Dewei and Ai appear not terribly far from where he senses Mara. His ears are perked, wondering what the emergency can be.

Mara is sitting calmly outside of Felina's house, near a nicely maintained oak tree. Radivishe Moorn is standing to her left, scripting runes methodically in the air. Makyon, attired in Felina's gift, is there as well, arranging buckets of water in a circle around the red-haired Serinian. An obvious field is being directed through the water, bouncing from bucket to bucket, constraining Mara inside a prison-cell sized bubble.

"Hi everyone!" Mara smiles sheepishly. "Auntie Mara goofed."

"Um...hi." Dewei's smile says something like "I'm confused but trying to be reassuring." "What's the problem, exactly, Aunt?"

"Small disaster, actually," Moorn sighs. "Apparently my dear Mara went back to the Nether realm, inebriated, to defuse a situation involving a Simulacri Animose on a power trip." He blinks.

"I didn't know what that was," Mara whines. "I went to kick its ass, but when I tried to kick its ass I felt it kicking mine instead, only with fangs and a tail and a hundred tons."

Dewei winces. "Forgive me if this is a silly question, but...are you okay, then?"

"Well..." she grins. "Sort of. See, a Simlucky Anithingy is sort of like a chament. To better fit in, it mixes its personality with the typical form of those around it, based usually on region. Unlike a chament, these bitches are bad. And when it met me it changed into the form that closest matched my power level."

Moorn shrugs. "An astral dragon."

Mara nods. "The kind that swim between worlds. Beautiful. But they hit like hundred ton mules. Anyway... I couldn't think of anything better to do at the time, so... I sort of trapped it, and-" in a flash Mara leaps up, claws screeching against the invisible barrier, fangs bared, eyes white. As if possessed she assaults her cage, more than once ripping holes in it.

Dewei's startled, of course...jumps forward to help mend the barrier as she tears it, though. He's quite accustomed to being Moorn's assistant by now, and is very good at knowing when to help, how, and when to get out of the way.

Moorn acknowledges it with a 'hmph', which is usually gratitude in his particular case. Mara calms down fairly quickly, and sits back to fix a broken claw with a sigh. "I trapped the stupid thing in my own mind. YOu know, physical superpower, why not trap it on a mental plane. Drunk, I have an alibi."

"Well, at least something good came of the alcohol. So...how do we fix this?" Dewei inquires.

Felina's just finished dressing, and walks up quietly. She's sleepy, and not saying much or going out of her way to be acknowledged until she has her wits about her more.

"Go in and kill it," Moorn offers.

"In?" Mara blinks. "Oh no. Hell no. No one gets in my head but me. And Fel. But not that way!" He is referring, of course, to a mental plane projection, similar to astral projection though of course in a different sort of way.

Felina nods a bit, at least reasonably alert though her eyelids are still heavy. "Right. Maybe one of the twins, but only with me, and only if that's okay with Mara."

"Forgive me, Felina, but you look as though you could use a few more hours of sleep before you even allow yourself to nap." Ai observes this mostly to prevent her father from making a catnap comment.

"Give me a minute to wake up, and I'll be fine." Felina nods. "This is pressing."

"Fel, I don't know if you could handle my mind. It's weird." Mara nods.

"And here I thought that humans saying 'the universe is a big place' was the greatest understatement of all." Moorn shrugs again. Mara hisses at him, not so much catlike as because she can find the tongue to call him a fuggmonkey.

"Hey, can you think of anyone with a better chance?" Felina counters, smiling a bit. "I've had a really long time to get to know you pretty well, Mara dear."

"Sure. Ting." Mara nods. "We're on the same wavelength."

"Hmm..." That actually shuts Fel up, for how good a point it is. She ponders this. "Point...I wouldn't feel comfortable pitting her alone against something as powerful you've described...especially since she doesn't have a lot of experience with astral plane combat. I don't need to tell you that she could be far worse than 'hurt'."

"Well, I can help her a little." Mara nods. "But if it makes you uncomfortable, then, come on in, my love."

Felina smiles a little, and nods. "Okay. Sounds like plan. I'll follow her lead, and just be there for muscle. Our bodies won't be here, I'll have us secured in the house." She looks to Moorn. "You'll be keeping her contained, then? Is there anything you need?"

"No. Ai and your student over there can supply anything that may come up." The sorcerer is only absently paying attention to the runes, anyway.

Felina nods. "Fair enough. I'll go grab Ting, then, and we can get on with this." Smiles at Mara. "Don't worry. Give it a few hours and you'll only be dealing with oddities you chose." Whether she's talking about eccentrities or Moorn is anyone's guess.

Mara nods. "Great! I'll try to tone it down some in here first."

"Appreciated, I'm sure." Felina grins somewhat, and then is gone. A few minutes later, things are explained to Ting and they're both back here, the younger bouncing happily at the prospect of an adventure. Felina secures the room they'll be leaving their bodies in with some impressive shields, just in case, and then seats herself on a bed while her daughter, who's trying very hard to unwind, does the same thing.

