Succession: Rebellion

"Maybe someday you will," Nell said, always thinking on the positive side.
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"I won't Sir," Sunny said, nodding curtly at him. "Thank you."

Sunny looked at the others, feeling kind of anxious still. Maybe making a friend among them would help? She thought she might try it and she walked over to Savina.

"Hello. I don't think we met yet which is weird since we're both traveling together. I am Luteintent Sunny."

Carlisle

Carlisle stopped in place for a second as he stared at Mab. She was smiling... it was soft, but obviously there. Carlisle frowned for a few seconds, feeling confused. But he supposed it was a relief, to know that Mab was somehow enjoying herself out here.

"...Oh, well then good." Carlisle finally replied before turning around and quickly walking out of the cave and into the snow.
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Kegan/Brighe

Kegan walked around the carriage towards the horse. Luckily it had already been fed and washed, so Kegan just quickly untied the horse and brought it over to the carriage. As he slowly got the reins put on the horse Brighe walked past him, bunches of fruit and leftover meat in her arms.

"Good job Nephew." she congratulated before walking around the carriage. "Here you go Rein, Atiya. Something to eat while we're moving. It's better then stopping and looking for more food, at least." She stated while putting the food a few feet away from where Rein was sitting.

Brighe smiled at them, but didn't wait for a reply as her gaze turned to Sten. "Sten, I'd like to speak with you alone for a few minutes."
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Katie

Katie finished packing the tent up into the supplies wagon in good time. But instead of quickly going back to C.C. and Nell, she looked around to make sure no one was looking before climbing into the wagon herself. After she was entirely in the Girl quickly crawled into a small crawl space between the food and tents.

Katie sighed quietly after pulling her legs up to her chest so that no one could see her. Her breathing slowed down as she began to relax. The noise of people outside working surrounding her. But Katie wasn't thinking about them right now, her mind was on other things. Specifically, the date.

Tears streaming down her face now, Katie clasped her hands together and said a small prayer. Hopefully the Gods would hear it. Hopefully.
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Savina

Savina looked at Sunny, suprised that the Soldier had addressed her. "Oh...hello. I'm Sergeant Elda." Savina replied as she shook Sunny's hand. "But umm....I guess you can call me Savina. Sergeant is pretty formal and all."

C.C.

"I just...remembered something. I'll be right back." C.C. said. She walked away from Nell and began to search for Katie. After a few minutes, she managed to find Katie's magi signature and found the small space she was hiding in.

"It's the anniversary of that date again, isn't it?" C.C. asked quietly.

Rein, Atiya

"Thank you." Rein said, taking the food. While Rein put Atiya down the toddler went over to Kegan and motioned for him to pick her up.

Sten regarded Brighe impassively before nodding his head. He crossed his arms and told her with little emotion, "Lead the way."

Nell was now alone and he looked around to see if he could find something to entertain himself before they set off. He tail started to wag and he wondered if he should brush it now. He felt self-conscious grooming it in public, but he didn't want it to get mangly. He didn't mind being called a dog, but a mutt would be an insult.
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Mab sighed, exhaling loudly as she kicked some snow with her boot. She looked at Carlisle and then to the snow.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly. "I know it's silly to apologies about it now, but I feel like I need to. I feel like I'm stressing you out being here. I know I am."

She shook her head. Why was she talking? Mab felt that she was just going to make things even more tense between them.
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"Then you may call me Sunny," she said, glad that Savina was actually talking to her. "This journey has been pretty long and tiresome especially since we don't have any clues. How are you holding up?"

Carlisle

Carlisle's mouth stayed shut for a few seconds as he just stared at Mab, confused that she was apologizing him instead of the other way around. "Umm...don't be. I probably would have starved by now if you weren't here with me. ....I don't really know how to start a fire." He admitted, though really Carlisle was just tried to reassure Mab and change the subject.
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Rhys

Rhys walked into his room as quickly as possible. His face was flushed, and he could tell. It was embarrassing, walking into the Castle and having everyone know that he had been doing something...unprofessional, the night before. Luckily they probably would not know or be able to guess the actual details of what had happened and who he had been with. But still, he was bound to get some lip by some of the more disrespectful guards.

