EQ_Theta

@Blitz Boom “I’m sure he’d appreciate the opportunity to speak with and learn from you, as well as see places beyond the longma’s forest home. We’ll make the arrangements when he is prepared, though given what is happening now, it may take some time.” “If all goes well, I think you and Elder Ghilan will have lots to speak about! Maybe he would even get to experience getting pranked by the young kitsune! I wonder what he’d think about that…” Sen chuckled, delighted at the thought, though he wouldn’t mind being present to learn alongside the longma elder. There was a sense of wonder in getting to know other creatures and their cultures. Despite the rocky beginnings from exile to hiding away due to poor experiences, the longma found value in forging stronger ties with others unlike him. Lin would certainly agree, though her sentiments on the matter stemmed from the pursuit of knowledge. They may not know it, but perhaps even Ghilan may find joy in opening up to others despite what the elders may say. Maybe one day the kitsune, or other creatures, could visit the longma without fear or hostility… Until that day comes, they’ll just have to work towards making that a reality. Though he had his doubts and worries on the matter, maybe there wasn’t a need to have it overcome him. Sen wanted this to work, and maybe he has to have faith. Omen and emotions may not pair well, but that had an advantage that worked in her favor. There wouldn’t be a need to worry about the things that are out of their control; they know their approach and how to go about it. All that they needed now was to execute when the time came. Sometimes, Sen wished he could narrow down on the important things without getting hung up on what if and what could be. “Being intimidated is another way to say that something is making you scared. Though maybe being able to feel emotions strongly or at all means it wouldn’t be possible to be scared in the first place… I guess I am asking because there are unknowns, and not knowing things can be scary. If something unexpected happens, we would be unprepared. It might show weakness on our part, or it wouldn’t inspire confidence in others.” “But not being intimidated… it wouldn’t make you different from before. However, some would look at you and think you are confident because you know what you would do in a situation, which is a good thing. As for the things we don’t know, we will just have to figure things out as they come, right? I won’t claim that what we’ll do when it happens will always be the right thing, but we’ll make the best of it and hope it turns out well. Sometimes, that may be all we could do.” If this is what being an elder is like, Sen won’t envy the position Elder Ghilan found himself in. It sounded like there was an equal measure of being knowledgeable and being hopeful, with the latter being more difficult to accept. It was as Elder Sohe said, and the siblings didn’t have the talent to speak with spirits. Lin didn’t feel the pang of disappointment as much as her brother did, but it still stung that she didn’t have another skill to add to her repertoire. There was no point arguing what the evidence pointed toward, though the elder’s words on the possibility of being a listener weren’t out of the question. There was still a chance, but it’ll have to happen another way if it does. “Aww… and I was hoping I could listen to the spirits and hear them speak… It’s all right, though. As much as I wish I could do everything, some folks could do things others couldn’t. It’s just a fact of life, right?” “Still, we are grateful for the chance to try. If anything, we learned a little bit more about ourselves, even if all we got was what we couldn’t do. Thank you, Elder Sohe.” The siblings stood and bowed to the kitsune elder, showing their sincerity in the matter. Maybe such an experience wouldn’t be possible if it were someone else conducting it, but being afforded this chance to try was more than enough. Frankly, simply being present to learn was already more than enough given the siblings’ life experiences. The two stood by and watched as Omen took her turn, eagerly waiting to see how her experience would turn out. The splashing and laughter were unexpected, more so if it were truly the spirits acting through nature leaving Omen looking rather messy. Even that was enough to pique their curiosity. “The spirits seem like they can exert their influence on what we can see and feel. Elders, would you say that there are different types of spirits and that they can act upon our physical realm? I admit, my understanding of spirits is limited. The only spirits I am aware of are more like ghosts, invisible but present, yet unable to act on their surroundings unless they are powerful enough.”

@Blitz Boom The siblings looked on as Elder Zhao shifted her appearance to a longma, a fairly good representation of one at that. Sen, in particular, recalled a previous experience with a changeling hive queen named Cheshire who gave him quite the scare back then when they were at the carnival. This one wasn’t so terrifying now, given the time he spent learning about the abilities of other creatures. Now it could work for Elder Zhao should she wish to move among the longma. However, given the precarious situation they were in, it may be better to have Elder Ghilan be the one to make the trip. “Your illusion is impressive, elder, though it may be better for Elder Ghilan to meet you as you are. It may be more helpful for him to see you as kitsune.” “That, and we’d rather not expose you to unnecessary danger. I’m sure you are capable of defending yourself, but there, you would be our guest. It would reflect poorly on us as your hosts.” Lin stepped into position and began tuning all external stimuli out; she sat and anticipated the possibility of hearing the spirits. It wasn’t something she’d think was possible, but being open to this kind of discovery would make her the envy of her brother. In all honesty, having an aspect that stood out could be both a blessing and a curse. Her situation at the moment was proof of that: being brought back with a new body was necessary to save her life, but it gave her some benefits. Quick travel was something he knew to capitalize on, but on some nights, she wished she was just a normal longma. Simple comforts afforded by a normal body, such as sleep, were easily overlooked, but having that taken away tends to leave an impression. As for Sen, he took Elder Sohe’s words to heart and found some comfort in them. It was true that his talents may lie elsewhere, and speaking to spirits may not be in the metaphorical cards for him. Disappointing it may be, the longma would not let it get the best of him. After that, he looked at Omen, pondering her question. He didn’t seem to mind her looking rather off-putting in these moments and was just appreciative of it. Perhaps having that look staring him in the face as he woke up would still creep him out, but time has given him opportunities to just get used to it. However, some thoughts were more conflicting. Things were rather calm for the moment, but it was enough to get him to think about all the things that were happening now and back home. Turns out that things just keep piling up, and the gravity of all that has and will happen slowly began to gnaw at Sen’s mind. “I’m all right, Omen. I may not have the talent to speak with spirits, but I won’t be upset about it. Sometimes, we just can’t do everything we hope we could do.” *sigh* “Who am I kidding? I’m not entirely okay. I was just thinking about all that’s happened and what we’ll be getting ourselves into… all of that is making me worried. The meeting with the elders is approaching; that has to turn out well, right? We talked to others, heard their thoughts, and figured out how to approach the meeting. It’s just that I’m still afraid that we haven’t done enough. A-and then there’s the threat of… whatever it is… that is coming for the longma… I don’t know if we could find the balance that lets us take those on.” “I suppose I am overthinking all of this, but we’ll just have to take these matters on as they come. How about you? Does all this feel intimidating?” As for Lin, she listened in as the bubble sealed around her. Without outside distractions, she followed Sen’s meditative techniques, passed on to her from their childhood. She didn’t think she’d need to meditate, but her younger self thought it was a nice thing to know about. Now, she was just happy Sen taught it to her. As she continued to sit in silence, the sounds of a breeze blowing by came first, followed by a light buzzing, the kinds of sounds her brother just described earlier. There was also something like faint whispers in the wind, but none of it was decipherable. She continued sitting and tuning in to these sounds in the hopes she could try deciphering them, but there was nothing more in store, just the same sounds. Lin emerged from the bubble looking rather confused despite tempering her expectations. It seemed like even that was more than enough to overcome her controlled approach despite her uncertainty. “I think I am in the same position as my brother; I can’t hear the spirits. Maybe I might have caught something like faint whispering, but I could not understand it. Or maybe I am just deluding myself into thinking I could hear something more than just empty sounds. Elder? Must one clearly hear the spirits speak to know if they have the ability to speak to them? I’m not even sure what to make of my experience in the bubble.”

@Blitz Boom Knowing Elder Ghilan and his approach to leadership, guidance from others is something he’s all too eager to receive, within reason. Though the siblings never thought too much about the matter, one could only guess why he is seeking input from other leaders or those more knowledgeable than him. He once mentioned that he did receive guidance from the local council, but he sounded like he received poor advice, not to mention the subsequent blame game that resulted from said advice. Nothing suggested there was an attempt at sabotage, but for a time, Ghilan felt like he was being set up to fail. Nowadays, he simply makes the best of his situation. “If it is all right with you, maybe we could arrange for Ghilan to visit sometime? He may be busy these days, but he could be open to meeting you when he has time. We’ll still need to let him know, so it’ll probably be a while before we can get back to you on this.” It would be interesting to see this happen, as Ghilan still sees himself as a student. Perhaps one day, there may be an exchange similar to what the kitsune do with their young being sent to Equestria. Though longma traditions were still mostly a kept secret, the young ones may find the old oral traditions passed by the nightly fires to be something of interest. It was difficult to gauge that kind of interest among the young of the villages, but no one can deny that those lessons stuck through many generations. No doubt there was value in those lessons no matter how one looked at them. However, Sen and Lin understood that not everything about the longma needed to change. After all, their experience here proved that the wisdom of the elders and the collective past of the longma had merits. They may have issues with the longma’s way of thinking, but reconciling that with the modern age may be how they could help their kind find balance. Without further delay, the siblings would follow the elders, though Sen would help Lin walk on account of her still rather disoriented vision. She’d still manage to proceed without too much issue aside from the occasional stumble. As they passed through the kitsune’s domain, they couldn’t help but silently admire the sights. This would be something to talk about to the folks back home, but knowing the prevailing attitudes, they’d much rather keep this one to themselves. Still, there was a lot to see and take in that the siblings would keep their attention on the moment and what was to come. Moving forward, Sen and Lin walked with Elder Sohe into the room, vegetation surrounding them. The sight of the globe and the circle caught their eyes. If time and the situation back home would permit, Sen would like to have a kind of private spot for him to meditate, inspired by the proximity to nature and the designs of the kitsune. Then again, it might be a little costly for the longma, as landscapers weren’t a thing back home. Some may even see it as a kind of destruction through the tampering of nature’s design. Only time will tell if this interpretation will remain relevant. With Sen being called in to try first, he smiled and nodded, restraining his enthusiasm and giddiness at the prospect of communing with spirits. It’ll be interesting to see what can become of it if he will discover a new, hidden talent of his. “Thank you again for this opportunity, Elder Sohe. And to the spirits here with us, whether we will be able to speak with each other or not, thank you as well.” The longma took up a spot in the middle of the platform to sit and quietly listen. He closed his eyes and attuned himself to his surroundings in eager anticipation to hear what the spirits in his midst were saying. Sadly, the minutes passed by without any big discoveries. Not one voice could be discerned from the silence, leaving Sen a little disappointed and somewhat dejected. It seemed like if he could hear one spirit talking, it would probably be the one that said he couldn’t hear a thing. “Elder Sohe, I’m not sure I have the talent to hear the spirits. I could only hear a light buzzing, or maybe it was a light gust of wind. I do not doubt the spirits are present with us right now, but I could not hear their voices.” “Are you certain, brother? Maybe you just need another moment to try again.” “I’m sure, but you are welcome to try. Perhaps inhabiting a body forged with magic might give you the ability to hear the spirits?” “We shall see. Elder Sohe? I would like to try and listen.” Lin chuckled at the thought, though it would be surprising if she had the talent. She would take up her position in Sen’s place and try. With Elder Sohe’s permission, Lin would go in without any expectations before trying to listen in on the spirits. To her, if she didn’t expect anything, she would not be disappointed.

