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OUTSIDE THE SOUTH GATE - AFTERNOON
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Erika starts to grin tiredly as she starts noticing familiar landmarks and soon enough also the sight of Respite's walls start to be in sight. "Yay! We made it!" She bounces to hug Fiora, almost toppling the two over but very obviously not caring. The last... she doesn't even know how long anymore, has been total hell and she's very very excited for her own bed right now. And clothes, possibly.
Cavro trots along behind the other two, trying to keep pace with their longer legs without complaining. He perks up on hearing and seeing Erika's reaction, a bright smile crossing his face. "Really? Oh thank thank thank goodness!" He looks toward Fiora, chuckling a bit as he trots up next to the two sisters. "And and and thank you, too!"
Fiora chuckles in her helmet, giving Erika a gentle hug, "Sight for sore eyes, eh? They've probably spotted us by now too, at least if they've got anyone doing their job posted." She sighs slightly, "Hopefully no one I know."
Erika giggles, letting go of Fiora as she looks up at her: "What, worried about my embarrassing company?" Clearly, she hasn't lost her sense of silly humor out there. Somehow.
Cavro nods, looking toward the wall as it grows in the distance. He chuckles, glancing around. "I I I never noticed how little the South Wall kinda pokes in in into the desert. Nobody's built out this way though..."
Fiora sighs, "More concerned about... you know what, nevermind." She glances at the wall, folding her arms. "This isn't terribly good farming land, and lots of nasty critters out this way. Not a whole lot of reason to build any further out, I guess."
Erika shrugs, smiling: "Yeah, nothing really grows here." She grins wider as she keeps making her way towards the walls, unable to contain her excitement and relief.
Cavro nods, glancing along the wall. His pace slows slightly as he points to something visible above it, though. "Er... That seems to to to be growing quite well though..." A wide, leafy canopy can be seems from where they are, probably a few properties within the walls but it's standing taller than the rooftop beside it by quite a bit.
Fiora pauses, then glances at Erika, her expression indecipherable beneath her helmet but her tone full of concern. "Maybe... it's not the best idea to take you two straight home once we're inside."
Erika follows Cavro's gaze: "Is that...? What h-happened here?" Her joy is slightly sliding towards worry: "...t-the doubles? They did that?"
Fiora nods slowly, "It's a little... bigger than when I left."
Cavro gives Fiora a slightly worried look, but tries to put on a brave face. "It uh... At at at least you know the garden is is is thriving for now, right?"
Erika looks at the certainly thriving greenery visible and nods slowly: "...uh huh." She keeps walking, but her pace is slowed down: "What should we do?"
Fiora points towards the gate, "We keep going and get you two back to town at least. Just... maybe see if the local guards can't put you up somewhere temporarily. Until we know what's going on."
Cavro hums, matching his pace with Erika's now. "What... Like at the barracks? Or or or the Minnow maybe? I just hope not in a cell..."
Erika frowns, glancing at Fiora: "...I don't like that. Shouldn't we be able to talk it over?"
Cavro looks to Erika. "Talk to... The doubles?"
Erika considers this for a second, then nods resolutely: "Surely there is a reason this happened."
Fiora sighs, "I wasn't thinking a cell... but talking to them? I can't say how safe that is. Unless you've got protection with you."
Cavro shakes his head after thinking about it for a few moments, turning his gaze toward the South Gates again. He shivers slightly as they move further and further into the more exposed space. "I I I just want to see everyone and make sure the the the smithy is in one piece... Why is a question that's big big bigger than I am..."
Erika looks between Fiora and Cavro, then nods somewhat more hesitantly: "...well, I guess the Guard do know what they're doing. They usually do."
Fiora is silent a moment before nodding. "Usually... c'mon. Lets get you two to the gate at least so we can get you a proper meal and sleep."
Cavro nods, trotting to keep up with Fiora. "Yeah... And you you you could beat them up if the guard wont deal with with with them anyways, right?" He's trying to keep a light outlook, but his strained smile kinda gives up that he's unsure as any of them.
Erika frowns as she walks, glancing at the sudden jungle that wasn't there last she was home. "...food sounds good."
Fiora chuckles, lifting up a gauntleted fist. "I can definitely do that. You two don't have anything to worry about on that count. I promise you that much."
Cavro nods, glancing toward Erika, then forward to the approaching gate. "Just don't enjoy hitting me me me too much, hmm?" His stomach grumbles slightly, awakened by the thought of any hot food.
Erika lifst her hand to Cavro's shoulder as she looks at Fiora: "She won't. I promise."
Louma is coiled up on top of the South Gate, a longbow nearly as tall as her standing height propped up in front of her and eyes on the empty desert as she waits for the next shift. Her mind is likely elsewhere when a guard from the wall jogs over to her, giving the barest salute as she turns to him.
Guard: "Three spotted walking toward the gate. One in heavy armor, the other two naked. Armored one has an axe, but there isn't a pack between them." He trots a short distance back toward the East, turning to keep pace with the trio after delivering his report.
Fiora shakes her head, "I won't, Cavro. This whole thing has mostly been confusing and... I'll just be happy that you're both okay, alright?"
