Scenes with K'ile, K'luha and K'ailia [ooc welcome, Hipparion Tribe]

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: Luha awoke with a start, sitting up abrupting from wherever she was in the carriage. She had been asleep since she fell asleep on K'ile hours ago. It was still dark, or perhaps it had already turned dark again. With a soft grumble, she felt her forehead and looked around. 

 

"A dream..." she mumbled to herself, thinking about it. "No... a memory..." K'luha corrected after a moment's pause. Such a long forgotten memory. She hadn't thought of those days since... a very long time. Coming out of her daze was a sharp pain and Luha recognized it as her hip aching terrible. She reached into her pocket on her leg and pulled out a small mint leaf. She set the leaf beneath her tongue and let the soothing tingling sensation wash over her slowly while she tried to figure out night from day and her precise location.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Oddly awake in the middle of the night, K'ile was sitting on the back of the carriage. Either still sitting there or sitting there again. His ears twitch, but he doesn't look at K'luha, and he says, "Dreams are weird."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears twitched and she stirrd from her sleep. Momentarily confusedby her strange surroundings it takes her a second or two to get her bearings. "Where are we?" she asked sleepily rubbing her eyes.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Quick to put of blame, K'ile muttered, "Uh oh, Luha. You woke up Tahj. Still in teh Shroud, Tahj."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Sorry Tahj..." K'luha mumbled lightly, hoisting herself to her feet and glancring around. Indeed they were still in the shroud but it was beginning to thin out and turn into more of a plains sort of area.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj yawned again and combed through her hair with her fingers, peering anxiously out the back of the carriage, she gave a short whistle and smiled when she saw Rhiki still trailing behind."Do you think he's tired yet? He's kinda old."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm sure he'll rest when the chocobo pulling the cart rest." K'ile said, and flicked his tail at Rhiki to get the bird's attention. "Hey, you're fine, aren't you? Old but doing just fine!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha mumbled something incoherent before streching out her arms and standing firmly. The tingling sensationw as enough to dull out the pain in her hip, so walking and moving was easy. Luah stepped up on the edge of the carraige before hopping off the edge and starting to walk alongside it. It was going slow enough that it wasn't a problem to walk with it. 

 

"Gonna walk for awhile." she called out to the other two.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Before K'luha even got off the carriage, K'ile grabbed her tail to keep her on. "Do you have brain damage?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yes. My legs are cramped." Luha retorted, reaching behind her to bat at K'ile's hand so he would let go. She couldn't so much feel the pain of it being pulled on due to the tingling minty sensation.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Unyielding, K'ile snapped, "So sit back down and learn to do some stretches." He looked over to Tahj and said, "Help me out here."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Grinning at K'ile, Tahj shrugged,"I'm tired of sitting too." Coaxing the large bird closer she sprang easily from the carriage onto his bare back.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "See?" K'luha smirked faintly at K'ile and smacked his hand lightly again. "Unless I'm riding you like a chocobo, I am going to walk for a minute. Letgo."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Tahj doesn't have a broken hip," K'ile said, "I'm too tired to carry you around, but I'm not too tired to break your legs and let this cart drag you all the way to the tribe by your tail."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well maybe you should sleep then." K'luha sighed back at him, moving to sit down on the bench again if only to please K'ile at this point. "And goodness knows I will be dragged around or set to boil in the sun when we talk to the elder's anyway. K'ailia abandoning us, taking a week longer than we were supposed to, bringing back Tahj, and that other thing? I don't know if they'll have you broil, but I know I will be broiling under the sun again."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowns at the adults from her perch on the chocobo''s back,"Why would they be angry with you? Is it because of me?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "They're not gonna be mad about Tahj," K'ile said, waving it off. "And they're not going to be mad about us running off for a few days. They'll get it." When he was done, he did turn to Tahj and say, "Luha's worried because nobody in the tribe knows we're bringing you back. But I think they'll be happy."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha stood again, frustrated at K'ile insistence that she was not allowed to move. "I have to walk." She pressed again, looking to K'ile this time. "Let me walk."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile rolled his eys and said, "Fine. Hobble. Teach your new daughter that injury is an excuse to reject those who worry about you and insist on having things your way."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "K'ile..." K'luha said quietly as if to keep it from Tahj's ears. "Shut your mouth." Came the quiet angry snap before K'luha pulled another leaf from her pouch and tucked it under her mouth. With that she silently paced the length of the carriage, getting some of her nervousness and aggression among other things as she walked.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj slipped off the bird's back to relive him of her weight, keeping up with the carriage easily."I'm thirsy, do we have any water?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Course," K'ile said, grabbing his back and pulling it over to pull out what like a canteen or something I'unno. "Can't go anywhere around Thanalan without water, much less the Sagoli. Chronic dehydration and you are going to be good friends!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha continued to pace along the carriage, ignoring the other two for the time being. She shifted the leaves from under her tongue to chew on them instead.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Taking a long swig from the canteen, Tahj closed it and tossed it back to K'ile,"Thanks." Hopping back up in the carriage she rummaged and found the apples taking one for herself and one for Rhiki. Holding one up she looked at the adults,"Want one?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm okay. Long as everyone else is up and about I'm taking one of the benches so maybe I don't fall out of the carriage again." K'ile said, standing and moving back into the carriage. "Rhiki can take over watching Luha!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha muttered something that Tahj probably wouldn't hear, but sounded something along the lines of Rhiki not being a tease all the time. But the muttering was quickly covered up by K'luha clearing her throat loudly and moving to sit on the floor again. She looked to Tahj and nodded. "I would love an apple Tahj."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Bringing the apples with her Tahj settled close to K'luha,careful not to bang into her leg, and handed her an apple. She began sharing the other two with the bird.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile, despite his animated speech, was pretty damned tired. Maybe he really had fallen off the carriage at some point that night. He lay down on one of the empty benches and rolled to face the wall of the carriage, wrapping his tail up around his legs.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's gaze softened somewhat towards K'ile. Just why was he so tired all the time now anyway? She felt tired herself, despite having slept so much. Perhaps it was because of her dreams of past events. Or maybe she was getting sick because of all the travel. Still, Luha took the apple and muted on it quietly. "Tahj, do you want me to show you more about archery when we stop?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Giggling at the bird who was grabbing apple slices from her fingers, Tahj smiled at K'luha."I'd like that."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha smiled and nodded. "Alright. Next time we stop, I'll show you a thing or two and we can practice hitting some targets."

[Twinflame]

Twinflame: The Shroud had thinned out into shrub brush and dark dirt, the beginnings of Thanalan. Already the air was dry and becoming warmer, and shadows were difficult to pick out. Already, K'ile ws feeling more at home, as the world around him started smell more and more like the regions he knew near the Sagolii. Partly because of this, he had slept better that night (he hadn't slept well the night before? Luha kept him up!) and was up walking behind the carriage.

 

He watched Luha sleeping on her own bench for a time, and then sought out Tahj. "Hey, how's Rhiki doing?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowned slightly,"I think he's getting tired. Will we stop soon?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "We can stop now," K'ile said, trotting around side of the carriage. "Have Rhiki hop up into the carriage for a nap. There's no other shade around here, really."

 

K'ile exchanged words with the carriage driver and the chocobos pulling it eased to a stop a fe wmoments later.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: As the carriage stopped Tahj called to the large bird and coaxed him into the carriage. She cringed slighlty as his head swung over K'luha as she slept, but she appeared undisturbed. "Whew that was close."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Careful," K'ile said, having arrived just in time to see the Chocobo almost hitting Luha. "Her sleeping is probably the only break I'll get from keeping an eye on that hip of hers."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj stifled a giggle,"I'm not sure it's made made for chocobos to ride in, he's supposed to be pulling it."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Ah, he'll do fine. As long as he doesn't bother K'luha. Then he might not make it." K'ile reached into the carriage and pulled out his bag, opening it to take out some water. "Is the air getting to you yet? I guess compared to the Shroud it's getting kind of dry."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj shrugged and wrinkled her nose slightly,"It's getting warmer and I'm thirsty. But not so bad. Will it be much farther? I'm kind of tired of sitting in this carriage."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "A few days." K'ile walked over to Thaj and offer her the waterr. "And it's going to get a lot hotter and a lot dryer. Until you think you're going to just dry up. And then even more. Until you'll swear Azeyma herself is staring right at you!" He leaned forward so his face was in Tahj's face. "Just like this! This close!"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj blinks in surprise just staring back at K'ile for a couple seconds then begins to giggle,"Silly."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Anyway," K'ile said, and thrust the water at Tahj. "One thing to learn is to drink lots of water in the desert, long as lots is available."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Taking several large gulps of the water, Tahj passes it back to K'ile,"Thanks." She pulls an arrow from her quiver and begins spinning it idly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Getting better at that?" K'ile said, stowing the water in his back and setting it down by the carriage. He reaches then for his spear, which he stabs head-first into the ground, and crouches to begin working a mechanism on the weapons head.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: The noise from K'ille and Tahj's chatter along with the carriage's stop eventually awoke K'luha from her slumber. She hadn't meant to fall asleep in the first place, but something had made her sleepy and thus... 

 

She carefully opened her eyes and looked around hazily without moving her head. The walking... had not helped her hip. Now that she could feel it again, it was almost as if it was protesting the fact she didn't listen to K'ile. Maybe she ought to have listened. But she wasn't about to let her pride go just yet. Luha remained stilly on the carriage and sort of hazily looked out towards the other two miq'ote.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grins,"Sort of, sometimes it just seems to get stuck and I can't spin it."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile shows her his fingers and sort of flicks them around, a mostly meaningless gesture. "Oncce you get the hang of it, you can spin heavier things a bit faster, and the momentum will help you out. It gets easier." He returns his attention to the head of his spear, and after a moment, pulls hard on the shaft. The entire thing pops free of the blade, leaving the metal head of the spear in the ground.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj peers back into the carriage noting Rhiki curled up sound asleep on the floor,"Poor old man he was tired."Contiuning to toy with the arrow, she began wandering around looking at the scenery.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Holding his spear-shaft to one side, K'ile watches Tahj wander around. Specifically, he's watching ehr fingers, and he's smile. Whether she knew it or not, Tahj was already learning fire-dancing! After a moment, K'ile began to turn the shaft in his hand, slowly, but the thing was long enough that it still breathed an audible, rhytmic huff as it turned.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Seeing a slight movment is a bit of brush Tahj froze, ears rotating to catch the direction of the sound. As she homes in on it she reached over the side of the carriage for her bow, silently knocking an arrow. 

 

Back straight Tahj draws back the bow string and lets the arrow fly, with a high pitched sqeal aa fat rabbit burts upward out of the brush, Tahj's arrow imbedded just behind it's front leg. Frowning that she hadn't killed it with the first shot, she kept her cool and quick knoed a second arrow loosing it almost immediately.

