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The journey back from the Immemorial city is blessedly shorter but no one is at their best. A long and arduous journey defeating the Crone, saving Airk and losing Graydon with everything in between; they are all in some form of pain, the exhaustion most ever present.
It's been far from the idealism they had envisioned were they triumphant, far from the realism when they had been.
It seemed like the most obvious choice to make a pit stop back at the Wildwood, so that Jade and Boorman can know if Scorpia got back safely with the people from Skellin. Also just to see her, let her know they were okay and they had completed their quest: to warn them of the Wyrm, how even without its harbinger, it was coming. With an army.
But mostly just to rest, just a little while.
They’re welcomed to spend a few weeks there, enough time to get them back to better strength. There's no time to waste, they know that, but what use were they to anybody in Tir Asleen and beginning to prepare for what could happen if they were barely holding on?
The Wildwoods gave them a chance to feel, almost, normal. The closest they had in a long time.
Somewhere along the journey, they manage to get the Cuirass off of Kit (much to Jade's disappointment) but after just a few days they could see her discomfort from the restrictions of wearing it. When they managed to retract it back into the Lux and chestplate, her clothes underneath were soaked with sweat, skin red raw in the places where debris had trapped itself underneath. Ringing around her wrists, ankles and neck, Elora saving the day with some natural balm that Kit refused to know what it contained.
It was a lot of twisting and turning when they figured it out, but then no one could remember exactly what they did to activate it. Poor Kit had point blank refused to put it on again just yet, unless it was necessary or they figured out some strategy to it.
She still kept the Lux Arcana attached to her hip at all times, the chestplate never far.
They have to go back soon, the doom of real life a thick cloud above them, slowly floating down and polluting the fleeting avoidant lifestyle they were becoming maybe too quickly accustomed to.
Jade is off again, finding out all the little intricacies of the Wildwood, letting people drag her away to tell them stories and the history, the real history. Not the ones fabricated by the kingdoms. Getting to know their ways, building a relationship with what were now her people.
She shined here, it was so evident it was exactly where she belonged.
Kits alone, for once it feels like, anxiously trying to mentally prepare herself for some time now. She’s in Scorpia’s tent, her sleeping quarters, that she had leant to Jade while they stayed, which meant it had been Kit's for those couple weeks too.
It was incredibly considerate of her and Kit knows full well that she was really only doing it for Jade's sake but Kit will ride on the back of the pleasantries, to not sleep on the ground anymore or deal with Willow's snoring. Also just to be able to share a space with Jade.
A lot of days they had been here, Kit was practically vibrating with a sense of agitation for bedtime, spent all day thinking and waiting for it, for the moment the flap closed and it was just the two of them. Alone.
Had it not been for Scorpia, it probably would have been a lot longer until Kit got to just lay there, intertwined with her girl, Jades fingers dancing along the bareness of her back. Silence and love a downy blanket wrapped around them.
Thinking again of Jade's sister, Kit braces her hands on her knees and pushes herself up, groaning a little as she does so, pulling the tails of her shirt down. Everytime she takes a step forward, a part of her wants to reverse it to sit herself back down on the bed and just wait for Jade to be done. She could do that very easily, just wait for Jade forever if she needed to. Like a dog for its owner.
But Kit has been wanting to do this for a while, almost desperate for it, so she musters up enough courage to take the next step, then the next and the next till she finds herself standing outside of Scorpias work tent.
A man, Kit has come to know as Bolam, guarding outside meant she’s in there and Kits heart trips - stumbles- and her palms are sweaty and fucking hell she really is overreacting.
Maybe when they first met she had all the bravado needed to make herself seem, what she thought was, menacing. But Scorpia was intimidating, even if she had welcomed them with open arms once Jade was revealed as a Bone Reaver, not only that she was Jade's sister . She practically viewed blood as magic, as the purest form of loyalty and she knows full well, Scorpia will kill her in the most violent way if she ever hurt Jade.
Not that she was planning to, but she's done it before without intention, it could happen again. And Kit rather likes having all her limbs and her head, well, on her body.
“Your eminence, the princess is outside waiting for you.” Bolam says, voice low, and Kit can see her through the flap, how her face looks up, her forehead creasing as he speaks.
Scorpia makes a gesture with her hand to say ‘ bring her in ’ and goes back to looking down at whatever she’s busy with. Kit steps through the curtain as it's held up for her, saying a small thank you, then stands almost as far away as she can without it seeming like she's scared.
Which she is, very much so, she’s not quite sure what for, her request isn't anything harmful. Nothing she could say was rude or ill intended. Don't get Kit wrong she loves a strong independent woman but this particular one was far from her comfort zone. Maybe it was the threat of judgement that scared her, and Scorpia’s blank stare.
