The Return

[Kirin]

Tamotsu picked Chizuru up easily. He quickly moved away from where the fight was taking place. Tamotsu watched the fight in silence. His head tilted as he just watched Soren.

Chizuru moaned softly, trying to stand. She wanted to join Tamotsu, but she couldn't get to her feet. Tamotsu sighed softly. "Stay there, Empress. It is dangerous."

She just grunted in response. "This whole idea was a bad idea."

"Well, we all make stupid decisions."

"Are you saying-"

"No! No, Empress! I'm sorry."

Tamotsu and Chizuru were just speaking to one another when Chizuru's hands drifted up to her face. She cried out in pain as scratches appeared on her hands and face. They weren't all that serious, but still very painful. She reached to Tamotsu, who pulled her to him. "This hurts."

[Trydian]

Trydian listened to Soren in disbelief. Sebilla had last been seen at the Parley, where they had given their farewell. He quickly searched the wooded area for her silhouette, hoping that Soren's words were only half true. Sebilla might be ashamed by him, but if he could see her, everything about their painful past would be irrelevant to him.

During his search, he became too distracted by the surreal idea of Sebilla's existence. The searching was no longer with reason, but a maddening desire. Before he could steady himself, or realize his mistake, he felt the blight of Soren's power carve through his body. Coughing up blood, he could barely breathe, let alone stand on steady ground. Crimson eyes searched for the assailant, his brother standing still in the distance.

Using one of the swords to steady himself, he rose from the ground. Parts of his armor, now lay tattered, like brittle skin decaying from a corpse. Watching Chizuru deal with her own afflictions, he knew he would not let himself be killed. She should be the only thing on his mind, but his thoughts also dwelled on Sebilla's presence.

Casing his mind in a brazen torrent of ire, he succumbed completely to his demonic nature. The swords radiated with dark blanket of negated energy. Chizuru's wounds would slowly heal, slowly becoming a smooth scar and eventually mending. Trydian's wounds suffered a more virulent after effect, since his body had absorbed the original attack.

With a direct sprint, Trydian pushed off the ground and opened his swords into a corkscrew motion toward Soren. Soren kept his reserve, rarely becoming displaced from Trydian's heated attacks. Both brother's were almost at the same level of hyper-intensity, their minds totally encompassed by the fight.

Most of the nature around them would be destroyed, or shaken by their actions. It would be a miracle that the locals hadn't noticed the disruption. Trydian concentrated his energy into protecting Chizuru and Tamotsu, most of the attacks deflecting off both beings.

In a surreal moment, Trydian could feel his mind ascending to a higher level of awareness. Continuing to slash and cut at Soren, he attempted to break his momentum down, hoping to cause him to lose balance during one fleeting moment.

Soren kept his focus, his staff sweeping under Trydian's main hand in an attempt to disarm him. Trydian always had the second sword guarding him, so the move was risky. Trydian met his attack with more power behind his arm and slashed his second blade at his exposed side. Blood gushed, covering both opponents. Using this moment to finish the fight, Trydian used his weight with the blades and forced Soren against the ground.

Attempting to reach his staff, Soren felt Trydian's blade cut into his wrist. Hearing Soren yell from the pain, Trydian watched with an uncanny stillness. It was amusing, that Soren thought of himself as a better warrior, simply because of his bloodline. Now his blood had been spilled because of that arrogance.

Soren would be killed, but not by Trydian's blades. When Soren attempted to move against Trydian's force, Trydian pierced another blade into the man's gut. The sword would go into the ground, securing his body.

Motioning toward Chizuru, his hand waved at the Vuri. “Finish him, Chizuru...it is your right. I will not take that from you.” Trydian tossed the staff in her direction, making sure that it landed near her form. He would make sure that the Vuri wouldn't escape, or attempt to harm her and Tamotsu. Taking the sword's blade out of Soren's lacerated wrist, he waited for Chizuru to end his life. Knowing that she may not be able to stomach such action, he prepared himself to end it for her.

Sebilla would witness everything and the shift in Trydian. He was still in his demonic form, but capable of ones actions. Vylrath had never been able to achieve that place, but Trydian was relishing its potential. His body would be covered in scars, which would be a decent reminesce of his victory.

[Kirin]

Chizuru took the staff and gave it to Tamotsu.

"Guard this with your life." She said solemnly. Chizuru got to her feet. Vengeance was enough of a reason for her to get to her feet quickly.

