The Festival

"It's nothing." Nathifa said, when Akaelin noticed her injuries. "Some unexpected things just happened, complications arose...and were overcome. Let's just say it was the most eventful night Ra's had in a while. But enough about that, it's not really important at all."

Runi saw Tory and Geary as they came out of the inn. He noticed that they looked tired and sad so he went over to them. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Of course your well being is important to me," Akaelin protested, rising to his feet. "You no eat Mamas brains you zombie!" Mshai did one of his little power jumps, landing up on Akaelins shoulders. "...you no smell like zombie," the little demi-god realized.

"That's because I'm not a zombie," Akaelin pointed out. "Besides, if I were a zombie, I'd eat your brains."

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"Just didn't sleep good," was the only answer Tory provided. "Yeah, and now mom wants to leave," Geary said sadly.

"Zombeeeehs!" Aodan bounded into the room, leaving Nathifa wondering how the little wiger unfailingly found his way into their house whenever he wanted. He lept for Rukia and soared right over her head. "Twicked ya!" he said excitedly
"These will heal in a couple hours." Nathifa said. "I can't just heal them instantly since they were dealt by a diety. It's really nothing, not even any broken bones."

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"Why?" Runi asked, walking alongside them. "You just got here. Even the new people that were at the festival last night are staying a couple more days."

Akaelin wondered briefly if Birch knew where Aodan had gone. Rukia clapped at the wigers jump, laughing.

He rolled his eyes at Nathifas comment and pulled her closer to him, kissing her lightly. "I'm just glad your home."

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"They're not on good terms," Tory answered, looking back at Amilie and Jan, who were a ways back. They walked with about 8 feet of space inbetween them, each bearing a sullen expression. "Mum doesn't like to spend more than a day here," Geary added sadly.

"Yeah, I have a feeling that they won't be needing us for a long while." Nathifa said, leaning into Akaelin's hug and kissing him back. "It's nice to be home."

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"But he's your dad, isn't he?" Runi asked. "Why wouldn't your mom and dad like each other?" He paused to wipe a little blood off of a cut on his arm that had opened again. He quickly licked the blood away since it was a giveaway as to what he was. Because of his dark skin it wasn't very noticeable, but his blood was more blue than it was red.

Geary didn't really know that story. "Mom says we're not allowed to...ack...umm..."

"Acknowledge," Tory provied.

"Acknowledge, Jan as our dad anymore," the younger girl finished. "They used to like each other," Tory added. "At least I thought so. But then D-Jans job kept him away from home a lot. Mum said that he was putting his work before his family, so she left and took us with her."

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"Eeeewwwww......" Mshai and Rukia said in unison. Akaelin huffed, looking down at the children. Then again, what could he expect from a couple of toddlers?

((gotta go))

"Why not?" Runi asked the two girls. He was getting more confused by the minute. "My mom doesn't really like my father, but he's still my father."

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Aodan just blinked at the two kissing and didn't say anything. He was envious, since he didn't know where his mom was. When he asked his dad why he didn't have a mother he just said "She's not around."

((Okies. *starts rummaging through fridge as well*))

"She does...petty things when she's angry," Tory said, trying to figure out a way to explain the situation to Runi. "It's like...like when you don't like something and you want to push it away completely. She just doesn't want anything more to do with him." She didn't mention the fact that their mother was also into a relationship with another man, and had hopes that the girls would start calling him dad.

There were at the edge of the town now. Amilie had picked up her pace to catch up with Runi and her two girls. "Say goodbye to Jan girls," she mumbled. Jan knelt down and held his arms out as Geary ran into them, Tory arriving at a much slower pace. "I'll see you next year," he whispered, hugging them both tightly.

"We aren't coming back next year."

Jan looked up as Amilie spoke, a confused expression on his face. "Look, there's someone else," Amilie explained, "Someone who actually cares about all three of us. If things go alright, there won't be any need to make that month long trek up here."

