It was one thing to sort of fold into being spooned or initiating a hug. Another to be vulnerable and in pain and have someone heal the hurts but remain relatively unattached. When the position changed and arms went around her and a chin rested on her head, there was a moment where she froze, but the warmth seeped in and she relaxed as quickly. Raizel didn't move away, instead she relaxed into Cadmus's arms and closed her eyes for a moment, even pressing in a little and moving an arm to cover his around her torso.

"Do I?" She questioned, turning the words over in her head. Raizel pondered for a moment, fingers tracing an idle pattern on Cadmus's forearm until the trembling in her hands stopped and she could just think for a minute. "I don't know," She whispered, closing her eyes, "I guess I don't see myself having much opportunity to be happy." Raizel reached up to gently press a hand to Cadmus's cheek, "It's hard to imagine myself happy when all I know is..."

 Raizel let her hand drop back to her side, "Pain and anger, loneliness. I know some things have made me happy, I smile and laugh," Raizel cleared her throat, her voice getting a little strained, "But I can't imagine being... Truly happy. When I close my eyes and imagine a future it's..." A sighed and she closed her eyes, "Nothing. It's blank. It's easier to imagine someone else happy, they deserve it. Some people actually deserve second chances." Raizel paused, "I don't know if I do. What if it was a punishment, what if I deserved whatever happened to me."

Raizel was never sure she liked that she was so... Comfortable around Cadmus. It was odd. Albert she knew. He'd healed her plenty of times, had a mechanical distance he kept between himself and others. With Cadmus she was drawn in, she liked that his hand was on her hip and she curled her own arm around his back trying to comfort.

Raizel just pressed closer, a sideways hug. A half cuddle. Whatever it was. "Sure, we can find a rock in a river somewhere and give you a real good conk on the head and then bonk foreheads. I hear that works." Her voice was animated Qaeda and she was clearly joking but after the words left her mouth she was trembling. Her eyes were focused on a single point across the room and she just stared.

Blood in the water. Feathers. The sound of cutting and pressure and the memory of pain and she squeezed her hand against Cadmus's side before squeezing her eyes shut. No more river rocks. Raizel carried on the best she could, even though her hands still had a tremble still like she was so, so cold. "Or, alternatively, you can try to make new happier memories. You're young I assume, you can just turn some charm on, find a nice partner and then... Settle down. Work as a hunter or something. But for food. Have kids." Raizels voice got quiet and she turned her head, making it a bit muffled against Cadmus's shoulder, "learn how to be happy and explain baby gryphon soft beaks. That'll probably be the most difficult, learning to be happy, I mean"

The sympathy was accepted and tucked away, but her grin only grew wider and she let out a chuckle when he started to explain. He seemed so out of place, explaining himself and she grinned the whole while. Trying to imagine some large eyed, big talon and pawed baby gryphon.

Raizel pressed her leg to Cadmus's and tilted her head, shuffling over to rest it on his shoulder, "I take it you aren't very close anymore?" She voiced, looking towards him. Though she wasn't sure if it was normal to run around as a people, she herself couldn't recall ever seeing a gryphon before him.

The talk of family made her ponder if she had her own. There had never been a tingle of recognition when she saw faces. No recognition for buildings or architecture, "Do you miss them?"

Reinier tilted his head, tapping at his lip and leaned back in his chair. Expanding seemed logical, being heroes not so much but Reinier was getting bored with paperwork and while he's been able to see the world, he hadn't done it on his own in a longer time.

"I just need money, but," Reinier leaned in, arms on the table, head down slightly so he could look up through his eyelashes at Kasolin, "your price sounds fair." He tapped at his lip again and took a drink of the mean, licking his lips and glancing off to the side while he did do.

"Now when you say us," Reinier began, voice soft and curious, "Do you mean us be heroes? As in you and me?" He glanced kasolin up and down, noticing the long legs and pondering just how much taller he was. "I've never been much for heroics, but I suppose that could be fun, if I'm understanding correctly."

The mental image of Cadmus wearing a hat and plain muddy clothing sprung into her mind when he mentioned splitting farming duties. Rough hands. Sunburnt cheeks. Head in for the day to a warm meal and drinks. A sweet tender kiss by candle light before going to bed. Raizel was still making a face at herself, the mental image lingering when Cadmus asked her about her spine tingling feeling and stalkers.