Erika smiles brightly: "I certainly am happy that we are! And that you are that we are, too."
Cavro nods with a happy hum. "Yes, home and warm and full of of of something other than berries and roots~"
Fiora chuckles. "And maybe I'll need to take some time teaching you both a bit of hunting skills, eh? Or at least get you a compass?"
Louma leans forward over the wall, looking toward the East as the guard tailing the group slows down some distance from her. She looks to the guard again with a nod, signalling him to take her post before she hops to the road, slithering out from the gate to greet the group.
Erika sticks her tongue out at Fiora: "Finding North was never the problem, knowing if that was the direction to go was."
Cavro chuckles. "North was was was working okay... But I think we would have walked right past town... Maybe?" He slows his step when he spots Louma exiting the gate and waiting for them, glancing to the other two.
Erika waves excitedly upon spotting Louma: "Hi Louma! We're back!"
Louma waves in return, recognizing the armor from the start, though she keeps the bow held at her side instead of hooking it across her back. "Good evening Fiora. I didn't know you were going out on one of the search parties."
Fiora bristles, her stance a bit uncertain, though she's certainly not reaching for her axe or anything. "I didn't know anything about any search party. I... took a run. Wanted to clear my mind. Came across an Ahnkeg hive... And then found these two."
Louma nods, glancing from Fiora to Cavro, then Erika. Her attention is pulled back to Fiora on the mention of creatures, though. "An Ahnkeg hive? How far out? ...Were these two in the hive?"
Erika shudders, holding her arms to her chest: "N-no, thanfully. Just uh... nearer than we thought? We were lost. A lot." She gives Cavro a 'I'm sorry' look.
Cavro steps across Fiora's back to walk next to Erika, automatically reaching for her hand. He doesn't speak up, but is clearly picking up on Fiora's slight hostility.
Fiora points, "About two days sprint that way. Just a heads up." She nods to Erika, "As she says, they say they've been wandering for a week at least..." She glances towards town, "A week in which I know for sure someone has been calling themself 'Erika' and tending her garden."
Erika frowns at Fiora's words, sighing: "...whoever that is. It all sounds so strange."
Louma looks to Erika, humming. Her arms relax a bit more as she nods. "Well I was hoping for just good news when you three were spotted, but I suppose we'll have to deal with those creatures before they get too close to town." She looks back to Fiora with a nod. "I've had some reports come in that might confirm that."
Cavro nods, crossing his arms when Erika's hand winds up out of reach. "Yeah... A a a week sounds right to my stomach..."
Fiora shrugs, "Sorry I'm not all sunlight and wildflowers. I'm already confused as heck by all of this, and feeling like a real dumb ass that I didn't even notice... I just want to be sure my Sis and her..." She pauses, "And Cavro here are safe."
Erika looks at Cavro, then Fiora, then finally nods at Louma: "Yeah, it's been... a journey. One different sort of travel-heck I don't want to ever do again."
Louma glances between the three at Fiora's hesitation, but nods as she moves back from the gate a little way. "Of course, that's all anyone wants. We've been worried about you two, but I'll need you to come to the barracks for some questions. There's bath water and clean clothes there, as well." She gives Cavro a look, "And food."
Fiora lets out a sigh of relief, "Good... I didn't think it'd be wise to let them go straight home with those... whatevers there."
Louma blinks, tilting her head slightly. "They know, then?"
Fiora glances at Erika and Cavro, "I mean... only as much as I do. Which is that something's in their homes calling themselves by their names. You know more then that?"
Erika shrugs helplessly: "She told us there's some sort of doppelgangers here?" She looks towards where the mini-jungle is behind the walls and winces slightly. Hard to argue with her own garden doing... that.
Louma turns the box over, slinging it across her back with the string across her chest. "Something like that. One of my guards that has been investigating knows much better, I can call him to the barracks to discuss it with you once you're fed and everything."
Cavro looks between them all, keeping to himself for the moment.
Fiora nods, "Good..." She glances towards the gate, glancing at who's on duty. "And uh... if I stick around the barracks with these two... is Brunilda on duty there? Maybe best if she doesn't see me around..."
Louma hums, giving Fiora a bit of a look. "Brunilda has some morning work at the barracks, but I think her schedule is mostly West wall for the next couple of days." She shrugs slightly.
Erika gives Fiora a bit of an odd look, but decides to leave pushing that question for later. She turns to Louma: "We'll... come with you, then. This is a mess and it needs clearing up."
Louma nods, turning to lead the way. "Well, that is certainly something everyone will agree on." As she slithers past the gate, she looks up and signals to the guard that she won't be heading back to the gate.
Fiora doesn't make a move to remove her helmet, making sure Erika and Cavro are following along before she brings up the rear of the party.
Erika gives Cavro a smile and starts following after Louma, being only mildly conscious of her nakedness now that they're back in Respite, but mentally shrugging that worry away - much bigger problems are abound, it seems.
Cavro smiles back at Erika, taking up his spot in the middle of the odd little group. He's not as bashful as he might have been, but now that they're walking on cool stone, slipping between building shadows, he draws his arms up and rubs then for heat.