Homecoming [Sable, Cherri, Alyson] [Closed]

[Emily]

Totori Lake was smaller than it was in her memory. She remembered it being the size of an ocean- she hadn't seen the ocean yet at the time, but she certainly couldn't have imagined any larger body of water. She had swum in the lake with the other nestlings, had her first (childish, awkward and meaningless) kiss with some equally awkward boy in the hollow beneath Rito Village's overhang, back before it was anything more than a cave only ever occupied by children, bugs, and the occasional hawk's nest. She hadn't seen the pillar or its surrounding lake since they'd left for Hateno.

Rito Village rose, perched on a shockingly-unsecure rock pillar, much thinner than she remembered. In her memory, it had been as secure and stable as any loved child imagined their home to be. Sable wondered who lived in the nest where she'd hatched now. She'd been more colourful than expected, perhaps, and eventually became an awkward bundle of fluff and illness and noise beyond anything her parents could have anticipated. First imitating her father by escaping into music before, like her mother, escaping into the flower fields. Finding the latter to be more agreeable, though she never lost the appreciation for the former.

The south coast of the lake contained various groupings of trees along the solitary road cutting through the territory. Sable found herself in one of these small forests looking up at the fantastical spires that contained what memories she held of childhood. The skin around her eyes tightened. After a moment, she sighed and sat back against one of the trees along the path, in the middle of a patch of flowers. "Hi mom."

The gentle breeze off the lake rustled the leaves of the tree above her. Her breath caught. And then she scoffed, ashamed of herself. "It's been a long time."

When she spoke next, her voice was quieter, smaller. A child unsure of herself. "I know I look a lot different than the last time you saw me, so you probably didn't recognise me. Today's my birthday- I know you didn't forget, but... I was thinking about it the other day, and I realised that I'm the same age you were when I was born."

For several minutes, the only sound was the rustling of leaves and grass, the gentle hiss of the wind, the buzzing of insects and chittering of small creatures that called this place their home. She watched the distant silhouettes of Rito circling their village. For a moment, she wondered if any of them were able to see her, all the way down here. Probably not, sitting still as she was. Her memories of the spire, the updrafts and hanging birdcages, couldn't be correct. She had grown up in the Calamity- the great and total separation of peoples within Hyrule. It had been dangerous, extremely dangerous.

"I don't know if you've seen dad. It's been... maybe 20 years since I did. I don't think he was all that interested in sticking around after you were gone, but he tried for a while." She tilted her head, eyes watching a bee landing on a nearby flower. "Could've tried harder, but I know some of that was my fault. We moved to Hateno. Did you ever go there?"

A bird in the tree above her let out a cackling call, in turn answered by other birds from other trees. Her shield, the armour of ironic detachment she'd used for all these years, buckled. After all this time, relying only on herself for so long, how dare she retreat into these childish fantasies, attempting to hear things that weren't there in every breath, every shudder of nature around her? She closed her eyes, rested and reset. "I know... that you aren't here. But- it's nice. To pretend.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner. I know- I know it was dangerous to travel, and then there was Vah Medoh, and then the endless blizzard in the Upheaval and even before that there were beasts everywhere. I was just... obsessed with becoming the person I dreamed of being, of becoming-" She let out a little scoff of a laugh, bitterness accompanied by an eyeroll full of tears that hadn't broken through yet. "Becoming the daughter you would have liked to have. Becoming Sable Qilzaku. And I did it.

"It would have been nice for you to meet me."

She sat there. Sat under the tree, in the flowers, feeling the chill of the Tabantha wind that was always present, even in late spring. She wrapped her wings around herself, now far more used to the warm desert breezes. Her blue hair was too short to help keep her warm, unfortunately. The flowers danced in the breeze, a private performance for her. Even if her mother had died, even if her father had taken her to a faraway city to escape that reality, then got mad at her and run off, even if she had spent the last 20 years by herself... maybe she could make herself believe that her mother was in the flowers they'd sprinkled her over. In the trees and the breeze.

"I'm a teacher now, I think," she said with a laugh. "For a long time there, I was stuck in my own world, creating illusions and enchanting things with Master Beisahir. But after I moved to Gerudo Town- I moved to Gerudo Town by the way, shortly before the divine beasts became a problem- I thought about how much you had always loved plants, and flowers, and the little flower shop you had always talked about opening. And you know what? There aren't a lot of flowers in the desert. But I couldn't, um, I didn't really feel safe leaving Gerudo Town for a long time for a different reason. But once I moved to Castle Town, where I am now, there are so many plants and flowers. I think you'd really love the way it all looks there, too. It's entirely covered with greens and reds and blues and yellows. It's so colourful.

