history "Shesu Eve Leaving Joes Cabin":Superheroes

"I've got a thought. How about this?" Joe said. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. There should be enough money in here to cover the flight. The phone will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He glanced up to Sam, and Shesu watched as they shared a brief meaningful look, unreadable to him. Then Sam, who still looked torn and frustrated, sat down, seemingly resigned to Joe's solution.

"I've got a thought. How about this?" Joe said. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. There should be enough money in here to cover the flight. The phone will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He glanced up to Sam, and Shesu watched as they shared a brief meaningful look, unreadable to him. Then, Sam who still looked torn and frustrated, but for lack of any better idea, resigned to Joe's solution.

"I've got a thought. How about this?" Joe said. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. There should be enough money in here to cover the flight. The phone will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He glanced up to Sam, and they shared a brief unreadable look, followed by a sigh from Sam who still looked torn and frustrated, but for lack of any better idea, resigned to Joe's solution.

"I've got a thought. How about this?" Joe said. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. There should be enough money in here to cover the flight. The phone will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He glanced up to Sam, and they shared a brief unreadable look, followed by a sigh from Sam who still looked torn and frustrated, but for lack of any better idea, resigned to Joe's solution.
He looked back to Shesu, who took the envelope and phone from him. "Thank you, Mr. Cooper This is very, very kind of you."
"Wait a second." Joe stood nearby, arms crossed. "That sword… it is far more dangerous than you can know. I don't know if I can let you take it. Your intentions are good, but I've seen the evil that it is capable of. That… //thing// is more than just a sword—it's alive in its own way, and it will keep trying to find someone to wield it. There is no safe way to keep that weapon. You can only delay disaster."

"I've got a thought. How about this?" Joe said. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. There should be enough money in here to cover the flight. The phone will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He glanced up to Sam, who still looked torn and frustrated, but for lack of any better idea, resigned herself to Joe's solution.
He looked back to Shesu, who took the envelope and phone from him. "Thank you, Joseph. This is very, very kind of you."
"Wait a second." Joe stood nearby, arms crossed. "That sword… it is far more dangerous than you can know. I don't know if I can let you take it. Your intentions are good, but I've had friends lost to that sword, both cut down by it and wielding it. That… //thing// is more than just a sword—it's alive in its own way, and it will keep trying to find someone to wield it. There is no safe way to keep that weapon. You can only delay disaster."

"Wait a minute." Sam stood, her mug clanging down onto the wooden table top as she turned towards them across the room. She looked drained, her escape, trek across country, the battle, her wounded husband and the secret departure of two metahumans from under her nose the night before all compounding to heat her usually calm temperament. Eve could see that she had to force herself to stay level. "I can't let you two just go off alone. Besides, I can help get you home and then where ever else you might want to go." She found a smile and continued on in her familiar honest, genuine tone. "Just wait a day or two more. I'll have an Agent here for you, and then you can go safely go wherever you want. You don't need to do this alone. Let me help you. I just need a day."
Shesu looked thoughtful for a moment, but Eve filled in the silence quickly. "I don't really want to wait around," she stated, as much to Shesu as to Sam. "We can take care of ourselves. We won't make any headlines, I promise, but we're leaving now."
Sam kept her eyes locked on Eve, who could see her working to keep her emotions in check. "Alright," Sam said, keeping her eyes from drifting to James in the bed behind her. "Let's pack."
Shesu and Eve turned, shocked. "You would join us?" Shesu asked. Eve thought about objecting, but held her tongue, in order to watch the scene play out.
"Your agent is M.I.A., and I'm here. That means that you're my responsibility now. I have a job to do."
"What about Lara?" Joe asked quietly, leaving Sam's husband's name unspoken.
"She's got you." Sam said to him. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind chaperoning for a bit," she smiled apologetically.
"I'm not going to be able to explain her disappearance to the hospital, let alone any kind of press." Joe said calmly. "It could be a real mess for her." Sam's frown returned, her competing responsibilities tearing at her.
"I've got a thought. How about this?" Joe said. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. There should be enough money in here to cover the flight. The phone will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He glanced up to Sam, who still looked torn and frustrated, but for lack of any better idea, resigned herself to Joe's solution.
He looked back to Shesu, who took the envelope and phone from him. "Thank you, Joseph. This is very, very kind of you."
Eve turned to Shesu, and said, "Good. Now, what about the Deathblade?" Shesu looked at the cabin's bookshelves, where Deathblade lay, still wrapped in Jacob's cloak. "Yes… I don't know. Can it be destroyed?"
"It is too dangerous to leave here," Eve replied. "I don't know how to unmake it. Golem, do you have any ideas?" Golem looked suspiciously at Eve for a moment, then waddled over to the blade, and gazed at it. "Golem do not know for sure, but Golem think that best chance for unmaking is in forge where it made. Very, very strong magic, made by Corrupter himself. Need to take back to volcano. Dangerous, but best chance there."
Eve tossed Shesu's backpack to him. He carried it over to the bookshelves and plopped it on the floor. He considered the sword, still bundled in Jacob's worn and tattered cloak. "We will take it with us, then."
Eve cocked her head sideways, thinking, and then mused out loud, "I don't hear a better plan. We've got Golem, and if anyone can undo that sword, he can. Shesu will carry it, and we already know that can resist its call, should he happen to touch it. I don't see a better way to have this thing destroyed than to let us take it. No disrespect to the Agency, but if they get a hold of it, they'll fall to it just the same as anyone else. You know what happened when the Hand of God got it..."
Joe slumped, the weight of the memories falling on him. "I see your point, yes, but—" However, Eve interrupted him, "And, a small group like us is much less likely to get noticed. You know that there are several of The Lost unaccounted for, and they'll be looking for this sword. A large Agency operation will be an easy target. A small group like the two of us—"
"—yes, the three of us," continued Eve, "would be very hard to notice. We can do it." Shesu nodded in affirmation. "Yes, we can, and I know that we will. Joe, please, entrust me with this sword. I will not disappoint you." He met Joe's eyes, and his firm stare held complete dedication to his task.
Joe saw that he wasn't going to dissuade them. "I admit, you probably have a better chance than the Agency at destroying the sword, and //that// is the thing I'd like to see done. Shesu, you can't ever, //ever// turn your back on that thing, or this chance will be gone. Guard it as you would your book. Guard it like your life. See it destroyed."

