This peaceful, beautiful, small place, a self-contained world similar in size and design to Helantri Deru, is extremely hard to locate and reach, all but impossible if one hasn't been instructed in precisely how to do this, difficult even for the infernal or divine. This is where Felina Deyono has finally taken a stand in truly retiring for a peaceful life with her husband. It lacks the defense of its fortress of a forebearer, relying instead on never being found. Expansive gardens surround a much smaller house than that of the original estate, and quiet, peaceful repose is the tone on the air.
Helantri Deru
Istan Aiga
Niven Ai
Felina, while restless at times, is generally quite happywith the novelty of this new life. She sits alone at the moment, Orrin busy in the forge, enjoying a cup of tea on a sun room table. Two other cups sit on it regardless, still steaming, and she smiles as the two kids walk in from situating a dragon who's a bit restless from a short flight.
Ixen, for his part, takes to the sky again almost immediately. Damned boring two-legs.
"Good morning, you two. I poured you some tea, Huo...and there's some strawberry brewed for you, Anna."
Anna's eyes drop almost immediately. She never feels humble, except when in Felina's presence, and she can't figure out why.
"Thank you, Aunt. How have you been?" she asks, sitting politely.
Felina just smiles. She'd tried for years--many, many years--to get Anna to relax around her. Mara had, too. She's not sure why that just isn't going to happen...but has stopped trying to fight it. "Wonderful, thank you! I finally have a promising bud on a rare flower Huo here brought me twelve years ago, so I'm quite thrilled. And you, Anna? Is your practicing going well...and have you needed to hit my son yet today? The permission is always open to do so, of course."
"I love you, too, mother."
She grins at him.
"Not yet, Aunt. But the day is young!" Anna takes a slight sip of her tea, just tickled white to be in Felina's presence. For as long as she can remember, Anna has had a sort of natural fear of/respect for thos golden eyes. They're not dumenimutt eyes like Huo's, Ting's, and Dewei's. They are conqueror eyes.
"I'll be practicing plenty, you know. I have to play at Auntie Ting's wedding sometime in the next billion years!"
"Ah, and you're in an optimistic mood, too! A lovely day all the way around." Felina chuckles. "So, you'd like to grill me about this temple business now that I'm not still rubbing sleep from my eyes, yes?"
"And ears, they take much longer," the elder mutt offers.
"Thank you, Huo."
"Oh no, you may do that too." Anna chuckles her Mara chuckle. "I was just wondering about things. In case something goes wrong, I wondered about... I was wondering if it would be okay to know."
Felina's eyes are quite glowing with amusement at this point. "One of these days," she muses, "something is going to happen, and you're quite suddenly going to find yourself less and less nervous around me." Chuckles to herself. "In the meantime, well...what would you like to know?" Sips her tea.
Anna looks at Huo, right into his eyes. Nope. She's fine with his eyes. Tries to look at Felina's. Looks away.
Shit.
"Well. What's special about the temple, Aunt? is it dangerous?" Anna asks, gazing into her tea.
"Well, I'm not sure entirely, in all honesty. I do feel that something interesting is going to happen there that it would benefit Huo if he's present. Danger...yes, but I'm confident in his abilities. In yours, too, Anna, I don't feel any new warning flags being raised in thinking of you there. I do get a sense of...unpleasan
try, though, for both of you."
Anna nods a little. Really, that's nothing new. Unpleasantry is part of the process, especially when she's around to distract people from their missions.
"I can handle unpleasantry," the musician mumbles into her drink. "If Huo can!"
"If it becomes too much," Huo observes thoughtfully, "I'll just think back to the time my sister turned you green and made it stick that way so well your dad couldn't even undo it right away, and then feel entirely better."
Anna grins at him. "I was so *hot* green. My band loved it! So... Aunt. I know you don't like to tell people secrets about these test things, but... um, is there anything you think we should bring, or, uh, do?" Stupid Anna, stupid. She'll never respect you if you stammer every third word.
Felina smiles. She could tell Huo to leap into a sun and he would without a thought, trusting a contingency. Anna, on the other hand, would ask the what the fuck question. It's a good thing! She looks down to withdraw two necklaces with pendants from her jacket, and sets them on the table. "Well, I did put these together yesterday, without really knowing why. They ward, interestingly enough, against light elemental magics. You two may want to wear these."
