Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sora stared after Minasia, then the effects she had on the nearby forest life. "Well, that was close," he whispered to himself, and rubbed the cheek she had slapped. He then felt the poison's effect on him again. Come on, he told Terrana, and walked slowly back to the fire where the ritual had taken place, Terra behind him to nudge him whever he felt like sleeping because of the poison. "Stupid rabbit," he muttered to himself.

Sora looked at Alianae, and cleared the sweat from his eyes. When he sat down near the fire, he looked at Ruia. She was going to show May the 'healing properties' of the Blue Strength...on him! The thought of using those lightning-blue strands on him paled his face, and he looked over at Terra, who had by now lay down behind him. So, I guess I screwed up, huh? he asked.

Terra stared at Sora. You did far worse than just screw up! she said to him. She wanted to pull his guts out for asking such a question. And there's another reason why you shouldn't read so many minds! You hurt yourself! She said, and took a deep breath. But I'm glad that you're still alive.

Ruia heard Minasia and said softly, "It would be more princess-like to act diplomatic. Sure, he made a mistake but we all do at some stage. There was never a chance he would die. Of that, you can trust me." She turned back to May and Sora. "Your hand in his and one over his chest." she said. "The touching hand is to maintain a contact with him and the other is to direct the Strength to where we will. Search for him in your mind, it will be easiest at your hand, where you touch. Ease in, not all at once or you will give him an injury or two. Shield yourself first. Else you would learn his secrets and he yours. Then find me and I will give you further instructions."

Alianae beckoned to Minae. "Come, let us eat. This may take them awhile depending on the seriousness of it." She took out two bowls and ladeled soup into each.

Sora felt May's presence enter through his mind. His first instinct was to fight it, but he couldn't do much with his mind; the poison was restricting what he once excelled at. He slowly resigned that he was the one with an intruder in his, no matter how benevolent, and set barriers around personal memories. The barriers would be easy to push down, but he only wanted the two to know where they reached a personal area of his mind.

Sora felt her presence unprotected, even through the barriers he had set up, those which he had only constructed against the necessary places. He could feel the poison taking its toll on him because of each barrier. He felt that familiar tug of fatigue, and almost slipped back into unconsciousness, but fought to stay awake. If he missed out on the use of the Blue Strength, he would be mad at himself for letting a little poison hurt him. He then felt several of May's memories, shying away from her painful memories, slightly feeling embarrasment.

"Yes," Sora whispered, feeling May's presence leave his mind. He promptly took down the barriers, and opened his eyes. The fatigue that was tugging him for about twenty minutes now was gone, replaced with his normal energy, and that poison that seemed to loom in his mind was replaced by the tendrils that crawled towards the minds and souls of others'. He slowly sat up and stared at the fire, before rummaging through Terra's saddlebags, and removing a sack. "I'll be back soon," he said, and entered the forest.

Terra stared as Sora left the campfire, and dove through to his mind. I'm watching you, she growled, and kept a big portion of her thoughts on Sora's doings.

Sora came back a few minutes later, the sack full of the poisoned fruit. He hummed a small tune as he opened up Terra's saddlebags and placed them, then sat back down at the fire.

((best to have some poison on hand))

"Let's see if I get this right," Sora said, to himself, as he stared at the flickering flames of the fire. "You're Oromis's daughter," he said, now to her, and stared at the fire again. "However, if you're so intent on poison not being important, you're dead wrong. Torture is a wonderful way of finding the best information from people. Besides, when we get to the next elven city, we can get this catalogued. I'm sure this wasn't in the archives when I checked in Ellesmera, last time," he finished, and stared at the fire again, staring at the never ending cycles, the flickering shapes, and the sparks that the flames threw into the air.