The Sanctuary
Timpani took deep breaths as the cool water washed around her calves. She had never been born the conventional way. Eighteen years ago, the great blacksmith Vulcana had forged her likeness out of scrap metal, in the center of a volcano. She had tempered the molten alloys in a meltwater lake atop a frozen mountain. It was meltwater because Vulcana had taken a nap there, and made the ground so warm that no ice or snow could collect there. Timpani's first memory was emerging from the lake alongside her mother. She had been fully-grown from her 'birth'. Like Cadence, she would never seem to age. Cadence was getting older but she didn't look it on the outside.
She was aware of Mayne watching her from the shore.
"They'll be fine," Timpani sighed and glared sideways at the two females. She had never got along well with emotional individuals. They were very difficult to understand, and oftentimes they would tick her off without meaning to. Their very presence would enrage her for no apparent reason. Timpani's predominant emotion was just rage. She didn't understand when people were moping around. When she saw people crying, she usually wanted to kick them in the face instead of comforting them. She probably needed to work on that.
"Enough about me. How have you been doing?" She said, already wading out of the river. She was relatively calm now. Timpani wouldn't start punching people in the face randomly at this point, which was satisfactory. Well she thought it was. Sometimes she wished she had a peaceful, nurturing father like Juniper Adamson to help her control her temper. Maybe she was so violent because she didn't have a father. That was a possibility, but Timpani couldn't blame someone who didn't exist. Any anger problems were her own responsibility. If she hurt someone, that was her own responsibility.
But Timpani wasn't going to hurt anyone unreasonably. She wasn't a cowardly wimp who lashed out at people immaturely, exhibited gratuitous bloodlust and arrogance, and beat others up without an excuse. If she saw anyone who behaved like that, then she would beat
them up, and she would actually have a reason to.
"You need to be comfortable too. Sit down with me and rest." Her voice was firm, almost commanding. Mayne cared so much about other people that Timpani worried he would over-extend himself helping them. If that happened, Timpani would probably end up beating them all up and then nobody would be comfortable.
---
Sanctuary Path
Gavotte looked down at Xia with concern. He maneuvered her head so it was resting on his chest, so she wouldn't develop any sort of neck strain from her previously bad posture. The Windwoods boy made eye contact with his fellow villager and nodded. "Slowly. If your legs start to buckle, tell me and I'll catch her."
He gradually began to rise up to his feet, watching Silas for signs of fatigue.
---
Parliament Building
Alastair listened to the report patiently. His anger gradually faded since he was finally receiving helpful information. "Thank you," He said in a surprisingly calm tone. "Now we are one step closer to killing the traitors... I will have their heads. I will not stop until each one of them is dead."
"Father-" Cyprian began.
"Get out of my sight," Alastair growled, his mood immediately changing. He couldn't meet his own son's eyes because it reminded him of Cyrena. "You are all dismissed."
---
Clock Tower
Very gently, Queen Solara wrapped her arms around Amber. The Soares' daughter had always been a protector. If it had been an unwelcome intruder, Amber would undoubtedly have defended her adoptive family to the death. The blood of the great Royal Knights ran through her veins, and Amber was in line to become their heiress. Solara would support her along the way. The Queen would always protect Hesenia, but her time as its main guardian was nearing its close. There would be many to take her place. The responsibility would never have to fall upon one person's shoulders.
Solara knew one person in particular who would find his place, protecting Hesenia alongside Amber. One day soon she would look down and be proud as she watched them.
You feel it too? Luno said wistfully, but Solara could still hear the smile in his voice.
Don't worry. Your job here isn't done yet. I'm sure your dad won't let you stay in Celestial Tower if you have unfinished business down here.... You are right. Not yet, Solara told him. After all, 'soon' for them was a different concept than 'soon' for mortal Hesenians. Solara would give every last one of her lives, protecting the Great Garden to which she brought life. And she had much more left to give.
"... Thank you," Solara told Amber in her deep, gentle voice. The Timekeeper family's reaction was a stark contrast to the hostility, fear, and hatred that came from the Sanctuary teenagers. It was moments like these that reminded her, she still had a purpose here. She had not yet become useless to her own cause. When that time came, she would not protest her departure. She existed solely to protect them. There was nothing more important than her only purpose.
I know protecting me is part of that purpose! Luno said cheerfully.
That's how you show your love. You might think you have no heart, but that's silly. I can hear your heart beating from here.
... You can always hear my heart beating, Solara reminded him.
That's true! And it's the most beautiful sound in the world, Luno practically sang.
I love you, my sunflower!Solara did love him with everything in her stony heart. If she had proper human feelings, she would give all her emotions to him. But emotions to Solara were like rainbows to a colorblind person. She could guess what term was appropriate for what situation, but she had no sense of the meaning within the term. Although sometimes she thought she glimpsed them momentarily. One day she would understand, one day when she was reunited with her father in Celestial Tower.
