Death and Tide

[Mirach]

"I'll let you guide me in that..." Death smiled tiredly.

[VisAnastasis]

" Let's first guide us to some nice place for rest then... " Tide replied gently, knowing that, before figuring out next step, they all really needed a break to take things in. He turned his attention to Xia that seemed little disoriented and distracted. " Easy girl... Shhh... Easy... " he spoke to her in their soothing whistling language. " Let's see... What do you say about that place over there? It should be dry and secluded, and I'll make us a nice fire... " The little demon nodded, and it carefully lowered her speed and landed on the place Tide picked. It was a clearing surrounded by trees. It was a little further from the river, but the grass seemed soft and it was protected from the rain that wasn't heavy but was sprinkling a little bit, by a tree that was older. Under that tree, Tide had chosen to be their break place. When Tide dismounted and took off the bag from her, Xia shuddered a little, and it seemed too much for her for so long, so she changed her form, turning into a tiny little kitten. Tide smile and he took off his cloak, and placed it under the tree, before wrapping exhausted little kitty in it.

[Mirach]

Death stayed under Tide's tunuc while he was caring fir Xia and preparing the place. Only after that he peeked out from it.

[VisAnastasis]

In the meantime, Tide had lit up the fire and cleaned up the place from loose branches in the process. He made sure to also keep the air around them warmer than the surrounding air, as it was the night by now, and they needed light and warmth. He didn't wear his mask while they flew so it wouldn't fall, but he put it on now. When he noticed the snake peeking out, he could not help but smile a little bit.
" Would you like to snuggle up to Xia for a bit, while I get you some food? " he offered him an option, wondering if he may have been too overwhelmed with staying so close. " Or would you rather sit in my lap while I bring out the food? I wouldn't mind feeding you in any case, if the form of snake is easiest for you to maintain right now... "

[Mirach]

"I'd like to sit in your lap with Xia..." Death whispered.

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh... That would be nice. " Tide seemed a little surprised, but pleasantly so. He grinned a little. " Okay, that will be an easy arrangement. Just a second... " he made sure the bag with supplies is close to them, and he sat down and leaned against the tree. He gently and carefully picked up the cloak with the weary kitten on it, and placed it in his lap, before offering Death a hand so he could climb out of the shirt to his lap and the kitty, so they could both be comfortable upon his cloak.

[Mirach]

Death climbed there and curled next to Xia, caressing her lightly with his tail.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed Xia streched herself a little too thin, not by size of her form, but by strain and effort of flying way too fast for way too long. She didn't respond right away to touch, but when she realized it's him, she meowed with that characteristic wonder and high pitched adorableness of all kittens in the world. It leaned against the coils of snake's body trustfully and began purring faintly, pawing it lightly with it's tiny paws.

[Mirach]

Death moved around her a bit, in both a caress and stretching his body from the stiffness of the flight.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide let them two get comfortable and cuddle a bit, knowing they need their well-earned rest. He remained sitting and tried his best not to move much, while he began searching through their bag that was beside them. His face lit up a little.
" Oh... Emil seemed to have packed us a jar of honey while we were absent in the second layer. " he bemused. " Such a good kid... Would you like some to eat? Or would you rather use it to make you some tea? I am not great with making any complicated teas, but it seems he packed some herbs too, so... " he asked a little timidly. " Maybe... Perhaps... You could instruct me? You must be thirsty, after such a long flight... "

[Mirach]

"Just chamomile tea with honey," Death said. "There should be some chamomiles in the little bag from Emil..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Um... Can you show me which one? This... Or maybe this? " Tide seemed a little embarrassed as he went through the bag. But when Death pointed it out, his face brightened up. " Oh, I know this one. At least, I've known it as mother's daisy," he commented as he took out the kettle. He kept the small talk as he began preparing the brew. " I am sorry, when you spend a whole lot of time around humans, with all their tendencies to name something twenty different ways, you have to focus on certain things. It is hard enough to keep up with the modern language in all other aspects... It's hard enough to even keep up with the names of foods. There must be a whole dozen of foods called *pancakes* that are not pancakes I want, for example, but some local derivate. The very frustrating thing, keeping up with the way youth speaks... I suck pretty much at all similar stuff, like names of places, or of rivers, um... keeps changing too often, every little village uses to have their own name for everything...  "