"Wait wait wait," Jan said worriedly, rising to his feet slowly. "I only get to see them once a year as it is. Now you're cutting me out completely? You can't do that."

"Seeing as how I was the one who raised them - even when we lived together - I believe that I can," Amilie replied matter of factly.

"That's unfair!" Runi spoke out to Amilie. "You can't just take them away from their dad!" As for their not being able to visit anymore, he had a plan for that too. If their mother still refused to let them visit, then he would follow them back to wherever they lived. He could visit, and could also secretly bring Jan. He had just made the first two friends of his life and wasn't willing to let them go so easily.

"This isn't any of your buisness," Amilie snapped. "Don't yell at him," Jan replied. "I wasn't yelling! Now I'm yelling!" Amilie retorted. Geary looked up at her parents, not sure who to hide behind. Jan, or her mother.

"How come no one ever asks us what we want?" Tory asked.

Jan and Amilie ceased arguing and looked down at the older girl. "Because you're too young to make that kind of decision," Amilie replied.

"I think she's smart enough to know what she wants," Jan chimed in. "Either way, I won't have it," Amilie huffed. "They...they have classes-"

"I could teach them more than any teacher," Jan pointed out.

"It's dangerous out he-"

"These are times of peace," Jan inturrupted. "There hasn't been a disturbance for two years. Stop making excuses Amilie." He wasn't sure about Geary, but he knew that Tory was more than smart enough to make decisions that adults would have to make. "I want...I want to stay here with Dad," Tory said almost nervously, clinging to Jan. Geary looked back and forth between her mother and her father and sister as if she couldn't make up her mind. She sniffled a few times, then started to cry.

Jan sighed and knelt down to pull Geary into a hug. "Your mothers right," he said almost sadly. "You shouldn't have to make that kind of decision." He stood up again, nudging the two girls toward Amilie. "Go on. You'll be happier with her."

Amilies smile was a combonation of joy, and triumph as she took both girls by the hand and led them away. They both looked back at their father consistantly, and Jan stayed where he was until they were completely out of sight.

"How could you just let them go?!" Runi asked Jan, an accusing look in his eyes. With that last argument, his plan was solidified. The young god took a few deep breaths to try to calm himself and closed his eyes, concentrating on their energy. It was difficult, since his offensive power was still stirred up from his battle with Apep. But he did eventually manage to focus and zero in on the three people. Runi crouched down like a sprinter in the set blocks and took off at a breakneck pace, his bare feet making no sound on the street.

Jan sighed, know that despite Runis anger, he had made the right decision. Amilie could look after them so much better than he could.

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The three walked in silence. Geary didn't seem too upset anymore. She never had been very close to her father. Tory, on the other hand, was a different story entirely. She had a very close bond with Jan, because they shared something that neither her mother, nor sister had. She plotted and schemed inside her mind, taking note of any kind of significant object they passed that could help her find her way back to the town without her mother knowing, and whether her sister came with her or not.

When Runi caught up to the girls he followed them silently. It wouldn't do him any good to have them learn that he was there, so he stayed hidden in the trees. He couldn't decide if he should follow them all the way back to their home or just to where they would stay tonight, whereupon he would try to convince the girls to come back with him.

((Slight time skip.))

Gearys stomach rumbled as they neared the next town several hours later. She hadn't eaten anything before they had left the home of the Rebellion, and now she was starving. She looked up at her mother and the two pairs of eyes met simultaniously. "I'll get you something to eat," she promised as she led the girls through the towns open gate. It was a busy town, and Amilie had to do a lot of dodging not to bump into anyone. Amidst the maze of streets and buildings, she finally found an Inn where she could find the two girls something to munch on, since she didn't feel like hunting at the moment.

She set the girls at one of the outside tables. It was a nice afternoon, so she figured that the girls might want to eat outside. "Wait here for me okay?" she asked. "Don't run off with anyone, don't talk to strangers. If anyone starts to kidnap you, you know what to scream right?"

