leave all your love and your longing behind you

LOREN

Nodding at Delphia's words, Loren let his hands shift back to fully human. Still looking around at the pit, he shook his head at her question. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes momentarily. Forcing his shoulders to relax, he dismissed the weasels, letting them scamper off.

Then he opened his eyes. Raising both hands, he continued breathing deeply. Then he called upon all the water nearby, as well as creating his own. Though he was running low on magical energy, it came eagerly at his call. He blasted the hole, deepening it and broadening it and washing away the walls. Turning as he did, he created a small whirlpool, using it as a drill to dig deeper into the earth.

Eventually, his water met resistance. Narrowing his eyes, he sent some of the water creeping into the cracks in the rock he'd uncovered. Then he froze it. And melted it, and froze it, again and again until a chunk broke off. Picking it up, he tossed it up and out of the pit, then threw the water out as well.

Seeing that it would be a futile effort to climb out the now muddy sides, he shifted to a goose. Running as best he could he threw himself in the air. Struggling to gain altitude, he eventually made it up and out himself, then landed next to her. Shifting back to human, he panted a bit with the exertion.

But don’t be weary if it’s broken

Families are like that—

they’re split up and always torn.

DELPHIA

Delphia watched curiously as Loren dismissed the weasels. Was he really going to continue to dig all on his own? But it seemed not, as water suddenly appeared and began to drill into the bottom of the hole. Despite creating a very muddy mess, it did seem to work with surprising speed. What a splendid bit of ingenuity! And when the rock was finally tossed up, she carefully washed it off in the snow so she could write an earth symbol on it before stowing it away in her bag.

At which point a goose came flying up out of the hole and collapsed on the side as it morphed into a very exhausted Loren. Digging in her bag once more, she pulled out another packet of beeswax cloth, and held it out to him. "Tiropita?" she said brightly.

life is a dream walking

death is going home

LOREN

Sitting on the ground next to Delphia, Loren’s body was covered in dirt and ached from the exertion. Propping himself with one hand, he brought one knee up so he could rest his other arm on it. Shaking his head at her offer of food, he sighed. ”No thank you. Just need to catch my breath.” Indeed, he was still panting a bit, though he forced himself to breathe evenly.

Shrugging a bit, he bit his lip. ”My reserves aren’t what they used to be.” His tone was apologetic even though it was the admins fault for adjusting the stats. Remaining where he was, he glanced up at her. ”Did that do the trick? Got all the rocks you need?” He struggled to his feet, recovered enough that he would continue if he needed to.

But don’t be weary if it’s broken

Families are like that—

they’re split up and always torn.

DELPHIA

Delphia switched the hand she had outstretched, this time offering her empty hand instead to help him up. He had worked hard and was clearly exhausted, the least she could do was help get him to his feet and back to wherever he was staying before the sun set and Halo became even colder. "Do not fret. You did amazingly well!" she praised, smiling at him adoringly. "Indeed, I have all the stones I need thanks to you. Why don't we get you somewhere where you can rest now?" After all that, he likely needed to eat and sleep in order to be fully recovered.

life is a dream walking

death is going home

LOREN

Loren took the hand Delphia offered, though he barely put any pressure on it. Instead, he used his remaining hand and his feet to lever himself into a standing position. At her words, he nodded. "Great. Glad that worked out." Although he was tired from the magic and the digging, he was also simply exhausted in general, and more than a little worn out by a simple interaction.

At her suggestion he shrugged. "I'll be alright. Let me know if you need anything else?" Nodding at her, he turned to head back to the Palace. Once he got cleaned up, maybe in a warm bath, he was fully intending to head right back to the igloo and see if any patients showed up for once.

-FIN

But don’t be weary if it’s broken

Families are like that—

they’re split up and always torn.