The woman stumbled her first couple of steps, but she quickly gathered strength. Her legs took her to where Tamotsu had laid his swords down. She grabbed his katana and ran to Soren and Trydian as quickly as she could. The katana even seemed weightless to her. The sprint to Soren seemed to go by quickly. Her arms rose and the blade rose over her shoulders. Once she was close enough, she took a swing with the blade. It was quick.

The blade cut into the flesh of Soren's neck quickly, then through the bones and out the other side. Blood sprayed her arms and face. Her lips curved upwards into a small smile. Soren's head rolled off his shoulders and his body twitched as the nerve endings were severed. Chizuru's gray eyes appeared wild for a moment, then slowly, she returned to a more relaxed position. She just bowed.

"I called you a friend at one point. Possibly even a future lover, but certain things have come to pass and you have dishonored yourself. I must continue on my journey."

Chizuru met Trydian's gaze or tried to. She walked over to him cautiously. With one hand, she motioned for Tamotsu to give her Soren's staff. Tamotsu rushed from hiding to give her the staff. Once the staff was in her hand, she walked to Trydian and tried to examine him.

"I am to continue on to see Thorin once more." She waited for a response, if she were to get one at all.

[Trydian]

The scent of Vuri blood would fill the air, but it would be foul to Trydian. Chizuru approached him and his body relaxed. Even in this form, he knew who she was. “We will bring the head, so that we have proof of his death. I do not have a lot of trust with uncle Thorin.” Rolling his shoulders, he grabbed his blade from Soren's gut and examined the blade.

Taking some cloth from his uniform, he wiped the spine and body of the sword as if it were a natural thing. Sheathing both blades, he acknowledged Chizuru as a warrior. She didn't shy away, or deny her purpose. In fact, she had acted almost eager to dismember Soren, but he couldn't blame her, since she had been turned against her will.

Meeting her gaze, she would see that he was the same being to her. Handing the head to Tamotsu, he acted as though it were an every day traveling sack. “You did well, Tamotsu-san. This is the last favor I will ask of you..” Tamotsu would be the one to carry the severed head- even though he protested.

Watching Chizuru, he could sense the other heartbeat -the one that was faint, almost a glimmer of life residing in her. “You should rest when we get there, especially in your condition...I'm sure his wife will know what to do.” Trydian said, almost acting as if there should be some cure for her pregnancy. He was beside himself, but the scene would have overwhelmed any man.

The death of Soren would not go unnoticed and he was sure his mother would notice him leaving this world. He worried about her reaction, unsure of what to make of everything. Soren had attacked Chizuru, so he had only done what was natural...

Lost in thought, he walked ahead of Chizuru and Tamotsu, and instructed Tamotsu to watch for any strange symptoms from her. It would be a long walk, but a journey they'd have to make. Thorin may not even welcome them and he had to be prepared for a sudden attack.

[Sebilla]

Trydian wouldn’t find his twin sister. The only indication that she was near would be a subtle cooling of the air, and he would never think to look up. Sebilla had always hated climbing trees because she’d never been good at it, because everyone was afraid she’d fall off a limb and die. However, she smiled when Trydian passed beneath her, her gown tucked expertly around her legs to prevent any sign of her presence.

When Trydian left and the yelling began, Sebilla stood on the limb and watched from afar. Brother pitted against brother for the sake of a woman’s life. It was typical of the Xanathi clan, and there was part of Sebilla that was thankful to Pendaran for pulling her away from that. Seeing Trydian claim his full birthright was intriguing to his sister, the woman that had gained nothing of the Xanathi talent from her mother, and none of her father’s talent either. She had been born with the gift of prophecy.

Prophecy was the only thing that really remained of Sebilla’s old life. She wasn’t fully human anymore and she wasn’t fully Fae. She was somewhere in the middle, neutral, as Pendaran required her to be. Yet she couldn’t stop watching her brothers attempt to tear each other apart. She hoped that Chizuru would be alright, and it looked as if Soren were lying on the ground finally and Trydian was offering her the killing blow. Sebilla nodded, pulled her slippers off her feet, and dropped to the ground – a good twenty feet. She walked slowly toward the clearing, the Vuri sanctuary. When she entered the clearing it felt a little like coming home. Trydian had always been there for her when she was with their mother, he had always protected her, and she had set him free – for good reason. He was capable of taking care of Chizuru now.

“When you’re through killing him, bring her into the sanctuary.” Sebilla’s voice was calm and even. “She will heal faster that way.” Her attention was on Tamotsu, but she was speaking to Trydian as well.