 

Tahj grins with triumph as the small animal drops.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha couldn't quite see what was happening from where she was in the carriage, but her nose and ears at least could pick up the sound of prey being killed. Tahj was quite good with a bow... unlike K'ailia. K'luha let out a little sigh thinking about her wayward daughter. Maka had been right about K'ailia.... not only that but Tahj was... Luha stopped thinking about it. She shouldn't think things like that.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Nice!" K'ile said, somewhat passively, continuing to turn the long, heavy shaft in his hand. He stood a ways off from Tahj, staring at her kill. "Now, do you know how to skin and cook it?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "I was never allowed to skin them myself, mama's knife was too sharp."She hesitates, ears drooping,"I- I used to be able to cook them." she whispers.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "It's an easy thing to learn," K'ile said cheerfully. "Go grab it and Ill show you how to do stuff that'll make city-cats sick."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj wanders over and grabbing the rabbit carcass by the ears, retrieves her arrows before taking it back to K'ile.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Spinning the heavy pole a few more times, K'ile pauses long enough to grab his bag with one end of the pol and drag it towards Tahj. "Skinning knife's in there. I'm guessing you know which end the sharp one is."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj rummages through the bag, and emerges with it carefully gripped by the handle. She then turns it around and  offers it to kile handle first.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile shakes his head, "Nah, I'll talk you through it. This is one of those things that you can't really do wrong, so there's no reason not to just do it. Long as you know enough to cure away from yourself."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj nods and keeps the knife,"Mama said never point the sharp end at someone unless you intend to hurt 'em with it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha perked up her ears a bit to listen in to them. Seemed K'ile was going to teach Tahj how to skin. Interesting. He did enough hunting he ought to know well how to teach it, but she was curious as to how he would do.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Does proficient instructy stuff that likely ends up advising Tahj along a path that will have her peeling the skin off in one big, solid, useable mass. Or something.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj listens carefully and peels the hide off the rabbit in  mostly one piece. Not flinching from the blood, she holds the skin aloft triumphantly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile doesn't ICly find this disgusting but OOCly eeewwww

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha was impressed with Tahj's performance, and with K'ile's instructions. He would make a good dad, or at least a teacher. Now, she thought, would be a good time to get up. However... when she tried to move her leg to stand it protested with a great searing pain. Luha winced from it and stopped trying to move again. Well shit.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile popped his head up over the side of the carriage, below which K'luha lay on a bench. "Hey there, lazy. You're missing all the fun."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked at K'ile for a moment, only for a moment before giving him a wry smile. "Hm. Missing out on all my sleep thanks to you Mr. Noisy." she teased back before looking towards the bench. She wanted to look at Tahj, but it was kind of impossible. "And tell Tahj I'm impressed. I'm impressed with you too K'ile, but Tahj firstly."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Hearing  the adults talking, Tahj wanders back to the carriage, hands still bloody,"How are you feeling aunt Luha?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Crossing his arms over the edge of the carriage and lay his shin on them, K'ile smiles down and Luha and say nothing. Tahj's question was apt.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha continued to smile and lightly reached forward to push K'iles head away from her. "Just fine Tahj." She called out, lying through her teeth but doing a convincing job at it. "You two gonna cook for me or what?" K'luha was quick to change the subject, but not to sit up.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Ears flattening, Tahj pales slightly but nods as she wanders off to gather wood.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uh, hey..." K'ile let's his head be pushed back, but hsi vague protest is directed at Tahj. He frowns as he watches Tahj wander away, and turns back to Luha. "She's worried she's going to mess it up. Why don't you cook it instead of lounging around like some kind of desert princess?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Because..." K'luha frowned back, her voice low. Sitting up was proving to be challenging with crying. "I will." she quickly revised her sentence, finally managing to sit up. Although, she was breathing a bit heavily for simply sitting up and her hand clenched into the side of the carriage.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Meanwhile Tahj had managed to gather wood and stones and was building a small fire pit.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Luha," K'ile said warningly. "Forget it. Stay put. We've got it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha looked to K'ile and frowned. Shit. Why was he always right? And why did he have to notice? "I can't lay here forever..." she mumbled back at him. "K'ile..." K'luha called softly, trying to keep it out of ear shot from Tahj. She paused, as if she had more to say before simply going quiet and looking away.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Sighing, K'ile said, "It's just until we get back to the tribe. Just sit tight. I need to help Tahj get the rabbit cooked up."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He stepped away from the carriage and turned to where Tahj was working on the fire, heading over and saying, "Want some help?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I..." K'luha called after him so softly she was sure he wouldn't hear it. After a moment she shook her head again and laid back down with a significant amount of pain.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's hands were shakingand her ears were tight against her head but she managed a small smile,"It's ready to light I think."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile crouched by the fire pit, "And how're you feeling about that?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: 'It would be good,' K'luha told herself. 'It would be good for Tahj and K'ile to get some time together. For K'ile to be there for Tahj. Although, part of her couldn't help but feeling that same helplessness in not being there. Like she was missing something very important that could never be replaced... and all because she was too stubborn or stupid or both to just let the conjurers take care of her hip in Gridania. And because she was too stubborn to let K'ailia take care of her in the first place. 'I really am a failure of a mother...' K'luha thought to herself, closing her eyes and pressing her hand to her eyes. She didn't think she wanted to listen to what was happening anymore.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Fists clenched tightly, ears flat Tahj's eyes focused on the unlit fire pit, and she took an involuntary step back.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Tahj," K'ile said, and reached out to touch her shoulder. "Don't worry about this right now. I'll cook the rabbit. You go spend some time with K'luha. Give her something to smile about. You're cooking tomorrow, though, alright?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Not needing much prodding Tahj broke and ran to the carriage, slowing only to make sure she didn't step on the sleeping chocobo.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Pulling on one ear, K'ile sighed and leaned down over the fire pit, flicking a piece of wood and, with that simple motion, causing the fire to light.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha opened her eyes, feeling the carriage shift as Tahj ran over to it. She turn head had and tried to give her best warm smile. She was at least, good at giving warm smiles even when she felt like dying inside. "Hey Tahj. Not going to cook tonight? Well, that's okay. You can hang out with me."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Flinching violently at the sound of the fire crackling to life tears began to fall silently down Tahj's face,"I'm sorry, I wanted to make dinner for you."She knelt by K'luha's bench and gently laid her head on the woman's shoulder.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oh... Tahj... it's okay..." K'luha cooed softly, reaching her arm up to stroke the back of her neice's head. "You'll get there. Okay? We'll help you. Me and K'ile will be right here for you."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Sniffling and wiping her eyes, Tahj refocused on her aunt, noticing she hadn't moved off the bench,"Are you thirsty?" Retrieving the water skin and holding it out for K'luha.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yes... thank you." K'luha smiled quietly again and took the waterskin. She managed to sit up enough to drink from mitt without much problem and handed it back to Tahj with the cap on it tight. "How are you feeling being out of the orphanage now?'

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "It feels kind of strange, but I like it. It reminds me of living in the woods with mama." Tahj pauses scanning the woman's face,"Does it hurt much?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha paused, her lips turning in a thin line. She wanted to lie. That was her first instinct... and yet. "It does..." K'luha admitted quietly. "But, I'm glad it's better than the orphanage."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowns scanning around the carriage for something, then spies a small folded tarp, she grabs it with a grind and turns to Kluha."I'll try not to hurt you, but leveling it will help." Carefully reaching under the knee she elevated the leg far enough to slip the tarp under it.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha quirked her head a bit. Leveling... it? "Erm... okay...?" she mumbled, letting Tahj do... whatever it was she was doing.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahh nodded happily  as the tarp under her aunt's knee hopefully took pressure off the injured hip,"I didn't hurt it too much did I?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha winced a bit. Moving her hip at all was... very painful but. "A little... but not terribly.' She admitted before looking to her niece again. "But... yes... some of the pressure is gone so... thank you."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles and leans over to Kiss K'luha on the cheek,"Want an apple while we wait for the apple? Or would you be more confortable with your shoes off?" Tahj smiles brightly, attempting to take her aunt's mind off the pain.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha cracked a smaller more genuine smile at Tahj's actions. She was such a sweet girl, very unlike Maka. In that regard at least. "Yeah, both of those would be nice. Thank you. You shouldn't spoil your aunt so much." Luha chuckled faintly and rubbed at her temple with her free hand.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj fetched an apple from the basket and handed it to her aunt, then went to the end of the bench to remove K'luha's shoes, wincing as she pulled the shoe off the injured leg as carefully as possible. "There!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha bit down on the apple while Tahj pulled off her boot. Biting down on the apple helped her stay quiet and deal with the pain. She bit down finally when it was off and munched on a bit of the apple. "Mmm, it's fine. Thank you."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj was quiet for a minute or two, then looked to her aunt with a serious expression,"Will K'ailia be able to visit us? I liked talking to her in Gridania, it's nice to have a sister."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No... she won't be able to come back to the tribe. When... when you abandon your family, they abandon you as well." K'luha informed her sadly, looking at her apple like she had suddenly lost her appetite again. "I guess her freedom was more important to her than.... well, it's no matter. You can come with me to Ul'dah to visit her sometimes."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sighs and lightly strokes her aunt's arm,"People are family no matter how far away they are. You and mama had a fight and she was far away but you were still her family and she loved you. K'ailia is our family no matter how far away she is. No law can make that not so." she said fiercely.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: For some reason, Luha felt Tahj's words very deeply. They resonated harshly with her, and it took all her self restraint to pull herself back from tears. Instead, she cleared her throat a little and took a moment to calm herself. "Maka... didn't leave because she wanted to. We will always be family but... it is different with K'ailia, Tahj. She wanted to leave. She left because we were not important enough for her to stay. I... I was not important enough to her for her to stay." K'luha went quiet for a moment and pressed a hand to her mouth. 

 

"No law can make her not my daughter... but no words can ease my pain that my own daughter would forsake me for others. K'ailia... does not love me like I love her. She doesn't not appreciate what I went through to raise her. Above all else, she wants to be her own person. She no longer cares who she hurts in fulfilling her own selfish wishes. I have... raised a selfish daughter who cares not for me or her for her family. I am... a failure of a mother... I can only be happy K'aila did not cause as much trouble as K'piru's daughter..." K'luha went very quiet. She hadn't meant to say all of that to Tahj and yet... No, it was out of place for her to say that. "I am sorry Tahj. Please, forget my ramblings. It was out of line for me to say that to you. Your sister is a wonderful girl. We will visit her in Ul'dah when we can, okay?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Silent for a long moment, Tahj reached out to gently brush the bangs out of her aunt's eyes, she knew her aunt was in pain but didn't know what to say to make it better, so she offered the onyl thing she knew,"I love you, and I'm glad you adopted me to be my new mama."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled back at Tahj and nodded slowly. "Yeah... me too."

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: The night had settled cold on the... wherever they were. K'luha was sure as she had been staring up at the top of the carriage for too long. They had stopped for the night still, and a small fire was still crackling and snuffing itself out where they had cooked. Tahj was already asleep, but the pain in Luha's hip was making too difficult to sleep. That among with the fact that she hadn't been able to really bathe since they left, or clean up, and using the bathroom was... she didn't want to think about it or how long she was holding it. 

