::Neko was not embarassed by the embrace. In fact she welcomed it. It was great to see that something good had come from this mess. And it seemed the old woman really could hold her own. She made a note to check after her once they were done here. She had no idea how to find her, but she figured she would start by returning to where they had fought this...Arkadius.
But that was for later. Right now they had to figure out what they should do now. The Eggs were aboard D'Poe's ship and Felix was alive again...
Out of curiosity she let her eyes wander over the head stone for this grave, to confirm what she thought as to whom it belonged. Then she turned to face the others.
What do we do now? The Eggs are safe. Felix is alive again. And it seems that man... Arkadius... has been stopped. At least for the time being. If he somehow survived tho, we can assume he will come for us and the Eggs again... ::
Silent as a shadow on padded feet...
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
The headstone accompanying the obliterated grave was inscribed with Felix Rowe's name. He had been given the title of 'Hero' just as Rooster had said.
In response to Neko's question, Captain D'Poe asked the returned-from-the-dead Hatchling, "Still want to go ahead with our plan, young fella? That is, if it's ok with the kitten."
Felix nodded and suspected that further explanation was required. So, stepping forward to retrieve Brandy's necklace from D'Poe, he began to tell Neko what the two of them had talked about at Rooster's apartment while she had been off getting reinforcements.
"The Captain knows a place where the eggs will be safe; a world, he told me, that you know all too well, the place where all Hatchling eggs originally come from. But before we were going to leave, he was going to take me to Highever - Brandy's home - to tell her parents what happened here." As he said this, Felix walked over to the headstone a few feet away that had been marked as 'Jane Doe. Unknown Female.' and placed the necklace in front of it. "Her parents can come have the inscription altered and mourn for their daughter. I only wish that she had been brought back as well."
Felix Rowe held back tears for the girl - his best friend - who he had secretly loved but had never told.
"Now that i'm no longer a ghost I have decided - with the Captain's permission - to join the crew of the Nostrolus, to act as guardian to the eggs until they are safe. Unless...unless you have other plans for them."
"They won't be safe around here, kitten." D'Poe interjected. "And I swear on my hat that I won't sell them!"
"I'll make sure of that." Felix said, with a smile. "Just think of all the adventures we'll have! I originally came to Wistvale in search of a greater purpose and now it seems i've finally found it."
The boy couldn't keep the excitement from his voice.
See, you can't keep the boy from his destiny. The Captain said, wordlessly, to Neko.
From the ship above, a longboat was being lowered down. It felt like this chapter was coming to a close.
What do you say, kitten? Do we have your permission to go aboard?
::She became suddenly interested in her feet as she avoided eye contact witht the pair while she gave a nod of agreement. It was not that she felt it was a bad idea that made her act so. In fact she thought it to be a great idea. The Eggs and the Captain and his crew would be far from any danger Arkadius could set against them. There would be people there that she knew for certain would aid them if need be.
The problem was they were going Home. To her Home! And she wanted so much to go with them. To lounge in the rafters over the bar. To splash in the hot springs outside the cave. To nick sweets from the kitchen while dodging traps. To see the faces of her friends once more. And most of all, to be reunited with her Father. To have him hold her and tell her it will all be ok. To give her the chance to explain why she had left and what she had found. To somehow ease her guilt she carried at leaving Him and the rest behind. To feel safe and loved once more...
SIGH
But she knew she could not...
There was too much left to do here. Arkadius was down, but she doubted very much that he was finished completly. Someone had to finish this before he found others to victimize. Possibly more Eggs... Possibly some other creatures should he not be able to find any... Not to mention what he might do to the town in retribution for her defiance of him. She knew this type of man. She knew that there was no way to be sure this world was safe until he was dead.
Not to mention there was still the mystery of her Uncle. Was this her version, or some weird copy? If he was hers, then why did he not remember her? These and more were questions she had to find the answer to. He was family. And the needs of family come before the needs of one's self...