"But what I'm getting at is that I got really into creating potions and other alchemical things. It's not a flower shop- the whole city is a flower shop- but I can use the things you loved to make things that help people, and... I guess I'm good enough that they want me to teach others. Isn't that weird? But... yeah, I guess that's... I think I can come see you more often, if that's okay."

[El]

Wood creaked. The latest breeze had passed on by already, but only now did the branch bend, groaning with an effort most tedious. The jostled leaves whispered to one another. A budding canopy bloom shivered upon some solitary wisp of air that touched no other.

Eyes unseen opened.

The lullaby of grief was as sweet in reality as it had been in dream. What a beautiful soliloquy. The warmth of it draped upon her a blanket of comfort, the dulcet notes rich even in their stumbling pauses, unsure but sincere. If she could purr, she would've, drinking deep of the delectable emotion which painted the air with a flavour so rarely chanced upon.

Yes, chance.

That was the tricky part you see, for as much as Cherri was enjoying this moment, she rather doubted that her favourite barkeep would think the same. It wasn't even a private show: it was an entry in a diary. And Sable was one of the prouder birds, always striving to shine as brilliantly as her naturally gorgeous plumage. She did - even if she didn't believe it. But it wasn't Cherri's perspective that mattered here. Nor that of her new employer and colleagues, evidently.

Hrmn.

No, it would be discourteous of her to linger any longer. Now that she'd been roused from her slumber it would be best to alert the darling of her intrusion before any more secrets spilled from her pretty beak. Cherri delighted in secrets, but there was no consent here. The platter was spoiled and it'd only lead to an upset stomach later.

Abruptly, the groaning branch screeched - almost snapped! A fizzle hissed and the scent of something burning - paper? - plumed in a thin wisp of smoke immediately dashed. With a hard THUMP down crashed a body from the tree, kissing the lush grass in a cloud of fluffy white feathers.

There a dishevelled Sheikah laid, an enormous pillow clutched to her chest. Rito Down. It was a recent purchase. As such it had been preciously protected in her arms rather than used to cushion her fall.

"...Ouch." Came a small sigh, sultry but true.

Eyes full of sleep steadily pushed open the vice of a wince, only to admire in a blurred stare the sunlit shield of emeralds and jade and topaz above. The rest of her brief complaint died on her parted lips. The fragrance of the nearby flowers was lovely.

[Emily]

It was a funny experience, if she thought about it too much. Sable spent most of her time as focused on what was going on in front of her as possible. She had been working toward very specific goals for so many years now that staying in the moment and avoiding memories was something she had gotten quite good at. If it hadn't been for that... embarrassing admission in front of an assembled group at the ball, she probably wouldn't even have thought to come here.

The past seemed to come for her in a burst, like a cannon shot. The memories of her time in that alternate world, the ode to her friends and enemies there, finally putting in the effort to properly embody Sable in a way that was unavoidable, led to telling Claria about what had happened, which led to thoughts about her time in Hateno, her apprenticeship to Master Rakzhou, her dad yelling and leaving, and finally all the way back to this flower field. And now that she was sitting here, she couldn't stop the memories from washing over her.

Her mother putting a pink flower in Sable's hair. The sound of her laugh when she realised how much Sable liked it.

The look of disgust on Raine's face when she rejected her.

The first time Ghost played a song he had written for her.

The hurt relief she felt when she saw the small home she shared with her father was empty.

The blood splatter in the coach.

Sitting with uncle Iorvas on one of the outlying islands and watching the sun set behind Dragon Roost.

"...Ouch."

The sound of a loud crack, followed by a body falling from a nearby tree and hitting the ground startled Sable. She hadn't realised until that moment that she had been on the verge of sleep, a half-light experience of slipping into memories of both lives. She hopped up from her spot among the flowers, spun on one foot to face the intruder. Her wing reached out to the side, reaching out to manifest an ice spike before realising that she had, for the first time in years, gotten confused.

The strangest part of the experience was that she hadn't noticed at all that someone was nearby. Normally, even here, she had a heightened awareness, but it hadn't triggered. As such, it took a moment before she was able to recognise who laid in front of her. As the fog disappeared from her mind, she blinked, then relaxed her shoulders. "Cherri? Wh- what are you doing here?"

[El]

Her smile laughed, a languid musing tune of a melody that tickled her chest. "Good morning, darling."

Crinkling at their corners, her gaze narrowed. Cherri took her sweet time to drink in Sable's form, even as her feathers bristled and threatened a far deeper sleep than she had bargained for. The stare lingered longer than was probably appropriate. It saw. It recognised. It remembered.

"Or hmm~... good afternoon?" Smile spiced by some unshared secret, the Sheikah turned her head back to the foliage canopy above, squinting as if she could read the stars through it. Tossles of blossom-pink locks were still strewn across her face, her robes had slipped and one sandal had fallen clean off. But it was of no matter really. Not when her mind instead perused a mystery unspoken but familiar, the depths of her thoughts penned by a poetry inspired by the perfect weather and fresh, floral perfume that wafted about her. It was very easy to understand how Sable had gotten so lost in it herself.

