Amavasya: Walking Home

[opius]

Bones and her small entourage moved quickly from the old house and sought to secure shelter for the evening. Much to her surprise, the elderly Branch was indeed alive, and still willing to board visitors in two of the rooms in her family tree. All she asked in return was a story from Bones' exceptional catalogue, and a reading from the Mystic she'd brought along.

Bones was quickly discovering that this somewhat odd Tabaxi outsider was treated ... Differently than the regular commers and goers. Something to do with the ancestor worship of the Darkmoon and the place a medium had in that relationship.

With meals and beds secured, Bones turned her attention towards the area Trail had suggested her brother would return from. A common, busy road which most traveled to enter and leave the town. It was likely she'd run into River here. It was possibly the only chance to link up, considering her timeframe.

Crosp didn't seem to mind the walking. He was a lean man with legs built from years of climbing stairs and rushing to seminars. He tagged along, mostly quiet as he passively learned about Summer's history, her complications with her family and tribe. To that end, he kept mum about weighing in- that was a conversation for later. Somewhere... Safer, perhaps.

The road ahead was less populated than it had been earlier. The sun was setting, creating a gold ambient where the light got hit, and deep blues where the shadows were cast. A few hunting parties passed by the travelers, sharing nods here and there.

[redcoat]

Bones would ponder the subject of the story- some internal debate about exactly which one from her adventures she wanted to share. Xilras seemed the most likely candidate of something satisfying, with a clear and happy ending. 

She was happy for Reg's presence- he had a calming effect on her that she hadn't expected, but that maybe she would try and explain. Later- when they were alone and had some privacy. 

For the moment, she kept her eyes peeled for the young Tabaxi she was looking for, her sharp golden eyes scanning around- and above- them.

((Perception: 24))

[opius]

The duo moved along the road, with Wisp having excused himself as not to intrude further into the family business. A Mystic was perhaps not the best choice for a witness to the comings and goings of the living. A modicum of privacy might be better for what could be a delicate conversation.

The lack of the other Tabaxi's jingling ankle bells may have helped her find her target, too.

Bones' keen ears detected the gossip of current events. The city's chieftain had come ill, but was recovering. Others were on the mend from an accident involving a War Wasp attack. A recent hunt had gone well- troubles concerning the local fauna and the recent rise in undead activity seemed to be ebbing in the wake of the rainy season. The typical small form dramas of family life and neighbors in close quarters played out in snippets and vignettes, painting a picture of an active city which more or less focused on its own business.

Bones' keen eyes sifted through the small crowds of Tabaxi returning to town, spotting mostly squads of hunters and gatherers on their way back home. A jovial band traveled boisterously with a freshly felled boar strapped to bamboo poles, field dressed and wrapped in palm fronds. Smaller groups, pairs and trios, carried small game tethered to twine rope, bunched up against bags and satchels.

Among those returning parties, toward the rear of the long and loose procession, was a collection of young men and women in their mid teens. Spears and sharpened sticks against their shoulders and bundled nets under their arms, these young people carried ropes with field-dressed fish. The day's catch. While many of them joked and told tales, one stood out somewhat aloof from the rest. The half moon mark on his brow let her know she'd found her quarry.

River seemed to be keeping to himself, eyes on the road. His face was a hard read, but there was a sternness Bones could see in the knit of his brow. From a distance Bones could see River had grown- not just in height, but in physicality. Perhaps there was some truth to this 'all work and no play' attitude he had adopted.

[redcoat]

Bones was quiet on the walk- deep in her own thoughts, debating approaches and opening gambits as she listened to all the gossip around them. Reg was pretty quiet- for as much as he said he didn't know people, he certainly knew her, despite their short and limited time together.

Or perhaps they were just suited for each other, which was equally as comforting.

She spotted River, and her ears perked up- hells, he'd gotten bigger. He was certainly no kitten anymore, and with a serious expression to match.

She stood on her tiptoes and gave Reg a kiss on the cheek to get his attention. "Found him." She'd explain, motioning to the young Tabaxi with her head before giving Reg's hand a squeeze and letting go, slipping away to stealth up next to her brother.

