They returned to their room many hours later, as Aveen almost fell asleep still sitting on the wall next to Somna’a. But because the Keeper wanted to spare Aveen the embarrassment of being carried around like a little child they made their way both back on foot through the then very quiet streets. As it so often was the case, Somna’a had trouble finding sleep. His mind wandered around and had fun burdening him with questions he had no answers for. With memories he couldn’t change.

He woke again with the first rays of sunshine because his inner alarm clock sometimes works too well. He didn’t know if he had really grabbed some sleep or it was just something between a dreamless nap and an exhausted snooze, but that wasn’t something a coffee couldn’t fix. He saw Aveen still asleep in the other bed, or rather saw only his ears and some of his hair looking over the pulled up blanket and decided to leave the healer to his dreams and get himself ready for the day.

Their last day in Ala Ghiri was quiet and without any special incidents. Somna’a didn’t see much of Aveen because he helped Minasho with his medicine stuff and that left Somna’a with some free time he spent with filling up some supplies for their ride back tomorrow and asking around if there where some companies in town that still searched for fighters or sellswords. But it was as he had feared. Groups that fought actively in the field became fewer every day with almost no Garleans left to hunt. Most former Soldiers had startet to rebuild their Villages, returned to their families or moved to Ala Mhigo. The latter had accured to Somna’a some time now, but he just didn’t like that city. He couldn’t fully explain why, but if he was honest with himself it had to do with the disppearance of his parents and the imagination that they had either died there, or never arrived there in the first place for various reasons. Somna’a had been still a Teenager when Thiro and Somna had left with the goal to gain citizenship and get their children into the safety of the city as part of the Empire then as quickly as possible. Somna’a and his sister had stayed in the care of their uncles and aunts at the village, never knowing that they had embraced their parents for the last time on that autumn morning so many years ago… Thera had been confused and lonely. Somna’a had began to train with a sword.

Now the people of Gyr Abania were tired of fighting and started to feel free again. Somna’a couldn’t say if he himself felt truly free. Liberated. Rescued. Now, at the end of Gyr Abanias struggles against the Empire, he felt like he had wasted half his life, became someone he didn’t recognize anymore and as if he had forgotten something along the way. How to rest and be at ease.

The next morning greeted them with lingering mist around the mountains in the distance and the promise of latesummer-rain in the air. Somna’a had no problem with a little rain, as long as Rhalgr kept his thundering drums quiet. Aveen looked almost a little sad when they said goodbye to Minasho and in the name of the other healers he thanked the Au Ra for his help and his hospitality. Their Chocobos were as loaded as during their trip down here. This time with bandages, herbs and clean glass vials. The Miqo’te men stayed on foot for now, Somna’a leading the red Chocobo at the reigns. ”Are you happy to return to your healer friends?” Somna’a asked casually. ”They are rather my colleagues than my friends, but yes. I hope to learn a little bit more about Alchemy with Ira before I travel back to the Shroud.” ”How many days you still have here?” ”Uhm…. 10 I think.” Aveen looked up to Somna’a with something like an apology in his eyes. At if it was somehow his, Aveens, fault that his time here was limited. Somna’a didn’t really know what to make of that, so he just smiled and said: “I am happy for you that you can go home soon.” It wasn’t a lie, but what he actually wanted to say was propably that he was jealous. Going home. What a hurting thought that was, when Somna’a didn’t know where home was anymore. The jealousy didn’t get much better when after some time during their march Aveen’s Linkspearl chimed and he had a short conversation with one of his parents. He just briefly told them that he was on his way back to the camp. That he is fine. The usual stuff you tell your parents to let them know you can look after yourself as a man above twenty. The warmth in Aveen’s voice clearly showed his love to his parents, he would see again in 10 days. Lucky boy. The Healer shortly smiled towards the Sellsword, but Somna’a had trouble returning it. So he rather tried to focus on their surroundings and not let his sour mood show too much.

