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There was much that could be said about The Great Woods from the view of a refugee. The trees were taller than the mind could comprehend initally, the variety of creatures and environments found in it could take ages to learn from one not invested in it. Even which stream was safest to collect fresh water from, lest you be attacked by a monster or spirit passing by. But there was one thing Latrya had thought from the moment she set foot in these forests, home. It was one she would give her life to defend should it be required of her, doubly so after the raid of the Ala mhigan castle.
As she trudged down the path from Camp Bent Branch towards the entrance to Gridania she couldn't help but think back to everything that had happened the past six months. She had been taking her daughter, Lidella, and her partners to a festival in Central Shroud. It was meant to be a celebration for the Ala Mhigan refugees for the freedom of their country as well as a chance for those who wished to return to inform the Seed Seers. But the moment she stepped foot into the festival grounds she was crippled by the voice of a stranger in her head, pleading her aid for a new calamity. Soon after she had been spirited away to another shard of her world. She spent months working with the people of the land to save them from the Lightwardens and then herself from becoming a tool for the Ascians plans for the rejoining. When she finally did return with the other scions she had left them near as soon as they had all opened their eyes. Quickly grabbing her belongings and rushing out the door with but a small hopeful wish for their recovery.
“Who goes there?!” broke her out of her memories.
Looking towards the gates she saw two guards standing at either side of the gate. One, an elezen just slightly shorter than her with jet black hair, stood passively at the side with her head propped against her spear. The other, who had called out to her, was someone she recognized for once. Elroy of the Twin Adders, a miqo’te who had helped her around the city and stay out of trouble more than once when she had first arrived in Gridania.
“Elroy is that you?!”
“By the gods… Latrya?”
Breaking into a sprint she rushed her friend, pulling them into a hug that lifted them off the ground before dropping them back at their post.
“How are you, how have the woods fared, has anything happened wit-”.
“Stop. I know you just arrived back from wherever you've been, but I know you're not here to see me. Your family is at the Caroline Canopy, I saw them walk in on my way to change shifts, go to them. We can catch up later”.
Latrya smiled wistfully at the thought of her family.
“Alright, but dont think you’ve escaped me”.
Without waiting for a response she turned and ran up the path to the Canopy, armour and sword clamouring against each other as she went. Slowing as she reached the entrance to the establishment, she saw Miounne already pointing to the balcony. Flashing her a rare smile she walked around the side, careful to make as little noise as possible. Cresting the corner she could hear laughter coming from the table furthest from her. It made her heart swell and tears jump to her eyes.
Sitting there was a small miqo’te girl with hair the colour of the sunrise, currently the source of the laughter. A Raen with jet black hair pulled into a long but loose ponytail that ran down to her mid back. Looking around she could see the final member of her family, openly staring at her with food in her hands. A hyur of far eastern descent with black hair and yellow eyes, both now slightly misty as she comprehended who stood in front of her.
She flashed a small smile and moved towards her as she dropped the food and ran at Latrya. The others at the table stopped and followed her path, both gasping when they saw who she was currently holding. Both stood frozen, not willing to believe that they were seeing reality.
“I’m back.” Latrya said, smiling at the two of them as well.
That was all it took for the damn to break. Both rushed to her, food and decorum already forgotten in the shock of her return.
There was no time to prepare herself for the weight of two people as they both crashed into her like lightning from Ramuh himself. The three of them toppled over, Latrya acting as a cushion for them against the hard wood flooring. She could feel the scars flare against her back, igniting against her nerves like fire against paper, but ignored it, wanting nothing more than to hold her family.
“How long have you been back?” the au’ra asked, refusing to cry but unable to hide the wavering of her voice and the sheen of her eyes.
“Not more than a day Yu’. I used the aetheryte to Bentbranch as soon as the others opened their eyes at the Rising Stones. They barely heard me say goodbye before I was gone.”
“Don't ever do that again, do you understand?” the hyur, Yotsuyu, said with a look of old fury and relief she had returned fused into one. “You had us and the council worried to death until the Kami forsaken faerie delivered a message for you.”
“Never again my moon, I promise. Thank you for taking care of Lidella and yourself”. She smiled at the other woman, she hadn't been worried that they wouldn't take care of each other, but it was a relief nonetheless. “You too Yu, thank you”.
They both smiled at her warmly, each finding one of her hands and squeezing lightly. A motion she hadn’t realised she would miss so dearly while she had been away.
“Are you ok momma?” Lidella still had her face buried in her neck, it had been something the small girl had done since she had adopted her back in Gyr Abania.
“I am my Little Dawn, and i’ll never leave you alone like that again, I promise. I will always come back to you.” Gently she patted her daughter's head, careful not to catch her hair in the joints of her armour. Looking up at her partners she could feel her heart swell again, these were the two she wanted to share everything with. The two who had, unknowingly, given her the strength to force herself through Amaurot, and through the pain of her soul being frayed due to the lightwardens. “I will never leave any of you like that again, no matter where the road and star may take me, I will always come back”.
After a moment more Yugiri and Yotsuyu stood up to allow her time to get off the ground, her daughter still wrapped around her torso.
“Oh! The food!” Yotsuyu turned, ready to clean the tray and mess that had landed on the floor when she dropped her tray, only to find it had all been swept and cleaned. A replacement was waiting on the table along with another chair and order of Latrya’s favourite food.
“Well hero, would you be so kind as to join us for a meal before we return to our abode?” Yotsuyu asked, a smirk already in place at the teasing nickname.
An affectionate sigh escaped Latrya’s lungs before she even realised. “I would, my moon, my shadow.”
She sat in front of the new meal, dragging over Lidella’s food so that the girl could eat and still remain in her mothers lap. She was home, and she wouldn’t give it up for any adventure in the world. She would return to them no matter what.