((Stealth: 32))

"I feel like I should open with a pithy remark about how tall you've gotten."

[opius]

Reginald's brows went high for a moment from the kiss, momentarily surprising and catching him off guard. He glanced at her, then glanced into the crowd, trying to see what she had. "Oh, where is..." he trailed off as he looked back to find her...

And couldn't. Lips tight, he let out a little sigh. He was suddenly quite alone in this remote place. He shuffled to the side of the road and stayed put, hands behind his back as other Tabaxi passed. Occasionally he'd awkwardly raise a hand, nod, and avoid any small talk and attention best he could.

River was unaware as far as Bones could remember, and as she sidled into view he seemed to have his mind elsewhere. His focus remained on the road, on the hunters ahead of him, occasionally toward the trees flanking the way. As she spoke, an ear flicked and he barely turned to address her, not quite glancing in her direction. "Diet and training, ma'am. Push a little harder every day, try a..." As he spoke he turned to face her, and in doing so trailed off. Initially he looked surprised, but the face soon shifted toward a kind of neutral expression that was eerily familiar for Bones.

Like looking in a moody, younger mirror.

"Sister. I did not know you were in town..." He looked her over before beginning to walk again, slowly at first. "You are looking... Well, you have not changed much. Hello."

[redcoat]

Damn- she was hoping that Reg would have seen her reappear next to River, but the poor man seemed to have lost her completely. She'd... have to apologize later. She hadn't meant to abandon him. Wiggling her fingers behind her back, she'd let one of the illusory butterflies trace the path from in front of Crosp's nose and back to her- hopefully that'd be somewhat reassuring.

((Minor Illusion))

Back to River. Did she always look like that, when she closed off? Summer was fairly certain she did- and wasn't sure what to do for a moment.

"I am- not for long. Tonight, leaving in the morning." She said, falling in step- slowly- beside him. She had a plan... but seemed to have forgotten her words in the time it took to find him.

She just... needed to approach it like she would want someone to approach it with her.

"I have been a shitty sister to you, and I am sorry." That seemed as good an opening as any, and at least she apologized- no excuses, no diminishing.

[opius]

That genuinely caught the younger tabaxi off guard. Some of that steelyness was gone and in its place was a new and genuine confusion. Stubbornly he pushed it aside... But the tactic did get him talking. "You have been a nonexistant sister. The times we have run into one another you have been..." He furrowed his brow and rolled his eyes before looking at her. "Not shitty. Neither a jerk, nor outstandingly good." He looked back down the path and shrugged.

"You are just not around. I thought you liked it that way, so I tried not to think much of it." He pursed his lips and thought a little deeper on the subject.

"I suppose as a sister being around is supposed to be part of the deal, so I guess... Whatever. You can be a shitty sister if that is how you see it. You are more like a faraway cousin. Not exactly a stranger, but certainly not who I expected to see today." It wasn't exactly frustration in his voice, but she could tell he was flummoxed at best.

He continued down the path with her nearby, looking ahead rather than toward her. Bones could see he was geared up with light hunting gear, a satchel with a few tools for his trade- which today seemed to be fishing and netting. Around his neck hung a polished green river stone like a jade, one she recognized immediately. It was also in Trails painting, worn by Fire.

[redcoat]

Flummoxed confusion was an infinitely better than closed and cold, so she was happy for the change. Even better, he countered with his own view... and his view wasn't nearly as harsh as her own, thankfully, which meant there was room there, perhaps.

"Your view is much nicer to me, I think we'll go with yours." She said, a tone of amusement in her voice as she got serious again.

"I.. didn't want it that way. Not really- not with you. I thought the cost of leaving this place- escaping this place- was losing you. And then, I got older, you got older, and I didn't know how to even start being something more than a distant cousin to you again."

[opius]

River looked her over. "Why?" The question wasn't bitter or venomous. He shrugged a shoulder and looked ahead. "I have heard about you. The others say you find people - bad people, and bring law upon them. You have a city with many people to call friend, and you contribute your skills to that place. They say you even have found a new father." He glanced back at her.