Eve turned to Shesu, and said, "Good. Now, what about the Deathblade?" Shesu looked at the cabin's bookshelves, where Deathblade lay, still wrapped in Jacob's cloak. "Yes... I don't know. Can it be destroyed?" Eve replied, "It is too dangerous to leave here. I don't know how to unmake it. Golem, do you have any ideas?" Golem looked suspiciously at Eve for a moment, then waddled over to the blade, and gazed at it. "Golem do not know for sure, but Golem think that best chance for unmaking is in forge where it made. Very, very strong magic, made by Corrupter himself. Need to take back to volcano. Dangerous, but best chance there."
Eve tossed Shesu's backpack to him. He carried it over to the bookshelves and plopped it on the floor. He considered the sword, still bundled in Jacob's worn and tattered cloak. "We will take it with us, then." He slipped the sword into the pack, but it bulged awkwardly, the sword being too long to properly fit. Shesu tried a few different positions, and settled on one where it was not sticking into his back, but the hilt of the sword was just peaking out of the top flap. "This will have to do for now."
Eve cocked her head sideways, thinking, and then mused out loud, "I don't hear a better plan. We've got Golem, and if anyone can undo that sword, he can. Shesu will carry it, and we already know that can resist its call, should he happen to touch it. I don't see a better way to have this thing destroyed than to let us take it. And, I don't hear a better plan from you, either. No disrespect to the Agency, but if they get a hold of it, they'll fall to it just the same as anyone else. You know what happened when the Hand of God got it..."
Joe slumped, the weight of the memories falling on him. "I see your point, yes, but—" However, Eve interrupted him, "And, a small group like us is much less likely to get noticed. You know that there are several of The Lost unaccounted for, and they'll be looking for this sword. A large Agency operation will be an easy target. A small group like the two of us…"
"Yes, the three of us," continued Eve, "would be very hard to notice. We can do it." Shesu nodded in affirmation. "Yes, we can, and I know that we will. Joe, please, entrust me with this sword. I will not disappoint you." He met Joe's eyes, and his firm stare held complete dedication to his task. Joe saw that he wasn't going to dissuade them. "Fine. I admit, you probably have a better chance than the Agency at destroying that thing, and //that// is the thing I'd like to see done. Shesu, you can't ever, //ever// turn your back on that thing, or it will be gone. Guard it as you would your book. Guard it like your life. And see it destroyed." Shesu solemnly nodded.
Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, along with a small tent and sleeping bags, which Joe kindly gave to them. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I'm thankful to you both. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked."
"Now wait a minute." The three of them turned to see Sam eyeing them from James's bedside. She had apparently been listening to their conversation, and was evidently displeased with what she'd heard. "You two know that you can't just go white rabbit on me. If you leave the Agency out in the cold, now you've got both The Lost and the Agency looking for you." She turned, "Joe, you know better than this—they can't just take off with an artifact like that. The director will kill both of us if we let that happen."
Eve glared furiously at Sam, "First of all, I don't care what the director will do to you. Don't be so myopic. This sword is eons older than the Agency, and opportunities to destroy this kind of evil don't come often. If we don't take this chance, then this sword might be around for another millennium, wreaking its destruction across the globe. Now, let me tell you the way it's going to be: Shesu and I are going to walk out of here, and we're taking the Deathblade with us, and there's //nothing// you can do about that. Sooner or later, you are going to have to report to the Agency on what happened, and you'll have a choice. You can either tell them our plans, letting them come after us, and possibly taking, or even worse, losing the sword. That way lies untold death and destruction. Your other option is to get creative, and make up some story. Maybe you say that we slipped out in the nighttime, without mentioning our plans; I don't care. You tell that one lie, and by doing so you help us destroy this thing, saving countless deaths and suffering. If instead you choose mindless duty over common sense and report us, and the Agency doesn't manage to destroy the sword, then you've got the blood of innocents on your hands. What's it going to be?"
Sam stood, "Eve… don't do this!" She looked to Joe, who turned his palms upwards as if weighing the merits in his very hands, and looked back at her and shrugged, resigned. "Sam, I think they're right. I don't trust the Agency on this one, and tactically the two, er, three of them have an advantage over any larger operation. You've got to trust them on this."
Sam sat back down into her chair, "Fine. Just go. I don't want to overhear any more of your plans. This whole idea seems terrible to me, but I can't do anything about it now. But remember, what you said goes both ways. We're trusting you, and you've got a duty to both of us, and to the rest of the world to succeed. Do not fail, or you'll be the one with blood on your hands." She put one hand to her face, massaging her temples, and sighed deeply through gritted teeth.
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<<Kate's version:>>
Shesu and Eve were walking in the woods outside JosephCooper's cabin. The morning had passed slowly, but neither one had any inclination to do much of anything. The nightmare images from the battle at ZaizensTemple temple were still fresh in their minds, and the events of the past weeks weighed heavily on them. They had left the others back at the cabin, and decided to take a walk to clear their heads. The lofty canopy filtered the sunlight as it fell to the forest floor, and as the gentle breeze rustled the treetops, the dappled shadows danced along the leafy duff. There was no path to follow, but the underbrush was light enough that they could walk where they wished. They wandered slowly up a gently sloping incline, towards the top of a short hill overlooking the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I need to do something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-morning. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. Anything."
In his deliberate cadence, Shesu replied, "I have been thinking much the same thing. I was also troubled by what I saw in Zaizen's temple, and the corruption of that place leaves me... unsettled. That place needs someone to heal it, someone to guide it back from his evil to its natural state. I know that the temple must hold special meaning for you, and... it would mean very much to me if you were to come with me, back there, and help me set it right."
"Yes... that place, I don't know what I think about it yet. Part of me feels as if it is my home, and part of me reviles it. I want to make it into something new, something better. I was thinking of a refuge, for metahumans. A safe place, where we could go to be amongst our own kind. A place protected from all of the horrid evil in this world." Eve kicked a rock up the hill ahead of her, and every few steps it rolled back to her, and she kicked it again.
"Yes. And, we will clean it up, together. It may be difficult, but I believe that Golem knows how to unwind the runes and magic that's been laid into that cave." She paused for a moment, forming the phrase in her mind. She spoke deliberately, "I think if you asked nicely, he would come." Shesu looked at her, but she could not keep her face serious for long, and they both burst into laughter at her understatement. "That little one has such a devotion to you. I think he would follow you to hell and back were you to allow him to do so."
Shesu replied, with the laughter still dancing on his voice, "Yes. I fear, though, that this is a case of mistaken identity. He still thinks that I am Matu, whoever that may be."
At that, Eve abruptly was quiet, and looked away sadly. "Ah, yes." She paused, and looked as if she would speak again, but then shook her head.
"Shesu, we should leave, now. We have nothing else to wait for here. Let's head back and pack our bags."
They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found Lara, and Zack, still asleep, the pure effort of the healing having sapped them to the bone. Alex stood by the cabin's single shelf of books, idly paging through a dusty atlas. The smell of fresh braked bread filled their noses as they entered the, and Joe pulled another loaf from the metal box that served for an oven, fueled entirely by the older man's gift. Sam sat by James' bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. James's skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to Alex, followed by Shesu. Alex looked up, and asked, "Hey Shesu, where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see that Alex had the atlas opened to an old atlas map of Nigeria. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Joe walked over, and said, "That was right around where that genocide has been happening, right? Are you worried about your village at all?"
Shesu frowned, "I don't think they would have let it affect them. They're well-hidden in the forest, and only the most determined could find them... I knew the genocide was happening, but I have tried to not let it concern me, as I am banished from there, until..." he trailed off, as a moment of realization came over him, and he laughed. "My quest is complete! I am no longer banished. I can return whenever I want!" He smiled broadly, and bear-hugged Alex and Eve in either arm, picking them up off their feet. He yelped joyfully, "I'm finished! It has been so long... I can go back!" He let them down, took a deep breath, and a look of peace came over him. "I would like to go back, to make sure that they're fine. I would like to see Oso." He turned, "Eve, I know that you very much want to go to the volcano, and so do I. Do you mind, though, if we go to my village on the way? I know you would be welcome there, and I can show you the forest. It is the most beautiful place in the world."
Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that the Left Hand was a sworn enemy of the Ashari, as she had stolen N'Dore from them millennia ago. Were they to remember her transgressions, and recognize her, she would be in serious danger there, and Shesu might be as well. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."
"Wait a minute." Sam stood, her mug clanging down onto the wooden table top as she turned on them from across the room. She looked drained, her escape, trek across country, the battle, her wounded husband and the secret departure of two metahumans from under her nose the night before all compounding to heat her usually calm temperament but she forced herself to stay level. "I can't let you two just go off alone. Besides, I can help get you home and then where ever else you might want to go." She found a smile and continued on in an honest and genuine tone. "Just wait a day or two more. I'll have an Agent here or at very least a set of plane tickets and you can be on your way."
Shesu looked thoughtful for a moment, but Eve filled in the silence quickly. "I don't think waiting is a good idea," she stated crisply towards the Agent, "and we can leave and find our own way back to the village, back to the volcano and do what we want to do on our own."
"I have no doubt your very capable, but you're also very vulnerable out there."
"On the contrary," Eve pressed, "The two of us...
Suddenly, a cry rose from the back of the cabin, breaking into the intensifying discussion. "Matu no go! Matu no leave Golem. Matu stay, Golem no want Matu to leave!" The stone creature ran across the wooden floor to where Shesu stood, and firmly attached himself to Shesu's leg. Golem buried his head in Shesu's pants leg, and chanted "Matu, Matu, Matu stay, no leave Golem... Matu...." Shesu and Eve looked down, and couldn't help but laugh, and Shesu gently pried Golem's arms from his leg. He looked up at Sam before turning back to the creature, the Agent's lips pursing with a bit of restraint. "Golem, Eve and I are leaving, yes, but we would like you to come with us. We are going back to the volcano, and we need your help to clean it, to remove the evil magic from that place. Will you come with us?" Golem's face lit up, and he jumped into Shesu's arms, nearly knocking him over with his weight. "Yes! Golem come, Golem want to be with Matu... Shesu... Golem come with, help, clean, can unwind the magic. Golem help to clean, and Shesu keep Golem safe." Shesu smiled, and put the creature down, who immediately began rolling up a piece of newspaper as if it were a sleeping bag. He placed it next to Shesu's rolled sleeping bag, and looked up, "Golem ready now."
"The three of us," Eve picked up even before Sam could interject, "are going to be able to move faster and with less notice on our own. We don't need your help, Agent." The young woman crossed her arms with determination.
Sam took a deep breath but it was Joe this time that intervened. "Sam," he said in his calm voice. "I don't think the Agency's going to be able to ride in on this one." They shared a look, Sams of frustration while Joes was a mix of resignation and the embers of a fire that had rekindled in the recent battle. Sam sighed, then turned back to the two, make that three, itching to depart.
"Alright." She said, keeping her eyes locked on them but underneath her emotions boiled as she kept her eyes from drifting to James in the bed behind her. "Let's pack."
Shesu and Eve turned surprised. "You would join us?" Shesu asked.
"I have a job to do, Shesu, and I don't take it lightly."
"What about Lara?" Joe asked quietly, the other name left unspoken.
"She's got you." Sam said to him with a thin smile.
"I'm not going to be able to explain her disappearance to the hospital, let alone any kind of press." Joe said calmly. "It could be a real mess for her." Sam's frown returned, the choices tearing at her.
"How about this," Joe continued. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. That should cover the flight. And this will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He shared a look with the shorter man then glanced up to Sam who still looked torn and frustrated but resigned to the situation.
Eve turned to Shesu, and said, "Good. Now, what about the Deathblade?" Shesu looked at the cabin's bookshelves, where Deathblade lay, still wrapped in Jacob's cloak.
"Yes..."
Joe frowned, "You want to take the sword?"
"Yes, I think so." repeated Shesu before turning back to Eve, "Can it be destroyed?"
Eve replied, "It is too dangerous to leave here. I don't know how to unmake it. Golem, do you have any ideas?" Golem looked suspiciously at Eve for a moment, then waddled over to the blade, and gazed at it.
"Golem do not know for sure, but Golem think that best chance for unmaking is in forge where it made. Very, very strong magic, made by Corrupter himself. Need to take back to volcano. Dangerous, but best chance there."
Eve tossed Shesu's backpack to him. He carried it over to the bookshelves and plopped it on the floor. He considered the sword, still bundled in Jacob's worn and tattered cloak. "We will take it with us, then." He slipped the sword into the pack, but it bulged awkwardly, the sword being too long to properly fit.
"Joe..." said Sam with some restraint.
"I think they're right," Joe said after a moment. "It needs to be destroyed." He took a deep breath adding, "Out of this nettle - danger - we pluck this flower - safety." almost at a whisper.
Shesu tried a few different positions, and settled on one where it was not sticking into his back, but the hilt of the sword was just peaking out of the top flap. "This will have to do for now." When he was finished he looked up, satisfied and eager to be on the road. In the meantime Eve had also gathered her things and they nodded to one another.
Alex for her part had watched and listened, hugged the atlas to her and waited on one of the stools in silence. She looked over at both of them and tried to look encouraging through the sadness that clouded her face. "I can't believe you're going back..." she started quietly.
Both Shesu and Eve moved over to her, each giving a hug in turn. "You could come with us." Shesu suggested but Alex shook her head.
"No," she said after a moment. "I don't think I should. There's a life I have to get cleaned up first and," she shrugged tiredly, "that's not in Nigeria or even a volcanoe. I just hope..." she let the words drift.
"We will see eachother again," Shesu said with steady certainty and the three shared a smile. "Will you tell the others?" he asked, glancing over at the two still out cold on the cabin floor.
"She'd want you to wake her up," Sam said quietly. Shesu looked over at the Agent who shrugged and tossed him a small vial. "Smelling salts," she explained then turned to sit at her husbands side while Shesu moved to kneel down by Lara. He jostled her shoulder gently but with no effect, then uncapped the vial carefully and held it for a moment under her nose.
Her eyes flashed open for an instant as she reacted to the aroma then she fell back limply, her eyes straining to stay open. Her spastic movement knocked into Zack who rolled and seemed to come back to reality at her side. She caught Shesu's close and concerned face and smiled loosely. "Shesu?"
He gave them both a wide grin, pleased at this opportunity. "We wanted to say farewell."
"To where do you depart?" Asked a Zack through a groggy haze.
"I am going home." Shesu answered, then glanced at Eve who had come to kneel at his side. "Then we are going to clean up what we left behind."
"Home..." murmured Lara, obviously still not quite clear on the situation.
"Patience, my friend," said Zack, working to sit up and knock the cobwebs clear from his mind. "Together we can remedy all of this."
"We are just getting a head start," Eve said gently.
"Yes," Shesu nodded, "We will be in touch and you can join us when you are rested and your own quest is completed." The two shared a serious look and Zack nodded even as he ran a tired hand through his hair and looked about the cabin, regaining some understanding of his surroundings. "Take care of yourselves." Shesu said with some finality.
Lara looked up at him with a groggy grin and managed to pat at his hand, "You too," before fainting back into darkness.
With that Shesu and Eve shouldered their belongings and those Joe had generously donated to their trek. Even Sam nodded to them as they finished arranging themselves to depart. As Joe held open the cabin door, Golem climbed upon to Shesu's shoulder, bouncing with youthful energy as they stepped out into the morning light and began their newest adventure.