“Hello, brother.” Her sky blue eyes turned to Trydian then and she smiled a little. She had hoped to avoid a confrontation with him. The sooner he forgot her the better he would survive. “I can’t stay long or I risk my life. Igraine has given birth to a daughter, and it would seem in my time searching for you to give you that news, that Thorin’s wife Nimue has given birth to her twins.

Sebilla stepped near Trydian, keeping her distance from Soren’s prone body as he panted what she hoped were his last breaths. She was still smaller than him by a full head and shoulders, slight and fragile looking, with her long black hair. The differences were in the angle of her face, the coolness of her skin, and the confidence in her demeanor. She was both human and other and yet neither. She was a curiosity.

“I wish you luck and congratulations on your marriage. Make sure your family is better taken care of than ours. I am not sure, yet, how many of us will surivive this war that is brewing – but I ask you to…” Sebilla rubbed her throat as if she couldn’t finish her words. Neutrality was so difficult when the brother you shared a womb with was standing within reach.

“Just be careful and take your wife back home to rest. She and her attendant will always be drawn to this place now. You know as well as I that there is a cleansing that can be administered if you can find a demonic soul. Should you ever have need of cleansing the taint. I can say no more. I must remain neutral in this or I will be…” Sebilla looked away for a moment, taking in the sanctuary and the lake with black flames, which made her smile. Thorin had a sense of style at least. “I will be killed if I don’t stay out of this conflict, Trydian. There is a chain, long though it may be, that binds me to King Pendaran.”

Sebilla looked at Chizuru then and smiled, walking to her and crouching near her with her hand extended palm up. Her hand would feel cool to the touch and soft.

“I am sorry for this. I am sorry that my family has caused you this distress. I know, though, that you will deal much better with the burden that has been passed to you. I can see the strength in you and the will to persevere. Those are qualities not unlike my mother and grandmother, who also had this burden placed on them unwillingly. My mother should return to the sanctuary soon and you can talk with her about this. I suggest, though, that you get inside the sanctuary as soon as you are able. It will help with the process, and when my mother returns she will take you to the lake and cleanse you of any trouble that might be afflicting you with the transition.”

Sebilla knew much about the Vuri because she had lived most of her life with them. Vylrath, Trydian at one point, Thorin, Caela, Soren, and Isabella all had the taint. Now the ranks were grown just a bit, but the additions were admirable ones – even if they were forced. Sebilla knew what it was like to be forced to do something you didn’t necessarily want to do.

“Take care of my brother? He will need some guidance in the absence of his family.” Sebilla smiled then and rose to her feet. “Stay at the sanctuary as long as you can manage, but leave before things get…unruly.”

“Take care, Trydian. Think before you act. You have more than yourself to worry about now.” Sebilla touched her brother’s forearm briefly. “I should be going. I will visit if I can, but I can’t see a time when that will be possible in the near future.” She stepped back from her brother then and skirted around Soren, well out of reach as she twitched her long skirts away from her youngest brother in disgust.

[Trydian]

“By the gods...Sebilla?” Trydian went into shock. Sebilla shouldn't be speaking to him, let alone standing before them all. In fact, she was risking everything by being there. He didn't know how to react and he could barely form words. There were too many emotions going through Trydian. The fight alone overwhelmed him, Chizuru's pregnancy and now the sight of Sebilla. He should have fainted like any other man. Fortunately for him, he had the stamina of a demon.

Listening to her logic, he knew that Chizuru would need to heal, but he couldn't let her stay as a Vuri. Could he live with her, now that she was changed? Chizuru had accepted him as a demon, so he shouldn't even have those thoughts- but he couldn't help himself. Their child would be born Vuri and never carry his demonic heritage.

“Stay with us for awhile, Sebilla. If you are neutral, then King Pendaran won't mind if you are visiting your brother.” Sweeping Chizuru off her feet, he held her in his arms as if she were a delicate thing. With Chizuru in his arms, the child's heartbeat was even stronger. If he couldn't find a way to cleanse them, he would never forgive himself. There had to be a way that King Pendaran could help them.

The sanctuary was literally a few feet away. Soren's destruction was obvious, with the runes fragmented and scattered. He wondered if Chizuru would be healed, considering the damage that had been done.

“Once she is rested, I need to speak with you privately Sebilla.” Trydian spoke over Chizuru, as if she weren't in his arms. Realizing his behavior, he kissed Chizuru's, but his face paled. Her energy was strange to him, now that they had tainted the bond with her new Vuri blood.

He knew his sister wouldn't leave- not when they had been through so much. Taking off his cloak, he made a sort of makeshift bed for Chizuru and laid her down. Instructing Tamotsu, he moved Sebilla to a private clearing.