@Blitz Boom “I wouldn’t claim to know what the elders think of the situation, only what Elder Ghilan says about the matter. From what I gathered, you and our elders share their views of Ghilan being inexperienced, and Ghilan says as much about himself despite receiving advice from our village’s council. At times, it is difficult to know what the elders from the other villages are like, especially because we don’t meet them; they call us, and many, if not all, longma believe that to be a poor sign of things to come.” “Elder Ghilan seems to be a lot more assertive of himself nowadays, taking charge of matters as if he knew of them more clearly. It wouldn’t hurt to let him know about how he can convince the other elders to take a chance on him. He may be leading our village, but he is actively seeking guidance and new perspectives, so I have confidence in him. “If he were here right now, he would love to speak and learn from you, elders. It wouldn’t be the first time for him, after all.” Sen smiled at the thought, recalling a previous meeting between Ghilan and Rosa. The two hit it off, with the longma elder eager to learn what he can about the outside world. He may be young, but those times spent growing up in a difficult, seemingly oppressive village arising from another’s tragedy were his catalyst. Had times been different, perhaps he wouldn’t have needed to abandon his desire to become a village hunter… Alas, this has become the course of his life, and he would make the most of it, something Sen could sympathize with given his own situation. For the moment, the siblings would turn their focus to the topic of conversation concerning their personal stake in the coming meeting. Having the positivity and hope from Elder Sohe was refreshing and reassuring. Though there was always the chance of things going sour, they hoped things wouldn’t come to that. Sadly, the threat of the unknown entity, or a larger group of them, hung over the longma, and no one knew just when that would come for them. It only made matters more complicated, but they’ll have to take it on as it comes. They had no choice now, and it was only a matter of time. The question now will be how to approach it because even Elder Ghilan would need to know… That said, the more Sen and Lin thought about how the meeting would go, the more they would have to ensure Omen’s safety. Their village may be willing to have her present because of the goodwill she earned after the mess with Solasan, but the same cannot be said for other villages or the meeting itself. Then again, a cautious approach with Omen becoming a link to the outside may already be in place, as the seeds have been planted not too long ago. “We’ll be cautious, though Omen may already have some experience with that. A young woodworker in our village got to see and meet a pony through her, and that happened without any problems. Maybe we lucked out that time, but that gave us a bit of hope that maybe we could show the longma that we don’t have to be so isolated.” “That woodworker was nervous, but he is a nice fellow all things considered. If other longma were a little like him, then maybe they could see giving big changes a chance.” Elder Zhao returned with a scroll, and it was an unusually large one to boot. It definitely caught Sen off-guard, but it was something he was interested in reading. He had a look at the scroll itself, then wondered how he was going to put it away without creasing the parchment. He may not have a saddle bag with him, but he’d rather be extra careful with it. If he could improve his meditations, that would already be a large benefit for him, but the advanced techniques sounded pretty interesting… “Thank you. I’ll be careful with the scroll. Although I’d like to head back to the village to let Elder Ghilan know of what’s going on, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stay for a while longer. If Lin needs a little more time to rest, then I will stay until she is ready.” “I think there’s still time before we need to go, and you could always just ask Omen to go with you back to the village. But yes, Elder Zhao, we can stay so Elder Sohe can see if we can uh… ‘listen to the voice of the elements,’ as you say.” Lin would need some time to regain her bearings, though she wouldn’t want to overstay her welcome. A few moments to regain some key memories and wait things out for a little while for the throbbing in her head to subside would be her goal. The confusion was already making way to clarity, but the feeling of lightheadedness mixed with the faint sight of things spinning was still apparent, much as she’d tried to ignore it.

@Blitz Boom “I think the elders may call us out on our foolishness; none may enter the ruins, after all. They have their reasons for calling those places taboo, but if there is a threat coming for the longma, I’m certain they’d at least listen. Though I imagine they’d have some words for us about how we should have stayed away. But you are right. The longma will change leaders one day, and I just hope that they may see sense in finding a better way.” “Then it would be best that we follow Elder Sohe’s and Elder Zhao’s advice when dealing with the elders or other matters. The elders should at least hear us out. What other reason would they have to call us and Elder Ghilan if not to speak before them?” “To call us out for venturing into the ruins? Or express their disapproval of Elder Ghilan because they see him stepping up as elder to be some sort of power grab? He said it himself, and he isn’t exactly popular with the elders right now.” It seemed like there was some limit to what Lin could remember. Despite retaining the memories of the more immediate past, as well as some that may be more ingrained into her mind, there were bits and pieces missing that will still need to be filled in from time to time. At the very least, Sen was now aware that he would need to step in and help her out when necessary. It’ll be more complicated when Elder Ghilan discovers that something has changed in Lin, something that wouldn’t inspire confidence. Lin didn’t appear to notice anything off with what she mentioned, though she glanced toward her brother and picked up an odd look from him. It was a strange thing for him, especially when everything appeared to be rather normal just moments ago. Something to talk about in private, or a hint at a more pressing matter? She didn’t push the issue and would leave it to her brother to pursue it when needed. Sen was already deep in thought after the elders responded to his other question. The elders’ responses were similar to something pointed out by Rosa when they discussed the topic before. Finding allies was valuable, especially when there was something to learn from them. Lessons straight from those who can impart them and being convinced of their benefits was probably the way to go; all that needs to happen now is to find the means to open the roads for that kind of opportunity. The longma weren’t exactly making enemies left and right. Their isolationism makes them neutral to everyone. However, some would see allying with creatures like the ponies of Equestria as a double-sided deal that will draw unwanted attention to them. Still, without the elders’ thoughts on the matter, the siblings’ speculation is academic. Inclusive and welcoming may be a good thing, but building alliances may prove more challenging if the other party will eventually need something from the longma. That could prove a more troublesome matter, especially if the longma’s isolationism meant they couldn’t provide something of value. “An exchange of ideas and an opportunity to learn? That sounds wonderful! But I might just be speaking for myself and not for the longma as a whole. Still, being able to make preparations and take what lessons we can from others is something the other elders could get behind.” “It’s going to bring some big changes among the longma, and change that drastic will mean opposition. Having been accustomed to one way of life for so long, it would be difficult to see or imagine anything else. We’ll just need to explain it in such a way that it doesn’t scare or shy them away from wanting to give it a shot.” “It’s definitely something worth thinking about. Thank you, elders, for your perspectives. I hope that would be a convincing start for the elders back home.” It was true that time would be running short, even more so with the siblings expected to be present back home when they were about to travel. Two days wasn’t a long time, depending on how one looked at it, and having to make the trek from the village would take time. Sen would need to place some hope into Lin and Omen, as the task ahead still felt daunting. For now, the matter with the elders would be put on hold for something else the longma were given.” “We’ll take care of this scroll, elder. Reading it would not be a problem... unless there are some ‘big’ words in it. That part might cause some minor issues, but I doubt it will cause setbacks. I admit I am interested in what it says and how it can improve my meditations.”

