In Flight Dreaming

[johandenerad]

If Herla takes Phan's assessment of the Solar's mental health personally, she doesn't show it. "I vouch for them." she says coolly.

"Make sure to stay in this valley, so you'll see the anima flares if the Realm catches up to us. I'll wait in the treeline over there. Ma'ani, you and your lapdog can go where you want, but if you're going to cast any more sorcery, make sure you do it in a shed or something."

[scarletharlot]

Ma'ani watches Phan head off, smiling at her friend's ruffled scales. We're going to have to contact them about a potential trade anyway, and we'll not just walk in and tell them our life stories. Hmm, perhaps it's the solar mate thing that is upsetting Phan. Not sure that that whole business sounds much fun. Well if his solar mate is there then we'll monitor the situation and see whether it's a healthy thing. What if one of them is Herla's? Would explain why she's so fond of them. Had better keep an eye out for that too. *Phew*.

"I'll cast it in the ship, throw my clothes over the window if you like." Winks at Herla. "In which case take Wandered Lamb with you, with Air Dragon Style he's probably the best of us all, or at least our equal, at spotting things. And he knows what he's looking for." Lowers voice, softly, " Do try to be kind to him, Herla. He has never hurt you and he's not even a Realm's-man: they don't give Blooded a choice not to go to the Isle if they Exalt where he did. He also had the sense to see through their claims about the anathema.

Not only that, but he did us a great honour when he helped us call on the Wyld Hunt. It would dishonour us for any of us to use him when he can help us, but insult him after we have gained from him. Sorry if I sound a bit upset, Herla, but he's my friend, like you are. What he saw as we left Rathess was hard for him. From his perspective we let them die. I'd be really grateful if, after you've slept while I fly tomorrow, before we land, you could do a bit of sparring with him. You are both skilled practitioners of Celestial Martial Arts and I can't help him practice those skills of his. For someone who has trained in fighting, I imagine it's adding to his depression to not be able to train. I know you struggle to have him here and nothing can compensate for what the Realm have taken from you. We will see you revenged, but that revenge does not start with him, an ally and a friend, of mine at least. Please, Herla, it would mean a lot to me?

I should probably wake him up in a bit to keep watch and, y'know vacate the ship for me to take my clothes off..."

[johandenerad]

"Phan's teaching me a healing charm in the time I have spare. He can come with me to guard if you want, but whip your dog yourself."

Herla walks out toward the treeline before shouting back. "If he's so bright, let's see him find me."

Where does she get off, telling me to train her weakling? 'He practices Celestial Martial Arts too, he's our friend'. He's a traitor. To his original southern devilmen, to his Immaculate puppeteers, and sooner or later to us. And she wants us to spar.

A wicked grin crosses Herla's face.

Fine. But on my terms.

[scarletharlot]

Ma'ani winces and shouts after Herla. "I'll tell him, but if you hurt one hair on his head I'll put sorcerous koans on you whenever you turn round for a week. Seriously!"

Ma'ani steps from one foot to the other and then shrugs. Trial by fire is the Lunar way. She goes into the ship and wakes Wandered Lamb up with some of the meaty stew they'd made. Without his help we'd never have any vegetables. My medical hearth-stone helps me spot herbs and any Lunar can drag together something reasonably nutritious, but the stuff he collects is actually edible. Anyway, let Herla wait a bit. After he's finished.

"I'm going to cast some sorcery in the ship if you'd be so kind as to lend me your bedroll to contribute to my efforts to cover over the windows. I was speaking to Herla earlier and we thought it might be useful for you both to do some sparring together every now and again. Well I don't know much about martial arts, but you've said you miss training. She's supposed to be exceptional at fighting without weapons so I'm sure there are things you can learn from each other. She's preparing outside now, well probably, she was a bit cryptic, but to be on the safe side you might want to warm up in here first?

Some words of advice: don't let her make you angry. You know why she feels as she does about the Blooded: losing her young sister to a very cruel air-aspected Realm's-man and then her brother, who she admired so much. Well you know... She'll try to make you angry and, after recent events, it might be harder than usual to stay calm. As you know, Lunars learn by being thrown in the middle of things, so this is the sort of thing that will probably further the approach we've been taking to your sorcery.

I've never met anyone as persistent as you, so give this a go. Her form is a leopard, so don't forget to look up. On the off-chance she goes too far, come straight back here and I'll turn her into a frog. Of course she may just want to have a chat with you, but...well it's Herla. Good luck finding her anyway."

The warnings didn't sound very warrior-like, but then I'm not a warrior and 'sparring' often looks a bit needlessly violent to me. But then the Simhata cub only learns by scrapping with its siblings.