They had half of their traveling distance behind them, when Somna’a felt like they were being followed. He didn’t make out the pursuers directly, but he felt like he heard the noises of other footsteps. Saw a shadow move just as he looked back towards a bend in the road again. Aveen must have felt the swing in the Keepers mood ever since they left Ala Ghiri and was already quieter than usual. As Somna’a kindly ordered him into the saddle of the red Chocobo, while he himself stayed on food, the younger Miqo’te trustfully did as he was told but his ears began to rotate more than before. ”For the record, I won’t leave you behind here fighting some kind of beast if it should come to that. You know the Chocobo can carry you, too, so we should just let them run a bit.” Aveen said sternly. ”And they would still follow their tracks right to your camp. I would prefere to avoid that.” Somna’a answered while he still kept an eye on their surroundings. He had one hand on the hilt of one of his swords and let himself fall back a bit, so that he was walking right next to the yellow Chocobo with the supplies.

Some minutes later he knew that the path before them through some kind of canyon was risky, but the alternative would have been a half-days-travel around the mountains. The attackers must have known the landscape as well as the Keeper, because one had managed to sneak up on them from behind, while the second one suddenly jumped out of an alcove in the rock wall, grabbed the reigns of the yellow chocobo and tried to cut his reins that tied it to the saddle of the red one with a knife. The Chocobo kweh’d surprised and angryly, flapped its wings and wanted to jump away from the suddenly appeared figure. Somna’a had heard the approach from behind first, so he had turned around and drawn his blades in a swift movement so that just one heartbeat later his weapons connected with a sword that was aimed at him … by a Garlean. The armor was just unmistakable. The face hidden behind a helmet, the attacker must either be very young or not a pureblood regarding his size, but Somna’a didn’t care. Anyone wearing this armor was an enemy to him and he could feel his rage boil up like wildfire inside his chest. Just seeing the Garlean emblem made him think of burning houses, crying civillians, the gunsound of magitek machines. He heard the shout of the Chocobo behind him and cursed as he realized he was being distracted on purpose and the other one just tried to steal their Chocobo. But as he saw the knife in the other Garlean’s hand, whos face was half covered by a mask, his mind made a quick shift to something fare more valuable than the Chocobo and the goods it carried. Aveen! With a roar Somna’a blocked the next attack from the Garlean with the sword and pushed him back with a sudden kick into his hip, before he spun around and jumped at the Garlean with the knife who was still trying to sever the reins. He either had a very bad weapon or was too stupid to use it properly. As just merely seconds had passed already, both Chocobos and Aveen had just freshly fully comprehended what was going on. The red chocobo had stopped immediatly and shied away from the turmoil while Aveen tried to keep it in control with the reins. As the Keeper raised his swords against the second attacker, the Knifewielder surpringly stumbled back immediatly, even cried out in surprise, the dull knife got stuck in the thick leathery rein so his hand lost it and it fell down into the dust. The yellow chocobo quickly jumped away from it, bumping into the red so that the two birds gave an annoyed screech. With a threatening sweep of one sword Somna’a pushed the Garlean further away from the birds and in a hectic movement to not have his belly sliced open, the attacker stumbled to the ground in front of the rock wall, his mask falling off his face. With a paniced breath he crouched back until his shoulders hit the wall. As this happened, Somna’a also kept the Swordfighter at distance who seemed to be a hesitant fighter like his companion. ”And what do you think you where trying to do here, heh?!” the Keeper growled furiously at both, one of his blades threateningly pointed at each of them. Swordguy still seemed to be indecisive about how to react, his hand clawed at the hilt of his weapon and although his face was still obscured by his helmet, Somna’a could sense that he was quickly thinking of how to still achieve their goal, whatever it was. Meanwhile Aveen had jumped down from the Chocobo, still holding it at the reins so it won’t run away in panic. ”Please.” came the wimper from the Garlean on the ground. He was a very young hyur man Somna’a saw now and must be some of the conscripts the Garleans had collected wherever they went. ”Shut up!” Somna’a yelled still furiously at him. “I hope you know that you’ll find no mercy here.” he looked at the other Garlean again. “Toss your sword away.” he ordered him, green eyes full of hate. The Garlean reluctantly and with an audible hiss did as he was told and threw his weapon away some yalms behind him, hands then raised defeatedly. ”Somna’a.” The Keeper didn’t hear Aveen’s stiff voice the first time, so the Healer had to call him again until he had his attention. Somna’a was relieved the blue-haired was safe, just seemed a bit shaken by the sudden