#seirlait

[karoiseka]

8 Days of XIV Love! Masterpost!

Saw this prompt list a couple of weeks ago on a few of my feeds, and saved the image, thinking it was a cute idea! Having just enough energy this week to do some of them has made me very happy, and I wanted to put them all in one place!

Eros: Spicy, Bardic trio. G'raha x WoL x Thancred.

Philia: 6.0 spoilers for end of MSQ!

Ludus: G'raha x WoL sparring practice!

Agape: Self-Sacrificing love. 6.0 spoilers!

Pragma: Long-standing love. Thancred x WoL

Philautia: Self-love! A little playing with this, Ardbert x WoL

Storge: Family love! Karo's Dads appear!

Mania: Obsessive Love. A darling branch appears!

I hope you liked it! ^_^

[karoiseka]

11) Surrogate

((catchup number two for the night! ^_^ Pre-Cal Seir an Feo!))

“I just don't know,” Seirlait leaned his head back along the wide bench back of the chocobo carriage as he gently guided the birds down the familiar path. The summer was waning, and they still hadn't found hide or hair of any mysterious miqo’te that had lost a small child in the woods. Notices had been posted in all the small hamlets, and they had even ventured into the city of Gridania to ask around and post some flyers.  Well, Seir did as Feo watched the wagon outside the gates; he still didn't like the wood wailer’s eyes on him as he went about his business. 

The small child had already swapped foster homes twice, surrogate parents or grandparents not able or willing to put up with such a wild child, more prone to climbing a tree than learning the family trade.  It was nothing against the good people, but the girl was different, and needed more than the families could give her. 

“She seems to settle with us around more than others,” Feo had interestingly been leaning towards the idea the past few weeks.  The fact was true though.  All the families had agreed that little Karo calmed in their presence, listening carefully to what they said, and according to the other adults, would follow their instructions to her to the letter, even if she didn’t obey anyone else.

“That isn’t the best reason for taking in a child,” Seir was playing the counter game, trying to come up with a reason they shouldn’t for every reason they should Feo could come up with, and to be honest with himself, he was losing.  “It’s a lot of responsibility, and we’re on the road half the year!”

“You’ve already said that three times so far,” Feo sounded more amused than anything as Seir winced.  He was coming up with less reasons–or at least they were always the same few (albeit large) reasons.  The conversation continued until it was time to set camp for the night, but the thought still lingered in their minds.  Would it be a good decision?  Would they be good parents?  The memory of the little kit curling up with her head in his lap, full of trust and curiosity melted his heart, it was true.  He would fight it just a bit longer–make sure they were definitely ready for something like that.  Yet, he secretly hoped that by autumn that she still didn’t fit in with anyone, and their little family could grow to three.

[karoiseka]

Day 7 of #8DaysofXIVLove ! Storge of Family love.

Karo was found as a small kit by Seirlait and Feophaux, her beloved parents. The Calmity came while they were away and she was a young adult--only to loose all memory of them and her childhood besides basic things to survive.

Regaining her memories after her 8th rejoined soul healed the cracks the Light bore upon her, she didn't seek them out, but instead had the most unexpected of reunions. Have a sneak peek pic. ^_^

And the bonus, because she can't forget the kindness of the Count:

[karoiseka]

9) Fair

((.... I only MEANT this to be the first half... and... then... WELP!!! Have some very deep Karo lore that I've been keeping to my chest because I wasn't sure where exactly I was going with it, and still don't, but......... they exist now.))

The tiny foot stomped into the tan bricks, ears back, and blue eyes glaring furiously up at her parents.  They shared a look even as the inevitable line was spoken in one of the most whining tones they had yet to hear come from their newly adopted daughter.