"Mara," Felina notes, voice physically audible so that the others know, too. "We're ready to start."

"Ten four, sleepy weasel. I am ready for you!"

Mara's mind clears - mostly - and the way to Vertigris opens to those who might be looking for it.

"Ting," Felina chides gently. "Stop fidgeting. The restless don't manage to navigate their way to the astral plane."

Ting opens one eye and grins at her mother. "But it's so exciting! And I'm hyper. Okay. Ready or not, aunt!"

Of course, that's feint. Felina's capable of moving to the astral plan fast, but has always chosen to do so slowly for a number of valid reasons. Ting has to take a minutes to wind down and center herself despite an occasional wiggle. A few minutes later, though, both of them approach Vertigris.

---

When they return, sometime later...Felina takes her time properly orienting her astral self back into her body. Her eyes stare vacantly at the ceiling several minutes even after that. Just...lovely. This is going to be tricky. She sits up, staves off dizziness a moment, and then helps Ting sit up when she senses her daughter finish orienting herself.

Ting's arms snap quite quickly around her mother's shoulders...Felina's only surprised for the barest of moments, then hugs her gently, petting her hair and muttering reassuring things.

"Come on. Let's go talk to your Aunt and the others."

---

Ting is notably subdued and unhappy when they approach the others.

Felina smils a bit at Mara, though it's a hair hard to read. "Well. The dragon's still there. It's not hurting anything at the moment...Mara, why didn't you tell me? I like being able to help you, you know." She sits cross-legged in front of the shields, though they're not really necessary.

Mara is sitting the same way inside of them. She smiles a little bit.

"Would knowing have made it easier, my love? Or harder?"

Ai tilts her head, but keeps quiet for now. Her father focuses on maintaining the shield; by now, Makyon has gone to fetch more water.

Felina smirks just a little. "I swear...you're really as bad as me with that 'oh, it's just my problem, I'll handle it myself' thing. Tsk." She looks up at Moorn. "You can probably release the shield." Back to Mara. "You think?" Now is the time to work together and be inclusive. Being separate hasn't help. Now it's the time to be...whatever they are. Sisters. Or something.

Mara nods. "Gabriel. Let it go." And he does. Just like that... no glib comments, no wit, nothing. "There's nothing that can be done, Felina. I just wanted to enjoy the time I had left before the good Mara went away. Poof, gone."

"Tsk. Come on. I already have a couple of ideas. If you're willing to look into them, I mean." Felina stands up, and offers Mara a hand. "Come on. Let's try to figure this out together, one way or the other, huh? I'll stop trying to protect you by keeping you in the dark if you'll afford me the same." Felina smiles. "Deal?"

"You've known me too long to think I'd say no!" Mara smacks Felina's palm gently. "Okay! Who wants to go get fucked up?"

"Mara," Moorn shakes his head, "that will not solve everything. Most everything, but not everything."

Ai is staring at her lap, throughout all this. She wonders how Ting is feeling... wonders how Dewei will react when he finds out.

Dewei's nearby...but not yet sure about exactly what's going on. For now, he's sitting quietly beside his unusually still sister.

Felina smirks. "Well. I have a couple of other ideas so far, too. But we'll see where that goes."

Mara gets up, stretches, and smiles at Felina. "Well. Let's go someplace and talk."

Moorn opens his mouth.

"Fuck off Gabby poo. This needs to be handled between hotness." Mara looks at Fel. "Wanna to to the old gardens?"

Felins smiles a bit. "Sure. I need to tend to them a bit, anyway."

"Great!" Mara smiles at the others and vanishes without any more delay. Despite appearances, she is eager to figure this out and feels no need to wait longer than necessary.

Felina takes a few moments to pat her daughter reassuringly and vanish to another part of her own gardens, a prized section maintained exactly for this purpose, and carefully selects and cuts two of the very best irises. Then she follows Mara, vanishing for Saea's Gardens.

---

Mara-kuru appears in helantri deru, for once, without shouting or pouncing somebody. She chooses the gardens, of course, and immediately looks around to see who is still there.

Moorn is gone, already off researching his own things to see what he can find. Ai is sitting quietly against a tree a few hundred yards off. Ting is sitting in some flowers, poking at them idly, Dewei trying to get her to laugh or something, without much success. He also has a knuckle print on one of his upper arms.

They both look up when Mara appears. Dewei smiles at her. "Hello again, aunt."

Ting just looks.

"Hello Dewei. Ting." Mara trots over and flops down near them, her manner revealing little of what's going on in her mind. "What's wrong, Ting? Tongue got your cat?"

Ting wrinkles her nose. "I'd taste that. Are you okay, aunt?"

"Yup!" Mara nods. "I have the very best Fel looking out for me. One of these days I have to do something nice to her. Like teach Orrin how to..." She stops, blinking. "You aren't old enough to hear that. The consensus is that things are gonna change a little bit with Mara, but in a few days it should be all handled!"