 

Finally when she was certain Tahj was asleep she glanced around, narrowing her eyes as she wondered where K'ile had gotten off to. "K'ile..." she called quietly, not wanting to wake Tahj. She decided quickly if he didn't answer she would... just have to suck it up and deal with it herself. "K'ile where are you?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He could smell the Sagolii from here, and to him, that was as good as seeing it. The window was blowing north, and it was a long, long way away, but there was the slightest hint of those dry sands and the many desert plants the he knew grew there. Eyes closed, body still, ears turned back away from the fire, he could just scarcely pick it out. It had taken him an hour of searching, but he'd found that smell among the others, and it beckoned him. It reminded him to never stay too long from home, as once he had done years ago, and the reminder heated his heart like sunlight.

 

K'luha's call was at the very fringes of his focused senses. For her, he reluctantly let the concentration slips away. His ears perked up and his tail slid on the dust behind him. He stood and rolled his arms, his shoulders, letting the weight of them return. He let the dark knight and the crackling fire, the stars and brushlands return.

 

He answered back, silently, for he knew K'luha could hear him well, "I'm over here, staring at the fire and fantasizing of one day growing up and becoming Nunh."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha repressed a snort. Staring at the fire and fantasizing about becoming a nunh one day? Cute. Very cute. Although... something in the long silence it took to answer made K'luha wonder... just what was it he was really thinking about? She wanted to know... and yet. When she remembered the last time she asked... 

 

Luha's ears swiveled down to press against her head. She hadn't know that was what he was thinking. She hadn't realized that's what he was doing and she had rejected him so fiercely too. Was there even a chance he would open up to her like that again? 

 

No. She didn't think so. 

 

K'luha tried to shake the thoughts from her head. The nagging thoughts that she really didn't know K'ile like she thought she had and the other thought that wondered what the hell she even thought she was doing. She would have to suppress her pride, just for a little bit. Just for now. 

 

"K'ile I..." she paused, as if the words were coming out with a great difficulty. "I need your help." she finally finished quietly. And if he didn't hear them fuck it. She wasn't saying it a second time.

 

*

 

Twinflame: In the night, K'ile's footsteps were dramatically audible. They shuffed and crushed the soil as he moved, without hesitation, but also without hurry, away from the fire. Appearing at the end of the carriage a moment later, he leaned on the end of K'luha's bench and said, "What's up?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha listened quietly, his footsteps somehow sounding more like an Auroch's thundering steps. When they went silent and his head popped over the top, K'luha looked up and somehow shrieked back into her bench. 

 

"Bathroom." She answered somewhat awkwardly, avoiding eye contact for a moment. "And maybe something to scrub off the layer of filth I feel on me..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Blinking, K'ile said, "I don't think I've got any soapweed or anything, so I don't know what to do about that. Anyway, it's going to hurt you to move, isn't it?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha moaned faintly in protest. There had to be SOMETHING she could at least wipe some of the grime off with. Sand, some sort of plant, anything would do at this point. As for moving, she grimaced at him and nodded. "Why do you think I finally gave up on moving around?" Luha grumbled, rubbing lightly at her hip. Curious as it its state, she pulled down on her skirt to check the skin's color for a moment. Needless to say it looked far worse than it had before with a disgusting sallow tone to the bruised and cracked flesh.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Positioning himself just outside the carriage, K'ile gestured beckoningly, "Well, I can't help the pain at this point. Scoot down and I'll help you out a ways. That's what you're hoping for, right?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yeah.... yeah that will be fine..." K'luha answered distantly. She inhaled deeply, preparing for the pain. But only for a moment before she forced herself to sit up. Luha bit down hard on her lip, teeth breaking the soft flesh as she grimaced through it. With a less than careful movement, she managed to pushed herself down to the edge of the carriage and breath out raggedly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile reached out and took K'luha's hand, saying, "I'll carry you. It'll be easiest. I think you're still going to hurt a lot, so just make this as easy on yourself as you can."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: She nodded slowly, looking to K'ile when he took her head for a moment. "Yeah that's... that's fine."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Turning his back to her, K'ile pulled Luha onto his back in the same motoin he'd used back in Gridania, though it was quite a bit gentler this time.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha hissed and bit into her lip against as K'ile pulled her gently onto his back. It hurt. It hurt more than eve giving birth had hurt her. When she was finally on his back however, she pressed her head to K'ile's shoulders and muffled her own soft cry.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Accepting the he can't really do anything about the pain, K'ile secures his grip on K'luha and begins to walk away from the carriage, angling off into the darkness. "I think Tahj can probably get over her fear of fire with some help," he said. "What do you think, Luha?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded against K'ile's back. She already had faith that Tahj could overcome her fears. Tahj was a good girl, and while she had thought originally Tahj would leave after a few years, she was beginning to think otherwise.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Yeah. She's smart. It's good for her to be afraid when she's young. She'll learn how to overcome that and won't have to worry about it when she's old like us... Okay, this should be fine, right?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile paused, not too far from the fire and the carriag,e but well outside of the firelight.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Maybe it was good... As long as Tahj didn't turned into K'aijeen K'luha would be fairly happy. She was happy as it stood that Maka's daughter was alive and well and coming home with them. It felt a little like after all those years, she could atone for what she had done, even if it was only a little. 

 

Luha glanced around before nodding again. "Yeah, this is fine. Thanks..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Letting Luha down, K'ile eased away from her slowly to make sure that she had control of her own weight. "I don't think I have anything to clean you up with. Well... No. We aren't conserving water, are we?" Using water to clean oneself during a trip was an odd thought to K'ile, who had, after all, only bathed recently because K'luha had literally forced him to.

 

"Well. We'll see. Just call if you need me. I won't be far."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha clumsily managed to stand on her feet as K'ile set her down. It didn't hurt as much when she wasn't moving her hip but walking and sitting? The movement of it felt like grinding bone into muscle. 

 

"Ah... alright." Luha finally sighed and set about the task of using the bathroom with a broken hip in the dead of night. Which was to say, not terribly easy.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile busied himself scouring the carriage for cleaining whatsits.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha was quiet for a few minutes while she did what she needed. Without anything at hand however, she went instead for ripping off part of her shorts and using the fabric for hygiene's sake. 

 

Finished, she painfully stood and limped over back to the edge of the campfire. "Find anything...?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Hey!" K'iles ears popped up and he snapped his gaze up quickly, "Don't be walking around! You could've called!" He stood quickly and half-ran over to her, putting his hands on her right away. "Come on over by the fire. Figure we'll just use a bit of water and cloth like city-fok do. There's plenty of water in the carriage anyway."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flattened into her hairline and she looked towards the ground. "It's embarrassing enough as it is K'ile..." she mumbled towards him, her hands clenching into weak fists. "You... were right. I should have seen a Conjurer..." Luha admitted, her eyes fixed firmly on the ground in self-loathing.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Taking K'luha under one arm and pulling on her weight, the action forceful but not mean, K'ile said firmly, "No you shouldn't have. You were right." He tried to guid her towards the fire.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha went along with the movement, to angry with herself and upset with the pain to really go about fighting him over where she was being moved. Besides, the fire was comfortably warm in the chilly night air. Although, K'luha turn head head to K'ile, confused. "I... what?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "You were right about the conjury," K'ile repeated. "I didn't just give up on that because you were stubborn. You were right. Everything you said about it. Here, sit down," he stopped her in front of the fire and eased off her agian.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Still confused, Luha looked to the male miq'ote with a face that showed her feelings in equal parts. Carefully however, she sat through the pain, only to look up at K'ile again, as if to request further explanation.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Noting her expression, K'ile quirked his own, and he just shrugged. "I'm just saying. I don't really like conjury either. Or white magic or whatever." He turned and went back to the carriage long enough to retrieve his bag, from which he pulled his canteen and, oddly enough, a woven shirt.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's confusion at his agreement with her paled in comparison the moment she saw him holding a shirt. "YOU OWN A SHIRT!?" Luha blurted out very loudly before blushing and putting a hand over her mouth.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Chuckling, K'ile shook the shirt, out beside him. It was dyed red with withleather ties about the collar and sleeves. "I own a whole wardrobe, but what I wear is nobody's business but my own."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "A-ah.... o-of course..." K'luha replied, still embarrassed at her outburst. Somehow, it made her a little sad when he said that. She wasn't entirely sure but, it reminded her that she had shut him out when he finally opened up to talk to her. 

 

Ears fallen and feeling both sad and angry at herself for being that way, K'luha stared awkwardly at the floor.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Still wearing his smile, K'ile further interrupted the silence of the night by loudly ripping great shreds from his shirt as he walked over to K'luha.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "So much for you owning a shirt..." K'luha managed enough sarcasm for one remark at least.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I've got more." K'ile threw a number of the pieces of cloth at K'luha, letting them drape over her. Anyway. Water and cloth. Do you want me to scrub you clean?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oooh, good. More shirts to use as sponge." K'luha called back, mustering a bit more sarcasm for the night. She lightly blew air up at a cloth stripe that landed on her face, letting it fall off down onto her lap. "Well that depends. Do I have to tell the elders about it?" Maybe in her depression, sarcasm just felt the most fitting way to avoid thinking on it, but she was unusually full of it tonight.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not actually going to do it," K'ile answered, a bit disappointed she'd chosen the tone she had. "I was just going to tease you about it and then let you clean yourself. You don't really want me doting over you, do you?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was silent for a long moment before shaking her head. "Maybe I did, but that's not something I can ask for. The things I want are things I cannot have, nor things I can ask for." Was her solemn answer before looked at K'ile with a heavy sigh. She held her hand out for K'ile to give her the canteen. "I will try not to waste much."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Ignoring K'luha's hand and walking over in front of her, K'ile dropped down before her and frowned into face. "What are you so down for? I know your hip is broken and that's annoying, but we've got Tahj. She's pretty and smart and fun. You should be happy."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked, not quite expecting the confrontation but not shying away from it either. She frowned a but and dropped her hands into her lap. "She makes me think so much of Maka. She makes me remember what happened and just how much of a disappointment I am. And she makes me think of K'ailia, and how even in exile my sister raised a girl who would make her proud. And then I think of you, and I am ashamed that I have burdened you with my stupid advances and put at risk something precious for us both." K'luha paused, looking at her hands which were lightly shaking. "I am a fool... but even a fool like me can do something for the tribe. I shouldn't... try to be something I'm not capable of. I should just do what I know how to do and not think of such things...." K'luha trailed off like she had more to say, but was reluctant to say anything else.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Quiet and thoughtful, K'ile reached out and put his hand in K'luha's hands to still them. "Hey, if you're going to come up with a bunch of lies about yourself, they should be good ones, not bad ones. I don't know of a single person who's disappointed in you, and you don't burden me at all, so shut up about that."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Lies? They weren't... Luha looked up to K'ile and shook her head, her face blushing in shame. It was kind of him to say so but, how could he not remember it? "K'deiki, my mother... even K'yohko... I know they are all disappointed in me. And you, K'ile I asked you to do something forbidden in the tribe law. I asked you to kiss me for Azeyma's sake! I might as well have tried to shove you into being a nunh when I have always known that isn't what you wanted! There's... there's no excuse for that behavior. There's no excuse for doing that to you... and I am ashamed of myself and my selfishness..." K'luha looked down again, feeling like she might cry if she actually looked at K'ile.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Inhaling and closing his eyes, K'ile exhaled with a huff. "Don't do that. You don't know what I want and, honestly, you can't make me do anything I don't want to. Nobody can. I kissed you because I wanted to. Don't take credit for that."