"If I could make one humble request, I would like a Naydra's Wisdom as my final drink." Cherri shouldn't have laughed, but she did. The giggle trilled up her throat, until she peeped sidewards at the barkeep with a sleepy wink. "Sorry to startle you, sweetheart. Thank you for not stabbing me."

It seemed it was her identity rather than the manner of her entrance which had stilled Sable's understandably violent reaction to an 'ambush'. While that was a flattering truth to admire, K̴͚͝ẗ̸̟́u̶̜͊l̸̗͗l̵̝̇ȧ̸͓ did wonder if perhaps she shouldn't have been so eager to throw Cherri off the tree if it'd been proven unnecessary. She'd thought it an effective measure to disrupt the delicious atmosphere with as little harm done to the Rito's pride as possible. The talisman's masking magic had been temporary anyway - a mere consumable - and the drop not that far. ...But she reaped no joy from harming her.

A sigh, bittersweet, tasted Cherri's lips. "I do like this new pillow though: it was worth the trip. Expensive, but I'm sure I shall recover." Her easy smile returned. It turned sweet and docile, as the Sheikah rolled onto her side, still clutching the pillow to her chest as she beamed up at the looming silhouette of the Rito. "Afterall, you can't put a price on the health of good sleep, right?"

[Emily]

"Good morning, darling."

The two women stared at one another, a sea of wildflowers between them, blues and greens and purples mixing together with Sable's own colourful plumage to complete the rainbow begun at the feet of the warm colour-dominant Cherri. Sable had never seen the Sheikah so flustered, and tilted her head slightly, even as her body relaxed. It would have been funny if she hadn't been in such a vulnerable moment.

"Or hmm~... good afternoon?" Despite falling from a tree, despite how out-of-place her outfit and hair had become, Cherri appeared entirely at ease. Sable smiled in spite of herself, more a tightening of the eyes and a deluge of other body language tells, a feeling of immense respect for her audacity outweighing any other sense she might have had. Granted, the Sheikah seemed to be in her own world, one where Sable really was gifted in some magic other than illusio- that was it! She could have caused a distraction and turned invisible. That would have been much smarter than trying for magic she didn't have or specialise in.

"If I could make one humble request, I would like a Naydra's Wisdom as my final drink." They laughed in unison, all tension finally fully drained from the situation. Sable dusted off her clothes, bits of dirt and the occasional ladybug on them. When she straightened back up to look across at the Sheikah, she seemed entirely back to her normal self. They could easily have been at the pub.

"Sorry to startle you, sweetheart. Thank you for not stabbing me."

Sable shrugged. "I'm usually pretty good at noticing when people are nearby, but I guess I had dozed off. Besides, I'm the one intruding- you work up the road, don't you?"

The blood-stained carriage stuck in her memory. Certainly one of the more traumatic moments of her other life, Sable didn't like to think about it too often. Her usurpation of the thief king Sakon, the first time she had manifested an ice spike, all brought on because he was attempting to force her into something she really didn't want to do. She had gone on to address the collected families of the Termina underground, still covered in his blood, to take control as the new thief queen. She wondered if it was her usual sense of someone in her proximity weaving with the half-dream state she had been in to produce something that would have normally woken her up.

She was still trying to figure out what to say about her mother's burial site, and how to go about it, when Cherri sighed and rolled to look up at Sable. "I do like this new pillow though: it was worth the trip. Expensive, but I'm sure I shall recover. Afterall, you can't put a price on the health of good sleep, right?"

Sable began laughing, a trill that escaped her normal register. It was very strange, she felt like there was a familiarity to something about Cherri that made it much easier to talk to her than even some of the other regulars. She felt at home paired against both sides of Sable's mind, which was something she didn't feel very often. Taking a few steps, she reached out a wing to help the Sheikah up. "I don't get as much sleep these days as I used to, but you can't beat Rito down for comfort.

"I'm relieved to know someone so nice has been so near," she continued, finding her opening. "I haven't been back to Rito Village since I was very young, but I wanted to visit my mother. She had started it before I was hatched, but she's the one who originally seeded this flower patch. She brought me here a lot as a child, and I... thought it would be nice to come and say hello, now that things are calming down in Castle Town. Even if you didn't know it, I'm really glad you were here to watch over her."

[El]

With a jangle of golden bangles, Cherri happily accepted the offered feathers. Perhaps the Rito would regret her offer however, as it was with tangible effort that the lady found her footing again. She didn't groan. Nor did she whimper. But there was a tightening claw of her supple fingers and a sharp intake of air which betrayed her discomfort. An unspoken wince clouded moisture across her eyes.