“It’s not FAIR!”  Seirlait was torn between laughing in her very serious and petulant face, and wanting to issue one of his rare lectures.  The past winter had done much to bring out the rambunctious personality of their little Miqo’te kitten, having gone from a quiet little thing, to soaking up the knowledge they gave her with a rabidness they weren’t expecting.  The sheer amount of questions alone was enough to boggle the mind!  To be fair, neither of them had much experience with children besides those they met on the road, and those always seemed to be curious as well–so it might have been more normal than they thought.

Luckily, as usual, Feo seemed to be taking the lead on this new temper tantrum.  They still weren’t sure exactly how old Karo was, only having a guess that she was perhaps 4 years old when they found her, putting her at around 5 now.  They also figured out that she had very little civilized knowledge, but a great deal about living rough.  Cities, and even small villages fascinated her to no end.  As a result, being told she can’t just go roaming to her heart’s content without one or both of them had her throwing her current fit.

Somewhere far away from the streets of Ul’dah where Karo was having her life lesson on fairness, a similar lesson was playing out.  The small family of three were nomads, living off the land, never entering settlements as they passed.  A small boy–only slightly older than Karo was bickering with his own parents.

“But it’s not FAIR!” tears were streaming down his face as blue ears were flat upon his own head.  His blue and green eyes glared up at his father, who impassively watched his eldest child.  

“Life is not fair, we can but follow where Fate leads us,” such was the phrase the young Miqo’te boy was unsurprised to hear.  It was always about Fate, and the Spinner.  Nymeia was the one who took his sister from him!  His mother had taken him down the road, gathering more supplies for her weaving as his father had been watching over his little sister early in the morning.  When evening came, his father had trudged back into the camp they had made, little Karoiseka nowhere to be found at his side.  

It was over a year now from that point, and the boy still railed against his family’s teachings, where once they were what he lived by.  How could the Spinner be so cruel to take away his only friend?  His only sibling?  His parents had sat him down and explained that it was to save them all–including him–from a monstrous death, but he couldn’t believe the words.  There had to be something more to it all.

She was out there–somewhere.  This he knew in his heart that she couldn’t have perished before someone found her, someone took her in to love like their own.  

[karoiseka]

5) Barbarous

((Have some Endwalker MSQ spoilers in the form of Karo's Da and Pa!))

The sky was red.

It wasn’t much past noon, and the brilliant sunsets should not be starting for hours.  yet, the sky burned a deep angry shade, driving fear into all those in the city.  Noise from across the city evoked a panic not unlike when the Towers had first appeared across the land–only so much worse.  This was the sky after all, not some strange magical–but ultimately made by man structure.  

The neighborhood that Serilait and Feophaux had bunkered down in had stayed relatively quiet–people huddled inside, praying to the Sisters.  Occasionally a strange sound echoed down the street, the merchants giving each other a long look.

“That’s it, I have to do something,” Seir had already gone through their packs and found his bow, stringing it with ease and shouldering the full quiver that had been tucked next to it.  They both had strapped long knives to their belts, preparing for—what?

“I’m coming with you,” Feo had his hand on the door, looking down at his spouse.  “I know I’m not the fighter you are, but I can at least help people to safety.”  Lips pursed, Seir nodded.  He was obviously not happy about the idea, but wasn’t going to say no.

The streets nearest the house were empty–houses closed up tight, and an eerie silence permeated the air.  Seir had an arrow nocked and ready on the string as they headed towards the smoke, a rumbling murmur starting to reach their ears.  He wasn’t much of one to play hero–he left that to his daughter–but he could not stay idle.  She was not in the city, having left near a moon ago to start preparing for a trip to Garlemald of all things.  So, it fell to him and others to try and keep people protected.

The thought of her out there in the cold North made Seir shiver despite the heat.  She had fought much more barbarous foes than that of the Empire–and the Empire’s finest besides.  Karo would be okay.  She had to be.  They had just gotten her back.  They couldn’t lose her.  Not again.  So they would fight for her, and at her side if the time came, to protect the same ideals she did.  Anything to make her burden just a little less.

The noise from the markets got louder.  It didn’t matter.  They would save who they could.