Anna looks at the necklaces. Her ears twitch just a little, interest piqued. But she doesn't reach for one. Not without permission.
Felina just finishes her tea and, taking her cane, stands up just a little heavily, as her leg's being difficult today. She smiles at the kids. "Your phrase for the day is 'don't panic.'"
Huo cocks an eyebrow. "Mother. I don't like the sound of that. Also, you're being kind of a cryptic ass again."
She just titters in return. "Something about getting old does that."
"Don't panic. Right! I can remember that because Huo will probably forget." Anna smirks at him. "He's luffly! But silly." Looks at the necklace again. Looks at Huo. Well. Maybe if he takes one first. Sips her tea.
He does. Examines the pendant in his hand a moment, evaluating, then slips it around his neck. Most unlike the black sheep Anna, there's not much room for doubt that Huo will follow in his mother's footsteps.
Felina smiles at them, beaming a little at her son. "Be safe, you two. I packed some food for you on the counter over there. I'm going to go see whether Orrin can use any help in teh forge."
Anna snaps up her necklace, fastening it around her neck quickly now that it's okay. She smiles brightly, feeling extra special, and bows a deep (not quite Mara-kuru front flip deep) bow to Felina.
"Thank you so much, Aunt!" She's actually looking between her ankles at Huo at this point.
Huo tilts his head, and waves at her through them. He bows too, but much more slightly.
Felina smiles warmly at them, and returns the gesture, though it's more understated. "Anytime. Let me know if you need anything, right?" And she wanders off to find her hubby.
Huo grins at Anna. "You can breathe now. So, want to go grab Ixen and we can get going?" This as he takes their lunches from the counter.
Anna does breathe, slowly out. Straightens up. "Yes. Let's do that." She looks after Felina, sort of looking at the door frame. "I need to do something important this time, Huo. Something to make her respect me." Smiles at him.
The youngest Ono smiles at her. "She does respect it. It takes a lot of balls to stand up to your dad about wanting to do something other than what he wants. You have big balls, Anna." This as he's disappearing out the door to prevent hitting.
Anna lets him go. Looks after Felina again, though, and contains the sigh she'd been considering with a bright, Mara smile.
"I'm just borrowing yours, Huo! Hey!" And she dashes after him, fully intending to chase him all around Seran Deru if that's what it takes.
The other feline snickers...he's just tracked down Ixen and jumped onto the dragon's back. "Can't hit me! It upsets the poor little dragon. You coming?"
Anna skids to a stop. "Hmph! Of course I am, and don't think you haven't got smacks coming, mister." She glances back at the house. "I can't shake the feeling that I should have asked more questions." This as she reaches for Ixen's neck, for the customary "time for a ride" toss onto his back.
The dragon's more than happy to comply. If one didn't know better, they'd think he finds it funny as hell to toss Anna. Huo, of course, catches her arm to steady her. "Alright, Ixen, let's check it out, huh?"
The dragon nods enthusiastically, literally bouncing a bit, and springs into the air. They vanish a few flaps later for the Temple of the Sun.
About fifteen minutes later, having visited with orrin a little, Felina wanders to a free-standing, simple little sunroom situated in the middle of her cherry orchard, which had been carefully moved over from Helantri Deru. The room is undecorated except a grass mat in the center, where she situates herself.
She takes some slow breaths and her eyes lose focus, gazing far away. So, it's all on Anna now. Interesting. She hopes dearly tht she won't need to step in.
"Here...just lay him down in his room, Ting." Felina smiles at both of the girls when they enter the house again, as she shakes up some potion or another. "I'll be with you in just a moment. Anna, could you stay with me?"
Ting beams at her mother, and hurries off with Huo to do as bidden.
Anna stands still, right where she is. Eyes down. Stupid Anna, she let Huo get hurt.
And now, Felina's gonna smack her for it.
Felina does reach for her. Feels the cringe, of course, when she takes the back of her niece's head. "Of all the things you need to do, Anna..." She kisses the girl's forehead.
"You need to have more faith in yourself. You went through hell and high water to save my son's life today, and you did, and a whole temple of people along with him, when you could have just run. You didn't cause his injury, he did that himself. Stop telling yourself otherwise. Take it from an expert in the art of blaming oneself that it will accomplish nothing. I'm very proud of your actions today, and I'm sure that your father is as well."
