Death and Tide

[Mirach]

"Yes, it's time," Death agreed. 

[VisAnastasis]

Xia helped Cernunnos sit down on the bed again. He seemed timid, but somber. In his hands, carefully held as something precious, was  a soft emerald fruit, the same one he has given to little fennec fox and Svarik, filled with calmness and joy of his long gone happy healthy life.
" The... The river of blood... It flipped the barell. Other fruit were broken up by fall and ruined by blood... But this one was at the middle... It survived intact. The last one of my last harvest. " he explained a little hoarsely." I was thinking... You did me a great service. My home is clean and I will be able to walk again without pain.. it.. it is the last thing of spiritual value I possess. I would like you to have it... "  

[Mirach]

Death looked into his eyes, searching for something to assure that Cernunnos really means the gift. "It is a very precious gift," he said, when he saw what he was looking for. "Thank you. I will value it properly."

[VisAnastasis]

" I won't... ask you to return to prove it. I know... that Tide will keep you happy enough so you don't need to come back for little morsels of happiness we could possibly offer. " Cernunnos smiled faintly, knowing he has to bid goodbye to them properly, with proper weight to it, instead of guilt. " Live a life that makes you happy... A full life. I'll keep an eye out for the last layer and know if you're living. If you are, I'll know you're protected, and it'll be enough for me. " He whispered, and he handed Emil the fruit, and the child packed it carefully among their things.

[Mirach]

"I will come back anyways, if I am able to," Death said. 

[VisAnastasis]

" I just don't want it to be an obligation. Many promised but did not come... Why bring more needless guilt to the world? " Creature smiled faintly. " It was all... so much. I have a lot to think about. But some things don't need more thoughts. Past is past, but today you were good to me. You gave me more than enough... I don't want to give you guilt in return. "
" But you do want to see us again, don't you? " Tide smiled a little, turning back to him. Despite his sorrow about the mirror, he could not miss a chance to reassure the good-hearted creature. " I don't know about Death - I will have to keep him safe, and perhaps he'll be safer at sea, and the choice of what he does will be his - but I will come again for certain, with Xia's help, I hope... I really... can't wait to see you again, dearest host. " he laid hand on his shoulder and added sincerely. " You've missed so many innovations in the culinary world, and you've shared so many wonderful treats with us... I'll be sure to bring you whole lots of wonderful treats from the sea in return! "
Unlike Death who spoke in a more careful way, not promising anything he wasn't sure he could accomplish, Tide's promises were free and really sounded sincere and reassuring. Even if Cernunnos was doubtful, he couldn't help but find it endearing.
" It... It would be nice... B-but... no pressure, okay? "
" There is no pressure at all. I will be back. " Tide said, and he embraced the creature suddenly - it was unexpected, but a spontaneous and honest gesture, and after the initial surprise, Cernunnos choked up a little with emotions and embraced him back, as firmly as his feeble hands allowed, burying his head in his soft cloak.

[Mirach]

Death smiled at that. "If Tide cones, then I will catch a ride with him," he said.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide smiled back approvingly at him. " It may seem far with all the land between us, but we're barely a moment away with a flight. We'll be able to come more often than not when Xia's around. And you will be around, won't you, you sweetest little thing? " he caressed little creature that was curiously peeking from behind his shoulder. When she understood the question, critter nodded fervently. *Xia always happy to!* big fluffy fox exclaimed on their tongue, and it was free with them, and innocently snuck up inside their hug and snuggled with them, something Tide chuckled on, embracing them both tightly, focusing on other people seeming to have improved his mood a little bit, as he looked forward to meeting them again.

[Mirach]

"This is a really inconvenient form for embraces," Death noted, "so I can't give you one, but I wish you happines, until we meet again."

[VisAnastasis]

When Tide released the embrace, Cernunnos turned to him. He smiled a little shyly, but more brightly.

" It's okay. You don't need to give it right now... Save it when we meet again," he said more gently, and encouraged by his words, he caressed with his soothing hand the head that was peeking from behind the scarf, in final greeting.

[Mirach]

Tge snake licked his hand with the long forked tongue and then withdrew so Tide could take him under his shirt.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide could see by the wrapped up scarf and bandages that Death is ready, and by the form, he guessed easily what kind of travel creature choose - so he wasted no more of their precious time. Gently and carefully, he took the frail little snake and placed it behind his shirt, sighing with some relief with the close touch, as it was easing some of his own pain, as his new part, the gift of Cernunnos, the one he was accepting only slowly, would be uneven and injured until Tide absorbs it, and was hurting as much as it was hurting Cernunnos before. Death's presence brought ease and relief from it.