@Blitz Boom “I hoped others among the longma would see things the way you do, elders, but some are set in their ways. Maybe there is no convincing them, as much as I would like to see them come around to a different perspective. But Lin is right; I really want this to work, so I will work at it, even if it seems impossible. I can’t just turn my back on the longma despite them giving me the one reason why I should have to abandon them. Whatever wrongs they’ve done to me, I just can’t lump them all as a lost cause.” “The same way you’ve refused to forgive your old friend despite him helping us? He’s already doing more than others after he offered to keep the ruins hidden, but from what I remember, you still wouldn’t give him a chance.” “Tch. Don’t remind me. However, I heard what he had to say, and I… may talk with him about it in private. We’ve already come to an understanding about what happened in the past. If you don’t believe me, Omen can vouch; she was there, and if it weren’t for her, I would’ve done something I’d regret for the rest of my life.” Lin paused, taken aback by what Sen just mentioned. He had his reasons for wanting nothing to do with his old friend, Xin, but between this and seeing them acting more amicably with each other, maybe there’s something to this new development. Sen’s somber tone was uncharacteristic, but it seemed he had found a breakthrough. There was just no telling what might become of them, but there was a hint of optimism for the two friends. Perhaps something of their old friendship could be mended. She then turned to the Ki’nathar, initially wondering if she needed to verify her brother’s claims. However, she relented, convinced of the truth of the matter. “Thanks, Omen, for looking out for Sen.” The siblings knew they weren't setting a good example for the others longma, and Elder Ghilan would have his work cut out for him if he were to constantly check on their behavior. All this would take a toll on him under normal circumstances, but it wouldn’t be for now. There was more to worry about, most notably the meeting with the elders. A weight may be lifted if the other elders were to be convinced of what Sen and Lin experienced. Then again, even the siblings would need to do their prep work to ensure the whole event goes well, and that means making the necessary preparations. “We’ve considered what the other elders would be asking us, but I am not sure if experience carries much weight during these kinds of talks. Maybe you could tell us your thoughts and perspectives on something? I’m sure one thing they will ask about is why the longma should be concerned about other creatures. They’ve gone through many years only looking after their own interests without problems. Opening ourselves up may create more problems, and we are very ill-equipped to handle them.” “You mentioned earlier that you send kits to Ponyville. If you do not mind us asking, what purpose does that serve and what could be learned from that?” It was an admittedly odd thing to mention, but Sen wondered if what the kitsune went through could be similar enough to the longma nowadays. Maybe there was something new to be gained from understanding what made the isolated kitsune. Such a lesson could be valuable to the siblings and the rest of the longma in the village. Then again, there was another matter about what the longma could bring to the table, as some other creatures may only look for the advantages of getting to know the longma. The isolationism may not work in the siblings’ favor, but they will consider learning from the experiences of the kitsune to understand how to go about the world and find answers to problems they didn’t think they’d ever encounter. That said, there was also the matter of preparing their own minds for something that could easily take over them if it were to ever come to that. Meditation was something familiar to Sen and Lin, more so for the former despite being a little out of practice. It was the latter part that eluded the siblings: having details from the ruins and knowledge of how the trigger was created. Having some experience with meditation, Sen definitely saw the merits behind it, gladly welcoming anything that could help. “There was very little to learn from the ruins about what the entity that took over Lin does to take control of the longma. However, we would appreciate any help we could get to keep our minds secure from them. If meditation can help, we’d like to learn from you. Maybe we can set aside a little time for that.”

@Blitz Boom “If it is one thing I’ve come to enjoy after living in exile for so long, it’s simple pleasures like sharing meals or drinks with good company. Perhaps when this matter is behind us, when we’ve found the answers, we could visit and tell you about it. Coming from a time when I had nothing to my name, sharing myself and my time with others to show appreciation is about the best I could do for those who showed kindness.” “We still need to focus on the pressing matter, sister. As long as the entity continues to approach the longma and hound us, none of us are safe. And that is before the other thing we need to worry about. Will you be all right when it starts? It’s going to be a lot of talking and arguing, especially when the elders need us to speak up.” “I won’t let this stop me from doing what I can to help. Elder Ghilan is putting his hopes into us, after all.” Lin adjusted herself, sitting up for a brief moment to place one claw on her brother and the other on Omen. “You and Omen speak as best you can, and I will do the same. You know that I am not optimistic about the longma, nor do I have faith that the elders will listen. But you do, brother, and you want this to work, so I will do what I can to help.” Sen smiled and nodded, pleased to hear that even with Lin still piecing her mind together, there were more hints of her fairly distant memories coming to the forefront. That, and her being fairly astute about her thoughts on the matter with the elders and how it contrasts with her brother’s intended goals. Maybe her state of mind isn’t too badly damaged, but that only left Sen wondering about what the entity truly intends for them and the longma as a whole. As Lin took a sip of the water Sen passed to her, he kept to himself for a moment to recall what Elder Zhao mentioned. “Suitable for the tasks of the area….” What if it intended something more than just being a servant? If it is truly aware of who they are now, it might try sabotaging the meeting with the elders. The thought alone had Sen more worried, likely imagining himself already compromised. Then again, the kitsune elders didn’t appear to be worried about that. It was a confident smirk, and all Sen and Lin could do for the moment was to listen, though there was an evident look of confusion on their faces. Something like it happening again wasn’t out of the question but on a much larger scale? The siblings wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they kept the memories of them being made to do things they would never consider. “If it is anything like the last time something like it happened, it will try one of two things. The first would be to force us to do something we don’t want to do, like attack you while keeping us conscious. Probably an attempt to break our spirit or make us feel guilty.” “The second is to wipe anything resembling ourselves, leave us like husks that will follow any order given without question. That scares me the more I think about it; I cannot imagine that kind of fate for anyone, let alone for myself. Worse, that might tie into what you mentioned about a ‘trigger.’” Lin turned to Elder Sohe, a worried look plastered on her face. The memories of her and Sen being placed under control came flooding back in, hearing only the instructions of whoever held their leash and acting on them. None of that was anywhere near appealing, and she hoped something like it would never happen again. Sen, too, remembers those times, and not fondly at all. The only saving grace for the last time was that Omen had the metaphorical leash. The two siblings knew she was trustworthy, never doing anything that could abuse the kind of power such a leash held. But with someone less scrupulous, he couldn’t even imagine that kind of scenario. The longma still felt his head throbbing, little by little, but the obtrusive thoughts on the matter were more of a concern than something that would pass in time. However, they would need every advantage they could get, and fortunately, Elder Sohe mentioned something that could help. “We… wouldn’t know if the entity has a trigger that could have them worm into mine, Lin’s, or the other longma’s minds. If I may ask, are there any techniques or methods that could let us resist that kind of power? Could something like that eventually make anyone immune to mental manipulation?”

@Blitz Boom Hey there! Just giving a heads up that my response will be delayed for about a day or two because of the holidays here. Though I'll still try to sneak in a response if I get a chance .

@Blitz Boom “If what you say is... that this entity wants the longma, then pair that with the vision of the experiments… There may be truth to what you mentioned about that part. What did it hope to gain by creating us or wanting us under its control? Something feels missing as if there was more to this than what you just saw.” “We didn’t see anything else in your mind, only what that entity wanted to show. If something is missing, it doesn’t want us to know it; all the more reason why we should be careful. That said, Omen and Elder Zhao believe she’s safe if she goes to the ruins. We’ll have to take a chance on that.” “If it’s someone we trust, it’s Omen…. All right. When there’s time to figure things out from those ruins, we’ll see what can be done.” The siblings nodded toward each other, then turned to Omen with a knowing look. Though they both harbored some insecurities and uncertainties, with her going into the ruins again after what happened, they have to believe in the possibility of positive outcomes when it comes to learning more about the ruins. They knew to expect danger, but with brother and sister compromised mentally, they would have to turn to less risky methods. Fortunately, they already had something to work with, and that meant they wouldn’t need to explore the same ruins again, at least to the same degree. Their information only needed verification before they could pursue their best possible lead. Sen had hoped he could find another way to keep the risks lower, but he conceded and silently agreed with the plan. For the moment, Lin would spend some quiet moments in thought, going back to piecing together what happened. Given Sen’s and Omen’s narrations of events, there was now a certain familiarity with them. She may not have lived the events they described, but it felt like she… saw them. Or perhaps the events were a figment of a memory that she can recall, if only partially. Whatever the case, some things were making a little bit of sense. There were fragments of a laboratory, words spoken about the search for perfection, things that she’d ponder upon as more of it opened up to her. What was certain was that she recalls working on opening a sealed door through a rotation puzzle and the abundance of glowing crystals. Those seem to correspond with Omen’s and Sen’s narrations on them restoring her memories. Sen chuckled at the exchange between Omen and Elder Zhao. A moment like this was always something that can help provide some levity in an otherwise tense or difficult moment. Even Lin found herself smiling, bringing back some reminders of days gone by when a similar turn of discussion happened with Rosa. It certainly left her feeling briefly scandalized. As for Sen, he was feeling a little more assured going by Elder Sohe’s description of sake. “I’ve only had a few sips, so I guess that means I’m safe. I wouldn’t know the process of making sake, but it is an interesting drink. Back home, it’s just water and tea, the latter made with dried leaves seeped in water over a fire. The longma grow these plants, plucking their leaves at the right time, yet I still don’t understand how they do it. All I’m certain of is that it’s delicious.” The longma then turned to Elder Zhao following her question; he spent some moments moving some body parts to get a feel of them, but the soreness didn’t seem so evident now. It was a nice feeling, though the headaches didn’t seem to subside just yet. “I’m feeling a little better now, Elder Zhao. I guess speaking with Elder Sohe and Lin got me to forget these pains for a while, though my headaches are still here. Or maybe it's the sake taking effect on me... I believe I can manage the pain, but there is something else. I’m worried that the entity in Lin’s mind is now aware of you when we entered the mindscape. It spoke of taking aspects of different creatures to create a perfect being…” “What if it decides to go after the kitsune or uses the longma to go after other creatures? I… I know I shouldn’t be thinking that way, but I guess I’m just trying to gain some insight. How do we even fight back against something that could worm its way into our minds? Or worse, it might decide to use us to get to you.”