"I didn't notice when you were doing it," she pointed out, looking up at him from on the floor, a small smile, "but you were literally born with 'stalking prey' as part of your existence, I imagine." She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to visualize anything. But it was simply darkness. "You know that feeling, when you experience something but it feels like you've done it before? Or when you're trying to think of a word you know you know, but it just isn't coming to you?" Raizel lifted her hands up, making a frame with her thumb and index fingers and she framed the sunlit ceiling, "I don't think I'm being stalked. But it feels like I am. Just this little lingering feeling of something not being quite right, or maybe I'm just chasing after a ghost of myself and creeping myself out in the process."

There was a moments pause and her face tightened and as quickly as she had laid down on the floor she was back up again, resting a hand on Cadmus's shoulder "do you remember much from your childhood?" Raizels eyebrows went up and she smiled slightly her eyes took on a devilish glint, "if you'd been a baby bird at one point is that how your parents fed you? Little baby bird?" To get the whole idea across, Raizel demonstrated with her hands.

Ah. There was the guest.

Reinier waited patiently, relaxed in his seat while the dark elf's gaze darted around the room. A polite nod, a smirk and Reinier sat up in his chair when he was finally noticed. He brushed his hair behind his rounded ear and most of the dark locks fell back to obscure half his face.

He pushed one if the containers of mead towards Kasolin with a nod at the introduction. "Reinier Rose, Keeper of Daggers," a small smile and he took a drink of the mead, trying not to make a face. All the tastes and smells were still something he had to get used to, having not had the senses for so long. Unfortunately, while it was technically good meas, Reinier wasn't fond of the taste.

"Gracious of you to join me, Highness," Reinier said, inclining his head forward instead of bowing. Not exactly wanting to attract attention, it was private business that he wanted to attend to. "I was looking for a loan," Reinier said, pressing his index finger to his lower lip, "I've found a few... Gems of underutlized trade routes and find myself woefully ill equipped to take advantage of them." 

The woman that had brought Reinier their drinks came back with some warm hearty stew, placing them on the table before scurrying off. Reinier smiled, "I got food, incase you were hungry," He gave a sharp smile before having a spoonful, wrinkling his nose again and placing the utensil back down.

"After so many years, I thought at least the idea of stew would change." He commented idly, "who knew." Reinier sighed and pushed a hand through his hair, "Of course, I would owe you. Your loan and a percent back. Or a part of the trade. Or anything else you may desire that I can provide you," Reinier smiled again, leaning back in his chair, "you need but only tell me."

There was a twinge of guilt that bubbled in her throat when Cadmus reacted to her. Raizel listened quietly to the explanation and it took her a moment to remember that he wasn't human.  Why would he have human morals? She was lucky that they weren't just all snacks. There was a moment when her mind drifted and she pondered if she could beat up a Gryphon.

Raizel looked down at him and felt herself deflate a little. A few mistakes and twists of fate. "I'm only a little sorry for what I said, aside from taking it as an insult I do think you have a very easy-going gentle presence, I promise you're not priestly" she said quietly, sinking down beside Cadmus on the ground, leaning back so their shoulders touched. "I suppose I can sympathize with twists of fate fucking your life up," Raizel took a deep breath and sighed, "though I doubt you 'not being good at much else'. If I could comfortably exist on a farm growing crops and raising animals I would." Raizel looked down at her feet, wiggled her bruised ankle and moved her arms so she could fully lay on the floor, resting her hands on her ribcage.

"Something hounds me though and I can't figure out what it is," Raizel closed her eyed and sighed, "That feeling like something is watching you. Always. But every time you look it's gone."

Luna will never forget the day she learned that these interesting colorful elves could actually die of heartbreak. Her mouth was full of tea and her feet barely brushed against the ground. It was good tea, but she found it hard to swallow with how her chest tightened at the idea of such a thing. A sympathetic look towards kirsikka and Zhirai and she gave a little nod, tucking the information away and letting the topic change.

"I help tend the dragons, the little ones are too young to really be out on their own, so I... am a glorified baby sitter." Luna smiled slightly,"I guess I'm a nanny of sorts. I bring them treats, teach them how to read, they can't speak words, but they communicate in other ways. I'm not cut out to be a dragonrider, so I help in my own way." Luna gave a small smile, "They understand. We may be in Adela but this is also probably the largest concentration of dragons, poachers and bad people wanting a 'pet dragon' try to do very evil things sometimes."

A small smile and Luna took another sip of tea, "you're free to visit me whenever you like. You too, Zhirai." A pause and Luna turned her head to Kirsikka, "is he always so grumpy?"

