Death and Tide

[Mirach]

"I would rather stay here and talk about healing herbs," Death said. "The miasma is too strong for me."

[VisAnastasis]

" That's alright. I'm glad. " Tide smiled a little, though he seemed little reluctant to part after the dark night they had.
" I'll stay and make sure your friend has everything he might need. " Emil reassured him gently. " He'll be alright, even if you take some time, and if your pursuers get into the forest, the father will feel it and warn thee first. You don't need to worry. "
" Okay... alright. " demon nodded slowly. He glanced at Death shortly anew. " Could I perhaps leave you my cloak? " he asked quietly. " You can pile it up and lie down on it, and if you need me for emergency or something, you could use it to call to me through it, perhaps? Like you did yesterday when we fought. I'd be able to stay with him for longer more peacefully if I know we have that. "

[Mirach]

"Alright, I will do that," Death said.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded. He took off his cloak and folded it in two, and then again, making a thick makeshift soft bed from it - it would be too tiny for a person, but perfect size for a snake. He then with permission wrapped Death a little in the scarf he enjoyed so much, before taking the snake from his lap and placing it gently on its little bed.

[Mirach]

Death curled there, making himself comfortable. "I'll be alright here..." he murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded slowly.
" Okay. Call me if you need anything. I think I'll... take few nanaimo bars from our pack with me. I packed some, and I'd like to treat him with a bit of niceness for the first impression if it's alright, " he whispered. When approved, he explained the situation to Xia, and then, they prepared themselves briefly, him, fox child, and the pup. He only glanced back once more, and nodded, as if in promise that all will be alright, before he left him and little Emil.

[Mirach]

"Could I have more tea, please?" Death asked. He did not want to ask for food, as it wouldn't really sate him and it seemed their hosts didn't have much of it either.

[VisAnastasis]

" I have fireplace here aside, so I can make it right there, amids those little trees." Emil had shown direction to the snake, and then bid it still." Please indulge me, though - it will take me a few minutes to make. Would you like to snack on something in meantime? We have many soothing fruit here. Or you could take some honey?" He offered hopefully what was probably their most priced food, smiling a little conspiratorially." I could pour it in a plate for you to sip, or you could eat it straight from the jar. That's my favorite thing to do... We have liquid honey, nice and smooth as I gave you in tea, or you could have raw unprocessed one, if you like to nibble on little chunks of honey combs dripping with it" He smiled." That's my favorite food. It tastes delightful when eaten with soft bread. We grow wheat for bread in another chamber, and it's really good. "

[Mirach]

"I think I would like some bread and honey, if it's not a problem to you," Death said quietly.

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, but why would it be? Why would I sabotage myself so, dear guest, by offering something I want not give?" Emil chuckled a little bit, not of bemusement, but more so seeming delighted his suggestion was taken to heart and that he can offer something of value." Wait a moment, I'll be right back with it! " He said, and left to another part of the garden. He was back within minutes or so, carriying two plates and one wide bowl. In bowl, he poured liquid honey from a big jar, in first plate he placed a lovely soft looking and tempting loaf of bread, and tore it on many tiny pieces. On the second plate, was a generous and dripping honeycomb, and boy took out a pocket knife and likewise cut it in tiny parts with it, so they would be easy for a snake to swallow.

[Mirach]

The snake hissed his thanks and sumberged his tongue into the liquid honey, tasting it first. Then he took a bite from the bread and a piece if honecomb.

[VisAnastasis]

The bread was really soft and had an unique texture about it - it felt as if eating a piece of cloud. As well, it seemed that besides wheat, it was flavored with some healing herbs, making it taste all the more soothing - and it was a perfect mix for their unuque energyzing honey. It was no wonder it was little Emil's favorite food, and he grinned with pleasure as snake began to eat, before he hopped to the side where fireplace was, and began brewing the tea.

[Mirach]

Death recognized that the honey had properties similar to the cookies from Tide, even if weaker, and he ate all of it, needing the energy desperately.

[VisAnastasis]

When Emil returned, he grinned a little at first, seeming pleased, but then his brow furrowed a little.
" Oh, poor dear... You must be starving, aren't you? " he asked compassionately. He knelt, and put the bowl with a plentiful amount of tea before it with no question or reprimand. " I made a stronger dose and put a lot of honey for you... Just careful with drinking, it's hot, okay? While you drink, I can prepare you another portion of honey and bread. "

[Mirach]

Death didn't much like that Emil guessed how hungry he is, but he couldn't really deny it. He took a careful sip from the tea and then continued eating.