"Yes mother," Tory replied in an almost snappy, teenager like tone. She sat down in one of the chairs while her mother went inside.

"Pssst, Tory, Geary" Runi stepped out of the massive throng of people. He knew that there wasn't enough time right now to talk to the girls and have them come back with him right now, but he could prepare them for later. He kept a sharp lookout for the energy of their mother so he could scram if she returned. "Do you want to go back to the village? I can come to wherever you stay tonight when your mother's sleeping and we can go back."

Tory nodded her head at the same time Geary shook hers. "I like dad," the younger girl said timidly. "But... Mom takes good care of us and I like her more." Tory rolled her eyes in response. "Whatever," she mumbled. She had already been planning on heading back to the town, with or without her sister.

Runi looked sad, but nodded his head. "Won't you be lonely though?" He asked. Then he suddenly became alert. "I think your mom's coming back, I'll come get you tonight." Runi disappeared into the crowds again, his height hiding him easily.

The little kids height might've hidden him a bit, but with his dark skin, one could make him out if they were looking right. Tory huffed and rolled her eyes again. She could get away by herself. She didn't need anyones help.

Amilie came back with some food for the two girls, but ate nothing herself. "We've had a long day. I think we'll just stay here for the night. We can start again early tomorrow morning."

((Tuesday I'll be leaving on the ISE Spain trip and I won't be back until early July. Ares is going on the trip too))

Runi changed forms into his spirit animal of sorts. Nearly all the gods of the Egyptian pantheon were represented by an animal and usually wore the heads of that animal. It was why Runi was an African wild dog when his mother was a hyena and his father was Ra knows what. In this form he looked like no more than a stray mutt of some sort. His ears picked up what Tory's mother said about staying at that inn tonight. Runi sat down by a fruit stall and waited for night to come.

(( TT_TT Have fun!))

Night fell eventually, and Amilie rented herself and the girls a room. Tory silently wished that she had gotten two seperate rooms, but it would merely be a detour in her plans.

She was grateful that her mother liked to sleep with the window cracked. Tory was think enough that she could slip through the space between the window and the sill. She slid out and grabbed a hold of a branch from a tree that was conviently pressed against the side of the Inn. She clambered down almost awkwardly. Genius, but not graceful. Landing on the ground with a thud, she brushed herself off quickly and pushed her glasses up with her index finger.

When Runi saw Tory slip out of the window and land on the ground he abandoned his post at the long-deserted fruit stall. He changed back into his human form as he approached her. "Hey, you ready?" He asked with a big smile on his face. "I can get us back really quickly. It will take ten minutes tops." The god crouched down with his back to her and stuck out his arms behind him. "C'mon, get on."

"How about no," Tory replied. "I can get back to the village myself."

"Sure you can."

Tory ground her teeth together as she heard her mothers voice behind her. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" Amilie snapped harshly. "What if you had met someone along the way and gotten yourself hurt? And you..." She turned to Runi with an annoyed look in her eyes. "What on earth makes you think that you can come here and ask my daughter to run back to some godforsaken village with you?"

"Aw crap" Runi grabbed his ankh pendant and lifted it up so he could grip the metal in his teeth. "Looks like we're going to have to make a run for it." He grabbed Tory's hand and took off running, pulling her off the ground so he could hold onto her. His section of straight running was running out as they neared the end of the paved city streets, so Runi took a giant leap that sent him over the treeline when they reached the forest. He continued running when his feet touched a branch, jumping from tree to tree.

Tory was torn between wanting to hold on for dear life, and tearing herself off of the boy. She didn't need his goddam help! She wasn't sure if her mother would follow or not. Amilie would probably be torn between taking after Tory, and staying behind to make sure Runi didn't come after Geary. One thing was certain, this wasn't the last time she would see her mother.