[karoiseka]

27) Memory

((This is the one that got away from me. Oh gods did it get away from me. Actually broke 2k words. lol It is a sequel to Forgotten Home that I wrote years ago as one of my first ever non-prompted writing items for Karo. This goes into a bit more of her feelings and details of m headcannon for her memory and shards. ^_^ Up to Shadowbringers end of 5.0 spoilers.))

The red-tinged Aetheryte crystal came into focus as Karo arrived back in the Crystarium, still a bit dazed.  The past twenty-four bells had been a whirlwind of emotion and shock, having let herself process at least some of what had happened, it was still difficult to come to terms with what she was now remembering.

She had been walking in the Twelveswood when it had come on–a sharp pain, followed by a flood of information that had been sealed away to protect herself.  Protect her from what, she wasn’t sure at the time, but all she knew is she finally–FINALLY–remembered her childhood in a sudden rush that had nearly crippled her senses as she ran.  Luckily for her, Ardbert kept her upright as she ran nearly blind through the forest as her mind attempted to catch up.  She had gotten to the cottage to find it untouched for several years at that point–her Da and Pa having not returned for several seasons.  Inside, a letter addressed to her saying (at the time) they were fine, they missed her, and prayed she would find it.

Their prayers had been answered, though she had not hunted them down.  The idea of having forgotten them for almost more time than she had grown up with them haunted her, and she needed time to process before facing them.  So, that morning she had closed up her childhood home, just the way she had found it, a different letter sitting in the spot she had found hers.  At least if they returned, they would know she had as well, coward that she was, and fled back to the First to find G’raha and Thancred.

Teleporting from the main Aetheryte to the Pendents, she asked the Manager of the suites if he wouldn’t mind sending for the two gentlemen to meet her at her rooms.  With a concerned look, he agreed, already turning to send runners, as she plodded to her door.  Opening it, she left the door unlocked, and went to sit on the edge of her bed, knowing she wanted to talk to her loves, but honestly unsure of how to broach the subject of what had happened.

It didn’t take long before she heard the door open, and two sets of footsteps entered the room.  The door shut again, locking behind them, as they came into view, concern written plain on their faces.  Karo could feel the gentle probing of G’raha’s magic as he searched for physical hurts, and the burst of love and concern before he sat down on one side of her, Thancred kneeling on the floor in front of her, grasping her hands.  They had exchanged a brief gland, Raha shaking his head with a shrug to convey what he had found wordlessly.

“Talk to us, my Star,” he wrapped an arm around her, angled so he could still see her face.

“I–” her face contorted as she attempted to get the words out between her head full of thoughts.  “I–I remember,” the word held weight, heavy as the Light that once shone on this world, and allowed the gates to open.

“I remember my childhood.  Where I came from, everything,” Karo wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry as Thancred and G’raha looked at each other in shock, then back to her, eyes still wide.

“I have two dads,” her voice cracked as she realized that her body had decided on both laughter and tears.  “Seirlait and Feophaux,” tears streamed down her cheeks as the room blurred.  She was able to picture them in her mind, clear as the day she had stormed out of their cottage and ran for Gridiana.

“I’m–well, I’m adopted,” Thancred reached up to wipe tears gently from her face, cupping her cheek, understanding writ plainly in his expression.  “They’re Hyur an Elezan,” her face scrunched, realizing maybe some memories weren’t still there.

“I must have been young enough I don’t remember my birth parents,” the words were uncertain.  “But I remember being found–” her voice faded again as she got lost in that thought, the words making it real.

“You don’t need to push yourself, this has obviously been an enormous shock,” G’raha sounded a bit shocked himself as he attempted to comfort her.  “Do you have an idea of why your memories decided to return now?”  Karo nodded, looking down and rubbing her thumbs against Thancred’s as he still held her hands.

“It was my soul rejoining,” her voice almost whispered, she could feel the love pouring down her bond from Ardbert as phantom arms held her from her other side now as well.  