[VisAnastasis]

Thanks to that guess, though, Emil now understood better how urgent it was for little creature to eat, and as its host, must had taken it quite seriously. He returned soon slowly balancing a bundle too big for him, of two loaves of bread and three bigger jars of best honey he could find, probably. While Death ate and drank, he continued cutting honeycombs and tearing bread into little pieces and filling up his plates diligently, so that little snake doesn't run out of food along with its little drink.

[Mirach]

Death still felt embarassed over it, but he didn't want to offend the host by refusing something he obviously needed, and so he rather ate in silence.

[VisAnastasis]

It was harder to read expressions and mannerisms or a snake than a human, so Emil didn't seem to have noticed the embarrassment, focused on feeding him. He appeared to be glad he could offer him something good for him and lost in the task, it seemed like but a moment before they went through all the bread and both big honey jars.
" Wow... That was quick. Are you still hungry? " he asked timidly. " You eat... quite well for such a cute tiny snake. But you need not to be hesitant about that. Ill Beings need a lot of care, I know that best. " he smiled a little shyly. " I'd be sad to have my guest hungry under my roof, and if the weakness of hunger got in the way of my guest's survival, I'd bear the grief and blame, too. I want not to get you sick from all the honey if you can get sick from that - but I need just word from you, and I'll bring you more. Tell me, how much do you think you'd need? How big are your usual portions, if I may bid? "

[Mirach]

"This was enough, thank you," Death said. "I would rather eat more before we leave than now, when I can rest a bit."

[VisAnastasis]

" You can eat now and then both. If you're hungry, there's no reason not to eat a bit more at least. We don't have an unlimited quantity of honey, I fear, but we do have a stash ready for around the next two years. It is precious to us...  My people need to eat it so they'd not catch any illness, and so they'd have a long life, compared to other of their kin. It extends their lifetime for a couple hundreds of years. It's a blessing, a gift from my father. Me... I'm only eating it for the taste because I enjoy it. I don't really need it. " he smiled a little, adding quietly. " I'd... rather like to see you again. If you want to come. I'd... like us to talk about healing herbs again. I'd not mind to give up my share of honey for that... You may have more of use to it than me. I only eat it when I'm sad, but it may make a difference for you... "

[Mirach]

"So, I could eat it if I assure that you're not sad in the future?" Death smiled a little. "I fear I can't promise that, but maybe if I visit again, it could be worth just one more jar of honey against sadness?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Promise me you'll visit again and stay for a few days at least, and you can have two jars easy. " child negotiated, and smiled a little sadly, and hesitated, before adding a little more quietly, as if sharing something personal. " I care for my people here... they are all so lovely... but it is kind of lonely. You understand, don't you? "he whispered. " It's hard not to have friends... of your age. It's hard to connect with people when they exist on such a different time scale than you. No human that was there for the fall of father's kingdom survived to these days. Not even our honey can do such miracles, alas... Ones that live here now are few far descendants, but more so, but poor wanderers that managed to survive somehow and stayed. They all fall to death, though, some sooner, some later. I watch that. That's how my life is now. I am not good with attachments anymore, I fear, my sweet little guest... But I think... " he added little hopefully. " I would be happy, to see you again. It would be well-deserved honey, to have a chance... to grow flowers in my garden for someone, and know they will return one day to smell them and enjoy them. To look forward to something like that, would be a nice change of pace... "

[Mirach]

"I see," Death said quietly. "But I cannot promise you that I will return soon, or that I will return at all..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I could wait. It's not like I am exactly going anywhere... " Emil smiled faintly, growing a little withdrawn, and also more melancholic. " Please... forgive me for my insistence. It's just that this whole thing with meeting Xia, and Svarik and Erdel has gotten me a little... Hopeful. Too hopeful, maybe. I really shouldn't be. Nobody that promises to come back does so, anyway. Soon enough, they will get busy, and they will forget. We are just too isolated, it's hardly worth the bother... " He smiled sadly, looking down." At least... you are honest. I appreciate that... "

[Mirach]

"I can't promise you anything when I don't know what will be tomorrow," Death said.