Death and Tide

[Mirach]

Death nodded, leaning on him trustfully, like when they were one.

[VisAnastasis]

That was all Tide needed for his heart to flutter. He picked him up, and as he did, he was purring lightly. He carried him a few steps, and he kept carrying him still as they slipped into first layer, back to the fortress.

It was already early morning there, as sun went up. Emil seemed to have grown tired, with being awake whole night, and he got all the more weary as he worked to soothe Cernunnos's pain after they left. He slept wrapped in a blanket, beside his father who was embracing him with one hand, and Xia that acted as a pillow behind them. At the sound of steps, ill demon raised his head wearily, and smiled wonderingly at the sight.
" I.. was worried. You... Are okay?" He asked hoarsely, gulping." I... am glad... "

[Mirach]

"Feeling better..." Death murmured, taking his hand. "I hope you didn't get ahead of me in the race while we were away?" he asked with concern.

[VisAnastasis]

" If I were, it would be my choice... I gritted my teeth when you left, so you'd not hear me and feel guilty for leaving. " creature grinned a little shyly, seeming a bit proud of itself for figuring it out as if it was not an easy feat. He pressed Death's hand faintly and added wonderingly. " But... Actually not that bad. Emil said I can thank you for that too? He said you've given him your poison for the balm for me... "

[Mirach]

"Yes," Death said. "But I would rather see myself how you got hurt during the fight and do what I can about it... although with the leg, Tide can help more."

[VisAnastasis]

A little shadow of hesitance passed over the creature's pained face. It seemed to be troubled by something, and weighing out if it should say it, and in the end deciding to.
" I... do not know, how long does it take for Spirits to reborn. I do not know how safe it is for you to stay here too long. " he did his best to try to keep his voice steady. " That hunter... He... He said he will come back to kill me when he is reborn. Whenever in the past they'd try to hunt me and I'd kill them, I'd have to run right away... they'd come back so quickly, so vigorously... " his voice did crack a little in the end. " I... Don't think I could have fought even as well as I did, without having no pain. On my own... I don't stand a chance when he returns. I was thinking, and I thought... Maybe it is... better... that you don't waste your precious time... with someone that has not much time left... you can still run... "

[Mirach]

"It will take a while now..." Death said. "He doesn't trust me now, and it always takes longer then. And I will make sure they do not come after you once they are reborn."

[VisAnastasis]

" How? " the creature asked anxiously, not seeming to believe it, despite it was alluring. " *A while* is not a really reassuring time to promise to someone... And you couldn't even stop them to convince them not to attack you, a Spirit, their beloved leader... " he shook his head sadly, as if he were struggling, but trying to come to terms with it. " I can't see how could you convince them not to come after me, a Demon. An... easy target, as I am... It is my fault. I got angry. I revealed myself to him, and now he knows where I am hiding... I... didn't even have the heart to tell Emil yet... I do not know what to say... "

[Mirach]

"But you sow a seed of doubt into his soul," Death said. "When he is ready to be reborn, I will talk to him, and I believe the situation will be different then. The hunters are acting on their own, they don't follow the will of the new king. The king can order them to never come to this place again."

[VisAnastasis]

" They are trying to *kill* you... And you are trying to convince me it is just.. a phase?" Creature couldn't help but chuckle a little, looking at Death more tensely now." I don't understand that... Optimism. I am just speaking from my experience. No offense, but..." he looked down, and slowly, he withdrew his hand from Death's." Old Spirit king did not order hunters not to come after me... I have no reason to believe new one will. Nothing changed  Why... Are you doing this? Why are you treating me like fool?" He blinked away tears gathering in corner of his eye." I... I am trying to save you... the trouble. Why help someone that is going to die anyway? For sense of responsibility? I.. release you from it. The hunters that are left are not in the forest yet, but we do not know if death of their loved one may lure them here... And what then? Should you get on the border of dying once again?" He gulped." Every moment may be difference between your life and death... I won't be the one responsible for it, over little selfishness for some relief and care. I won't... "

[Mirach]

"If you think I am fooling you, then I am fooling myself as well. But Solstice will be a better king than the old one. It was a mistake, giving a healer from whom all rebirths depend this much of deciding power. It doesn't work well together..."

[VisAnastasis]

" A truly grave deciding power... For anyone, not just a healer." Cernunnos bit his lip. He seemed tryly torn, not knowing what to believe, fear for his, his child and his people's life too great, and reality too grave, despite Death's words were promising. In the end, another question reached the surface, and this one sounded teary, almost desperate." If, perhaps, I am in your favor, at least in this moment, though... I may not get a other chance, so may I ask... Was there really... Tryly... No other way? Was there no way that I could have...  Stayed home? " His voice cracked up as he looked up hopefully." I, I never wanted to fight. I... J-just wanted to be left to be... To tend to my forest, my little t-trees.. I... I was so happy there..." His eyes teared up anew, and his fever seemed to rise a little anew with the conflicting feelings." I didn't want to fight then just like I want not now... B-but nobody listened... Nobody ever listened.. that Spirit... He was dying, and he had to listen... But he heard not me e-either... "

[Mirach]

"I didn't see any..." Death sighed. "None that would not lead to my death, and to the end of all rebirths..."

