thehometree | 001☀ AMBER

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001☀ AMBER

[She’s staring at the amber slice with both curiosity and awe. And because she’s touching it, all of the lovely residents of the tree can see one large lavender-hued eye and a stunning shade of red as her bangs brush the stone. If she knew everyone could see her, she probably wouldn’t be gaping at the artifact in such an unrefined fashion, or giving any potential viewers a look at her tonsils and chin while she fumbles with it. Not only is she from a world without technology, but her knowledge of anything supernatural is limited to her experiences with the dragons. In other words, it’s virtually nonexistent.

’How can a stone be used to communicate? Surely, there is more to it than touching it.’

But as soon as the thought enters her mind, she recalls the yellow gem she held earlier, resulting in wings sprouting from her back. And just moments before, she saw a flash of shifting pictures in the amber, the faces of strangers moving, talking to each other, as if she was looking into a mirror, only the person staring back at her was not herself.

Yona clears her throat, lips tightening nervously before relaxing into an uncertain smile.]

Hello there. My name is… [Scratch that!] …well, I suppose that is rather unimportant at the moment.

…Hopefully I’m not just talking to myself. I saw… people, several individuals, speaking to one another in this stone a few moments ago.

[Of course, it’s highly probable that she’s just lost her mind. Last time she checked, she was having a one-sided conversation with a stone from inside what appears to be a tree. There’s nothing sane about it.]

Then again, maybe I just imagined it.

[Wait. Did she just admit she might be crazy out loud? Yona flashes a sheepish smile, but it wanes after a moment, her expression dissolving into concern, closely followed by apprehension, and then fear.]

H-Hak?

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[Her voice. He would know it anywhere. To the point that the moment he hears it over the amber, he's already moving. Getting to her as quick as possible is the priority, a month without her by his side leaving him restless and upset. It's the way that she wavers as she says his name though, knowing how out of her element she had to be feeling by that small sign alone, that pushes him even harder.

Wings emerging, Hak takes to flight and makes his way to the entry where everyone tends to arrive as quickly as he can fly. Arms reaching out for the small body, wrapping around her protectively.]

I'm here.

[You're okay. He's here. Everything will be okay.]

[Yona barely has time for the tears to form or to take in even one shaky breath as she swallows and glances around the room again. She hears him before he appears. But not him, really. It's the rush of air caused by the beating of his wings.

Her head lifts toward the sound, but that's when she finds herself in his arms and Yona cannot help but let out a choked sob as every muscle in her body relaxes against him.

Hak is... here. He didn't leave her alone. He's safe.

A moment later, her arms move around him, the bag and amber slice slipping from her grasp to the floor, and she buries her face into his chest, her breath slowing as the familiar scent eases her senses.

She was so worried. Not just because she woke up alone in a strange place. But because she woke up and had no recollection of traveling to this room, and --more importantly-- no way of knowing if he or the others were okay. Especially after the battle in Kinshuu. Hak needed rest. They all needed time to heal. So why are they here?

Swallowing, she listens to the sound of his heart beating in his chest as she collects her thoughts.]

How... are you feeling?

[Hak understands that everyone can come in at different times, given the fact that the other two seem to realize so much about things that haven't happened to Hak yet. He can only assume that what Yona is talking about is something similar to what they mentioned themselves.]

Was I hurt the last time you saw me as well?

[He grips the fabric at her back, demonstrating for her that he was fine. Any injury she'd assume he'd gotten back home was not active here.]

My arm is fine. It doesn't hurt at all. I heard about what happened. How's your back?

[His arm? Yona's forehead creases in confusion.

Is he talking about the wound he received in Shisen? Is that still hurting him?

Her back continues to bother her from time to time, but she will never admit that aloud to anyone with ears.]

My back? It's healed now. [Well, maybe not completely healed. There will always be a scar and the unappeasable desire to become stronger.]

Did you hurt your arm again?

[Perhaps it was the strain of wielding his weapon for so long during the battle. Her face remains pressed against his robes, and she notices a dank, earthy smell accompanying the usual outdoorsy scent she's grown so accustomed to.]

[He knows he should probably let her go, but the fact that she doesn't seem to be in a hurry to move away from him either allows him the opportunity to linger. Yona's comments support the information that Jae-Ha and Kija had told him about their injuries, but even more than that--there was likely a gap in time between Yona and the two of them. If both their injuries were supposedly healed from the time that she remembered, the princess was further out from the rest of them.]

Actually, that's the strange thing...

[Finally, his arms released the embrace he'd had her wrapped in and takes a small step away. Trying to recall which arm the dragons had been concerned about, he unwrapped the bindings from his forearm. Hak pulled the fabric of his robe up, displaying a relatively unmarred canvas of skin for her to see.]