@Blitz Boom “You won’t get an argument from me about that, elder. That place is called taboo for a reason, but when I learned it had something to do with father’s... No, it’s just a bad place, one that needed to be sealed away for good. If whatever got to me already did it once, what’s to stop it from going after other creatures? I can’t in good conscience put Omen, the kitsune, or anyone else at risk. Maybe it’ll be better if no one studies it.” “Sister, whatever it was that got to you, it specifically wanted the longma. When it took over you, it said that ‘they,’ whoever they are, are coming for us. I hate to admit it but we’re targets now, and that means we’ll have to deal with it whether we like it or not.” “Knowing you, brother, you’ll want to keep as many of our folks safe. I hope you realize Omen and Xin were there too; whatever got to me knows about us, and we’ve all got big red marks painted on us now.” Sen didn’t like the implications of what Lin said, even though the latter tried to play it cool. Didn’t seem like it was a good idea in hindsight, but Sen ignored it for now, somewhat satisfied that Lin could still pick up on some of his ways of thinking. Then he realized the latter part of Lin’s reply and had to quickly go over to Omen to quietly explain that part. “Just so you know, Omen, we don’t have actual big red marks on us. But, she’s right; let’s be careful when we decide what to do with the ruins.” The matter of the ruins back home was hopefully settled with Xin sealing off the one they visited. However, there was no doubt more were scattered throughout the forest. In hindsight, it was good that the elders had reason to keep anyone from going there, but one could not help but wonder if they knew something others didn’t know. Did they know more than they let on? Perhaps Ghilan may have some insights on the matter, some knowledge he could have access to as an elder. Then again, this was probably one of the many matters that should be handled delicately. Having a lot on his plate right now means less time to worry or babysit the siblings. The other elders may look upon him less favorably if they knew he wasn’t doing a good enough job running the village. Even he was summoned by them. If anything, he also had troubles of his own. For now, Lin would sit and think about the things she’s heard. Omen’s narration, along with Sen’s additions on the specifics surrounding the laboratory and the experiments that went on within it, still gave her pause. Someone or something claims to have been creating the longma... a product of testing or something more nefarious? If it were true, what was the goal? And who was the "tank-mother?" More questions arose, but none had easy answers. Lin couldn’t shake the thought that she was the product of someone else’s mind, but she was certain that she was herself, with her thoughts and choices being her own. As the recap went on, Sen walked by the refreshments brought in for them. He’d pick some water for Lin, who quietly took a few sips. Anything to help think with a clear mind would be ideal for her. As for him, he’d go for the sake Elder Sohe mentioned. Taking one little sip, he’d swirl the liquid in his mouth, taking in the taste and letting it sit to get a better idea of what was in it. A fruity and sweet taste was dominant, though he’d also notice the aspect Elder Sohe mentioned: a faintly strong taste that he couldn’t put his talon on. No doubt he wasn’t accustomed to light acidic tastes, and it was not quite like apple cider. This one’s got something going on with its floral aroma. “Brother, Omen, please give me a moment. I… just need some time to think about what you said because even after explaining it all, I still find it hard to believe if it is true…” “Of course. Whenever you’re ready.” The longma nodded and turned to the elder, stepping away from Lin for a while to give her a moment. He even passed his drink to Omen in case she’d like to try some; it was definitely something interesting and new, something the folks at home might not be able to conceive. It proved to be a nice enough distraction for the moment, but he knew he would have to broach the other more sensitive topic soon. “If I may ask, elder, is this the drink you mentioned? Sake? I’ve never had anything like it before. What is it made of? I’m picking up some hints of fruity tastes, but it’s also sort of flowery.”

@Blitz Boom “It’s nice to meet you, Elder Sohe, though I wish we could have met under better circumstances. This is not a good look, and I feel as if my mind is drawing blanks. Only vague thoughts about what happened before I woke up remain.” Lin tried to remember some more recent memories, though she couldn’t do so without either coming up with nothing or having a headache. There were small glimpses of walking down a tunnel into some underground ruins, talking with a few of the village children, and spending time with Shrimp, but nothing else seemed to come to mind. Blanking out on the things that happened earlier wasn’t a good sign, but she wasn’t going to accept it. Fortunately, Elder Zhao came in and explained the matter, easing her worries and assuring her that the memories would return in time. Having the recap would do wonders to help jog her memory, but it may take some time to have Sen’s narration of events line up with what she could recall. Frankly, it was likely that Sen would dictate what happened, and she would just accept events as they were, but he understood the task and its importance. It was a sound approach to ensure Lin could start to recover. Sen nodded upon hearing the elder’s suggestion. As much as he found the look Elder Zhao was giving him to be a little… pressuring, he readied himself and began recalling the mindscape, what they found there, and their tasks within that place. It still felt surreal, but the things that happened there were not easily forgotten. “Sister, as said earlier, something took over you; some kind of creature wormed its way into your head. Omen took us here to the kitsune so we could remove that presence in your mind, and what she said was true. We entered your mind and began restoring memories that were changed by the entity because it was making you remember things differently. It’s like it was trying to make you forget what we went through with Rosa and Discord as if making you forget those we befriended and what we achieved together. Rescuing Omen, spending time at the carnival… those things.” “Somehow, either you or something that looked like you joined us inside your mind. It was your consciousness, I think, but it helped us out a lot. Eventually, whatever was inside your head began showing us things that seemed to be related to it. Experiments, most likely, but it may have been giving us hints that the longma were its creations…” Sen paused for a moment to catch his breath; somehow, this narration of events began to sound even more bizarre despite having experienced it. He was about to go into the more personal memories, especially the matter concerning their parents, but it appeared that even Lin was just as uncertain about the narration now. Perhaps this may be a good thing in disguise, as Sen hoped to have a private discussion with his sister about the matter. However, how they'd go about this would simply depend on what comes next. As for Lin, she held up two claws in front of her, gesturing to her brother to stop before he could say another word. “Wait, please stop. Going into my mind, restoring my memories? All of this sounded too strange to be true, and I don’t know what to make of that.” “It is what we believed was the best approach to helping you, sister. Directly fixing the problem by removing the presence from your mind and undoing the damage it did to you.” “Omen? Elder? Forgive me for being skeptical, I am unsure about all of this. What Sen just said… did it really happen?” Lin looked to the others in the room, then back at Sen. Though she wanted to believe her brother, and he had no reason to lie to her about what he saw, his sequence of events sounded a little too bizarre to be true. Perhaps having a second and third opinion to corroborate her brother’s accounts would go a long way to assuring her that Sen hasn’t gone mad from being in the mindscape. That said, he had given her some memories to work with, so she could try to recall some events in the more distant past. It was a start, and the downtime to get her mind sorted was good to have.

@Blitz Boom “From what I last remember, Discord has found himself a good friend with a kindly pegasus, and he’s been a lot happier for it. His ways remain chaotic, but now it is channeled into more… productive purposes. I do not claim to know what those are, but his living in society is a sign that the times have indeed changed, and maybe it changed him too. Having worked with him, even for a brief time, convinced me that even as a creature of chaos reviled among different creatures, there is goodness in him.” The longma wondered if other draconequii are similar to Discord, an embodiment of their namesake that they live out in their mannerisms. There is comfort in knowing what one might expect, but seeing it for one’s self tends to bring about the unexpected. One could bring up the saying related to judging others based on first appearances, as Discord certainly changed a lot from what is known of him then and now. Still, bringing him into the longma village is a recipe for disaster, one that will likely end with immediate exile, no questions asked. Though some could argue the sheer audacity in doing such a thing makes for a good story, it doesn’t do any favors for Sen to convince his fellow longma to be more open. Some grievances are too ingrained to just let go… But some things could be changed, and some could be convinced to take a chance on the outside world and their wonders. Sen had his optimism, while Lin didn’t have the same thoughts on the matter. She goes along with it, but for what reason, only she knows. “I won’t lie, Elder Sohe, it sometimes feels like I’m facing against the world and only have a few allies standing by my side. I welcome their help, but will it be enough? I guess it has something to do with the nature of change itself; it’s scary not knowing the answers or what will come, and that makes inaction preferable. Maybe addressing that could be a start.” “I can’t promise that the longma could see themselves accommodating outsiders or willingly offering their help to the kitsune, know that you have friends among them, even if it is just me, Lin, and Omen. You’ve been gracious to us, and it is only right that we help you in turn.” The longma recalls that from the ruminations he encountered as a young child. Back then, he didn’t understand it despite it sounding so profound. Only now did he begin to see what it truly meant, despite living that moment many times before. Admittedly, he’s beginning to reach for some ideas, things that he could say better articulate the other longma’s feelings about the creatures and the world beyond the forest. Some ideas may truly come from unexpected places, and this talk with Elder Sohe has been a great help. Though he’d love to continue chatting about the matter regarding communicating with spirits, that will have to wait for now, as Lin had just woken up. Sen would bow and excuse himself to run off to see his sister, who appears to be in fairly good condition despite everything that’s happened. Her mind appears to be intact, but her recollection of past events may need to be tested. But right now, Sen was just relieved and thankful that Lin was fine and awake. “Neighpon? The kitsune? And you went into my head? Did something terrible happen to me?” “Yes, sister. In those ruins back home, you were taken over by an unknown entity, and it was trying to replace your memories with its fabrications. Omen took us to the kitsune, who gave us the chance to remove that presence in you. We’ll explain more later, but it’s just good to see you are all right!” Lin wasn’t sure about what she just heard from her brother, but it sounded like she missed out on a lot. Her mind blanked out on those details, unable to recall what happened. As far as she knew, she woke up from a long nap, a feeling that shouldn’t be possible given her circumstances. However, seeing Elder Sohe by the corner of her eye convinced her that, at least, something was up, and Sen and Omen were waiting for her to awaken. “This must be an unexpected and awkward welcome, but I thank you for the welcome.” Lin turned to Elder Sohe, attempting to sit up but noticing that her strength had been sapped. She’d concede for the moment that she needed to stay put and rest. “I’m sure Sen or Omen may have given you my name, but in any case, my name is Lin. If I may ask, who are you, and how long have I been here?”

