Bran and Jem shared a concerned look, but neither burst what little hope she had bubbling. There'd be no grand rest at the end of this... not unless Elmy was still sober enough to patch her up. When people got thunked on the head, they often had to be watched for a time. Headwounds often made people lazy enough to forget to ever get back up again. And if Elmy was out for the count...someone would likely need to slap and shake the poor woman awake at least for the next couple of hours. Figured it shouldn't take more than a couple hours to sober the guy up. A lesser weaver could surely take a look, but it was better to be right than quick when it came to these things.

„Anyone needs to go primal?“ Bran looked over to Jem who shook his head.

„Don't expect anything will dare approach us for the next couple of days.“

Barret and Lena had come back with the extra horses, handing a smaller one off to Jem. Barret looked confused, but didn't say anything.

„Make sure you wash the boy's spare clothes before giving them back.“ Bran nodded to Jem before peeling his mount away.

„Not much for blood, that one.“ Jem wasn't sure if the words were for Xenovia or himself. Perhaps that was how people were meant to be, and it was the rest of them who forgot that with time.


*​


The ride back had been uneventful, but their arrival did reveal a couple things. Elmy was drunk off his ass, Vyn was shooed to bed, and the camp was still heavily into their celebrations. The rest of the night seemed to have gone off without problems.

„So, about that nap of yours...“ Jem took the hit as Bran went to...address the rest of the Line, of course.
 
Xen answered Jem with a noncommittal grunt. Fatigue was the soup of the day, and she had overindulged, what with all the excitement. Even half-addled, she knew she would not remain a-saddle for much longer. Thirty minutes, as she had promised. Fewer.

Someone would be there to catch her should she fall. Then... and only then would she sleep.

Wonder what Vyn's up to? Ignoring the stress pooling in her gut, Xen turned her gaze campward. Thinking of Vyn was easier than reflecting on what she'd just been through. Sweeter, too. Didn't make her any less tired, though.

'So, about that nap of yours...'

Humming, Xen opened her eyes, having barely noticed they'd fallen shut. 'What is it, Jem?' She asked, smiling. At him... or the hazy dreams she'd dreamt on the ride... back? 'Have the others gone to bed? Damn. Wanted to wish them... goodnight.' It was only polite. Lena was polite, when she wanted to be. So was Barret. Bran... Where...?

'Are we back in camp? Funny. Who left all these wagons parked here?'
 
Jem's eye twitched with the realization that he was on nurse duty until they could slap some sober back into Elmy. Why did they even keep headcases awake? Made no sense to him... but the world rarely explained itself to people. Was snobby like that.

„Come on.“ He extended his hand, unsure if he was going to help her down or catch her on the way. „Hop off before the ground does it for you.“

Middle topped index, ring over pinky, as the thumb swiped over the fingerroot. Was better as a daytime signal. Jem surely wouldn't have caught this one when it was this dark, but many of the Liners had much better eyes.

„Who?“ A voice Jem could recognize whispered between the Wagons.

„Elmy. Tell him to stop drinking and start sobering up at my Wagon.“

„Understood.“

He wondered if she should wake Vyn so she could know it went well...but given how well he knew her, he didn't want to undo the miracle someone else had pulled off to make sure she was in bed.
 
Xen didn't miss much, though Jem might as well have sprung five more fingers for all she understood. 'Dirt's never looked so tempting,' she mumbled to herself as she dismounted, one leg swinging whilst the other tried to free itself from the stirrup. Bronzed, they were, with a taste for toes.

The ground was harder than she expected it to be. Jem's steadying hands less so.

'Elmy's Wagon got drunk again? Silly thing.' Meandering to and fro, the devahni paused, waited for her skull to get the memo. Sense demanded she take a moment to collect herself. Dried blood crusted her brow and cheek. Somewhere along the way, it had lost its lustre, much like she'd lost her ability to rhyme and reason. The star-spangled sky lit the world in silver and shadow. Red and orange where the fires intervened.

