i bought some postcards

[truthwright]

Kas is sadder, after Inkeri's prophecy. And it gets worse as time goes on. The closer they get to Isabella's return, the more it hurts.

He tries to do the best he can for Helen regardless. Helen, in turn, hugs him a lot and doesn't fuss when he cries on her. They make a good team that way.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

"Are you worried about separating?" asks Inkeri.

[carillons]

"We are, some," Kalavar admits.

"It's supposed to be easier for us or something," says Helen.

"But easier doesn't really mean easy," says Kalavar.

[alicornucopia]

"It doesn't," agrees Inkeri.

Veravia shakes his head as only owls can.

[carillons]

Kalavar chuckles.

[alicornucopia]

"We did it on the first try and it was not easier for us," says Veravia.

[carillons]

Helen nods.

"I don't know how many tries it'll take us. I hope it's only one. It must be worse to have to do it a lot of times."

[alicornucopia]

"That is part of how we did it on the first try," says Inkeri.

[carillons]

Helen smiles wryly.

[alicornucopia]

Inkeri shrugs.



The next morning, carrying bagged lunches and a length of white silk, Ranata collects her grandchild.

[carillons]

Helen and Kalavar are a little nervous, but not fretting too badly.

[truthwright]

Kas and Petaal hug them goodbye.

[alicornucopia]

Ranata instructs Helen in how to tie on the white silks - it's a simple tie, not used with the everyday black ones - and they go north.

Ranata lands at the edge of the waste.

[telesonorous]

Kalavar lands a little ways along the edge; Helen lands beside her, and hugs her, and then starts walking.

"It hurts," Kalavar murmurs, pressing forward against the edge of the waste as far as she can.

"I know," Helen murmurs back. "Me too."

She keeps going.

[alicornucopia]

Castarilan hovers close to Kalavar. "It'll be okay," he says.

[telesonorous]

Kalavar rustles her wings unhappily, careful not to disturb the air too badly for Castarilan's sake. "I know," she says, "but it hurts."

[alicornucopia]

"I know, sweetie," sighs Castarilan.

[telesonorous]

Kalavar waits.

Helen walks. Pretty quickly, too. The sooner she gets there, the sooner it's over, right?

[alicornucopia]

That is how it works, yes.

[telesonorous]

And—

Kalavar lets out a sigh of relief.

"We did it!" says Helen, to all three of them.

[alicornucopia]

"Wonderful!" cries Ranata. "Well done, well done."

[telesonorous]

Helen is very shortly visible dashing back across the waste. She tackle-hugs her daemon; Kalavar nuzzles her exuberantly.

[alicornucopia]

Ranata lets out a small sigh of relief. "Let's eat our lunches and head home," she suggests.

[telesonorous]

"Good plan," says Helen.

"I'll race you!" says Kalavar.

"I'll ride you," laughs Helen.

"Ooh," says Kalavar. "Better plan!"

"Lunch first," Helen says firmly.

[alicornucopia]

Ranata proffers lunch and starts on her own salad.

[telesonorous]

Om nom nom lunch lunch lunch.

And then it is time to fly!

Helen climbs on Kalavar's back holding her cloudpine. It is surprisingly comfortable. The wind is good enough that Kalavar hardly has to run; she just spreads her wings, lumbers into the wind for a few steps, and lifts off.