"I'm not ok…" said Luma, submitting to the answer, "But I will be. As soon as we get the rest of the shards… So that maybe I can actually sleep at night…"
"You haven't been sleeping?" asked Firiko in slight alarm,
"Can't do it… I can't trust myself to do it.." Luma sighed, "I can never predict when those brutes are going to use me…. and If I'm asleep then I can't put up and reinforce the barriers and…"
Firiko cut him off, "It's gonna be ok…" he slid a wing around Luma, who instantly melted almost in tears.
“It’s alright, Anna. It was a while ago.”
Luma cried for a long time, resting in Firiko's arms as the sun set. Eventually the patrol members switched off, except for Sirus, who took Silver's place on the shifts. Matt and Chris headed out with Alex, and an older woman with pink streaks in her creamy white hair, and feathery wings flew off with them, despite Silver's recommendation not to.
“I hit you at our brother’s funeral.” Anna said flatly.
Shiara quickly went over to Silver when she saw that Luma wasn't there, "Where are my brothers?" she asked quietly.
“I’m not mad at you, Anna. It was a long time ago.”
“Whatever.” Anna scoffed.
"Luma flew off after another episode… I think Firiko went after him soon after that" said Silver gently, tending to the exhausted Arthur.
Shiara nodded a thanks before heading back to the main area where Anna and the other's were. Tornado had previously stocked the firepit in the middle, and Shiara thanked the smol girl before lighting it with a small command.
Anna stood up, walking away. Reed frowned, catching Jack’s wrist carefully.
Shiara sat down nearby, watching the flames for a moment, before lying back on the log to watch as the sky darkened.
Anna wasn’t totally sure where she was heading, but needed to get away for
Her brother for a little while.
Rio came over to sit next to Shiara, "Nice night out huh?"
"If you're hitting on me then Ember will Kill you" said Shiara,
"I only like girls as friends!" said Rio in self defense, "If I were to hit on anyone it would be one of your brothers"
“I told her I didn’t blame her. What did I do wrong?” Jack asked, talking to himself.
“You told her you weren’t mad. Not that you didn’t blame her. And you know Anna; she’ll think of herself lower and lower, so that eventually she’s about ready to jump off a cliff.” Reed answered anyway.
Shiara slapped him, "Not what you say to a girl!" Came a laughing voice behind Rio.
Rio turned to see a red and ash streaked haired man, "Sorry Ember!" he said Warping to the other side of the clearing.
“Well, I don’t want her going and jumping off a cliff!” Jack yelled loudly.
Shiara started from her quiet conversation with Ember for just a moment, before Ember rolled his eyes and kissed her, causing her to melt happily into his arms, also causing their three kids to erupt in a series of "Gross!!"'s and such.
“I said she could push herself to that, not that she would.” Reed said calmly.
Shiara pulled away from ember in a silent rebuke as Firia and Nightflame came over with knowing looks.
Jack shook his head. “Whatever. As long as she doesn’t…. you know. I can’t lose her too.”
The others had eventually gathered round, some of the women had set up a rack for cooking the day's catch, Ember kept the little ones out of the way, and even Luma and Firiko came back to help.
Anna came back as well, looking slightly upset, but somewhat better. Reed noticed that Jack seemed to find a way to be right next to her the rest of the night.
Throughout the night people switched out for patrols, or healer's duty, or sleep, but the fire was kept roaring all night. The children were sent to bed by their corresponding parents as soon as the moon rose, and most of the others slept in shifts, or called it a night when the moon was high.
Jack and Anna fell asleep before leaving where they were at by accident, but Reed stayed up. He watched the sky.
I miss you, Jess. I know I haven’t talked to you in a while, but it’s not because I forgot about you. I promise. It’s because I’ve been so busy. You’ve seen, I’m sure. It’s chaotic, but so, so interesting. You would’ve enjoyed every second of it. Well, not every second, but a lot of it. But Jess, I’m not as strong as you. I’m terrified. I need you. Please. And although his brother was dead and gone, Reed felt his necklace heat up against his chest. He wiped tears away remaining silent.
Someone came up behind Reed, giving him a hug.
Reed stayed still, saying, “Hello?”
"I thought you needed a hug" Said Skye gently, pulling away a little, "I hope you don't mind… but I accidentally overheard your thoughts…"
