Welcome to Gaia! ::

The first room of the inn was the dining room, and despite the fact that it was the middle of the afternoon, and not any meal time, there were a few people eating. Two young men and a young woman were at one table, chatting cheerfully; at a second table were two men sitting together, and a third man in pale blue who was standing next to their table and talking to them about something; but the one person who caught Rhea's eye was a tall, black-cloaked figure who sat alone at a table in a corner.

Her curiosity raised, seeing the lone figure (who mysteriously reminded her somewhat of Aragost), and she gripped her staff more tightly.

There was a tall man behind the counter with hazel eyes, and the moment he spotted the group his eyes lit up brightly and he came around the counter to greet them.

"Shael!" he exclaimed brightly, throwing his arms around her and hugging her tightly. "It's so good to see you again! It's been over a decade!"

Shael giggled and hugged the man back. "Reuven," she greeted him. "I know. It's been a busy twelve years." She let go of him and stepped back a bit. "This is our daughter, Rhea," she said proudly. "And our friends, Cindy and Triton. Adonai is taking care of the horses, he'll be in soon."

Reuven bowed deeply to Cindy and Triton. "It's a great pleasure to meet you," he said warmly. "Truly, it is an honour. And Rhea." He chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately. "I've heard so much about you, it's hard to believe this is the first time we're meeting."

Reuven chuckled softly. "Well, I'm glad they finally decided to come," he winked at Shael. "You're been promising for a long time."

"I know," Shael laughed, "and we've been promising Rhea as well. But so many things kept coming up ... it was Triton's arrival that really made us go, and we're grateful for that."

Adonai entered the inn at last and made his way over to the others. "Reuven," he greeted his brother-in-law with a nod. "Good to see you again."

Reuven smiled warmly. "Likewise. But now that you're all here, let's get you to your rooms so you can put your things away."

"Ah, Triton," Adonai realized suddenly, turning to the neko. "Were you planning on staying here with us or did you want to stay at the palace instead? I don't know if you were just planning to visit or what ..."

"This way, then," Reuven smiled, leading them behind the counter to a door that was obviously meant for staff only. "We keep these rooms for special guests," he explained to Triton and Cindy as they headed towards the back. "King Estel and Queen Lothiriel stayed in these rooms when they lived here, though they moved to the palace years ago and now they're kept empty."

Rhea gripped her staff in one hand and put her other hand on Whisper's head, scratching her gently behind the ears as they followed along behind her uncle. She had never met Pen or Lothiriel, as much as she wanted to, and as much as she had heard about them.

When they were heading past the kitchen, which was through a door on the right of the corridor they were in, a tall woman came out, still giving orders to those who were working in the kitchen. Once she was done she turned to the travelers and smiled brightly.

Rhea had to do a double take when she saw the woman. She was identical to her own mother - except in height.

"You're finally here!" the woman squealed, just about tackling Shael and hugging her tightly. "What took you so long? You haven't even been here since before Rhea was born!"

And at the mention of Rhea, she turned to her niece and hugged her with just as much excitement. "Oh, you're so big!" she squealed. "I can't believe it!" She took a step back and held Rhea by the shoulders at arm's length. "And you look so much like your mother!"

"So do you," Rhea commented, still not over her surprise.

Whisper coughed. "Rhea ..."

The woman laughed softly. "Yes, I suppose since we don't really see each other very often, and because we didn't grow up together, we both sometimes forget to tell others that we're identical twins. Or would be," she added softly, with a wistful smile.

Shael giggled. "That's in the past," she reminded her sister. "Really. Anyways, Cindy, Triton, this is my sister, Rayna. Rayna, our Gaian friends, Cindy and Triton. Cindy has been staying with us for about four years now as Rhea's tutor."

"Pleased to meet you," Rayna said warmly, holding out a hand to Cindy and Triton to shake. "I hope you'll be staying with us a while, we really don't get to see my sister or her family very much."

"Me neither," Rhea put in, calming down somewhat. "It's the first time I was ever here!"

Reuven chuckled and started down the hallway. "Well, let's get you settled and then you can all relax," he told them again. "Hungry? There's plenty of lunch left, I don't know if you want to eat back here or in the dining room."

"I was thinking dining room," Adonai suggested. "Ada asked me to look out for someone to take Elros's place. It's been four years since he left the ranch, too, but it still feels as if someone is missing. We need another fighter or two."

Reuven held up one finger. "Perfect pair out in the dining room," he nodded. "I'll introduce you once you're all unpacked."

Reuven nodded. "Rayna, why don't you take them to their rooms, and I'll make sure the other two don't leave?" he suggested, changing directions abruptly. "Be quick though, they said something about having to leave later on."

Rayna nodded and led everyone down the hall towards a set of stairs that led up to a second floor. "This way," she encouraged them. "Four rooms, I assume?"

She looked at Triton curiously. "Lin ... the little human girl?" she asked. "I've heard about her, but I've never met her ..."

She looked to Shael who nodded.

They reached the second floor, and Rayna led them towards the nearest door. "Ah, yes," she smiled. "Quite the adventurous one, or so we hear."

She nodded at the door. "Rhea, you can have this room," she smiled. "Go ahead and unpack your things, we'll be around when you're finished."

She moved to the door across the hall. "Cindy," she smiled. "I hope it's to your liking."

The next room down was for Triton, and the final room was for Adonai and Shael. Each room had a double bed, two dressers and a closet, as well as a window in the outside wall.

Rhea set her bag on her bed, but she didn't bother opening it quite yet.

"Can we eat before I unpack?" she asked eagerly. "I want to meet the new people Papa might bring home with us ..."

Her stomach chose that moment to rumble, and Whisper chuckled softly.

"And it seems as though you do need something to eat," the cat murmured knowingly, ruffling her wings to rid them of the dust of travel. "Though it comes as no surprise you would rather meet new people first."

Rhea stuck her tongue out at Whisper.

Rayna laughed. "Well, whatever you would like," she giggled. "There's food ready whenever you would like it."

Shael turned to Cindy and Triton. "What do you say?" she asked. "It was a long trip, and if we eat now then we can rest afterwards."