[Mirach]

Death watched him brewing the tea, but he was too tired and thirsty for a talk, so he did not reply.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide kept the small talk, though, as if he would be uncomfortable with silence right now, first after the stressful flight of always turning around his shoulder, and now in the uncertain present of not knowing what's going on. He needed some normalcy. So, he spoke, and he spoke softly, about different names he knew different silly plants under, different cities, and different rivers around, and all the times where he had generously confused a few. He spoke until the tea was brewed and then he felt up something in the bag, and he found the wide cup, the same one Emil used for Death's tea, easily fit for snake's drinking. He poured the beverage in it, and he put some honey to it before he brought the tea to snake's head and timidly tried to help it drink.

[Mirach]

Death leaned on his hand and dipped his tongue into the tea to try it first before he started drinking.

[VisAnastasis]

It wasn't as tasty as Emil's tea, as the lad has used many plants and was highly skilled in tea preparations, being so attuned to nature. Tide's artistry was not really comparable, but it was clear that the drink was made earnestly, from the heart, and the honey had the same soothing feeling it had in the boy's drink. Tide knew his tea-making was limited and he seemed embarrassed about it and tried to make up for it by holding the cup steady and letting him drink in peace. His mask covered his face so it couldn't be seen very well, but he appeared somewhat thoughtful.

[Mirach]

Death did not mind that the tea was not as good as Emil's, and he drank it thankfully, as he was thirsty after the flight and also welcomed the warmth of the tea.

[VisAnastasis]

Like all until now, Tide kept the air around them warm, knowing the coldness would make both now the tiny kitty and cold-blooded snake feel worse. He helped Death drink until the bowl was empty.
" Would you like me to make some more? " he offered then as if he scrambled to do whatever he was allowed and could to be of use. " Or would you rather eat something, perhaps? "

[Mirach]

"I will eat with Xia," Death said. "How far are we from the sea?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I can already feel it. It's in my bones... And less than a half an hour of flight. " Tide whispered. " But I fear I have pushed Xia a little too much. I figured, it's better if she needs some time to recover than if she had to engage in a fight... I wanted us to keep a distance. She should rest at least a couple of hours. But if you think it's best we do not wait... We could always travel old fashioned way. " he suggested. " You both are tiny... And I didn't strain myself, not my legs, at least. I could hold and carry the two of you in my hands and bag over my back, and just walk toward the sea. It'll take us longer by foot, but I think it's a better choice for Xia, bless her sweet soul... "

[Mirach]

"It would be better if we all got some rest," Death said. 

[VisAnastasis]

" But I didn't do anything. I need not rest. " Tide protested, asking slowly. " Is it just that you'd like to spend the night in one place, without having to travel again so quickly? You can just say so directly, you know... That you don't want us to get to the sea yet. "

[Mirach]

"Yes, that's what I'm saying..." Death muttered.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide seemed to get a little tense with it. He brushed the feeling away, though, and still cleared his throat, trying to figure it out.
" Why... not just say it, then? It's a riddle to me. Why not just say - I am too tired to deal with this tonight, Tide, so let's deal with this tomorrow? Or... " he bid quietly. " Do you not feel like coming to my home just yet? Are you... nervous? Too unsure to meet people right away? Afraid someone will recognize you? Do you want some more time to think about it? I... I guess, we still have some time before the play, we won't have to come right away if you prefer it so... " he whispered, although he spoke a little more unsurely, knowing his family is worried for him.

[Mirach]

"I said that it would be better if we all got some rest, and that's exactly what I meant," Death sighed. "You too, because I would prefer to be able to lie down without the jostle of flight or walking, that's all. Are we really that close to your home too? I thought we are heading straight way to the nearest seashore, and then continue along it until we reach it. Dud we take a more direct route towards it?"