Completed [Flashback] Family Matters (solo)

[Kinneas]

Spring 5 509 AV The night was well into its rule as the sun had set bells ago. The camp was quiet and peaceful. Nothing was there to disturb the two, and the nights soothing noises of bug, bats, and other things quelled most people to sleep. A clearing was visible around them, a place where no trees grew, and the ones that did died ages ago. It was a little place of rest in an otherwise dense forest. The dead wood had been good to build a fire out of, well the parts that were not still damp from winters grasp. It was a crisp, cool night and laying out under the stars Kinneas couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t that he was not tired, he was exhausted. They had been traveling all day. Was it deeper than feeling tired? The thought crossed his mind. He shook the thought away, still staring at the stars aimlessly as if silently hoping that they would lull him into a slumber. So beautiful, yet they cannot be touched. He found his arm reaching out for them, coming out from under the warmth of the blankets that covered him. The chill air shocked him for a bit, but he eventually found it relaxing. There was no point in being too hot under all the blankets, especially when those blankets were made for combating winter. Nice, heavy, thick, warm, comfortable. All words he would use to describe what was covering him. Perfection, it can be seen, but never reached. He thought amazed by the beauty of the night sky. In fact, one would think after traveling for so long the stars wouldn’t seem as amazing, but every night Kinneas gets to look upon them he only appreciates them more and more. There was a beauty about them, a mystery surrounding them, and their light seemed all too happy to guide travelers. They were his saving grace sometimes. More than once he had looked up at the stars and found hope and comfort when he thought he could handle no more. They were oddly comforting to him. Sighing, the man rolled over on his right side. There in the darkness of the fading embers of what used to be a fire he saw an outline. A smaller outline than his, and he couldn’t help but smile. He knew Miro was already asleep, and he always looked so peaceful when he slept. Miro, the kid had changed his life, and as much as he helped him Miro helped Kinneas in his own way too. It was more than just the kids magical abilities, but he had an impact on the soul, a deep touch that softened the heart and made each and every day enjoyable. It seemed that Miro, singlehandedly brought Kinneas out of the depressed state he was in two years ago. It halted his aimless searching for he had found family, someone that relied on him, someone he grew to love and protect, and someone that was there and had a life of his own. Thinking about it, saving Miros life probably redeemed him too. It gave him someone to live for, and as long as he had that he could move through life happy and fulfilled. Family was all he needed to be happy. The breaking of twigs could be heard as something approached them from afar. Kinneas lowered his breath, almost holding it, trying to silence himself and hear beyond. The embers crackled and annoyingly provided a distraction to what he was trying to hear. After a chime or two of silence, well relative silence, he sat up. The blankets fell to his waist and exposed his torso to the chill night air. He shivered a little and brought the blankets back up, wrapping them around himself tightly. He wrote off the twig snapping as an animal passing through, but something nagged at him, and it was that nagging, that certain uncertainty about the situation at hand, which prompted him to actually get up from his bedroll and investigate the subject a little more. One can never be too cautious when traveling. Rising from the bedroll, the blankets dropped to his feet as they were no longer pressed against his body. He hurried and got dressed, throwing back on his shirt and pants. Pushing his hair back behind his ears and out of the way he didn’t have time to tie it back right now. With that he headed out, stepping slowly into the woods trying to be as quiet as possible. Each step he took was taken with precision, and lightness, or as heavy as he dared to step. He didn’t like sneaking around, but if it could get the drop on someone or something that was going to threaten the camp, and along with it Miro, then sneaking around would be acceptable. Taking another step he decided he wouldn’t be caught off guard and so he tapped into his gnosis. Feeling the divine power course through him made him smile, and soon the aura was starting to expand itself. As it did he felt the movements of things within, though with such a scattered mind he couldn’t tell what it was. The information was bombarding his mind, and he stood there trying to analyze it. Taking a moment after it was fully extended he breathed in and breathed out to calm is mind and further examine what might afflict this aura. He took a minute to analyze the aura and really feel what it was telling him. Slowing his breathing he concentrated solely on the aura itself and the information that was streaming in. Unknown to the eyes and often hidden in the darkness of night most creatures remained unspotted and undetected, but if they were to cross the Evantia their movements will instantly be detected and informed to the user. When he calmed himself he could more accurately read the aura, and it was then he noted the little pitter patter of small creatures on the forest floor, the slithering of what could be assumed as a snake… moving on he dismissed all of those from his attention. Animals were not what he was looking for. One could say he was ‘fishing’, yes fishing for information about any larger animal or person who may be by. Chimes passed as he stood there, aura extended, and information nudged at his mind but he tried to ignore it. He would glance at it, but ultimately if it didn’t feel ‘big’ then he would let the thought drift again as he searched the other messages picked up by the Evantia. One at a time he let them pass into his perception as he carefully felt each one. Sifting through the information took time and dedication, but it was not time wasted, for if it was to protect Miro then any amount of time would be sufficient. He continued sifting, sensing the movements of things that entered, and quickly dismissed them if they didn’t stand up to his criteria. Relaxing, he let go of his tap of the gnosis power, and quickly the aura dissipated only leaving him feeling slightly more tired. Holding it up was exhausting. The transition back to ‘reality’ was always slightly disorienting, but that meant he didn’t practice with Evantia enough. He was sure with more practice that effect would lift and it would be almost natural for him to shift out and into it. Though for now it made him stumble a step or two without the extra precision of the aura. He had sensed no big threats nearby, and therefor he could rest safely and assured that nothing was going to wander into camp. That put him at ease as he made his way back, and he was about to lay down again when he saw Miro shift in his sleep. Instead he stood there and watched him, almost grinning to himself thinking of what the child might say if he caught him staring, but he didn’t care, ”Sleep well, Miro.” he whispered, turning his back on the boy once more. He had made sure the kid was safe, and nothing was out there. Now time to do something for himself.

