Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded, as if feeling relieved, and even a little bubbly with permission as if it raised his mood a little. He carefully and shyly gathered up the snake in his arms, and when he assured Death is comfortable and that position is not painful to him, he slowly stood up, a bundle of curled animal seeming tiny in his big protective arms.

When he assured they were ready, Emil led them up the stairs, with Xia taking on a puppy form, and together with the pup Eight following along.

[Mirach]

Death was tasting the air with his forked tongue, sensing the smells of strange fruits and flowers in it.

[VisAnastasis]

The place was spacious, with many big fluffy bees buzzing around, gathering pollen from the countless flowers in bloom. Xia was already used to the sight, but Tide was blown away by the secret garden one could hardly imagine was hiding within a fortress that appeared so humble on the outside. While Emil was gathering the plants for a balm, he was taking in the wonderful sights of both familiar and completely unknown flowers and herbs, and he made sure Death had a good look too and would kneel down or stretch so little snake would be able to smell the plants from closer distance and observe them better.

[Mirach]

Death enjoyed simple admiring of flowers, especially those that he sensed were healing, and he was asking Emil about their various properties.

[VisAnastasis]

Emil seemed particularly delighted that his guests had a good recognition of healing plants. It seemed he had a gift for gardening, and that in this secluded lonely place, it was his passion to come up with new kinds of healing plants. He was happy to share his knowledge and little achievements, taking special pride in it, and explaining which healing herbs were good for injuries, which for soothing pain, which for headaches, nausea, and all kind of ailings - he said that, since they were locked away from the outside world, he wanted to provide the best possible care for his people here, and that some of the herbs he groomed all by himself by mixing various existing variants, and that some were made already formed species in the time of his father's kingdom.
" My father doesn't... didn't use to get sick, before, " he said. " But humans that grew fond of him made him their king, and he grew fond of his humans very deeply. He likes to groom healing herbs, to help them, to best of his abilities... He can't grow anything in the other fortress, I fear, everything dies there, but I wanted to continue the family tradition, for both of us. "

[Mirach]

Death listened with interest, and even suggested some possible experiments with crossing certain plants to enhance their effect or get a new one.

[VisAnastasis]

The boy seemed rather delighted to have found such knowledgeable talking companion, not having a chance to really get into discussing these things often, and even more so, get some good advice, so he was talkative and spoke more brightly, after the pup that was following them around and smelling flowers softly, this being a real treat on top.
" It's a great idea. I think I'll try crossing... these first. They are in close relation, so it shouldn't take as long as the other options, so it's good for a start. " he marked out three plants Death said would make a good soothing tea against panic attacks and anxiety when combined. He grinned a little, adding hopefully, with a little more warmth. " Take care of yourselves... And when you evade hunters... do come around again, okay? To see how the flowers are doing... If I manage to groom a new healing herb by then, you may try out the first cup, what do you say? "

[Mirach]

"I would be glad to do that," Death said. "I didn't have much time lately to ponder healing plants, and I miss it..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Do you not have your place to live and grow things in? " Emil asked a little sadly. " I've not met many Beings... But most of those I did, that don't live in the Spirit realm but are refugees of war, don't have permanent homes. You don't either, right? " he asked Death quietly, as, from the way they appeared and their situation, it was wrong, although logical conclusion. " If you can't stay in one place long enough to grow plants... " he looked around as if thinking about something, and then smiled slowly, and offered warmly. " You could pick one part of the garden here if you'd like. It's all mine, anyway, and it's mine to give. Pick up a part of it, and we can plough it and move plants of it, so you can grow on it whatever you like, whenever you come by and visit. Nothing changes around here... It's as permanent as it gets. " he smiled a little. " I can take care of it for you in meantime between visits. You need to do nothing in return but come back every once in a while... I didn't have much company lately to talk of healing plants with, and I miss it too... "

[Mirach]

The conclusion was actually correct now, since Death could not stay in the kingly palace any longer after his abdication and the current moods in the Spirit world. "When I come next time, I would like to use that offer, if it stands then," he said.

[VisAnastasis]

" It's a deal, then. " child smiled more brightly, admitting shyly. " Pardon me... I don't want to be pushy... I must seem strange to you... smiling in the face of danger. And yet... This is the most visitors we've had in such a long while, Svarik and Erdel and Xia, and now you two. You're all so kind. " he indeed couldn't help take of the smile, little nervous, but sincere, as he offered Death a nice soothing flower to smell. " It's so nice to have newcomers again. I wished I could offer you more to protect you from your pursuers, than healing plants and fruit to aid your journey, but alas, I fear we have not much other than that... "

[Mirach]

Death enjoyed the talk about herbs and Emil's offer, and he was torn between the desire to reveal himself in hope to be accepted as he really is, and fear that he won't be. The fear prevailed, at the end. "We don't have much to offer, either, but danger," he sighed.