But Sable was speaking now of a deceased loved one, the blanketing affection with which she sang her story softening the sting of Cherri's more physical hardships. It was an infectious compassion. One which lured the Sheikah to cast a slow and adoring gaze upon the rainbow of flowers. "...That explains a lot of things." She near whispered, as if to herself. "The perfume here is beautiful."

"Thank you." Cherri withdrew her hand and then took it even further still, retreating it into a fold of her long sleeve. In a gentle motion she raised it to her lips. A delicate vibration shook her frame. Downwards her eyes flashed, witnessing a stain. Blood. Again.

Cherri hummed with thought.

"I don't suppose you could accompany me to the village proper?" She proposed, lifting long eyelashes and dewy eyes so sweetly up at the Rito. "As gratitude, I shall ensure this lovely meadow is safely signposted. Though I suppose-" Her crimson gaze dropped, admiring the blooms once more. A proud delight grew in her smile. "I need not promise to keep them watered. They're thriving as is." The smile did not change as it returned to Sable: the last few words still leaving her lips as their eyes met once more.

But Cherri disarmed the moment with a coy giggle, tilting her head to one side in a languid tease and chime of floral hair ornaments. "Or are you going to leave me to my own devices?"

[LuckyBlackCat]

Everyone had insisted Alyson do something to unwind. Well, taking a walk in the fresh air of the Hebra mountains counted as unwinding, no matter how busy she kept herself gathering wild fruits and chillshrooms, didn't it?

One letter to her parents, one excited mention of her new course at the academy, and they'd made their feelings about her increasingly packed schedule clear. "That's great news," her mum had written back, "but if you're going to take on such a heavy load, please remember to put it aside from time to time. Promise me you'll take a vacation at the first possible opportunity. And promise me we'll hear back about several fun and relaxing activities you did, okay?"

And now here she was. The kicker being that she'd thought she could get away with heading to her mentor to expand upon what she'd learned, but old Bruma had taken one look at the dark circles under her eyes, the way even mild channeling of magic had made her sway under the strain, and refused to give any lessons until she spent an entire day taking it easy.

As she leaned down and plucked a bunch of hot peppers, wincing at the twinge of chill-stiffened muscles in her back, she could imagine the Rito's beak clicking at her endless need to keep active. Yet in a way, this was taking it easy. If she wandered around aimlessly, what good would that do anyone, including herself? She'd grow twitchy, scenes from the nightmares that had returned with a vengeance since Eventide replaying through her mind with nothing to distract her from them.

She raised her head at distant voices carrying on the wind. Familiar voices, particularly one of them.

"I haven't been back to Rito Village since I was very young, but I wanted to visit my mother."

Sable? She should have figured she and her friend would cross paths here some day, but whenever Alyson had even casually mentioned her visits to Rito Village in the past, Sable had grown strangely wistful, as if she wished to leave something behind. Alyson turned towards a nearby pine cluster, her pace picking up to a lively jog, basket swinging, feather coat swishing.

"Oh hey! Looks like we picked the same place for our spring break!" She drew to a stop beside a multicoloured carpet of sweet-smelling blooms, in the middle of which Sable helped a rosy-haired Sheikah to her feet, someone she'd seen around a few times at the pub. The solemn, mournful note in Sable's tone as she fondly spoke of her mother wasn't lost on her.

"I hope this isn't a bad time." Alyson lowered her voice, giving her friend a comforting smile, an ache of sympathy welling in her chest. So she too had been carrying the weight of her own losses for years. "But happy birthday."

[Emily]

Sable braced herself as she noticed the extra effort that would be required in helping Cherri to her feet. She found that most of the other races of Hyrule assumed all Rito were graceful and ethereal beings, light and fragile dancers. To her chagrin, Sable had always been on the hardier side, though she didn't know whether it was from growing up outside of Rito Village or just a side effect of her physiology. She had always towered over Hylians, being quite tall for the Rito and even taller than the average Gerudo. Without a specific counterweight, her centre of gravity and sense of balance were affected, leading to a lifetime of having to stand just so, straight-backed and proper. As such, she was often able to reach and lift things that other Rito couldn't.

To her recollection and observation, Sable believed Cherri was the type of person who would go out of her way to avoid complaining or drawing attention to actual injury, preferring to dramatise larger-than-life events instead. As such, she deftly avoided engaging with the pained breath and wince. Cherri, taking everything equally in stride, looked at the flowers. "...That explains a lot of things. The perfume here is beautiful."

"It's hard to remember so long ago," Sable winced slightly herself, a gesture of admitted embarrassment, "but that makes sense. She was extremely taken with details like that. The flowers were most likely chosen for both colour and scent." She let out a little titter of a chuckle. "If there's anything our family was good at, it was performance."