Ai looks up from where she's sitting. "And your burgeoning dark half?" Her voice carries as if she were sitting right with them. She would be, in fact, were it not for the odd discomfort this has set over her.

"I hope I get to make out with it. Other than that, I dunno."

Ting's nose scrunches the other way. Then she wiggles it. "What do you mean you're going to change, Auntie?"

Mara grins. Ting is just too cute for words, really.

"Well... my personality is going to fluctuate a bit. Almost like when I'm drunk, but without the mirror-talk." She nods.

"But the mirror talk is the best part?" Ting offers, finally snickering a little. Dewei smiles faintly.

Mara grins. "Yay smiling! See, I told your mom that I needed to talk to you guys about this, but I really just kinda wanted to spend some more time with you because she's going to have to put me into a duck or something and then I'm not going to have any of my bad traits because they'll be a new Mara and I don't think she can have my name I don't know what to call her but I think foxes are better than ducks but I'll probably be a duck."

Dewei blinks. "Who's going to be a duck, now?"

"Aunt Mara is because they're a'gonna nitpick through her little personality people and pick and choose which ones can be duck-ified, duh." Ting's very relieved at this, since it's the first real note that something's actually being done. She grins at her brother. "But...um..." She blinks. "It'll be weird having a duck for an aunt. Why don't you just be a serinian? Or a sytherian? They're kinda hot too." She nods.

Mara blinks. "I could so be a guy. That'd be weird." Considers. "Actually, I never asked if it mattered what the vessel was. I'm sure Fel will figure it out, though." She looks from Ting to Ding to Ting. "I just don't want you two to worry your pretty little butts about me. Mara-kuru is invincible!"

"I believe it," Dewei agrees, grinning a little.

"Hey aunt?" Ting flicks her ears.

Mara flicks hers, too. "Yuuuuuus?"

Ting grins. "Want a cookie?"

"If you got one!" Mara headbangs, sending red locks spraying all around her head.

Ting snickers, and holds out one of Mara's own purple cookies. "You have to be okay aunt. Wanna know why?"

Mara takes the cookie with a lopsided grin. "Cause someone needs to be around to style your hair?"

Ting gapes. "Gah! How did you know? Freaking psychics." She wrinkles her nose, and sticks out her tongue.

Mara giggles. "Silly. So Dewei." Her look turns serious. "Didja nail 'er yet?"

Across the way, Ai looks up quite suddenly.

Dewei turns bright, bright red, and sputters a moment. There is...absolutely no good way to answer this. "I...certainly not, Aunt!" this is managed a touch weakly. Oh, lord. That about sums it up.


Ting giggles.

Mara grins. "Third date, right?"

"Mara!" Ai's face is hidden behind her hands, but her shaking belly gives away her laughter.

Dewei is still really, really red. He's incredibly relieved to see Ai laughing...and yet he's positive that the goddess will find a way to give him a hard time about this later, just because it's fun. He snickers, shakes his head, and stands up. "I should probably go see if father needs help with anything...before my aunt can get me into any more trouble." He smirks.

"Hey! She's laughing, you're blushing, defenses are down! It's time to make your move!" Mara giggles. This is why Mara came back. She does love her extended family. "Mara can't always put her in the mood."

"In the mood to slap both of us," Dewei points out. Snickers, and grins sidelong at Ai before looking quickly away.

"Mission accomplished. Ting, let's go. We have important drinking to do before anyone loses their slipping dignity!" Mara nods. "Quick! The booze won't wait for us!"

"Nope! And it gets trickier the more you've had...reinforcements! Mustn't let it get to its reinforcements!" Ting scampers off that way through the trees. Because, seriously...that's way too fun. She doesn't quite have her elders' grace in the motion, though she moves darned well...she and Dewei aren't capable of such fully quadrupedal motion.

Mara smiles, and stands still, counting. At five, she takes off at a full Serinian hop, chasing after Ting, booze, and cookies.

Ting sniffles even as she picks up the pace. "Hey no fair evil kitties!"

Mara grins even more brightly. "Hey, I'm old! You should be quicker than me, missy!"

"I am! You're only imagining that I'm not. You're especially imagining it if you win. You're not imagining it if I win, though."

"I imagine you're about to get mmmff!"

Mara looks up from the ground, into Ai's smiling face.

"Pounced, right?"

Ting points and laughs. "But she's quicker than you! Even though you're the cat-lady, Au...eee!" Laughed herself clean out of the tree.

Lands on her still-drowsy father's head, too. Orrin manages to half-catch her, though they both hit the dirt pretty hard. He blinks slowly, twice. "I think I'll go back to bed now."

Ai looks over at Orrin. "And miss this fun? You m-eeek!" Mara flips Ai, pins her, and nods.

