The Traveller

Chapter 59: Castle in the End

"Sorry, exhausted is the nicest word I'll use right now," Hearth yawned sleepily, in his arms the extremely tiny winged Blotched still slept deeply. He'd woken to an excited Karma, and a worried Oneiro.

"I see you've been busy. Is everything okay?~" Oneiro looked uncertainty between the exhausted Hearth and the tiny babybones who looked very much like Hearth's adopted child who he was pretty sure was never that small.

Hearths face went a bit sheepish "Everything is fine, Blotched is just living with us for now"

"..I can see that. You both look exhausted. Shall i put some tea on for you?~" Oneiro didn't point out the tremble in Hearth's wings, the way they were clutching Blotched like they would vanish or the slightly faraway look in their eyes. 

He could wait for answers, for now letting Karma down who immediately joined the cuddle pile, pretending not to notice the wet sheen in Hearth's gaze.

"Help to my room... think I just need to sleep a day or two, I'll.. clean the mess up once I wake up," Hearth said with a wobbly smile, his gaze briefly going to strange melted items mostly hidden in the grass.

"I wont touch anything until you wake up.~" Oneiro promised, his decision only solidified when eh picked up the three small bodies with the rather distinct smell of death clinging to Hearth's clothing. 

Some things he knew were out of his experience. 

Karma was happy cuddled into Hearth, the scent off the two monsters calming, soothing to the babybones who was quickly joining Blotched in their nap.

Hearth was like a limp doll when picked up, asleep within seconds of being picked up hiss arms still tight around the two children.

"It seems like we can never catch a break, can we?~" Oneiro quietly murmured as he carried them all to Hearth's room, setting them in the bed and tucking them in. 

He frowned at the black smudges on Hearth's clothing, snapping his mouth shut when he remembered questions could wait. Rest was more important now, Blotched presence indicated something big had to have happened. 

After all, he was sure they had been bound to their multiverse like many Ink's he had known.

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"Morning," Hearth said tiredly three days later when Oneiro entered the kitchen, his tea was empty and his plate was empty.. actually a few plates were empty. He was slowly spoon feeding Blotched, who was also awake and rather listless against Hearths chest.

It was the first time awake, since they found him under the tree.

"Morning. I thought you'd be sleeping longer.~" Oneiro had expected them to sleep at least a week after some of the items scattered in the garden had killed the grass surrounding them, whatever Hearth had done or been not some normal vacation spot that was for sure. 

Karma was napping on Sol under the table, trying to be close to Hearth and Blotch as possible while also trying to stay awake to 'keep watch'. Thankfully Oneiro had convinced him he would keep guard as a sleep deprived Karma was not a fun time

"So did I, hunger woke Blotched and myself," Hearth said sleepily.

"Forgot, so much sleeping gives migraines," Blotched giggled.

"I know Inky the meds should kick in soon, I'm.. guessing you have questions?" Hearth replied the last part towards Oneiro.

"I have many. Are you well enough to answer any right now?~" Oneiro wanted answers but his self control had grown better over the years and seeing the dark bags under Hearth's sockets was not a pretty sight.