She was rewarded with a little, seemingly-happy hum from the day's companion. And then, "I don't suppose you could accompany me to the village proper? As gratitude, I shall ensure this lovely meadow is safely signposted. Though I suppose- I need not promise to keep them watered. They're thriving as is."

Sable was surprised to feel a small wave of emotion roll through her. She felt an immense pride for her mother in that moment, grateful for the compliment to her memory and skill. And, strangely, she suddenly missed her, feeling the loss in a way she hadn't since she was still a fledgling. She found herself at a loss for how to reply, instead wrestling with the feeling of a lump in her throat.

Cherri, it seemed, wasn't quite done toying with her, however. She gave a small giggle and tilted her head, looking up into Sable's eyes. "Or are you going to leave me to my own devices?"

How wonderful to be given the necessary opening. She would be able to utilise this opportunity to retreat slightly into the character of her everyday self. She smiled, eyes bright, sparkling when the light breaking through the tree canopy hit her plumage. "I'm at your disposal. Consider me your escort today."

Swish swish swish swish.

And out from the trees like a forest goddess came Alyson, resplendent as always in feathers and smiles. But it wasn't lost on the Rito how tired and worn down her friend looked. Maybe that was part of getting older; it was easier to take on too much and neglect yourself than to deal with the things that stalked you in the dark. "Oh hey! Looks like we picked the same place for our spring break!"

Sable's smile, if anything, grew even warmer in the moment. She turned with a glimmer, seemingly in full command of her glittering colouration. "Alyson, my love! Who but we would spend our precious little time off in the cold?"

"I hope this isn't a bad time." Ever the sweetest person to live, Alyson worried about everyone else even now. "But happy birthday."

Sable closed the distance on Alyson and hugged her. While she wasn't surprised that the Hylian remembered- they had first sorta met as kids, and she wasn't sure if Alyson would even remember that as the Hylian was younger than she by a few years, but had been friends for some time now- it didn't make the gesture any less meaningful. "Thank you so much, it means a lot to me that you remembered. And came so far!"

She turned, glowing at both of her friends. "I don't know how much you overheard, Alyson, but this is my first time in Rito Village since I was... phew, ten? Maybe a bit younger, even. It's been a very long time. After the Beaumont ball, I couldn't stop thinking about things, and decided it would be a good idea to come and say hello to my mother, who is-" she gestured to the flowers, "here.

"You and Cherri have met, right? I thought you had, at least. We were going into Rito Village- I'm a bit nervous about it and could use some extra company if you aren't too put out by it."

[El]

Well, things were developing delightfully well! Sable had been successfully goaded into confronting Rito Village, and with it - bursting through the lush foliage - came a sweet little creature brimming with affectionate delight. Her chirped - but swiftly muted - greeting was absorbed in a similarly eager hug. Cherri's own smile grew at the sight: for if fortune was smiling, then she should also.

As the Rito went on to explain the newly-formed order of business - complete with a confiding aside that did not escape her sharp ears - the Sheikah raised a sleeve to her mouth. Over it she peered, ruby eyes observing the latest arrival. Her shrewd discernment was delicately softened.

Oh dear.

"Well now I feel a little bad," Cherri quipped with a playful frown. "Making you run errands on your Birthday? Goodness, how callous of me!"

With a subtle sidewards tilt of her head and a droop of her feathery eyelashes, she folded away the cover of her sleeve and continued in a sweeter tone, "It's a delight to meet you properly, sweetheart. Are you collecting treasure for a pie? I do love pies." Her attention had wandered to Alyson's overflowing bounty of freshly plucked delights, but the greedy assumption which followed it came punctuated by a small giggle. She brushed it aside only to add - with a deepening frown back in Sable's direction - "...Though our Birthday Darling here DOES deserve a sweet treat. One must follow tradition: especially when tradition includes dessert!" The giggle returned with a louder trill.

It took a moment before she collected herself, a muted cough ending the echoing thrum of her own amusement. A darker cast spread its wings across her visage then - something sombre. Contemplative. A dulled but still present memory. Intentionally she spread her sleeve with a splay of fingers, and turned the bloodstain towards the duo to see as clear as day. "It seems I'm overdue some Fairy Tonic," Cherri explained with a wistful sigh.

The gigantic pillow still clutched against her chest lowered a little, a claw of the hand upon it - a squeeze - revealing more of her partially tattooed decolletage and the scar tissue below. Her eyes traced the raised ridges first, then her spare fingertips followed suit, a melody of thought playing against sealed lips. "...Our bodies are precious things. And proud too. They take too long to warn us that we're pushing things too far."

Crimson eyes flashed up to Alyson's, piercing her. "And then it's too late."