"Gotcha. Hey..." she looks over at Orrin. "Bystander. Hiya! How's things?"

"Hiya! Things are fine. Just wondering where my darling wife went and whether she's capable of staying in bed for more than two hours at a time."

Ting ponders that for all of .003 seconds. "Nope!"

Mara lets Ai up. "Two hours? Orrin, you need to do some cardio, pal."

The dumen grins his sharp-toothed grin as he helps his daughter up. "Hm...I need to make a game of finding statements you can't twist into something...'creative'. Always up for the impossible and all. What, marrying into this family and raising these two and all." He pinches Ting's side.

She squeaks, and one shake of a cat's tail later, she's tackled the both of them into a puddle.

"You can't. I'm goooood." Mara smiles. "Fel's just reading some things. I'm playing with Ai and the kids."

"I thought we were playing with you?" Ting offers, bouncing though muddy.

"That you are, sweety! But you're also filthy, and you also have mud on you." Mara-kuru swishes her hair a little bit. "I wonder when Fel'll get back, though? She's usually pretty quick about stuff."

"That she is," Felina notes.

"Including sleeping!" Orrin adds, turning in that direction and smirking. Felina grins a little, and steps over to kiss his cheek. "Yes, yes...one of these years, I bet we'll even sleep through a whole night."

"Hello, my love. How did things go?" Mara tramps over to Felina's side, grinning broadly. "Ting is not muddy."

Felina smirks. "I can see that. Things are fine, Mara." She nods. Moorn has got a new body handled, you don't need to worry about that. It will be just like your old one, though he was considering putting his own touches to it. I havae most of the mental stuff figured out, and Iscovis is ready to help with that. All in all...everything will work out just fine." She smiles, and nods.

"Great!" Mara beams happily. "Thanksha Felina. Mara will need to do something extra nice for you. So... when do we start?"

"Soon." Felina nods again. "I need to take Leiulei, though. If it stays with you, after all, it won't be you holding it, after all. I promise I'll take care of her." She smiles.

Mara's ears fold back a little. She trusts Felina and all, but anything that suggests taking her favorite pointy away is generally asking for trouble. Still, she reaches into her ever-present, custom holster and withdraws the collapsed weapon. In this form it looks sort of like a pair of chopsticks. "Here..."

Felina smiles gratefully. After that whole episode with Mara being crippled earlier in life, she knows how important the lance is to her, and accepts it with a bowed head. "I promise I'll take very good care of Leiulei, Mara. She'll be waiting for you as soon as you feel like taking her back, okay?" She smiles, nods, and squeezes Mara's hand reassuringly. "Now. What sort of creature to you want to be temporarily stationed in? Might be fun, anyway."

"Well duh." Mara smiles. "A kitty!"

Felina grins, and holds out a hand. A spark of creative energy begins to flow there. Dewei had learned it somewhere. "What kind of kitty? Your wish is my command."

Mara beams. She dances a little while she thinks about this. "Umm... hm. How about a... pretty red persian!"

The light quickly begins to take shape...A pretty kitty with soft, fluffy fur and crimson fur can soon be seen sitting in Felina's hand. "Anything else?"

"Nope! Just tell me what to do, my love!" Mara is actually excited. She's always wanted to try something like this, only without the impending loss of understanding.

Felina smiles, and holds the kitty out to Mara. It blinks and has a kind of ambient purr going, but there's nothing really in it, yet. No mind, nothing to feel bad about taking over. But it's oh so soft. "Here you go. If you feel comfortable, the old gardens may be the best place to do this. Unless you'd rather be here, which is fine too?"

"We can go to the gardens, probably." Mara takes the almost-kitty and pets it, for the first time realizing what is about to take place. She looks at the kids, Ai and Ting, and at Orrin. Her eyes glimmer. "I need a hug..." she whimpers, to no one in particular.

Surprisingly enough, Felina's actually the first to respond. Steps forward, and hugs her surrogate sister. "It will be fine, Mara," she notes quietly. "I promise. We'll keep you you, no matter what. Moorn thinks it will take about ten days for you to get back on your feet, no more...good opportunity to make everyone wait on you hand and foot for a little while, huh?" She smiles softly. Kisses Mara's curly hair on an impulse.

"Yeah," Ting chimes in. "And if you go over that...I'll dye your hair purple in your sleep!" She bounces over and joins the hug.

Mara can't really talk. Just lets her gratitude flow through her mind and out, hoping they can feel it. She feels Ai's hand on her shoulder, too, after a moment.

"Thanks... okay." She looks up at Felina. "Let's do it, my love."

Felina nods. Looks to the others, and taps the kitty's head. "This gal's equipped with proper vocal chords, so I'm sure Mara will tell you all about where she wants to be scratched in a few minutes, here."

Orrin smirks a little, though there's something more serious under it...squeezes Felina's arm reassuringly, and pats Mara's shoulder. "No kinky stuff, though. Bye now, kitties."