chaos. ”Hmr?” he growled, swords still pointed to his left and in front of him to their attackers. Aveen silently shuffled to Somna’a’s right side, his gaze fixated on the young man on the ground, shoulders fearfully pressed against the wall. ”That one is hurt.” ”So?!” was Somna’a’s immediate outburst because he couldn’t care less about an injured Garlean. He wasn’t even sure how Aveen could tell that he was hurt, but maybe it was how he held his left arm strangely pressed to his chest. That would also explain why he was so clumsy with the knife or holding the reins properly still. Aveen flinched a bit, his ears flicking back shortly. Before he could say anything else, the Garlean on the ground spoke again in a breathy voice. ”P-please. We…don’t want to hurt anyone…we just… just wanted the supplies.” ”Lie to someone else, asshole. And what makes stealing any better?!” ”Please, he is right.” this time the other Garlean spoke and took his helmet off as well, revealing a face as young as that of his companion. Somna’a just now recognized that they looked doman. Or hingan. He couldn’t tell the difference. ”It’s his arm, it’s infected since days. Please… I just want to help him.” he didn’t sound as panicked as the other one, but he looked… tired, afraid. Tired of fighting. Afraid for his life and that of his companion. Both of their armors where broken and dirty in some places, Somna’a observed. They were in a pitiful state just like the knife from the one on the ground was. ”And why should I care about that?” Somna’a growled, still not lowering his swords. ”You’re doman.” Aveen suddenly and very quietly said, still looking at the injured fighter who then nodded, his dark eyes overcast by a painful shadow. ”When…. when did they…” the break in Aveens voice irritated Somna’a and he looked down at the Healer next to him who looked as if he felt a heavy burden on his shoulders. ”About ten years ago. I was nine, Hilo was twelve. We… we managed to desert about a week ago.” ”I am sorry. But… why didn’t you surrender to the resistance? Fair trials await you in Ala Mhigo” Aveen almost whispered. Their frightened look towards Somna’a was answer enough for the Healer. ”No, we’re not sorry. You fought for the Empire just as much as these assholes themselves.” Somna’a felt to make clear. He couldn’t believe his ears. He earned a sullen gaze from Aveen who then turned and took the two steps towards the calmed down again yellow Chocobo and began to open its Saddlebags. ”What are you doing, Aveen?” Somna’a asked with a hiss but he did not get an answer back. The younger Miqo’te pulled some bandages, a waterbottle and a little bag full of herbs out and marched towards the Doman on the ground as it was his todays most important mission. ”Get away from him!” Somna’a demanded, his sword still raised. Again Aveen ignored him, his ears just clearly showed his tension as he went down to one knee infront of the Soldier and gave him the supplies. The other one walked around Somna’a with as much distance as the narrowness of the Canyon allowed and being safely out of swordreach towards his companion and Aveen. ”Don’t be afraid.” Aveen softly said as he carefully took the gauntlet from the Soldiers left arm and held his hand above it. The Doman clutched the gifted supplies to his body with the other arm like a precious treasure. His friend stood next to him, watching Somna’a very tensed and a bit wideeyed. Somna’a truly concidered to end this farce, pull Aveen back from the Garlean fighter and quickly end their lives with a sword stroke through their throats. What guarantee did he have that they would not kill the Healer in front of them with a hidden knife or anything?! That it was all a ruse? He didn’t know what it was that kept him frozen in place, his weapons still pointed at the enemy, chest rising and falling under furious breaths. Maybe it was his anger. Maybe he was stunned because of Aveen’s benevolence towards a complete stranger. And there it was again. Ugly jealousy. A strange silence spread and even the Chocobos just cuddled together a bit more and seemed to watch as a soft light engulfed the arm of the Doman on the ground for some seconds and shimmered in the pearls of the tears in his dark eyes. Aveen had closed his eyes shortly and then stood up and helping his patient to his feet again. ”Put the herbs in water and drench the bandages in it. Put them around the arm for at least 3 days, that should do the rest. The next Town with ships to Doma and Hingashi is at Port Igharra, but… you propably know that. Or concider to go to Ala Mhigo. Try to find other clothes if you can.” Aveen spoke quietly and took a step back. He added some words in another language, propably doman, that Somna’a couldn’t understand. The soldiers seemed a bit surprised. ”Th-thank you…we… we truly didn’t want to…” ”Just get lost before I fully lose my temper.” came threatingly from Somna’a who had at least lowered his weapons, but still clutched them angrily in his hands. The two men bowed their head and the younger one still pressed the supplies to his chest. He shortly looked towards his knife that still lay on the ground next to Somna’a but he didn’t dare taking it back or ask for it. His friend picked up his sword when they came past it and quickly made their way back to the exit of the canyon.