[VisAnastasis]

" Danger isn't yours to give... You're not the one attacking us. The enemy we share is common. If they discovered my father's hiding place and tried to kill him, I'd be the first to plead for your help, kind guests... I can do nothing, but die trying to protect him, and it's not enough. I'd have no right to plead for your help, but I'd have to. It's not supposed to be like that - I am your host and I'm supposed to protect you, but I have no choice, no more than you do, having come to me for the help of all places. If you had any other options, you'd take them. " child shook its head lightly and smiled sadly. " You are strangers, and have no claim on my belongings, but you're travellers from afar and in need of shelter, and you pleaded for it. I can't give what I don't have, but I don't want to deny what I can give. You're wonderful guests, though, so kind and polite, and you know so much of flowers... I'm glad Xia made such nice friends. You've offered me a lovely companionship and I'll treasure the quality time you've given me, for I don't receive such precious gifts often. "

[Mirach]

"The pleasure is mine," Death said. "And we actually hoped to bring our pursuers into this forest by night, hoping that the two dangers eliminate or at least weaken each other. But they are flyers... Would you have any suggestions how to arrange it?"

[VisAnastasis]

" We've packed up the medicines... Now we only have left to pack fruit of your choosing, so perhaps we should make a break and plan something out first. Let's sit, kind guests. " Emil said readily, and as they sat down, he replied to the question quietly. " The thing is, I wished to advise you something. Normally, I am not the kind to initiate violence, but you are right - if the threat to us may grow a little fainter, and the threat for you likewise, it's worth the chance to unite our strengths, even if it's under flag of violence. " child sighed, not sounding happy, but understanding the logic to it. He didn't sound too sure as he added, but he did. " So, my advice would be... not to rely on luck, if we don't have to. I think we should involve my father in this. He is a demon deeply tied to plant life, you see. This is one, but not the only reason I'd advise that. He can hear everything happening in the forest, by listening to the trees. He could hear before everyone when someone new enters. That's for a start. But it's not the only thing he can do... I think his help if you could get it, would be valuable to you. But I do not know how my father will react to the plea. He is a bit... frightful creature these days, kind guests... He's unsure when it comes to trusting people, after everything... "

[Mirach]

"We will not press him into anything," Death said. 

[VisAnastasis]

" Thank you. " Emil nodded quietly, caressing the pup that sat down in his lap as if hoping to give him some support, as it seemed he needed it, as he continued whispering thoughtfully. " To be sincere... I don't know what is the right thing to do. Could you perhaps, advice me on this matter? I'd like to see what you think would be best, because... There is something that could be done, by my father, not me. " he said. " You see, every night, the shadows from the waters roam forests restlessly, to no end, and my father runs from them, to lure them as far away as he can, from living creatures and from our home. He can not leave fortress, for if he does, he'd die - he's too weak to stay outside protective seals we've woven for him over many millennia. But as a creature tied to nature and trees so deeply, having been a tree for so long, he can manifest his presence within the forest, so that it seems like he's outside. It's not an illusion and there's no image, only a shadow that can glide around, as long as it's close to the trees. That's what my father does every night. He protects us, the only way he can... It inhibits his recovery, but it makes sure we are all safe. Now, this is the matter... Focusing on anything else while doing it is hard for him, and it'd be even harder if he had to focus the path to pass close to demon hunters. If he does it, though, they won't be able to see him, but they'll feel his presence, just like those things do. They'd probably stop by it and try to hunt him down. That's why this is a hard matter for me... It seems like a double-edged sword. " he whispered. " On one hand, if those things are weakened by demon hunters, maybe my father could finally get a bit better, a bit stronger. " his voice wavered a little against his will. " On the other, if he exerts too much for too long, I... I may lose him for good. It's a big risk for us, my guests... Usually, when we sense demon hunters around, my father uses that night as a reprieve and doesn't manifest his will outside. This long night has been so hard for him, on top of that. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him... "

[Mirach]

"Can he retract his presence or does he have to return to the fort with it?" Death asked thoughtfully.