Mara smiles a sad smile at all of them, vanishing in an instant before she can talk herself out of this.

Ai's smile disappears just as quickly. "Fate is too cruel," she quietly observes.

Dewei, still taken aback at what's happening to his dear Aunt, just nods, and puts a hand on Ai's shoulder...trying to be the reassuring one.

Orrin nods. His face had also faded once Mara had left. "It does its damnest...but if I trust anyone to make this right, it's my wife and your dad."

"Yeah," Ting chirps. "Seriously, think about it. Them working together? Wootness." She's subdued, but trying.

Orrin smirks a bit at his daughter, and loops an arm around her shoulders. "Yes, that...well, come on, all. If I'm up anyway, I may as well make us all some tea. Try to all calm down a bit. Worrying won't help a thing." And he gets to leading Ting back towards the house.

Ai covers Dewei's hand with hers for a second. "Thank you. Come along, Dewei, tea sounds wonderful. And then... oh, blast it all." She sighs softly. "Let's just go, before I make a scene."

Orrin's actually damned good at concocting teas from scratch. He'd picked up the rudiments for the purpose of originally getting in Felina's good graces, so long ago, while she was still his target...and later perfected it, because it makes her happy. What he puts together this time is a sweet, only somewhat tangy berry tea with a couple of different calming ingredients. Sits down once everyone else has some, pondering quietly. Going to be a long night, probably. And he actually needs to be the master of the house, for his kids' sake and keeping everyone steady.

Ting finally yawns after a long silence. "Okay. Now I'm getting tired."

Ai looks up at Ting. She'd been staring into her cup for some time, pondering. "Orrin must have put something fancy in this tea, I suppose."

"Simple things, chamomile is one of the two calming ingredients. Ting's just had a long day, I think."

Dewei nods. "Spot, you haven't slept since you got here, have you?" he grins, though it's a faintly forced expression, under the circumstances. "Tsk tsk. I should ask Makyon to tie you to the bed, I know he'd be happy to oblige."

Ai looks up at that. "Dewei, you have such a dirty mind." The ridiculousness of that statement does not fail to dawn upon her, either.

"What? She's the one who started that gag. I think." He grins at the goddess. There's not much to take offense to when a statement's so clearly...um...opposite his actual conduct.

Ai smiles just a little bit. "Oh, do not play innocent with me," she says matter-of-factly. Smiles brightly. "Ting, he has a point, though."

"Hey, I didn't say anything questionable. Of course Ting needs to be tied down, she's too restless to sleep through the night. Why, what did you think I meant?" Dewei grins at Ai, then looks to Ting. "Sleep is your friend."

"I don't want to sleep until I know what's up with Aunt Mara," Ting states, and nods.

"Come on," Orrin offers, "no one gave us any indication of how long this will take. It could be as long as hours or days, you two hyper-perceptive mutts certainly know how complicated some psychic things can be."

"Besides. The last thing Mara would want would be to upset you." Ai looks into her cup again. She's glad Orrin interceded... she really didn't have an answer for Dewei's rebutal. "Ting. Would you like to stay at my palace for a bit, get your mind off things? I could show you the inner sanctum. Even my father does not know that it is there."

Ting's ears flick. "Hmm...actually...that sounds pretty nice, Miss Ai." She bounces a little in her chair. Which looks...ehm...awkward. "Thank you." She nods. She really is kinda subdued for Ting, but always up to see something new.

Ai glances at Orrin, not really for permission, so much as to make certain that he has no objections for her to shoot down. She really does not feel like cavorting, but having Ting around is a surefire way to either get happy or pass out trying not to. "Dewei. I will return her in pristine order. For Ting. Would you two be kind enough to send word if Felina comes back early?"

Dewei nods. "Absolutely, Miss Ai."

Orrin has no qualms, and nods. "There's certainly nothing wrong with this mysterious thing called 'girl time'...and I sure as hell know better than to intercede." He grins a little.

"You are a fine young man, master Orrin." Ai nods a little bit, takes a second to finish her tea. "Ting. We can go whenever you feel ready."

The dumen tips his imaginary hat.

"I'm ready." The relative youngling nods. She doesn't want to dwell on stuff.

"Alright then. Back to Niven Ai." Ai reaches out to ruffle Dewei's hair, vanishing even as her fingers touch his scalp. She's confident that Ting can follow.

And that she does.

Orrin just grins at his son's expression. "Yes. Yes, she is cute."

---

When Felina reappears, bearing what was formerly Mara-kuru's still comatose body, it's away from the rest of her family. She has nothing to report to them until everything is settled. This area of the house is somewhat remote, and can muster very heavy shields. She selects a rather nice bedroom...nicely furnished, well-lighted, large window, just generally comfortable. Nothing a prisoner would experience. She lays "Mara" on the bed and covers her with habitual gentleness, looking over the body thoughtfully for a few moments. Then she gets to work.