The last thing I remember experiencing was the Fire Festival in Sen Province. I heard about the injuries from Jae-Ha and White Snake. I assume both of us were still injured during the last thing the two of them recall.

[The Fire Festival? For some unknown reason, those words are like a punch to her gut. What is he saying? Did he get injured so badly that he's having memory loss? And what about Jae-Ha and Kija? The last thing they recall? None of this is making any sense to her!

She takes his arm quickly, inspecting it. She's seen the damage Hiyou left behind numerous times, in the people that were poisoned by the narcotics he spread like a virus through the Water Tribe and coastal cities, and in the wound he gave to Hak in Shisen.

Her eyes are wide, a tinge of panic registering over her features. She shakes her head, almost to herself, as she again studies the skin that should be tarnished by a scar.]

But Hiyou... and then Kinshuu... and Zeno...

[She shakes her head again, eyes finding his, lowering to his wings, his chest, back to the arm... and then she lets go, taking a few fearful steps away from him.

What... what's going on?]

[Confusion he'd expected to see, but the expression on her face hadn't quite hit that emotion. It wasn't the first time he'd seen that look grace her features, but never had it ever been directed at him. Hak had seen it displayed for him many times, especially in the last few months but toward him wasn't an experience he found himself enjoying at all.

Fear. He was her bodyguard. She should never fear him. If anything, being by his side should be the one place she felt safest. Watching her take a shaky step away from him left him feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. It was painful and upsetting in a way he'd never imagined.]

What are you--[Hak instinctively reaches his hand out to grasp the wrist that had just pulled away from him. He can't let her step away like that.] Of course I know Zeno.

[The rest of it though...]

This place? It does this sort of thing. Why are you...? I'm still me, Princess.

[Of course he knows Zeno. But how much? No one could forget what happened during that battle. And what are these wings? What is that gemstone that shows moving pictures of people? What happened to some of the most critical memories of their time together in the last couple of months? Where are his scars?

She's half tempted to force him to show her the injury he sustained from Tae-Jun's men when they were attacked on the cliff. As he reaches for her, she shrinks away, but only slightly. He takes her wrist in a manner that is very much like himself even if the scene before her is confusing and frightening.

Yona clears her throat, eyes still flitting to different wood patterns on the floor.]

What about Soo-Won? Do you remember... in Shisen?

[The name she speaks emits such a powerful emotion that he shoves it down as hard as he can to even process it. It's like a switch has been triggered, his eyes darken and every muscle in his body instinctively tense. The anger that comes over him is palpable, his jaw tightening as he clenches his teeth.

Shisen. The water tribe.

The evasive answers. The way they'd literally tip toed around and showed way too much concern for such a simple injury. He'd suspected there was more to the story, but hadn't ever imagined...

The rage he feels is surprisingly the only thing that prevents him from losing control, because this person in front of him had been hurt so much more than he had. Taking out those feelings on her is the last thing he wanted to do, and so he did nothing. Just stood there--cold gaze focused at a place against the wall just over her shoulder.

No, he doesn't remember because it's something that hasn't happened to him yet back home. But if Soo-Won was in the same town as them...

He isn't sure if he wants to know what happened. But he doesn't answer her question, it's likely obvious the response. It's her choice on what she wishes to let him know.]

[The look on his face is all that she needs to confirm he doesn't remember that either. It's as if he really has no memory of everything that occurred after the Fire Festival.

Yona senses the cold creeping over him, as if his emotions could very well shroud the entire room in darkness. She feels the pain through the hand that is still clenching her wrist, revolting violently within him, directed inwardly because the person responsible for this turmoil is not present.

Her fear breaks, overcome by worry. There is no way she can be suspicious of this person. Not after seeing the darkness seething in the windows of his eyes.]

Oh, Hak...

[She moves closer, and though her physical display of concern might come as a surprise to him, given the sizable gap in their memories, she doesn't hesitate in the slightest to gently put her arms around him.

This person who she cares so much about... he isn't ready to face that man. Not now, and he wasn't ready to face him in Shisen. This is her Hak. The one who has always protected her. She doesn't understand why he's missing so many of his memories, but she will shield him from those unpleasant emotions until he is ready to confront the demons.]

Thank you for coming to my aid.

[Her touch is an instant balm to his soul, soothing the pain as her warmth absorbed into him. There were very few times in his life that she had embraced him of her own volition. Receiving comfort from another wasn't something he was used to, even if he had been given a substantial amount of kindness in his life.