...But the incisive stab was promptly swatted away by a blink and a warm, sunshine smile. An endearing brevity returned to her languorous voice, "I do hope you'll join us, sweetheart."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Alyson returned the hug. She couldn't give as soft and warm a hug as a Rito could, no matter how fluffy the sleeves of her coat, but it was the gesture that mattered. "No problem!"

As Sable explained about her long absence from Rito Village, and her mother's final resting place amidst the flowers, Alyson's face briefly turned solemn, yet her eyes remained wide with admiration at the artfully arranged splashes of colour. "She planted those? She had good taste. I can see where you get your knack for aesthetics from." She didn't blame Sable for staying away from her hometown throughout all those years. It was easier to leave painful memories in the past.

Glancing at Cherri, she nodded, her grin returning. They'd briefly met on a few occasions, but had yet to have a proper chat. All she knew was that Cherri liked a good strong drink or several. "Same to you! I was just planning on making some simple snacks, but dessert sounds good!" She turned her attention back to Sable. "What kind of dessert? It's your birthday, so it's your decision! If you're up for celebrating, that is."

Her expression instantly soured at the sound of a wet cough, the shadow of disquiet that crossed Cherri's features. With a soft gasp, Alyson stared at the crimson patch on Cherri's sleeve. "Ah! You going to be ok?" She watched her trace a mottled, ridged burn scar that spread across her upper chest among swirling tattoos. An injury the Sheikah been dealing with for some time, going by her following words.

"...Our bodies are precious things. And proud too. They take too long to warn us that we're pushing things too far. And then it's too late."

That piercing red stare, paired with the ominous tone, made Alyson shudder, a chill trickling through her veins that had nothing to do with the crisp mountain air. For a second, it was as if Cherri peered right into her soul. She dismissed the thought, knowing the Sheikah was talking from experience, recognising the call-out for what it was. "Point taken," she replied. "Seems it'd do the three of us good to take it easy."

She beamed at Cherri and Sable. "And yep, I'm more than happy to join! Besides, dessert won't make itself!"

[Emily]

"She planted those? She had good taste. I can see where you get your knack for aesthetics from."

"Probably true," the Rito replied with a grin. She released a short trill of a laugh, "Hylia knows I didn't get anything from my father."

"Well now I feel a little bad. Making you run errands on your Birthday? Goodness, how callous of me!"

"Oh, think nothing of it," Sable waved a wing dismissively toward Cherri. "I spend too much time alone as it is, it would be good for me to spend more private time with friends."

"It's a delight to meet you properly, sweetheart. Are you collecting treasure for a pie? I do love pies."

There was a part of Sable, present she assumed in all people, that experienced a crawling anxiety under her skin whenever two previously-separated parts of her past met. There was always the possibility that the people involved wouldn't like each other, and then she'd either be dragged into something she didn't want to get involved with or have to plot out her time to ensure the two parties never encountered each other. This had, for the record, only happened to her one time, and she hadn't had to deal with the fallout herself, but the possibility always hung over her like an executioner's axe.

"...Though our Birthday Darling here DOES deserve a sweet treat. One must follow tradition: especially when tradition includes dessert!"

Cherri's laugh was almost a little uncontrolled. Was that discomfort? She had just fallen out of a tree, there could be injuries she was hiding from Sable. Alyson, fortunately, was quick on the uptake and took her opportunity for a comment. "Same to you! I was just planning on making some simple snacks, but dessert sounds good! What kind of dessert? It's your birthday, so it's your decision! If you're up for celebrating, that is."

Sable's eyes widened. Oh, she hadn't considered she might receive the gift of sweets for her birthday. Master Rakzhou had used her birthdays as an excuse to give her tools and expensive tinkering instruments that she would never be able to afford on her own, and couldn't decline the generosity because it was her birthday. Some of her Gerudo regulars would come by on her birthdays and cajole her into drinking with them, but that was the extent of her experience with birthdays. Before her parents had been killed during the siege, she had been given one gift per birthday, presented in front of Valoo, but mostly she had just been given lessons on duty and leadership. She had never shared her birthday to anyone in Clock Town- that was a vulnerability she couldn't afford.

To have her eyes suddenly opened to such generosity as food and comforts... why, she couldn't resist. Sable sparkled as she considered, rays of sunlight giving her plumage a pearlescent shimmer, like the desert air, or sunlight through sea spray. She looked at the gathered ingredients Alyson had, the gears of her mind spinning as she attempted to create some interesting alchemical reaction. "Maybe... some wildberry crepes? We could do a pie instead if that sounds easier. I've also heard of a process in the Faron region where they mix chilis with chocolate. Most Rito are immune to capsacin, so I think it would just be a slight flavour difference to me, so I'll leave that up to you both if you're interest-."