“The memory loss to begin with was during the Seventh Calamity, the rejoining of souls there hurting–breaking something in me,” she swayed in place, minutely, leaning against her supports gratefully.

“When the Light was tearing me apart, all it was doing was making the cracks in my soul actually bigger–I was already shattered,” G’raha looked away from her, pain crossing his face, knowing that he had brought that outcome into play.  Still, she continued, “but there, at the end.  When everyone had fallen, something else happened.”  She hadn’t actually had the chance to tell this tale yet, it never seemed to be the right moment.

“You had yet to arrive, G’raha, but I fell.  I fell.  The Light was too much.  It–it was tearing me apart, literally,” tears were falling once more as the memory of the pain ghosted back to her limbs, remembering her back pulsating, something about to burst forth.

“Which is when Ardbert came to me,” Thancred sucked in his breath, eyes wide as he rocked back, but didn’t release her hands.  She had not actually told anyone about her ghostly visitor in the Pendents, who followed her around.  Had not told them how she was comforted by his presence even when no one else was around–a kindred soul she could talk to for hours, or even sit in comfortable silence together.  She hadn’t mentioned that she had been able to see him from the beginning–that Minfilia had denied his rest, somehow knowing how much Karo needed him.  

“Ardbert.  As in the Warrior of Darkness that we fought back on the Source.  The one with the axe.  That Ardbert,” Thancred looked poleaxed, remembering his own fight with the man one on one, and the drama that had ensued afterwards.  He remembered the scar that still graced her shoulder, deep and clean–purposefully not healed with magic so she’d keep the reminder.

“The Warrior of Darkness?” G’raha looked confused.  “The one you had fought back on the Source?  The leader of the Warriors of Light of the First?” He was starting to piece together pieces of the tales he had heard from her and all the books he had read–both historical and fantastical both from the Source and First.

“Yes, that Ardbert,” Karo could hear the man himself chuckling in her head, enjoying her squirming and the fact that Thancred had remembered him in particular. Shush you she thought at him before continuing aloud.

“You remember how Emet-Selch told us we were all just fragments of souls, broken little pieces of the originals he remembered and sought to return?” receiving tentative nods from both she plowed on.  “When down in Amaurot, I came across a particular shade, while gaining access to the Capitol building, name Hythlodaeus,”

“Wait, they had names?” Thancred looked horrified, having attempted to question countless of the shades himself, and none had ever given him a name in return.

“Just him,” Karo reassured.  “He said he had been a special friend of Emet-Selch’s, and that during the creation of the city, he might have slipped and made Hythlodaeus more unique accidentally out of fondness,”  She hadn’t told anyone about Hythlodaeus either, afraid to sound even more out of her mind from the Light, and hallucinating down in the depths from the pain.  Which wouldn’t be unheard of, but untrue.  Everything had happened so fast afterwards, that this was another point that hadn’t gotten mentioned yet.

“In any case, he and I talked a bit about the state of the world then and now, and he was very kind to me,” Karo wondered again at what Hythlodaeus meant to person she had once been–the whole soul that he could see the color of brilliant in the dark  His “new-old friend” he had called her, voice full of fondness and mirth.  

“He said that the color of my soul belonged to a very particular individual that he knew–and that I had a shadow next to me of the same soul color,” she smiled wistfully, remembering staring at Ardbert, and he staring back at her down in the depths at that revelation.  They had disappeared above the city to sit and talk after, putting off joining the Scions for several bells as he held her on the cliff, talking like that for the last time.

“Minfilia had not let him join his companions in halting the Flood you see, and he had been left to wander this world as a shade, unable to interact with anything until I came along and he suddenly was more aware again,” she knew that they could tell she was leaving a lot of information out, but it wasn’t currently relevant.