 

*K'luha Haaz: "But... you always said that wasn't what you wanted..." K'luha tried to defend herself very meekly. "Weren't you serious when you said that...?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Yeah," K'ile said, and shrugged. "Changed my mind. I can always change it back. Luha, everything that everyone does is only their own business. If anyone's disappointed in you, they need to just get over it, because it's not their business."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha quieted down, looking for something in her head that she might have missed. It did matter to her when people were disappointed in her. She didn't want to let down people's expectations of her. But it still made her feel better to hear the encouragement from K'ile. "I know... that back at the Amaljaa camp I... I didn't mean... I know I messed things up but... do you think... you would be willing to let me know what's on your mind? Even though I already fucked it up once... do you think... you could give me another chance?" K'luha asked after a long time of silence.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "What?" K'ile blinked, his ears perking up, as if something he'd been watching had suddenly changed its shape. "What... You mean, me? Luha, you've got as many chances as you want."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked and looked up to K'ile, her eyes slightly wet but not crying. Again the confusion on her face read clearly and asked for an explanation without saying a word.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Watching her face for a moment, K'ile looked away from her and said. "What, you want to know what's on my mind again? You still think I'm hiding something?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I...why? Why do I get as many chances as I want...? I don't... understand it..." K'luha furrowed her brow a little, trying to think hard about why that would be.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I don't know," K'ile shrugged. "It's not like anybody else is asking."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Would you give it to others if they asked...?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Hm." It was a strange question, and he pulled at his ear while he considered it. "What's the point of asking that? I might, but it's not going to happen, so it doesn't matter."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It could happen." Luha interjected. "K'rei likes you. She might want to know."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Argh," K'ile's tail shivered and his ears lay down. He tried to pull them back up, but the agitation pulled them back as though there were weights on their tips. "How did this get about me? Luha, just cheer up, okay? There's nothing on my mind to ask about anyway."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was torn between laughing at his reaction and wincing at it. She ended up doing something in-between, letting out a small giggle and at the same time recoiling a bit. "It's hard to cheer up when I have so much time just to think." K'luha explained, her tail wrapping around her hips as she shivered lightly in the chilly night's air. "Too much time to think. Too many dreams about the past."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Crossing his arms over his knees, K'ile muttered, "So why bother thinking and dreaming? That's where your problem his." He flinched suddenly, when his idle tail swept intot eh fire's dwindling coals. He grunted and stood, spinning and kicking the fire forcefully. He threw ash and cinders, pieces of wood flickering off into the dark, "I hate fire! Damn it!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was about to reply when K'ile so suddenly stood an lashed out. She flinched visibly and stared, in awe of the sudden declaration and the rather uncharistically violent reaction.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Pulling at both of his ears in frustration, K'ile managed to look over his shoulder at K'luha, though his gaze was probably angry when he'd rather it not be. "Just wash yourself up, and stop making things about me. I shouldn't have to come up with some personal sob story just to get you to stop being all mopey." He shook himself and turned off to the dark, suddenly walking away. "I'm gonna go... hunt some breakfast."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha couldn't do much at first. What had him so frustrated all of a sudden? Was it really her? "No I... K'ile..." K'luha sighed, trying to get his attention as he started storming off. "Wait K'ile don't forgot.. K'ile!" Momentarily forgetting about her hip, K'luha moved to stand sharply and grasp for his shoulder as he left. "K'ile I didn't!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Still moving away, knowing she couldn't keep up with him, K'ile answered simply, "I know you didn't," as he slipped over into the night.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha indeed could not keep up with him. Not even remotely and as he pulled away and vanished off into the night she tripped and fell hard on the ground. Luha winced as she hit the floor and sucked in a breathful of cold air to stop the pain. Her eyes opened briefly in the direction he left, though she couldn't seem him through the darkness. "Then why....?" she called softly, laying on the ground for a few minutes before she would get up to wash, limp back to the carriage and sleep once more.

[Twinflame]

The absolutely absurd length of these pages has motivated me to begin placing the RP behind spoiler tags. It's all still going here, but the pages will be mercifully compressed until you open the RP, and even then, it'll just be the part of it you want to read at the time.))

 

 

K'luha Haaz: The night had not been kind to K'luha and when she awoke at the first light of day it was even less kind. She struggled to sit up and look about, and found that K'ile was not only back with the breakfast he was supposedly hunting; which he ran off without his spear no less; but he was simply missing. With a lot of struggling, she limped her way over to the carriage driver and inquired about the red-haired male. It was then she found his abscence apparently premeditated, as the carriage driver said K'ile told them he would meet up with them on his own in Drybone. 

 

Luha felt like her heart dropped right out of her torso and crestfallen, limped back to her bench. Explaining the situation to Tahj when she awoke was difficult, but she did so in simple terms and with a smile. She was sure not to mention the night's previous goings on, but the few cuts on bruises on her from falling spoke for themselves. 

 

K'luha was quiet the rest of the way to Drybone. She directed the carriage driver to head east of Drybone so they might be able to pick up K'haali... and maybe K'ile, before they left for the Sagolii. She did her best to seem upbeat, but the radiating misery was pretty hard to conceal, or miss.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj was quiet, sensing her aunt's mood, but scooted over to sit next to her and hold her hand, in an attempt to give some comfort.

 

*

 

 K'luha Haaz: K'luha squeezed Tahj's hand lightly, but didn't look to Tahj. It was comforting, even if the comfort was only a small soothing against the torrent of depression she was feeling. Part of her couldn't wait to go back to the tribe. She was read to boil beneath the sun about now. Maybe it would kick some sense into her stupid head. She was sure when she went home... mostly everything would go back to normal. K'ile would go back to being distant or whatever and she would be able to deal with it again.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Using her free hand to mop at the layer of sweat beginning to build on her face,Tahj was miserably hot, ears drooping and hair behind her ears wet with sweat. Reaching down, she retrieved the water skin and took a drink, offering it to K'luha.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shook her head, politely declining the water as they reared through the vast and hot terrain. At least it wasn't raining. A small consolation prize. 

 

"Tahj... if you ever want to leave the tribe, please don't tell me. Just... stab me in the torso or something so I don't have to deal with it." K'luha sighed heavily, depressingly serious about it but attempting to pass it off as a sort of joke. "In any case... we're almost there..." Luha clearned her voice and leaned out the edge of the carriage to peer across the plains and the cliff. 

 

"K'haali! K'haali come here! Are you here K'haali!?" she yelled loudly, hoping to attract the attention of the poor girl.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali took a moment to sit up and wipe the sweat off her brow from her exertions tanning the aldgoat hide. Two weeks had passed since the rest of the expedition had left her to hold the fort and she hadn't wasted a moment of it; despite having so much game and resources on hand however, a part of her was longing to see the Sagolii again, to feel warm sand under her feet and dunes far as the eye could see, in a way she revelled in the challenge of surviving in such a harsh place, and this land felt like it was bribing her to stay, rather than being a true home.

 

The familiarty of K;luha's voice, combined with the sound of the approaching caravan came so unexpectedly that it took a while for the sound to register in the back of her mind as anythign more than her imagination. Suddenly alarmed, she makes a bolt; first towards the noise to identify the source, but then for cover in case it's a threat, before finally running back again for her bow and quiver hanging in the shade of an acacia...

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj shot a sharp look at her aunt, but didn't comment and began looking eagerly outside for the new arrival.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Clambering up a seemingly sheer part of the cliff she'd learned to scale in the wait, she crept through the brush offering a view of the carriage and it's lalafell driver. But not it's occupants...

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha winced a little at Tahj's sharp glare, but turned her head slowly to peer around the corner. With a heavy sigh, Luha yelled for the carriage driver to stop. Her hand slipped into her pack and pulled out a mint leaf, she was running out of them and using them got rid of the pain but... it didn't help her hip at all, other than letting her limp around on it. Still, she stuck it in her mouth and shivered a bit. It had a very cool tingling sensation that numbed most of her body. 

 

Luha carefully stood and limped herself off the carriage before motioning to Tahj. 

 

"It's just around the cliff-face here. I'm sure she's there. We'll just be a second or two..." And with that Luha started limping over towards the actual campsite.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowned and jumped off after her aunt,"No! You need to sit, I'll go find her."Staring at her aunt firmly with both hands on her hips.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha gave a weak smile to Tahj and rubbed at her numb, but dangerously injured hip. "Ah... but K'haali doesn't know you yet.... well.. fine." With a huff Luha limped back over to the carriage and sat down on the bench. "It's just around the cliff face. Her name is K'haali Thalen.  I think she remembers Maka so just let her know you're my neice that K'ailia talked about."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Ears pricked up, K'haali doesn't have any trouble hearring every word of their conversation behind the caravan, and recognising K'luha's voice.

 

She pops out from her prickly hiding place at the rim of the cliff, startling the driver as she strides towards the carriage in plain sight, bow still in hand. Approaching  the corner of the carriage she knocks on the wood to get their attention before popping her head around the corner, exclaiming (with an impish grin aimed to startle) "Hi!"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Startled, Tahj spun around reaching for her bow, but not knocking an arrow upon seeing another miqo'te.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha jumped a little with K'haali's sudden appearance. After a moment she breathed out, relieved and motioned for Tahj to put down her bow. 

 

"I'm glad you didn't just up and leave K'haali." Luha smiled weakly. "K'ile and I went to pick up Tahj from Gridania. Speaking of him... he hasn't come by the camp has he?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali raises an eyebrow, with a distinctly unimpressed air. "Here am I am wondering if you hadn't all been eaten by wolves, or swallowed up by the shroud. And your first question for me, is whether I've seen K'ile, who last check was with you? 

 

Asides from some rocks, goats, a very angry sryphid nest and K'ailia I havn't had company here in weeks. And I'm not sure which of the aforementioned was the worst company to suffer".

