Queen's note: I gave myself some feels and then the chapter ran away with itself…again. OOF

Garnets

Chapter Seventy Six:

Place For Them to Rest

"Deep breaths," Jade's voice spoke in the near complete darkness, the Argenta woman shifting around the human to force her to sit up. She was taking slow, deep breaths, listening and feeling through the stones around them, "Slow, in… and out. Steady, in… and out, just like that. Those things aren't coming after us. Listen, just the sound of the lift."

"She's right, the creatures aren't going after the floor… the ceiling above us." Zanin said as he stood up, watching and listening for any signs of them being followed. While at the he triggered the almost hidden lights in his armor to come online. It was not a lot but the soft blue light from that, then his activating sword washed the moving platform in cool light.

Lily looked to still be shaken but was following the guidance to get her breathing under control, and another dose of the medicine. She looked up and then rubbed her arms, making a soft sound as Jade did so too. Warm hands on the human's shoulders. "Thanks. What…was that? What happened? I've never seen demons like that, have you?"

Jade shook her head, glancing up in the dim light of Zanin's. "Party, I've seen once a portal being taken over when I was child, but no creatures like that."

"I have," the two could almost hear the scowl that Zanin had made inside his helmet. "It's something the Lich in the past we faced could do. Like fodder troops but made from the corruption. The… hell growth Vega calls it?"

"Vega?" Lily brightened up a bit, then almost gasped because of course, she remembered that Vega was connected to those that left for Argent D'nur those days ago from the Fortress.

"Yes, he's here," Zanin tapped the side of his head as the lift started to slow. "Once he figures out how the Lich took over the portal he says he will get you back home safely."

Lily was about to agree, but paused as a smell got through the filters of her mask. At the same time Kia's phantom was nosing into Jade and her lap, solidifying as much as possible. The strange weight was oddly reassuring as Lily started to place the smell.

It was the scent of dried leather and wax.

"Zanin?" She flinched, remembering the mummified demon. She shifted to try and sit up, holding tight to the phantom wolf's main as tight as she could, "Zanin, I know that smell-"

"What smell?" Jade asked, taking a few careful sniffs. Smelling dust, age fabric maybe and the scent of an old forge. Something like energy. "There's nothing strange?"

Lily shook her head, looking between Jade and the Sentinel, daring to let go of the vibrating Kia' to press her mask more firmly on. "There is, I know it, it's the same smell of that mummified demon that was trying to eat me before Valen and I found you in the… retreat? Like old leather before it rots and wax…fat?"

Zanin tensed, remembering what Lord Valen had explained about the events before what was left of his unit was revived. The only reason Lily likely survived that encounter with the archvile was because it was so emaciated, cropped and nearly dead. He paced from one side of the lift to the other, trying to see down below the lift as it started to slow. He was just able to get one of the glowing stick-like packets from Vega in subspace. Zanin activated it and tossed it down where the hall seemed to be. Catching a glimpse of… bodies.

The Sentinel's warning growl had Jade shifting… the woman bodily lifted the teal wolf up and to the side. Getting to her feet and pulling Lily to her feet, but hesitated before asking in a low voice. "Can you fight girl?"

"Um… not like the Sentinels…" Lily admitted, "Dad taught me how to defend myself against humans, not demons. I can shoot but not the caliber needed, or the higher tier energy weapons that are Argenta made. Those have too much kick back."

She tried once with Valen and even with him helping brace the weapon, her chest had hurt for a few days. Then he banned her from using them until Lily had more muscle mass.

"Stay between Jade and I, both of you stay behind me if you can." Zanin said as he took a guarding position. Hearing the sound of the Argenta woman pulling out her scythe-like weapons as the lift slowed the last bit in the open darkness.

Jade was able to at least confirm that what was behind them was still in solid stone. Both with what little light there was from Zanin's armor and her own senses with what was left of her wraith gift. She backed up a step, pulled Lily behind her and shifted into a stable, wide stance to fight just in case. Feeling the smaller human press a hand to her lower back, though thankfully the girl (young woman?) knew better than to crowd close. The phantom wolf was pacing between them and the Sentinel, ethereal hackles bristling at first against the scent of old death.

