~The Hidden Cove~

[Archaic Advancement]

Digi's strength surprised her, but Avinda recovered well enough as the situation was explained a little more. As Digi started walking the other woman quickly went through the items still attached to the litter, snatching up the several satchels of supplies and belongings that she didn't want to leave behind for however long they'd be in the cabin.

"So... do you think she'll survive then? If I hadn't dreamt of this place, I likely would never have tried to bring her..." But dreams were a sacred thing to their order, and denying one as clear and recurring as hers about the Cove would have been a great disrespect to the god who'd sent them.

[digimonktbug]

D I G I


Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go...


"WE can go back for the rest of your stuff later. I'm not going to say she'll pull through, because with my luck..." Digi let the subject drop. Her point was clear enough as it was. She walked in silence for a while, until the cabin was in sight once more. "I'm going to have to ask that you open the door for me. Can't risk dropping Naydeen."

It is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.((Night! Gotta get up early in the morn.. sad ))

[Iron Ronin]

Arretsu

Terra stood up as Elonia took Cecil, smiling warmly, she patted the girls head. "Good girl." She glanced at Kiro, "Come on, lets get you inside, warmed and fixed up. Maybe hold Echo, she has that calming effect on people." She laughed softly, and sloshed out of the water.

She was wringing the water from the bottom of her kimono, as she went to the house. As she went up the steps and into the house, she combed her fingers through her silver locks, letting the strands fall over her shoulders. She tisked as she noticed the water she trailed inside, but then still as her gold gaze fell on Ronin. A puzzled look came across her face. "Ah...." She neared, and knelt down in front of him, her hands resting on her knees. "What are you doing?" She ask, her voice gentle and questioning.

Despite being nearly scared out of his wits he heard everything that was said. The realization that he was talking and walking amongst the children of THE Goddess nearly caused him to black out. Only one deity surpassed the one standing before him. Even the Old One couldnt hold a candle to his creator but to see the other half of that tier of divinity was astounding. Then to have her talk to him....
"Forgive me..." He paused. What do you call a goddess? Your highness? Your honor? He blanked. Never once in his training did anyone cover what to do or say when meeting a God!
"Forgive me but I was taught that when in the presance of such greatness one is to show respect and humility by bowing. To be near you, i assure you, that were i to dig a hole and bow in it i would not, in my opinion, show even the beginning stages of enough reverance to suit one such as you properly."
It was a mouthful but it was all he could think of. Her aura was almost overwhelming. The clawed gauntlets nearly pulsed with her power.

[Archaic Advancement]

"Of course..." Hurrying ahead by a few paces, when they reached the cabin Avinda hesitated before touching the door. It was just manners to not barge into a person's home, but obviously she had reasons. Oh, she had to stop being such a feather head!

Still, even once she opened the door, Avinda didn't step inside, she'd much, much rather let Digi go in first.

[Arretsu]

Iron Ronin

Despite being nearly scared out of his wits he heard everything that was said. The realization that he was talking and walking amongst the children of THE Goddess nearly caused him to black out. Only one deity surpassed the one standing before him. Even the Old One couldnt hold a candle to his creator but to see the other half of that tier of divinity was astounding. Then to have her talk to him....
"Forgive me..." He paused. What do you call a goddess? Your highness? Your honor? He blanked. Never once in his training did anyone cover what to do or say when meeting a God!
"Forgive me but I was taught that when in the presence of such greatness one is to show respect and humility by bowing. To be near you, i assure you, that were i to dig a hole and bow in it i would not, in my opinion, show even the beginning stages of enough reverence to suit one such as you properly."
It was a mouthful but it was all he could think of. Her aura was almost overwhelming. The clawed gauntlets nearly pulsed with her power.

She didn't know what to say really, a bit caught off guard by his reverence. Finally she laughed softly, and let her aura go forth and wrap around him. She was studying him, her aura a soft caress as she took in his power. Finally satisfied her aura retreated, and she stood. "You shouldn't do that, it is ok to act normally around me. I am not all high and mighty as people think." She told him in a humorous tone, as she went towards the couch where her daughter rested. She went around, and knelt down beside the couch, reaching a hand to brush a strand of hair from the little girl's peaceful slumbering face. "Hey darling, wake up." She said softly, "Go get your Kiro." A brush of power escaped from her finger tips, and sunk into Elonia's mind.