“In anycase, in that moment when all was lost, he came to me.  Solid as could be, and offered up the one thing that he could, his soul to join mine in the fight,”  she closed her eyes, the intimacy of it burning her face.  If you had the strength to take another step, could you do it?  Could you save our worlds? Her selfish quip in response before he offered his axe to her. Take it. We fight as one! The burning of their souls joining as she clung to him one last time, Ardbert speaking through her voice to challenge Emet on behalf of all of them.

“Through that personal rejoining, I had the strength to get up, to fight, and with the summoned companions that you brought me, brought him low enough for you, the Scions, to help deliver the final blow.  The most important part of it is that by accepting him in, it healed my soul–from all its hurts, not just the Light, but from the original cracking during the Calamity.”

“So that’s what you meant by you had help from a hero of this world!”  Thancred had reached up again to cup her face.  “I’m grateful to him.  He was the true hero of the hour, and none of us knew,” Karo could feel Ardbert’s shock reverberate through her, even as she mentally stuck her tongue out at him with an I told you so.  

“Indeed!” G’raha’s vehement affirmation rang through the suite.  “We may have to do some revisions to the tomes in the Cabinet of Curiosity it sounds if the original Warriors of Light here redeemed themselves so,” he leaned his head against hers as his voice dropped in both tone and volume.

“We also owe him a debt of gratitude for bringing you back from the brink,” his voice had cracked a bit, as the three of them sat in a long silence.  She was happy they finally knew just how very close and precarious the situation in Amaurot had been.  It was one thing to try and tell them–the mystery of how she had actually been able to fight Hades, something she knew had been gnawing at her companions–the answer never quite being the right time to tell.

There was still a lot she wasn’t telling–mostly about Ardbert–that she probably wouldn’t mention.  The long talks, the ability to be the only one in one hundred years to be able to see and speak with him.  The only one in one hundred years to be able to touch him and in turn be held by him as well.  While her heart had been confused and conflicted with the two men at her side now, he had been her rock–the one to make her feel safe and cared for as the Light tore her apart.  Something she had kept from both Thancred and G’raha until she couldn’t hide it any longer.

Now though, Ardbert was with her forever more, a warm core in her soul–one that wouldn’t leave her, there to support her when she needed it the most.  And in front of her, two bright souls that she now knew loved her as much as she loved them, protecting and supporting just as she did her best to do the same in return.  Her heart was finally beginning to lighten.  She had them to help her through these new memories and the decisions she needed to make about finding her fathers.  First though, was to let them know more about her, even as she poked at the new-old memories.

“I grew up on the border of the South Shroud and Thanalan…”

[karoiseka]

O twin gods bless this land, to us treasure bestow City of desert sands, water and gold below

Lifeblood and rubies red, precious coins cast aglow Four hands our fortunes mend, that want we may not know

And when we reach our ends, to scales we gladly go Our fates are yours to bend, to hells and heavens flow

Karo danced, as she always did, playing her viola for the twins during their yearly pilgrimage to the alters in Thanalan.  Feophaux and Seirlait’s eyes shown with pride at how their girl had grown, spinning to the chorus around her.

[karoiseka]

6) Ring

((and one more with the Dads, though well before Karo was around at this point! ty Alyx for pushing me into this sappy prompt idea instead of some of the others that bounced around!))

Feophaux was atrocious at keeping a personal secret.  Other’s confidentiality, perfect.  Clients?  No one would ever even suspect a thing.  Seirlait’s deepest confessions–ironclad behind the perfect mask.  His own?  He felt that he screamed suspicion and subterfuge in such a way that whatever he was trying to hide was clear as day.

The rings in his pocket as a result almost burned.  He had had them less than a full day, the goldsmith in Ul’dah having presented his commission to him.  They were only to be in the city for another day–maybe two–before starting the long winding journey back to the Shroud.  The moment had to be perfect though–didn’t it?  All the tales talked about the perfect moment, the sublime feeling, knowing that it was right.  