[VisAnastasis]

Demon seemed taken aback a little by that. It trembled.
" I always thought... That it was my fault..." It admitted with pain." That I was too... Too arogant. Too proud. Demanding to be left alone as my home, to my flowers and trees. Everyone... Every Spirit I knew before always spoke so kindly of you. I always regretted, fighting back... I thought... Maybe... Maybe if instead I surrendered... If I grovelled.... If I begged... If I could had just talked to you, swore to you I mean no harm... If I offered you my services... Then, maybe..." His voice broke." Maybe you would have understood. Maybe you would have let me stay... "

[Mirach]

"You are right, I would have understood," Death whispered. "But it would not change anything..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I have lost everything... Expect earth beneath my feet. And even worst, just when I settled down and felt at home here... I lost it all again. All those humans I loved... Gone, because they shielded me." Creature whispered with a thin, faint voice, raising his look at last, appearing rather feverish, but with some strange, frail hope." You... Would not... Wish me lose this little I have? It may seem little, but... It is precious. " The arm he held around his child tightened a little, before he whispered." I don't know for sure, but I think Emil has a soul like one of our own... That he would be reborn if killed. If the hunter does come back, but doesn't stop with me... If he figures out what Emil is, he will hardly let him live. If... If.  " He could not even bring himself to say it." I ask nothing for me, but he is the one good thing that was left after all turned to ashes. If my plea means anything to you now.. please, let him stay as he is. Don't... " His eyes teared up anew "Don't turn him a Spirit and make him forget how much his father loved him..."

[Mirach]

"You don't need to plea me..." Death murmured. "I'm not going to turn any more demons to spirits, unless they want it themselves."

[VisAnastasis]

" What?" creature raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised, as it was not told that before. " All... All of us are going to be reborn as... us? Even... me? " he stuttered. " W-what happened while I was locked away? What changed? "
" Situation changed. " Tide spoke up for the first time, sitting down at the edge of the bed quietly too. " I am sorry... I didn't get to tell you, because I wasn't sure my companion wanted to be revealed... But he has decided not to do it anymore, and I have decided to protect him in turn, so he doesn't have to give up that choice. " he blushed a little bit, with a gentle note to it as he glanced at Death shyly, before adding. " Actually, that's why the hunters are after us. They don't think he is doing it willingly and want to carve one demon soul out of his own... It would kill him, but they'd risk it to not let it happen. "
" So that's why they were after you... " creature repeated, appearing stunned. When he glanced back at Death, it was a little more open look, a brighter one, where hope wasn't faltering but grew stronger. " So... there truly... was no chance before... but there is now? If you manage to get back at the sea where Tide can protect you... they won't be able to force you to change your mind? And, you... you won't do it even if the new Spirit king would order you against it, would you? "

[Mirach]

"Well, a king can't break his own laws... but I'm not a king anymore. He can order me, but he can't force me. And he can't even order me, if I won't be his subject..." Death said.

[VisAnastasis]

" You won't? " that was yet another surprise for the demon that thought he could be surprised no more. Maybe it was better, though, for the new practical concerns overpowered the old self pitying one this once " What... what are you going to do? " a sudden worry overcame him as he understood the implications, forgetting that he shouldn't burden guests with questions to remain polite with the uncertainty. " If you aren't going to serve him... Then you must have a plan, right? A place to stay?  You aren't going to remain on the run forever? I, I've tried it... " he tried to smile but worry, a genuine, timid worry, only left his face paler " A-and... running away all the time... it gets incredibly dull, to be honest... I... wouldn't want it for you... "

[Mirach]

"Let's just say I've got a plan, okay?" Death smiled a little. "So can we try to help you?"

[VisAnastasis]

" If the plan doesn't work, though, or involves solitude... You... Are welcome to come back here to us, little snake... " the creature said slowly then, and finally, it smiled, as it decided to take a leap of fate. " It can get... lonely on this road. We don't have much, but at least we can offer a kind company. And some nice fruit and meals of honey... We tried to be... optimistic about this... Emil has made you a broth of fresh vegetables and honey, his secret recipe, for when you get back... It will nourish you. There's a pot by the fireplace... Although I think it got a little cold... " he whispered timidly, as slowly, meaningfully, he extended his hand to Death again.

[Mirach]

"Thank you," Death said and took his hand. "It would be welcome, and Tide can warm it."

[VisAnastasis]

" I'll get to it while you work. " Tide said, and he went to the fireplace, both to add some more logs to it, and to check on the broth beside it.
" It'll be good for you... You had trouble eating before, so we thought eating soup would be easier than honeycombs... " Creature whispered faintly, seeming still a little unsure as for if something was still bothering him, while Death examined his hurts. " If... whatever you want to do will take time... would you indulge me... and eat first? After you left, I was... angry," he whispered little more darkly, first time using that stronger word. "The whole world depends on you, and you say you have a plan... Yet you nearly died. No... I nearly killed you, with... this terribly broken body and its miasma. It was all my fault. " he bit his lip. " I... It is... too much. To not only... not take care of an ill guest... but to cause the end of all rebirths in the world over such puny life as mine... " he smiled as painful tears gathered in his eyes. " I'd have been the very worst host in the whole universe... "

[Mirach]

"Oh, that's really not your fault," Death said. "It was just a drop in a full glass. Any of those previous drops can be seen as equally responsible."