"You have found a place for your talent and a family to replace us. Why return now?" In his tone there were... Elements that Bones recognized. It was matter-of-fact, calm, and familiar. Similar to how she would go about interviewing a suspect. River was either quite similar, simply did not care, or was already knee deep compartmentalizing this whole situation.

[redcoat]

Bones was beginning to wonder just how much like her mother she was, given that River seemed so very similar to her- despite very little direct contact.

"I found a home, yes. And I was adopted by a dwarven man when I was your age who has become a father to me. But that wasn't to replace you. There is only one you, and while my patchwork family has grown it doesn't make you a less important piece. If anything, it makes you more important, because it shows me that I've been an idiot and a coward avoiding this place." Her own tone was even- calm and open.

[opius]

River continued walking, thinking. He rolled his chin as though chewing on her words while he considered them. "Why... come back to something if it sucks?" He looked back to her a moment and tilted his head. "I do not remember you beyond those times we ran into each other- I cannot imagine you remember much of me beyond my colic." He scratched his head and glanced away. "I am told I was very loud. But beyond that..." He shrugged and jostled his catch before stopping to face her. "People change. I... Get that. But why? And why now?" He shook his head.

"I do not want to hear 'because I am a fool' or nonsense like that. All things happen for a reason." He gestured toward her. "...What's yours?"

[redcoat]

"I'm a fool' would be a stupid answer." She agreed, looking thoughtful as she considered the answer- wanting to give him something true.

"I was scared before. Scared that I would not be strong enough to hear the answers to the questions I had. I don't know how much you were told about what happened to me after I left... When I left, I was hunted by lizardfolk, and very nearly died. It was by fate and chance that someone rescued me. I then went to the city, where I lived on the streets, stealing to feed and clothe myself for years before Thorhac took me in. As far as I could tell, no one came for me. No one searched for me. I was left to live or die without anyone here giving a damn. Or... maybe I wasn't. Maybe everyone thought I died the night I left and didn't know I lived until I was an adult again." She frowned deeply.

"I wasn't ready to lose the ambiguity. I was afraid that the things I told myself in my worst moments were true. But now..." She shrugged.

"I have a mate who seems to care about me quite a bit. I have friends. I have... a safety net, if everything had turned out to be what it seemed."

[opius]

"And before it was uncertain. You could have come and found us terrible people did not care." He took a breath and lifted his shoulders, looking down and askance.

"Sometimes... to learn someone has no thoughts about you can hurt more than if they simply hated you. To be a nobody, nothing in the mind of someone else. I think I can understand that." He turned and began to walk ahead of her.

"...If it is any consolation, I have had many thoughts about you. They are mostly not good." He shrugged. "The road home is long. So walk with me and talk. Maybe you will prove my thoughts wrong."

[redcoat]

This was perhaps the best case scenario that Bones could have asked for, and she happily continued to fall into step next to the younger Tabaxi.

"For you, I am an open book." She answered honestly. She'd owe Reg a whole fleet of apologies and explanations after this, but... hopefully he'd forgive her. Or that he'd at least followed her butterfly and figured out what was going on.

"And I mean that genuinely. I will answer any questions you have for me."

[opius]

The travel that followed was not nearly as tense and uncertain as the initial introduction had been. Indeed Bones' butterfly had been received, and her trail laid. Crosp was hard to miss among the crowd, and as Bones walked with River he kept a comfortable distance- giving the siblings space while remaining 'close enough' to perhaps fall back on should a boot drop.

All the while River probed and prodded with questions. He initially asked what Bones did in Nyanzaru, what the city was, what it represented and its history. To him, they were a neighboring tribe- pleasant as neighbors, but perhaps a little noisy and a little strange. The idea of living within stone buildings, or cutting trees to make homeswere strange concepts.

He asked about magic- a topic that was often only concerned the elderly and shamans. From there probed her about Reginald, and her experiences with adventure. All the while he didn't seem particularly shocked or surprised- more curious as he digested the information and compared it to his understanding- or misunderstanding in some cases.

Their walk carried on like this for fifteen or so minutes, and eventually River's questions slowed. Bones had time to probe the young man or shift the conversation.