No matter though. Rhys could handle himself. And besides, he had more important things to worry about. Like his report to the Empress on the(Lack of)
progress with the five teams sent out after the Heirs. And Caesar as well, of course.

And so the Captain sat at the desk in his room and pulled out the files. Hoping that they would be enough to get his mind off of his life. For at least a short while, hopefully.
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Katie

Katie looked up at C.C.. She was surprised that the Mage was here, but then again, she supposed she shouldn't be. The Girl quickly tried to wipe some of the tears from her face, though she knew it probably wouldn't make much of a difference. "...Yeah. I just... had to say something to her. Even if she probably can't hear me." Katie finally replied, her voice cracking a bit.
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Kegan/Brighe

"Good." Brighe replied before turning around and walking away. As she walked past Kegan once again she saw that he was carefully placing Atiya onto the horse.

"Now is this high enough for you, honey?" Kegan asked as he smiled at his little Girl.

Brighe didn't hear Atiya's response as she and Sten kept walking for a few more minutes, not stopping until Brighe was entirely sure that no one else would be able to hear them. "We'll be in Felin within three days at most. I'll be able to get some money and supplies for you and you can go to Ka'Hirol then, if you'd like."
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Savina

"Not very well, I'm still a bit shocked." Savina said truthfully. But as the Soldier realized that she had just implied something bad, the color drained out of her face. "I mean, with the Heirs escaping and all. It's really crazy, right?" She quickly and loudly covered before laughing nervously.

"Umm...how are you? I mean, how have you been?"

Sunny laughed nervously with her, but then smiled.

"It sure is. I have been well. I miss the Castle though. I feel like a child who's sleeping at a friend's house for the first time," Sunny admitted. "I usually don't stray too far from it."
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"Still I feel like you're avoiding me or at least avoid talking to me," Mab said. She didn't want to talk about this, but she didn't want to keep living in silence with him. "Have I done something wrong?"

C.C.

"I'm sure she can, Katie. Susanna is in a better place now." C.C. said, gently placing a hand on Katie's shoulder. She would hug the girl, but there wasn't enough room to do so.

Atiya, Rein

"No, higher!" Atiya giggled, gently patting the horse. Rein grinned as she walked over to the two of them.

"Hey Daddy, can I ask you a question?" Atiya asked.

Carlisle

Carlisle stopped in place and turned around. It was obvious that he was very confused now, and embarrassed as well. "...It's not you. It's just. I haven't started talking again until very recently. When I was in prison...I didn't talk at all. Not even to people I knew....." Carlisle explained as he rubbed the back of his head.

"So I apologize again. I'm just used to the silence, I suppose..." He pointed out as it grew quiet again. But suddenly the Doctor straightened himself out as he realized what was going on. "But I umm, I will try and talk more. And be conscious of your needs from now on."
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Kegan

Kegan laughed in reply to Atiya's reply, though his attention was on Rein as he noticed her walking towards them. "Well hello there Miss." He said flirtatiously.

But before Rein could reply, Atiya asked her question. "Of course you can. You can ask me anything." He stated, somewhat naively.
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Savina

Savina nodded in agreement. "Well yeah, I suppose sleeping by oneself certainly doesn't help though." She pointed out.
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Katie

Katie nodded in reply, not wanting to talk as she continued to cry. Though she tried to stop and compose herself. "Thank you C.C. ... I umm... Why don't you go out with Nell and I'll be out in a bit." She offered, trying to show the Mage she was alright.

"What did you expect? Your wanted by the Empire. Your pretty much screwed." Nix said as stretched his arms. "You never told us what you did to anger the Empire." Gaita said. "We know your wanted, but that's about it." Nix perked up. Days of boredom had taken a toll on him. "Hmm. Lets make this fun. You give us a story, we give you one. Sound fair?" He asked.

Atiya

"How was I made?" Atiya asked brightly.

Rein smiled back at Kegan with a seductive smirk, but she froze upon hearing Atiya's question. Great...it was a different version of Atiya's earlier question, but it was still the same. She looked nervously toward Kegan. At least Atiya had asked him, and not her.