@Blitz Boom “I didn’t know the kitsune and Discord got along well! The longma know of him after his magic ran wild, turning our world into something so foreign and unknown. I wasn’t around to see it for myself, but it is a story passed down from generation to generation. They simply called it ‘The Madness’ for it was when some grew mad from seeing the world break. Trees would walk away while the fish in the rivers would fly above the water, among other things. It was a different time then, but I still didn’t imagine calling Discord a friend; he helped us out with finding and restoring Omen.” Sen still didn’t think he and Lin could befriend the famed draconequus, let alone meet him, but it was a different time growing up and hearing the strange stories of Discord’s antics. The one regaled time after time by the older longma sounded so surreal, yet a creature capable of such chaos walked among them at one point in time. One could only imagine how things could have fared if they kept their preconceptions of the draconequus, but the two are happy to have him as a friend. At that moment, Sen felt the pattering of little feet crawling on him before coming to a stop. It seems like Shrimped has decided to make him his next point of rest. The longma took care to be gentle with movements now, but he is relaxed and unlikely to move around too much. He’d even give his little friend some gentle rubs. The longma pondered what Elder Sohe had to say on the matter, though it is hard to see past the negative aspects of one’s kind when Sen saw the ugliness in the longma’s beliefs. Isolation meant keeping a rigid way of life, and staying within it was a sign of safety and belonging. Deviations from this also led to an understanding that one didn’t wish to be part of that way of life, and exile meant being removed from a life that could have ensured stability in an uncertain world. Sadly, experiencing that separation unfairly left too many scars that were unlikely to heal, but Sen saw some positives from it. He gained new perspectives while questioning old beliefs, and he wouldn’t have met so many wonderful creatures had he not experienced life away from the longma. “To tell you the truth, elder, I feel like I am being a part of something big: a change I hope would take root and last long into the future. It’s happening a lot sooner too, and I really want to go well. You can be sure I will pour my heart out for this task; I believe in the good it can do despite many uncertainties. I just hope what I do will be enough to get through to the longma because I don’t believe them to be too far gone.” “From what you said, I am fairly sure I can’t speak with nature spirits. The longma say they have a level of familiarity with nature, but I don’t think anyone’s ever claimed to speak and understand spirits that are tied to nature. But I appreciate your offer nonetheless. It would be good to be certain. Speaking to the departed is much more different, but maybe it is possible to do that. Perhaps when there is more time, as I am not sure if being away for years to learn this skill may not be the best thing to do now. Don’t take this the wrong way, elder. I’m not ruling it out.” “Just being here, talking with you and sharing things about ourselves and our kinds, it is an honor. I don’t see the need for us to be enemies, and I’d much prefer us to be friends. Although with what we’ve been through to help my sister, is there a way for me to repay your kindness?” Sen smiled and made his appreciation for the kitsune elders known. He didn’t see the point in making enemies of others, whether for any number of reasons or simply for the sake of it. The idea didn’t make sense in the slightest. And now, when they have given help to restore Lin, he certainly feels indebted to them. There already was what they spoke about with Elder Zhao, but the longma felt it insufficient. Amid the others talking, someone else continued to stir, now more than before. With Omen watching Lin, one could begin seeing more movement along her claws, neck, and head. Her breathing became a little more audible now, and soon, her eyes slowly fluttered until they were open. Though present in an unfamiliar environment, being greeted with the sight of familiar company quickly put her at ease. “Hello there, Omen,” Lin smiled and calmly greeted. “I felt like I’ve just woken up from a really long nap. Where are we, and what’s going on?”

@Blitz Boom “Hmmm… that’s unexpected. Not immortal is not something that comes to mind when it comes to Discord. He always felt like there was more to him than what I saw. A being that was chaos incarnate was like a living force that just is and will be, no reincarnation needed. I’m not even sure if that is enough to describe him; he seems like he's larger than life, so to speak. To think there are more draconequii… that is a scary thought.” Though Sen tried to deflect his true thoughts on the matter with his more generalized feelings on draconequii, the name Mortimer rang some bells. Perhaps Mother mentioned it once or twice while they spoke before? An ancient being, one that can inspire fear? Maybe it was for the best that he didn’t bring that up on account of not having recalled enough to be a priority for this conversation. The only thing the longma is certain about this Mortimer being a very powerful creature. Admittedly, this conversation is bringing back a lot of things brought up in the past by friends and acquaintances, things that Sen hoped to investigate if given time. The evergrown and the dryads could probably be within the forest, but out of concern for both the longma and whoever he may find, it may be best to look into the matter privately. Based on what Elder Zhao mentioned, it may not be the dryads on account of their curiosity, leaving the evergreen the most likely candidates. “Knowing Lin, she won’t let something like this set her back or keep her down, but I’m sure she’ll need some time to get her mind straightened out after what happened.” “That last thing you mentioned about souls being left... I wouldn’t know if respect is even true for the longma. Growing up, I always thought it was just normal for us to have so much respect for our surroundings and each other. Turns out that respect is only given to those who stay true to our beliefs, even if it hurts or tramples over others. Those that stray from our laws are exiled and denied our customs as if they never existed.” The longma grew somber and silent, taking what he said and betraying his feelings for the longma despite wanting to help change them. Some things just couldn’t be left alone, and others weren’t so lucky to find peace even outside the longma’s forest. The thought that the same was true for his parents terrified and saddened him; it shouldn’t have happened, and they deserved better. All that was left for him was to remember the best of them and keep their promise. “I admit, I am jealous of your practices and beliefs. Your stance on your exiles and the respect you show them is admirable, and I feel like the longma could learn a lot from the kitsune. If only they could just be a little more open-minded. Still, it’s nice having this conversation with you and getting to know more about your beliefs and practices. Knowing even just a little more means I get the chance to examine the longma a little more and see where we could stand to be better.” “I know this idea might sound crazy, but is there a chance of me learning how to speak with spirits? I understand if the kitsune do not want to share that information, but is it possible for someone like me to learn what is needed to do that?” If attention were drawn to where Lin rested, one could see her stirring a little more than the last. Her eyebrows appeared to furrow, her eyelids twitching, likely already noticing that she was in a different environment. Though she wouldn’t wake up just yet, signs of activity were a good thing, and it just got a little better with a new development. Lin’s twitching was now just as noticeable at her claws, with her talons appearing to move stiffly. The movement would subside after a few seconds, only to start again, then stop, with only some quiet groans and unintelligible murmurs from her. Any moment now, things would be looking up for the siblings.

@Blitz Boom “Perhaps… It’s something I hope to do after experiencing things I never thought possible with those I didn’t think I’d get to meet. I just hope the mistakes I’m making don’t make things so much worse. Sometimes, there’s no going back after a big mess.” Sen felt the pressure welling up inside him, the kind that could end in something as bad as permanent exile. There was a kind of terror in that, a life that must be built from scratch and knowledge from the past that may amount to little. The worst part is having friends taken away just as he begins to discover the joys such bonds bring, a severing that cuts much deeper than physical wounds. But for now, the longma delighted in the conversations he was having with Elder Zhao and Elder Sohe. Beliefs weren’t a big conversation piece back home outside of lessons, and those were just accepted as fact growing up. Now, an exchange of ideas opened his mind to pleasant imagery, some more appealing than expected for him. Morbid to some, but Sen found comfort in the ideas shared with him, and he wished there was some truth to that for the longma. Or perhaps there is power in beliefs that even he didn’t think was possible. “I’ve heard of the Evergrown and Dryads, but I have never seen one. A friend once suggested that our similarities may mean the possibility of us living close to each other without us finding out. Maybe they just don’t want us to see them. But what you said about your ancestors walking among the living… that must be special to know there is more beyond the end of one’s physical life. It’s a comforting thought.” “As for reincarnation, that is new to me. I’ve always thought draconequii live very long lives, almost like they are eternal. I mean, Discord is chaos, right? As long as chaos exists, so will he. Or am I misunderstanding something about reincarnation being part of that?” Sen followed and continued, seeing the flickering lights and taking in the surroundings to feel the influence and presence of the spirits around him if he could. It may just be a kitsune thing, experiencing such wonders within their domain, but it gave the young longma some perspective of his own kind’s beliefs. A moment like this just to… feel… it’s not the kind of thing one would think to try in a quiet time, but Sen tried it just for fun. Elder Sohe’s description of the spirits was rather appealing and sensible, though the idea of spirits is fairly vague to the longma in general. It was from a visit to the Moonlit Thicket that Sen was reminded that spirits of their kin do exist, an unfortunate state that even he sympathized with. He and Lin weren’t the only exiles, as he had come to learn from a visit with Elder Ghilan back then; some longma stood up to Solasan, protested the wrongful exiles, and they found themselves banished from their homes. However, they weren’t so lucky, and they eventually found themselves in a terrible fate. Perhaps he may seek them out to learn what he can do to help. The implications behind this were rather grim. “Speaking with spirits sounds special! Maybe there might be a place for that in longma beliefs and practices if we could reach out to the spirits of our kind. There is already great reverence for our departed as we tend to the trees that are planted with their ashen remains, but it usually ends with those who stay true to the ways of our kind. Those who stray from it are not given the same courtesy, which calls many things to question… Maybe the restless of our kind could also find their rest.” The longma had more to say on the matter, but Lin stirred again as she lay. This time, Sen noticed and watched, hoping they could have a better look at her or check up on her condition. He’d pause his conversation with Elder Sohe for now to see if there was more, although the stirring grew little by little despite Lin remaining asleep. Maybe it was a sign that she may be coming back into consciousness soon...