They didn’t talk about the nerves nearly emptying out one’s stomach or the cold sweat that would break out whenever he thought about presenting the rings to his partner.  Seirlait wasn’t the most refined of men, but his heart was gentle, and his hands were kind.  They made a bit of an odd couple, the bookworm and the hunter, but no one could dispute their success with their little wagon of goods.  They didn’t have the gil that the merchants of the sultanate had, but they had more than enough to cover their expenses with enough left over to be comfortable and happy in their cottage in the woods.

The two bands were situated in his pants pocket, for that perfect moment–creating a bit of a distraction for him.  Feo kept slipping the rings on and off of his fingers, memorizing each engraved ilm.  They were fairly simple, bright silver bands, inlaid with a pale gold design.  The inside had their initials and Nald’thal’s symbol on one side and Menphina’s on the other.  

Being so distracted had its downfalls though, and Feo didn’t hear Seirlait arriving back in their inn room until his voice broke the silence, startling him out of his reverie.  

“Seir! I didn’t hear you come in!” Feo’s hand came out of his pocket in a rush, and with horror, he watched as one of the rings went flying onto the ornate carpet before settling at his love’s feet.  The hunter bent to scoop it up, having watched it’s trajectory, and looked at it with curiosity.  

“Feo–”  his green eyes had gotten wide, even as Feo had gone pale.  This was not how the tales described it going.  This was not–

“Feo,” Somehow Seir was directly in front of him, looking up with a gentle smile–the type he used to calm the chocobos when they were spooked.  He supposed a spooked chocobo was a good description of the way he felt at the moment, panic having set in.  Seir had taken his hands, the ring still pinched between two fingers.

“Is this what I think it is?” his voice had the slightest quiver to it, bringing Feo back to the present.  He opened his mouth to reply, no sound emerging, and instead nodded slowly.

Seir’s smile was like the sun–or at least what Feo could see of it before he was tackled with a bone crushing embrace.  Ah.  There was the part of the tales come to life.  His heart beat steadied as he was able to finally move, wrapping his arms around his love, burning his face into strawberry blonde hair.

“Is that a yes?” his voice raspy.  He pulled back just enough to look into Seir’s face once more, realizing they both had tears in their eyes.

“Of course!” Seir’s voice was equally as thick with emotion, pulling him down into a deep kiss.  Maybe it wasn’t like the tales after all–but he liked this writing of his own.

[karoiseka]

Vicissitude

((I really wasn’t sure what to do with this one, so have some just words with Seirlait reflecting on a large life-changing thing that happened to him.))

Seirlait sat, staring at the door.  How could this be what had happened?  Their little girl, not so little now, had stormed out the door, tears streaming down her face with naught but a small pack upon her back and her bow, unable–unwilling–to stay a moment longer.  Something horrific had happened here with Dalamud fell, unknown to Seir or Feo until they had returned from their long time away from home.  The letters they had written sat unopened by the fireplace, dust collecting as if they were meant for another’s hand.

Feo came up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder without a word.  They had just spent a little over five long years away from home–having been on the road when Dalamud fell.  The world had changed–paths home had been decimated, shards of the red moon spotted the land, gigantic clusters of corrupted crystal surrounding them in terrible beauty.  They had spent the time before running supplies, attempting to keep some normalcy, and after–well, after they did what they could.  People needed healing, and transport back to the city-states.  Even more needed to find missing loved ones, and all of them sat dumbfounded by their missing memories of the adventurers who had held the line and helped save them all.

The bridge in Thanalan nearest to where one of the largest shards had split the land had finally been completed.  Aptly named Highbridge, it was a work of art and wonder, finally paving the path from Thanalan to the Shard easily once more, instead of the perilous path through the mountains and skirting entirely too close to Coerthas and the war with the Dragons there.  Once they knew it was done, they rushed towards home, finally willing to put down their burden and reunite with their daughter–of whom worryingly hadn’t returned any of their letters.