Cadmus got a sharp ice blue eyed look with an unamused smile and a quirked up eyebrow. "You're right, I suppose there was some penetration," her voice was dry as she went around the room, testing her ankle and giving a sigh before looking at the door and pulling a face. She didn't understand how Albert's particular brand of magic healing worked, but she'd had enough of it and seen him birdy enough to know it took a lot out of him. Raizel pushed her hair over her pointed ear and gave her ankle another test.

"Looks worse than it feels," she said simply, pushing her hands through her hair and sighing. There was so much to do and so little time to do it, "do you think they'll move?" Raizel said simply, folding her arms over her chest, "your previous employers," she clarified. Her hand went to her face and she pressed her index finger to her lips, "We can only assume they did. We should be going as soon as possible, I doubt anyone is expecting a miraculous Phoenix recovery." She tapped her lip some more "unless you're tired. I sleep during the day and usually I dont have guests I try to stab in the heart while I'm doing that, so today kind of got fucked up."

Raizel paced the room, mind going a million miles a minute. Her posture was ridged, shoulders squared, gaze stoney. "Everything is wrong." Now that she wasn't in so much pain she could focus on other things now, "still can't believe you of all people work with thieves and bandits. Honestly I'm surprised you're not a librarian or priest or something." She waved a hand at Cadmus, "aside from that," she motioned to the scar on his neck, "you're very... I dunno. Gentle looking."

The rain was a gentle sound on the window when Reinier walked past it, squinting at the sign for the tavern the meeting was to take place. It'd been a while now that he'd had two fully functioning eyes again, and while he could speak the common language of the people of this land... It had been a very long time since he'd had to read. He shifted his hood slightly, tilting his head at the sign again before pressing the door open, glancing over his shoulder at an obscured individual across the street. The happy chime of a guest entering the establishment got a call from the owner in the back of welcome.

It was almost dusk, people were arriving to either drink away the days woes, have a hot meal or find a place to sleep. Reinier, however, was here for a meeting. One he'd been anticipating since he'd learned about the individual. Making a web of connections was difficult when all you had was charm and honeyed words on your side. Reiner removed his cloak, and placed it on the back of his chair before sitting and closing his eyes for a moment.

As directed, he wore a red tie of sorts, hopefully easily discerned among the people here. He could be considered a handsome man, tall and broad shouldered with a sharp jaw and large bright eyes. Thick dark lashes made the golden-green of his eyes brighter and he pushed his short wavy hair away from his face. A hand went up and a coin went onto the table, a petite young woman wandered over, eyes bright and hair pulled back in a tight bun, ready for the evening. "Sir?" She said, reaching for the coin and putting it into an apron pocket, "two of whatever your freshest meal is and two meads, please." His voice was soft and gentle, a slight accent from who knew where lilting his words.

A little curtsey and she was off, Reinier leaned back in the chair, arms crossed over his chest, watching the door for his dark elf guest. The shadowy figure outside remained, standing under the eaves of a tailor shop.  He made no real attempt to blend in or hide, in fact, he nodded and smiled at everyone that glanced his way when they entered, relaxed further into his chair, legs crossed at the ankle and sticking out from under his chair. The woman was back quickly with the mead, but Reinier left both containers untouched on the tablet. Waiting.

Reinier Rose was very patient.

__________________QUICK STATS
Name Fei Ruwen (Ruwen to friends)
Age 27?ish?
Gender Male
Species Shijie-ren
Ethnicity  songtu-ren
Height 5'9"
Occupation totally a scholar and not just using that as an excuse to live reading everywhere.
Residence officially- his parents home jingshen. Unofficial, many guest rooms.

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description-
Ruwen is perfectly average. His eyes are a gentle pastel green, his hair is pitch black and aside from some bangs - which have a whole story behind them - he keeps it long. As all Shijie-ren, Ruwen sometimes rocks a set of antlers which he thinks look a little less lethal than the pointy horned cousins. The most defining feature Ruwen has is a scar on his face, starting below his left eye, going over his lip and down his chin. The scar remains dark over his paler skin - he doesn't really go outside.

It's not a battle wound specifically, he doesn't quite remember it well. They say it was caused by a fall, and the wound was very deep. Still, the scar is simply visual and doesn't hinder muscle, for smiling or frowning.

Personality
Ruwen is jovial and overcome with wanderlust. If there's a book he can read about some far-off somewhere, he wants it. If there's an educational prospect he wants it. While he isn't wildly intelligent, he had an insatiable thirst to learn and know more.