Then Jade could finally smell something odd. Waxy and leathery, like Lily said. How had the girl picked that up with the mask on, but up in the lift tunnel?

There was a pause, all three waiting a few moments as they adjusted to the small sounds in the dark.

Zanin lifted his blade higher over his head, trying to charge it a bit more to spread the pool of light farther to see what the figures were ahead in the hall. He blinked at a friendly huff from Kia', the phantom wolf suddenly relaxed and walked ahead. The teal phantom lifted her head to sniff, then once off the lift she started to trot. Heading to something she could see as a phantom herself.

Like a guiding light Kia' hopped and walked over but never on the old bodies. Lifting up to her hind legs at the wall and planted her forepaws on the long dead torch. It lit up with a teal fire before Kia' bounded to another spent touch.

Something golden shimmered into light in the mix of forms. A second phantom wolf was standing up, reflexively yawning and stretching like it had been woken up. Burnt orange and gold the phantom wolf looked around, then perked up notably as he recognized Zanin as a Sentinel with his armor. The second wolf howled in delight.

The echoing, eerie sound was not unpleasant at all, reflecting the excitement as the new phantom bounded away from where its body had been carefully laid. Kia' answered it as the two bounced around each other, raced back to the lift and Zanin before bounding forward in the corridor. Again never stepping on the remains as they jumped to smack touches along the way.

Guiding lights in the pitch black, leading the way as the phantoms raced and seemed to play. Littermates that recognized each other after death as they did in life ages ago.

Zanin lowered his guard, and sword arm. Taking a good look at the forms they had only glimpsed coming down. Noting then recognized how they were placed along the sides of the passage. Some sat up against the wall and slumped forward over shields that propped them up until the bodies had mummified down here in the warm, dry air. Other forms were revealed now in the phantom torch light gifted to them. Laid down to rest on backs with shields over the chest and faces for those that did not have helmets. Weapons resting on the ground beside them as if set beside a resting body.

As if they might need the weapons in death.

Zanin's guard relaxed notably as he walked off the lift. Not dropping completely though as he knelt beside one body, recognizing the red mark on the armor. Like the one on Rai's own, the mark the Slayer put on some Sentinels to always recognize them. some had thought it a Chosen, but Zanin knew it was for Bi'Jay… John, to recognize his foster charges that chose to be warriors. Asa was more healer the a full fighter like Rai, so he was marked as he was more likely to be in the middle of the fight against hell. Easier to spot if he needed help.

There was no sense of a soul here though, in the remains. Not stolen but like all the others had moved on.

"What happened here?" Jade asked as she was recognizing there were bodies lining the hall.

"Nothing." Zanin said, picking up and energy spear and flushing it with his Wraith gift before activating it. Looking up to confirm the blad on the end was glowing a healthy blue-white as he came back to the lift. Offering the spear to Jade as a light source and weapon. "At least… nothing happened here. They were brought down here to hide the bodies. To let the souls of the fallen pass to the stream between words naturally. Away from being consumed by the… Lich or the threats before it."

"Improvised tomb?" Lily asked, looking around Jade as the taller woman stood up to put her blades away and take the spear.

"For a lack of a better term… yes." Zanin turned back to the corridor, "If it was seen as safe to protect them, I think we should be alright here. But we should move away from the lift. The forge room is not far and will be far more secure."

It was also where the Lord Slayer needed to go anyway to finish reforging the Sunwalker.

Jade stepped off the lift first as the wolves came running back. Stretched out in full sprint but as if in slow motion partly as they raced to the lift, trailing behind themselves streaks of lingering golden and teal colors. Kia' bounced around her human charge, delighted and with a wide canine like grin as she seemed to introduce her littermate to who her and her person were protecting.

Lily yipped as she was half run over. The bigger golden wolf grinning as he wrapped forelegs around the little Argenta puppy as he saw her. Nosing close and grumbling happily as he would have in life. Just not as big as he once was, but much like the first time Lily met Kia' in a peaceful setting he was happy to snuggle for a bit. Grumbling happily at the hesitant pet, Lily burying her hands then face into the ethereal main of fur. Shivering a last time before calming the rest of the way down. Still wary as she was off the Fortress, but something about having another giant wolf phantom liking you was just… reassuring.