C.C.

"Katie, I know you better than that. I can read you like a book. You aren't completely alright yet. Is there anything you want to talk about?" C.C. inquired.

How was Sunny suppose to say that was the one thing she enjoyed most to Savina without revealing anything? She wasn't sure and so she had to lie. Which was something Sunny was never a fan of as weird as that may seem.

"Yeah, but I know I'm not really alone. I got you guys here with me. So it's not all that bad."
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Mab looked at Carlisle in shock and in a moment of pure impulse and ran over and hugged him. She pulled away embarrassed by the sudden display of affection and started walking,

"Well that's good to hear," she said loudly, still walking and not looking at Carlisle. "It's really kind of you as well. I'm sorry if I didn't understand why."

Katie

Katie shook her head. "No...no it's nothing really. I just- Well I was wondering if maybe... If I- Should I have forgiven Rhys?" Katie asked as she looked into C.C.'s eyes. She had finally stopped crying, but the Girl looked more worried and depressed then ever.

"I mean, I think he's sorry and everything. But after what he did, and with Susanna I have no idea what I'm supposed to feel. Would it be wrong of me to forgive or am I a bad person for not forgiving him?" She suddenly asked, talking extremely quickly.
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Carlisle

Carlisle stood still, his body stiffening as Mab caught him by surprise. But for a few seconds, he felt good, comforted almost. But the feeling quickly left him as Mab let go and quickly walked away. He was dazed as Mab began talking again, and he didn't understand exactly why she was apologizing.

"Don't be... I mean, it's entirely understandable why you wouldn't have guessed..." He pointed out as a strong and cold breeze blew by, almost cutting into Carlisle's exposed skin.
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Savina

"I suppose not. But I have to admit, I hate sleeping alone in my tent. Though I suppose not sleeping much might help." Savina stated absentmindedly.
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Kegan

Kegan stopped for a second, his laid back mood entirely gone. Though surprisingly enough, the Half-Elf quickly composed himself. "Daddy and Mommy gave a gift to the Goddess Persephone, and she gave us you in return. I don't know how we tricked her though, because she obviously got cheated."

Mab looked back at Carlisle and realized that he was underdressed for this weather. Blushing she walked over to him and wrapped an arm around his waist so at least he would have her body warmth to keep him from freezing.

"Well now that we got it cleared I hope it means we can progress in our friendship."
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"I could join you," Sunny said without thinking. "I mean um...that way neither one of us is alone. If that's ok with you."

Rein, Atiya

"Because I'm so special?" Atiya giggled.

Rein was about to respond to Atiya when she accidentally tripped, and ended up landing on Kegan, sending them both to the ground. She blushed and looked into Kegan's eyes.

"S-Sorry."

C.C.

"I'm...not sure, Katie. It can take a long time for someone to forgive a person, especially with all that Rhys did. But...I do think you should forgive him, eventually." C.C. admitted somewhat reluctantly.

Savina

Savina bit her lip as she quickly thought over Sunny's offer. "I umm...that sounds great. I'd feel a lot better with having someone else around." Savina agreed as she smiled. Though she was reassuring herself as much as she was reassuring Sunny.

Savina knew she screamed and cried in her sleep.... but she really would feel better staying with someone else. And besides, it's not like anything would happen between them. Even if Sunny was a really cute guy.

"So we'll just set up together tonight. Sounds good."
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Carlisle

Carlisle looked down at Mab and tried to force a smile. He felt a bit awkward now as Mab grabbed his waist. But the same warm feeling of comfort from earlier had returned. "....Yes. I think it does mean that." He quietly stated, knowing his cheeks were a bright red. Whether that was because he was blushing or because of the weather though, Mab wouldn't know at least.
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Kegan

"Ye-oof!" Kegan replied before being thrown to the ground by Rein. It was startling, but Kegan didn't mind too much as he looked back into Rein's eyes. His breathing stopped for a few seconds before suddenly, Kegan kissed Rein.
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Katie

Katie nodded as she looked away from C.C., towards the bags of grain beside her. The Girl bit her lip as a thought came to her, and for a few seconds she thought that it was insane. But instead of bottling it up, Katie asked C.C. "...Is it true? That Susanna was....disturbed and dangerous?"