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<<Kate's version:>>
Shesu and Eve were walking in the woods outside JosephCooper's cabin. The morning had passed slowly, but neither one had any inclination to do much of anything. The nightmare images from the battle at ZaizensTemple temple were still fresh in their minds, and the events of the past weeks weighed heavily on them. They had left the others back at the cabin, and decided to take a walk to clear their heads. The lofty canopy filtered the sunlight as it fell to the forest floor, and as the gentle breeze rustled the treetops, the dappled shadows danced along the leafy duff. There was no path to follow, but the underbrush was light enough that they could walk where they wished. They wandered slowly up a gently sloping incline, towards the top of a short hill overlooking the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I need to do something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-morning. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. Anything."
In his deliberate cadence, Shesu replied, "I have been thinking much the same thing. I was also troubled by what I saw in Zaizen's temple, and the corruption of that place leaves me... unsettled. That place needs someone to heal it, someone to guide it back from his evil to its natural state. I know that the temple must hold special meaning for you, and... it would mean very much to me if you were to come with me, back there, and help me set it right."
"Yes... that place, I don't know what I think about it yet. Part of me feels as if it is my home, and part of me reviles it. I want to make it into something new, something better. I was thinking of a refuge, for metahumans. A safe place, where we could go to be amongst our own kind. A place protected from all of the horrid evil in this world." Eve kicked a rock up the hill ahead of her, and every few steps it rolled back to her, and she kicked it again.
"Yes. And, we will clean it up, together. It may be difficult, but I believe that Golem knows how to unwind the runes and magic that's been laid into that cave." She paused for a moment, forming the phrase in her mind. She spoke deliberately, "I think if you asked nicely, he would come." Shesu looked at her, but she could not keep her face serious for long, and they both burst into laughter at her understatement. "That little one has such a devotion to you. I think he would follow you to hell and back were you to allow him to do so."
Shesu replied, with the laughter still dancing on his voice, "Yes. I fear, though, that this is a case of mistaken identity. He still thinks that I am Matu, whoever that may be."
At that, Eve abruptly was quiet, and looked away sadly. "Ah, yes." She paused, and looked as if she would speak again, but then shook her head.
"Shesu, we should leave, now. We have nothing else to wait for here. Let's head back and pack our bags."
They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found Lara, and Zack, still asleep, the pure effort of the healing having sapped them to the bone. Alex stood by the cabin's single shelf of books, idly paging through a dusty atlas. The smell of fresh braked bread filled their noses as they entered the, and Joe pulled another loaf from the metal box that served for an oven, fueled entirely by the older man's gift. Sam sat by James' bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. James's skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to Alex, followed by Shesu. Alex looked up, and asked, "Hey Shesu, where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see that Alex had the atlas opened to an old atlas map of Nigeria. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Joe walked over, and said, "That was right around where that genocide has been happening, right? Are you worried about your village at all?"
Shesu frowned, "I don't think they would have let it affect them. They're well-hidden in the forest, and only the most determined could find them... I knew the genocide was happening, but I have tried to not let it concern me, as I am banished from there, until..." he trailed off, as a moment of realization came over him, and he laughed. "My quest is complete! I am no longer banished. I can return whenever I want!" He smiled broadly, and bear-hugged Alex and Eve in either arm, picking them up off their feet. He yelped joyfully, "I'm finished! It has been so long... I can go back!" He let them down, took a deep breath, and a look of peace came over him. "I would like to go back, to make sure that they're fine. I would like to see Oso." He turned, "Eve, I know that you very much want to go to the volcano, and so do I. Do you mind, though, if we go to my village on the way? I know you would be welcome there, and I can show you the forest. It is the most beautiful place in the world."
Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that the Left Hand was a sworn enemy of the Ashari, as she had stolen N'Dore from them millennia ago. Were they to remember her transgressions, and recognize her, she would be in serious danger there, and Shesu might be as well. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."
"Wait a minute." Sam stood, her mug clanging down onto the wooden table top as she turned on them from across the room. She looked drained, her escape, trek across country, the battle, her wounded husband and the secret departure of two metahumans from under her nose the night before all compounding to heat her usually calm temperament but she forced herself to stay level. "I can't let you two just go off alone. Besides, I can help get you home and then where ever else you might want to go." She found a smile and continued on in an honest and genuine tone. "Just wait a day or two more. I'll have an Agent here or at very least a set of plane tickets and you can be on your way."
Shesu looked thoughtful for a moment, but Eve filled in the silence quickly. "I don't think waiting is a good idea," she stated crisply towards the Agent, "and we can leave and find our own way back to the village, back to the volcano and do what we want to do on our own."
"I have no doubt your very capable, but you're also very vulnerable out there."
"On the contrary," Eve pressed, "The two of us...
Suddenly, a cry rose from the back of the cabin, breaking into the intensifying discussion. "Matu no go! Matu no leave Golem. Matu stay, Golem no want Matu to leave!" The stone creature ran across the wooden floor to where Shesu stood, and firmly attached himself to Shesu's leg. Golem buried his head in Shesu's pants leg, and chanted "Matu, Matu, Matu stay, no leave Golem... Matu...." Shesu and Eve looked down, and couldn't help but laugh, and Shesu gently pried Golem's arms from his leg. He looked up at Sam before turning back to the creature, the Agent's lips pursing with a bit of restraint. "Golem, Eve and I are leaving, yes, but we would like you to come with us. We are going back to the volcano, and we need your help to clean it, to remove the evil magic from that place. Will you come with us?" Golem's face lit up, and he jumped into Shesu's arms, nearly knocking him over with his weight. "Yes! Golem come, Golem want to be with Matu... Shesu... Golem come with, help, clean, can unwind the magic. Golem help to clean, and Shesu keep Golem safe." Shesu smiled, and put the creature down, who immediately began rolling up a piece of newspaper as if it were a sleeping bag. He placed it next to Shesu's rolled sleeping bag, and looked up, "Golem ready now."
"The three of us," Eve picked up even before Sam could interject, "are going to be able to move faster and with less notice on our own. We don't need your help, Agent." The young woman crossed her arms with determination.
Sam took a deep breath but it was Joe this time that intervened. "Sam," he said in his calm voice. "I don't think the Agency's going to be able to ride in on this one." They shared a look, Sams of frustration while Joes was a mix of resignation and the embers of a fire that had rekindled in the recent battle. Sam sighed, then turned back to the two, make that three, itching to depart.
"Alright." She said, keeping her eyes locked on them but underneath her emotions boiled as she kept her eyes from drifting to James in the bed behind her. "Let's pack."
Shesu and Eve turned surprised. "You would join us?" Shesu asked.
"I have a job to do, Shesu, and I don't take it lightly."
"What about Lara?" Joe asked quietly, the other name left unspoken.
"She's got you." Sam said to him with a thin smile.
"I'm not going to be able to explain her disappearance to the hospital, let alone any kind of press." Joe said calmly. "It could be a real mess for her." Sam's frown returned, the choices tearing at her.
"How about this," Joe continued. He went over and opened an almost hidden wall closet, masterfully incorporated into the hand built structure. Within were a variety of supplies that contrasted sharply with the rustic decor and setting. He stepped inside and returned with a phone and a large, thick envelope. He held them both out to Shesu. "There's a path down to the highway across the clearning. Follow that and you should be able to catch a ride into Portland. That should cover the flight. And this will keep you in contact with us. If you need anything, all you have to do is call." He shared a look with the shorter man then glanced up to Sam who still looked torn and frustrated but resigned to the situation.
Eve turned to Shesu, and said, "Good. Now, what about the Deathblade?" Shesu looked at the cabin's bookshelves, where Deathblade lay, still wrapped in Jacob's cloak.
"Yes..."
Joe frowned, "You want to take the sword?"
"Yes, I think so." repeated Shesu before turning back to Eve, "Can it be destroyed?"
Eve replied, "It is too dangerous to leave here. I don't know how to unmake it. Golem, do you have any ideas?" Golem looked suspiciously at Eve for a moment, then waddled over to the blade, and gazed at it.
"Golem do not know for sure, but Golem think that best chance for unmaking is in forge where it made. Very, very strong magic, made by Corrupter himself. Need to take back to volcano. Dangerous, but best chance there."
Eve tossed Shesu's backpack to him. He carried it over to the bookshelves and plopped it on the floor. He considered the sword, still bundled in Jacob's worn and tattered cloak. "We will take it with us, then." He slipped the sword into the pack, but it bulged awkwardly, the sword being too long to properly fit.
"Joe..." said Sam with some restraint.
"I think they're right," Joe said after a moment. "It needs to be destroyed." He took a deep breath adding, "Out of this nettle - danger - we pluck this flower - safety." almost at a whisper.
Shesu tried a few different positions, and settled on one where it was not sticking into his back, but the hilt of the sword was just peaking out of the top flap. "This will have to do for now." When he was finished he looked up, satisfied and eager to be on the road. In the meantime Eve had also gathered her things and they nodded to one another.
Alex for her part had watched and listened, hugged the atlas to her and waited on one of the stools in silence. She looked over at both of them and tried to look encouraging through the sadness that clouded her face. "I can't believe you're going back..." she started quietly.
Both Shesu and Eve moved over to her, each giving a hug in turn. "You could come with us." Shesu suggested but Alex shook her head.
"No," she said after a moment. "I don't think I should. There's a life I have to get cleaned up first and," she shrugged tiredly, "that's not in Nigeria or even a volcanoe. I just hope..." she let the words drift.
"We will see eachother again," Shesu said with steady certainty and the three shared a smile. "Will you tell the others?" he asked, glancing over at the two still out cold on the cabin floor.
"She'd want you to wake her up," Sam said quietly. Shesu looked over at the Agent who shrugged and tossed him a small vial. "Smelling salts," she explained then turned to sit at her husbands side while Shesu moved to kneel down by Lara. He jostled her shoulder gently but with no effect, then uncapped the vial carefully and held it for a moment under her nose.
Her eyes flashed open for an instant as she reacted to the aroma then she fell back limply, her eyes straining to stay open. Her spastic movement knocked into Zack who rolled and seemed to come back to reality at her side. She caught Shesu's close and concerned face and smiled loosely. "Shesu?"
He gave them both a wide grin, pleased at this opportunity. "We wanted to say farewell."
"To where do you depart?" Asked a Zack through a groggy haze.
"I am going home." Shesu answered, then glanced at Eve who had come to kneel at his side. "Then we are going to clean up what we left behind."
"Home..." murmured Lara, obviously still not quite clear on the situation.
"Patience, my friend," said Zack, working to sit up and knock the cobwebs clear from his mind. "Together we can remedy all of this."
"We are just getting a head start," Eve said gently.
"Yes," Shesu nodded, "We will be in touch and you can join us when you are rested and your own quest is completed." The two shared a serious look and Zack nodded even as he ran a tired hand through his hair and looked about the cabin, regaining some understanding of his surroundings. "Take care of yourselves." Shesu said with some finality.
Lara looked up at him with a groggy grin and managed to pat at his hand, "You too," before fainting back into darkness.
With that Shesu and Eve shouldered their belongings and those Joe had generously donated to their trek. Even Sam nodded to them as they finished arranging themselves to depart. As Joe held open the cabin door, Golem climbed upon to Shesu's shoulder, bouncing with youthful energy as they stepped out into the morning light and began their newest adventure.

