Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

The demon still seemed to enjoy doing this despite that, as if knowing he's going to be able to let Death rest a little as they fly in warm and safe was making it a gratifying and exciting experience, despite they didn't have that much trust between each other yet.
" Alright, you silly big candy cane... I don't bite, so please don't be bitty either, hehe... Let's get you right... here... " he said softly, and he gently put the comparably tiny snake down his shirt, making sure it's positioned so it can breathe freely, but is also curled comfortably. Learning half against his belly, half against his chest, it was a soothing feeling, but Tide's heart did seem to beat a little faster, since the creature was a little nervous too, and was relaxing only slowly, and trying to suppress its essence as much as it could, knowing Death consented to be carried but had previously rejected his hugs and didn't want that.

[Mirach]

Death was a bit stiff and alert until they settled and got into the air. Only when Xia fell into a steady pace of flight, he started to doze off.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was only able to begin relaxing then as well. After he melted all the ice to wash away traces of their camp, he regretfully left the body to wash up on the shore of the lake, and then, they took off. He seemed relieved when they left the place, but he made sure to tell Xia to follow the path of any rivers or water surfaces around, as, in case of unexpected attack, water was still their biggest advantage. Xia nodded in agreement, and she flew fast, as fast as the wind would allow, so they'd get as much headstart as they could.

[Mirach]

The hunters were split into two groups now, but both lost their trail and fell behind them (1 and 2)

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was not quite sure what to do - they wanted to evade them, but they also hoped to lure them into the hunted forest, not lose them fully. For a brief moment, he considered leaving some firmer trail, but he decided in the end that it's better to have some headstart instead and therefore buy themselves more time for deciding what to do than to risk having to fight one more time before they are ready.

He encouraged Xia gently to fly in direction of Cernunnos's fort, and although Xia has been there already, this was the first time she's been flying alone and deciding on the path herself instead of obeying directions of Svarik and Erdel, so it took them a little longer to reach the fort, and it was already the ten o' clock in the morning when they could see it in the distance (dice 4).

[Mirach]

(OOC: I thought they were heading for the Sanctuary? Btw., I'm back :) Still seeing a bit blurry but can watch the screen without pain already)

[VisAnastasis]

(OOC: I didn't notice message right away as I wasn't sure when to expect it, welcome back, dear! It's good to hear from you again after the operation :) Was it the kind that removes vision problems, so you don't have to wear glasses anymore? I hope all will be okay and that you won't be seeing things blurred for much longer, either  <3

I checked the old posts quickly,  and they were at the Cernunnos's place first, as it's closer to the city, and Sanctuary is closer to the sea. As of terrain, there's a forest and a river around the forts, so it's either the same or the other river that passes through the capital, so this is a super quick map of possible look, but we should maybe make a more detailed idea where everything is and what else could be around so that we have more options for Death and Tide to explore:

[Mirach]

(OOC: I remembered it the other way, that was probably the way back :) And yes, I'll not be wearing glasses anymore, but it will take a week more to get to 90% vision and two mnoths for 100%)

The hunters tried to find their track again, but unsuccessfully so far (2 and 1 again).

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: It's really a wonderful thing! I'd be too frightful to do it right now - I've already had one operation, not to correct vision but one to ease strabismus, when I was in high school, and that was quite enough for me :D but I'm really glad you've gone through with it, I'm sure life's going to get so much easier with it, it's really a great procedure  (*^▽^*)

By that time, the group has arrived before the two fortresses. Tide was unsure, but Xia was a child and Death was weary and asleep, so he was the one that was to make a choice what to do. He decided to try to speak with the human inhabitants of the second fort first, to see if they may be able to gain anything from them, hoping they'd at least be willing to get some medical supplies.

They landed before the fortress, and they knocked and tried to seek hospitality. It seemed people on the inside were reluctant, despite Xia being there, as she was with a dark tall stranger unknown to them, and it took them a while to open. (3) On the door, appeared Emil, a pale child, in the escort of three people hiding behind him. He was even more pale than usual now, and he remained at the entrance gate, greeting them only thinly, gazing at demon's chest, as he, although not knowing exactly what, seemed to have felt there was something more here than met the eye ( Emil's perception check 5 ).

[Mirach]

Death woke with the landing. He felt he is being observed and in the small form, he felt vulnerable with it. There was no space to change though, and so he peeked out from under Tide's shirt, revealing himself.Humbly, he spoke the traditional greeting, asking for shelter (ooc - which I forgot...). 

[VisAnastasis]

"I have little - but please, do accept the blessing of a poor soul that seeks place beside your hearth," Death said, and Emil gazed at him intently.
He seemed unsure for just a moment but with rather a gentle way in which Tide made sure the peeking snake was supported from falling out by holding the shirt it leaned against, and Death's humble and earnest request, he was a little appeased - and with the warm calm glance of Xia that wagged tail at sight of him, it seemed he decided to give them some benefit of the doubt. He cleared his throat, and with but his gesture one of the adults handed him a bowl of salt and piece of bread.
" I welcome thee. I have little - but please, do accept the blessing of a host that wishes to give you proper food, shelter and relief from your pains.  I shall be that host, and you can call me by the name Emil. " he whispered the words of the greeting solemnly, and he took a piece of salted bread and ate it, and then, offered it to three of them - Xia ate readily, Tide swallowed his piece whole and diligently, and a child, still looking intently at strange creature, offered it a piece of salted bread from his hand himself.