[Mirach]

Death sensed it, and was also feeling better in Tide's uncorruptable presence, and was glad for chosing this way of travel.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide seemed to have grown rather comfortable in their arrangement too, as relief from pain felt as nice as the knowledge he is easing his companion's suffering in turn. It felt comforting in all their uncertainties. Demon took their bag and their things, and mounted Xia, reassuring her all will be well. He let Emil lead them out of the maze of corridors, and once they bid their goodbye for the last time, they flew up, high in the air.

[Mirach]

Death focused for a moment, to try to feel where their last pursuers are. "They are looking for us west from the forest," he whispered.

[VisAnastasis]

" We shouldn't stay too far from the water... Without it to defend us, our chances are much slimmer. " Tide whispered thoughtfully, looking west in direction Death pointed. " But we can't have them lose our trail, only to surprise us or lay a trap for us, or worse, hurt someone innocent they might find along the way, like Cernunnos and his people... What should we do? "

[Mirach]

"I think getting a headstart would be a good idea, and once we have it, we can announce our location..." Death said.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded.
" Try to rest a bit, okay? You haven't slept at all last night or today... You have earned it. " he whispered. " Xia and I got this under control. If we notice them catching up to us, we'll wake you. Until then, you should rest... She is a good girl, she knows the way, and I can feel the waters around me - I'll direct her so we always stay as close to a source of it as we can. "

[Mirach]

Death considered that for a while. "Well... alright then..." he murmured. "Wake me if there is a sign of any pursue," he said, and hid his head under a coil of his body.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was relieved if at least for that, where he was tense about their situation. He supposed Death with his healthy hand, so he could lean as comfortably and peacefully as he could, hoping he would rest a little, while he and Xia looked out for the danger restlessly.

[Mirach]

Death fell asleep after a while, and as they flew south, no pursers were visible on the sky or on land.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was afraid waterbending some more substantial amount of water from below and carrying it with him could be too distracting so he'd not realize the danger of time, slow them down too much, or even draw the attention of their pursuers. It was a hard choice, but he decided against it, exchanging one risk for the other. There were lakes here and there on their journey, and the meandering river would appear on their path here and there, but for as long as they flew close to water, the need for speed necessitated that they fly above dry land too ( got 3 on dice, so I guess there's half-half chance if the pursuers catch them they catch them without water close by to defend themselves? )

[Mirach]

(OOC: I got 5, but I'm a bit out of ideas about what to do here - one last fight and that's it, or do we want something else to happen here? More fight seems a bit like the story repeating itself...)

[VisAnastasis]

( Yes, as their combination of fighting and healing seems quite favourable to them, it doesn't feel really suspenseful, it feels a little repetitive. I thought in general that perhaps they may be stronger or more fit to deal with them with some skill set, so they perhaps they could end up killing Tide, so Xia and Death would have to deal with them on their own, get in more danger, get captured/hurt. Tide could, after being brought back to life, try to find a way to save them (or just Death if they choose to kill Xia too). That was an idea I had, as it would leave Tide feeling like he failed to protect him, and Death would feel grief and pain as his presence brought people that he grew to care about ill once again, and also let down because Tide promised him he had the situation under control but didn't. I am open to any suggestions, though, of course, I'd prefer anything rather than a predictable fight that we would just win simple and easy :) We could also have hunters join forces with some other more powerful foe - maybe Two-Headed Raven who already tried to kill Death once? Old habits die hard, and he wanted to kill Death for so long, and sacrificed so much, especially now that Simbel changed his name and stopped seeing himself as the White Eagle and began changing his appearance, it could be an emotional trigger to get him back on the dark path, plus, it would have Death's mercy in letting him live to come back to haunt Death, as he was the one that allowed him to stay alive and keep his memories... He would have brought himself in the situation, both by mercy for choosing to the reborn demon as a demon and for the mercy of choosing to spare Two-Headed Raven. Maybe he would be able to kill Tide even simply just by lowering his guard, by making him believe he is friend, not foe... There could be potential to bringing him back into the story, though I didn't think it though much, as I just remembered him, thinking of the past entagonists, and unlike General, he was moe involved in the Being story-line, though, with General's ability to track people through their blood inheritance, it's not impossible he could track Death throught Nammy's blood, so he could maybe make a comeback, too, if he had a motive, but I think Two headed Raven's motive is stronger :)

[Mirach]

(I'm not sure about any of this, it seems to me that something like that would send Death into full corruption, since he is on the verge already. A better plot twist might be if Two-headed Raven would actually help them, or the hunters could be persuaded without a fight...)