'I can find my own way... home, Jem,' the Deva burped, banging her knee on a Wagon wheel. Xenovia stifled a curse. 'You should go... join the party or somethin'. Yes.'

Up ahead, a familiar-looking Wagon cut across their path. Xenovia couldn't say who it belonged to, and yet she felt like she should've known. Probably did. 'I'll 'member in the mornin',' she laughed, nodding. Stupid. Set her head spinning like a top.
 
„Yeah, silly thing.“ Jem's step caught up as Xenovia kneed Jeremy's Wagon.

Wasn't sure grabbing her was the thing to do, given the circumstances, so he just walked nearby, ready to grab her by the collar if she tried to go dirtdiving. She seemed to be going for Mikael's family Wagon...or was that Todd's? He really should've known for certain, but it was hard to keep track of everyone all the time.

So he made sure they weren't going for a Wagon where Elmy wouldn't be. A shoulder here, an elbow there. Felt like steering a ship, really. One prone to wind and disobedience. But they'd get there. Elum were never known for their speed, after all.

„I think we've both had enough fun for tonight.“ He could see Elmy up ahead. Looked close enough to sober and most unhappy. That was a good sign.

The old healer was hunched, sitting on the entrance step. One of his hands was pressed against his forehead, while the other traced lines of light over his chest. He always talked when he weaved – but Jem never did make out the languge, if there ever was one. Guy was real cagey about his stuff. Seemed unwise. Cause one day Elmy would be gone, and someone would need to take over. Wouldn't it be better if they had someone properly trained?

„That's who you had me get decent for?“ Elmy was already walking in their direction. Jem had missed him getting up. Fast, for a crusty old guy.

„Yes, take a look.“

„Sit 'er down.“

„Care to help me?“ Jem elbowed Xenovia.
 
Fun? Not really. But being alive beat being dead nine times out of ten. 'Now now, Elmy, is that anyway to welcome a friend?' Xen tutted, tipping this way and that, as if drunk. Jem helped steer her towards the nearest flat surface, a half-empty supply wagon.

Sharing the bed with hemp sacks and sealed crates, Xen wiped the tiredness from her eyes with the back of a bloodied hand. Yawned.

Voices and laughter echoed through the night. Xen could not help but be drawn to the sounds. 'Someone's havin' a good time,' she giggled, falling silent as the nausea returned. 'Not us, though.' Head-knocked. Bad way to be. Least she was here to help Jem... or was it the other way around? 'So. How's life?' Blinking, Xen rubbed at her eyes again, sniffing as the cold tickled the tip of her nose. Some other scent.

'Smells like a brewery in here,' she said. Elmy just stared at her. Grouchy bastard. 'Could use a drink. Fancy a drink, Jem? Elmy?' Another blink. Xenovia frowned. 'What're you doing here again?'
 
Elmy squinted before spitting in the grass. Which was a mistake, given how dehydrated he was.

„Still talks like she has a brain.“ Knelt in front of Xenovia, index moving left than right, followed by snapping – gauging the response. „Well... half a one.“

„Can see well enough. Speech doesn't appear slurred. She vomit?“ still eyeing Xenovia.

„No. Just walks and talks like a drunk.“ Jem was signaling someone else over Elmy's shoulder. „How long should we keep her awake?“

„WHAT?!“ Elmy looked about ready to smack Jem. „Which idiot told you that bullshit?“

„Gordar, couple years back.“

„Oh...um...musta had his reasons.“ Face stuck in a frown. „How's your memory, dear?“
 
Xenovia shrugged her shoulders. 'Hazy,' she answered, sweeping her long hair aside, so she could match stares with Elmy. 'I remember walking, running somewhere. Then... nothing. Well. Until Jem found me.' Silver and darkness. Pain and far-too-calm voices.

Blood on the grass. A body folding in on itself like so much-

Pushing the visions from her mind, Xen shook as a shiver ran through her. Cold, and afraid. 'Jem cast a spell, freed me. The bad men went away after that.' Struggling to find the words, Xen sniffed, head in hands, so as to hide the tears threatening to burst forth from a place she'd thought abandoned long ago. 'I think... I think he killed them, but... but...' There was something else, like imagination made real.