Despite being horrendously nosey, Ruwen tries to be kind. Sometimes reading a room is beyond his ability because he's thinking about some page in a book, but he'd make amends quickly. Never intentionally cruel - of course within reason- Ruwen wants to leave the world a better place than when he got here.

His dream beyond dreams is to have at least one friend from every city in the whole wide world.

Magic/Abilities
Like many Songtu, Ruwen possesses the clairaudience ability. This isnt all encompassing and usually is only good for those he personally has attachment to. Part of his wanderlust is encouraged by those ancestors, having had the same want to learn and travel that he possesses.

Sometimes it manifests in dark ways, but he chooses to forget and ignore those instances.

Relationships
Has parents that he loves and two younger siblings. A few aunts. Many grandparents (they like to linger) and one particular uncle who passed away while he was very young, who is the main culprit for encouraging the travel bug.

History

__________________THREAD TRACKER
Current Threads

Losing loved ones to weather and beasts seemed like a perfectly normal -but tragic - thing to happen while traveling long distances. Luna nodded along politely, soaking in the information while she stowed on the last cause. Heartbreak.  She looked down at her hands and played with her fingers while she listened. When Kirsikka offered sugar, honey or maalk she tilted her head ti the side in confusion. Luna was never sure if she had always done that or if it was body language she picked up from her dragons.

"Oh, milk." Luna pulled her braid over her shoulder and played with the ends of that before she politely shook her head, "no, no it's fine. I can have tea as you make it." She cleared her throat and awkwardly shifted in her seat.

"I have a question, and I apologize if this is rude," Luna looked from Zhirai to Kirsikka, "how does one die to heartbreak?" She shuffled in her chair so her feet were flat on the ground instead. "Do you mean like an illness?"

"It's fine, really" Albert mocked, moving closer before placing his hands on Cadmus's back. They were warm, though the pads felt a little too rough to be human. "You smell like Raizel, it's faint, but it's there, I should have been more cognizant of that. I doubt she would have brought an enemy to my door, especially wounded." Albert sighed and flexed his fingers against the warm skin of the other man, "Don't be alarmed, I'm not kissing you, but I kind of am? Don't think about it too hard."

He leaned down then, his red braid falling over his shoulder before Cadmus would feel the ghost of lips and hot breath on his back. It would be a weird warmth, there would be a soft light where Alberts head was at his back. Cadmus would feel his skin tighten at the scratches and the knife wound on his chest and if he were to touch them, they would be tender but healed. The flesh delicately stitched back together, a quick encouraged heal, flesh easily broken but healed none the less.

Albert stood up again, leaning back before he frowned at Raizel who didn't meet his gaze and just looked off to the side. She was seated, her good leg a prop for her arms before the red haired man kneeled down in front of her. "Raizel," Albert started, "I can only do so much. You know that. You're one person with a sword," his hair was more feathery now, his eyes looking more sharp and his features more angular. His emotions and his use of his abilities blurring the line between his selves.

He remained kneeled, lifting her leg and removing the wrapping. The skin was bruised looking and Raizel's fingers clenched against the floor, eyes squeezing shut while he poked and prodding at her ankle. "You're lucky this isn't worst," he frowned at her before he leaned down, foot and ankle in his hands. His mouth was closets to the bruise, his lower lip brushing skin, before he exhaled. It was like tendrils of gold and light left him, the longer he did it the more his hair went feathery.

His hands became clawed and after a few more breaths, the braid was a mix of feathers and hair. His pupils were slits in a sea of blue and his teeth were growing more sharp by the moment. Albert gently put Raizel's foot down when he was done, the bruise a gentle healed yellow. He rubbed his wrists like they were pained and he gave her knee a squeeze. "Be careful next time," he scolded before standing up looking between the two, moving to stand with his hands on his hips like a disappointed parent before he turned away and left. His job was done, he'd encouraged healing and took away their dishes.

Raizel remained quiet for a time, blinking like a scolded child. "Well," she said softly, glancing down and away, "I'm kind of sad he didn't catch us humping." Raizel teased before she stood up, testing her ankle gently before sighing with relief, eyes closing realizing now how much pain she'd been in. A sidelong glance at Cadmus and she gave a small smile, "He'll be prickly and feathery for the rest of the day," she looked back at the door, "I think healing takes a lot out of him." She pat her chest where she remembered half-stabbing Cadmus and then looked at her companion before walking over, "Did he get your chest too?"

Kal's eyes opened wider than he thought possible and he gave her hand a little squeeze, terrified on her behalf.