[Kinneas]

They have been around this hot spring for days, not too far of a walk away from camp it was. Having taken some old clothes, and a stick he had made himself a makeshift torch, which he lit on the dying embers of the fire they created. It was still hot enough to catch the clothing on fire and so it worked happily for a while. Knowing the general direction of the springs, he made his way there going over notes in his head such as ‘be careful. The terrain there is treacherous and uneven’. Yes, this is how he was going to relax. Perhaps it was the tenseness in his muscles that were keeping awake at night. If so then the springs will be the answer for that, he was sure of it. With unnerving confidence he made his way out. His footsteps were heavier than before, but he wasn’t trying to be sneaky, he had a destination in mind and he was going to make it there. The man weaved through the trees and ducked under branches, the sounds of the night escorting him and dying out as he reached the first layer of perceived fog. In fact, it wasn’t fog at all but the warm mist that spread across the forest coming from the hot springs. The mist was warm and already relaxing as he strode through it. Wouldn’t be too much longer until the trees thinned out and rocks became more and more apparent. Under his bare feet some of the sharper rocks he stepped on stung a bit, but that didn’t make him give up on his destination. He saw the pain as motivation, yes, motivation to get where he was going. The more he thought about the hot springs and the relaxing, naturally heated waters the more relaxed he became himself, the more he wanted to be there right now. Though that wasn’t the mindset of a disciplined person, a disciplined person would know that everything was worth the wait however long and accept that some things take longer than others. Yes. He nodded to himself. He needed more discipline. Kinneas kept on, minding the stones under his feet as he felt that he had arrived at the springs. It wasn’t that difficult to tell, for there was no longer grass, snow, or anything like that on the ground, only earth and small rocks and pebbles and crags in the earth that felt like rough dry skin under his feet. He didn’t mind the feel, and in fact welcomed it. He was one step closer to being in a nice warm bath of heated water. He grinned at the thought, but stumbled on piece of earth sticking up. Losing his balance, he dropped the torch and it rolled away eventually being put out by the moisture of the ground. Catching himself before he fell, which would have hurt considering the unevenness of the terrain and the sharp stones that could lay in wait, he sighed. Guess he would have to continue this journey blind. Though he didn’t mind as the further he went in the more warm moisture stuck and clung to him. Eventually he found himself a nice little pool that he could have all to himself. Quickly undressing, he tested the waters with his foot, and slowly lowered himself in when he felt a shelf of earth under his foot. It would make the perfect seat for him. Though as he went in, he found that it went deeper than he had anticipated, and when he finally sat down the water was well to the upper part of his chest. Not that he minded. It was a good surprise, and like a hug coming from nowhere he felt himself being embraced by the spring water itself. He was content as the water and heat relaxed his tired muscles. The hot air made it hard to breathe a little at first, but now he found it as soothing as ever to fill his lungs with. Yes, this was the place to be. It was a shame that Miro avoided the springs, but it made the kid uncomfortable apparently. Must be that gnosis mark… He put two and two together. Though, he promised himself, one day he would enjoy a spring with Miro even if it is freezing cold. He won’t enjoy it because he likes being cold, but because the kid will be enjoying himself. Kinneas felt that he was missing out on a lot of fun times because he dared not splash the kid with water that made him uncomfortable. That would be just plain mean. He leaned his head back until the back of his skull was touching the rock behind him and he closed his eyes drooping more and more into the water. He felt like he could float away and nothing would be the matter. A laugh escaped him as he realized as he thought that thought he also thought of Miro and how he matters. Was the kid such a big part of his life that… he didn’t even finish the sentence because he knew the answer, and that was yes. He was a big part of his life, and Kinneas would have it no other way. Miro was his saving grace, his love, his hope, his future, his life… If it wasn’t for the kid then Kinne just knew that he wouldn’t be here in the hot springs today. He didn’t know where he would be. In fact, just imagining a life without Miro made him frown. It was depressing. The kid had his moments, but they were all worth it because out of those ‘moments’, out of those ‘memories’, Kinneas remembered the good times. They had bad times, sure, but never were they any worse than the best good time they had together. In the end, the good outweighed the negative.