“Take me to King Pendaran. If he changed you, then he can change Chizuru. Please...I'm begging you. If I have to exchange something, I'll do it. I can't let her remain Vuri, or Tamotsu.” Trydian said, standing relaxed around his sister. They had been through so much, but he wondered if that would mean anything to her now.

“I've missed you...you have no idea what's happened. I'm excited for Igraine, she's like another sister to me. Considering my past with Thorin, I can't exactly say I am genuinely happy for him. I'll be surprised if he is loyal to Nimue. Just look at how he treated Igraine.” Trydian refused to believe that Thorin could change. Most of their moments had been tense, some resulting in a few fights.

He closed in on Sebilla, wanting her to feel his presence like before. During lonely nights, he often went into a deep reverie about their bond. He had missed home, but now he claimed the Twin Countries as his home.

“Please stay...just for awhile. I need something familiar.” He paused, wondering if she would agree to his request. Since Sebilla was so connected to King Pendaran, there should be no issue. Trydian had once worked for him, so his past would be connected as well. As far as he could tell, he had left the King on good terms.

He held her then, letting her feel his new strength and sense of self. “I have always let you lead, so it's your decision.” Sebilla's decision would determine the fate of Chizuru and his child. He could only hope that she would see the desperation in his dark eyes.

[Kirin]

Chizuru watched the interaction between Trydian and Sebilla with a healthy dose of curiosity. She remained respectfully quiet, just now cleaning off Tamotsu's blade. Tamotsu stood beside the small pale woman and waited for her to finish. Respecting the sword, she turned, holding the blade in the hand she held the cloth in and her bare hand on the handle, she bowed to the blade. Tamotsu bowed his head deeply, extending his hands. Chizuru handed the katana to Tamotsu and even gave him the cloth. He bowed again and slowly resheathed the blade.

A soft gasp and she was swept from her feet. Chizuru clung to Trydian as though she were afraid. Her worried expression disappeared after he kissed her. It only quickly returned as soon as the gravity of her turning into Vuri had seemed to hit her and she was devastated. She didn't want any of this. She was worried that Trydian would do something that would force them apart. Once Chizuru was laid down, her thoughts seemed to consume her. What if something were to happen?

When did she start actually thinking that she needed Trydian in her life? Why did it take something like this?

Chizuru found herself too weak to stand. Oddly, revenge took a lot out of her. Why was all this being prolonged?

The Empress was not known for being patient.

[Thorin]

Thorin's senses were on hyperdrive, his pace quick and purposeful. The path lead him to the pathway of the Vuri sanctuary. Crumbling ruins, blood stains and the scent of Vuri, put him in an electrified awareness. Unsheathing his blade, he cautiously walked to the sanctuary. What he saw surprised him: Chizuru, who appeared to be exhausted from some endeavor. Upon further inspection, she looked well cared for. He came into full view and lowered his blade, so he didn't startle her into shock.

“Chizuru? What the hell are you doing out here?”

That nagging scent again...but he couldn't find the exact cause. His senses felt disoriented and some part of him told him to concentrate on Chizuru. She was mortal, last time she had left them. Her body appeared a little battered and bruised, as if there had been some battle. Stepping closer to her, he noticed a prone figure in the distance and two others in a clearing. This was a little more than alarming. He couldn't feel the other two. Walking closer to Chizuru, his first reaction was to remove his cape and put it around her shoulders.

“What happened? Who are they? Are you alright? Stay behind me, if I need to fight them.” Thorin could only guess if the other two figures were harmless, or if he should be preparing his stance. “We need to get you out of here.”

She shouldn't have left so hastily, but he wasn't upset with her. Removing something from his pack, he held the familiar flask to her. “Drink only a little...I remember what happened last time.” He said, with a hint of a smile. “It should warm you up a little.” Thorin kept his gaze on the two figures and attempted to keep Chizuru distracted while he formulated a plan on her rescue.

[Trydian]

Trydian felt something stir in the atmosphere and immediately turned his head. The figure was dark, but it carried the shape of a male. Watching it lurk by Chizuru, he felt his pulse quicken. Leaving Sebilla, he drew his twin blades and bolted to where he had left his wife. Dirt kicked up from his heels, his eyes scorning the figure. Something felt strange about him, but he couldn't quite place the intense sensation.

Concentrating his energy into his main sword arm, he focused all of his raw tension. Should the figure decide to attack Chizuru, he would be ready and he wouldn't hesitate his plan of action. Striding toward them, he paused by Chizuru and realized the voice was familiar. His uncle Thorin appeared different, but something had obviously changed in him. He had a jovial sense about him, but his humor was shadowed by his crude nature. His wife would be too weak to put up her defense. He would have to be passive with Thorin, at least until he understood his intentions.