"Sweeping? Perhaps cleaning rooms?" He didn't really want to broach the subject of this young person being a ... courtesan but... Kal frowned deeply while they walked, concerned. "Can you cook? Maybe she'd hire you to cook for her." He wanted to let go of her hand a little, feeling uncomfortable but... She was a child. She should be protected.

"I think you said it before," his voice was soft as they walked, "But I missed it, what was your name again? Mine is," He paused before frowning gently, "Kal."

The taste of blood was heady.

Purple felt deep shame at being conditioned so, shame that he'd rip and tore. Killed. Shame that he'd given in to baser instincts that screamed predator and killer and murderer and monster. When Grant didn't return to muzzle him, he just remained. The broken corpse of the young one at his clawed feet, his hands and mouth stained red. He looked over his shoulder, eyes wide, breath trembling out of him. He could help.

He flexed his fingers, frozen. Purple couldn't move. When was the last time he had a thought of his own? He remembered how Grant gave commands and the speed at which they were fulfilled. The promise of pain always lingering. He could help the others and then... It was dark and cold now. He looked up at the sky, trying to see stars. See what time it was. Grant still hadn't come back and Purple didn't know what to do. Would it be easy to save the two?

It was like a jolt, when the idea sparked across his mind. Movement entered his limbs and after what felt like hours of standing and waiting for instructions... Purple let out a little gasp, breathing like he hadn't in years. Like a veil had been lifted from his eyes and chains had been broken. He could hear the fire in the distance, though the sight of it was obscured. His fingers tingled and his heart raced, stress cluttering his thoughts and making his eyes water in fear.

So wrapped up in his own first steps towards the sound of fire, he missed the sound of beating wings. Purples ears twitched as he walked, slow careful steps. Maybe he could wait for one of them to enter the darkness of the forest, he could... Cassen was first watch, Purple noted, though both were still awake, Korminic was clearly getting ready to sleep at least. Purple crouched and picked up a rock, standing up and dropping it from far above his head. Korminic's head shot up and he looked into the darkness of the trees.

"The fuck was that?" Cassen said, looking worried, pulling a dagger out. Purple took a few noisy steps back, "It's just a rat," Korminic said, rolling his eyes, "ah shit I didn't realize how dark it got, go get the muzzle, the lizard should be done with the kid by now." Purple winced, hyper aware of the dried blood on his hands and face now. Cassen got up and got the muzzle from Grant. Maybe hide?
 
No.

No more hiding.

Cassen whistled while he walked into the trees, muzzle in hand. Purple was complacent. Purple was trained and taught. Purple was being eaten alive. Purple was theirs and would do what they told him. Cassen realized too late that the dark figure in front of him wasn't just a shadow of a tree, realized too late you needed functioning vocal cords to scream, throat torn open and pitiful wet gasps were the only noise Cassen could make anymore. Purple let the body of his captor drop to the forest floor with a thump and he carefully took the muzzle, glancing down at it before dropping that to the ground too.

"Cassen?" Korminic said, glancing to the tent the three men shared, contemplating if a little thump in the forest was enough to get Grant. He was so distracted by Cassen in the forest, he didn't hear the quiet footsteps come from the opposite side. The soft sound of metal and leather. He did notice when the spear head pierced through his chest, his eyes went wide with surprise and he grabbed at it like that would accomplish anything.

Pallaton glanced at Sincuvo and Kesrel, felt a burning in his throat that he couldn't spot his son before he ripped the spear out of the waste of a human soul, sweeping the spear to the side to fling blood off and away. A raspy gasp and Korminic lay bleeding on the ground, heart giving its last pitiful beats. Another rider went to check out the tent, a sharp shout followed by a gurgle and the dragon rider gave a look to Pallaton before shaking his head and giving a hand signal that he was going to look around.

"Children," Pallaton started, spear at his side, the whites of his eyes red and his voice almost trembling. It was beyond a relief that they'd been found and the disappointment at it being just two, instead of all of them, weighed heavily. A single step forward, before a scarred, long haired purple beast-man bolted from the trees.

"No!" Purple shouted, arms thrown wide in front of Sincuvo and Kesrel, the spear tip pressed to his chest so quickly could feel the tip dig in. "Don't hurt them," Purple's voice was rough, barely used, "I..." he had nothing to barter with, he didn't even have his skin, "Please. They don't deserve this, I'm good at following instructions and I have a strong bite. Let them go and take me instead," Pallaton's eyes widened in shock before his gaze turned into a glower and he dug the spear in a little deeper, angry. Lethal.