She stopped when she heard Alyson gasp. She had heard the cough from Cherri, but hadn't thought anything of it. At Alyson's "Ah! You going to be ok?" Sable turned to Cherri and gasped as well. But the Sheikah was already commenting, overriding anything Sable could have said in the meantime. "It seems I'm overdue some Fairy Tonic."

Sable's eyes narrowed. She had only ever received one request for a fairy tonic, and while she'd created the mixture for the client, it hadn't been a particularly easy experience, pouncing down from tree branches near fairy fountains to catch those little things unawares. Unfortunately she couldn't just sneak up on them because the light reflected off her plumage too brightly. Hyrule was a land of magic, wherein one could find a thousand different methods by which to heal themselves. On top of Zora magic, there were specific foods that contained vital essence, hot springs, traditional methods with focused care from a doctor and rest. The fairy tonic, requiring the experience and sneaky ability to bring the fairies in at all, was usually quite expensive, though an incredibly effective way to heal any wound or illness. If Cherri required a fairy tonic specifically, she was either seriously ill or flamboyantly wealthy. Either seemed possible.

The woman continued, making a show out of her illness. "...Our bodies are precious things. And proud too. They take too long to warn us that we're pushing things too far. And then it's too late."

Sable's heartbeat sped up. Was there a possibility that Cherri knew more than she was letting on, and was speaking to both of them? It would be just like a journalist to ask questions around Rito Village, do some digging. But no, she would have given more of a hint than that. Sable remained quiet.

"Point taken, seems it'd do the three of us good to take it easy."

"I do hope you'll join us, sweetheart."

"And yep, I'm more than happy to join! Besides, dessert won't make itself!"

Sable nodded. "Our first proper vacation starts now."

As she had expected, Rito Village was significantly different from the last time she had been here. She wondered if she would have made the same decision her father had, if she had been an adult capable of making life-changing decisions like uprooting an entire life and going as far away as possible. With an inward cringe, she realised it wasn't that far removed from leaving Hateno after Finn had kidnapped her, or leaving Gerudo Town after they started allowing men to enter the settlement. Maybe she had gotten something from her father after all.

Still, it was an interesting mental exercise to consider how her life would have turned out if she had grown up in Rito Village instead of Hateno. Hateno had been well-removed from the worst events of the Calamity, where they only needed to worry about the guards skirmishing with a bokoblin or two at the edge of the village. She needn't worry about a divine beast or guardians like the rest of Hyrule had. She had also been immersed in Hylian culture, with plenty of Sheikah, Zora, Gerudo, and the occasional Rito or Goron passing through. She had Master Rakzhou as a guiding hand to keep her connected to her Rito roots, but had otherwise met loads of new people.

In contrast with Hateno, Rito Village felt small. The birdcage-like houses fixed to the various rock-and-soil outcroppings were small and, in the cases of large families, cramped. She didn't recognise very many people- if anyone- that she saw as they passed the initial staircase and inn, but that wasn't terribly uncommon. Her memories of this world before the incident were hazy at best, and often entirely absent. Because of this, when the odd Rito popped up to introduce themselves, she revealed no secret memories and gave off no signs of pretending not to know anyone. She merely introduced herself as Sable and said she was from Castle Town. When they asked before that, she'd laugh and say she had moved there from Gerudo Desert.

Had she ever talked about her time in Hateno? Not really, not before telling her mother about it. She had continued growing, changing, after arriving in Gerudo Town. If she hadn't realised it before now, Alyson likely wouldn't remember the awkward, gangly mess of a teenager helping in Master Rakzhou's shop, or at the very least connect that person with the confident, outgoing bartender she had befriended in the aftermath of the Upheaval now a few years past.

Eventually, they arrived in front of the general store, calligraphy along one of the wooden pillars providing the name 'The Slippery Falcon'. She mused to herself- perhaps Rito culture was forcing bird terms into as many things as possible. At least she had gone with something more culturally refined in Castle Town instead of recycling the original bar name, 'No Harm, No Fowl'. Now that was a title worthy of scorn. She turned to her compatriots. "Alright, what do we need? I'll take care of the cost."

[El]

Cherri's pace was a leisurely one. With even - but languid - strides she glided, an otherwise silent footfall punctuated by the tinkling of her jewellery. She did not strive to match the pace of her companions. She was far from Alyson's habitually electric energy, nor Sable's much wider stride, so the endeavour was abandoned before it was even attempted, choosing instead to enjoy her stroll and all its sights. Cherri was content to trail behind, quiet and observant. Though she would spare her companions the sweetest smile of gratitude if they shared grace and slowed their pace. After all, it'd do them some good to take things a little slower sometimes. Clearly Sable at least had much to soak in and reflect upon.

"Alright, what do we need? I'll take care of the cost."

