Querencia

Party with a Fox

[M/n]'s knuckles brushed against the gauze wrapped around his torso, adjusting the simple brown haori that Sivanah had given him, loosely tying the cloth belt so it wasn't left open. Sivanah quietly folded the kurta and obi for him, gently resting the armor and sheathed sword atop the clothing. Finished, she moved to stand in front of her friend, resting her hands upon his shoulders.

"I do not ask this lightly, my friend. But I ask that you be careful until your wound is healed," Sivanah stressed. "I have purged the darkness, but for all either of us know, there could be more within. It could have lingering adverse effects as well."

He gently grabbed one of her wrists, softly rubbing the wrist bone with his thumb, "I will be careful. I will follow all advice you gave me, Sivanah, I swear."

Sivanah nodded. "Thank you." She pulled away, looking him up and down. "I have a question for you."

"I may have an answer."

She gave him a look that made him chuckle, "Are you ever going to show me what you look like?"

[M/n] blinked slowly, "I am showing you."

They stared at each other.

"You are not wearing an illusion?" Sivanah asked slowly.

"No."

Her nose wrinkled. "That is odd. You are only half human, right?"

"Right."

"You do not have any features of your mother?"

"I resemble her to an extent, but yes, I do not have any tails or markings."

"That is . . . very odd. You should have some indicator, especially because of your Elements."

"Genetics is an odd thing, I have come to learn."

"Genetics has nothing to do with it, my friend. If you have magic, and you do, then you should have some features like mine."

"What makes you so sure I have magic?"

"My intuition." She circled him, [M/n] waiting patiently for her to stop in front of him again – unafraid of having her at his back. "Perhaps your magic is dormant . . ."

She trailed off, humming to herself. "It is unfortunate, but not important in the grand scheme of things." Sivanah backed off a few steps to give him space. "Your friend returned while I was working, but I sent him off. I am not sure he has any plans to return any time soon."

"Then I will go find him."

"I will miss you, my dear friend. I await your visits."

[M/n] chuckled, gently pulling her into an embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder as she pressed her forehead to his. They held each other close. A dying breed, the last known of their kind within Ninjago. All each other had, families taken too soon.

"I will visit," he swore. "Even if I have to drag my dying body through the grove."

"How morbid," Sivanah whispered. "I will keep my nose sharp to the scent of your blood."

They separated, Sivanah stepping aside. "Do you need a way to carry everything? I can pull out a basket for you."

"That might be a good idea. Do you have any that would be easy enough to hook onto a dragon?" [M/n] admitted, nodding as he looked to the two canisters of tea, the saline-moon water, and extra hemp gauze, as well as the cuts of fruit jerky she had apparently brought over at some point.

Nodding, Sivanah left the back area before bringing back a small covered basket that would be easy enough to connect to Ara's saddle. She brought it over, helping him pack it up, with his kurta, armor, and cummerbund tucked on top.