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "He he would meet us at Drybone..." K'luha interjected before shrinking back and looking away from K'haali. "If you met K'ailia, did she tell you she's left the tribe then?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "She what?" K'haali struggles to find an eevn more unimpressed expression. "This was, well some time back. She told me about another member of the tribe having turned up in Gridania"

 

She casts a look at the blonde miqo'te in Gridanian garb. "Who, I would guess you found?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "But she never mentioned planning to abandon us..."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles and steps forward offering her hand to K'haali,"Hi I'm Tahj."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali looks at Tahj's hand, puzzled, and considers offering a friendly hug, before settling on a hand wave. "Pleasure to meet you"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Having had time to process the flood of information, K'haali's thoughts turn to the rest of the expedition. She rubs her temples trying to get it all straight. "So, we've somehow misplaced my uncle, K'ailia's run off and... you look like you got in a fight with a rock elemental Luha, are you ok too, what happened while you were all gone?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I... ugh.." K'luha rubbed her temples. The whole story, that's right. K'haali had no idea. "I challenge that Ventus man, the head of K'ailia's school, to a fight. I wanted to see if he was all bark and no bite. Turns out he's slightly insane and tried to kill me. He punched me through a tree and then I got knocked out. Next I think K'ailia's trying to heal me and you know my distaste of conjury's healing. So I left. Came back to Drybone by Aetheryte and ran off. K'ile found me, so did K'haz strangely enough and then, not so strangely enough, K'ailia showed up to. She said she was leaving the tribe and for some forsaken reason she cast some sort of spell at K'ile that threw a very fast and pointy rock at him. So I stepped in front of it and blocked it. I still don't know why K'ailia did that much. Anyway, she left the tribe, K'haz when off on his own again. K'ile said we should pick up Tahj because apparently K'ailia had gone over and talked to her first. So we went over and picked her up and now we've come back. And last night K'ile..." K'luha paused, feeling particularly upset at this as it was entirely her fault K'ile was missing and possibly dead because he was too dumb to take his lance. "I was talking to him and I guess I upset him because he ran off saying he was going to hunt for breakfast. And now he's just... gone." K'luha threw her hands up in the air, both frustrated and terribly upset. "So I guess that means I've managed to loose my daughter and your uncle in one damn trip out of the tribe, which is putting me at a whopping four people dead or missing because of me!" K'luha pressed her hands to her face for a moment, taking deep breaths and trying to collect herself.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj drops her hand and her smile falters, wondering if she commited an error. But her attention quickly redirected to K'luha and she went over and placed a hand on her shoulder, looking concerned.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali puts an arm over K'luhas shoulder and offers a hug  in attempt to console her - casting a look back at the driver, watching them impatiently. Clearly things had gone very wrong during the expedition, but K'haali immediatly did what she did best; strategising. 

 

Instead of dwelling she begins pondering on the next step - cleaning up the camp, that was a nessecary anc achievable goal right now. Finding K'ile would need time, and K'ailia was something that only time can fix.

 

K'haali Thalen: As was K'luhas injuries.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha found comfort in both Tahj's and K'haali's touch. It was a very tangible reminder that she still had family, and that they were still there for her during this difficult period of time. After a moment she took another deep breath and dropped her hands to her lap. 

 

"Thank you two... I-i'll be okay." Luha murmured, wiping at her eyes quickly with her forearm. "Do you have much in the way of a camp Haali? Were you able to live here with much trouble?"

[12/11/2013 3:00:58 PM] K'haali Thalen: K'haali manages to illicit a chuckle. "We didn't start with much of one, but I'll need an able bodied volunteeer to pack up what we had by the end" K'haali frowns "I... not we. I've been alone too long"

 

"Still, the place is a veritable garden, you have to really try to go hungry here."

 

*

 

 K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj steps forward and nods,"I can help, aunt Luha needs to sit still till we can get her looked at." She shoots a firm look at her aunt to be sure she doesn't move.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked to Haali with a sort of solmen smile. "Ah. Sorry. That's my fault. We should have hurried, or let you know where we were going..." She trailed off as Tahj volunteered herself and shot Luha a dirty look. Luha raised her hands in defeat and smiled again. "I'm not moving!"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali leads K'tahj down the slope towards the camp, a simple tent alongside a large tarp drawn out between two acacia trees. Beneath which a vertible bounty of sacks and rolls of hide lie. Oddly enough, there's a lrge scorch mark up the cliff face and the dry grass surrounding it has been burnt away.

 

"Ideally wel want all of it. But, I'm not sure if the caravan driver will be willing to take all. The hide is definitly something we'll want"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali rubs her chin thoughtfully as K'tahj gets a chance to survey the supplies

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj eyes the huge stack of supplies and wipes sweat from her eyes,"We we should hurry then I suppose." she smiles at K'haali and she goes to the pile of skins , scooping as many as she can possibly carry and staggerin g off towards the wagon.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali shoulders a cured leg of aldgoat and recovers a smaller pouch carefully hidden below a boulder behind the tent before returning to the carriage.

 

She plops the leg down opposite K'luha grinning with the prize hoping it might cheer her up a little. And drops the pouch into her lap, which falls open to reveal a number of walnut sized gold nuggets.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sat quietly, doing her best not to think while she was alone. She was thankful when K'haali returned, dropping a whole cured leg of meat next to her on the bench and a small pouch. Luah blinked and looked down at it, examining the gold. "That's... worth so much... heh... with enough of it we could buy out a huge portion of land and keep those damn Ul'dahns off our property." Luha smirked faintly, tucking the gold back into the pouch.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "If we can keep them off the property long enough, that might just be possible" - K'haali gestures into the distance, at a large waterfall on the edge of the wall of flame.

 

"When the moon broke the land it exposed a fresh rock that's never seen the light of day, there's a lot more where that came from, if we had the patience or expertise"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj staggered slowly to  the wagon, face bright red and panting heavily between the heat and the weight of the skins she was carrying. With a grunt she dropped the pile on the tail of the wagon.

 

Meanwhile, Rhiki sees the new person and seems to be curious about her glasses leaning in dangerously close to attmpt to pick at them.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha chuckled lightly and looked to K'haali. That sort of settled the whole account for her. They were moving to Eastern Thalan, at least for now. "Well then, I guess I'm going to become a miner."

 

As Tahj came about the corner and dumped the skins in, Luha blinked for a moment. "You look hot Tahj, are you okay? Do you need water?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali chuckles too. "And to think everyone objected to my suggestion we dig rocks for a living back in the sagol-", the nipping and probing over Tahj's chocobo interuppts her prompting her to push it's head away from her "Shoo, stupid..." 

 

She casts a glance at the sweatting, red-faced miqo'te. "I meant I needed help loading K'weh's panniers silly. her could've carried it up the hill for you"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's eyes become slightly unfocused and she staggers back, only the old bird's bulk prevent her from landing on her tail. Regaining her blalance she mumbles,"Maybe I could use a drink."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Tahj?" K'luha called, standing carefully and reaching out towards the girl. "Haali, help Tahj up into the shade, please?" The elder Miq'ote requested before digging through their supplies and finding the water canteen. "Tahj, water. Come now, you'll be okay."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Reaching her arm under K'tahj's she helps her up onto the carriage and seats her alongside K'luha.

 

"I'll get the tent and sheets packed while you sort things out here". Before scooting back down the hill, pushing Rhiki's beak out of her face as the chocobo tries nip at her glasses on the way past

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Ears drooping out to the side, earfur and hair soaked and plastered to her skull, Tahj gulped at the water. "Sorry Aunt Luha, it just got so hot." she leans back into the bench looking miserable.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It's okay Tahj..." Luha smiled lightly, taking a hand and wiping some of the hair from Tahj's face. "It's even hotters in the Sagolii but... there are tricks to stay cooler. It'll be difficult, but I think you'll get used to it."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: it doesn't take long before K'haali returns up the hill with with K'weh, tent and the remaining bags neatly packed in the panniers. Before offloading them into the cart

 

"I hope we'll have room for K'ile in here... I'm sure he'll be at Drybone. He might be stubborn at times but he is house trained", K'haali tries offer a reassuring grin, typical of the family.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Beginning to cool off, Tahj eyes K'haali's bird. "He's pretty, I don't have any gear for Rhiki." she retrieves 2 coins from her pocket,"Do you think this would at least buy him a bridle?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Haali's words were... somewhat reassuring. If K'ile simply wandered off and never came back well... K'luha tried her very best not to think about it. Surely she hadn't upset him that much, had she? Surely because she was depressed about K'ailia's leaving, he wouldn't just... leave forever would he? Luha nervously gripped at her skirt and looked to Tahj's coins. "Yeah, I'm sure we can get him a bridle in Drybone." she assured Tahj.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "We could just make him one when we get back to the tribe" K'haali offers.

 

K'haali observes Rhiki - "the both of you would need to learn to ride all over again anyway, running on sand isn't something that comes naturally to chocobos.

 

...or miqo'te."

 

*

 

 K'tahjha Yohko: "He listens to me well enough without gear, but we can't carry anything with out it." she frowns slightly,"There wasn't time to put it on him, so we-I left it in the woods." Tahj falls silent, then smiles slighlty as the old bird reaches in the back of the wagon to tap the top of her head gently with his beak.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "Speaking of which, I'm all packed up, and, on the off chance K'ile is on his way here I left a tracking mark, K'weh'll follow us. So K'luha, are we ready to move on?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded slowly. "Yes... We're going to Drybone to stock up on more water and then it's back off to the Forgotten Springs. From there we ride, since K'yori my chocobo is waiting there as well."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj looks concerned,"Will Rhiki be ok? K'haali said he'd need to learn to carry me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "He's old but... we'll see. K'yori's strong enough for two if we need to do that."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali leans back and taps on the board behind the driver's head causing him to jump. "What, what?"

 

"We're ready to go", The lalafell puts on his best business voice" "Where to?", K'haali frowns at him. "Don't pretend you wern't listening in! - Drybone". A twitch of the reigns later and the cart begins to slowly pull away, weighed down by the extra load.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Settling back for the ride, Tahj rummages until she finds the left over rabbit,taking a bit for herself to nibble, she offers it to K'luha and K'haali.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shook her head, politely declining. She wasn't feeling too terribly hungry, even though she knew she had to eat sometime. "I'll eat when we get to Drybone..." she promised Tahj.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali pulls off a leg without hesitation and gets stuck in. Only stopping briefly to bob her head and offer a muffled thanks through a mouthful of meat.

 

Still chewing the food she ponders discussing how the elders might respond to the results of the expedition, and Tahj's background. But remember her late mother was a close relative of Luha, and K'luha is sore enough, literally and figuratively without more probing questions.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: There was a long time of silence while the carriage continued on. They would be able to make it to Drybone by nightfall... probably. Maybe. Still, Kluha frowned and looked towards K'haali. "Hey, Haali? How badly do you think they would punish me for disobeying laws concerning tias?" she asked somewhat offhandedly.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali raises an eyebrow at the question. Could she be talking about K'ile? - She'd gotten that vibe from them before they left... 

 

She offers a cheshire grin "I guess that'd depend if they caught you"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It wasn't anything really... wrong!" Luha protested quietly, furrowing his brows at Haali. "Just a kiss but... by his insistance I have to tell the elders so... you think I'm going to be racked for it?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Listening intently to the conversation, Tahj frowns,"They can't do that until they fix your hip!"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali carries on in a deeply sarcastic tone. "I'm sure they'll stake you out in the sun for the vultures and feed your eyes to the orobon".

 

"In seriousness. I don't see why they need to know. It's not like you're secretly mated outside of law, or planning to overthrow K'yohko" K'haali takes a second look. "Are you?"

 

She bursts out laughing

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha blushed a little and shrugged. "K'ile might have said something about possibly wanting to become a nunh maybe?" she said so very softly neither might not have heard it over Haali's laughter.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj eyes K'haali, before deciding she was joking and settles back watching the scenery.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Not hearring what K'luha said, but remarking offhandedly. K'haali jokingly confides. "K'ile does of course represent family, so if he was plotting I'd lend him my support; but I don't think it works that way. His backers have to be willing mates, and being my uncle... I'm not sure that'd be wise or even legal".

