[Ocean Mist and Xiabrine: Luno did not accompany Solara to meet the others. He was waiting at the Sanctuary the whole time, and communicating into Solara's mind.
Travster44: The curse of darkness still exists, Solara hasn't fixed everything yet so the sun's not back. Also the manticore was pretty much incinerated so there isn't a body.]
Sanctuary Path
Timpani had never been close with Guinevere. The two girls clearly had different interests and personalities, and Timpani hadn't spoken to the girl much in Windwoods. She was starting to grow irritated with everything.
"We're almost at the Sanctuary," Timpani told her and didn't answer the other questions. Too many repetitive questions. Even though Gwen clearly had amnesia, this was seriously making Timpani ticked off, and her sympathy was growing shorter and shorter with each word. Cadence had passed out from exhaustion. Timpani was carrying both the Mayor and her adopted daughter, and nobody bothered to thank her. Ungrateful people really made everyone angry. Timpani couldn't understand how Solara didn't blast the Imani brats across the forest.
If Timpani heard one more disgraceful comment from either of them, she would dislocate Andy Imani's jaw. She couldn't beat up Anna just because the annoying kid was so small. Timpani would punish her in some other way. Since Anna was purposely behaving to exclude someone else, Timpani had a great idea. Anna should be excluded from the dinner table tonight and deprived of food. That would teach her a lesson to treat people like disgrace.
She took a deep breath when Mayne kept speaking to her. Normally Timpani would have snapped at this point, but there was something calming about the boy's presence. He didn't tick her off like everyone around her was doing. She was holding Cadence and Gwen, but honestly wanted to throw them both. On the other hand, she wanted to give Mayne a hug. It was... very different to actually be appreciated for what she had done.
"Thank you. All in a day's work," She said with a surprisingly warm tone. "It's my job. Now come on. We don't want to miss dinner at our new home."
The day and night cycle still worked properly in the afterlife. Timpani had only come back recently, so she had a better understanding of the current time compared to the others.
She started walking, still holding the two Windwoods citizens in her arms. She glanced back at Mayne to see if he was following. Timpani never much enjoyed others' company, but now she felt different. She actually wanted Mayne around, and she wanted him to stick around.
Gavotte wasn't happy with the current situation, but he wasn't angry either. He was just calm as usual. He moved closer to Jen and squeezed her hand reassuringly, wanting to let her know he wasn't ticked off. Sometimes people would think he was angry, just because he wasn't speaking or something.
He looked at Regina with only compassion in his eyes. Gavotte hated when people were upset, especially when someone else was the root cause. "I'm sorry to hear that. Of course you can come with us, just please be careful. Many people are on edge after our home was destroyed."
Regina would end up getting herself hurt if she kept on behaving this way, and Gavotte didn't want anyone to get hurt. Not even a person he just met.
Xia marched up and confronted Regina, then collapsed from her own inability to breathe. Worried, Gavotte let go of Jen. "I'll meet you back at the Sanctuary," He promised.
Kneeling beside Xia, he looked in concern at Silas, then back at the girl. Gavotte's father was a healer. Gavotte himself wasn't too shabby when it came to diagnosing people. Xia was most definitely having an asthma attack.
"We can carry her back to the Sanctuary. Rowan might not be able to fix this, but I have absolute certainty Solara can." Gavotte's voice was calm, and he looked directly into Silas' eyes.
He then looked down at Xia. Gavotte, of course, wasn't going to lay a hand on anyone against their will. Even if he was just trying to help.
"Are you alright with us carrying you?"
---
Parliament Building
Cyprian actually wrinkled up her nose when Yina mentioned dresses. "I might have to sit out of that one," The Prince told them. He remembered once, Atalanta wouldn't let him go dress shopping with her. He and Cyrena snuck out just to see what she was doing. It was so boring. She spent so many hours looking for the perfect dress in several different stores, and tried out about eighteen dresses in each store. She had visited every building in the mall that might sell dresses.
It was insane, and the Brown siblings had vowed to never go dress shopping again. Cyprian would help Cyrena fake illness whenever Atalanta tried to make her go buy a dress. Atalanta would go alone and get a horrible, hideous dress, but that was better than actually going. Now dress shopping with Atalanta was a worse nightmare than anything Agatha could come up with!
"Come on," He said, walking down the hall. He had no idea why Jaai was acting so nervous. It was probably because she missed her mother so much, she was trying hard to make a good impression.
