----------------------------------------------
ERIKA'S GARDEN - AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Narrator: The Garden has definitely bloomed into a veritable jungle in the time the elemental has resided in there, almost impassable except select few places and not really contained like it once was, taking up any free space for growth around it. Locals have started to avoid being nearby and couple of the closest neighbours have moved until the Guard 'solves' the issue.
Akire is in the middle of this jungle, tending to a huge purple flower bloom in her hands as she kneels next to it. A lot of thoughts wander in her head, but they all come back to a variation of 'who am I?', with no answer forthcoming.
Tarbin approaches the garden, carefully following the lines of power underfoot as he had previously. He's a bit hesitant to be heading to the garden without Teis, but really has no plan outside of talking with the being that tends and learning more about her. The urge to join them in the garden has only grown since Teis broke yet another chunk from his curse, and he's entirely aware why, what with the lower restriction on his connection to the Flow. He approaches the alley, pausing outside to marvel at the veritable wall of living magic within.
Xochi glances towards Tarbin as he steps near, her vigil outside the garden unchanged. While some have fled, she has stayed close, maintaining her prayer. She hums quietly to announce her presence, "You return once again, Tarbin? Have you found some answer, then?"
Tarbin turns toward Xochi, milky eyes landing relatively true on her location with how she's affecting the flow. He nods to her with a smile. "I do, though... Not with an answer, no. Of course, magic isn't something I am good at. Not in spells, anyhow." He looks toward the garden again. "Has she left at all?"
Narrator: A thorny vine snakes up from the ground near Tarbin as though to answer said question.
Xochi shakes her head, "She has not left, no. Not that I have seen, though the jungle grows. The people around the garden grow afraid... The guards have been watching more closely as well. Something has changed, but I know not what."
Tarbin watches the magic coursing along the ground before rising in front of him, nodding as a smile grows. "Ah not that many would see, I think. Hello Erika, may I enter the garden?"
Narrator: The vines and bushes part enough to make slight 'hallway', although only enough for the two to enter mostly without trouble.
Tarbin chuckles, looking toward Xochi. "That seems to be a yes." He heads into the garden along the revealed path, looking about for the recognizable form of nature from before.
Akire is kneeling next to the huge flower bloom about where she met the two earlier, in a small opening in the middle of the jungle. She doesn't look up at first: "Do you come with news?"
Xochi hestitates a moment before following Tarbin inside, uncertain if the invitation has been extended to her as well, but certain that if it is not, the being inside will be quite capable of forcing her out.
Tarbin steps aside to give enough room for Xochi, nodding toward the garden's tender. "Some... We have been thinking about your situation a lot. I've also had a talk with one of the guards about you and they seem willing to give us time to find you a new home."
Akire looks up, her hands looking almost like a blur near the flower next to her as she talks: "I have been thinking as well. I do not know where I can leave... but I think I am willing to try." She looks around, frowning: "...if I can leave."
Xochi glances between the two, more here for support than to offer solutions. "I am sure there must be a way."
Tarbin nods, kneeling on the ground in mirror to Akire, glancing toward Xochi. "From what I gather, there is a lot of forest North and East of Respite? I have not visited much of it myself, but there may be somewhere quiet and agreeable for you. If we can find a way to free you from this spot, that is."
Akire looks at Xochi, then gives Tarbin a small, wary smile: "Maybe... this is all I know, would you be willing to help me... c-create a new home?" She sighs deeply in a very creature-like, not exactly 'elemental made of magic' kind of way, looking down.
Xochi chuckles, presenting her hands, "For what little I know of gardening, I am willing to help, yes."
Tarbin nods, looking about them at the work she'd already done. "I would be happy to help you get a start." He sets his palm on the trunk of a tree next to him, his scales turning as he simply coerces the magic within it to move with no direction.
Akire looks at tree interact with Tarbin: "You have... you are different, now." She muses for a second before turning to look at his face: "Stronger."
Tarbin blinks, glancing at Xochi before nodding to Akire. "Somewhat it's not my strength, just a root to the Flow." He hesitates slightly, "A curse had nearly severed that connection, but a friend has been helping restore it."
Akire frowns, nodding slowly: "That is why you can not... see-feel, as well." She motions with her hand, the flower withering to itself slightly: "It suppresses you."
Xochi tilts her head to consider Tarbin, frowning slightly, "..I did not realize..."