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha cleared her throat a little more and rubbed at her hip. "It is legal. As long as you're not a sister or brother, it's legal. And I already said I would give him my support if he wanted it. Seeing as we're not really even related."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: She scratches her head. "Hrm, that changes things in an awkward fashion, useful, but akward".

 

K'haali slumps down  in her seat and goes quiet, apparently deeply contemplating her toes.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I mean... you don't HAVE to mate with him. There's still K'yohko..." Luha suggested, reaching over to lightly elbow Haali's shoulder. "Or you could be like your sister K'iara and just never mate ever."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Peering between the two in slight confusion, Tahj desides she doesnt want to know and continues watching the land roll past.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "I think that's a topic that'll need more thought". K'haali concludes, apparently noticing K'tahjha's gaze and trying figure out what she is looking at.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha agreed with a silent nodd and joined the others in staring out at the land as it rolled by.

 

 

(( Meanwhile, K'ile is over here failing at vision quests or something. ))

 

 

K'luha Haaz: At some point during the rest of the fairly quite way to Drybone, Luha made a point that Tahj and Haali shouldn't go about saying that she'd said anything in the first place. Causing needless trouble and worry would be a little pointless. 

 

The trio made it to Drybone sometime in the morning, the carriage driver pulling up to the chocobo stand and letting them all know they'd arrived. K'luha was hoping she would find some sort of sign of K'ile about but then again... She pulled another leaf from her pack, she only had two more of those, and got up from the carriage. It wasn't like Haali or Tahj could carry her weight after all. 

 

"We can rent an inn room for the night and stock up on supplies before we leave." She explained briefly to Tahj and Haali. "Hopefully we find K'ile and if not... then... I don't know." Luha frowned and looked to the dirt ground. "He knows the way home. Maybe he just went home..."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowns,"You can't walk all that way, you'll hurt yourself. Here.."Tahj motioned to Rhiki and he lay down close to K'luha to make mounting eaiser."He can carry you until we get to a place to sit."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali frowns for a moment, apparently lacking the same optimism K'luha has, or seeing through the poor self-told lie. Without a weapon, K'ile wouldn't be in a position to make the journey all the way to the Sagolii, however, taking pity on K'luha's already fragile state she opts to bite her tongue than cause more worry.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It's..." K'luha paused as Tahj brought her chocobo over. She bit her bottom lip and with a sigh sat down on it, riding side saddle for the comfort of her hip. "Alright... " K'luha gave in, still disliking the amount of sitting she had to do but tolerating it for Tahj's sake. Maybe she could find some more herbal pain killers at the small markets here. 

 

"The inn is just over there." Luha motioned down the hill and towards a small building beneath the rocky overhangs. "I have enough gil left for a room and some water but, Haali, maybe we could try selling some of our less useful things here? For enough gil to make it to the Springs and buy supplies over there I mean.."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj clucked and the large bird rose to his feet and began folluing her in the direction K'luha had indicated.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali nods at Luha's instruction and begins unpacking the carriage, carefully loading most of it onto K'weh's panniers and harness to take to the market. She still knew where the inn was from their earlier visit to drybone, when the storms had closed in some weeks before.

 

"I'll check back in when I have something".

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Right. I'll get the inn room. Just ask the front desk for the room number and come in when you find something. And ask around about K'ile if you can?" Luha sighed, not too terribly hopeful that he had even come this way. Maybe he came back to the camp and got his lance at least... maybe. 

 

Reguardless, Luha directed Tahj and Rhiki to the front of the inn where she carefully got off and entered. Pulling out a quickly dwindling pouch of gil, she fround at the lightness of it and requested for a room. The innkeeper looked her over for a moment before pulling out a small envelope. 

 

"What's this...?" Luha questioned, looking it over. The innkeeper shrugged and handed off a roomkey as well. With a frowned, K'luha limped towards their room number and opened up the small message. Her eyes scanned it quickly and after a few passes over the words she stopped in front of their room and scowled. "Being held under investigation!? What kind of crap this is!?" Luha loudly cursed before opening the door to their room. "What bullshit!"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj peers at K'luha with concern,"Did someothing happen to K'ile?"

 

*

 

 K'luha Haaz: Luah scoffed and waved the message at Tahj. "No, but something happened to our food that she bought in Gridania. Apparently the Brass Blades are 'holding it under a pending investigation'! Which means someone's got to go to Ul'dah and fight with them to get it back, or we'll just have to give it over." This explanation was followed by a muttered string of curses and angry mutters while Luha moving to sit on the particularly large bed pressed against the back corner of the room.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "It's our food, you paid for it. But we are allready late." Tahj sighs in confusion and sits down heavily.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I know..." K'luha replied after a heavy moment of silence. "We're late and K'ile's missing and..." With another heavy sigh K'luha sat up and looked to Tahj. "But everything will work out. Worse comes to worse we'll have to buy something again. This time from Ul'dah."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: A sudden thought passes through Tahj's mind and she grins,"I bet we can have a hot bath here! It'll make your hip feel better and I am dirty from sweating so much."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha glanced over to Tahj again and ndoed. "I was thinking the same thing actually." She gave a little chuckle and ran her hands thorough her hair. "It's much different in the Sagoli though. No bathes or anything I mean. We use soap weed mostly since water is so precious."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj wrinkles her nose,"Does everyone stink?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No. The soap weed is actually very good at cleaning your body, and it leaves a nice fresh scent." Luha nodded, thinking fondly of it. "Although... since I usually run goods between the tribe and the city, I take bathes when I'm in the city. When we move to Eastern Thanalan, which I believe we will soon, there's a lot more water there. I'm sure we might be able to manage a bath."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "Can I get you anything?" Tahj pats the soft bed,"I might take a nap"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Meanwhile, at the market K'haali took a rectangular hessian sack from kweh's pack and unwrapped it to reveal a heavy, raptor hide bound book. With practiced ease she found the right bookmark and opened it out onto a page on field medicine filled with a number of drawings of medicinal plants, as well as a number of more arcane schematics.

 

Looking up, she surveyed her battlefield - a tailor flanked the left, while the middleground was held by a funeral supplies vendor; definitly not someone she need visit. Then it caught her eye; a leatherworker, entrenched in a small alcove off the main marketplace; they might be interested in taking the heavy sack of alumen off her hands.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No, go ahead and nap. I'll probably take a bath and wait for K'haali in the meantime..." Luha smiled and stood, moving off to the bathroom.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: She continued to scan the field, a customer striking a riposte at a vendor's outrageous prices, trying to wear them down. Then a smell caught her attention, flowers - almost trying sneak up on her - the florist mostly sold flowers for the graves, but, she hoped they might have more practical herbs on hand. Once she'd conquerered the leatherworker and come away with his treasure, she'd used it to lay claim to whatever pain killing plants they might have.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj called after K'luha,"Should we share the bath to save the hot water? Mama said you should never waste water even if it seemed you had enough."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha paused as she turned on the water. Sharing a bath... huh? She looked sad for a moment before shaking her head. "The bathtub's too small, but if you're really worried about it I'll leave the water in the tub when I'm done. That way we don't waste much."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "Ok" she called back and begain stripping out of her dirty clothes and folding them neatly until she was just in underclothes and climbing onto the bed , promptly falling asleep.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: The sun was already going down when K'haali finally returned to the inn, sporting a victorious grin, a full money purse and a a satchel of oddly fragrant wonders which she plopped onto the bed next to K'tahj's dozing form shaking her.

 

"I come bearring the gtifts of Thanalan!" she called loud enough to wake the dead (Not the wisest thing to do in Drybone), hoping K'luha might here her, wherever she might be.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj stirs and yawns sleepily immediately smelling the herbs,"What's that? It smells pretty."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha stepped out from the bathroom as K'haali finally reappeared. She felt much clearned, and looked a little bit better, though without the grime some of her other cuts and bruises showed up. Still, Luha pulled on her shirt and skirt again before limping over to sit on the bed again. 

 

"Smells good, and you got paid well. You're a good haggling Haali." Luha smiled. "What'cha get?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "Well, when I showed him the miraculous quality of that aldgoat hide I treated using the same crystals, and reminded him how much more pleasant it is to use than treating leather the OTHER way... it lightened our load, and his purse quite a bit!"

 

"Anyroads. I found a florist who knew a guy, who knew a guy and after being led through every dingy backstreet in drybone I was led to a lalafell who was able to hook me up with some painkilling herbs. They look rather like what I saw you chewing in the carriage" - K'haali offers K'luha the herbs from her satchel in the dimming light.

 

She suddenly stops and sniffs the air. "Is that soapweed?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha blinked and carefully took the herbs. Painkilling herbs? That would be useful. Though, she would have to be mindful about moving even with the painkillers. She set the herb in her lap and looked up to Haali before chuckling. 

 

"No, it's soap. Which is similar but not made of the same thing. I took a bath. Tahj you can use it next. Make sure to wash up outside of the tub and then use a little water to rinse before you get in the tub. Keeps the tub water cleaner. Haali you're welcome to one as well."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali deflates. "That's a shame, prepared properly real soapweed would help ease the pain, I checked the market but in "civilised" lands they prefer soap bar to the real thing; and the sun is almost down now. Too late to go out and find a bush or three." 

 

She peers around the corner at the bathtub and wrinkles her nose at the used water. "I happen to think i smell just fine!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled and gave a small shrug. "Suit yourself. But... you didn't hear anything about K'ile while you were out did you?" K'luha looked somewhat hopefully at K'haali.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj hops off the bed and goes into the bathroom happy to scub off the film of sweat and dirt.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Watching K'tahja leave, K'haali takes the opportunity to hop on the empty bed and snuggles into it claiming it as her own.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha took Haali's silence as a no and looked crestfallen at the ground. 

 

'What's wrong K'ile...? Was it really me that would have you abandon us...?' Luha thought to herself before shaking her head again, trying to push past the depressing thoughts that settled on her like a lead weight. 

 

"What do we do about K'ile?" she asked finally. "Do we just leave and go home...? Or do we try to find him?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali contemplated the ceiling, studying a number of cobwebs painted black by the grime and dust in the air.

 

"It's a long way back since you parted ways, he could be anywhere by now. Just striking out and trying to find him would be a fools errand, it'd take days to scour the area and we may miss him anyway. But, if I know K'ile, I wouldn't be surprised  if he's been tailing us this whole time, feeling foolish for storming off, but too proud to come and apologise"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj comes wandering out of the bathroom without even a towel, and begind hunting through her bag for a clean set of clothes. "He knows his way home doesn't he? He might have beat us there."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: It made Luha feel a little bitter to feel like he might have been tailing them. Still... she rubbed her legs nervously only looking up with Tahj came through waring nothing and looking around for her clothing. K'luha frowned more and gripped at her skirt. 

 

"He hasn't beaten us. There's no way he could have beaten us but..." She sighed heavily. "Then what? We just leave for home tomorrow and hope he is tailing us?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: She let's out a sigh. "Besides asking around in the morning if anyone has seen a red-hairred shirtless miqo'te I don't see what more we _can_ do..."