Zanin chuckled and Lily looked up, he stepped back over. Putting his sword onto his back for a moment as the Sentinel grasped the giant phantom and lifted the wolf off Lily. "Easy big boy, you'll squish the Lady."

The golden wolf grumbled and tried to grab the human with forelegs. But he was lifted up under his forearms after a minute. Lily could not help giggling at the put out expression on the wolf phantom. Not unlike an unimpressed husky for a moment, but it let her get up.

"Guess I'm small and cute to…him?" Lily half asked, balancing back she headed to the offered hand of Jade. Using it to help hop off the lift, then grabbing Kia's back as the teal wolf sat beside her.

"Or he smells the Slayer's energy on you, but I think he just likes you." Zanin said putting the big wolf down, making sure it would not knock the smaller human over again before scanning where it had gotten up. "I don't think he has a soul gem, he's just been guarding the bodies here."

The dark gold phantom looked up at Jade intently, studying before he yawned again and then pushed his nose up under her chest. Tail wagging as he got his head grasped and ghostly ears rubbed. He missed his old partner, but he had been a good boy and made sure she was protected to pass on.

"You are very brave and loyal to stay here protecting these souls." Jade praised the phantom wolf, getting a grin like the herding hounds would do in her childhood. They were alike to the wolves but broader and not as big. The hounds were more earthy dark tones then the silvers, white and grays of the living wolves above them now.

"Let's try to get the forge," Zanin said as he motioned forward through the passage. Though he was pretty sure it was still safer down here, the forge room would be much more secure as it could lock from the inside. The taller man had his sword out for added light and just in case as he took the lead, walking through the lean path clear in the center of the passageway. Zanin did not want to use the ballista for as long as he could here. Though he noticed some other weapons that looked good still, both those that were handheld and firearms. The latter had some that were broken and some not.

Jade was behind him after a few steps, carefully pulling Lily ahead of her so the human would be between the two of them. "Try and keep up."

"No kidding," Lily whispered, half to herself, half because it really sank in that they were in an improvised tomb. Looking around in the strange shadows cast by the teal and golden light from the wolf-lit torches. She was no stranger to death now, even when really sick just after Hell broke through to earth and started the invasion.

The young woman grasped her arms, trying to rub her arms with a little bit of that wraith gift. Trying to comfort herself and not think about being on the mainland, in the gym when struggling to follow her dad and uncle Chuck. Not that the present was less gruesome, it was at least… oddly peaceful. Quiet and care had been given to those that were past it seemed like.

Lily looked down as she felt a difference in the floor through her slippers. She really missed her boots, but noticed that they had moved from scraped and scarred stone to old, surprisingly not as dry wooden floor as it was up in the vault. Lily paused, looked at the now mummified bodies and shivered at a morbid thought that it likely be because-

The young woman stopped so abruptly that Jade almost ran her over if not for the older woman being so used to her own children (as well as nieces and nephews) doing that. So she dodged the human, turning to see what had Lily's attention to just staring so intently off to the side. Startled Jade tried to grab the smaller human but Lily was surprisingly nimble as she hopped over a body and picked up what looked like a torch.

Kia' huffed and bounded back over with her brother. Both circling the human in a guard posture, and as Lily picked the old torch up she paused. Stared at it then looked at the golden phantom as he tilted his head. Lily offered the burnt out end of the once torch to him, the wolf yawned, then grasped the torch in his mouth, blinking coppery eyes and huffed before letting go. The handheld torch lighting up in the same sort of gold-burnt orange fire like on those on the wall.

"How did you know they can do that?" Zanin asked, surprised, did Lord Valen teach her?

"I guessed," Lily admitted sheepishly, but held the torch that was almost as long as her arm out. "But Zanin, look."

The Sentinel threaded his steps over and paused, blinked and then had to take his helmet off to get a look at something rather impossible. He stooped and motioned Lily to bring the light closer, and reached out to touch one of the pale, delicate leaves of the sapling trying to grow from the wood planks.

"How is that possible?" Jade asked as she finally saw the thing that just stood two feet tall. Thin and a bit wispy looking, it had four large leaves. "And what is it?"