C.C.

"Where did you hear that?" C.C. asked, her face betraying no emotions. Though inside the Mage felt her heart skip a beat at Katie's suggestion. Did someone tell her the truth?

Rein, Atiya

Rein gasped in surprise as Kegan kissed her, but soon kissed him back. Her hands started to roam down to his pants, by reflex, more than anything else. Though some part of Rein remembered where they were and stopped herself from going any further.

Atiya watched Kegan and Rein's display with advid curiousity. She giggled a little as they continued.

Kegan

Kegan's breathing was heavy as Rein stopped, and he was confused for a few seconds before he remembered that Atiya was there. If Syrien or Brighe had seen them.....

"Well yeah...."
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Katie

"I umm..... Well you see I don't really know who said it but you see." Katie continued on, her voice getting smaller and smaller as she began to get a little nervous. She wasn't crying any more, but Katie realized that she was probably asking very silly things at this point. Still, she supposed that C.C. deserved to know.

"I've been getting letters for about a year and a half now.... There is only eight of them though. But still, they suggest and explain a few things." Katie informed C.C. as she continued to look away from the Mage towards the grain to her left.

Rein

"S-Sorry." Rein apologized again while blushing heavily. She looked into Kegan's eyes again and couldn't help but kiss him again. She almost lost herself in it before forcing herself to let go. She smiled sheepishly.

"I really do wish we could have some alone time right now. No offense to Atiya, of course."

C.C.

"What do they say?"

Kegan

"Don't be." Kegan reassured as his breathing calmed down. He agreed with Rein. They had been good with following Brighe and Syrien's orders. He and Rein deserved some time to themselves. But how would he tell them that?
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Katie

"I umm.... I brought them with me. You can see them if you want." Katie offered nervously.

Rein

"We could just...ask Syrien, since Brighe's busy." Rein suggested, looking hopefully at Kegan.

C.C.

"Of course. Let me see them, please."

"I would appreciate that, thank you," Sten told her, visibly relaxing just a little at the thought of regaining his sword. He frowned, "Where shall I meet you again?"

*

"Okay, pull up a chair because it's a long story," Nebi told Nix as he walked over toward a group of boulders in a clearing about ten feet away from them. He sat on one and began his story.

"Well, I suppose it all began in the Capital. I grew up on the streets my whole life and I made a living as a pickpocket. A group of Royal Guards led by a Humage with an amulet for finding certain people dragged me right out of an inn. That's when I found out about my lineage, my heritage," he told them.

Brighe

Brighe stopped in place, pursing her lips together as she realized what Sten meant. "Oh, don't worry. You wont have to come back to us once you have the sword. You can do whatever you want...." Brighe reassured.
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Kegan

Kegan sat up and looked towards Syrien, feeling very nervous now. "Yeah, I suppose that's the best option...."
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Katie

A few minutes later, Katie and C.C. were sitting next to the river, eight pieces of paper lined up in front of them. Katie seemed less nervous now, but she still knew that C.C. wasn't going to be pleased after reading these. "Here's the first one.... I was given it nineteen months ago." Katie informed C.C. as she passed it to the Mage. The paper was crisp and clean, not even wrinkled. Though the handwriting and spelling on it were awful.

The letter said, "Deer Katherene. Yue do not noe who i am but I noe who you are. I was god frend of Susanna. If yue wanna noe wat rally happened to her than leev a note bye the bush near the font fountane fountain in the courtyard to the left side of the castle.

, Your frend."

Katie nodded her head in awkward acknowledgement of how bad the letter was. "And that's how it began. I actually had to put four letters around the Castle, each in different courtyards because they just said left in the letter." She informed C.C., chuckling a bit in spite of herself.

C.C.

"Wow, this spelling is horrible. Who wrote this, a child?" C.C. asked, chuckling a little. "What did the others say?"

Rein

"Come on, I'll go with you." Rein said, hoping to encourage Kegan some.

"No. I have to come back to you," Sten told her seriously in a tone that brooked no room for argument.