Leaving Mictlan

The weather is better today than it was yesterday. Birds chirp in the trees. Singing that spring is coming. Spring is on its way. Nobody tries to stop the large blue-scaled sith that makes his way around the campfires. He is shorn of the robes that normally cover his chest, revealing a bevy of scars that mark his scales. Most grievous however of these wounds is a line in his chest right beside his heart where he has no scales to speak of at all. He is wearing pants of course, but that is all. Occasionally a burst of cold wind makes him shiver.

The slight jingle of armor is the first sign that Geir is there, seemingly stepping out of nowhere from the internals of the eternal camp at Mictlan. "Kin. Zeke.", are the words rumbled, before a cloak, Geir's cloak, is draped over Zeke's shoulders.

"Peace on your nesst.", the copper-scale intones. "It is good to ssee you on your feet. How do you fare?"

Zeke starts to step aside as someone appears to his side. Old instincts that he has not managed to shake despite his many years. The rumbling voice however is an immediate comfort and he stops walking; drawing the cloak about his shoulders against the cold. "Geir. Peasssce on your nessst." His voice is warm and glad, his posture relaxed at the sight of the other male. "Thisss one fairss well enough. Do you fair well?"

The copper-scale pauses also, turning to face the blue-scale, a look of relief and cheerfulness on his features. "This one is simply tired. Every ounce of my priestly strength has been committed to tending the wounded, providing water, and brute strength moving of ... stuff. Much luck was had, changing course to satiate my hunger instead of my curiosity, allowed this one to avoid most harm."

Geir reaches up a hand the squeeze gently at Zeke's shoulder. "Is there any word on how.. how thiss came to be, this earthquake?"

Zeke's eyes immediately darken at the question of how the earthquake came to be. He reaches up with his claw to take Geir's in his own. Holds the one with both of his. "It wasss..." He hesitates. Hating the words that he must speak, but he can say no word that is untrue. "It wasss thisss onesss nesst-mother."

Geir brings his other hand to pull Zeke close, very carefully administering a gentle hug, given the blue-scale's condition. "That... that is disstresssing news, Zeke. Does she hate her own kind so much as to recklessly sow chaos among innocent families? Were you able to speak with her? Are you... okay? Has sshe come to harm you?"

From a makeshift hut of sticks and grass that had been assembled to care for the injured, a blonde softskin emerges, clad in full armor and war panoply. He seems hale and in good spirits, scarf and gloves added to cloak and cold-weather gear. Seldan pauses at the doorframe, surveying the grounds and the shamans and warriors at work, and his eyes lower.

The blue-scale sighs, slumping in Geir's embrace. There are few, very few whom Zeke would allow to embrace him so, and Geir is one such. Still, he eventually pulls back, smelling embarrassed to show such emotion in a public space. "Ssshe tried to kill thisss one Geir." He touches his chest where so many scales have fallen away. "Ssshe cared for none other; only that thisss one sshould die."

He looks at the ground. "Thisss oness kin wass greatly injured in protecting thisss one from her, and it sseemsss much damage wass done."

A gurgling sound can be heard in Geir's throat, and smoke wafts out of his nostrils. The copper-scale moves to Zeke's side, moving under his shoulder to offer support that is less embarrassing. "Thiss one is conflicted. She has shown a complete lack of compasssion, sanity even, this one would cut her down, even though she is your nesst mother."

A firm pat on Zeke's shoulder is followed by a sad nod. "Your kin know, Zeke, and they stand by you, keep you safe. You would do the ssame for any of them. That is your character."

At length, Seldan draws a deep breath, and his eyes lift to survey the area once more. His gaze falls on Zeke, in close contact with another whom he does not recognize, and he turns his steps in that direction, although approaches only closely enough to be notice, not closely enough to needlessly intrude.

Zeke does not know how to say the rest. Thus, he is immensely glad to see Seldan at last approaching them hesitantly. It's the caution in Seldan's steps that makes him realize that he and Geir are once again in close proximity, but he does not try to move away. "Sseldan! Kin, come. Have you meet Geir?"

Geir moves at Zeke's pace, and follows the blue-scale's gaze until he spots Seldan. "This one has heard the name, but hass not had the pleasure of meeting Seldan." The copper-glances to Zeke, "Kin, is he? Thiss one is favourably inclined already." As Seldan closes, Geir offers up his arm for clasping. "This one also expressesss thanks for being here, helping with our wounded."

"I have not. Peace upon your nest, Geir." The name is one that Seldan has at least heard, but he bows politely, and takes the offered arm, unconcerned for the claws. His grip is firm and strong, the hand of a warrior. "I fear that I was of but little assistance with the wounded, save but one. Are you well, Zeke?"

"Thisss one isss well. Thisss one isss dissscomforted by lack of sscalesss, but they will grow back." Zeke looks between the two and seems satisfied that they are getting along well enough. "Ssseldan isss the one that wasss ssso badly hurt Geir. Sssaving thisss onesss life."

"Peace on your nesst.", Geir intones, his grip also strong. "This one expectss you did all that you could, and this one is... very thankful that you were able to fully assist that one..." He glances to Zeke, his eyes widening at what the blue-scale reveals, and he looks back to Seldan. "This one owes a debt of life. No... tsa, two lives. You have ssaved two lives."

Seldan's eyes lower in embarrassment at that, and he releases the grip. "Trouble yourself not. I did only what any would have done, did they stand in my shoes. The threat is no more, and for that am I grateful for Zeke's forgiveness. Might I ask how you know one another?"