[VisAnastasis]

" It's a manifestation, not an actual part of him. " Emil explained quietly. " Imagine it perhaps... more like a fog. He controls in, manifesting it in certain parts of the forest, holding it together with focusing, but once he's done, it dissipates and fades, as fog would. It looks like a treelike shadow, though, and while it doesn't cut him or hurt him, if someone, for example, stabs it or punches through it, nothing will happen to it, or to him, but he'll feel the hurt. " he gulped, smiling a little nervously. " It's a little bit like phantom pain. His limb would not exactly be in it or be cut, but it'll hurt, and he probably wouldn't be able to maintain the ruse long after it, if at all. It depends how strong distraction is - if the beasts just scratch him, he can collect himself, but if a sword is run through it, I don't think he'd be able to brush it off...   "

[Mirach]

"No, he should not risk like that," Death said resolutely. "Do you think it would be doable for him to just bring the shadows into the hunter's sight and dissappear?"

[VisAnastasis]

" When he does what he does, it can take a big toll mentally. My father is not really... strong Being, dear guests. If you'd see him, you'd not deem him any more strong than a feeble old human. And... like old humans, he sometimes loses himself a little bit... " Boy admitted quietly. " Nights, when he exerts, are the worst because his corruption is the strongest in his stress. He is not there, but he feels like he's there, being hunted. It's an experience that renders one much more primaeval... A part of you just keeps telling you to run, to just keep running as far as possible, and it's more draining to do a planned task. I think he would be able to do it, ability wise, but it's exhaustion that comes afterwards, that I fear. " he shook his head. " Father is ill, so he needs to eat to keep his strength up as much as he can. If he uses too much strength during the night, he may faint and may not have enough strength... to wake up. Couple times during bad years, or years when our harvest was bad, it'd come particularly close, but this year was particularly hard for him, and he barely awoke after Long Night we had. It took him four days to wake, and those were dreadful for us. I don't want him to slip deeper into corruption or weakness, but shadows grow stronger the weaker he is, and... we might not get this good chance to weaken them anytime soon... "

[Mirach]

"It's a risk," Death sighed. "There is possible gain, but you are wondeing if it's worth it, and I don't know if it can even be guessed correctly, with too many variables and uncertainties... My own state does not allow me to approach your father, but my friend has some experience with treating corruption. Do you think you could do something to improve the odds, Tide?"

[VisAnastasis]

" By what it seems, he is quite deep into corruption, but not fully - he still has some sanity left in him. I have had many friends who had been ill from it, but healing is one of the things that takes trust. I can do some things, but I doubt your father would be willing to allow a stranger to do it. " He whispered. " To put it in simplest terms... As a waterbender, I have found souls similar to water, in a way... And one of the gifts I have is to touch souls. My own essence is very balanced and calm, and I am immune to corruption and miasma myself, having reached peace and love within myself. I can share that peace with another. If I'd be allowed to touch his soul with mine for a while, I could balance his own, and allow it to share my energy, to regain some balance. Even a short time is better than nothing, but ideally, if I could stay with him and tend to him throughout the night, it could raise his chances considerably, if this would be allowed willingly. If we make him do it, it just won't help, for things like those are too intimate. If he accepts it freely, though, it would do him much good, so all depends on how he feels about it, and if he trusts me with it... "

" It is a lot to ask... " Emil nodded a little sadly. " I don't know if he'll accept. He never lets anyone stay with him during the night, anyway... Sometimes when he's in too much pain, he lashes out at whatever is around him, furniture or person, without even remembering it afterwards... But... You are a demon. You might be able to subdue him if it gets worse. And if you can do what you speak, maybe it wouldn't get that bad in the first place... "

[Mirach]

"Maybe you should go visit him now, while there are still a few hours of day left," Death suggested. "I'm sure Xia is eager to meet him. See if there is some way you could help him through the night. If not, we rather won't risk it and rely on chance. There is still a possibility that the hunters meet the shadows without any intervention."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, I am in for it. If it would be alright with you, kind little Emil, I'd like to meet him. " he looked down on Death them. " What about you? " he whispered. " Would you like to meet him too? It sounds like quite a heavy miasma, by what I can hear. You could sit this one out if you'd like... "
" You shouldn't exert if you don't have to if you're ill. " Emil whispered with worry. " Father would be happy to see Xia, so she'll be reassurance enough to him that it's safe and that I send them. Xia and your friend Tide can go, and I could stay look out for you if you'd like. We could stay in this place if you enjoy it here - king Svarik preferred this place. Or I could give you your own room, too, so you can rest on a nice soft bed. " He smiled a little. " Either way, I could make you that tea you liked, whether you're going or staying, to warm up... "