@Blitz Boom “I… yes. Elder Zhao is right. I should have kept things under control, not make them worse.” Sen paused, hesitating to spill even more about what happened in the mindscape. That was about as much as he wanted to disclose without delving into much more personal matters. In his mind, reopening an old wound wasn’t something he wanted to do despite having come to an understanding with Lin. Some things he may not ever move on from, though he’d try his best to not let that get the best of him. As it is, he’d simply agree with what Elder Zhao had to say on the matter and hopefully leave things at that. Though Lin’s status at the moment was ever-present in his mind, he’d still get some memories of old times flitting in and out. Old things that he hoped would remain buried and forgotten. The true Elder Solasan was already advanced in age and seemingly unremarkable as elders go, but there was no telling of who he truly was until that fateful night. Sen wondered if that was orchestrated by the true elder or the creature that masqueraded as him; perhaps none of that matters now and dwelling on it would be a pointless exercise. “Our afterlife? I guess haven’t thought of it much outside of what I was told growing up. The longma believe that we are part of nature, that once our time has come, we simply give all that is left of ourselves back to our source and surroundings. If some part of us continues after, I wouldn’t know, but I hope it might be true.” The longma grew quiet, his attempts at hiding some of his private thoughts always on the back of his mind, though he still couldn’t shake what he saw in the mindscape. He once thought about the matter before, about how the spirits continue to linger around the living, though he expressed the possibility of them moving on to some kind of paradise. To some degree, he hoped it was true, and one day, he may find his father and mother there. There would be a lot to talk about when they are reunited. However, those thoughts abruptly ceased when Elder Zhao rated his… performance within the mindscape. Unexpected for sure, and it certainly left the longma rather confused at what was happening for a moment before he recalled the events again. It was disappointing to him, especially when he already had a history of meditation, and he couldn’t even muster the effort to use that to keep himself focused. Fortunately, strange spirits emerged and looked on at them, drawing his attention. One, in particular, had an interesting look: a water or watery creature that caught Sen’s eye, though he considered keeping his distance as he continued to follow Elder Zhao and Elder Sohe. “Spirits? And we could see them? I’ve heard of spirits, and I am familiar with how some believe in them being invisible, but this is unexpected! Do spirits take different forms, and do they decide if others can see them? Maybe spirits are different depending on what we believe about them. I admit, I sometimes wondered if there are spirits everywhere and some creatures could not see them for one reason or another.” Despite the soreness in Sen’s body, seeing and hearing about the spirits got him perked up and slightly giddy. Lin would have loved to see this happening before her eyes, but perhaps it will fall to Sen to learn about them. He’d quietly admit to himself that seeing all of this piqued his interest and learning about them wasn’t a bad way to pass the time.

@Blitz Boom “That’s good to know. Lin can be tough when she needs to be, and I know she wouldn’t let something set her back or hold her down. I suppose worrying about her won’t be necessary.” Sen slowly began attempting to move himself, albeit slowly to see if he had fully awakened and returned to the physical realm. Small movements were first, bending a talon or two before stretching his wings and legs. The pain from getting beat up in the mindscape was still present, but he’d power through it. Uncomfortable it may be, but what happened in there could not be taken back; he had to be brought back to his senses, and beating that into him was the option taken. Stinging and throbbing sensations were still present and radiating all over him, and they’d be there for some time. Fortunately, Omen was already up and about, and Shrimp was safe. All of them are, and the longma’s need to concern himself with everyone’s safety wouldn’t be needed. Perhaps some lessons still need to stick, but maybe in time, his reactions wouldn’t go to such extremes on instinct. He’d turn to Elder Sohe first, appreciating the concern for his current state. “I’m… I’m all right. I can manage.” The longma slowly stood up, attempting to balance himself on his feet despite leaning toward the nearest wall to keep himself up. Perhaps his mind is still adjusting to his return to reality, but it wouldn’t take long for him to be up straight again despite the discomfort. He’d then look to Elder Zhao, an answer given for Shrimp’s current situation. “You’re right; the pain will pass. I can remember where we left off from our talk inside Lin’s mindscape. About seeking help… I wish it were true for the other longma. A lot has happened since we returned to them from exile, and a lot of what happened after that wouldn’t be possible without help from Omen. Lin and I have a lot to be thankful for.” “As for our elder Solasan, he’s… long gone. The real one, I mean. The thing that took his face is also facing punishment for what he’s done, but I suspect it has some relation to whatever got its hold on Lin. Unfortunately, we never learned what it was, only fighting it to free our village. Maybe now that we aren't in that kind of danger, we could learn about our past and about who we were that led us to our current state.” The elders back home may have had contact with the creature that became Solasan, a prospect that didn’t sit well with Sen. Compromised leadership at the highest levels didn’t bode well for the other longma, but there was nothing to suggest that was the case in reality. Indeed, the other longma elders may be fine physically and mentally, but a cunning entity could just lie dormant and work covertly. The longma would need to just keep his eye out for anything out of the ordinary and act as necessary when the time comes. But for now, there was likely more to discuss, and Sen would save his breath for more pressing matters. He tried to walk forward, attempting to shake off some of the static-like sensations in his body to relieve the numbness. “I believe I am prepared now, Elder Zhao. I think we may still have more to discuss following what happened in the mindscape. Is there something specific you want to talk about?”

@Blitz Boom “Places like those ruins are considered taboo, but we were only told they were cursed. Even the younger longma in the village are told the same thing. The elder Solasan warned everyone to keep away from them, but not even he could follow his warning. What he found there was just the start, and it soon gained enough power to keep a whole village under its rule, with none of us the wiser. We had to learn why he was going in there and its importance; we just didn't expect to find what we did or lead to the mess we found ourselves in.” “Sadly, even one place didn’t give us a lot of information, only clues to some unknown location through glyphs that glowed before fading. If the opportunity presents itself, we will look into this, but we... are aware that the longma investigating this matter presents problems. Omen also knows about it, so we have some way of moving forward without putting ourselves at risk, but we'll be careful nonetheless. If possible, we'll try to be discrete to avoid drawing attention to what we found and how we came across it.” Though it is true that some knowledge gleaned from the glyphs, combined with additional knowledge from the scholars and longma knowledge of the forest added to what they already knew, it didn’t really seem to amount to much. A location hinted through a step pyramid was about the only tangible hint they had for now. However, making sense of that may only happen once they find that place, and even then, that wasn’t a guarantee. Sen could only imagine the disappointment; something was coming, but having nothing else to work with made things aggravating to the longma. Having someone investigate the ruins wasn’t a bad idea, but knowing how the longma viewed outsiders, the siblings were worried for them. It didn’t matter that someone else was poking around; the elders would like to think that would be good, as they weren’t risking longma lives. What secrets could be discovered in the ruins was likely something the longma would want to keep for themselves, and the longma would rather have no one delve too deep. Complications upon complications, with no answer in sight… it wasn’t something that appealed to Sen or Lin. For now, that matter may need to be shelved for another time. With the meeting before the elders’ council approaching, that was where Sen would focus. If things were to go well, perhaps it would pave the way for further inquests into the ruins, preferably with no one breathing too much down the necks of anyone investigating them. That would make things a little easier should Elder Zhao send some kitsune to investigate. Either that or Omen may be able to move around a lot more freely. Sen would slowly come to and regain his consciousness. The faint sounds of conversation filled the air, and although the longma appeared asleep, he’d slowly begun to perceive more of the world around him. It was fitting that the first clear words he recognized were from Elder Zhao, rousing him from slumber, followed by someone addressing him directly. “Ugh… Oh! Hello to you, too. I… I’m fine. Hhngh… maybe not. I’ve got a headache, and the rest of my body feels like someone beat me up and knocked me out cold, but I’ll manage. It looks like I’m back from that strange mindscape.” Lin nearby would twitch occasionally, though she wasn’t quite awake yet. It was only a mere sign of activity that gave some relief that she’d be up eventually. For now, she’d remain asleep, her mind likely attempting to make sense and repair what it could after Sen and the others did their part. Sen looked around to see Omen was up, and Elder Zhao moving and speaking about, they were likely just waiting on him. He’d give himself a moment to let some of the pain from his headache subside, though it would be hard to focus for a time on account of, well… everything hurting. “I… uh… suppose now might be a good time to talk, right? Is Lin awake?”

@Blitz Boom “Had we known and understood the full picture, maybe we could have handled this differently. But you are right; it’s good we now know what each other knew. It still hurts thinking about what happened that night, but we’ll remember the best of our parents, about how much they loved us, and that scar will heal in time.” “As for getting hit, let’s try to avoid that when it’s not necessary. There are other ways to learn without getting hurt.” A matter of trust, a matter of communication… Sen didn’t think this was the root cause of the rift between him and Lin, and she was already aware of what happened. Perhaps it was truly an error on both sides, and they could have just come clean with each other about what they knew, trusting that they handled the situation the best way they knew how. Had they worked together to process their grief, things could have turned out differently. The matter isn’t completely resolved, but they could slowly learn to ease the pain. No more anger, no more sadness. However, that was for another time. Elder Zhao’s examination of the surroundings was complete, and her findings didn’t sound completely optimistic. Whatever it was they found in the ruins wouldn’t be the last time they’d encounter it, but Sen still recalls a previous matter. It may not have an established connection, but some aspects lined up just right to feel like there may be more than just mere coincidence. “Before we go, there’s something you need to know. Whatever it was that latched on to sister… it may not be the first time something like it happened. Something took over and spoke through her. A while back, the rest of the longma in our village, myself included, also experienced it when someone took the face of our previous elder and used similar magic. It was purged from us the first time, but I am afraid that whatever it was that spoke through Lin will do it again when it comes.” “We weren’t the only ones exploring the ruin when this whole mess started, but measures were taken to seal away the area so no one would stumble upon it. As far as we know, no one else is aware of it. But, you're right; this isn’t the place to speak of these matters. Let’s head out and continue elsewhere.” Sen wasn’t looking forward to the headache, but it that was just the tip of the iceberg. Lin being out for several days meant she’d likely be left behind while the talks with the elders were happening. It’ll be one less voice who can provide perspective, but they’ll have to manage until she is ready to join them. Travel wouldn’t be an issue if opening gates was their primary mode of transportation; making good on their greater task and ensuring their success was the objective when the time came. Hopefully, Lin could be lucid enough within a short while to talk things over with the rest of the group to figure out their next move. At best, some method of fortifying their minds against external control could be good. It’ll just require figuring out what method of mental manipulation they were dealing with. For now, the siblings walked through the entryway into the hut, beyond the bright glow, and into the other side. No more traps lay before everyone, and the transition to the waking world would be smooth. Or perhaps it could be as smooth as it could get with some minor complications, but nothing that would cause major issues. Sen opened his eyes to find a paw on his head and aches radiating all over his body. An uncomfortable feeling, but he’ll manage. He’d be ready to talk when everyone is back.