No. She could not go. Tears poured from her eyes as she looked up to Felix and D'Poe. She tried to wipe them away as she rushed forward to hug them both tightly as if by doing so then some small part of her would travel with them.
Go. Take them and keep them safe. Find a place called the Menagerie that lies in a cave. There will be people there willing to help you if you need it. Look for Father...my Father...Alexander Ravenhurst... Tell Him I'm sorry I left... ...Tell Him I found my Uncle... ...Tell Him I miss Him and wish I could come home... ...but I cant... ...I have to finish things here... ...Tell Him I said he would help you... ...Tell Him... ...
...Tell...
...Tell him I love Him...
Near the end she was sobbing so much she could barely get the words out. She pushed them away from her, not to get them to go, but to keep her from hugging them again because she was afraid that if she did her resolve would break and she'd be on the ship in seconds. She wiped her eyes again and tried to pull herself together.
SIGH
I will finish things here. Arkadius will NOT find you. I promise. ::
Silent as a shadow on padded feet...
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
The emotions Sharjan D'Poe felt, right then and there, were almost enough to make him wish he had flesh once more; to be able to cry freely in response to the the girl's sadness - and maybe his own - at their parting ways, to feel his heart flutter as he is hugged tighter than he had been in a very long time. Old feelings stirred as faces of loved ones, from days long past, came to the forefront of his mind. The Captain knew he would miss this girl - a sure sign that he had made a true friend this day. One that he would never forget.
If I find your father i'll tell him you're here and how proud he should be of his daughter.
Seeing the tears streaming down Neko's face only caused Felix's strength to crumble and the dam that held back his own tears gave way. The gentle soul attempted to wipe them away with the back of his hand but they were quickly replaced.
"I only wish we had had time to get to know one another better. I mean, what are the chances that two of our kind would meet here of all places, this far from Home? Fate brought us together and I honestly believe our paths with cross again."
The longboat reached the ground and both the Captain and Felix climbed in.
"OH! You'll be wanting this back." D'Poe said as he pulled off the communication bracer and tossed it to Neko. "Clever little device, that. Keep it safe for me, i'll be needing it again some day."
The longboat began it's journey skyward.
"Stay safe, kitten!" The Captain shouted down. "I guess we'll have to save that party some other time!"
The truth of the matter was when the girl had originally caught D'Poe and his two crewmen in the graveyard, digging up his next recruit Colin Heron, the Captain hadn't actually left the body alone like she'd said he should. After the two of them had left the cemetery to follow ghost Felix, his two crewmen had stayed behind and, with their Captain's silent order, had taken old Colin back to the Nostrolus. So, as they were pulled closer to the ship, D'Poe couldn't help but think of the party he and his crew, along with Felix, would have after the new recruit was brought to life. It was a shame the kitten wouldn't be there though.
"Bye, Neko!" Felix cried out. "And be safe!"
As the longboat finally returned to the Nostrolus, the Captain and Felix were greeted by the skeleton crew and brought aboard, disappearing from view. A moment later, Felix rushed to the rail and waved Neko a final farewell as the mighty ship moved away, heading northwest, a route that would take them over the waking town. Many of Wistvale's residents would be exchanging stories this morning about 'The Flying Ship', tales that would become exaggerated and untrue. But Neko knew the truth.
There would also be talk of a commotion in the streets during the early hours of that morning, yet no dead rats were ever found and there were no signs that a fight had ever taken place. Any damage that had occurred had somehow, magically, been fixed.
As Neko stood alone in the graveyard, she noticed something lodged inside the communication bracer that had been loaned to D'Poe. It was a small leather pouch, tied shut with string. Inside were 50 gold pieces and 5 Acclaim!
::She tucked her things away and watched the ship until it had faded into the distance. She then made her way back to the scene of the fight, only to find all signs of a battle gone.
With a sigh she left to go inform the Guard of where to find the Shopkeep and his confession and to ponder what move to make next and how to find the old woman who had saved them... ::
Silent as a shadow on padded feet...
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]