Kit tries to stand tall and regal, the way she’s been taught to but maybe she’s trying too hard, maybe it isn't conveying anything at all, maybe—
“What do you need, Princess?” Scorpia says in monotone, still looking down at her papers, shuffling them about a bit.
“I was wondering…” She stops, maybe that's not the right way to start.
“You know because…” That's not right either, the Bone Reaver leader looks up now, eyebrow arched and Kit swallows; thickly.
“Jade.” Kit finally stumbles out and if it wouldn't make her look anymore stupid, she’d be smacking her palm to her forehead.
Scorpia raises her eyebrow impossibly more ( Gods she looked so much like Jade) crosses her arms over her chest and leans back, nodding her head forward to urge her to continue.
Kit looks down at the desk -the papers- and see’s the plans for the Wildwood, the people brought back from Skellin meant more people to house, more mouths to feed. Undoubtedly Scorpia had a lot of planning to do so that everyone was accounted for fairly and that everyone could make their keep too. And then the 5 of them waltzed in expecting shelter and sustenance, but Scorpia hadn't even batted an eyelid in hardship.
“Sorry, you're busy, it doesn't matter.” As Kit turns to leave, Scorpia speaks again.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” It almost sounds like she's concerned, which she probably is now and Kits just made Scorpia worry about her sister for no reason.
“No no! She's fine, I was just… we will be returning to Tir Asleen soon.” She shuffles on her feet. “I know she's going to miss it here.” There's a beat before she carries on trying to form more coherent sentences, Scorpia eyebrows still raised, wrinkling the patterned scars on her forehead.
“I wondered if you could teach me some Bone Reaver hairstyles. I know she can do some but I wanted to be able to… do some for her. Until she comes back.”
Everything was still a bit up in the air, about what Jade was to do once they returned. Whether she stayed in Tir Asleen, or went to Galladorn to train in the shining legion, if they still wanted her, or stayed in the Wildwoods.
Jade said it felt like she was being slowly split into three, her past of the Wildwood she doesn't remember and the family she had now waiting for her, the Bone Reaver life she could relearn. And she had said that she really did feel more like herself here than she had anywhere else.
Then there was the present of Tir Asleen, what she has known as the home for most of her life. Kit was there, Elora and Airk too and the Pacalcade now missing a Commander meant there could be boots she might be asked to fill, the still clinging duty to her Queen.
And lastly the future she was supposed to have, training and becoming the knight she always thought she wanted to be, where she had put in so many hours of her life that she was going to pledge away.
They were all pulling her in different directions, she could use the excuse of the war that was impending to delay the decision, but eventually, she would have to choose.
If Kit could split Jade in three, let a third of her live each path of life so she could feel the fulfilment, she would, but she doesn't think it's possible. She’d asked Willow about it, quite seriously too, but he’d gone on about her expecting too much from magic. Which was quite a statement coming from him.
So maybe bringing a piece of the Wildwoods back with them would suffice for now, a piece Kit could cradle and nurture.
“Oh.” Scorpia finally says, smiling slightly and the Princess sinks into herself under the tall womens gaze. “Trying to impress her?” She says teasingly and Kit feels a trickle of sweat make its way down her back.
________
“Ow!” Josian wails, when Kit accidentally gives one particularly harsh tug when she tries to pull some hairs apart. Scorpia managed to convince some of the Bone Reaver kids to be Kit's experiment as she practises, she had also found out that Kit could barely do a simple braid on her own let alone try anything the Bone Reavers wore.
Today’s victim was little Josian, her short textured hair jet black, eyes almost as dark with a big gob that meant her talking and talking away. Kit lost her concentration a couple times trying to make sense of whatever story she was trying to tell, which she was using as a valid excuse in her head every time she messed up.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Kit flinches, raising her hands instantly. Had it been Kits hair, the braid would have unwound itself, bronzen silky locks returning to natural wave, but the little girls had stayed rooted and Kits thankful she won't have to start from the beginning, again .
“I know you probably yank them apart with your own hair but you have to,” Scorpia motions for Kit to step aside, taking over, the bits of hair coiled together she separates with ease “be more gentle, like when you untie necklaces that have tangled together. The strength is in when you begin to braid, not separating the hair.”
Scorpias assumption was spot on, if there was a knot in Kits hair, she’d pull at it until it was gone, sometimes small chunks coming with it. She had absolutely no patience for own hair, a large portion of her life spent hating it.
Kit nods, watching, scratches it down onto the paper Scorpia had kindly given her to right stuff down. It was filled with all sorts of scribbles, arrows and some shoddy illustrations.
A little while later, the two little braids look… not bad. Okay they looked kind of shit, you can tell the points in which Scorpia had started the braid, where Kit tried to do it, where Scorpia had to take over again, and so on and so forth until the tied piece of leather at the end.
