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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - EVENING
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Gareth sighs a bit as he starts to get his camping kit set up again, some part of his mind vaguely thankful that this entire ordeal is almost over. The prisoners are safe, their flank is secure with Dyvrisse keeping to her word, and the Whisperer has no more Chosen to rely upon with Usid on their side, and Nyzai dead. He hasn't told anyone outside of Sammi, not even Fiora yet since the giraffe went back to town, but he's been starting to long for a break, even as he outwardly strives to be a beacon of strong morale for the rest of the folks nearby.
Kira is fluttering idly nearby, just getting a view from above of the camp as the setup draws to a close and folks begin to settle in. Seeing that Xochi is deep in conversation with one of Usid's pack and a Respite guard, she moves on until she spots Gareth. She angles herself down before perching atop one of his tentpoles. She throws a small salute to one of the de facto leaders of the guard before landing. "Hello Gareth. All is well, I hope?"
Gareth hums curiously, looking up from his pack as he gets some of his camping effects in order, then grins and nods. "Ah, evenin', Kira. Everythin's been goin' just fine, so far. How've ye been holdin' up?" He twists his head a bit to the side rather suddenly to work out a kink, the motion producing a rather audible *pop* from around his neck, "Ngh... that's better..."
Kira blinks at the sound and then laughs a bit. She takes to the air again, fluttering at eye level to Gareth. "Well enough, yes. I still don't like these wide open areas. It feels wrong. There should be trees or hills or the like..."
Gareth chuckles a bit as he rubs the back of his neck, around his shoulders, with a hand. He smiles as he watches Kira fluttering in front of him. "Aye, it's a vulnerable spot, but it looks like things get a bit drier out this way, unlike back towards Respite. I'd prefer a bit o' cover, too, though... and maybe a bit o' shade from the sun."
Kira has made her way into Gareth's shadow as he speaks, taking the wolf's wish to heart. "Yes. I at least can be shaded by larger folk, though." She pauses for a moment to think. "Gareth... is it... wrong to enjoy killing?"
Gareth can't help but smile as he turns to continue chatting with Kira as she flutters over into his shadow. "Aye, any bit o' shade when ye can get it, out here." He tilts his head curiously at the question, "Enjoyin' killin'? Some folks might take a firm stance against the notion, but others... like meself, can revel in the rush o' combat o' the sort that usually results in someone dyin'."
Kira nods back, casting her eyes down. "Back when we fought the flyers... I enjoyed it... stinging them, watching them fade as the poison took hold..." She shakes her head a bit. "It feels wrong, but it's not like my kind are meant to fight at all, so..."
Gareth nods, understanding the feeling. "A taste o' power, especially fer someone who normally wouldn't have a chance o' the sort." He sighs a bit and shakes his head, "I'm not a good sort, like how Fiora is, so I can't preach any sort o' idealistic moral code, but takin' a life is a serious choice."
Gareth crosses his arms loosely and rubs his chin with a hand as he considers. "It's not wrong to enjoy killin'. Fiora could tell ye o' a couple o' times I'd made someone's death a bit more drawn out than necessary... But ye'll want to make damn sure whoever's life yer endin' is deservin' o' such, either by law, or because someone else might die if ye don't, be it yerself or an ally."
Kira nods solemnly. "This... this is war. I would never... at least I don't think I could do it to someone who didn't want to kill me back..." She flutters around a bit as she thinks. "But it felt good... watching them laid low by someone my size."
Gareth sniffs quietly in derision. "Nyzai and her fliers deserved it, considerin' what they did to the caravans and the others. A little retribution fer someone with a lot o' pride, bein' taken out by a slow poison delivered by another, smaller flier." He dips his head respectfully at Kira at that, "I think the two o' us would have made things nice and slow fer her. A bullet in the head would have been a waste."
Kira nods solemnly. "Yes... but soon there will be peace again... I hope anyway." She lands in a shady spot next to Gareth's tent. "But if not, then my blade is ready..."
Gareth nods. "One o' the things good warriors and soldiers want is a time where their skills aren't necessary. I'm hopin' things calm down once the Whisperer... that Xeilrzus or whatever his name is, is dealt with." He shrugs, "O' course... I'll probably go out huntin' fer bounties with Fiora again after a bit o' rest."
Kira smiles up at Gareth. "I just want to get back to my lamps..." She ponders for a moment. "I think when I go, I want to be remembered as a lightbringer, not a killer..."
Gareth thinks on that for a few seconds, then offers Kira a warm smile in turn. "Ye know... to the folks we rescued from the Abyss...? Yer not a killer. Ye were one o' many, many lights in what was probably their darkest weeks." He nods slowly, "To those folks, as well as everyone in Respite that knows ye as the lamplighter, I'm sure ye are a lightbringer, no matter the method."
Kira giggles a bit. "I like that thought. I didn't get much chance to talk with any of them here, but when we get back, I'll try to visit many of them."
Gareth hums. "Mmh, I'm sure they'd love to talk with ye once we all get back. Thankfully, with the Prominence nearby, we'll be headin' back that way soon enough."
Kira flutters up and circles around Gareth. "Yes... hopefully we won't need to fight too much there, but if we do, I'll be ready."
Gareth nods as he watches Kira fluttering around. "Aye, hopefully whatever fight happens will be a quick one." He watches Kira closely for a few moments before adding, "And... don't feel bad about enjoyin' killin' those fliers, Kira, ye hear? Ye've got a good head on yer shoulders, so ye know it's just a proper evenin' o' the playin' field."
Kira lands on Gareth's shoulder and gives a half-hug around his neck. "Thank you for taking my question seriously, Gareth. I think I should go sleep some before my watch."
Gareth smiles at the gentle hug, tilting his head a bit into it. "Yer always welcome, Kira. I'm pretty familiar with this sort o' stuff, so... I'm happy to talk about any concerns o' the sort." He nods, "And aye, a bit o' sleep to keep yer senses nice and sharp. Enjoy yer evenin', Kira."
Kira flutters off with another little salute to Gareth, her mood seeming a bit lighter than before.
Gareth gives Kira a salute in turn and spends a moment or two watching her fly off to sleep before he goes back to getting his little parcel of the camp in order, his own mind centered a bit better after that conversation.