 

K'haali rolls over and contemplates a way to reserve her bed... "I mean, I could go out tonight and see if I can spot any campfires and maybe try sneak up on him if that's the case. But it's a long shot"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No... it's... you're right." Luha gave in, laying back in her own bed and staring up at the grimy ceiling. "That's all we can do... isn't it?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grins as her stomach growls loudly," We should eat, and I'm not sure you've eaten anything lately Aunt Luha."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: Without moving from her prone position K'haali lifts up and jingles her bag of coins. "I thought we might be able to get a warm meal at the public house over the square instead of goat jerky, again..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha looked at the other two. She didn't have much of an appetite still. Too busy worrying over K'ile and his whereabouts but... She sat up again and carefully ran her hands through her hair. "Alright. But only if you're dressed Tahj and you take a bath Haali."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj finds her clean clothes and begins putting them on wrinkling her nose at K'haali with a sly grin,"Aye you smell like Rhiki."

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "Well you smell like... Ul'dahn decadance!" K'haali retorts, swiftly removing her dalmatica and tossing it at K'tahjha's head.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj ducks the article of clothing and looks puzzled,"What's deca-- whatever she said?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled a little and gave Tahj a shrug. "Decadance or no, I'm not riding another two days in a cart with you when you already smell like that Haali!" Luha called back, unwavering on her insistance.

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: "Fine, fine, I guess I can suffer smelling like an Ul'dahn merchant for one day... I already spent the evening pretending to be one" K'haali mutters, struggling to remove a thighboot, first sat on the edge of the bed trying to loosen the straps, then trying prize it off with her other foot - at which point her foot finally pops out suddenly causing her to flop back on the bed and K'tajha.

 

"And now you smell like K'weh too anyway!"

 

Dusting herself off, and managing to remove the other boot with drasticlly less trouble she heads around the corner to the bathtub, stopping only to remove and throw her underwear onto the bed in vain attempt to reserve it.

 

"I'll smell like you two anyway after this, this water's filthy!"

 

*

 

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj giggles at K'haali and begins picking up and folding the other girl's dirty clothes,"How do we wash all these dirty clothes?'

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Haali!" Luha scolded as the girl fell over, only to shake her head and groan. "You should bathe before you put your grime over all the bed. Hurry up now, come on. You wanna eat nice food or what?"

 

*

 

K'haali Thalen: K'haali peeks back around the corner. "I'm trying to weigh up the lesser evil; getting in this filthy water, or surviving on goat jerky".

 

A splash and a grumble seemed to declare her decision for the evening...

 

 

(( So then this happens over here.

 

And then this happens over here. ))

 

 

Twinflame: The refugee camps were full all of all kinds of heinous smells. Starvation had a stinck to it. Desperation and death. The campfires added just enough smoke to the mix to remind K'ile Tia what the tribe's camp had smelled like when he'd returned from Cartenau. It turned his stomach, but he went anyway, for he smelt someone specific had come through here.

 

Picking out K'ailia was simple. Not only did she have a distinctive smell, but her pale skin made her seem to glow whenever she caught the light, and she was always at the center of some kind of attention, small as she was. Approaching her was going to take a good amount of courage, especially if he didn't want a repeat of his last interaction with the girl. He took a moment to stretch out his limbs and prepare for a fury that he guessed would be about equal to the worst K'luha had ever given him.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia was busy passing out to the children in the camp, a number of small bowls filled with chicken and mushrooms from the black shroud. She had been stockpiling these meals for a while, and for this reason.

 

But then, she got the scent of one she did not like. She smiled and the children and patted their heads handing out the last of the bowls, then walked away to a more secluded spot outside the refugee camp and waited for him to come to her.

 

*

 

Twinflame: By the time K'ile was done girding himself for conflict, K'ailia had finished being a saint and gone outside the camp, and was standing there. K'ile was fairly certain she was going to murder him. He hoped it wouldn't hurt too much.

 

Walking solemnly out of camp and holding his palms up as he approached K'ailia, he greeted her by saying, "K'ailia. Hi. Two minutes?"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia narrowed her eyes for a moment, letting him sweat just for a couple seconds before saying, "Fine. You at least aren't pointing a weapon at me this time."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Chuckling nervously, his body still tensed in preparation for being hit by some kind of angry spell, K'ile said, "I admit that wasn't the wisest thing I've ever done, but to be fair, your mother told me Ventus tried to kill her. So I guess I was just being super defensive!"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia crossed her arms, "What Ventus did was not good. I make no excuses for him."

 

She took a deep breath, "I had healed my mother's wounds that he had inflicted and told her not to move around or she'd hurt herself again. I came out there to find her, and the first thing I get was a spear pointed at my head. You know my scent, there was no reason for that, nor any escuse for it either."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not making an excuse," K'ile waved his hands in the air, "Just saying. I was protecting your mom and that's good." He finally dropped his arms to his sides, though he still wore his forced, static smile.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia nodded, "So what is it you wanted?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm," K'ile said, at first. He didn't want to say something stupid, so he decided to stall, reaching up and pulling at one ear, "Well, you remember when we first came to Ul'dah and you and your mom fought and we all had some nice talks? I felt there were five or so minutes around there where I thought you and I kinda... you know... had a friendship sort of... understanding... going on...?" His expression was hopeful.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia nodded, "You were definitely on my good side. I was starting to like you some. But... the day you said the tribe couldn't mold me into a proper tribemate and I said I'd be willing to give myself over to learn from you. You remember your response to me?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm," he said again. He looked at the sky, and thought he say ill omens in the clouds, and this prompted him to think very hard. "I said... I think... that it was... nice?"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia shook her head, "You told me to think twice, because you'd force me to mate. Even knowing that I expressed no desire nor, any interest in ever doing it."

 

She crossed her arms, "That would be like me suddenly telling you that I am going to force you to be a nuhn despite your clear statement that you have no intention of ever being one. It was insulting and rude."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm," he said, for a third time, which he was sure was making him sound intelligent. "Oh, right. Oh. You know what that was, was me telling you that you shouldn't make promises you can't keep. I know you didn't want to. I don't want to be Nunh. But look, I'm going to end up being Nunh!" He tried to infuse his voice with humor "Good thing you didn't make any promises like I did! Because damn!"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia looked to the ground to her left, "Then you could of simply said don't make promises you cannot keep. You should not of used the one thing I expressed a disinterest in as a weapon in that statement."

 

She looks back up to K'ile, "K'haz even said you were an idiot for making such a statement." her tail swished with hints of annoyance, "I'm just glad K'haz at least healed mother after she blocked my attack on you."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm glad K'haz did that too," K'ile said, and belatedly, "And what does it matter if K'haz thinks I'm an idiot? He's not the brightest guy," and with exceptional delay, "And you know that rock of yours really messedyour mom up!"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia looked at K'ile in confusion, "What do you mean? Don't tell me she continued to move after he tried healing her..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Giving K'ailia an incredulous look, he said, "It's your mom. Of course she walked all the way to Gridania before she even let anybody know her hip was broken. And then it was a battle to make her rest at all!"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia slapped her palm over her face, "I swear she is more stuborn than an Anole in heat... Please tell me you at least forced her to see a conjurer..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I was going to," K'ile confessed, "But she said being healed by magic felt like having her body violated. How the hell am I supposed to argue with that?"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia throws her hands up, "So she's still walking around with that busted hip?!"

 

She looks in the direction of Ul'dah, "I will have to pay a visit to her."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm," he said again, and cursed inwardly at himself. "You're going to go all the way to the tribe to heal her?"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia looked at K'ile, "She's in the inn of Ul'dah right now actually. She brought my stuff from the tribe so I could make my dorm room look more like home."

 

*

 

 

K'ailia sighed, "And yes, I still respect the tribe ways. I will never forsake our ways. But I know I can do more for the tribe outside of the tribe than I can inside. Also... till the tribe is on its feet, I am one less mouth to feed."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Forcing himself to stay quiet a moment so that he didn't utter another 'uhm', K'ile at length said, "Uhm - dammit. No, that's not... I wasn't thinking anything like that. I mean, you picky what's important to you and that's fine."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: "Uh... what?" was all she could ask, because she didn't understand a single thing of what he was saying.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile was pulling on both ears now and pacing. K'luha was in Ul'dah now? That could really screw him up if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, even if he could smell her coming ahead of time. K'ailia's question eventually reached through his fretting and he said, "I don't think you won't respect tribe traditions. I never thought you wouldn't. You're still you no matter where you go or what you decide you care about."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia nodded at that, "K'piru is also in Ul'dah I believe, though I hadn't seen her since we left on the scouting mission. So I don't know if she's still in the city. But I do know a lalafell that travels with her had made threats at me, if I spoke to her again."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Aaaauuuuuh," he uttered a long buzz of sound and tensed, turning away from K'ailia and stretching his arms over his head. His tail shook and shivered behind him, turning in great, vibrant cricles. He coughed a few times, and then spun to say, "Back on topic, I think I'm going to end up fighting for Nunh and you should show up and cheer for... someone. Doesn't matter who."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia frowned at that, "What brought that on? And would I even be welcomed back at camp... considering I had left the tribe."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He waved his hands over his head, smiling, "Forget what brought it on, the whole thing with you having elft the tribe is the whole reason -- no, part of the reason -- I want you there. See, Luha and I were talking, and we think the tribe shouldn't be so against outsiders as it is."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: It was now K'ailia's turn to do a double take... but she ended up doing a triple take, "Buh... guh... uh... wha?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Laughing at that, K'ile said, "It's true. I think it would go a long way to convince the Elders that outsiders aren't so bad if you showed up at the feast and demonstrated that you can be part of the family and respect the tribe, even though you've left."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: "So... you would have me join you for a feast... as an outsider? Wont that be a bit... weird?" she asked.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He nodded, "It'll be different, but also the same, and that's the whole point. Family doesn't need to stop at the tribe, and I want the Elders to see that."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia nodded, "Well... alright... I will go. And I already know different. When I returned to the tribe from Gridania, I was already feeling like an outsider. I don't know what happened or how things changed... but they did..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile made a very solemn face, and said, "I feel like an outsider, too, most of the time. The tribe isn't the same as it was. But the world is empty, so... Family is family."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia smiled, "Then we should collect mother and go back together... all three of us. Also... Ventus is no longer a threat. I've gotten to the bottom of what he has been dabbling in, and we created a... sollution of sort."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Smiling suddenly, K'ile said, "Didja kill him?"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia smiled shaking her head, "No, but what had took over him is supressed. I will just have to monitor him for a while. Believe me, I wont let what happen to my mother happen to another. My goals is to help the people of Eorzea. If he proved to be a threat, then yeah, I'd use a Stone two spell on him."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He seemed a bit disappointed, but said instead, "I dunno if I'm gonna head back with your mom or not. I havne't exactly talked to the Elders about this yet."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia nodded, "I know you are disappointed he isn't dead. But I don't like taking life unless I have no choice. I will defend myself, and I will defend my friends and family. But if a life can be saved, I feel I must try..."

 

But then K'ailia looked to Ul'dah, "Sometimes, you must do what is best for family, and yourself. I think all three of us have explaining to do to the elders."