~~**added comment**~~

**added comment**

Eve walked over to Alex, followed by Shesu. Alex looked up, and asked, "Hey Shesu, where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see that Alex had the atlas opened to an old atlas map of Nigeria. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Suddenly, a cry rose from the back of the cabin, "Matu no go! Matu no leave Golem. Matu stay, Golem no want Matu to leave!" The stone creature ran across the wooden floor to where Shesu stood, and firmly attached himself to Shesu's leg. Golem buried his head in Shesu's pants leg, and chanted "Matu, Matu, Matu stay, no leave Golem... Matu...." Shesu and Eve looked down, and laughed, and Shesu gently pried Golem's arms from his leg. He knelt down, and looked at the little creature. "Golem, Eve and I are leaving, yes, but we would like you to come with us. We are going back to the volcano, and we need your help to clean it, to remove the evil magic from that place. Will you come with us?" Golem's face lit up, and he jumped into Shesu's arms, nearly knocking him over with his weight. "Yes! Golem come, Golem want to be with Matu... Shesu... Golem come with, help, clean, can unwind the magic. Golem help to clean, and Shesu keep Golem safe." Shesu smiled, and put the creature down, who immediately began rolling up a piece of newspaper as if it were a sleeping bag. He placed it next to Shesu's rolled sleeping bag, and looked up, "Golem ready now."
"Now wait a minute." The three of them turned to see Sam eyeing them from James's bedside. She had apparently been listening to their conversation, and was evidently displeased with what she'd heard. "You two know that you can't just go white rabbit on me. If you leave the Agency out in the cold, now you've got both The Lost and the Agency looking for you." She turned, "Joe, you know better than this—they can't just take off with an artifact like that. The director will kill both of us if we let that happen."
Eve glared furiously at Sam, "First of all, I don't care what the director will do to you. Don't be so myopic. This sword is eons older than the Agency, and opportunities to destroy this kind of evil don't come often. If we don't take this chance, then this sword might be around for another millennium, wreaking its destruction across the globe. Now, let me tell you the way it's going to be: Shesu and I are going to walk out of here, and we're taking the Deathblade with us, and there's //nothing// you can do about that. Sooner or later, you are going to have to report to the Agency on what happened, and you'll have a choice. You can either tell them our plans, letting them come after us, and possibly taking, or even worse, losing the sword. That way lies untold death and destruction. Your other option is to get creative, and make up some story. Maybe you say that we slipped out in the nighttime, without mentioning our plans; I don't care. You tell that one lie, and by doing so you help us destroy this thing, saving countless deaths and suffering. If instead you choose mindless duty over common sense and report us, and the Agency doesn't manage to destroy the sword, then you've got the blood of innocents on your hands. What's it going to be?"
Sam stood, "Eve… don't do this!" She looked to Joe, who turned his palms upwards as if weighing the merits in his very hands, and looked back at her and shrugged, resigned. "Sam, I think they're right. I don't trust the Agency on this one, and tactically the two, er, three of them have an advantage over any larger operation. You've got to trust them on this."
Sam sat back down into her chair, "Fine. Just go. I don't want to overhear any more of your plans. This whole idea seems terrible to me, but I can't do anything about it now. But remember, what you said goes both ways. We're trusting you, and you've got a duty to both of us, and to the rest of the world to succeed. Do not fail, or you'll be the one with blood on your hands." She put one hand to her face, massaging her temples, and sighed deeply through gritted teeth.

Eve walked over to Alex, followed by Shesu. Alex looked up, and asked, "Hey Shesu, where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see an old atlas map of Nigeria spread out on the table. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Suddenly, a cry rose from the back of the cabin, "Matu no go! Matu no leave Golem. Matu stay, Golem no want Matu to leave!" The stone creature ran across the wooden floor to where Shesu stood, and firmly attached himself to Shesu's leg. Golem buried his head in Shesu's pants leg, and chanted "Matu, Matu, Matu stay, no leave Golem... Matu...." Shesu and Eve looked down, and laughed, and Shesu gently pried Golem's arms from his leg. He knelt down, and looked at the little creature. "Golem, Eve and I are leaving, yes, but we would like you to come with us. We are going back to the volcano, and we need your help to clean it, to remove the evil magic from that place. Will you come with us?" Golem's face lit up, and he jumped into Shesu's arms, nearly knocking him over with his weight. "Yes! Golem come, Golem want to be with Matu... Shesu... Golem come with, help, clean, can unwind the magic. Golem help to clean, and Shesu keep Golem safe." Shesu smiled, and put the creature down, who immediately began rolling up a piece of newspaper as if it were a sleeping bag. He placed it next to Shesu's rolled sleeping bag, and looked up, "Golem ready."

They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found Lara, and Zack, still asleep, the pure effort of the healing having sapped them to the bone. Alex stood by the cabin's single shelf of books, idly paging through a dusty atlas. The smell of fresh braked bread filled their noses as they entered the, and Joe pulled another loaf from the metal box that served for an oven, fueled entirely by the older man's gift. Sam sat by James' bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. James's skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to Alex, followed by Shesu. Alex looked up, and asked, "Hey Shesu, where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see an old atlas map of Nigeria spread out on the table. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Joe walked over, and said, "That was right around where that genocide has been happening, right? Are you worried about your village at all?" Shesu frowned, "I don't think they would have let it affect them. They're well-hidden in the forest, and only the most determined could find them... I knew the genocide was happening, but I have tried to not let it concern me, as I am banished from there, until..." he trailed off, as a moment of realization came over him, and he laughed. "My quest is complete! I am no longer banished. I can return whenever I want!" He smiled broadly, and bear-hugged Alex and Eve in either arm, picking them up off their feet. He yelped joyfully, "I'm finished! It has been so long... I can go back!" He let them down, took a deep breath, and a look of peace came over him. "I would like to go back, to make sure that they're fine. I would like to see Oso."
Alex and Joe looked confused. Alex spoke up first, "Wait, you're leaving? Now?" Eve replied quietly, "Sorry to be sudden about this, but yes, Shesu and I are going to take off. We're going to head back to the volcano, to try to rehabilitate it. This isn't goodbye forever, though, we're—"
"Wait a second." Joe stood nearby, arms crossed. "That sword… it is far more dangerous than you can know. I don't know if I can let you take it. Your intentions are good, but I've had friends lost to that sword, both cut down by it and wielding it. That… //thing// is more than just a sword—it's alive in its own way, and it will keep trying to find someone to wield it. There is no safe way to keep that weapon. You can only delay disaster."
Eve cocked her head sideways, thinking, and then mused out loud, "I don't hear a better plan. We've got Golem, and if anyone can undo that sword, he can. Shesu will carry it, and we already know that can resist its call, should he happen to touch it. I don't see a better way to have this thing destroyed than to let us take it. And, I don't hear a better plan from you, either. No disrespect to the Agency, but if they get a hold of it, they'll fall to it just the same as anyone else. You know what happened when the Hand of God got it..."
Joe slumped, the weight of the memories falling on him. "I see your point, yes, but—" However, Eve interrupted him, "And, a small group like us is much less likely to get noticed. You know that there are several of The Lost unaccounted for, and they'll be looking for this sword. A large Agency operation will be an easy target. A small group like the two of us…"
Golem chimed in, "Three of us!"
"Yes, the three of us," continued Eve, "would be very hard to notice. We can do it." Shesu nodded in affirmation. "Yes, we can, and I know that we will. Joe, please, entrust me with this sword. I will not disappoint you." He met Joe's eyes, and his firm stare held complete dedication to his task. Joe saw that he wasn't going to dissuade them. "Fine. I admit, you probably have a better chance than the Agency at destroying that thing, and //that// is the thing I'd like to see done. Shesu, you can't ever, //ever// turn your back on that thing, or it will be gone. Guard it as you would your book. Guard it like your life. And see it destroyed." Shesu solemnly nodded.
Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, along with a small tent and sleeping bags, which Joe kindly gave to them. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I'm thankful to you both. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked."

