S a l e t é I V

XLI - Volonté - Huit

Getting back to the warehouse that day, the first thing that had been on the agenda had been getting everybody in on the haul that they'd been gifted with. 

Returning with actual Honey - and three bottles of it, no less - was a truly remarkable occasion for Cassie, one that worked to purge much of the mental sludge that had been trying to clog up the space between her ears since the events of the previous day, if only for a brief, blissful few hours. 

Seeing the utter, pure relief on everyone's faces had been a blessing unlike any other, with Taya's excitement the pinnacle of it all.

"Can I have one? Please? Please?" She'd asked as she'd hopped on the spot, overcome with anticipation, the seemingly substantial energy that she had left in spite of their shortages nothing sort of wonderful.

"I think you all deserve some now, wouldn't you say?" Monet had asked rhetorically, earning smiles all round, the sound of her able to relax for a short while too - despite her new cause for tribulation - bringing Cassia a semblance of peace that she didn't know she would have been able to experience.

They'd shared their halves, the taste of the cherry pink nectar all the more enticing after more time had passed between beverages. It was so, so difficult to tear herself away after she'd had her allowance, but Cassia pushed through such strife, the knowledge that Zisel would be able to enjoy the remaining half for herself the best reward for resisting such awful temptation. 

The one they'd shared had been the one Connie had saved via her own bottle, that vessel one that they would clean and return.

"Don't guzzle it. Enjoy it whilst it lasts." Monet had said as she'd handed what was left of her half to Taya, the youngster accepting it with an air of caution after hearing her instruction, that hype from earlier now much calmer as she did as she was told, drinking slowly.

Klavdiya had savoured her own half in the meantime, keeping a close eye on the remaining fluid between sips towards the end, making absolutely sure that she'd had exactly fifty percent of what was in there, such care very telling.

The warehouse had managed to remain a sanctuary of sorts throughout everything, and not just physically, its interior still managing to bring Cassia a sense of calm regardless of whatever had happened to their group or its members. How much of that was down to a feeling of consistency, or the presence of her friends, or the pleasant occurrences like their shared drinks was hard to judge, and she wasn't about to overlook even a single positive aspect of their current situation, every one that she could find another ward against whatever fears or memories were trying to take hold.

With their rations shared and their remaining half a bottle stored, the only thing left to do was get down to business. Rest would have to come later, that half a bottle serving Cassie as an essential boost.

Monet relayed everything that they'd discussed so far to the others in a concise manner, the way in which she could explain things with such little thought rendering Cassia impressed. This time, she hadn't wasted any time in getting across how she felt about the situation that they were possibly facing.

"You've never mentioned anyone like that before." Klavdiya pointed out, referring to the inquisitor, the flames between them burning quietly as the drum that contained them managed to hold.

"There was never really any need to, as a place like Lower Merveille doesn't usually attract much attention outside of rumours. Then again, we have had what they might refer to as quite a month." Monet replied, the understated way in which she referred to particular events sounding inadequate even to her.

"Isn't it a good thing, though? If this lady is as good as everyone's acting like she is, shouldn't she be able to catch the people that started the fire?" Klavdiya asked, a weight to her question indicating that she had described a reality that she very much wished to see.