"Arami is with Arcturus," Pallaton said, glancing at the purple beast-man again. Pallaton and the other Dragon Rider were only supposed to be scouting, but when they saw it was one man dozing by a fire and one preening in a tent it was too good an opportunity to pass up. He looked behind the boys to the other dragon rider who moved behind the two and began to unbind them. Carefully check them for injuries. With the purple beast-man basically impaled on his spear, Pallaton didn't have to negotiate, "Sincuvo, Kesrel." He looked to the two, his gaze steady but softening when he looked at them, "I know you're both exhausted but this is very important. Do you want me to kill this one? He has blood on him and he smells of them."

The pale haired Adelan took a seat gratefully on the plush chair, her feet barely touching the ground. Luna listened to Kirsikka, blinking and watching her step the tea carefully. Each movement looked calculated, like even though she's done this hundreds of times before, it was always with purpose.

Then kirsikka mentioned that they were only traveling companions and continued to elaborate.

Luna felt awful, growing quiet and giving Zhirai's form a lingering look. Lost his brother traveling? Her heart ached a little at the thought and she tucked her hands between his knees, head going down slightly to fend off any surprise empathy. The idea turned into it's own beast, her thoughts winding and changing. It took a moment to compose herself and she looked back at Kirsikka with bright blue eyes.

"I think either works, though beloved sounds very lovely. Married is another word for it," Luna sighed and played with the fabric of her clothing, "the journey was bad then? To Adela?" She questioned, curious, casting a sad eyed glance at her new friend.

Being back what he thought was good. For some reason that made Hero terribly nervous. What if Rho didn't like the things he liked? What if the elf just full on upchucked at the choices Hero made? Of all the things to be nervous about 'Rho may not like what I pick,' was so high on the list he felt butterflies in his stomach.

Maybe a bit of everything? Minus the bread. His own plate had bread and butter, some eggs and some veggies with potatoes. The plate for Rho was what he assumed was good for ... expecting... people. There was some sausages, eggs, a few slices of tomato, a couple wedges of apple and potatoes. This was breakfast right?

Heros stomach grumbled and he turned back to the table, placing Rho's breakfast down in front of the golden elf before sitting and digging into his own. "I didnt actually knew what you liked, just stick what you can't stomach onto my plate." He said softly, buttering his bread, Hero paused and leaned back, chewing while he thought. "What do you like? Anything in particular? Fruit? Vegetables?"

The curiosity made his ears perk and he blinked at the girl while they walked. He gently took her veggies from her to hold them before taking a moment to place them in his shoulder bag with his own things. Then, his interactions with children infrequent, he mimicked what he'd seen parents do when their child was distressed. Kal reached out a hand for her to take so he could lead her to his home away from home.

"There are a number of us, usually we keep to our tribes out in the wilderness, worshipping the Fire." A small shrug, eyes forward, "I'm no God though. I'm as mortal as any man, though perhaps I'll live a little longer if I'm not foolhardy." Kal smiled and saw the building getting larger as they got closer, "Don't worry about the landlady. I'll pay for your stay, I have to leave in a day or two, but I can cover you for a little bit. Maybe she has work for you to do, too!" Kal smiled and nodded to the eyes looking at him through the window.

Tea?

Liuna's mouth fell open and she was swept along, reaching a hand out and taking Kirsikka's. "Tea would be lovely, thank you," Luna didn't even try to make her gawking subtle, looking between Zhirai and Kirsikka before she bit her lip and tilted her head.

"You're family?" She motioned to the two elves, curiosity heavy in her voice while she looked between, "brother-sister?" Luna paused and then snapped her fingers while she was being lead, "husband-wife?"

The silent lingered and Hero smiled at the quiet way Rho tried to politely word what the word was. The one who does not give birth. He sat down beside Rho as offered and made sure to sit so that their legs were pressed together under the table. More for himself than anything, while he wasnt transformed anymore he was still feeling territorial. Rational Hero knew that was impolite, maybe a bit weird. Recently wolfy Hero didn't give a fuck.

"I see," he paused and glanced down at Rhos stomach before he pushed his long black hair over his shoulder and rested his hands on the table. Mornings in the grand hall were buffet style to accommodate the guests and workers. Dinners were seperate but mornings, everyone got the same food (mostly). Hero stood up again, resting a hand on Rhos shoulder before he gave it a squeeze. He gave Rho a look and smiled, "I'll get us breakfast. It's just over there. No bread things, right?"