@Blitz Boom “When pain is all there is, it’s difficult to see or feel past it. Sometimes, you can ignore it, but it’ll be there to draw your attention back to it. Physical pain can be softened, and in time, it will go away. I can’t say the same for… well, this. Now that the truth is out, there’s no point in denying anymore. I just hope things don’t get worse.” Pain isn’t something unfamiliar to Sen; after all, training as a hunter didn’t come without aches, but the massages his father gave him worked wonders to soothe tension. Emotional pain, like the one he’s carrying, was a different story. If there was a way to make this hurt fade, he wouldn’t know. For now, he had to accept that something was broken, and more could be on the way once he spoke with his sister. There’s no telling what he’d hear from her, though a tongue-lashing wasn’t out of the question. He had to prepare himself for that at least, but Omen being there might be the only source of comfort he’d get. The longma would brace himself for the worst, though Elder Zhao’s words gave him some reassurance. Maybe one day, he’d forgive himself for the faults he saw in himself that fateful night. Now just didn’t seem like the right time, not when he still carried the guilt. He nodded to the kitsune elder and walked alongside the Ki’Nathar, readying himself to take in the worst his sister could muster, whatever she was feeling at the moment. Each step felt heavier than the last, and when Sen was just by “Lin,” dread hung in the air. “About… what you… saw. There’s no point in me denying it now. When I could have tried to help, I ran. Are you angry with me?” “Lin” paused and let out a sigh, though she would remain silent. She understood what happened, though some part of her still didn’t expect to see how things truly turned out. “I am. But not because you ran. Why did you need to lie about it?” “I... I wanted to spare you the pain had you known what really happened. If you knew it back then-“ “I did. Mother told me when I returned home to find you and father gone and her heartbroken. I’m angry because you acted as if you knew how I’d feel. Don’t you trust that I can process my grief?” Sen didn’t have an answer to the question posed to him. Or rather, he was tempted to say no on account of Lin seeking out dark magic to get her revenge for what happened. However, even he didn’t expect her to go that far, and they only learned of the consequences much, much later. It didn’t feel right to answer the question. All of this harkened back to another conversation earlier about trusting Omen’s capabilities to defend herself and how they didn’t need to fight her battles for her. In the end, all this boiled down to a matter of trust. “I’m sorry. After what happened that night, I’ve become scared that I couldn’t help those I care for, that I’d lose them too. It’s why I have to put myself between anyone who’d hurt you or Omen. Better that I take the hits instead of you. No one should have to experience what we saw. And Omen? I hope you never, ever have experienced that.” “Yes, but now we’ll work together so anything like it will never come to pass. I should’ve told you that I knew. Maybe we could have spared ourselves having to go through all this trouble. Maybe now we could start to heal and move on from this.” Both siblings nodded and took this moment to sit, even inviting Omen to stay with them for a while to watch the stars. It wasn’t quite stargazing in the real world outside the mindscape, but it was a beautiful sight nonetheless, especially with their surroundings now appearing to heal and form into a single landmass. There wouldn’t be any more of the entity to bother them in this moment of serenity and respite, a moment they can just enjoy. After a while, the entryway to the siblings’ hut would shine a bright, golden light, marking a path forward, but it was merely a way out of the mindscape. The way out was present and when everyone was ready, it would bring them back to the material world.

@Blitz Boom “We are in a mindscape, so I guess seeing you like this is to be expected, but it’s good you are all right. Still, I remember seeing hunters holding down mother while father was being taken away. Then, I only had a look at you and Elder Zhao for a moment before two more hunters were holding me back from them. You… you were those two, weren’t you?” “That weed made you see us as your enemies, made you want to fight us. It’s over now, but we still have work to do.” “Right. I’ve got more to say, but this pain is making it difficult to focus.” Sen looked around and took in his surroundings, now clearly seeing that he was safe and in the presence of good company. Omen being… unraveled… was still strange, but if she wasn’t hurting, then he’d accept it. Lying down on the ground, he and the others had a moment of respite to gather their energy for the task ahead, though the longma knew it wasn’t one he could avoid. Likewise, time was of the essence, and though the entity wasn’t bothering them at the moment, no one could say when it would try something else. After all, its presence had not yet been expunged from this mindscape. However, it wasn’t the only thing that Sen wasn’t looking forward to, as Elder Zhao had some choice words for him. They definitely stung, but he understood that this could have been avoided. It was true that he could hold his own, but a memory got the best of him. As much as he could try debating how this one was different, it simply boiled down to excuses. Getting knocked out isn’t exactly on the longma’s agenda, and he knows he needs to be here to restore the memory to what it should be. All the more reason to get this one right. “All right, elder. We have to finish this now, but I don't know if I can.” The longma breathed a long sigh but his heart now raced. His nightmares only showed glimpses of this event, but having to confront it in full wasn’t an appealing proposition. Unfortunately, there was no backing out now, and he had to truly see it, warts and all. He shuddered, but “Lin” reached out and placed one claw on his back. “Brother… I need to see the truth.” Unable to hold back any further, Sen slowly walked his way to the crystal and touched it, restarting the memory from the beginning. All the events everyone saw leading up to the interruption played out as they did before. The siblings’ father was pulled away, while their mother cried out for the hunters to let him go. All the while, an uncaring elder stood by and directed these events; in the distance was Sen, staring as this nightmare happened once more. He ran to his parents, yelling and screaming for the hunters to let go. As he was getting ready to fight off every last one of them, his father and mother both saw their child and uttered the words he didn’t want to hear. Sen! Get out of here! You’re not safe if you stay! Run, child! Run and save yourself! No! I'm getting you out of here! Get away from them! For a moment, Sen stood by, horrified but unwilling to go. Yet, when he took a step forward, he felt something hold him back. Or rather, his body wouldn’t move or defy how this memory was meant to unfold. Outside, the real Sen was visibly struggling, as if attempting to will every last bit of strength to try and make this memory play out differently. Two opposing forces were at play, but Sen couldn’t win over this one, remembering the words of Elder Zhao and his sister. He had to accept what really happened and honor what he was told. Sen relented, giving up his resistance, and the memory, still for what felt like minutes, resumed. The younger Sen began backing away, holding back his tears as he had to let his parents go. All the while, the hunters pulled his father away from his mother until they were no longer visible. He could still hear them begging their child to turn away and run, to keep his gaze away from them. With one more look back, he tried to change his mind, but he could no longer see them despite still hearing their impassioned but heartbroken pleas. Run! Don’t look back! “Papa! Mama!” Returning to the others in the mindscape, Sen jolted back, regaining awareness of his surroundings. His first instinct was to immediately look for his sister, who sat by the edge of the island they were on, not even glancing back or around her. It didn’t take long for him to realize that she would have seen exactly what he saw, but his doubts on the matter lingered more so. Around them, the island and the mindscape began to heal, so to speak. Where flames raged and burned, only ashes and embers remained. The oppressive crimson shade in the night sky made way for a clear sea of stars; the crystal at the center glowed a calming cerulean, and the entity’s spider-like structure holding the realm together slowly began dissipating until nothing remained. This was a victory, but Sen could only see regrets. He wouldn’t look at Omen or Elder Zhao, but he’d air his concerns anyway, hoping he’d find some assurance from his companions. “It's done... Was this the right thing to do? Or did I just make things worse?”

@Blitz Boom “That’s good! Just need to have Sen tied down so he and the weed won’t be able to move around much.” “Lin” saw the whole plan unfolding, with Omen holding down her brother while she and Elder Zhao were slicing and fighting off the weed’s influence. The plan came together well, and they were on their way to getting back on track. Just as expected, tiring out Sen meant the entity’s hold over him waned, and all it could do now was retain whatever it could, which didn’t amount to much. When all of the fighting was over, “Lin” breathed a sigh of relief, noticing that there was no more fight coming from her brother or the entity controlling him. Though fleeting, she sat and took in what moments of respite she could because they were still not out of danger, not with the weed still attached to them. It was apparent that the weed was digging deep into her hide, especially when she could feel something wriggling. She wasn’t looking forward to the sensations she’d feel when Elder Zhao made her move to remove the thorns and tendrils. Sen remained unconscious for the moment, a perfect opportunity for the kitsune elder to now remove at the weed lodged into the siblings’ hides. “Lin” couldn’t say how her brother was feeling, or if he could feel at all in his current state, but it was a rough experience for her. The weed’s thorns were tightly ingrained into them, and removing them felt like tearing pieces of themselves off. She’d only power through the pain and allow it simply because she wouldn’t want to make things worse. After all, it wasn’t an appealing idea to rip the whole thing off. Fortunately for her, the piece of weed lodged in her hide was but a fraction of the size found on Sen, so it hopefully wouldn’t take long. When all of it was over, Sen slowly returned to consciousness, he looked to the mindscape, seeing little of it had changed. However, there was a distinct and sharp pain radiating all over his body. It made moving difficult, though the whole experience got his body to shift back to his present-day form. It seemed like the entity’s hold over his perception had dwindled into nothing, though they still had work to do. “Ugh… Oww… What happened to me? And, Omen? Why are you untangled and wrapped all over me?” “The entity got its hold over you, made you fight us. We had to fight back so we could free you from its influence. Try not to move; Elder Zhao’s working to remove the weed attached to you.” Sen looked down to see this large, spiny weed now on his chest, surprised that something like it even manifested in this place and made him fight everyone. Even now, he seems unable to escape being a thrall to someone or something; just another one in an ever-growing list. Still, it was good to be freed from it, though he wonders if his next nightmare will include some pang of guilt about attacking everyone who stood by his side to help him. For now, he and "Lin" stayed put and awaited the removal of the weed, but they'd be back to restoring the memory. Sen wasn't looking forward to that, but he and very likely the others knew what must be done. “Thank you, everyone. I know we aren’t done here yet, but thank you all for helping, not just for freeing me but for helping with restoring Lin’s memories. I’m sorry for getting us all sidetracked when we are so finishing what we set out to do. Is everyone all right?”

