Within Cassamir's Cave - IC thread

[Kindulas]

Ishida worked to heal Tatyana's burns, and to dull the pain.
After speaking to Cassamir, they curled up to sleep. Well, she did. He kept her warm, keep the pain down, and lull her to sleep. But there was a much deeper pain he would have to comfort - and, inevitably, to inflict.

Once he was confident Tatyana was asleep, he sat up and turned to his best friend. "Leiviel," he said, his voice already quivering, "Leiviel I need to talk to you."

[The Dungeonmaster]

"Damn right you do." Leviel whispered back, "Thought it would take you longer, but yes... I know a thing or two about how to make a wolf-pussy purr."

[Kindulas]

Leiviel always knew how to make him laugh. Leiviel could lighten almost the darkest situation with a well placed joke.
Almost.
But Ishida could not be amused now. He had a feeling not even Leiviel would keep his aloof demeanor. He had told Leiviel about Amara being the Nighthawk by telepathy, but... Leiviel had noticed when Ishida refused to keep updating him.

He got up and paced over to his friend, then knelt down and took a deep, uneven breath.

"They're gone."

[The Dungeonmaster]

"No, I left them. I'm a wolf that needs to run free, can't get tied down in some den."

[Kindulas]

"Leiviel our mothers," Ishida said, tears falling onto his cheeks. "They're gone, they're both gone."

[The Dungeonmaster]

Leviel blinked.

"Gone... Where?"

[Kindulas]

"Damn it Leiviel!" Ishida hit his fist to the ground - exasperated but in no way angry at him. "We've failed, we lost, they're dead." Somehow saying it made it hit him even harder. He clutched at his shoulders, bowed his head and quietly cried.

[The Dungeonmaster]

The wolf's ears flattened to his head. He stared at Ishida.

If the elf was trying to learn how to tell a joke right now, he'd rip the sniveling pup's throat out.

Leviel pressed up against him then, suddenly regretting his impulse. He spoke in a gravely whisper.

"... How?"

[Kindulas]

Ishida wrapped his arms around his friend. "Your mother was taken hostage to force Mom into finding the key for them. When she learned-" he choked on his tears, "when she learned what they would do with it, and about the children she couldn't -- she couldn't let them have it... so..." he buried his face in Leiviel's neck. "They killed her. The bastards killed Shizen."

He took a minute to regain a sliver of his composure, and swallowed. "Mom died when... I... I told you that we went to the castle, and about the lich, but when... when we ran away Nate's sword thing wasn't actually enough to buy us the time to escape... so Mom... she..." Ishida didn't say anything more. He didn't want to mention the hallowed ground, either. Both their mothers had sacrificed themselves heroically, really, but it was his that the land recognized. That didn't seem fair. For as much pride as he felt about that new hallowed ground, he felt it would only cheapen this moment, to speak of the incredible effects of his own mother's death.

"I didn't want to tell you this... u-until we were actually together again."

[The Dungeonmaster]

Leviel was silent for a very long time.

"I'm going to rip the throats from every one of those black-feathered bastards." He snarled, eyes smoldering, "I'm going to chew them like a sponge..."

[Kindulas]

Ishida just held him tighter.
He wasn't comfortable thinking in terms of bloodshed and vengeance. But nor could he truly disagree with the sentiment. He did hate them. He hated them all.

But in that moment he did not focus on what he lost, as instead he clung to what he had left.

[The Dungeonmaster]

The wolf pressed into the pup and took a deep, shuddering breath. They hadn't just been their mothers. They were heroes. How could anyone take people as wonderful, as valuable as that?

But...

"They're worth a hundred normal people." Leviel's eyes burned, "So let's save a few thousand more. You in?"

[Kindulas]

Ishida wiped the tears from his eyes and returned the look of determination. "Let's make them proud."

[The Dungeonmaster]

"We already have." Leviel tossed Ishida a sloppy grin, "Well, I know I have, and you're getting there. Proud's easy. Let's blow their sacred minds."

[Kindulas]

Ishida smiled and pressed his forehead against Leiviel's.
"Deal."

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