“What by Rhalgr’s hairy balls was that, Aveen?!” the Keeper immediatly shouted at the other Miqo’te who was still looking into the direction the soldiers had disappeared, until he turned to Somna’a with a distressed look on his face. “Please calm down, Somna’a.” he said softly and clearly not in the mood for an argument. But Somna’a was still too filled up with rage, grieve and jealousy to see that. The Chocobos huddled nearby and at least waited for their masters. Somna’a bared his teeth and maybe forgot he still had his weapons in his hands as he fidgeted his arms together with his words. “You are here to help the resistance! My people! Not some Garlean Trash that tried to attack and steal from us! What has gotten into to you?” Aveen looked at him with shaking ears and hands. He had made a step back from the Keeper as his sharp blades moved too close to him for his taste and Somna’a could say he definitely didn’t see the next reaction coming. Maybe Aveen himself didn’t, too but from one second to the next, the younger Miqo’te channeled a simple but powerful spell of Air Magic with his both hands towards each of Somna’a’s swords to push them back and one of it flew out of the Keeper’s hands. ”They could have easily been you and your sister! Or anyone of your family you had!” Aveen hissed at him with a shaky voice. ”I would nev—” ”You would never fight for the Empire, I know! And believe me, those poor souls that were forced to do so, would have done anything but that if they had a choice! Those people were NOT the oppressors and coldhearted generals that have raided your village and many others to the ground and forced their government on you! They were just toys the Empire uses and throws away!” ”And still they have murdered in their name!” ”And you? How many have you killed, Somna’a? In the name of the resistance?” Aveen’s voice was thin but full of sadness and turmoil that seemed to come deep from his soul. Tears appeared in his eyes while his ears folded back so tightly on his head they were barely visible now in the softness of his hair. He looked Somna’a straight into the eyes, standing as tall as he could, his hand in fists. ”They were kids when they were taken. Their family propably slaughtered in front of them. Just because you had the luck to get your sister to safety and join your people in the fight doesn’t mean anyone was so fortunate! Do you know why they usually let the doman captives fight here and the Abanians in Doma? To make it harder for them to desert! They get pulled away from their homes, broken and trained like dogs and then let lose to fight next to their tormentors!” Aveen’s tears glistened softly in the misty afternoon weather. Somna’a couldn’t help but feel that Aveen curiously knew many details about gruesome actions of the empire. ”But what if they attacked you, hr?! What if they—” ”Haven’t you seen how defensive their plan was! How weary and desperate they were?! If the life of a dear companion maybe even sibling would depend on it, you would also attack a caravan even if the chance was 1% to be successful! Don’t tell me otherwise. Desperation is what had kept them on their feet and don’t tell me you don’t know that feeling, Somna’a!” The disappointment in the brown eyes smothered Somna’a’s flames of anger in his chest and he slowly made a step to the side to pick his sword up and put them back on his belt. His heart was drumming in his throat and Aveen wasn’t even finished, but at least his shaky voice became a little softer again. ”I … I am here for the Resistance, yes. But I won’t look away from the hurt of others. I don’t know when you have lost your empathy and became blind to who really is your enemy. But I am sorry for the day that had happened.” He truly sounded sad about this and not a bit condescending. ”You know nothing about me.” Somna’a just coldly and in childish defense said towards the Healer and then walked to the Chocobos and checked if the slightly cutted reins of the yellow bird would still hold until they arrived back at camp. Aveen didn’t move and just stood there for long seconds. He didn’t have the need to have the last word in an argument. It was rather clearly visible how much he despised arguments and fights in general. Silently he walked to the red Chocobo, petted its neckfeathers and even apologized with a whisper for the bad mood before climping into the saddle again. Somna’a walked next to the yellow Chocobo once more as they all began to move. He had the feeling the silence between them would hang there for a long time now. Making his last spoken words echo in this void again and again and again.