And, still shaking the bottle, she turns and heads down the hall, leaning on that crutch of hers. "There's some hot cocoa for you on the counter. Relax, it's over."
Anna thinks it's okay to cry now. She doesn't follow Felina. She can't, not now. But she does take the cocoa.
Suddenly, Anna wonders where Orrin has gotten to. He's always lovely to talk to when she's blaming herself for things.
Orrin, conveniently enough, has just finished his shower and is heading to the kitchen for some ice water, as is always his custom after a morning in the forge.
He smiles at the mutt when he walks in. "Hello, Anna! Er..." glances her over as he heads for the water cups. "Would you throw something at me if I used the phrase 'something the cat dragged in'?"
She nods. "Yus. How are you, Orrin?" She smiles at him. "I feel like I've been gone forever."
He smiles back. With his family's insane lifestyle, he makese some guesses, and doesn't push. "I am wonderful, thank you for asking! It was a productive day in the forge. Huo will be looking at a very nice new dagger for his birthday, though don't tell him so." Turns of the faucet--yes, of course they have running water--and heads over to the table to sit with Anna. He's extremely fond of her...she's very much his niece, too.
"I promise I won't." She doesn't want to let slip that Huo nearly met his end... again. "I lost my escrima sticks today," she admits, just remembering them.
Orrin tilts his head. "Oh? Do you think you can get them back?"
Anna mewls quietly, very much like Mara does when she's upset about something. "They fell in the water at the temple I was at. Stupid giant snake. Bitsh."
Orrin chuckles. "Only in this family is that not an abnormal statement. Well, it doesn't sound too irreperable. I'm sure that any of your cousins would be more than happy to get them with you, or your mother or sister for that matter. It's just as well, really." He grins. "It's just as well. This way I won't be tempted to make new ones for you. Your father is never exactly thrilled to be cut out of any part of the development process on a new weapon if it involves Mara or his kids."
"Dad wanted me to have something sharp, though," Anna mewls. "Anna doesn't wanna kill stuff. She only has a knife because a knife is handy for things!" She sips her cocoa. Felina knows exactly how to make it, with just the right marshmallow/chocolate/milk ratio.
Orrin smiles. "Well, Anna doesn't have to if she doesn't want to. How's your music been going lately, Anna?"
She sets the cup down. Sniffles a bit. This is not going well. "I broke my guitar..."
The dumen looks contrite. "Felina will be more than happy to fix it for you, I'm sure." Dewei could, too, but that always risks the look of death from Moorn. Felina doesn't mind it so much.
"Well... Uncle," Yes, she calls Orrin Uncle and Ting Auntie, "I think if I told him how i broke it, he would get me a new one."
He hadn't been planning to ask. But with that intro, he grins. "Ooo, now the curiosity is just eating me."
"Lucky you!" Anna smiles a little. "Over a skeleton's head, and then blowing up a magic crystal jig."
The dumen has to laugh. "Let me guess, the skeleton said that rock is just noise."
Anna purrs. "He tried to hit me with an axe. Anna doesn't like that."
"well, at least you very precisely returned the favor in kind!"
The kitty mutt grins at him. "Har har, funny man." She lowers her head. "Orrin. Thanks for not asking about my hair."
His eyes soften a bit. "You're welcome. So...have you decided whether to take up the many offers to grow it back magically you're going to get, or wait for it to grow naturally again?"
"I dunno," Anna admits. "I need to talk to mom and dad. Dad says battle scars need to be kept forever."
The dumen blinks. "Including hair, huh? ...Huh. Well...we'll see, I guess. I think your cute is all in the face, for the record."
"Nah," Anna purrs. "I have awesome elbows. Also, I'd hug you but I smell like zombie shit and you just showered."
"Yes, yes you do. I mean...of course not! You are not capable of smelling like anything but cookies and roses." Orrin grins.
She smiles. "I need a bath. I think home is good."
He smiles, and nods. "Yes indeed. Need a hug before you go?"
Anna bows her head a little bit. "Nah," she purrs. "It's enough to know that you would, even if I'm stinky."
He smiles. "Okay. Take care, Anna...and don't worry about your glass, I'll get it for you."
Anna beams, and nods. "Okay. Um... I need someone to send me home...?"