She tries again a couple times over the rest of the week, one taking them further into the evening, but Josians parents were aware and the little girl didn't mind one bit being able to stay up later than usual. Still running her mouth off until she was even more incoherent, clearly fighting her sleep.
And when Jades is in the tent already getting ready for bed, her back facing Kit as she bends down to reach for a night shirt. Kit wraps her arms around her girl's waist, startling her slightly.
“Where have you been?” It's not accusatory, but there's certainly intrigue coming from the tired voice.
“Just boring big girl stuff.” Kit had decided not to tell Jade of her lessons, thinking that maybe it would be nice to surprise her instead.
She kisses her neck softly, moving slowly against her back with the trail of her lips, dipping lower and kissing each knob on her spine. As Jade sighs softly, grabbing the fabric she ties her hair up with and Kit really can't wait to be able touch Jade's hair with more purpose than just curling coils round her fingers or tugging it in her grasp.
__________
“Here, take this back with you.” Scorpia hands over a package of some kind, fabric folded over the top of each other to conceal and protect what's inside.
“What is it?”
“We add it to our hair to make it longer, it's just so you can practise braiding, it's not exactly the same texture and it's not attached to a head but it might be easier if you can move your fingers quicker.” She explains.
Whatever it is is wrapped up in cloth, she nods her head towards Jade's sister, thanking her silently.
“You’ll come back with my baby sister soon?” It's definitely an order more than a question.
“I’ll try to get her back to visit as soon as I can. Maybe in a month or two, we’ll need to come back to discuss an alliance once I've spoken to my mother.”
Scorpia is the one to nod this time.
“Be well, keep her safe.” The woman's steadfast attitude has been unravelling around Kit, not a lot but enough that Kit isnt almost flinching everytime she speaks now.
“Of course.”
__________
They do return like they said, when what felt like endless meetings were over enough for Kit to leave with the alliance papers between Tir Asleen and the Bone Reavers. Galladoorns involvement was more problematic, King Hastur still being a prize jerk even after knowing the Wyrm had taken his remaining son. But this was good enough, more than good enough.
Kit feels like she hasn't had a chance to breathe, what with the meetings and practising with Elora, figuring out the Cuirass more, what it's abilities are, if there are any ailments.
She finds herself rather excited to go back, they're going to stay a little while again to finalise the details. It almost feels like a Holiday, almost, because although they'll be amongst the beauty of the woods, there's still things that need to be done. Jade is going to do some training with the Bone Reavers, especially some of the teens, Knightly techniques they may not know, ways that may benefit them whenever this war may happen.
Kits obviously entrusted with the discussion of the alliance, Elora coming in tow. They were a pair now, plus Elora wanted an excuse to get away and just ‘breathe non-royal air’ now that she was basically considered the royalest of them all.
Jade looks so happy to be going back, practically galloping at full speed that even Kits struggling to keep up, and Eloras holding onto her tightly, gripping her waist and squeezing her eyes shut.
_________
“How's it going, the practising?” Scorpia asks, they're sat having lunch, a short break from important adult talk.
“Well, I think.” Kit says, talking with her mouth full. Not princess-like whatsoever, but she never was and most of the Bone Reavers spoke around mouthfuls of food so she feels as though she could be safe from Scorpias judgement. It's a stark contrast to the last time they were here.
“It's not exactly the same, but Elora has been letting me braid her hair, I just wanted to get used to doing it tightly on a head, sectioning and stuff.” She continues.
They’ve been trying to figure out tactics where Elora can use her magic and Kit can use her swordsmanship and shield her at the same time, counter attacks and such. They’re having to work together now, figuring out the dynamics of their new found friendship and the connection between them.
At the unofficial end of some of their training sessions. They’ll sit both cross legged on the floor and Elora indulges Kit in her practices, practically orders her to when Kit lets on that she's been trying to figure it out.
Scorpia lets out an appreciative noise at Kit's confessions, the corner of her mouth that's turned away from Kit, raising in a smile.
__________
Kits been gone for hours now, and Josian has been so patient, sitting there tapping her little feet. Not saying a word. She's been carving at a piece of wood, although not making any fuss every time Kit asks her to move her head a certain way.
Kit steps back, looks at the 4 braids running along her head, one is a little wonky towards the end, where she messed up the sectioning but overall she's pretty pleased with herself.
Josian hands her the carving once she announces she’s finished, a horse that the girl describes as Kits own but with little swirls around its body.
“Oh, Thank you!” She takes it from her, inspecting the woodsman ship, it's so detailed. Kit wished she had some sense of artistic flair to her, Sorsha had tried everything; painting and drawing, embroidery, you name it but Kit couldn't get the knack for it. Kit just rather enjoyed dancing around with a sword, and by dancing she meant chasing her brother around with a wooden one until she was actually old enough to be trained.
