Telling Hisoka, Torao, and Sabella that their daughter was alive and safely behind Padmapani boarders lifted a huge weight from Lorenna's shoulders. It didn't change the reality of what could have happened but the fact that it didn't was a relief. If she sent any more agents into the jungle she would have to be more careful about who she selected. A better idea would just be to send out a new bulletin with descriptions of all the known members in Xelloss's little group. It would help at least a little in keeping those scoundrels at bay. The more people that knew them to be devious and dangerous the better. It would be good to spread a little awareness to the general population. Lorenna smiled a little, yes, she had a new plan now. As soon as Khaa found her again she would send him out to spread the bulletin at every gathering place she could think of. He could coach his fellow birds as well.
Lorenna's good mood came crumbling down all around her when she came in sight of the cave again. 'If life was only made up of the good there would be no point in living it,' Lorenna thought as she approached the opening. 'There would be no challenge in it..' Lorenna could see the pale forms of Fletcher and Thatcher standing there watching her approach. "I'm sorry. There was an important message that needed to be delivered."
"We'll leave." Fletcher declared looking Lorenna dead in the eye. Thatcher nodded his head next to his brother firmly before shifting into a stronger stance to display the nubs of antlers on his head. "We decided while you were gone. If you won't take us with you then we'll go off alone again. You can't stop us." The twins were well aware that they were about the same size as Lorenna, more so than ever at this moment. The others around would be sleeping or at least they weren't close enough to help Lorenna. The two of them could take Lorenna down if they needed to.
"And where will you go?" Lorenna inquired studying the foals closely. As usual the pair was full of surprises. She withheld any sort of real protest. She didn't want Thatcher to charge her because of a simple no and from the looks of things he might do just that.
"Anywhere we want!" Thatcher replied pawing at the ground.
"It will be like it used to be for us." Fletcher added. They had lived alone before. They could do it again if they really needed to. They simply didn't want to.
"I see...and how will you hear about your mother?" Lorenna asked calmly. The two had somehow managed alone without so much as a name simply by depending on one another. Lorenna wasn't certain how long they had been that way but it couldn't have been long seeing as they were still so young.
"We'll find her!" Thatcher proclaimed boldly. They didn't need Lorenna if she didn't want them. Fletcher looked slightly uncertain but he soon resolved that this was the best coarse of action. If their mother was out there and Lorenna wasn't going to look after them then the next best thing would be to find their mother and make her do it.
"We'll find her if you won't let us stay with you." Fletcher said slowly. "So?"
So many surprises and twists with these two. They seemed to think it had been a brilliantly thought out plan. Lorenna doubted they would actually live through it. Living on their own was a bad plan but if their goal was to stay it was actually a clever idea. Lorenna wanted them safe and now they were using that against her. Lorenna found her lips turning upward at the corners as she shook her head. Perhaps they could have been her children in another life, one where she had all the answers for raising a child.
"Very well then. You may stay on one condition."
Fletcher and Thatcher's jaws dropped. They hadn't actually expected that to work. They had been prepared to make a run for it down the mountain. Thatcher jumped into the air excitedly while he cheered and Fletcher grinned from ear to ear.
Lorenna cleared her throat. "The condition?" She prompted fixing the two with a stoney look until they settled down. "The condition is that whenever I have to meet an agent you either need to stay within ear shot or stay with a trusted friend until I am completely done." It would at least make it harder for someone to kidnap the two. Lorenna knew, however, that she would be spending many sleepless nights thinking of a way to convince the two that they would be safer away from her side with her friends. Until then she would simply have to watch the twins closer than a hawk watching a field mouse.