They had always fought and rarely agreed on a single subject -even when Sebilla was present. Their last engagement had been at the Parley and it had been anything but peaceful. Most of the fighting had happened because of his influence with Igraine and his sister Sebilla. Trydian would always find himself protecting the two. His life was slowly shifting into another transition, so his focus would have to turn to Chizuru.

“Give your intentions and you won't join Soren's fate...we didn't exactly part on good terms.” Glancing at Chizuru, he grew even more concerned about her welfare. “What do you want with my wife?” Trydian interrupted Thorin from giving Chizuru the flask. He crossed a sword in front of Chizuru like a shield. She wouldn't be able to take anything from Thorin, or walk past Trydian without confronting her own husband.

Not in the best moods, Trydian was mentally exhausted. He wouldn't allow another fight, even if he had to break Thorin down first.

[Kirin]

Chizuru laid in the clearing for some time. She couldn't seem to hear Sebilla and Trydian speaking. Her head was spinning and words faded in and out. She sat up, hearing movement come closer to her. The instinct to not look prone and defenseless took over as she got to her feet quickly. Tamotsu turned, surprised, but he was ready to guard her. He drew his katana, moving Chizuru behind. Once the figure removed the cape and the hood, he began to relax, but he watched Thorin. Tamotsu also appeared tired.

"Oh! Thorin!" Chizuru gushed and peered over Tamotsu's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I was on my way to the birth, when this staff started to go all crazy. I came back here and Soren was still alive."

Tamotsu stood silently, hoping that Chizuru didn't mention that Soren made him cut Chizuru down. But she didn't say much of anything after that other than Soren was dead thanks to her new husband, Trydian. Trydian who walked up to the group looking less than pleased by Thorin's presence. Chizuru looked a little shaky as she clung to Tamotsu for support.

"Trydian, I was supposed to go see him, remember? We talked about this." Her voice grew flat with impatience. "I swear, if you pick a fight, there will be no sex for you for a month, Trydian."

Tamotsu's eyes widened. Isn't that a bit harsh?, he thought. Why punish yourself, too?

[Thorin]

Thorin pulled back his arm, the muscles tense in his shoulder. Screwing the cap back on the flask, he looked over Trydian and then back to Chizuru. Tamotsu looked just as exhausted as Trydian, if not more and a little flustered. Listening to Trydian, he was shocked to find they had wed and the seriousness in his stature.

After Chizuru explained the situation, things became clearer. Soren more than likely sought to destroy the remaining Vuri, or attempt to dominate them. Thankfully Trydian had destroyed him his body evidence of that.

Taking a step back, he appeared older and rougher around his features. His once jovial disposition deteriorated and crumpled like the thin skin of an autumn leaf. It simply ceased to exist. With the roll of his shoulders, the flask disappeared into the underside of his coat.

“My wife died after she gave birth to Liam, my son. She had twins....” Thorin said, remembering the tearful fits of Amariel and the shock he himself had gone through. He had buried her near the spring and had attempted to do all he could to help Amariel. Infants were not in his nature and he could barely handle himself in his own home. “The other twin is a girl, Maira.” His voice turned soft and some emotion shook from the words.

Motioning for Tamotsu and Trydian to sheath their blades, he looked at Chizuru with a sort of empty gaze. “I could use your help more than ever now, if you are still willing. I don't know what to do with a screaming babe, let alone two.” Thorin was helpless and Amariel wouldn't be able to run everything and keep up with the twins. Before he had left, he had discussed sending Amariel back to her homeland and attempting to raise the twins himself. Now that idea was as daunting as ever and it only gave him a bleak future.

Eying Trydian, he hadn't ignored the feat that had been accomplished. “You will be honored in my home. I am too old and weary to continue fighting.” Nearing his forties, he should have stopped years ago, but some desire kept returning. Surprised at himself, he never thought he would find himself saying those words. Trydian was young and still discovering himself. Even if Chizuru had to marry a Xanathi, he was glad it had been someone like his nephew. With their differences aside, he motioned for them to follow.

Once they reached his home, Chizuru and the others would be able to heal and rest. The infants would be cared for by Amariel, until Chizuru felt confident and rested. Since they were nymphs, Thorin felt lost in the proper care for them.

The same spirit that had once been inside him had left with her death. Chizuru would note the change, their friendship having grown in the short amount of time. His skill wouldn't deter, but become more determined and crude.