Friday evening: the Sea Caves

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

They made it back to Fandom in one Jump, hit the ground near the Causeway, and Altra instantly Jumped them again. Karal barely held onto his nausea, but he never let go of the boy.

When they reappeared in a cave - a nice cave, as caves went, dry and spacious, and he could hear the ocean - he stared around, blinking as Altra created a magelight. "Altra?"

:We're still on the island. If they find us, if they follow us... we need to hide him, and it's not safe for us to be near people. Give the boy to Gabriel and fetch Evey. I'm going after Anakin. I don't know if they can follow our trail, I obscured it as best I could, but we have to assume that they'll be here eventually.:

Karal swallowed hard and nodded, gently pressing Danyel towards Gabriel, and then he turned and ran out of the cave. Altra Jumped out a few seconds later, leaving the glowing blue magelight hanging in the air.

[ooc: NFB, locked to a specific few.]

Comments

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

It wasn't long before Evey arrived, carrying the explosives and two tiny droid babies.

Look, she hadn't had time to find a sitter.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was there only slightly before her, was still panting as she arrived. "You're here." He hurried over to take anything she wanted him to.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel looked up. It was a good thing that Danyel was a quiet kid. He nodded at Evey.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Danyel looked at the girl who had just arrived, his eyes suspicious.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It is all right, Danyel," Karal said soothingly, going down on one knee to be level with the boy. "This is Evey. She is a friend, and she is here to help keep you safe."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"No fires here," Gabriel said, trying to sound cheerful and not quite succeeding.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Danyel eyed Gabriel with even more suspicion, pulling his shoulder up. "Where are we?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"We are on an island called Fandom. It is where I go to school, and there are good people here who will protect you." Karal bit his lip, heart breaking, and held out a hand to him. "Will you trust me?"

[sith_happened]

Anakin strode in a few moments later, robe flapping behind him with the haste of his pace.

"Hello."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Altra stalked in beside him, took one look around, lifted the information from Karal's thoughts, and then Jumped out again, going for the supplies.

[sith_happened]

Anakin watched the 'cat go, eyebrows arching a little. "That would be incredibly convenient, being able to do that."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel looked up and stared at the newcomer. "You're here to help?" he asked, not bothering to introduce himself or sound polite.

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "Karal asked," he said, and that was really all the reason Anakin had needed.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel couldn't help thinking that Karal seemed to have a talent for getting people to do things when he asked. He nodded towards Danyel. "That's the kid."

[sith_happened]

"Being short and boy-shaped," Anakin said, nodding again. "Does he have a name?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Danyel." The boy looked up at Anakin. "Who are you?" He had seen enough of Gabriel not to trust him with introductions.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Altra reappeared, and with him came a tumble of blankets and pillows, food Karal had scrounged from the common room, Karal's metal tea pot, tea and mugs, spare clothes, and a pile of other things that met the criteria 'might be useful' and which Karal had been able to put his hands on in a hurry.

Karal spotted him and hurried over to start dealing with the supplies, making up a palette for Danyel as first priority. "Will we be able to have a fire?" he asked quietly.

:Yes. If you build it near the entrance, I'll make sure the smoke is neither seen, nor comes back into the cave. Go gather some wood. It doesn't matter if its dry. I can make it burn.:

The look he turned on the 'cat was surprised, because Altra was not normally so free with his magic.

:The child needs it, and it doesn't matter if I tire myself. The strictures limit what I am permitted to do to another god's avatar.: His lashing tail made it clear he wasn't happy about this. :If it comes to killing, we will be dependent on Anakin and Evey.:

Karal went pale and swallowed hard against a resurgence of nausea. With a quick nod, he began to move towards the mouth of the cave, to head out and gather wood.

[sith_happened]

Anakin and Danyel walked over to the 'cat. "We're looking for snacks," Anakin said quietly, looking down at the boy.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

:Karal has gone for wood to make a fire.: Altra was looking at Anakin and Danyel with clear approval. :There is food over there.: He pointed his nose at a bag.

"Karal is back," Karal said quietly and began setting up a fire, quickly and efficiently. "Altra?"

The 'cat stared at the wood and fire sprang into life while Karal filled the metal pot from the water bottle, added tea, and placed the whole thing on a rock in the middle of the wood. "It won't be long," he said, with a small smile for Anakin and a worried look for Daniel.

[sith_happened]

"We can wait," Anakin said, taking a seat between the cave entrance and Danyel and waving the bag of food over.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Danyel leaned into Anakin's side, watching the bag with no apparent surprise.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal stared into the fire, waiting for the water to heat. When he was satisfied, he wrapped his sleeve around the handle and poured out two mugs, adding several squeezes of honey to one.

"There," he said gently, setting the sweet tea in front of Danyel and offering the other mug to Anakin.

[sith_happened]

"Thanks," Anakin said, taking his mug with a small smile, then reached up to undo the fastenings of his robe, moving it onto Danyel's shoulders. "It gets cold at night," he said, reaching into the bag and pulling out an apple.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Danyel snuggled into the robes, pulling them around him until only his head and his hands could be seen, and reached out for the apple.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey was quiet when she curled up next to Karal, her legs tucked up against her chest. "Hi. "