Blood on the grass. Shifting shadows. Sounds that no forest fit.

'Can I go to bed now?' She asked, glad no-one could see her face. Must've looked downright awful. Crying had never much suited her. 'I feel fine, really. Just... tired.' A half-truth. She hoped it would suffice.
 
Elmy's face didn't show much, but he did look to Jem as Xenovia talked. Strange stories were part of the road, but it was hard to verify strange shit when you weren't there to witness it. Jem simply shrugged with his hands and gave back a halfhearted nod. Good enough for the older man. The girl wasn't delusional. Small mercy, that. At least they could let her go to bed.

„Someone will need to wake her up in a couple hours...?“ The question never finished, but Jem nodded. „If she wakes easily, let her rest until morning – if there's any trouble...slap...well, don't slap me, awake.“

„Sounds good.“

„We loading her into your Wagon?“ Jem hesitated at that. Wasn't the most welcoming place, his home. But moving the girl about needlessly sounded cruel.

„Sure.“ He nodded before warning them both. „Whatever you see inside won't bother you, just don't take it too seriously.“ More for Elmy's sake than Xenovia's – as the girl was little more than a halfburned candle at this point. The elder scoffed at that.

Popping the door took some elbowgrease. Felt like it didn't get much use.

„Jem, where the fuck is your bed?“
 
It was dark inside Jem's wagon, and bare as a behind during the Summer swelter. 'Where the fuck is your bed, Jem?' Blinking, Xenovia chuckled quietly to herself, exhaustion sitting heavy upon her shoulder's. 'It's alright, there's a roof... Room to stretch my legs.' And at least she wouldn't have to share the space with three others families, like back in... in...

Crown's Hold. Home.

Not anymore. Clambering up the steps, Xen ducked inside, almost unaware of Elmy and Jem's presence until she turned to find them lingering by the step-boards. 'You got any pillows or blankets?' She asked, firebug eyes burning bright in the gloom.

'I can make do, but making do sucks. And we all need our comforts, right, Jem?'
 
Jem stared for a long moment, not at the girl, to the windowsill behind her. No command had to be spoken after this many years. The thing that wasn't really there moved from the opening, air freely flowing from the unclogged window. Elmy seemed to stiffen a bit, but said nothing. Jem did always wonder about that one. But this alone meant nothing.

Moments after, a pillow slumped inside slowly, accompanied by three corners of a blanket. Someone would clearly find a rougher resting place tonight, but that could all be sorted out come morning.

It took him a moment to notice the issue. He had to raise an eyebrow at the creature before it let go, deeply disturbed at the fabric unfolded. A red stain still wet where it held the corner too tightly.

„Someone will wake you up a time or two tonight...“ He would've said more, but Gallen nodded and that was enough.

„I'd say good night, but if you have to see either of our mugs again tonight...“ Knocked on the doorframe and the hanging metal jangled on the walls.

„Get some rest.“
 
Jem never said much of anything, but he was good at staring. A soft thump told Xenovia something had dropped into the wagon behind her. Tail tucked, she turned to find pillows and blankets piled haphazardly beneath the window. How they had got there or who'd found them was anyone's guess. Well, besides Jem's.

Exhausted, the devahni decided the questions could wait for when she was feeling better. Maybe soon, maybe never.

'What do y'mean? It's always good to see you,' she replied sleepily, boards creaking as she sunk to her knees, as graceful as a falling star, and none too bright. 'Rest, yes.' Arranging the pillows just how she liked them, Xen laid her head down, fiddling with the blanket til it covered half her frame. Ignored the stain.

'Funny-smellin' wine,' she remarked, slurring the words slightly. 'Oh well. Nini, Jem! Nini, Vyn!'

Gallen shared a look with Jem, saying nothing of it.

'Night night, kid,' he replied instead, expression softening. 'Sweet dreams...'
 
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