That done, she spoke to Ronin, "So Ronin, what brings you here? After kicking my family out of Steele?" She asked suddenly.

[Elonia Meliades]

Elonia jumped slightly, but wasn't as affected as one would think. Growling at her father as he neared, she shook her head and put her forehead back to Cecil's. Again she probed, but a sheild went around her, protecting her if something like that occured again.

Echo groaned, then opened her eyes and looked up at Terra. "Mom.." She said softly, and smiled. Slowly she sat up, and got to her feet off the couch. Wobbling slightly, she went outside, glancing at Digi and the new visitor for a moment as she passed. With shaky steps she headed towards the lake.

[Kiro_Hoto]

Kiro sighed as his daughter once again persisted. He thought about the horrors that lie within the mind of that boy right now. "Elonia, if you do manage to break through, Vaane will melt Cecil's body." Kiro's words were thick, he was not playing around. "I have seen it done. Vaane is a philosopher, he is an arcatype. Everything he does for the sake of studying. Even if you break into Cecil's mind, Vaane still has his fair share of traps to ensure that no one releases Cecil from his grip." As said, when Elonia pressed her head to his mind, she would simply see a brick wall this time. "We will get his soul back. Just be patient." Looking at the ground, Kiro thought of the Arcaic Temple were all of this had occured. Like a spider, Vaane allowed them inside only to seal the doors once inside and take what he thought belonged to him.

Kiro's breath began to weaken as he tried hard to remember everything. He tried to focus only on Cecil, but everything was clouded.

[Elonia Meliades]

Echo came up behind Elonia, and put her hands on Elonia's head. "Come on...we will wait.." She said, and glanced at Kiro. A worried look clouded the girl's face.

Elonia sighed heavily, and stood, cradling Cecil in her arms. She made her way back to the house, not saying a word. Once inside, she made her way up the steps, heading towards a room to place Cecil and get herself changed out of her wet clothes.

Echo stared at Krio, then outstretched her small arms towards him.

[Kiro_Hoto]

Kiro watched silently as mother and daughter connected. Elonia found one person in the world to love, her mother. A light smile played his sad face. After so, Echo moved to be held by Kiro. His mind told him to go forward, to embrace her for who she was now, but he couldn't. Kiro growled under his breath as he spoke. "I would be disgracing you to have you near me once more Echo. I failed in my most solice of duties. You would comfort me, when I wasn't there to comfort you?" Kiro looked away his face filled with frustration. His hands trembled with anger and fear.

He turned from her ashamed to be seen. "I could have saved Cecil. I had the chance, but I didn't take it. Cecil chose his path, and I have to allow him that. Just thinking of how this will all fan out gives me hope." His head peered over his shoulder to her, eyes at her feet as not to meet her eyes. "Cecil gave himself to Vaane. Vaane wouldn't have taken him if he knew it was my son. Cecil gave his soul to Vaane to be studied. He intends to understand only, not to harm Cecil in any way. Vaane wishes to learn the secrets of my Shadow and your Celestial mixture. I took the body. As we escaped the Temple, I ran into Jarad. Vaane sent us through his portal here. His warriors forced Jarad's army out. Vaane still hides something from me. I don't know why..." Kiro's words trailed.

"So would you still wish to comfort someone who could have stopped all of this, someone who could have ended all of this." Kiro's voice was strained, his face malevolent. "I had a chance to kill Jarad. Before any of this... But I couldn't mother wouldn't have wanted it that way." Kiro's face was a masque of tears.

[Iron Ronin]