She reinforces the outside perimeter of it with some of her most powerful shields, layer upon layer of dense energy. The final, innermost one, is a cloak...although it's obvious that the room is shielded, it hides the sheer extremity of it.

And now...what to do? She simply stands, and tries to decide.

Throughout all of this, 'Mara' continues to increase in power and awareness as her essence knits itself. However, the restoration is not linear, but exponential, rising from crawl to fever pitch by the time Felina is finished. And just as Mara had indicated, there is a fierce malevolent streak rising along with it.

Felina sighs quietly. Just takes a seat in the room, and waits quietly. "Dewei," she calls, "please let Moorn and your father know that Mara is safely transferred to the temporary vessel, and that it's in Tel-tiono's gardens. The man who helped us is also there, do see that there's nothing he needs...and also make sure everyone who needs to be is aware that the new denizen of Mara's body is here, contained in the west wing, so there is a very real potential for danger. I'm going to remain here until she wakes up."

The Mara's eyes are moving beneath her lids, as though she is dreaming. Her lips part now and again, but no words issue forth.

Dewei nods, and gets on that even as his mother settles in for a long wait. Orrin greets the news with relief, although he concerned for Felina's safety, of course...nudges Dewei off to see his mentor. "We'll be fine, Dewei. Promise."

The half-dumen smiles, though somewhat seriously, nods, and stands up. Then he's gone, bound for Istan Aiga.

Perhaps fifteen minutes after Dewei leaves Helantri Deru, the regeneration of Mara's essence finally tops out. Her eyes pop open, scan the room, and instantly relax. She certainly does not seem aware of where she is, but makes no quick movements to indicate discomfort.

Felina's silent for several long seconds, just watching. Wondering what's going to come of all of this, chin sitting on her hand. "Well. You recovered pretty quickly, Miss. Are you all right?"

"Huh... as much as can be assumed. I suppose asking who you are, and where I am, would be an affront at such a neonatal point in our new relationship." She reaches up, pinches the bridge of her nose as if warding off a headache. "I could at least ask who I am and hope for candor."

Mmm...interesting. "It's no affront. My name's Felina Deyono. You're in my home, in the topaz dimension of the ether plane. You're the daughter of an elite wizard, the nether double of my own father. Your name is most likely awaiting your choosing. Are you feeling all right?"

"I doubt the gymnasium will see me today, but as well as can be expected." She sits up, sliding to her feet with a very Mara sort of grace. "Felina Deyono. Shall I inquire as to what I am doing rising from unconsciousness on the bed of a strange woman, or is this something I am better off concealing in ignorance?"

"To be perfectly honest, I've spent the last hour or so trying to decide, and haven't come to a solid conclusion." And that is very honest. Felina doesn't really intend to treat this woman as an enemy until it's been proven that she needs to do so. Treating people like enemies makes enemies of them. Funny how that works. "Tell me, if you don't mind...how much do you remember? Of, really, anything?"

"I remember where I come from, most of my past, but..." she shakes her head. "No specific events involving me. It is like I am blurred out. Wait..." she looks around, almost frantically. "My spear."

Ooo...good. Right off with the tough questions. "A lance, Miss," Felina corrects gently. "'Leiulei,' a lance. Would you be more comfortable with a spear?"

"A... lance?" She shakes her head. "Strange... I only remember a spear. Did I have need of such a thing?"

"Really? Probably not. Weapons can't really be put down again once taken up, so you have a fairly unique opportunity right now...and I'm sure that you could look after yourself perfectly well without one even if the need arose." Actually, that's perfectly true. "Are you thirsty, Miss, or hungry?"

'Mara' considers this for a second. "No," she quietly answers, "but... a lance. That's right, isn't it." She chuckles a decidedly un-mara chuckle, one that's more mirthful than goofy. "So... I had a name, I remember that much. What happened to it?"

"Something in your mind began to change." Felina nods slowly. She's already considered her answers. "Your name was Mara-kuru. But then this change began to manifest. You and Mara...were essentially becoming two different people, trapped in one. We did not want to lose our Mara, and so we separated the two of you. Truly made you two people." She nods. "You share some memories, certainly, and the original body and essence are yours. But, in a way, you're distanced from them. You truly are a wholly new person. Hence, why I am unable to tell you your name...and why I didn't simply give one. You're starting fresh. It should be your choice, not something laid out for you by another."

'Mara' gazes openly at Felina throughout the explanation. "I need a name," she whispers at last. "My name... ah. My name will be Yoru. I remember it means 'to repeat'."

A smile finally touches the edges of Felina's lips at that, and she nods. "Yoru. A very appropriate name, I think. So...what would you like to do now, Miss Yoru? I understand that it's a very big question. You're certainly welcome to stay here a little while, if you want to, if you need some time to work through it."

"That would be... most appreciated, thank you." Yoru certainly does not seem to embody the darkness Iscovis had suggested. If nothing else, she seems... pleasant, if not downright affable. "I imagine that my presence is a disruption. I will find a way to make myself useful to you, to repay you for this kindness, while I study this problem."

