It's against her brother's wishes and knowledge that she's here at all. He'd been right, of course...she'd felt at least two different energy fields break upon her return. And maybe some she hadn't even felt. Neither had been Saea's, and neither had been lain by the same person. Apparently the status of the Ono siblings is of a good deal of interest to some...for one intent, or another.

Still, she's here for a very specific purpose, and isn't going to deviate from that for all the worlds.

It's with quiet solemnity that Felina approachs the clearing that houses her father's grave. She glances up to the obelisk...and then simply goes to work, silent as before. Overgrowth is trimmed back and away with a simple knife, fallen leaves and last year's blossoms swept away before they can get too far into an admittedly soil-friendly rot, and things are just generally put in order. She just...hadn't been able to let this day pass, knowing that this place was neglected. She'd had to tend the grave today, on the anniversary of her father's death.

Really, Felina-pensive isn't thinking much at all. Some corner of her mind knows that if she does, she's going to end up dwelling on how ridiculous she must look, clad in her old amber-vested garb but too thin even for these slight garments, leaving their looseness to accent her Moonsong-made cane in an unhappy sort of way. Or maybe she'll end up thinking about being a fugitive from her own home, and hardly living up to her father's illustrious name. Or all of the above.

It's hard work for her still healing, still strengthening body. But, predictably, the task is steadily drawn to a close. Finally, when there's nothing else she can stall by, the forever dutiful daughter settles herself on the knees before the grave marker. and bows low, ignoring the pain of bending her abdomen so sharply.

Finally, Felina Deyono looks up and down the marker, then lowers her eyes respectfully. "I'm sorry that this went untended so long," she begins softly. "Your grave, and your gardens." She looks up, though. Smiles faintly. "But then, I doubt that you held that against us, knowing all that's happened." She sighs softly...turns and scoots a bit, to sit against the monument, and lean against it. Despite an ever-present touch of formality, her relationship with her father in life had consisted largely of comfortable familiary. She's finally come to the conclusion that it shouldn't be different in his death.

"I don't have Culheru," she notes after a few moments. "Obviously. I surrendered it. I was disarmed and wasn't able to retrieve it. And then later, couldn't try. Were I the aggressor, especially since Saea immediately sealed the gardens and fled with me, I'd call that surrender. Not only of the sword, but from me, too. So I won't kid myself." She looks up at the monument. "It's still a sore spot for me. Not only the fact that I gave it up, but...just the fact that I don't have it. Your sword, the beautiful weapon that you forged for me so painstakingly to remember you by...but...I'm over feeling guilty about it." She smiles faintly. A sad sort of smile. "Sad, longing. Maybe a hair angry on rarer occasions. But not guilty, anymore. I know that you wouldn't have wanted me to relinquish my life trying to retrieve your sword." She grins that same, beaten-down expression up at the obelisk. "Would have defeated the purpose, huh?"

The expression fades. It's still for awhile.

"I wish I knew what comes next, father." Felina breathes out, slowly, leaning her head back against the stone. "I may recover my full power. At this point, I still may not. Even if I do...will I go back to being a Guardian? Back to the fight, into the fray?" A pause. "You were right, you know. About power always following power, and complications following it as well. Even the peaceful, simple village we've been staying in--and they have been very kind, really a blessing and silver lining--was nearly destroyed a few months after our arrival. Was it our fault? I can't really say...but it was a big coincidence, huh?"

She fiddles with the knife a bit. It's not a proper dagger, even, just a cooking knife. Still, her hands still know exactly what they're doing. She knows blades better than she knows people.

"Expertise tempered by pitiable weakness," Felina observes wryly, looking out through the gardens.

"Part of me wants to like the quiet life I have on Munda Igugu. Another par of me is restless beyond all reason. That part wants to...I don't even know. Rush out and save someone. Bluster into a fight and exercise the knowledge I've ever worked my whole life to accrue. That part is chained, held back...thrashing against a cruel cage, and only succeeding in bloodying itself." A pause. "Heh...since when did I become a poet?" Leans back. "Bad poet. Oh well. I'm a fighter, not a talker. But...maybe, not anymore."

She sighs quietly. "I think I understand the relationship that Saea and I were always meant to share...better than ever before. I mean, I'm supposed to be his protector, sure. I have the power and worldly experience for it. But he's sure proven that it can go the other way, huh?" Golden eyes rest on the knife for a few moments, and then it's set aside. "I understand now, I think. I'm not simply a mass of energy shaped into a bodyguard. I'm his sister. And...by the same token, he's my brother. We're there for one another, and we love each other. That's what you intended along. Just because it wasn't there at his birth, doesn't mean that he didn't gain one later. His purpose is to be there for me and look out for me...just as surely as I'm supposed to look out for him. Our purpose, both our purposes...we keep one another company. We're the only ones who can really understand one another. We're constructs. Even more, we're very powerful. We're both here...so that we're not alone. Like you were, for so long."

Felina sighs again after a few moments. Smiles faintly, though. "I don't think I can ever really be happy as things are now. I'm not a victim. I can only take so much coddling before I wish I could go insane. I don't even know if I'll survive until all of this finishes blowing over. Something else could come up at any time. But, I do know...I have Saea. And I'm so grateful to him. Love him so much. I don't know what happens next. I do know...that he needs me. Now that I finally understand my purpose, really understand it, for the first time...I'm going to be more careful. I can't promise anyone, least of all you, that I can give up being a foolhardy hero-sort. But...I do intend to be more careful, and think things through more. I'm not going to stop fighting for what I believe in, if necessary. I never will. But I also want to make sure that I'm there for Saea. I can't use that as an excuse to hold my own life in too much esteem, but...I can promise that if I die, when I die, it's not going to be for stubborn pride."

Felina, Pensive, project Nightshade, leans back against the column more fully again. "You made me as I am, Tel-tiono. I'm protective, of everyone. But, no matter what happens next, I now understand that Saea's purpose is me, and that my purpose is Saea. My death, even if it spared his life, would gut his existance. So...whatever comes next...I'm going to keep that in mind."