Scorpia returns after a brief disappearance, hands behind her back and Kit thinks that when she is to become Queen, she wants to have a sense of authority and desired savageness like her.
“Have to say, Princess, I'm impressed. You've done well.”
Kit feels warmth spread through her body, tingling the tips of her fingers. Which almost ache a little, but it's okay. She feels pride, especially coming from Scorpia of all people, it feels like an honour to impress her. Not only the leader of the Bone Reavers, but Jade's family.
It had scared her in all honesty. Before the quest, Jade had no family beside Ballantine and he was so loyal to the throne Kit didn't even have to impress him, she only had to worry about impressing Jade herself. Then Scorpia came along and she was so worried she was gonna take Jade away from her, turn her against Kit somehow. But had done the complete opposite.
“I have some things for you to take back again.” She hands over a brown leather bag, whatever she must have been hiding behind her.
Kit looks inside, there's a bunch of papers and when she flicks through she sees neat notes and perfect illustrations way better than the scribbles she made the other month. Different hairstyles to try out.
A glass bottle filled with the gelled goop (made from the saliva of an animal Kit could not pronounce; Cryotusts….Crustaceans…Crustcrins? Whatever, she wasn't going to keep trying to say it) that Scorpia said helps to flatten the smaller hairs down. Making it look more neat, how it can be used to style the baby hairs framing Jade’s face, little swoops and swirls. Kits fingers are already itching to get her hands on Jade's hair, she's genuinely rather excited.
Then a tooth of some kind, precision for sectioning the hairs. From a predator that Kit will most likely never have had to face, there's carvings in it and the crest of the Wildwood, similar to the carvings in the wooden animal Josian gave, everything so intricate. The Bone Reavers really value their crafts, the image they portray to each other, it's so admirable and Kit wished others got to see this side of them, not the one they had to portray so that they would be left alone.
Then a piece of cloth, light forest green and yellow embroidery, also embellished with their crest. It's like the one Jade wears to bed at night.
“Thank you, this is—This is so thoughtful.” Kit breathes out, still looking at the bags content almost in disbelief.
“I may still not know my sister well but, I know you make her happy. I know that she’ll appreciate your gesture. Even if it has taken you this long to learn how to do it after so many years.”
Kit smiles sheepishly, she was right again, she should have been doing this years ago. She could be learning so much more complex stuff if she’d just offered or asked Jade to teach her. She knows Scorpia wasn't saying it to make her feel bad, at least she thinks, but it does nonetheless.
It dawns on Kit more now, the ways she's been selfish with their friendship in the previous years. She didn't mean to, but it just sometimes took a bit extra effort for Kit to remember to be as invested with other people's lives as they and she are her own. It's never meant to be cruel or unkind, well for the most part, definitely not with Jade.
Jade didn't really like talking about herself, and Kit loved talking about herself so it was an easy friendship to create. But Kit knows she should have been a better friend, she should have been braiding her hair, asking more about herself, she should have made her feel loved so much sooner.
The burden still hangs over her, all the times she's broken her heart. How she’d tugged at Jade's heartstrings and braided those together instead, clumsily knotting them so tightly that it probably hurt. She's been undoing them quicker, she's been practising of course, and Jade seems more and more relaxed about the two of them as time goes on. When Jade can remember that they love each other, it's no secret anymore, there's no reason to hide or to push anything down. Kit tried to coax it out of her.
“The past does matter,” Scorpia says and it's then Kit realises that she's still standing in front of her, still clutching the bag in her hands tightly “but not to her. She forgives you. Wholeheartedly.”
_________
Jade cries when they say goodbye again, she knows they'll come back again as soon as they can, but it's hit her more now. That there's family to miss, people and food and dance and loads of things she never missed before because she had never felt it, never remembered it.
The two sisters hold on to each other so tight, if anyone tried to break them up, said person would receive two equally strong kicks to the shin.
It makes Kits heart swell so large, that they had each other and that she had come to fully appreciate the bond they could grow together and being able to watch it happen.
Elora is confident enough to ride Eclipse by herself on the way back, so Kit joins Jade, sits behind her and wraps her arms around Jades middle, brushing her fingers on the fabric of her clothes, nuzzling into her neck, and placing soft kisses against her skin until she hears the sniffles stop coming from her girl.
After a while, Jade finally speaks up, her voice a little wet as she turns her head as much as she can in their positions. Her eyes are red but wide with pure adoration and she looks somehow content.
“Scorpia seems to have taken a bit of a liking to you.” She smiles, teary-eyed.
“It makes me happy.”