It had been nearly a month. A month since Rook disappeared, being sucked into the Fade. The team was walking on eggshells around Lucanis.

Lucanis.. wasn't taking it well. Neither was Spite.

We must. Find her!

"You don't think I know that? I… I need to go talk to Emmrich."

Lucanis made his way to the Mourn Watcher's study. He silently entered. Emmrich looked up in surprise at the interruption, the piles of papers before him rustling.

"Ah, Lucanis. Welcome. Manfred, can you please provide our dear Lucanis with a cup of coffee?" The skeleton ward of the mage hissed happily and shambled off to complete his task. Emmrich gestured for the Crow to the seat across from him.

They sat in quiet company. He could respect the fact that Emmrich knew well enough how he was as an individual that he didn't constantly ask Lucanis how he was. Emmrich cleared his throat. Lucanis looks up, pausing his brooding.

"Lucanis, I know that I had inadvertently been a cause of tension between you and our dear Rook." Lucanis opened his mouth to argue, but Emmrich held his red leather glove hand up, his golden rings glittering in the firelight. "No, I can understand how you felt. Rook is a remarkable young woman. With all we have been through, she has grown to be like a daughter to me."

The friendly hiss of Manfred interrupted his speech, "ah, thank you, Manfred." Manfred carefully poured a mug of coffee and handed it to Lucanis. "I prefer tea, but considering the circumstances, I felt it best to account for my guest's preferences."

Lucanis wrapped his fingers around the mug, staring into the dark liquid. "We need her to come back, Emmrich. We can't do this without her. I… I can't do this without her."

"Lucanis."

Lucanis raised his head to look at the mage.

"I swear on the graves of my parents that we will find her."

Lucanis believed him. He had no choice.

Bellara burst into his chamber, a ball of energy. Lucanis looked up from his seat from his cot, his hand gripping a familiar gray shirt with missing buttons that still smelled like… her..

"Emmrich…" she said, panting, "Emmrich thinks he found something."

What? This couldn't be. Days… weeks of agony could be over on. Lucanis jumped to his feet, walking briskly to the meeting room, where the rest of the team assembled. He looked at Emmrich.

"One of the motes of Curiosity visited me. Apparently… there are places the Veil is thinning. It was very insistent that I follow it. It was correct, I could feel it. And… her…"

Emmrich locked eyes with Lucanis, "I felt her magic, Lucanis. I think we found her."

They followed Emmrich around the floating isle. Lucanis didn't think he had ever seen this much of it before. But then, he never had need before. But now… he needed to find her. The more they searched, the tighter the knot of apprehension in his gut became.

Pockets of jagged, dapple lights began to form in the air as they moved forth. Emmrich was leading the search, waving his hands, the swirls and sparkles of his magic flowing, searching…

Emmrich yelled over his shoulder, "this way. It's thinner here!"

Taash huffed behind him, "you better be right."

The pockets of wavering lights and atmosphere were getting bigger.

Emmrich pointed, "there! A light!"

A shimmer in the atmosphere, a light growing bigger, larger. Something… something was pulling at him…

Run… go… NOW!

Lucanis ran, shoving past the others towards the growing patch of light. This had to be it. This had to be her. He came to where thee wavering light was, standing like a window looking into the son.

"Rook!" He yelled, reaching into the light.

One breath.

Two.

He felt soft fingers grip his hand. He instinctively tightened his grip. Lucanis turned his head over his shoulder, yelling, "we've got something!"

The others soon gathered round, huddling around Lucanis with his arm plunged into the light.

His grip never faltered.

Arms gripped his, wrapped around his waist, helping him pull.

"Heave!" Taash roared.

Please… please, if there is a Maker…

A body came tumbling out of the light. They all collapsed in a pile.

Lucanis instinctively wrapped his arms round her. Crushing her body against his. Everybody else was yelling, hugging, rejoicing.

He could feel Rook clinging to him, silent sobs racking her body. Her fingers clenching his shirt so tightly, her knuckles turning white. Lucanis buried his face in her hair, pressing kiss after kiss after kiss against her head. He was vaguely aware of others letting go, giving them space.

Spite unfurled his wings, enfolding Lucanis and Rook within them.