They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found **Lara, and Zack, still asleep, the pure effort of the healing having sapped them to the bone.** Alex stood alone, **well alone save for Mu who was being idly stroked on her lap as she drank some fresh tea. The smell of fresh braked bread assaulted their senses as they entered the cabin, as Joe pulled another loaf from the metal box that served the small cabin for an oven, fueled entirely by the older man's gift.** Sam sat by James' bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. She was sitting near James, who was sleeping. His skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to the table, followed by Shesu. She spoke quietly, so as not to disturb James. "Shesu and I are going to take off. Thanks, for all you have done. We're going to head back to the volcano, to try to rehabilitate it."
>>**Some thoughts here, the other characters are too nice to have you announce where you are going then just let you go, I think we need to tweak something here, maybe you can see the scene though the window and not want to disturb it or something. I like the story, but plot wise we cant have Joe and Lara tagging along. =)**
JWP: I'll work on that, but I don't think Shesu would leave without saying goodbye. I'll have to have some way to convince Alex, Zack & Lara (I don't think he cares too much about Sam/James) that she should stay, and that they'd meet up later. I do need the subject of the Ashari village to come up here, because I want Shesu to realize that his quest is done.
**Your story, but I think it might be interesting to have Eve stop Shesu from entering "They look so happy, lets not bother them." and Eve can bring up the village. "What about your Village Shesu, didn't it get attacked?" I think it might make for a cool story to have the reader have some doubt as to if Eve is manipulating poor trusting Shesu, and if she is really as reformed as she says she is.
It might also work as a justification to have Shesu be worried about his village and not wanting to force his friends into danger, so he leaves as an altruistic gesture.
Note, also, Sam is a cool Agent, but you are technically going white rabbit here, and I know Shesu doesn't care about that, but it is something to note and is something to which he would be aware, if he goes in there, hes prolly coming out with an Agent, weather he wants one or not.**
>>
The four of them looked up from their map, and Alex met Shesu's eyes, and asked, "Hey Shesu, before you go... where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see an old atlas map of Nigeria spread out on the table. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Joe said, "That was right around where that genocide has been happening, right? Are you worried about your village at all?" Shesu frowned, "I don't think they would have let it affect them. They're well-hidden in the forest, and only the most determined could find them... I knew the genocide was happening, but I have tried to not let it concern me, as I am banished from there, until..." he trailed off, as a moment of realization came over him, and he laughed. "My quest is complete! I am no longer banished. I can return whenever I want!" He smiled broadly, and bear-hugged Alex and Lara in either arm, picking them up off their feet. He yelped joyfully, "I'm finished! It has been so long... I can go back!" He let them down, took a deep breath, and a look of peace came over him. "I would like to go back, to make sure that they're fine. I would like to see Oso."
>>**Joe would have some words here, he has a history with the blade, though I don't know how this plays out based on my above comment.**>>
Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, along with a small tent and sleeping bags, which Joe kindly gave to them. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I'm thankful to you both. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked." They thanked him, and hugged Lara, Alex and Sam goodbye.

**Your story, but I think it might be interesting to have Eve stop Shesu from entering "They look so happy, lets not bother them." and Eve can bring up the village. "What about your Village Shesu, didn't it get attacked?" I think it might make for a cool story to have the reader have some doubt as to if Eve is manipulating poor trusting Shesu, and if she is really as reformed as she says she is.
It might also work as a justification to have Shesu be worried about his village and not wanting to force his friends into danger, so he leaves as an altruistic gesture.
Note, also, Sam is a cool Agent, but you are technically going white rabbit here, and I know Shesu doesn't care about that, but it is something to note and is something to which he would be aware, if he goes in there, hes prolly coming out with an Agent, weather he wants one or not.**

Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. Abdul stood by the edge of the lake, and Jacob's wing light cast his long shadow across the sliver-blue surface. Shesu and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing in places and withering in others, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
With that said, he turned to look at Abdul, who quietly said, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full breadth. He took a few moments to stretch them taking off into the air. Abdul paused a moment, then flexed his fist. Shesu could hear the faint hum of electricity as Abdul's body scattered into electrons, leaving a green, hovering glow. The shimmering ball moved up to Jacob's wings, and the air nearby seemed to dance with his energy. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops, leaving only the faint smell of ozone behind.
>>**Some thoughts here, the other characters are too nice to have you announce where you are going then just let you go, I think we need to tweak something here, maybe you can see the scene though the window and not want to disturb it or something. I like the story, but plot wise we cant have Joe and Lara tagging along. =)**
JWP: I'll work on that, but I don't think Shesu would leave without saying goodbye. I'll have to have some way to convince Alex, Zack & Lara (I don't think he cares too much about Sam/James) that she should stay, and that they'd meet up later. I do need the subject of the Ashari village to come up here, because I want Shesu to realize that his quest is done.
>>

Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. **Abdul stood at the edge of the lake, standing proud and tall, Jacob's wing light casting his shadow long across the blue sliver surface.** Shesu and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing in places and withering in others, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
With that said, he turned to look at Abdul, who quietly said, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full breadth. He took a few moments to stretch them taking off into the air. **Abdul paused a moment then flexed his fist and with a crack transformed into a lighting bolt that shot up and danced around Jacob's wings.** The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops. **Leaving only the faint smell of ozone behind.**
>>**Some thoughts here, the other characters are too nice to have you announce where you are going then just let you go, I think we need to tweak something here, maybe you can see the scene though the window and not want to disturb it or something. I like the story, but plot wise we cant have Joe and Lara tagging along. =)**>>

They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found **Lara, and Zack, still asleep, the pure effort of the healing having sapped them to the bone.** Alex stood alone, **well alone save for Mu who was being idly stroked on her lap as she drank some fresh tea. The smell of fresh braked bread assaulted their senses as they entered the cabin, as Joe pulled another loaf from the metal box that served the small cabin for an oven, fueled entirely by the older man's gift.** Sam sat by James' bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. She was sitting near James, who was sleeping. His skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to the table, followed by Shesu. She spoke quietly, so as not to disturb James. "Shesu and I are going to take off. Thanks, for all you have done. We're going to head back to the volcano, to try to rehabilitate it."
>>**Some thoughts here, the other characters are too nice to have you announce where you are going then just let you go, I think we need to tweak something here, maybe you can see the scene though the window and not want to disturb it or something. I like the story, but plot wise we cant have Joe and Lara tagging along. =)**>>
The four of them looked up from their map, and Alex met Shesu's eyes, and asked, "Hey Shesu, before you go... where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see an old atlas map of Nigeria spread out on the table. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
>>**Joe would have some words here, he has a history with the blade, though I don't know how this plays out based on my above comment.**>>

They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found Lara, Zack, Alex and Joe crowded around the table, discussing a map, while Sam sat by James's bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. She was sitting near James, who was sleeping. His skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to the table, followed by Shesu. She spoke quietly, so as not to disturb James. "Shesu and I are going to take off. Thanks, for all you have done. We're going to head back to the volcano, to try to rehabilitate it." The four of them looked up from their map, and Alex met Shesu's eyes, and asked, "Hey Shesu, before you go... where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see an old atlas map of Nigeria spread out on the table. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."

Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. **Abdul stood at the edge of the lake, standing proud and tall, Jacob's wing light casting his shadow long across the blue sliver surface.** Shesu and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing in places and withering in others, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
With that said, he turned to look at Abdul, who quietly said, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full breadth. He took a few moments to stretch them taking off into the air. **Abdul paused a moment then flexed his fist and with a crack transformed into a lighting bolt that shot up and danced around Jacob's wings.** The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops. **Leaving only the faint smell of ozone behind.**

Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. He and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing in places and withering in others, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
With that said, he turned to look at Abdul, who quietly said, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full breadth. He took a few moments to stretch them before scooping Abdul onto his wings. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops.

Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that the Left Hand was a sworn enemy of the Ashari, as she had stolen N'Dore from them millennia ago. Were they to remember her transgressions, and recognize her, she would be in serious danger there, and Shesu might be as well. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."

>>Argh, fact check FAIL. The left hand didn't do this, the Lost did (see [[NDore]]). I don't know how much Eve knows about what happened there, but probably nothing. Kel/Ann, let me know what Eve might think about going to the Ashari Village. **This is not correct, the timeline needs to be updated, N'Dore does not get captured by the Lost, but the village is sieged, but not in 2003. I will try and figure out facts and update.**>>Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that not only had the devastation touched the Ashari Village, but the Left Hand herself had orchestrated the genocide, stolen N'Dore, and razed the village. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."

Eve tossed Shesu's backpack to him. He carried it over to the bookshelves and plopped it on the floor. He considered the sword, still bundled in Jacob's worn and tattered cloak. "We will take it with us, then." He slipped the sword into the pack, but it bulged awkwardly, the sword being too long to properly fit. Shesu tried a few different positions, and settled on one where it was not sticking into his back, but the hilt of the sword was just peaking out of the top flap. "This will have to do for now."
Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, along with a small tent and sleeping bags, which Joe kindly gave to them. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I'm thankful to you both. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked." They thanked him, and hugged Lara, Alex and Sam goodbye.

Shesu took the ancient sword off the shelf, and placed it next to his belongings. "We will take it with us, then." Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, along with a small tent and sleeping bags, which Joe kindly gave to them. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I am thankful for it. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked." They thanked him, and hugged Lara, Alex and Sam goodbye.
----
Notes:
- Need to edit the last scene of this chapter a bit - this is an ok draft for fact-checking, tho.

>>Argh, fact check FAIL. The left hand didn't do this, the Lost did (see [[NDore]]). I don't know how much Eve knows about what happened there, but probably nothing. Kel/Ann, let me know what Eve might think about going to the Ashari Village. **This is not correct, the timeline needs to be updated, N'Dore does not get captured by the Lost, but the village is sieged, but not in 2003. I will try and figure out facts and update.**>>Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that not only had the devastation touched the Ashari Village, but the Left Hand herself had orchestrated the genocide, stolen N'Dore, and razed the village. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."