"There's a mother wraith nearby," Zanin said, looking up and around, then looking at the large doors that were not as far anymore where the forge area was. "Things like this happens sometimes, when they are in their healing sleep."

"What kind of plant is it?" Lily asked as she knelt between two bodies beside the silver and white sapling. As she watched she saw orange and teal flushing through the leaves as it tilted them towards the light given off the torch.

"Something special," Zanin said, setting his weapon down as he knelt on the other side, he scanned around for any others, stopping two more closer to the forge room. "Like the prayer tree in the gardens where you live on the Fortress. It is and is not like what the tree used to be that this wood came from."

The Sentinel reached down to carefully coax the few roots free of the plank of wood. Flaring a bit of his own wraith gift to get it shifting towards the source of energy. He smiled and finished carefully prying it up, looked around and reached for a large, broken canteen off of the fallen brother to his right. Transferring the sapling into the canteen, glad there was likely room for the other two inside. "Can you hold this O'ri, Lady Lily?"

"Ah, sure," Lily shifted the torch, trying to balance it with her elbow, but Kia' nosed closer to grab it like a play stick. She blinked, confused as it was replaced with the half canteen and looked at the sapling. Closer up it almost looked like the sapling's thin trunk was crystal, but absorbing colors now that it was exposed to light. The silver of wraith gift energy, the two phantoms, something dark tan and peachy ish since it transferred hands. "O'ri?"

Zanin nodded, grabbing his helmet to put back on, but smiled at at the human's accent. "Yes, very special like I said. It will stay like this for a while before needing water. Likely long enough to get you back to the Fortress."

Lily looked up and then at Jade as Kia' pranced with the torch before the golden wolf stole it. The two playing something that was a mix of tag and keep away with it from each other.

"Keep it safe," Jade smiled, unable to help feel some of the first strings of hope despite the situation. She looked back at the doors and helped Lily back into the center path. "You said a wraith mother is near?"

"It makes sense, the saplings, that these brothers and sisters were considered safe to pass on here." Zanin walked to that large door as Lily drifted to the other saplings. Spreading his hands on it and felt a barrier like what Mila had made at the retreat. Only… it was pulsing in a steady way, like slow breathing. Taking a deep breath himself, the Sentinel centered himself and put his weapons away. He flailed his gift and then pushed through the barrier to open the left side of the doors.

The door gave a grinding sound at the hinges before shuttering open. It groaned and suddenly swung the rest of the way open to reveal light and free flowing wraith energy like fog.

Zanin stepped back into the barrier as he looked up and saw the figures, the two phantoms still holding their weapons and echoing his own armor. Flanking a walkway over what used to be open space but was now just surrounded by a frosted crystal structure that had grown around to make almost a smooth area for the massive, winthern like being was curl up around the still warm forge. Her long tail wrapped around it as well. Each slow breath rustled both sets of wings and sent cool air swirling through the forge room.

The Sentinel started, and then slowly dropped to kneel as if on autopilot, hearing Jade's gasp behind him. Knowing there was a mother Wraith around was one thing, but to unexpectedly find her right there?!

"...oh, that's pretty…" Lily breathed from the back with the ghostly wolves, drawing the attention of the Sentinel phantoms.

"Very," Jade agreed, trying to sort out her emotions at seeing a living, whole… if sleeping Wraith.

Reviews!

Shadylizzard [chapter 37]:
LOL that basically covers it!

Shadylizzard [chapter 32]:
Sorry for the confusion! Lily is 22 in the story, the reason John (and several Argenta) treat her younger then she is, is because THEY are very old and just sort of reflexively do it becuse she's so small in comparison, on top of that Lily IS really traumatized. John/Slayer is over 2,000 years old not including all the time/ages in hell. Also there's no pairing between Slayer/John and Lily, its just platonic, and found family for them in the story. I just really like the trope of big scary guy adopting smol as family

RavenShichiyou:
There will be a nesting attempt by way of Viola soon enough! Also, what else can you say when being groomed by alien dragon thing? XD

XFireStoneX:
Lily's still has some side effects of the start of the transformation that was stopped. she won't change but some of those side effects will linger like her having the living crystal heart