[Kinneas]

Miro, Miro, Miro. Was that all he could think about when he is trying to relax? The thought brought a smile to his face. Of course, the boy made him worry all the time and was so whiny how could one forget about him? Oh well. Now at least he could enjoy the springs without the constant whining of the boy saying how hot he is. In fact, he enjoyed it. Just him and his thoughts… The darkness. Not the stars because they were hidden by the thick mist-like steam that covered the place, a second cloud obscuring and disorienting all who pass through it. It was both the wonder and the curse of the place. Though he really didn’t mind it, to him it was an escape. Not just any escape, but one you don’t find every day. They had truly stumbled upon a treasure. It was a shame that they would need to move on soon though. Wading there in the pool, his hair by now got plenty wet as he went down deeper, the water covering his mouth and going up to about his nose. He wanted to be as covered as possible, and he was having a bit of fun here. It wasn’t often that one got to relax like this, especially when traveling. It was a real treat that they stumbled upon, and he was enjoying every second of it. Again his thoughts shifted to Miro and how the kid didn’t seem to like the place. It saddened him, but again he remembered his promise to himself that he would find and enjoy a spring that Miro likes. It was with that promise that he basked in the waters allowing his mind to slip into thoughtlessness and a permanent smile be smote upon his face. He would make it up to Miro somehow. An unknown amount of time passed when Kinneas finally opened his eyes again. He didn’t fall asleep, no; he was merely resting and relaxing. In fact, he was so relaxed that he lost track of time, but it couldn’t have been too long for darkness still ruled the world around him. It was still night. Shaking himself to wake up a bit, he sat fuller up unable to just leave the springs. He felt a million times better. Perhaps now he could sleep. His muscles, he could feel the tense soreness has left him and overall he felt rejuvenated. The warm air he found was also good for his breathing. This place was just overall amazing. If he didn’t know better he would say ‘magic’, but amazing was a far better word. Climbing out he was dripping wet, but none of that mattered since he was in a moisture rich environment anyways. His clothes were plenty wet anyways due to the thickness of the steam, and so he tried to get as much water as possible out of his hair before dressing. He rather enjoyed the feel of the heated mist around him, but now it was time to get going. He had little indication of when daybreak will reach, and he still needed to get some sleep.