>>Argh, fact check FAIL. The left hand didn't do this, the Lost did (see [[NDore]]). I don't know how much Eve knows about what happened there, but probably nothing. Kel/Ann, let me know what Eve might think about going to the Ashari Village.>>Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that not only had the devastation touched the Ashari Village, but the Left Hand herself had orchestrated the genocide, stolen N'Dore, and razed the village. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."

Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that not only had the devastation touched the Ashari Village, but the Left Hand herself had orchestrated the genocide, stolen N'Dore, and razed the village. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."

Shesu took the ancient sword off the shelf, and placed it next to his belongings. "We will take it with us, then." Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, along with a small tent and sleeping bags, which Joe kindly gave to them. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I am thankful for it. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked." They thanked him, and hugged Lara, Alex and Sam goodbye.

Shesu took the ancient sword off the shelf, and placed it next to his belongings. "We will take it with us, then." Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, and Joe kindly lent them a small tent and sleeping bags. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I am thankful for it. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked." They thanked him, and hugged Lara, Alex and Sam goodbye.

They walked purposefully back to Joe's Cabin, where Mu was waiting for them, perched on the front porch railing. Shesu paused briefly to give the cat a scratch on the side of her neck, and she leaned into his hand appreciatively. Inside the cabin, they found Lara, Zack, Alex and Joe crowded around the table, discussing a map, while Sam sat by James's bed, sipping a steaming cup of tea. She was sitting near James, who was sleeping. His skin had a worrying bloodless hue, and Sam had not left his side since they had come to the cabin. Her concern for her husband was written in furrows across her forehead, even as he slept.
Eve walked over to the table, followed by Shesu. She spoke quietly, so as not to disturb James. "Shesu and I are going to take off. Thanks, for all you have done. We're going to head back to the volcano, to try to rehabilitate it." The four of them looked up from their map, and Alex met Shesu's eyes, and asked, "Hey Shesu, before you go... where did you say your village was?" Eve and Shesu looked down to see an old atlas map of Nigeria spread out on the table. Shesu craned his neck around to see the map from the normal orientation, and pointed to a green area in the south east of the country. "There, in the forest, near here. It's several days travel north of Calabar."
Joe said, "That was right around where that genocide has been happening, right? Are you worried about your village at all?" Shesu frowned, "I don't think they would have let it affect them. They're well-hidden in the forest, and only the most determined could find them... I knew the genocide was happening, but I have tried to not let it concern me, as I am banished from there, until..." he trailed off, as a moment of realization came over him, and he laughed. "My quest is complete! I am no longer banished. I can return whenever I want!" He smiled broadly, and bear-hugged Alex and Lara in either arm, picking them up off their feet. He yelped joyfully, "I'm finished! It has been so long... I can go back!" He let them down, took a deep breath, and a look of peace came over him. "I would like to go back, to make sure that they're fine. I would like to see Oso."
He turned, "Eve, I know that you very much want to go to the volcano, and so do I. Do you mind, though, if we go to my village on the way? I know you would be welcome there, and I can show you the forest. It is the most beautiful place in the world."
Eve's thoughts were as fast as lightning. She knew that not only had the devastation touched the Ashari Village, but the Left Hand herself had orchestrated the genocide, stolen N'Dore, and razed the village. She knew that she should tell Shesu all of those things, but this was not the time. She decided to let him believe that all was well, for now. She smiled, letting her eyes meet Shesu's, knowing that he couldn't see through her lie. "That sounds great. We'll figure out how to get there on the way. Let's pack."
Suddenly, a cry rose from the back of the cabin, "Matu no go! Matu no leave Golem. Matu stay, Golem no want Matu to leave!" The stone creature ran across the wooden floor to where Shesu stood, and firmly attached himself to Shesu's leg. Golem buried his head in Shesu's pants leg, and chanted "Matu, Matu, Matu stay, no leave Golem... Matu...." Shesu and Eve looked down, and laughed, and Shesu gently pried Golem's arms from his leg. He knelt down, and looked at the little creature. "Golem, Eve and I are leaving, yes, but we would like you to come with us. We are going back to the volcano, and we need your help to clean it, to remove the evil magic from that place. Will you come with us?" Golem's face lit up, and he jumped into Shesu's arms, nearly knocking him over with his weight. "Yes! Golem come, Golem want to be with Matu... Shesu... Golem come with, help, clean, can unwind the magic. Golem help to clean, and Shesu keep Golem safe." Shesu smiled, and put the creature down, who immediately began rolling up a piece of newspaper as if it were a sleeping bag. He placed it next to Shesu's rolled sleeping bag, and looked up, "Golem ready."
Eve turned to Shesu, and said, "Good. Now, what about the Deathblade?" Shesu looked at the cabin's bookshelves, where Deathblade lay, still wrapped in Jacob's cloak. "Yes... I don't know. Can it be destroyed?" Eve replied, "It is too dangerous to leave here. I don't know how to unmake it. Golem, do you have any ideas?" Golem looked suspiciously at Eve for a moment, then waddled over to the blade, and gazed at it. "Golem do not know for sure, but Golem think that best chance for unmaking is in forge where it made. Very, very strong magic, made by Corrupter himself. Need to take back to volcano. Dangerous, but best chance there."
Shesu took the ancient sword off the shelf, and placed it next to his belongings. "We will take it with us, then." Shesu and Eve gathered the rest of their belongings, and Joe kindly lent them a small tent and sleeping bags. "You're about a day's walk from the nearest highway. From there, you can hitchhike your way to Portland, and try to organize a flight." He handed Eve an envelope. "That should cover the cost of the flight. Officially, the Agency hasn't taken a position yet on what happened at the volcano, but I know what you two did, and I am thankful for it. I can swing the cost of a few tickets on my expense account without too many questions being asked." They thanked him, and hugged Lara, Alex and Sam goodbye.
- Need to edit the last scene of this chapter a bit - this is an ok draft for fact-checking, tho.

(in progress.)
- Eve is bothered at the end here, because she's realizing that Shesu doesn't understand the full history of the Ashari, and her involvement. TheLeftHand did much evil to them, and [[NDore N'Dore]] in particular. Shesu will have to find out at some point, and they'll have to have a reckoning.
- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet. Eve managed to convince Golem that she was not the left hand, but it is uncertain how he would react to her using her power around him, as that situation has not come up since they returned to the cabin.
- They'll have a discussion of Deathblade back at the cabin before leaving
- There is no record of how Matu dies (that I've been able to find, at least...) Dun da-dun dun.
- Next up: they'll go back to the cabin, where someone (not sure who yet) will tell Shesu of the destruction of his tribe. He'll be heartbroken, and he'll ask Eve if they can go to the Ashari Village first. She won't be able to say no.

[[ShesuAshari Shesu]] and [[Eve]] were walking in the woods outside JosephCooper's cabin. The morning had passed slowly, but neither one had any inclination to do much of anything. The nightmare images from the battle at ZaizensTemple temple were still fresh in their minds, and the events of the past weeks weighed heavily on them. They had left the others back at the cabin, and decided to take a walk to clear their heads. The lofty canopy filtered the sunlight as it fell to the forest floor, and as the gentle breeze rustled the treetops, the dappled shadows danced along the leafy duff. There was no path to follow, but the underbrush was light enough that they could walk where they wished. They wandered slowly up a gently sloping incline, towards the top of a short hill overlooking the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-morning. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. //Anything.//"

>>Kel: this feels better to me in the afternoon. Does this actually need to be at dawn? **Here is the thing, they need to be at least 12 hours ahead of something that comes to Joe's cabin at 1am on the 23rd, Dawn makes sense with Eve wanting to get going but as long as you keep the requirment in mind, Im okay if its later in the day.**>>
Dawn:
[[ShesuAshari Shesu]] and [[Eve]] were walking in the woods outside JosephCooper's cabin. The day had passed slowly, but neither one had any inclination to do much of anything. The nightmare images from the battle at ZaizensTemple temple were still fresh in their minds, and the events of the past weeks weighed heavily on them. They had left the others back at the cabin, and decided to take a walk to clear their heads. The lofty canopy filtered the sunlight as it fell to the forest floor, and as the gentle breeze rustled the treetops, the dappled shadows danced along the leafy duff. There was no path to follow, but the underbrush was light enough that they could walk where they wished. They wandered slowly up a gently sloping incline, towards the top of a short hill overlooking the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. //Anything.//"

>>Kel: this feels better to me in the afternoon. Does this actually need to be at dawn? **Here is the thing, they need to be at least 12 hours ahead of something that comes to Joe's cabin at 1am on the 23rd, Dawn makes sense with Eve wanting to get going but as long as you keep the requirment in mind, Im okay if its later in the day.**>>
Dawn:

~~>>Kel: this feels better to me in the afternoon. Does this actually need to be at dawn?>>Dawn:~~

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet. Eve managed to convince Golem that she was not the left hand, but it is uncertain how he would react to her using her power around him, as that situation has not come up since they returned to the cabin.

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.
>>This is Ann, not Kelly, but I remember that when we first met Golem, he was TERRIFIED when Genevive used her power in front of him. I recall he was rocking back and forth shrieking "It's her! It's HER!" and possibly even "The Hand!". But then we convinced him that Genevive was not The Hand. But I don't know what Golem thinks now, or what discussions we've had about it when it turned out that Genevive //was// The Hand (sort of) and now isn't anymore (mostly)...
JWP: Oohh, I have no recollection of that, but that makes SO MUCH SENSE.
Kelly: **Yep, Eve managed to convince Golem that she was not the left hand, but you are uncertain of how he would react to her using her power around him, as that situation has not come up since they returned to the cabin.**>>

JWP: Oohh, I have no recollection of that, but that makes SO MUCH SENSE.
Kelly: **Yep, Eve managed to convince Golem that she was not the left hand, but you are uncertain of how he would react to her using her power around him, as that situation has not come up since they returned to the cabin.**>>

~~JWP: Oohh, I have no recollection of that, but that makes SO MUCH SENSE.>>~~

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.
>>This is Ann, not Kelly, but I remember that when we first met Golem, he was TERRIFIED when Genevive used her power in front of him. I recall he was rocking back and forth shrieking "It's her! It's HER!" and possibly even "The Hand!". But then we convinced him that Genevive was not The Hand. But I don't know what Golem thinks now, or what discussions we've had about it when it turned out that Genevive //was// The Hand (sort of) and now isn't anymore (mostly)...