He felt her aura incase him and surround him. Her assessment would only show a puzzling thing. His power was even less than that of a normal human. The abilities he had shown should have been impossible. And yet....she would also feel as if when she looked into his soul she were standing at the edge of a deep abyss.
Taking the hint he stood up and bowed slightly.
"As you wish m'lady" He stood at attention and began his story."As you know my name is Ronin. I am of the Lin Kuei clan. Ages ago when my clan was ancient and many a sickness spread across our lands. It wiped us out to the last. The final birth for our clan was to our Grandmaster and his wife. The child's name was Kalt. He was taught in our ways unto his 16th birthday. Then the sickness struck them. In an effort to save his son the Grandmaster sent his son away. He and his wife died together shortly there after and save for the one child my clan was extinct. That boy washed up here on Gaia.
Through many adventures he was adopted by two Goddess's. The goddess of creation, and the goddess of chaos. Through them he achieved a sort of immortality and survived to nearly the present day. Several years ago however he began the restoration of our clan. Through cloning and selective breeding and a bit of magic he was successful in bringing back many of us. I am the second generation of his efforts.
We call him the Great One. You know him better as Torran Steele. That is how i know of you. Terra, Kiro, Digi, Taimei, Kakuzo, Doji and a slew of other are our legends. You, my lady, are one of three chief deities to my clan."
He paused a moment to catch his breath and be sure of his place.
" I kicked your family out because i was sent by the current Grandmaster on a mission that was worth more to us than any amount of lives....even mine. I recovered the AI core of the mansion AI known as KAI. My other objective was the important one. I recovered the Great One's body. I came here for two reasons. One was to offer some of his belongings to his family. The second was to offer an alliance between my clan and you Heavenly One. As such i offer you my life and service as long as the alliance remains."
He bowed hsi head again in submission.

[digimonktbug]

D I G I


Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go...


Digi nodded her thanks to Avinda, stepping inside and heading upstairs. She laid Naydeen down in a bedroom upstairs, before trotting down the steps. She glared at the male that was showing submission to Terra, shaking her head as a growl threatened to emerge. He had called her a witch. Nobody called her that and lived. "Terra, the one that needs assistance is upstairs. There is a bond-mark that's excreting a pus-like substance on her neck. I healed what injuries I could, but I fear that she may not have much time."

It is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.

[Arretsu]

She was now standing in front of the fire, the glow casting shadow's around her. Her gold eyes watched the flames as she listened to him speak. "Torran.." She said softly, as she ran a hand through her silver locks, letting the silky strands fall over her shoulders. With a heavy sigh, she turned her head to glance at him. "Yes why not, alliance is always a good thing, but on a few conditions." She smiled at him sweetly, "First, call me Terra.." she moved, coming to stand in front of him, she continued. "Second, I don't do the whole bowing submission thing...." Then she reached a hand out, grasping his chin, and lifting his face so he could look at her. That sweet smile of her's was gone, replaced with a sinister smile, and anger sparked in her gold eyes. "And third, threaten anyone of my family again and I will kill you myself. Bringing forth all power I have, and all alliances I have. More so for my daughter who is newly born and vulnerable. You would be surprised if you just came out and asked kindly how much of a affect that would have." She said in a cold clipped tone.

She dropped her hand then, and then smiled at him kindly, her anger gone as fast as it came. "Make yourself at home if you wish..."

Then she looked to Digi then, and frowned. "I see, thank you Digi.....How did this women get injured. I can't do much unless I know some history on the situation."

[Elonia Meliades]

Echo just sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Whats done is done....Wish you would stop swimming in your own ocean of self pity..." she said in a defeated tone. Her arms dropped, she turned and made her way back to the house. She walked inside, in time to see her mother scolding Ronin, and she winced. Being scolded by mother was always a scary thing. Nodding her head to Terra, she hurried passed and scurried up the steps to the room where Cecil and Elonia where.

She walked in the room, Cecil tucked into the bed and Elonia in the form of a wolf curled up at the end of the bed. Smiling, Echo went up to Elonia, and scratched behind the wolf's ears. "My good dog." She teased.

Elonia opened a eye, then just huffed and closed it again. But her tail lightly thumped against the bed.

[digimonktbug]

D I G I


Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go...


"All I know is, the mark is a connection, to a group or single person, something had damaged the connection, now it is trying to kill her. I reduced some swelling, reduced inflammation in the lungs... I don't know what else to do. I don't know how to break bonds like that..." Digi lowered her eyes, feeling shamed. She felt so useless right now.

It is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.

[Iron Ronin]

A cocky smile graced his features. "The second two i can do. The first one is gonna take some doing though. I have been hardwired to call you Great One or Heavenly One as is befitting a Goddess. Calling you by your name is gonna be a bit odd. I suppose Great Grandmother is a bit over the top to..." he said this off hand. By now he was standing and scratching the back of his neck as he thought.
"Guess that means i need to introduce Jos huh?"

"Damn right!" said the voice in his ear.

Upon seeing the injured woman he said only. "Looks like that will need to wait."