Tarbin turns partway toward Xochi, nodding and speaking a little quieter. "Why is not important now that it is being lifted, but yes. I am blind and... Weak is not the right word, but it is close." He looks toward Akire, sighing. "I don't know how much more my friend can help without putting herself in trouble though." He tilts his head slightly, directing the Flow into the slightly withered flower to breathe life into it again.
Akire stares at the flower in thought for a second, before turning to Tarbin: "I see... do you think you have enough to... help me, then, in turn?" She hesitates, looking around what is her home, what is essentially herself: "...s-sever my connection here?" She swallows, definitely not fond of the idea at all, briefly wondering if just hiding away in the grassroots would be better.
Tarbin pauses, pulling his hand from the tree as he looks to Akire again. "I... Have never tried to sever any part of the Flow before. I... Hm. If we... Hm." He glances to Xochi. "That... Could work?"
Xochi seems somewhat lost by the new information she has received, and the depths of power being displayed before her. "I... I cannot say. The two of you would know better than I what can be done with such powers. I... will help however I can, though."
Akire nods slowly, sighing as the flower in front of her wilts again: "I do not like the idea, but... I fear the other choice is..." She looks out towards where the town is, lowering her voice: "...burn down with this place when they inevitably get tired of waiting." She sniffs a bit, closing her eyes.
Tarbin sighs, shaking his head slowly. "I don't want it to come to that... I don't think it will. severing part of the flow is... Terrifying, but it might be a solution."
Xochi sighs, "They are not tired... they are afraid. Because they do not understand you. They think of their friend, who remains missing, and fear what has happened to her. I do not think things shall come to flame... but I cannot say. But I do know that the right choice to make is rarely the easy one."
Akire shakes her head slightly: "It is not, no... I will do what I must. I did not ask for this, I did not ask to be here." She looks up, looking at the flower in front of her as it wilts somewhat more: "...but I can not fight them. I want to, but I can not."
Tarbin shakes his head slightly, sighing. "There is no reason to fight. We will find your place in this world. Everything Nature touches has purpose, the right to live. Many others may not see it, but I can, how deeply entwined you are in the Flow. This garden was under the care of another, and she will want to return to it. We will find you a greater garden to tend."
Xochi nods, "And you may find that given time, others here will be curious and come to understand you. They will not wish to destroy, but to befriend, once they realize that they have nothing to fear." She chuckles once again, "You may be shocked, but I think the one whose garden this is may be first amongst them, once she returns."
Akire nods along to Tarbin's words, wanting to believe them more than anything. She looks at Xochi in slight surprise, tilting her head: "Do you really think so? After all that, uh... w-whatever caused this, I did, didn't I?"
Tarbin chuckles, nodding as he grows a handful of smaller flowers around Akire's wilted flower. "Very true, the citizens of this town are kind and accepting... For the most part."
Xochi folds her hands in front of her, "They are most accepting. And I think we have come to realize that whatever caused this, be it because of you or not, was not your fault, nor intention. You are not malicous, nor seeking to harm others."
Akire looks at the flower in front of her, motioning her hands idly around it. The flower grows small thorns but also buds up again: "I wish I had your confidence..." She lets out a shuddering sigh: "...I'm afraid. Promise me, really promise me you will help me?"
Tarbin nods, looking at the flower's thorns (as spikes in the Flow cause them to grow) for a moment before turning his face back to Akire. "I vow to help you now and after." A single hardy stem grows up next to the flower, snaking past the thorns and supporting it against the weight of it's blossom.
Xochi glances between the two, then slithers forward to gently place a hand upon blossom as best she can, having no way to perform such a sign of support. "I too make this vow, to help you however I can."
Akire smiles at the both of them warmly: "T-thank you. I know I asked it before, but... y-you probably understand why I'm wary. It's a big thing to worry about." She glances at the flower, and a tiny vine from the flower wraps around Xochi's fingers for a brief second.
Xochi bows her head. "It is. Even if I cannot provide powerful aid, I can at least understand."
Tarbin smiles at Xochi, nodding. "Your confidence is a lot, any doubt cast on the idea that our friend here is a threat will help in the end. I will ask the mage I know, maybe she has some idea of how severing a magic line may effect things."
Akire flows some green magic onto the flower, causing it to grow the biggest it has been during this exchange: "I really hope you can find a solution... I really do."