Zeke's tail shifts back and forth in amusement at Seldan's question. "Thisss one told you Sseldan, forgivenesss wasss not necesssary. You did what isss right. Ass for Geir." Zeke looks at the other male fondly. "Thisss one met Geir a long time ago. Thisss one cared for him very deeply, but never had the courage to ssay sssuch."

He looks at Seldan brightly. "You gave thisss one that courage. To sstand up for thisss onesss sself. To tell Geir of feelingsss. Thisss one wasss glad to learn that he feelsss the ssame."

Geir manages to show some embarrassment, some shyness, at both the question from Seldan, and from the words from Zeke.

"We've.. known each other for many years. We Sith are... long lived, yes? Zeke was a youthful hero to this one, followed him into adventure and danger. We share scarss. We could not share words that matter. At least, not when we both were in darkness. Once in the light..."

The copper-scale shakes his head. "This one would be lost, now, should Zeke leave. Be it for farther countries, or for the next world."

_Oh ho. This is Zeke's mate._ Still, Seldan merely inclines his head politely in understanding, and bows formally. "You have then made my kin happy, and for that am I grateful," he returns gently. "Glad I am to have offered you that opportunity." Still is the softskin most careful with his words, looking between them. "If your mate is here, would you return here more often, Zeke?"

"You would endure with-out thisss one Geir. Thisss one will be gone from thisss world long before you in any cassse." Zeke seems amused with Geir for a moment, his tail swishing, but Seldan's question stills his tail and his eyes go a little dark around the edges. "Thiss one will not return to Mictlan." He sighs and looks at his copper-scaled mate. "Pleasse under-sstand. Thisss plasce isss no longer for thisss one. The People sssee thisss one ass sstrange. For having sssoft-sskinned kin. For being old and caring for one a third thisss onesss life. Now they will quesstion. For thisss onesss nesst-mother defiled the sssacred nessting groundsss. Thisss one can not bear their looksss, their quessstionsss."

Both Seldan and Geir know well how little Zeke appreciates being the center of attention. No. This is no longer a place for Zeke.

Once more, Geir expresses shyness, looking down at his feet as Seldan speaks of happiness and being grateful.

He scuffs at the ground with a foot. "So we expresss a similar gratitude. This one shall call you kin, and a brother in arms. Honorary shaman caste, also." He looks to Zeke as he speaks, with multiple expressions seemingly at war on his face, but in the end, there is understanding and acceptance.

"This one would not force you to go where you do not wish to go. This one undersstands. Is Alexandria acceptable, for dwelling? We have temples, and support, and are close to here... at least, this one could travel there easily."

Seldan's eyes lower, and his eyes close at the nature of the exchange between the two. It is clear enough to him, the nature of the problem. Many conflicting things wash across the even features, even as they speak - relief, doubt, affection, and confusion mingle with a hundred other thoughts and emotions warring for supremacy. He does not interfere in the discussion -

Not until a nasally old woman at his hip speaks up. "Seldan, you really don't like being here anyway. I can feel it."

Zeke nods to Geir. "You can sssend for thisss one at the temple ass alwaysss. Thisss one sssharesss a home with Sseldan near." He does not explain where, and after a moment the sound of Seldan's sword draws his attention. He shifts his tail back and forth. "Yesss, come kin, we ssshould go. Reunion isss right. Thisss plassce issss not for usss."

He releases Geir then, moving away and offering the copper-scale his cloak back. "Thisss one only needss retrieve thisss onesss thingsss from the sshelter."

The copper-scale gives a start at the voice, and he has his khopesh partly out of the sheath before he is able to reign in his reaction. A wary eye goes to the blade on Seldan's hip. With a slow breath out, Geir's blade is slid back into its sheath.

"This one understands.", he says to Seldan quietly. "He would be safer here, modestly sso. But.. how can one imprison one's kin?" Geir looks to Zeke, accepting back his cloak. "This one wishes to know, do you have room for another?"

For a long moment, Seldan is silent, fairly radiating embarrassment when the sword speaks. "I would not offer insult, Fallia," he answers in a low, even tone, pushing an unruly lock of hair away from a face taking on a distinctly impassive look, a look that deepens at the question about room for one more. "It is in a place that cannot be reached save by flight or magic," he replies.

Zeke does not answer the question at all, trusting to Seldan to explain their living conditions to Geir. Instead he ducks into the shelter that had served them while he was injured and unconscious. He grabs up his things and comes back out carefully pulling his armor over his head. Next comes his vestments. Covering up his many scars.

An odd look comes over Geir, passing quickly. "Oh. Now.. now thiss one understands. Not fully, but at least understands the living conditions." The copper-scale rubs at the back of his neck. "It is painful." He hugs at Zeke once more, while the blue-scale is trying to get his vestments on. "This one won't make it awkward." He turns then, reaching up to lightly clap Seldan on the shoulder on his way by. "May the dragons watch over you both, peace on your nesst."

"And upon yours also. Is Sunguard Andelena ready as well?" The clap on the shoulder earns Geir a steady gaze, and a small nod. "I trust that you know where to seek Zeke, should you find yourself in Alexandria.”

"Thisss one believesss sso." Zeke replies, looking quite embarrassed by Geir's display of affection. He quickly finishes dressing and nods low to his mate. "Dragonfather illuminate you Geir." He answers gently and with that begins to make his way out of Mictlan.

-End