MASKTOURN

After saying goodbye to anyone else she wanted to say goodbye to, Kyrie returned to Gale and Ellie. Her girlfriends. Her anchors. Those who she would remain with. Gale had offered to take her with them- something she was very, truly greatful for- because what, really, did she have to go back to? She extended out a hand each to both Gale and Ellie. "Are you guys.... ready to go?" @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

To be honest, she had just felt kinda...numb. Ellie had stood there for a long time, waiting with Gale by the pool. She wasn't sure if there was anyone she wanted to speak to- or if she had the strength to carry out a proper conversation either. "What do you mean he's not here?" Ellie shifted as Kyrie approached, and it's chest felt a little less tight. Right- they were all gonna go together. That was their plan before, at least. "I'm...not going with you guys just yet," it said, taking Kyrie's hand nonetheless. "I- well, I'm leaving here, of course, but..." "There's a few things at home I need to handle first." Lighting incense, lighting a lantern, setting a wooden boat adrift. Absentmindedly, she reached out for Gale's hand as another source of comfort. She knew very well it was hurting just as much, too. "But- but I'll find you guys for sure." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Gale took their hands, looking distantly into the water before them. She had searched and searched and when that failed, she made those weirdo Lifebringers tell them where he was. The truth, the one she had feared for so long, laid in her heart like a lead weight. Her eyes rimed red from choked tears. She didn’t have time to mourn- not again. Not yet. They needed to go home. As Ellie spoke of her plans, Gale finally looked away from the water. “Oh. That’s- yeah, that’s okay. Um.. we should, ah.. exchange numbers and all that. Iowa’s a, heh, a big place, ‘specially since most of it looks the same..” Their lighthearted tone was clearly forced. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Kyrie held tight and fast to both Gale and Ellie's hands- dreading the moment she'd have to let go of one of them, but understanding completely. There was so much... so much to deal with. "Mhm. Take all the time you need, and- and it'll all work out." Kyrie offered up both her number and email address. "I'll probably have to get some of my stuff back from the Loucari at some point... but there wasn't ever much I needed to keep." She was saying goodbye. To the only home she had ever known. To the dream of finding them again. How long had she endured the danger of staying, just for the slight possibility of having a home again? But the world she had grown up in was gone. And she would not stay in the cities of those who had set that home upon the pyre. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

How was it possible- that everyone in the realm of the deceased was brought back to life- yet there were two unaccounted for? How could it happen? Why could that happen? "It'll all work out," she repeated, as if she said it out loud it would come true. And this world felt much more bigger now, and this hole felt much more hollow than before. Ahh- but having Ky and Gale here made things feel a little easier. "Y- yeah. Iowa's a big place, huh?" Ellie quietly laughed, offering up her information as well. "I- I hope you manage to get your stuff back, Ky." Ellie did well to remember their information, and to remember the way their palms fit into her own. "I love you guys," she quietly said, "a- a lot. I know...everything's a bit of a. Wreck. Right now, but things will get better." Because we're here now, because we're together, because we always get through things together. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Gale squeezed Kyrie’s hand lightly. “We’ll fly over together sometime, Kyr.” ’You don’t have to do this alone anymore.’ And she squeezed Ellie’s hand. “I love you too. It’s.. yeah. It’s gotta get better. And- and even while we’re apart, we’ve still got each other, alright? We.. we can call once we’re all back ‘n settled.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Kyrie leaned close to Gale, wrapping her wing around them. "Yeah. Yeah, it'll all work out. It'll all be fine." "We'll call you as soon as we can, Ellie." Kyrie nodded. "And... as soon as we can, we'll all see each other again." She turned towards Gale. "I... guess I'm ready when you are." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ellie squeezed their hands as tight as it could, longing never to let go of their hands. "M-mhm. I'll call you guys as soon as we all get settled," she agreed, hair bouncing as she nodded. The more she moved, the less she had to focus on other things. "Take it easy, alright?" I love you, I love you, I love you. "I'll send photos of- of bird through email and- and stuff, just- take it easy. Take your time." We'll see each other again- I know it. As Kyrie spoke, Ellie tentatively released their hands. They had their own home to return to- and then she would see them again. Yes. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

It felt wrong to let go of Ellie, but they would meet again. “We’ll be together soon.. it’s gonna be alright.” Gale gave Kyrie a nod. “I’m ready.” @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (after tournnnnn)