---
The Sanctuary
Luno had known of Jennifer's approach long before she actually appeared in the clearing. He smiled widely, and greeted her with a big hug. "Hi, Jen!" He exclaimed cheerfully, before pulling away. It was really a beautiful night tonight. The sun hadn't risen since Agatha cast a curse of darkness, but Luno kept it eternally night here so his blessing would remain strong. The plants in the clearing had barely hung on, but now that Solara had returned, they were lusher than ever. The soft carpet of grass shone silver in the bright moonlight.
He sat down on the riverbank. Jen was wounded, but Rowan hadn't noticed her arrival for some reason. We have a wounded soldier over here, Firefly, Luno told him.
Rowan broke into a jog and was at the riverbank in no time. He hugged Jen and Luno knew his healing power was taking effect. He could see the wounds stitching together.
"You spoke to me in my head?" Rowan said, in awe.
"Yep!" Luno said with a big smile. "And I'm glad you know how hugs are good for you. There are other people who need a hug though. Make sure you're ready for the next patient, Teddy Bear!"
Rowan nodded obediently and rose to his feet, but he didn't want to leave. Luno could feel it. The fallen King smiled and just let the boy remain by his side.
---
Sanctuary Cabin
Queen Solara didn't let go of Flynn, even when he woke up. She continued to cradle him as she once held her own child. Despite being well over six feet tall, and towering over even Alastair, she was surprisingly gentle with everybody. Just like Rowan, she could not survive in the absence of hugs. They reminded her she had not outlived her usefulness. She could still hold someone and protect them from any and all harm.
"... I am here," She said reassuringly, tucking Flynn closer to her when he spoke her name. Close enough to hear her heartbeat and to feel every vibration of her voice. When he returned her hug, she surrounded him with a faint glow of light that would continue to embrace him even after he left her arms. It would remain unless he took a cold shower. Solara tended to do this often, especially when she suspected someone was in pain.
Should I tell Jen the story about how you turned the Battlefield of Ravineside into a meadow? Luno asked in her head mischievously. How you knelt beside each soldier and-
That was probably not the best story to tell the teenagers.
I know, Luno's bright voice giggled. I want to see how they would react. And then you could come out behind them and revive Cilan, and everyone would scream! Ah, don't worry, I'm kidding. I hate scaring people!
Solara shared Rowan's power, minus the healing. She could control herself much better, which was mandatory. Nobody wanted to think about what would happen if she had normal human emotions and didn't control herself. Her lack of emotion, combined with her calmness, allowed her to fit perfectly into her role. Solara was meant to protect Hesenia, and nothing was going to interfere. Not even love.
She had as much love for people as her limited emotional capacity would allow. She was protective over them all, which was the way she expressed how much she cared for them. But as much as she loved them, she would still kill anyone who endangered the rest of Hesenia. No matter who it was.
Don't underestimate yourself. You have more love in your big heart than anyone else, Luno told her. And I would never put Hesenia in danger, but I'm not afraid of dying at your hand.
Solara knew that was true. She looked down at Flynn with only considerate concern on her naturally-stern face, and she listened to his questions in silence. When he was finished, she waited another moment before responding. Solara was always delayed with her words. Her own lack of proper feelings meant she needed to take precautions, or she might run the risk of hurting someone else emotionally. She would never, ever try to cause anyone else pain.
Our friends from the army know that well, Luno laughed.
That was a story for another day.
"... Thank you for your faith in me," Solara told Flynn. She deeply appreciated that people still trusted her. "... Your parents are safe, and they love you as much as ever. Jonah is happy with Clotilda."
She didn't yet mention that Jonah and Clotilda might be returning eventually, or that Amber was still alive. That was good news that she planned to share with everybody. Flynn deserved to know about his siblings first, though.
"... A reunion will come before you know," She told the boy, lightly placing a hand on his cheek. She was always gentle, because the consequences were dire whenever she wasn't. She could switch between softly caressing someone's face, and snapping their neck in an instant. That was often the case.
She allowed the glow surrounding him to brighten slightly.
"... I am sorry you were alone for so long. That will not happen again." Solara rocked him back and forth slightly in her arms. "... Just close your eyes and relax. You are very tired... I will allow you to rest."
"Solara! What are you doing!" Cedar Adamson exclaimed. He half-ran, half-tripped downstairs in pajamas and a bathrobe. His hair was soaking wet and extremely messy.
"... The chosen ones have arrived," Solara told him.
He thinks you're trying to kill Flynn, Luno explained to her. He was always there to help.
No problem, Sunshine! It's what I love to do!
"... I am keeping this one safe," Solara said. "... I will wake him up in time for supper."
Cedar's shoulders visibly relaxed and he breathed a long sigh of relief. "I'll start making food. Don't think about helping out in the kitchen. You revive every time."
Chuckling, he left the room. Solara simply continued to hold Flynn in silence.