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.>>This is Ann, not Kelly, but I remember that when we first met Golem, he was TERRIFIED when Genevive used her power in front of him. I recall he was rocking back and forth shrieking "It's her! It's HER!" and possibly even "The Hand!". But then we convinced him that Genevive was not The Hand. But I don't know what Golem thinks now, or what discussions we've had about it when it turned out that Genevive //was// The Hand (sort of) and now isn't anymore (mostly)...

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.>>This is Ann, not Kelly, but I remember that when we first met Golem, he was TERRIFIED when Genevive used her power in front of him. I recall he was rocking back and forth shrieking "It's her! It's HER!" and possibly even "The Hand!". But then we convinced him that Genevive was not The Hand. But I don't know what Golem thinks now, or what discussions we've had about it when it turned out that Genevive //was// The Hand (sort of) and now isn't anymore (mostly)...
JWP: Oohh, I have no recollection of that, but that makes SO MUCH SENSE.>>

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.>>This is Ann, not Kelly, but I remember that when we first met Golem, he was TERRIFIED when Genevive used her power in front of him. I recall he was rocking back and forth shrieking "It's her! It's HER!" and possibly even "The Hand!". But then we convinced him that Genevive was not The Hand. But I don't know what Golem thinks now, or what discussions we've had about it when it turned out that Genevive //was// The Hand (sort of) and now isn't anymore (mostly)...<<

- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.

"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. //Anything.//"
"Yes... that place, I don't know what I think about it yet. Part of me feels as if it is my home, and part of me reviles it. I want to make it into something new, something better. I was thinking of a refuge, for metahumans. A safe place, where we could go to be amongst our own kind. A place protected from all of the horrid evil in this world." Eve kicked a rock up the hill ahead of her, and every few steps it rolled back to her, and she kicked it again.

"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. It's simply too much to deal with right now, and I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. //Anything.//"
"Yes... that place, I don't know what I think about it yet. Parts of me feel as if it is my home, and parts of me revile it. I want to make it into something new, something better. I was thinking of a refuge, for metahumans. A safe place, where we could go to be amongst our own kind. A place protected from all of the horrid evil in this world." Eve kicked a rock up the hill ahead of her, and every few steps it rolled back to her, and she kicked it again.

[[ShesuAshari Shesu]] and [[Eve]] were walking in the woods outside JosephCooper's cabin. The day had passed slowly, but neither one had any inclination to do much of anything. The nightmare images from the battle at ZaizensTemple temple were still fresh in their minds, and the events of the past weeks weighed heavily on them. They had left the others back at the cabin, and decided to take a walk to clear their heads. The lofty canopy filtered the sunlight as it fell to the forest floor, and as the gentle breeze rustled the treetops, the dappled shadows danced along the leafy duff. There was no path to follow, but the underbrush was light enough that they could walk where they wished. They wandered slowly up a gently sloping incline, towards the top of a short hill overlooking the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. "I've got too much rolling around in my head right now. All of the things we saw and did inside the volcano, I keep replaying them in my mind. I'm still working out which of those deeds were mine, and which belonged to something... else. It's simply too much to deal with right now, and I need some other distraction to keep me sane. Let's go somewhere, do something. //Anything.//"
In his deliberate cadence, Shesu replied, "I have been thinking much the same thing. I was also troubled by what I saw in Zaizen's temple, and the corruption of that place leaves me... unsettled. That place needs someone to heal it, someone to guide it back from his evil to its natural state. I know that the temple must hold special meaning for you, and... it would mean very much to me if you were to come with me, back there, and help me set it right."
"Yes. And, we will clean it up, together. It may be difficult, but I believe that Golem knows how to unwind the runes and magic that's been laid into that cave." She paused for a moment, forming the phrase in her mind. She spoke deliberately, "I think if you asked nicely, he would come." Shesu looked at her, but she could not keep her face serious for long, and they both burst into laughter at her understatement. "That little one has such a devotion to you. I think he would follow you to hell and back were you to allow him to do so."
Shesu replied, with the laughter still dancing on his voice, "Yes. I fear, though, that this is a case of mistaken identity. He still thinks that I am Matu, whoever that may be."
At that, Eve abruptly was quiet, and looked away sadly. "Ah, yes." She paused, and looked as if she would speak again, but then shook her head.
(in progress.)
- They'll have a discussion of Deathblade back at the cabin before leaving

[[ShesuAshari Shesu]] and [[Eve]] are walking in the woods outside JosephCooper's cabin. The day had passed slowly, but neither one had any inclination to do much of anything. The nightmare images from the battle at ZaizensTemple temple were still fresh in their minds, and the events of the past weeks weighed heavily on them. They had left the others back at the cabin, and decided to take a walk to clear their heads. The lofty canopy filtered the sunlight as it fell to the forest floor, and as the gentle breeze rustled the treetops, the dappled shadows danced along the leafy duff. There was no path to follow, but the underbrush was light enough that they could walk where they wished. They wandered slowly up a gently sloping incline, towards the top of a short hill overlooking the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. WORKING ON THIS HERE..."
In his deliberate cadence, Shesu replied, "I too have been thinking as much. I have been troubled by what I saw in Zaizen's temple. That place needs someone to heal it, someone to guide it back from his corruption to its natural state. I know that the temple must hold special meaning for you, and... it would mean much to me if you were to come with me, back there, and help me set it right."
"Yes. And, we will clean it up, together. It may be difficult, but I believe that Golem knows how to unwind the runes and magic that's been laid into that cave." She paused for a moment, as if forming the phrase in her mind. She spoke deliberately, "I think if you asked nicely, he would come." Shesu looked at her, but she could not keep her face serious for long, and they both burst into laughter at her understatement. "That little one has such a devotion to you. I think he would follow you to hell and back were you to allow him."
Shesu replied, with the laughter still dancing in his voice, "Yes. I fear, though, that this is a case of mistaken identity. He still thinks that I am Matu, whoever he is."
Eve suddenly went quiet, and looked away sadly. "Yes." She paused, and looked as if she would speak again, but then shook her head.

"Jacob... so soon?" Shesu pleaded, but his eyes met Jacob's, and he knew that there would be no convincing him. Shesu sighed deeply, as his throat tightened into a lump. "Will I see you again?"
"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. I'll be safe. Abdul says there's much to do, and that he needs me."
Jacob took the statue into his hands, staring at it. He turned it over in his hands for a moment, before placing it in the satchel slung over his shoulders. "I will have to have something for you next time, big brother," he smiled. He paused, and then leaned in to Shesu, and whispered, "Abdul wants this a secret, but you should know: He is taking much of the cold steel with him. He says he will need it for what comes next. I trust him, but he told me not to tell the others."
With that said, he turned to look at Abdul, who quietly said, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full breadth. He took a few moments to stretch them before scooping Abdul onto his wings. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops.
>>Kel: this feels better to me in the afternoon. Does this actually need to be at dawn?>>Dawn:
"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. WORKING ON THIS HERE..."
"Yes... that place, I don't know what I think about it yet. Parts of me feel as if it is my home, and parts of me revile it. I want to make it into something new, something better. I was thinking of a refuge, for metahumans. A safe place, where we could go to be amongst our own kind. A place protected from all of the horrid evil in this world." Eve kicked a rock up the hill ahead of her, and every few steps it rolled back to her, and she kicked it again.
"Yes. And, we will clean it up, together. It may be difficult, but I believe that Golem knows how to unwind the runes and magic that's been laid into that cave." She paused for a moment, as if forming the phrase in her mind. She spoke deliberately, "I think if you asked nicely, he would come." Shesu looked at her, but she could not keep her face serious for long, and they both burst into laughter at her understatement. "That little one has such a devotion to you. I think he would follow you to hell and back were you to allow him."
Shesu replied, with the laughter still dancing in his voice, "Yes. I fear, though, that this is a case of mistaken identity. He still thinks that I am Matu, whoever he is."
Eve suddenly went quiet, and looked away sadly. "Yes." She paused, and looked as if she would speak again, but then shook her head.
"Shesu, we should leave, now. We have nothing else to wait for here. Let's head back and pack our bags."
----
Notes:
- Eve is bothered at the end here, because she's realizing that Shesu doesn't understand the full history of the Ashari, and her involvement. TheLeftHand did much evil to them, and [[NDore N'Dore]] in particular. Shesu will have to find out at some point, and they'll have to have a reckoning.
- I'm not sure if Golem would recognize TheLeftHand or not. Eve doesn't //look// like the left hand, but then again I'm not sure if Golem sees with his eyes, or some other sense altogether. He certainly hasn't said anything yet.
- There is no record of how Matu dies (that I've been able to find, at least...) Dun da-dun dun.
- Next up: they'll go back to the cabin, where someone (not sure who yet) will tell Shesu of the destruction of his tribe. He'll be heartbroken, and he'll ask Eve if they can go to the Ashari Village first. She won't be able to say no.