As the Sheikah peeped around Sable's colourful shoulder, her eyes caught that of the shopkeep. The poor darling visibly flustered, a flash of panic widening her eyes and flaring a splay of rosey headfeathers.

"I-is everything OK, Miss Cherri?"

The journalist giggled. Of course, a customer returning the same day still clutching their recent purchase to their chest was bound to alarm her. One of Traysi's people, at that! What self-respecting merchant wouldn't be fearing the worst? "Rest assured, sweetheart, the issue lies entirely with me." Cherri's smile warmed, clutching her pillow tighter with evident appreciation. It was as much a source of insulating warmth as it was comfort, given the way her many draping robes splayed open to bare her pale flesh to the crisp, wintery breeze. Goosebumps visibly riddled her, though she never made an effort to correct any discomfort. "I forgot something, that's all. A Fairy Tonic. I'm pretty sure... I did spy some earlier...?" Her attention wandered, tickling the many shelves with a sleepy sweep.

Misa's brow puckered at that, her beak tightening. But Cherri ignored her concern and so in return, Misa did not speak her thoughts. "Of course! We have everything you could possibly need here! How about I throw in a 15% discount too, as a show of gratitude for your earlier purchase?"

"Oh my, that's very kind of you, Miss Misa!" Was that the Hebra air staining her cheeks, or an actual fluster? Whatever it was, it was well timed, a delicate hand laying upon her reddening face in bashful grace. "As long as it wouldn't be rude of me, I graciously accept.

"As a matter of fact, it's not just that we're here for either!" Rouged lips parting a little wider, Cherri motioned towards Alyson and Sable: and in particular the basket of ingredients the former still dutifully carried. "We're going to put together a birthday feast! We have the beginnings of a treat, collected by this diligent darling, Miss Alyson, but then sweetheart Sable here and that brilliant mind of hers got cooking up all sorts of tasty ideas - so we need a few more bits!"

Through feathered eyelashes, Cherri's ruby eyes twinkled. A sweet sigh escaped her. "Admittedly... this is actually the first time I'll be celebrating my friend's birthday." She confessed, her smile turning hesitant. Despite the way a sleeve swept up to then mask the slip, her embarrassment had been obvious. Shame even.

The Sheikah averted her eyes and quietly cleared her throat - audible though it still was. "And yet here she is, offering to foot the bill herself."

Misa startled. So THAT was what this was about?! "We can't be having that!" The shopkeep bristled, turning a determined but well-meaning glare upon Sable herself. "At the very least please accept a 40% discount, Miss!"

Heh. Cherri's widened smile was perfectly hidden this time.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Heading towards the village alongside the others, Alyson considered Sable's suggestions, her friend's love for pastries something she knew of well. "How about we make all of those? I'm sure you wouldn't say no to a full birthday feast!" She hadn't tried spiced chocolate before, but it sounded worth a taste - as long as they went easy on the peppers. The first time she'd visited Rito Village, the stew served to her at the inn had been brimming with them. She'd eaten it anyway out of respect for the villagers' hospitality, but Cecili had been baffled at her streaming eyes, her flushed and sweaty skin. Not that the Rito had had much exposure to Hylians at the time.

She looked over her shoulder at Cherri. "Does that sound good?" The Sheikah wandered a short distance behind, her steps unhurried as she took in the scenery - understandable, with her condition acting up, and her comment about the risks of pushing oneself too hard. Alyson slowed her own pace, earning a thankful smile from Cherri, although she couldn't resist plucking the occasional fruit or mushroom she'd missed.

Even with their relaxed stroll, it wasn't long until they crossed the bridge to the village, ascending the staircases and following the spiral boardwalk to the general store.

"Alright, what do we need? I'll take care of the cost."

Alyson chuckled. "No need for that! I'm happy to pitch in!" Browsing the produce set out on cloth-draped shelves, she overheard Cherri's warm reassurance about the pillow, glimpsed the alarm fading from Misa's face before a frown replaced it, the mood briefly turning sombre at the mention of the medicine.

Fairy Tonics... As well as being rare and expensive, they seemed to be a subject of distaste for some. Going by the slight wariness she'd noticed in Professor Florimel around alchemists, she had to wonder how some producers treated their fairy assistants. Yet she couldn't judge, the need for such an uncommon elixir indicating a dire situation indeed.

Alyson's own eyebrows furrowed. Just how severe was Cherri's illness? Would she really be ok?

Cherri, despite everything, was quick to enliven the atmosphere, explaining the other, more cheerful reason for their presence. Alyson couldn't keep her lips from twitching at the little slip as to Sable's payment offer, instantly earning a discount. No way had that been unintentional. She flashed an admiring, surreptitious glance at Cherri, as if to say, "Well played". With the personality traits they had in common, she could see why Sable and Cherri got along.

"The offer of splitting the bill still stands," she reminded Sable.