Felina hasn't discounted the possibility of Yoru being a total threat. After all, she should be very smart. A situation with a lot of unknowns and a non-hostile party simply isn't a smart time or place to start trouble. Still, though, though Secret had predicted that she and Yoru would end up at ends and likely fight to the death, the fact remains that she'd also predicted that this "Mara" wouldn't be evil in the true sense of the word. So, she'll just take this situation as it comes. "That's not necessary." Felina nods. "After all, you're part of a dear friend." She smiles a little.

Abruptly Yoru stops walking. "Part... Lady Felina. Do you have a mirror hereabouts? I should like to know what I look like."

"Sure." Felina nods, walks over to the dresser, and opens a panel above it to reveal an attached mirror. "You look quite a lot like me."

Yoru gazes into the reflection. Her hands follow her eyes, touching her ears, her nose, her various piercings. "So I do..." she turns a bit. "Ah. Not entirely... this friend of yours obviously put some effort into developing curves. It seems strange that such a body should support them."

Felina's lips twitch towards a smile, and she nods. "Yes. Mara's put together a nice figure for you. She plans her diet carefully." Cookies are a must for a butt.

"That is good, then?" Yoru smiles a little. "I suppose it could be worse. But... certainly, yes." She turns back to Felina, all smiles. "All right then. Do you have a library I could possibly browse through?"

"Sure." Felina nods. She'll show the library, of course, not her private study. Hesitates just a moment over dispelling the shields...and then takes a few moments to do that.

Yoru wonders at that. But then... somehow, the entire hesitation clicks. "I doubt I would have done differently," she assures Felina, "I could be a complete savage, after all." Her smile is unwavering.

Felina grins sidelong at her. "My family is to be protected. There were only two non-physical things I knew about you while I was waiting for you to awaken: you would be intelligent, and you would be powerful. That can be an explosive mix." The shields go down. "There we are."

"As are you, though. You do know, then, that I would have the foresight to refrain from any idiocy here, do you not?" Yoru walks along, pleasantly enough. "I wonder if I am a bad person, though."

"After talking to you for about three seconds, I figured you'd stay away from causing any problem here, yes. But, whether you want to at all is your choice, so don't feel like I'm implying that you would." Felina looks out the window as they pass. She always enjoys the sight of the gardens, she really does. They're very calming to her. She looks back to Yoru. "As for being 'a bad person'...you get to decide who you want to be, now." She nods. Watches Ting go zipping past the window with a little wave before she's gone. Blinks. "Huh. See, she's a good example of someone content in her life." She smirks.

Yoru averts her eyes from the gardens almost instantly, as if repulsed on a purely physical level. "Was that your sister?" she inquires purely to distract herself from the nature before her.

"My daughter, Ting." Felina nods. "I have two children, a boy and a girl."

"Ah... you haven't the figure of a mother. Generally speaking." She stops, eyes growing wide. "Do I... did she, that is, have children?"

Felina has to smile a little, though it's a very understandable concern. "Not in a literal sense, no. Ting has a touch of Mara-kuru's vital energy within her, and both of the twins have spent a good deal of time with Mara since they were very young...but you have no biological children of your own." Grins a little. "Thus, you can breathe now."

Yoru lets out her breath. "Thank... whatever I worship." She puts a hand to her forehead. "I feel a great deal of energy floating around this place. At least... that is what my head says it is. Do you know there is a dead man around here?"

"My apprentice, Makyon." Felina nods. "He's...a zombie, for brevity's sake."

Yoru looks down. "Makyon... Makyon... the name rings a bell. Somewhere. As if..." her eyes widen. "Ewww!" A very Mara-like exclamation. "Apparently I did maintain some of her memories. I simply must alter my appearance someway, else I might think that is me cavorting with that ox."

Felina laughs softly. "In either case, here's the library." She looks up as they walk into the room. It's not quite as big as her father's--although many of its volumes originated there--but built around the same pattern.

"Fabulous." Yoru glances around, glad to be away from the disgusting garden. "History... it is nicely arranged." She lays a hand upon the spine of an atlas for a moment. Her eyes close. From cover to cover, the information contained inside the volume streams across her mindscape filling in the empty spots within her awareness.

Felina nods. "My father collected most of these...feel free to browse as long as you like." Okay, so her reading too many histories may very well get dangerous. But she'll hasn't figured out what to do about it yet.

"Thank you very much." Yoru bows a deep, elegant bow that goes far beyond simple courtesy. She glances down the row of books and sets at it, reading entire series in minutes. Her eyes sparkle eagerly at the knowledge she is gaining... apparently, her drive to learn is a tiger to Mara-kuru's kitten.

