Board Thread:The Company/@comment-24866242-20140705011408/@comment-24930445-20140706232642

Kat and Ryax spent several days in the Inferno being poked and prodded by Marissa and Dante with a multitude of medical devices until the doctors grudgingly gave them clean bills of health.

The family reunion that followed was both joyous and strained. Kat and Ry had learned from Brandy that Ilrea had immediately taken charge of her sister, protecting and caring for her without a second thought. Vee had been another matter. He hadn’t come by to see them at all during their stay in the infirmary and this saddened Kat greatly.

She had been sure he had been around and, when she asked Red, discovered he had been in nearly every day to check on the injured agent.

After their release, Ry and Kat walked hand and hand back to Haven, her head on his shoulder. “We need a vacation, love. How d’ya feel aboot a month on th’ mountain?”

He chuckled. “I think we can manage that.”

They stepped through the door and were greeted with silence. Kat lifted her head and glanced around, a frown creasing her brow. She glanced at Ry, and he shrugged in response to her unasked question.

“Anyone home?” A squeal came from the back room, and in a blur Aerli sprinted into the room before launching herself into Ry’s arms, followed quickly by Ilrea. Brandy, beaming with happiness rushed over and wrapped her arms around Kat, hugging her tightly. “You didn’t tell us you were coming home! We would have planned something!”

Places were switched and Kat suddenly found Aerli and Ilrea holding her tightly, all three laughing. Movement at the doorway across the room caught Kat’s attention. Vee had only entered the room as far as the doorway before stopping. Arms and ankles crossed, he leaned against the jam, watching silently.

The girls sensed the tension and slowly released Kat. “Hey Vee.” She moved across the room to stand in front of him and she could quite clearly see his rage had barely abated.

She never saw it coming. When she stepped within range, his hand quickly came up and slapped her hard across the face, shocking everyone in the room. The next blow never landed as she blocked then jerked him into a tight hug.

“I’m home sister. We’re home. Shh.. tis alright.” She held his stiff body, his arms clenched against his sides as he refused to return the hug. His body shook violently as he sobbed.

“You left us. You could have died, Kat. I could have lost you.” His words were muffled against her shoulder as he continued to cry.

“But I dinnae. I’m home.” Whatever she had been about to say was cut short as he struggled in her arms, trying to break free. She let him go and he stood facing her. She could tell he wanted to take another swing and she had every intention of letting him. He needed to release the rage or it would eat him alive.

“G’head sister.” was all she said before he flew at her, punching and scratching. She stood there, letting him vent until suddenly he was in her arms, holding on for dear life.

“Aye, tis alright, love. You’re home.” She softly brushed her fingers over his hair as she glanced over her shoulder at the rest of her family. Ry had understood and kept the girls from interfering. At her smile, however, he nudged them forward and Kat and Vee found themselves in a huge family hug.

That night, in her own bed she dreamed.

Volanyn smiled down at her. “You have done well mačka. You and your friends are great warriors. The Wiveni are not defeated, but the likes will no longer be seen in our world. You have saved us all, mačka.”

She smiled. “You were a part, Volanyn. If not for you, we would have never known the threat existed. I am honored to have known you.”

“My people can return now and rejoin our world. We owe you and yours a debt of gratitude for allowing us to come home. I look forward to meeting with your delegation in the future to form an alliance between our peoples. More, I look forward to meeting you, mačka.” he reached forward and touched her cheek. “You and yours, you will always be rodina (family, kin) to the Udar.”

Kat tilted her head in confusion. “I…. I thought you died out.”

Volanyn laughed. “Far from it, mačka. The Wiveni were not the only ones with knowledge of other plains. It will take us time, but we will be home.”

“It is not as you remember it, Volanyn. The removal of Mother Redeemer did much damage. Life returns, but it will be a slow process.” Her voice was sad, remembering the village, the people from her vision.

“Matka Zem (Mother Earth) will provide in time, mačka, but for now, I will leave you to your sleep. We will meet soon.” He placed his hand over her forehead then was gone.

Kat gasped and sat up in the dark of their room and looked around.

“You ok babe?” Ry’s hand softly caressed her bare back.

“Aye. I..” she laughed. “I’m good.”

Turning, she snuggled into his arms.

Days later, Jack found Kat in the main galley on Vextis. Without asking, he pulled a chair out and sat.

Kat arched an eyebrow, but said nothing as the cup she had been lifting continued its travels to her lips.

“Alright, I was wrong. I was conceited. I was an arse.” he stopped, watching her expectantly.

She watched him blandly, her elbows on the table propping up the cup still held before her face. Flicking a finger, she tilted her head slightly. “G’on.”

He laughed. “You really aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” The smile faded “Listen, Kat. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for so many things, but the one thing I was never sorry for was having you in my life.”

“Yeah, it showed when ye left me hangin’ fer… wha, nearly twenty years? Thinking my best friend was dead. Then to have the rest of m’ family lie for ye about it? Fergive me if I find this a little hard to swallow.”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Will we ever be friends again, Kat?”

Her gaze dropped as she set the cup on the table gently. “We nae stopped bein’ friends Jack. I’m just furious wi’ ye now. There were so many times I talked t’ye. So many things I shared with ye and ye weren’t there. Why couldn’t ye hae trused me?”

He reached forward and took her hand. “It wasn’t you, Kittiscott. I didn’t trust me. I loved you. I wanted you back, but you were so happy. I couldn’t be near you and not try…”

He left the rest unsaid as she glanced up at him. “I love him Jack, more than I ever thought possible with anyone. I would like for ye t’ be in my life… in our life, but if ye cannae trust yourself, stay with Devon.”

“Joke and I were planning on staying with Krita anyway, Kat, but yeah. We’re good. He’s a good man and he’s good for you.”

“We’re good for each other, Jack.” she corrected.

He laughed. “Aye. You are. Friends?” He held his hand out to her her.

She looked at it for a long moment, then suddenly stood. Jack frowned, disappointment and insecurity passing over his face. She chuckled slightly, then moved around the table to fold him in her arms. “Aye, Jack. Always friends. Always family.”