Focusing her attention back to Amber, she decided not to pull away. Solara considered hugs a necessity for survival. She needed to help whoever had called for her, but first she had to get his bearings.
On it, sunshine! His name is Kale Birch, and he's setting Alastair's prisoners free, Luno explained in his bright, warm tone.
He should be fine until they reach Ravineside, but at that point he will need you. Right now, you have time.
... Thank you, my nightingale. She could always count on him. 'A little birdie told me' was more than a metaphor in her perspective.
"Amber, when you're done..." Adam said, then trailed off and looked at the floor. He seemed more relaxed now that Amber had hugged him, but he was still reluctant to finish his request.
Audrey chuckled with amusement. "He wants a hug too. I think we all do, so take your time."
Solara noticed that Ivana shook her head faintly at Audrey's words, 'I think we all do'. The Queen of light paid attention to these details. She would not violate her citizen's personal space if her touch was unwelcome. Although, Clair was quite the opposite as her sister; she simply ran at Solara and tackle-hugged her legs. The tiny girl was too small to reach much higher. Solara bent down slightly so she could hold Clair while still hugging Amber. There was enough room in her arms.
"You're so warm!" Clair exclaimed. "Is it true that if I eat enough chili peppers, I'll become like you? That's what Samuel Aguado told me once."
"... No," Solara told the energetic girl evenly.
Audrey started laughing. "That's not how it works, sweetie. If you eat too much chili peppers, you will just get an upset stomach. Samuel Aguado has not done his research."
"Aww!" Clair half-groaned, half-laughed. "Oh well. I'm gonna tell him I met Queen Solara in person and actually hugged her! He's going to bow down to me and kiss my shoes."
Solara simply stood there patiently, cradling the girls protectively. Many questions were probably about to be asked. The Timekeeper's family was one of the most studious and inquisitive in Hesenia.
---
Jail
Waverly and Samuel Aguado had finally been released from that horrible captivity. It had only been four days, and already Sammy was starving. Disgrace did he hate being cooped up in this horrible place. Nobody even came to give them food on a proper schedule. They were pretty sexist, and every day they would neglect to feed the male prisoners. Rude!
"Come on, Wavie. We're finally getting out of this Solara-forsaken place," Samuel said as he dragged his brother outside. Waverly was looking awfully pale.
The boys approached the green-eyed young man who had freed them.
"Thanks man!" Samuel said boldly, grabbing Kale's hand and shaking it. "We're fine, just really h-"
His stomach rumbled so loudly, it would rival Vulcana's ridiculous voice.
"Hungry," Waverly finished timidly, clutching his own stomach. He managed a small smile.
"Yeah!" Samuel looked around, and noticed all the female prisoners had been set free too. He hadn't talked with girls in so long, except for that twelve-year-old Clair, but she didn't count. They had been thrown in prison because of that idiot Darius Winters who tattled on them to Adam. It was all false information, but Darius had left an anonymous note, and tampered with evidence to frame the brothers. It looked like they had been cutting the electrical supply to Alastair's basement. As a result, Waverly and Samuel had been fired and imprisoned for something they didn't do. The Timekeepers knew they hadn't done it, but Darius had also sent for Alastair's guards to come take them away. Jerks.
"How are you ladies doing?" The redhead asked, grinning as he regarded Casedy, Vivien, and Eleanor. His taller brother Waverly simply stood near Kale, looking shy and a little lost. His legs were trembling slightly. The poor guy. He was probably intimidated by all the girls around, Sammy thought. It didn't occur to him that Waverly might be intimidated by the idea of breaking out of jail. To Samuel, a jailbreak was no big deal. It would be fun!
[Forms for the redheaded Aguado brothers coming tomorrow!]
---
Celestial Tower
The video kept playing, and now Cilantro was laughing. Clotilda had let go of her now not-so-little brother's hair, and she was scowling and glaring at the screen.
"Hey! I'm going to kill you, little pig!" Clotilda snarled 'wolfishly' as Amber pinned her down. The tiny girl thrashed around, but she couldn't get free. She had always been small and frail for her age.
"I'm not going to run!" Cilan said as firmly as he could with his small, high-pitched voice. "I'm going to fight beside you, and we'll take down the evil wolf for good!"
"Oh yeah? You don't stand a chance!" Clove bluffed. "I'm the Alpha here!... Whatever that means."
"Wrong memory," Clotilda grumbled. Her face was as red as boiled beets, and Cilan could almost see the steam coming off her head. "I meant to play the one when she doesn't come to save you."
"That one doesn't exist," Cilan laughed. "She came to pound you every time!"
"I'll pound you!" Immediately, her fist slammed into Cilan's shoulder.
He just sat there and yawned. He was his mother's son after all. This made Clove more enraged, and she started to attack him more viciously, Of course, this just made it funnier for Cilan to sit there pretending to be bored, even though her punches were actually starting to really hurt.