Felina's been torn. But, then, she can't really stop Yoru from learning. She could become a source of oppression that tries to keep her from doing that, breaking up any chance for friendly relations later while Yoru reads somewhere else. Of course, while no more or less innocuous than any history, she can't think of anything too inflammatory where Yoru is reading...finally seats herself next to the fireplace, just quiet.

Orrin's been worried, and attentive...he's not psychic by a long shot, but the fact that he has some magic at his disposal lets him keep a pretty good read on Felina's location and, to a small extent, mood through her energy signature. He walks in not too much later. Pauses when he sees Yoru. Dispells the instinct to call her "Mara." "Hello, Miss. I don't believe we've met." Felina looks up, and smiles a litle.

Yoru looks up from another book, conveniently the recipe book that Drianis had once mistaken for strategem. "Hello." She turns away from the shelf, looks Orrin over. "You are... hm. Felina's husband, then?" She takes a few wary steps forward, so as not to be speaking from across the room.

The dumen nods, and bows most politely. He's pretty good at judging people, really, much better than his wife. "That's right. My name's Orrin Shay-Tiono. He smiles at her, and holds out a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, miss."

Yoru extends a hand, tilting her head over. "You are beautiful," she observes, skipping the formalities, "I want skin like yours." Her fingtertips rest lightly upon Orrin's outstretched hand.

Orrin grins a little, and clasps her hand briefly between his. "That's very kind of you, Miss, thank you. Although I would need a needle for facial markings so dynamic as yours." His absolutely black eyes sparkle.

Yoru's ears perk a little bit. "Your face is splendid as is, but thank you." She glances to Felina, as if to ensure that she isn't crossing any lines. "Your taste in men certainly outshines mine, it seems."

"Hey, you haven't had a chance yet. Can have some fun with that one, yes?" Felina smiles, stands, and walks over to Orrin, who kisses her cheek. And has to stoop to do it, of course. "This is Yoru. She'll likely being staying with us a little while, until she feels the comfortable and inclined to do otherwise," she introduces.

Orrin smiles, and bows his head. "It will be our pleasure, certainly."

Yoru's smile broadens a little, but remains quite conservative compared to Mara's fangy beaming. "Yes, I think it will." She pauses a moment, and adds. "I think we can make it a very pleasant time, the three of us."

"I hope so," Felina smiles, and nods. "Whenever it suits you, I'd be happy to get you situated into a space of your own, and get it arranged how you need."

"I can do that," Orrin offers, nodding. He smiles, and sets a hand on his wife's opposite shoulder. "You really should try to take some rest, love. You tried a long time ago...I can tell how tired you are." She hides it really well. But, hey. He's her husband.

Felina smiles at him. "I have a few things yet to do. Soon." She nods.

The dumen smirks. Looks at Yoru, and points to the sentlin with the free hand. "She's a masochist." He nods.

Yoru's eyes twinkle. "Yummy." She chuckles coolly. "I should perform as much of the task as is appropriate. Surely I cannot heap more labor upon you two."

Orrin grins. "Well, you are the hyper-magical one. I'm just along for the ride, with this crew." Squeezes his wife's shoulder, and kisses her forehead lightly. "Sleep soon, hey?"

"I will as soon as I get a reach a stopping point." She nods.

"That is such a 'Felina' response." Orrin, light amusement covering concern, releses his wife to look to former-Mara. "Well, Miss Yoru, if you're not too busy iwth your reading, perhaps we can go and get you situated?"

"Oh," Yoru glances at the shelves. "I have no reservations. However, Lady Felina, I implore you to rest if you are tired. Certainly this man can see me to a room on his own." Her tone is pleasant enough, as usual, the pinnacle of distant gentility.

Felina nods. "I appreciate the consideration, thank you. Orrin's certainly as able as I am to do this...after all, he is the lord of this estate." Of course, in this case, the lady has more say. But that's another story. She bows to Yoru. "It was certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintence, Miss...I really should attend to business elsewhere. I'll see you later, yes?"

Yoru returns the bow in her florid little way. "I hope so. Bless your steps, my friend." She looks up to Orrin, way up as it turns out, and back to Felina. "The pleasure was mine."

"And mutual." Felina lets out her breath...ponders a few moments. Then she's bound for Istan Aiga.

Yoru wonders if she can do that neat vanishing trick, as well. Decides to try it later.

"So, Orrin," she purrs, clasping her hands behind her back in a snappy, military fashion, "before we go to my temporary residence, would you mind accompanying me somewhere else? I feel the strangest urge to visit this place." She closes her eyes, and sends an image to him of Mara-Kuru's Estate. "Do we have time?"

"Certainly, Miss Yoru, I'm in no hurry." He smiles, and nods. "Do you know whether you're capable of transporting us there?"

"I think so," Yoru nods. Holds out her hand, beckoning for his. "Come along, Orrin. I am almost positive this was my house at one point."

"Yes, it was." He nods, and takes her hand.

Yoru's eyes twinkle, just as the two vanish with some little difficulty, bound for the nether plane.

---