Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

The bamboo shrinks into the ground, and vines wrap around the hole in your hand. After a short moment, the vines unravel; the hole now healed.

A green glow seems to emanate from where Artemis is standing, though she still looks away.

"It's not something I can ignore either." Artemis says, frustrated, looking away.

 

"Alright." I say, looking slightly confused. "Can you please hand me one of Sir Robert's bags?"

________________________________

"Ah thank you. I'll take that as an apology, which I gladly accept." I take a seat on the ground.

 

Artemis says nothing, simply looking away; arms crossed.

 

"Forgive me for trying to change you, but you and your friends are currently biewed as psychopaths, murderers, or both. I want to help, but I can tell I'm at fault for trying to change your ways."

"Momentarily."

 

Artemis continues to look away; unsure of what to say.

Abigail stirs slightly, yet remains unconscious.

 

Rineth curls up again.
"It's not up to me to change you. We all have our ways; our customs are different than yours. Be thankful we at least can communicate."

 

Leo pipes in, saying "I think they're crazed psychopaths..."

 

"Maybe we don't need to change." Artemis says.

Artemis raises a hand, and a sharp vine hand erupts from the ground and reaches for Leo's crystal. It stops, a few inches away from the crystal, Artemis eventually lowering her hand, causing it to shrink back into the earth.

 

"My point remains uncontested"

 

"Then pray you're not found on the one combat law the people of our world follow;
Defend the battlefield before yourself, especially when the battlefield isn't yours. I hate to say this, but I will not hold back if I find you on the other end of that. Even here."

 

Artemis seems rather annoyed.

"Maybe Abigail was right about you..." Artemis says.

 

"You know not our customs; we know not yours. There are never only two sides. Harm me if you wish, you are sentient."

 

"Maybe you are out to kill us..." Artemis finishes.

A large flower encloses around Artemis, two smaller ones enclose around Abigail and I. The flowers drag themselves underground.

 

"Think of it as you will..." he forces a telepathic connection.
"...for that's how I put the last child I was tasked to care for to sleep every night. They were restless, but if you stay ignorant of the bigger picture... Ihra cares too much about you to just let that happen."

 

"I trust in my friends, and I'd rather keep them protected. I bet you were going to bite me in half if I had done anything else." Artemis says, annoyed, telepathically.

 

"Youth have nerves there which causes them to fall asleep much faster than usual. Again, think for yourself. My bite is much weaker than you think."
Pause.
"I wish you and your friends safety, but if we are fated to fight... No, I can't bring myself to the thought."
Pause.
"Ihra says 'hugs' to you and AJ. We'll be on the move soon."

 

"I don't want to fight you." Artemis says.

The flowers emerge from the ground and bloom.

"I want to know I can trust you." Artemis says, a hint of sadness in her voice.

 

I look towards Count Drake and at Artemis then back at Count Drake.
"Evidently I missed something... or several things..."

 

Artemis clicks her fingers.

"Huh...what's happening?" I say, sitting up.

Abigail gets up, looks around, then lies back down. "Five more minutes." She says.

 

Ihra's digging around in a little box.

"I want to trust you too... but that's not up to me as much as it is you."
He picks something out of his mouth.
"A preserved flower from Xlentia's Void Garden. Three surviving Void Flowers remain of that type."
He lays it in front of Artemis.

"Yeah..."
"Wait... Rineth?"
"Ihra did the thing."
"Oh... I'm sorry..."
"We keep fighting, I am no exception."
"As always, elder."