 

She looked back at K'ile, "Though it makes us uncomfortable, sometimes, we must do what is uncomfortable, for the greater good. Morales might be higher if all three of us returned together... but if you feel that way, then I will collect mother and we will head on back. without you."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Yeah, nice lecture." K'ile said, and then continued, "I got stuff to do around town before I leave. If you're still around when I'm done we'll hook up. Otherwise, I'll see you back home."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia smiled and nodded, "Alright..." with that she started walking past him but paused putting a hand on his shoulder, "And just some advice. Be more mindful in the future of your words." and with that, continued towards Ul'dah to see her mother.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile muttered in passing, "Yeah, yeah. You could be more understanding too. Bye now."

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sat on the edge of her bed in the inn room, rubbing at her hip. If felt a little better these days. Laying on a soft bed instead of sand or a bouncing Chocobo had really aided. That and she had bought a few salves and potions to pour on it. It definietely looked better now, even though it still hurt. She managed to get a few more of those Gridanian leaves for running around Ul'dah but... K'luha picked up a small message on her nightstand. Under investigation and being held? Ugh. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with that.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia walked down the hallway of the quicksand's inn till she came to K'luha's door. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she knocked lightly.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha paused in her musings and looked up at the door. She was particularly clothed since she had been putting salves and such on her hip. With a frown and looked around for clothing and grabbed the first shirt and pants she could find. 

 

"Just a minute!"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia called in, "Ma, it's me. I need to see you please."

 

She crossed her arms and waited for the response.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha flinced lightly. Why did K'ailia sound... angry? She wasn't really sure she wanted to open the door now. With a grunt, K'luha pulled on the sleeveless white shirt and pantlettes that went with it. At least it covered up her hip. 

 

"What's going on? You alright K'ailia...?" K'luha called nervously in return.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia softened her voice, "I just ran into K'ile, can I come in?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha paled for a second. K'ile? He was here? In Ul'dah? Why was he...? That no good fucking piece of shit Tia. K'luha grabbed at the bed sheets, clawing at them furiously. She had lost sleep for fucking WEEKS over that asshole, and he just shows up in Ul'dah willy nilly? Did he have any IDEA the stress she was in over that idiot!? 

 

But... if K'ailia ran into him... he was alive. K'luha slowly untensed. He was alive and fine, and that was what she was most concerned with. Just an inconsiderate asshole. 

 

"What's K'ile doing in Ul'dah anyway? Did you know he ran off in the middle of the desert and said he would meet us in Drybone, and then didn't show his fucking face again?" K'luha scoffed back irritably.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia leaned against the doorframe, "Well... I'm not too concerned with that, so... can I come in?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I am!" K'luha shot back. "Do you know how worried I was? He just up and walked away from me and then didn't come fucking back! And now he's in Ul'dah!? What the fuck!?" K'luha snarled, grabbing the lamp from the nighstand and throwing it hard at the door. There was a loud crash and a shattering sound as K'luha watched it break against the door.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia sighed and put her hand on the door knob, "He's here picking up some feast he said, but always wanted to see me apparently... what was that crash? Are you alright?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well if he hadn't fucking walked away then he would fucking know the goddamn Brass Blades are holding it on some sort of fucking investiagation!" K'luha snarled bac, grabbing pretty much anything she could get her hands on and chucking it at the door. An empty bottle was the next to smash into the wall and shatter into a million pieces.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia tried the door knob, but found it locked and sighed, "Ma... calm down. I'd like to come in and talk to you face to face..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well I wanted my daughter not to abandon our family. I wanted K'ile to not be such a dick! But no one gets anything they damn well want do they!?" Another bottle, another crash.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia sighed, "I came to apologize for hurting your hip... and because I hurt it... I'd like to treat it before we head back to the tribe camp. I don't want my mother hurting on this trip..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: There was silence for a few moments while K'luha thought. She pressed her face into ther hands and just sat there, ears pressed tightly down to her head and tail curled up around her waist.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia planted her head against the door, "I feel terrible you hurt so bad ma... I never meant to hurt you. I am so sorry... K'haz had told me he had healed you, I thought you were all better... I didn't know..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It happened after K'haz healed me. It's not his fault."

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia lifted her head, "Well I'd like a chance to make it better... to make things right. I know you are scared of magic ma... but you shouldn't be. And it's still a long ways from Sagolii for you and I to travel..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You and I?" K'luha called back wearily, confused at the notion.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: "That's right. You and I are going back to the tribe camp together. And possibly with K'ile depending on if his business here is done on time." K'ailia called back.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: There was a screech that sounded like K'luha was in a lot of pain before there was a bombardent of things against the door and everything went quiet.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia frowned, "So... are you almost out of ammunition to throw at the door yet? Or shall I come in and you can beat me up if you like."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha didn't answer K'ailia at all, but sat wearily on the edge of her back, face still pressed into her hands.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia stepped away from the door and focusing on the door, she casted Stone II to shatter the door then stepped into the room, ready for a barage of flying objects. She had resolved to be her mothers punching bag till she got it out of her system.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha flinched at the sudden collision of door and rock, but stayed firmly seated with her head hanging low and her hands pressed to her face. Even her ears stayed flat against her head and tail around her waist. She didn't really want K'ailia to see her like this. K'luha couldn't get over her daughter's betrayl, for that was what it felt like. And now it felt like K'ile was doing the same. Running off like that and not saying a word to her, what was she supposed to feel like? Like nothing was wrong? Like he wasn't running away from her? She couldn't help but feel like everything she had ever worked towards, was falling apart in front of her.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia gave a soft smile to her mother, "I know that look ma. You wear the look you had when I was leaving the tribe."

 

She took a step forward, "You are thinking you are losing your family. But even K'ile told me, we are still family. We still care about each other, regardless of what tribe laws dictate."

 

She stepped closer, "I am still your daughter. The tribe is still my family, regardless of if I am at the camp or not. K'ile invited me to come to the feast to eat with my brothers and sisters. Even if I am considered an outsider."

 

With a wider smile, "K'ile thinks the tribe needs to be open to outsiders. To stop shunning even family that left the tribe. I was surprised he felt that way. He also said you too feel the same."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: This was not something she wanted to listen to from her ingrateful daughter. Did K'ailia really think she could just lecture her own mother? Did she really think that was going to help by breaking down the door and forcing her way in? Luha reached down to the pack she had on the nightsand and pulled out a small leaf. She quickly slipped it into her mouth and let the numbing sensation numb her to her physical pain. It didn't do much for her mental anguish, but at least it stopped her hip from hurting.

 

Luha knit her hands together, thinking deeply and not looking to her daughter. Tribe law was in place for a reason. Where those reasons outdated now? Maybe, but maybe not. Maybe the reason she shouldn't like a Tia's company was because they were unreliable and skittish. If she had listened, she wouldn't be in pain over K'ile. The reason they didn't let family leave was because the temptations of the outsiders. She had let K'ailia leave and now K'ailia had left for good. And would she feel so torn in two if she ahd just let K'ailia go like tribe law said? 

 

"Why would K'ile say that...?" Luha finally muttered, shaking her head. "Maybe open to family members that had left, but outsiders? What could have changed his mind so quickly...?"

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia stepped up to her mother then knelt to eye level, "I don't know. But if even he is thinking this way, then maybe it is time the tribe started to change."

 

She looked deeply into her mothers eyes, "Regardless, you and I, we are family. No laws will change that. You will always be my mother, and I will always be your daughter. Just as my sisters will always be my sisters."

 

Placing a hand on K'luha's knee, she continued, "If tribe law causes you so much pain, then maybe it is time to change tribe law. K'ile used to be completely against change. But now, he seems to believe the tribe must change."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha refused to look at K'ailia's face, much less to her eyes. She felt like a kit again. A stupid lost kit and she hated it. She hated feeling like that in front of her own damned daughter. Luha sharply pushed K'ailia's hand off of her knees when she put it there. She stood just as sharply and took a step back. 

 

"Do not lecture me K'ailia! Show some damned respect for you mother. We will always be mother and daughter, but you have hurt me in a way you cannot fathom! I am bleeding and I know not what can stop the pain, but it is certainly not your words! You tell K'ile to sort this shit out with the Brass Blades and have you take him to the tribe, because I am going to do to him what he's done to me!" K'luha yelled loudly and turned to leave. "And you'd best have the money to fix this inn room K'ailia. I would talk to the inn keeper immediately and pay for the damage you've done." And with that K'luha sharply stormed out the hall, ignoring his numbed and still in pain hip.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia looked to her mother who was storming out, "You ever think maybe if you weren't behaving like a kit throwing tantrums at every turn, and running away while hurt, you wouldn't need to be lectured?"

 

She ran after her mother, "You destroyed your inn room before I even destroyed that door. But there you go. Running away from me, from your problems. Running away from being treated for your injuries."

 

Finally she turned away from the direction her mother was running, "Fine then, keep running. I am tired of chasing after you. I am tired of apologizing. I will pay for the door, but you must take responsibility for all the shit you broke!" and with that, she stormed down the hall, while sniffing the air, trying to find K'ile's scent.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha covered her ears and ran. Yes, she was behaving like a child. Yes, she was running away from her problems. But that was all she knew how to do. In what way could she make right what had turned so wrong? How could she ever look at K'ailia without feeling as if she had failed. How could she speak to her daughter, like her daughter again? K'ailia was certainly enjoying the freedom of berating her mother with harsh, unkindnesses; or so K'luha thought. Did K'ailia just enjoy hurting her? Perhaps she did. K'ailia had aways run off and K'luha had always gotten hurt when she followed. 

 

What was she supposed to do anymore? How could she help Tahj when her own daughter had turned into... this nightmare. So cruel and quick to judge, when she did not understand. Constantly calling her own mother a child... it was too much for K'luha. 

 

She ran until the numbness in her hip turned to crunching pain and it could no longer support her weight. The sands outside Ul'dah were at least kind to her when she fell, and she sustained no injury but the one in her chest and hip. K'luha looked around wearily, and found only sands and a few trees and grass to her horizon. She could still see the high walls of Ul'dah behind her in a blurr, but other than that she was completely lost. 

 

K'luha pressed her head into the sand and took fistfuls of sand. Why had things turned out so badly? Why could she not look at her daughter and act like a mother? Why was healing magic so terribly disgusting to her? It would all just be easier if she could detach herself like K'yohko... but tried as she had, it wasn't something she could do. So she just laid in the sand  silently.

 

*

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'ailia stopped at the innkeeper and from her uniform, pulled out a small pouch of gil and asked how much a door would cost. Needless to say the innkeeper paled and asked just what happened and with a little explaining, she paid the fee, which left her pouch mostly empty now, and she proceeded onwards to try and find K'ile

 

When did her mother become such a psychotic kit. She used to look up to her mother as her morale compass. But now, her mother runs from her everytime they meet. She talks about wanting respect from her daughter, but doesn't seem to even respect herself. K'ailia was now convinced, there's more to her behavior than just her leaving the tribe. There was emotional trauma there that existed long before K'ailia entertained the notion of leaving the tribe. But what was it? Maybe K'ile could answer.