@Blitz Boom “I don’t know the truth of it, but he will have to come clean once this is over. There is no doubt he can’t hide this matter. We will find out why he did it, and there will be no more doubts.” In a way, “Lin” didn’t like the idea of withholding the truth, but it was something only Sen knew, and something made him prefer to hide the truth. She was already in a bad situation when she found out what happened, but she didn’t know the whole story. A convenient lie to mask something more… but what could Sen have hoped to achieve by lying about it? Perhaps it wasn’t accepting the truth that was the problem, but whether there was enough trust to accept things as they happened. The idea wasn’t an appealing one, but there was precedent in his actions that made it seem that way. His overprotectiveness, a destructive willingness to throw himself into danger for someone else’s sake, and his excessive need to make sacrifices… it all started to make sense. Combined with his perceived guilt, one would begin to see what drives Sen. “Lin” started to piece together the information, but all of it would make sense if she could just see what truly happened that fateful night. They had to get Sen back from the entity’s control. At the moment, Sen continued an aggressive string of attacks, taking swings when he could and dodging those that came his way from Elder Zhao. The taunting got him to take careless maneuvers, striking hard to slice this kitsune into ribbons, though he ended up having no success, instead giving the Elder an advantage. The entity was still bound by the limitations it set by taking over the body of a younger, inexperienced Sen. Unfortunately, that meant lower stamina and less endurance, leaving him unable to fight back and focused on self-preservation. This led to something rather unexpected; while the entity, through Sen, continued to fight over control, the weed latched on to the longma was more restless, launching spiked vines out of itself and wildly around. Though seemingly uncontrolled, it was mostly directing them toward Omen and “Lin,” likely aiming to injure them or worse. Simultaneously, what control the entity had over Sen made him begin madly charging toward the two of them. Alas, pushing the young longma to his limits burnt him out, leaving him unconscious, as he collapsed near the edge of the floating island, just short of an endless fall. However, it wouldn’t be the end of the battle. The weed continued its struggle against Elder Zhao’s attempts to remove it, but the entity wasn’t going to give in. Aside from the thorns launching all over it, the vines fought back to tear away the kitsune, while four more larger tendrils erupted outward. These would then continue moving the unconscious Sen through spider-like motions, while more vines took swings at “Lin” and Omen, all in its task to fight back with everything it could use. “What the — That weed has to go!” “Lin” dodged another few thrusts from a barrage of tendrils, though one managed to gash her left foreleg and leave a large, open wound. She’d let out a loud yelp, but otherwise powered through the pain, but the opening on her hide was ripe for the piece of weed on her to begin growing immediately. “No, no, no… This is not good! We’re going to have to act fast before this weed takes me. I have an idea, but I don’t know if it will work. Elder, I’ll lend what help I can and try to slice off those tendrils. Omen, can you see if you could tie down Sen and the weed once the larger tendrils are cut? That might just be enough to weaken the weed so we can all remove it from my brother.” There was no guarantee that the plan would work, but “Lin” threw herself into the fight. She recalled Elder Zhao’s words and used the nature of the mindscape to manifest larger spectral claws and dark, smoke-like mist to conceal her movements, taking out several smaller vines gripping her brother. It even got her close enough to slice off two of the four large tendrils upon detaching those claws like thrown knives. She'd keep at it while Elder Zhao could wrest the weed's control over Sen's body. Likewise, taking as much control away from the entity and the weed could do wonders for the group and give them an advantage. As long as everyone kept the pressure on, the entity couldn’t keep its grip on Sen for long, and they’d be able to tear the weed away from Sen in short order. They were close to ending this battle.

@Blitz Boom “Accept that we are flawed? I used to think Sen was the best brother in the world, that he knew best… And now that I’m seeing him like this, maybe I’ve had it wrong. He didn’t have the answers to everything, and he could get things wrong. Smaller things I could understand, but for something as big as this, I don’t know if I could accept or forgive it.” “Sen’s been keeping this all to himself, the truth. But maybe now it has to come out for all of us to accept it for how it happened. Maybe that’s what I, no — what we — need. As much as I don’t like it, we all have to see the truth. I thought we put this matter behind us when we defeated Legion; he could no longer hide behind Solasan’s face. Maybe we are wrong, and there is more to work out.” Lin wasn’t happy that she conceded to Omen’s point, but what she and, by extension, Discord said was true. She and her brother are flawed; it’s something she has accepted for herself, but it’s a point about her brother that she couldn’t reconcile, not yet. Regardless, this may be what they need to truly begin to heal and move on from this terrible memory, and while this whole mess started from a different reason, this was a matter they needed to come to terms with, lest it put another strain on their relationship. However, the matter would need to be set aside for the moment, as a much more pressing concern needed their attention. Sen was losing himself to the influence of the entity, and his control was slipping little by little. As much as Lin wanted to help, she’d stand by and watch, waiting for an opening of some kind to step in and help. Elder Zhao sounded like she wasn’t going to hold back, but Lin quietly hoped her brother wouldn’t be too badly beaten. Sen, or rather the entity that has taken over him, sensed the immediate threat to this kitsune elder, and one misplaced strike sent him careening backward to the crystal. However, this did not deter the young longma, not one bit. A setback was a learning opportunity, and this adversary was not one to underestimate. To the longma, he saw an experienced hunter, the kind that he hoped to be but would rather not emulate now. The pain radiating through his body from the impact left him winded, but the entity would not be satisfied there. The thorns now gripped tighter, and a crimson light radiated through the longma’s body, pulsing with energy and invigorating him. Now he’d let out an animalistic sneer, staring down Elder Zhao and leap forward, striking forward with controlled swings before backing away to recoup. A smarter approach was required for this encounter, and he’d continue to stare down the elder in case she tried to make a move. He'd dodge the next strikes Elder Zhao would throw and take his approach slower. However, there were some moments when he’d eye “Lin” instead, watching her as if preparing to make a move on her instead. Likewise, “Lin” noticed this and prepared, expecting that even she was now a target. Now and again, Sen’s eyes darted between her and Elder Zhao, though a slight glance would go in Omen’s direction. He was eyeing all three, looking to take someone down. “I don’t know what the entity has in mind, but it’s got my brother watching all of us. Omen, I think you should get ready as well. Whatever’s got hold of Sen just marked you as its target.” It was a long shot, but if they were to get the thorns off her brother, it might be able to get him back to his senses. They needed to restore the memory the right way, and Sen’s recollection of the event was necessary. It seemed the entity knew this and would use the young longma to stall, maybe possibly change what he knew to stop everyone from achieving what they set out to do.

@Blitz Boom Though “Lin” was still caught in the memory, she was lucid enough to hear what was going on outside, and even see some of it within her peripheral vision. Everything was like it was that fateful night, though the sights and sounds of Omen and Elder Zhao meant she could still tell where memory began and ended. It was a lot to take in, and telling the difference between lie and truth was at the forefront of her mind, but she wasn’t sure how to respond to Omen’s claim. Maybe it might be true for Sen, but not so much for her, especially with what became of her now. “It was, at least for Sen. We were separated that night; brother made it back home before me, and what you’re seeing now… it’s all his memories and what I thought happened based on what he told me. I only returned home the day after, returned to a home where my father and Sen were gone, and Mother was hurt. She told me to run because it wasn’t safe anymore for me in the village. I didn’t want to go, but she insisted I save myself before I got taken away as well.” “I don’t know if Mother could say she is proud of me. If I had cared so much about finding Sen, I wouldn’t look like this or go to the lengths I did for some selfish goal. For too long, I was focused on finding some way to get my revenge on the village, even if I had to turn to dark magic to do it. Look how that turned out… Maybe you don’t see me that way, but I’m not a shining example of a good sister.” Though others can see Lin’s positive aspects through their interactions with her, she is the last who can say anything good about herself. It may be true depending on perspective, but this might just be another way the entity tried to demoralize her. Without the strength of their bonds with each other, it would weaken the resolves of the siblings, leaving them possibly trapped within a nightmare of their own making. With certainty, Lin couldn’t see herself coming to Sen’s aid, not with her grappling with her shortcomings and conflicting feelings about her brother. Unfortunately, that would make things more difficult for Elder Zhao at this moment. The entity found strength in a chance at victory, the opening it needed to come out on top. The mindscape warped Sen into a younger version of himself, an advantage it would capitalize on now that it got its tangled weed gripping onto the longma. It had Sen in its grasp, and it would soon break free of Elder Zhao’s grip. He turned his attention to the kitsune with a furious glare, his eyes now black with nothing but anger. Sen only saw a hunter unwilling to see reason, and that was enough for him to fight. “Uncaring monster! You will not touch my family! I will make you regret this!” Without hesitation, Sen pounced forward intending to claw and wound Elder Zhao with all of his might. He took several wide swipes, though, in his rage, his form made him sloppy and predictable. However, the entity was certain that no one would try direct retaliation, not when they found themselves in a situation where they would hurt a child. Sen was a wounded animal now, and to him, he had little to lose. It was all that was needed to fight, sending him into a berserker rage. However, that was enough to snap “Lin” out of her funk. Regardless of what she felt, seeing and hearing her brother like this was wrong, and she had to do something. "Lin" quickly took up her position next to Elder Zhao, ready to help. This wasn’t what she wanted, but if fighting her brother now was necessary, they had little choice but to do so, especially if they wanted to get the weed off Sen without hurting him too much. “Elder! Omen! Let’s try to tire out my brother. How do you want to do this?”