But here and now, it's what he needed. A reminder that here with him was the only thing of any importance. The priority. Tension slowly slipped from his body, coming back to center in his head.

The princess was safe. She was here. The strength of her arms wrapped around his torso and her head pressed against his chest allowing him to feel the warmth of her body--the proof that this was reality. Physically, she was okay.

She was okay.

Arms, which had previously been frozen from the shock of the news, moved to accept the warmth into himself as they wrapped her into his embrace. The contours of his face softening as the tension eased away. He closed his eyes and rested his chin against the top of her head.]

You're okay, right? Nothing happened. You're here. Everything is okay?

[His voice is quiet and questioning, but beneath it all is the obvious fear he feels.]

Edited 2015-05-23 02:53 (UTC)

[Jae-Ha could barely get out the first syllable of her name before the feed cut. He just barely catches the glimmer of what threw her off enough for her to drop the Amber. However, he does have a good enough idea.

He tucks away his own, before heading down the tree. As expected, Kija is alongside him only moments later.]

That was Hak. It had to be, right?

[Not that he's especially suspicious, though.]

[ His eyes widen in a moment of surprise to come so suddenly upon Jae-Ha. But then, of course he would fly to the princess's side as well. The moment her face had disappeared from the mirror, his heart had seized up. It took mere seconds for him to react. ]

I do not know, but I will not wait to find out.

[ While Jae-Ha may be more calm, and it's true that he is likely right, the worry doesn't cease. Not until he sees her. And as they both swoop down the light of the tree to the lowest level- the only place he can assume her to still be, even as Jae-Ha lands first, Kija immediately moves forward in a panic. ]

Princess-! Are you well!?

[ Never mind Hak there. He's just- it's so good to see her again. The relief that washes through him is immense, but he wants to hear it from her directly. ]

Edited 2015-05-23 04:26 (UTC)

[If there is any tension remaining in her muscles, it all melts out of her when his arms go around her. She finds herself nodding and whispering a muffled 'Yes' from where her face is pressed into his shoulder.]

I'm alright. You... everyone protected Yoon and I in Kinshuu.

[It was Hak and the dragons who were injured. Yona finds her eyes squeezing closed on the scene that has haunted her ever since it occurred, of Zeno's body being destroyed, broken, slashed limb from limb.

She has so many questions. How long has he been here? Jae-Ha? Kija? How is it that she was with them just moments before finding herself here, but Hak claims he's been absent since the Fire Festival? Why does he have wings? How far are they from Kouka? And... when can they find the others?

Several of these inquiries are on the tip of her tongue, but she doesn't get the opportunity to ask them. Instead, she's distracted by the sound of wings again. Voices.]

['Princess-! Are you well?'

Kija?!

At the white dragon's question, her arms immediately lower and she quickly pushes away from Hak's chest, suddenly insecure about the notion of hugging him for all to see. Her face colors as she struggles to find a smile before turning toward their two companions.]

Uh... [Not off to an eloquent start, are we?]

Me? I'm fine. It's you two I'm most worried about. [She frowns.] Hak doesn't remember Kinshuu and how Zeno fought during the battle.

[She moves toward them, concern etched into every muscle in her face.] How are your injuries? And your illnesses? Have your fevers gone down?

[Before either of them has a chance to say anything, she's already placed a hand on their foreheads.]

[And everything is ripped from his arms before he can fully appreciate it. Those bastards.]

I was just starting to enjoy that...

[Hak just stands there, hands still raised slightly as he stares at the place her body just was in his arms. He scowls, lifting his gaze to his roommates.]

She's fine. Now go away.

[Sorry, Hak. He's basically going to ignore you. Do you honestly think they'll up and leave, having only just arrived, learning of Yona's presence?

Don't worry. You two can have your alone time, still.

Instead, it's both his and Kija's turn to be confused.]

We're both perfectly fine.

[ He lets Yona do as she wishes, but there's a bit of a frown on his face.]

. . .Kinshuu? What happened to you- [a beat] To all of us?

[It can only mean one thing.]

[ Well, as for Kija his eyes shift back and forth from the princess in concern to a full on glare directed at Hak. What was he doing to the princess? How dare he tell them to leave!? But then she is in front of him, her hand on his forehead.

Color immediately spreads through his face, his attention shifting fully to the princess. H-Heart, his heart, something is wrong with it, suddenly it's pounding fast. Maybe he really is beginning to feel feverish. ]

Edited 2015-05-23 11:45 (UTC)

[ Overwhelmed, he lifts a hand up, taking a small step back. His opposite hand moves to clutch at his chest. ]

W-We are okay...

[ At least Jae-Ha got out the important answers. ]

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001☀ AMBER

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