Reborn

29: Rock Spires

Breaks:

[L1,2 or 3] represents the beginning of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives. There is more than one past life, which is why I have put up the numbers. Though, these memories are usually told as she sleeps and Elena herself cannot remember them.

[/L1,2 or 3] represents the end of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives.

[P] represents the beginning of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.

[/P] represents the end of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.

~3~ is just a time skip

A/N: Hopefully, this chapter will make you laugh. Let me know, k?

Enjoy the story!

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[L1]

The two of them moved as one until they reached the circle. Mina lowered herself onto the sea-green cushion at my other side, fabric whispering softly as it settled beneath her. Chibi took the brown cushion across from Yugo, posture straight, hands resting on his knees as his gaze swept the room once before coming to rest on Yugo and me.

Qilby sat on his white cushion, composed and still. Between him and Chibi, a red and beige one remained untouched.

Nora and Glip's cushions. Neither were old enough yet to take their places amongst us.

While they were eager, the age of twelve was still four years short from going on their Journey and thirty three years short of being adults. Until then, their cushions would remain untouched.

Mina's attention shifted to me almost immediately once she'd settled. She reached out without hesitation, one arm looping around my shoulders and drawing me in against her side. The hug was warm and familiar, firm in the way that left no room to pull away even if I'd wanted to. Her cheek brushed mine and she held me there for a moment longer than necessary.

"There you are," she murmured, relief soft and real.

When she pulled back, her hands didn't immediately let go. One stayed at my shoulder, the other lifted to tilt my face just enough that she could see me properly. Her smile faltered.

Her eyes narrowed- not in anger, but concern.

"Elena," she said, already frowning, thumb brushing beneath one of my eyes. "You didn't sleep."

"I did," I started, reflexive.

She made a quiet sound that cut me off, the sort that meant she'd heard every version of that excuse before. Her gaze flicked over my face again, lingering on the shadows I hadn't managed to hide.

"How long have your eyes been open?" she asked gently, which somehow made it worse.

"Too long." Qilby answered instead, making heat flare up in my face.

"Hey! My mind is sound." I shot him a sideways look but Qilby simply rose a brow, clearly unimpressed.

Then my gaze slipped over to Yugo. Any relaxation I'd managed to help him with moments ago had completely disappeared. His jaw was tight. Brown eyes cast down at the fire without really registering it. He sat rigid at my side, shoulders set, hands resting loosely in his lap in a way that fooled no one who actually knew him. His ears were angled back subtly, but I felt the tension in him like a held breath.