[Mirach]

The snake took it from his hand gently and swallowed the piece whole, as jis jaws were not suitable for chewing.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide had to kneel a little for a small child to be able to reach the animal. When they shared the salted bread,  Emil nodded lightly to them.
" It is... cold outside, kind guests. The winter frost stretches here for a long time. Stronger than most days for the weary. " he said slowly then, and brought himself to smile a little faintly, trying to break the tension. He caressed Xia gently behind the ear, as he moved and gestured to the inside. " We don't have your kind coming around so often these days. Come, please, to my humble home. Come too, Xia, dear. Let me make you all some nice warm tea, for a start... "

[Mirach]

Death was indeed exhausted and in pain, and he sagged a little in Tide's hold as the situation calmed, not even desiring to change form anymore.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was increasingly worried, as despite having slept for a while, Death wasn't feeling any better - and no longer being in the pure presence of White's pond and forgetting Spirit's medicine was a big part of the sudden turn. He was holding him as carefully as he could while they walked through the impressive remnants of the ancient halls. Like Svarik and Erdel before, Emil took them to the warm fireplace in the main hall first, and he gave them the best two armchairs. He subtly ordered his people to leave them alone discretely, while he set the kettle with water above the fireplace. Xia was feeling safe in a familiar place and seemed relieved, as she took on a form of a fox child and sat down in one armchair. Tide sat down in the other, doing so slowly and leaning back a bit so Spirit would have more space to lie down.  

[Mirach]

Death curled there, laying his head on the curve of his body. "Can you explain our situation to our host?" he asked Tide tiredly. "We might be bringing danger to him, he should know..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I know... " Tide nodded quietly, and despite he knew they were facing a child, he was unsure about revealing Death's true identity right away, not wanting to turn their possible ally into the enemy before having a chance to explain everything.
" I heard a lot of nice things about you from Xia and little Svarik, kind host. I hoped to come to meet you under better circumstances. I really looked forward to that meeting. Alas, I fear I did not come in leisure this time... " he whispered, and he explained their situation to him. He told him that they were in the capital, three of them, two Demons and a Spirit and that they had to escape demon hunters that came after them. He's a waterbender, Tide explained, and they are going toward the sea, where they have the best chances, but they can't pass such a big journey in one go, and Xia suggested they come here first. The explanation, given simplified, wasn't half bad but wasn't half good either (3), and Emil was listening quietly as if he was focused on somewhere beyond them. He nodded lightly, as he handed first finished herbal tea to  Xia, in a cup fit for her paws, like last time.
" I understand why demon hunters would be out for two demons, my dear guests... " he said then, appearing a little distant. " But, regarding danger involved, alas, I fear I must ask thee - why would demon hunters be after a Spirit? " ( Emil's perception 4)

[Mirach]

"Because he aided a demon," Death said tiredly. 

[VisAnastasis]

Despite it wasn't revealing of identity or saying that much, the words must have plucked the heartstrings of someone that himself had an ill demon father. that had so little allies in the world to help him. The child shook its head sadly, but fervently, as he must have had a soft spot for them in their circumstances, that prevented him from suspicion ( perception 1 )

" It's a too-rare thing these days, alas... But anyone that helps a demon, whether them be a human or Spirit, is welcome in my home, " he said then, before adding more practically, as he began picking out herbs for another tea. " We have little, but what we can, we'll gladly share with you. But I fear we are no fighters.  Demon hunters... Are a serious matter, indeed.  We're pretty isolated here, so we don't meet many people from the outside. Only two times, did we have Demon Hunters that happened to venture here. None of my dear priests has any demonic blood, but I do have some in my ancestry. Spirits don't generally prefer randomly killing human children though, and with no mother alive I can easily pass for an unwanted child. Demons have a certain... reputation of forcing children upon human women, and we are considered humans, not demons. Hunters don't ask much questions after you hint at that. They just replenish supplies and leave. " he stroked his chin thoughtfully. " Housing people they do want to kill, though... It could make them see us not as a humble secluded priesthood we are, but as enemies, I fear... It is a peculiar situation. "

[Mirach]

"We were thinking we could hide here during the night..." Death said. "But if it comes to fight, we would take it outside and lure them away from you."

[VisAnastasis]

" You mean fight, outside... at night? " Emil asked suddenly, with a tinge of horror in his voice. " No... No way, dear guests. I don't know how much Xia or Svarik have told you about our forest, but you must not fight in the night, no, not even go out during it, not until first rays of sunlight. If you do, demon hunters will be the least of your problems. There has to be another way... "

[Mirach]

"No, during the night, we were actually hoping that our problems might at least partially negate themselves if we draw the hunters here. But should they come looking for us during the day, we would try to lure them away."

[VisAnastasis]

That seemed to reassure Emil a little, as above all, it seemed the horrors of the night, ever present in his life, were something that was drilled into his bones to protect his people from. Only with reassurance, he nodded lightly.
" We figured that's one of biggest reasons why we were not that bothered with Hunters anymore. If they are flyers, they fly over not knowing the danger, if they're walkers, well, once you die once here, kind guests, you don't want to repeat the same mistake. Nobody that died here ever wished to try to do it a second time. " he explained quietly, looking at them a little thoughtfully as if considering something. " Do you have any means of knowing where your pursuers are? How far they are, what direction they're taking, anything? Or would you only know when they're already too close? "

[Mirach]

Death tried to focus. "I can sense them a bit sooner than too close. But now they seem to have lost the trail. There are two couples, and one is completely off track (1), but the other is getting a bit closer (3)."

[VisAnastasis]

The child nodded seriously. Next question seemed important to him.
" Xia brought you here... I assumed you know a little at least, do you not? " he whispered. " About how we got to live here, in the haunted forest. Do you not, kind guests? " he asked as if trying to figure out how much they were told, to see if he can trust them with more sensitive information.