[Kinneas]

Arriving back at camp the man was relaxed. The night had taken quite a toll on him and now, for sure, he could sleep. There wasn’t anything stopping him, and so he went back over, his feet falling with carful guidance. A quite was about him as he sneaked from one end of the camp to the other. One step after another carefully placed, carefully calculated how much weight he could put on one foot, carefully creeping over being mindful of the fire pit. Didn’t want to step in that, would hurt a lot and he was sure when he would explain that story to Miro he would laugh. In fact, Kinneas was smiling just thinking about it. No, not burning his foot, but the utter amusement the kid would get out of his misfortune. He would laugh, and then act concerned later. He knew how it worked. Snickering to himself he finally found his way back to the bedroll and blankets and lay down. He still was a little damp, but that didn’t matter. It was just dampness anyways, nothing that he couldn’t pass off as sweat. Time would dry him as he crawled under the warm winter blanket; the still warm embers of the fire heated the very end of his space, making sure his feet were nice and toasty. He sighed and closed his eyes trying to drift off to sleep, but the state would not take him. So he just laid there a few chimes, rolling over on his side to get more comfortable, but still nothing. It was then a voice hit his ears making him open his eyes, ”Kinne…” The voice was that of a tired Miro, one just waking up. The night granted the man to only see the boy’s silhouette as he noticed that the kid was no longer lying down but sitting up. He could feel the pair of sleepy eyes on him. ”Hm?” Kinneas almost grunted in response. It was the only thing he could do. He was trying to sleep after all. ”Where did you go?” The question cut the air, but the boy had been asleep when he left. How could he know that he left? The question prompted the man to sit up and look at Miro through the darkness. ”Did you have a bad dream?” he asked sounding concerned, avoiding the question for no sound reason at all. Kinneas would get up and cross over the short distance to where Miro was and sit down right by him, ”You know,” he began putting an arm around the boy and pulling him close to him, blanket and all, ”that I would never leave you, right?” he asked, his other arm finding its way around him as he held the kid in a comforting embrace. ”Do you know why that is?” he asked. ”Because you have to put up with me otherwise you would be a lonely old man?” the kid responded regaining his natural style for answering Kinneas’ questions. Though despite the typical answer he still felt the child’s arms go around him too, and Miro even rested his head on the chest of the person who held him. Kinneas could just see the kid grinning ear to ear in his head as he held him and hold was returned. ”Yeah,” Kinneas agreed not bothering to argue with him, ”that is it.” he said through a yawn, now feeling sleepier than ever. Hand brushed through the kids hair, starting from the top, all the to the back of the neck and once more fell to his back, ”But more importantly,” he said, ”it’s because I care about you very much, Miro.” ”You never answered my question.” Miro’s voice said, it sounded heavy and burdened with a foggy mind ready to be taken back into the dream world. ”I just went for a walk, Im back now.” he answered reluctantly, giving the boy a half truth. It was a hard life, traveling like this from point A to B. He knew it could get tiring and it was no way for a kid to grow up, but they tried their best and so far, through the good and the bad, they had survived if only barely. He knew that once they reach Alvadas things would change. For a while now they have been traveling home. Home, somewhere where Kinneas hasn’t been in a long, long time. They were still a long ways away, but sooner or later they would reach the city of illusion. Then silence came upon them and they were once more just breathing. A moment later he felt the grip around him loosen and he looked down at the boy in his arms, fast asleep. Kinneas smiled and held him a while longer. Shifting the man laid down being careful not to wake the kid who, even with the moving, was determined to hold onto him. He must have had a nightmare. He usually does, because Miro usually isn’t this way at all unless he wants something. Enjoying he closeness Kinneas was finally able to find sleep.

[Phoenix]

Kinneas

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Detection	2
Observation	2
Astronomy	1
Wilderness Survival	1
Land Navigation	1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Insomnia
•	Stargazing: Helpful, Guiding stars
•	A noise in the night
•	Curiosity: Killing any hope for slumber
•	Identification via Evantia
•	Fishing for Information
•	Pain as Motivation
•	Land Navigation by night
•	Miro: What mattered most
•	Family Matters

The Order of the Phoenix

I loved this thread! It was very touching and real to me. I love reading when characters discover themselves because I think it's surprising for us, the writer, to see what ends up as the final result. It always surprises me, anyway.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.