"Jacob... so soon?" Shesu pleaded, but his eyes met Jacob's, and he knew that there would be no convincing him.
**As if to answer Shesu's unspoken thoughts Jacob said. "Abdul says there is much to do, and that he needs me."**
Shesu sighed deeply, as his throat tightened into a lump. "Will I see you again?"
**"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. I'll be safe." He pauses, "Abdul wants this a secret but you should know, he is taking much of the cold steel with him. He says he will need it for what comes next. I trust him, but he told me not to tell the others."**
Jacob took the statue into his hands, staring at it. He turned it over in his hands for a moment, before placing it in the satchel slung over his shoulders. "I will have to have something for you next time, big brother," he smiled. He turned to look at Abdul, who quietly nodded, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full length. He took a few moments to stretch them before scooping Abdul onto his wings. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops.
**Dawn:**
"I need to //do// something," Eve exclaimed, breaking the silence of the mid-afternoon. "I can still feel all of them, all of the others... Lily, Genevive, and that black thing, I mean. They're still in my head, and I can //hear// them, and all of this quiet is making it worse. Let's go somewhere, anywhere."
"Yes... that place, I don't know what I think about it yet. Parts of me feel like it is home, and parts of me revile it. I want to make it into something new, something better. I was thinking of a refuge, you know, for metahumans. A safe place, where we could go to be amongst our own kind. A place protected from all of the shit in this world." Eve kicked a rock up the hill ahead of her, and every few steps it rolled back to her, and she kicked it again. She continued, "And, we could clean it up... it might be difficult, but if you could get Golem to come with us, I'm sure he could help us unwind all of the runes and magic that's been laid into that cave."
"Yes. **We should leave, now, before resolve fades." She pauses, "What of the blade?"**

"Jacob... so soon?" Shesu pleaded, but his eyes met Jacob's, and he knew that there would be no convincing him.
**As if to answer Shesu's unspoken thoughts Jacob said. "Abdul says there is much to do, and that he needs me."**
Shesu sighed deeply, as his throat tightened into a lump. "Will I see you again?"
**"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. I'll be safe." He pauses, "Abdul wants this a secret but you should know, he is taking much of the cold steel with him. He says he will need it for what comes next. I trust him, but he told me not to tell the others."**

"Jacob... so soon?" Shesu pleaded, but his eyes met Jacob's, and he knew that there would be no convincing him. Shesu sighed deeply, as his throat tightened into a lump. "Will I see you again?"
>>Kel, fill in detail here if needed>>"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. There is much to be done. I'm a member of the Brotherhood now, and I need to learn about what that means. Abdul is going to help me, so I'll be safe."

Late at night, Shesu is woken by someone shaking him. He opens his eyes to see Jacob standing above him. He awakens slowly, having fallen asleep amongst the others who are lying about the cabin in various borrowed sleeping bags, his sleep having been deepened by the long day and magical healing. Lara and Zack lay passed out to his right, the pair having used their combined powers to heal the various injuries of the group. Behind them lay Sam and James, James still in bandages and taking up the cabin's only bed, Sam having fallen asleep at the foot of the bed still clutching James' hand. Alex has curled up at the foot of the bed, and the cat, Mu, has chosen Alex's sleeping bag as a good place to bed down. Nearby Mu lies Golem who, having been worn out by chasing the cat, appears to have fallen...dormant? asleep? at the foot of the bed.
Eve lies sleeping to Shesu's left, and Joe is snoring peacefully across the room against the far wall. Abdul and Jacob were to Eve's left, but their sleeping bags have been cleaned up, rolled neatly and placed on the table.
Jacob has his shirt off and his wings unfurled. Their gentle blue glow fills the dark cabin with an eerie light. The wing that was "popped" in the final battle glows a little dimmer than the other, but much of its vitality was returned by Lara and Zack's healing power. Jacob smiles his child-like grin when he sees Shesu awake, but his face darkens a bit, tinged with sadness.
>>Kel, fill in detail here if needed>>"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. There is much to be done. I'm a member of the Brotherhood now, and I need to learn about what that means. Abdul is going to help me, so I'll be safe."
Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. He and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing in places and withering in others, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
Jacob took the statue into his hands, staring at it. He turned it over in his hands for a moment, before placing it in the satchel slung over his shoulders. "I will have to have something for you next time, big brother," he smiled. He turned to look at Abdul, who quietly nodded, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full length. He took a few moments to stretch them before scooping Abdul onto his wings. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops.

Late at night, Shesu is woken by someone shaking him. He opens his eyes to see Jacob standing over him. He awakes slowly, having fallen asleep amongst the others who are lying about the cabin in various borrowed sleeping bags, his normally light sleep having been disrupted by the long day and magical healing. Lara and Zack lie passed out to his right, the pair having used their combined powers to heal the various injuries of the group. Behind them lie Sam and James, James still in bandages and taking up the cabins only bed, Sam having fallen asleep at the foot of the bed still clutching James' hand. Alex has curled up at the foot of the bed, and the cat, Mu, has chosen Alex's sleeping bag as a good place to bed down on. Nearby Mu lies Golem who, having been worn out by chasing the cat, appears to have fallen...dormant? asleep? at the foot of the bed.
Eve lies sleeping to his left, and Joe is snoring peacefully across the room against the far wall. Abdul and Jacob were to Eve's left, but their sleeping bags have been cleaned up, rolled neatly and placed on the table.
Jacob has his shirt off and his wings unfurled. Their gentle blue glow fills the dark cabin with an eerie light. The wing that was "popped" in the final battle glows a little dimmer than the other, but much of its vitality has returned after Lara and Zack's power has had a chance to work on it. Jacob smiles his child-like grin when he sees Shesu awake, but his face darkens a bit, tinged with sadness.
>>Kel, fill in detail here if needed>>"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. There is much to be done. I'm a member of the brotherhood now, and I need to learn about what that means. Abdul is going to help me, so I'll be safe."
Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. He and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing it as needed and withering it in places, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
Jacob took the statue into his hands, staring at it. He turned it over in his hands for a moment, before placing it in the satchel slung over his shoulders. "I will have to have something for you next time, big brother," he smiled. He turned to look at Abdul, who quietly nodded, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full length. He took a few moments to stretch them before picking up Abdul. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops.

Late at night, Shesu is woken by someone shaking him. He opens his eyes to see Jacob standing over him. He awakes slowly, having fallen asleep amongst the others who are lying about the cabin in various borrowed sleeping bags, his normally light sleep having been disrupted by the long day and magical healing. Lara and Zack lie passed out to his right, the pair having used their combined powers to heal the various injuries of the group. Behind them lie Sam and James, James still in bandages and taking up the cabins only bed, Sam having fallen asleep at the foot of the bed still clutching James' hand. Alex has curled up at the foot of the bed, and the cat, Mu, has chosen Alex's sleeping bag as a good place to bed down on. Nearby Mu lies Golem who, having been worn out by chasing the cat, appears to have fallen...dormant? asleep? at the foot of the bed.
Eve lies sleeping to his left, and Joe is snoring peacefully across the room against the far wall. Abdul and Jacob were to Eve's left, but their sleeping bags have been cleaned up, rolled neatly and placed on the table.
Jacob has his shirt off and his wings unfurled. Their gentle blue glow fills the dark cabin with an eerie light. The wing that was "popped" in the final battle glows a little dimmer than the other, but much of its vitality has returned after Lara and Zack's power has had a chance to work on it. Jacob smiles his child-like grin when he sees Shesu awake, but his face darkens a bit, tinged with sadness.
"I've come to say goodbye."
"Jacob... so soon?" Shesu pleaded, but his eyes met Jacob's, and he knew that there would be no convincing him. Shesu sighed deeply, as his throat tightened into a lump. "Will I see you again?"
>>Kel, fill in detail here if needed>>"Of course! I will find a way to contact you. There is much to be done. I'm a member of the brotherhood now, and I need to learn about what that means. Abdul is going to help me, so I'll be safe."
Shesu paused, and silently slipped out of his sleeping bag. The cool night air touched his skin, and he shivered gently with the chill. He turned, and followed Jacob and Abdul outside. He and Jacob embraced, each one wordlessly knowing that there was no telling when they would next meet. Suddenly, an idea occurred to Shesu, and his face lit up as he knelt to the ground. He focused his energy, and quickly grew a tightly knotted piece of dark wood. The wood pulled and stretched, growing it as needed and withering it in places, and creaking and cracking against itself, until it had formed the shape he had imagined. He stood, and held his hands out to Jacob. In his palms lay a small, wooden sculpture of a lion. It was not a normal sculpture, which might have been shaved or polished, but rather it appeared as if the wood had actually grown into that shape of its own accord. Shesu, barely concealing a smile, pressed the statue into Jacob's hands. "Be the lion, little brother."
Jacob took the statue into his hands, staring at it. He turned it over in his hands for a moment, before placing it in the satchel slung over his shoulders. "I will have to have something for you next time, big brother," he smiled. He turned to look at Abdul, who quietly nodded, "It's time." The two walked a few paces out into the clearing near the cabin, and Jacob unfurled his wings to their full length. He took a few moments to stretch them before picking up Abdul. The two of them rose into the night, did one loop around the cabin, and disappeared over the treetops.
After they had left, Shesu stood alone in the cold night air. He thought back to all those who he had lost before. He remembered his parents, gone in a flash of violence. He struggled to remember his parents' faces, but they had faded too far from his memory. He thought back to his year of silence, the joy of acceptance into the Ashari, and the loss and pain of being banished during his spirit quests. And then his thoughts turned to Jacob, who was as much family as any of them, and who now also was gone. An overwhelming feeling of loneliness flooded over him, and he sunk to the ground, his head in his hands, and wept.

**Late at night**
**Shesu is awoken late at night by Jacob, who shakes the older man awake. Shesu comes awake slowly, having fallen asleep amongst the others who are lying about the cabin in various borrowed sleeping bags, his normal light sleep having been disrupted by the long day, and magical healing. Lara and Zack, lay passed out his right, the pair having used their combined powers to heal the various injuries of the group. Behind them lie Sam and James, James still in bandages, and taking up the cabins only bed, Sam having fallen asleep at the foot of the bed still clutching James' hand. Alex has curled up at the foot of the bed, and Mu, has chosen her sleeping bag as a good place to curl up upon and sleep. Nearby Mu lies Golem, the small creature having been warn out chasing the cat around and appears to have fallen...dormant? asleep? at the foot of the bed.
Eve lies to his left still asleep, Joe across the room against the far wall, snoring peacefully. Abdul and Jacob were to Eve's left, but their sleeping bags have been cleaned up, and rolled up neatly and placed on the Table.
Jacob has his shirt off and his wings unfurled the gentle blue glow filling the dark cabin with an eerie light. The wing that was "popped" in the final battle glows a little dimmer than the other, but much of its vitality has returned after Lara and Zack's power has had a chance to work on it. Jacob smiles his child like grin when he sees Shesu awake, but his face darkens a bit, tinged with sadness when he says.
"I've come to say goodbye."**

Superheroes : ShesuEveLeavingJoesCabin

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