"On it!" Ting pounces straight over the table, tackling her "niece" straight out of her chair, poofing to Istan Aiga before they hit the ground.
It's a little while before Huo is awake and moving. Felina has no trouble neutralizing the venom and repairing a shoulder he'd sprained catching that door to keep it off Anna. Fortunately, the lich had been awaiting further instruction on what to do with him, so nothing more had been done.
It's odd, really. Huo is by far the most fight-adapted of her children, the one following in her footsteps most closely. And yet she's been the least stern with him. She lets him get into any measure of trouble, but is right there with a word of support when he gets back. It's quite like her father had treated her, really. Must be something to it.
"So your mistakes were?"
"Not checking that hole before sticking my hand in it. Also, forgetting Anna couldn't transport away on her own. So she seemed alright...?"
"A bit shaken, but she's fine. Rest a bit more, shake off the aftereffects of the venom before heading off to check on her?" Felina smiles, and brushes back what little hair he has on the top of his mostly-shaven head.
Huo nods. "So what happened to the temple...?"
"Anna freed it. Ting's busily putting it and the monks back together, I believe."
"that's good," he notes...totally unnecessarily. Shakes off drowsiness.
Felina smiles at him. Get somme sleep. Anna's occupied, anyway.
A while later, Huo hasn't managed to nap...he feels alright, anyway, if oddly weak. He finally gets up, grabs a quick shower and a change of clothes...today's, he burns.
Takes a minute to properly bind his arm, whistling for Ixen as he does, and shoulders his guan-dao to step right out the window onto the dragon's head. "Hey, Ixen! I heard you took good care of Anna. That's a good boy." Pats his head. "Let's get off to her tower to check on her, eh?"
The dragon chirps happily, and they're both winging off before vanishing to Istan Aiga
Some time later, Anna, Huo, and Ixen appear in a sparring field blanketed with clover. Most unlike its predecessor, Seran Deru has only a handful of areas that can be used for training. This isn't where Huo had grown up, after all, he'd grown up at Helantri Deru. This is very much a retirement home.
Neither Felina nor Orrin is anywhere to be seen.
Anna glances around. She looks down some, hides her disappointment at Felina not being around, or Dewei.
She's not even sure what to say. Her dad hadn't yelled. Hadn't threatened. Hadn't said a word.
Mara-kuru had just smiled her sad smile, and asked her to visit.
And now she's standing here.
"So...may I ask what happened?" Huo inquires gently.
Anna smiles at him again. "Later?"
"Of course. So...on with the lessons, then?"
"I don't know. I guess so. I wish it was easier, Huo. Like someone could just stick me in the neck and I would know it." Anna puts down her cases, resigned. "Tell me how to get off this rock."
He nods. "You really are almost there, Anna. Well...not so much almost, as that you've already made the most difficult leaps..."
It's about three hours later that Huo breathes out. "Alright...I think you've got it, Anna. The teleportation concept and execution, and the energy keys for here and Istan Aiga. I can give you the keys for Helantri Deru and my grandfather's gardens some other time." He smiles a bit. "Do you feel comfortable with it?"
Anna lets herself crumple, panting, doubled over for breath. It's harder than she had ever imagined, to bypass those codes.
"I think so," she wheezes, "only now I need a vacation."
"Yeah. So...cool bath and a warm bed, then? You're welcome to stay with us, of course, you always are, and you need to just rest and relax. It's been an insanely long day."
Anna picks up her cases, eyes to the ground. "Okay. I can go to Ai's place tomorrow. Maybe."
Huo nods. "Yeah. Come on...let's get you fed and bathed and all that good stuff. Smiles, and heads back to the house."
Sometime later, Felina sighs quietly, everyone fed and sleeping and such. She looks to Orrin as she pulls on her cloak...after all these years, the same one her father had given her so long ago. "I'm going to go visit Moorn, lover."
He nods. "Yeah. What are you going to say?"
"This is their business. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. But he's pissed enough with me sending them off regularly on this nd that 'training wheels quest' that I'd like to approach him directly on how he wants me to approach this. We're both prideful assholes, but we really need to start communicating better in regards to the kids."
"Mmkay. Careful, right? I'll have a hug for you when you get back."
She smiles at him. "How about one now?"
One hug later, she kisses his cheek, to a smile. "All right. I'll see you soon, Orrin." And she's off for Istan Aiga.
Stumble!