. "I'm sorry that I can't give you any energy." He told her not to worry about it and she smiled, "Kanshi?" The wolf laid on his stomach, she climbed on his back, and laid down on her stomach. "Good night every one." With that she released the spell and fainted promptly after, Astrea chuckled while rubbing her face on the black wolf.
-::::::-
Days passed, Elira was confined to her room at the castle with Kanshi and Zephyr inside, the only one able to get her any nutrition was Astrea, and she was always moving to and from the room through the open window. Her red eyes were happy as she stroked Kanshi's fur and Zephyr's head, Astrea popped into the room, Zephyr growled but she was undeterred from it, she dropped a few rabbits for the wolf, and he nodded to her. He licked her face when she brought it to his muzzle and she pranced in place, happy to be of service to any one that was Elira's friend. Elira chuckled, "How about something for Zephyr?" She nodded, bolted out of the room once more, and disappeared.
"You give too much praise my lady."
"Zephyr she's a gift to us from Luna and she's so eager to please. I'm glad that there's someone to get us food."
"Kanshi can hunt."
"I was told to stay by mistress' side. You cannot fly and have become too large to move nimbly through these halls. I am here for protection as is Astrea."
"Hmph."
Elira laughed at them, they looked at her, "You two are of very different species but bicker like siblings. I love it!" The two smiled at her, happy that she was able to laugh since she had been silent for a time. Astrea's face popped in, she entered, dropped a large fish on the floor for Zephyr, he sighed, thanked her, and watched as she nuzzled her face against his, he grumbled, and ate the fish. The Anemone turned to Elira, "Yes, I'd like something. Surprise me." She nodded took off once more through the window, and she looked at the wolf and the dragon.
Kanshi said, "She has a lot of energy."
"I know."
"It's good."
"Yes."
Zephyr simply grumbled while Elira laughed and Kanshi grinned, "You will understand when you're older Argonite." He grumbled once more and Elira reached over to grab her herb paste that she had made at the camp ground. "Perhaps when you are better you can see the prince. From what I've heard he has some interesting information regarding Ike."
"You don't give him a title?"
"He is petty and unworthy of the title 'prince' for Erlendale. Prince Zeke is better suited."
"Yes, I agree," stated Elira. There was a knock on her door, "You may come in." The door creaked open, the familiar face of the young prince they had been speaking about appeared. He entered, closed the door behind him, and handed her a bag. "What is this?"
"Chef said that you liked them." Elira opened the bag and inside were rosemary rolls baked with kelp, she chuckled and thanked the prince. "Any time Elira. You helped me and saved me in the village. I'm sorry that my brother and Yaria were so horrible to you. I'll make sure that Erlendale makes it up to Metallicana and to you."
"You're sweet young one." Zeke grinned while the wolf and the dragon praised him as well but then Astrea appeared, she approached the smaller prince with caution, when she sniffed him, and he patted her nose; she gave that same high pitched grunt. He chuckled, "She likes you."
"I like her too!" Astrea curled her lips into a smile then looked around for some sort of dish, when she spotted an empty bowl, her long legs brought her to it, she opened her mouth, and dropped a pile of small fish into it. Zeke got off the bed, picked up the bowl, and brought it to Elira. "Here you go Elira." She thanked him and he nodded while she ate the rosemary kelp bread with the bowl of swimming fish. The prince looked at it and asked to try one, so Elira handed him a fish, he ate it, and made a face. "Gross!"
They laughed, Astrea chuckled and said in a very feminine voice, "You cute." Elira stared at Astrea and smiled at her, she looked at Zeke and licked the side of his face. "Zeke cute."
"You can't speak sentences?" asked the small prince.
"No."
"That's okay! I like your broken words! It suits you Astrea!"
She bowed to him, "Many thanks."
Elira smiled, "I don't mind either. It just suits you Astrea, just like Prince Zeke said."
"No need to call me prince. I consider us equals."
"Thank you Zeke. You're very kind." He shrugged and stated that he was only a kid and she laughed; Zephyr and Kanshi smiled at the small prince, happy that he could make their mistress laugh. Astrea curled up on the floor to watch the others, her long ears twitched with every sound outside the door. Kanshi asked the dragon how far could she hear and she smiled and replied quite far because of her long ears. Elira looked at Astrea, "How do you fly with no wings?"
The Anemone dragon stood up and they watched in awe as her wings emerged from her shoulders just as the tendrils of a sea anemone did, they contained the same webbing as her legs and crown, and Zeke stated how awesome it was. She chuckled, then they disappeared just as they had come, into her mottled skin, and she laid on her stomach once more while one long ear was always lifted towards the door. Zeke asked how fast she could swim, "Very fast. Undertow fast."
"Wow! So do you use your fin on top like a shark?"
"Sometimes fun." He laughed while she smiled at him and the prince asked Elira how she was feeling and if he should go. The amnesic said it was fine that he stayed, he nodded, and Astrea piped in, "Stay Zeke. Zeke good." The prince thanked the dragon, she touched her nose to the ground, and immediately spun around on her feet. Her head was arched down, both ears were laid back, and she hissed at the door, there was a knock, and Sheila poked her head inside.
Astrea hissed once more, "Prince Zeke, you are requested in the throne room."
"I'll be right there." She nodded and left while he looked at the Anemone, "It's a trap right?" Her head turned to look at him and she nodded, "Then I won't go. I'll stay here where I know I'm safe." Kanshi growled in agreement while Zephyr nodded, and Astrea curled up once more but this time her face was watching the door, and her ears were up; listening to everything beyond the wood.
"We'll all protect you Zeke." He nodded and grabbed the herb paste from her and said that he'll put it on for her, "Thank you."
"Any time Elira. You eat your fish soup with bread and I'll do this so you can heal." She nodded, "Will they scar?"
"Possibly."
"At least they'll be pretty."
"Yes, Yaria does have a knack for artistry." They chuckled while Zeke gently patted the paste onto her flayed wounds, Astrea was keeping watch on the door while Zephyr laid his head down to rest, and Kanshi had also moved towards the door to make sure there were no more unwanted intrusions.