The stranger that had looked at them in horror as they had entered their own home, had confounded them.  They had explained till horse, begged her to remember.  Her large blue eyes had been full of fear, confused about everything they had said, denying knowing aught of what they described–and spooked when they had pointed out things around the cottage, things that were theirs as a family that they couldn’t have known about otherwise.  It was causing her pain.  They could tell, but they were in a different type of pain.  This was the home they had nurtured together, taught her letters and the joy of reading.  The yard outside where she learned to pull a bow, learned the names of the plants and animals of the forest, and how to make sure not to encroach on the Elementals territory.  She seemed to still have those base understandings, yet all personal memories, all human connections, were gone as the seasons passed.

Seir sat, still watching the door, hoping the past few days were just a horrible joke gone wrong, but in his broken heart, knew it wasn’t the case.  Their joy, their light, was gone, and the small cottage felt cold and empty.  It would take moons before they could move forward, even a little, but when they did, they watched the rising star of Eorzea from the shadows, vowing to help her in any way they could–and to attempt to not bring her more sorrow.

[karoiseka]

Confluence

((another finished at work with no screenshots, so here’s a little pre-Karo Seirlait and Feophaux!))

The woods were quiet as Feophaux picked his way through the undergrowth.  There was a small path, to be fair, but obvious disuse had faded it away to almost naught but a game trail.  For not the first time that day he wondered what had brought him out here to the wild border between Gridiana and Thanalan–just outside of where the elementals ruled completely, yet not quite out of the forest and into the searing heat of the South.  Bright green eyes almost hidden by light brown hair flashed in his mind–sweet talk over wine–

Right.  The hyur that had swept him off his feet, connecting with him like no other had in years.  He had know Seirlait for moons at this point.  His hunting skills bringing in game to sell at the market that Feo had been trying to set up shop in.  He had even purchased some of the meat directly from the hunter, impressed with the quality and more than a little curious about him..  Seir had needed something penned by Feo over the winter, and the friendship had blossomed into something much deeper quite quickly.

Digging into his pockets, Feo pulled the scrap of paper out Seir had drawn a crude map on.  Despite the sloppy handwriting, the notations for the forest had been spot on so far.  It shouldn’t be too much further to the meeting point, just past the confluence of the two streams–one of which he had already crossed over twice on the winding trail.  The sound of rushing water soon reached his ears as he stepped around the next bend, a small waterfall feeding the smaller of the two bodies of water into the other in what looked like a deep pool.  

Walking down the slope, the duskwight could see well worn rocks for seating, and on the far side a space cleared for a small fire.  It was obviously a popular spot for local hunters.  A stone bridge spanned the joined streams, and he followed the directions over it and further before finally breaking into a small clearing. 

There, late morning light pouring into the gaps in the trees, lay a small cottage.  A shed for chocobos was near, and space for a garden bracketed off, but overgrown with weeds.  Seirlait was perched on the roof, a hammer in hand and stripped to the waist nailing down an errant shingle on the run down building.  Feo could feel his heart hammering in his chest, breath catching at the sight.

This had to be what he wanted to show him.  A refuge in the forest, somewhere they could be themselves and build together.  There was space to grow, and plenty of work to get it comfortable in all weather.  It was perfect.

Taking another step forward, he snapped a branch under foot causing Seir to spin and finally notice him in the shadows of the trees.  As their eyes connected, they shared a smile, the promise of tomorrow held  in their gaze.

[karoiseka]

Bow

((Okay.  C’mon.  This is me with Karo here.  You KNOW which way I was gonna pronounce/interpret this word...  Anyways, I was gonna do this just simple thing where I had Karo as my main “narrator” going through things... and then... well.  Seirlait said no.  He said his turn.  So.  Some more Karo backstory, and Dads backstory too.))

Seirlait looked at the tiny bow in his hands and again wondered why he had traded for it in the last town they were in.  Feo had been teaching Karo reading and numbers, not to mention introducing her to the tales that he so loved in book format.  Her thirst for knowledge was strong and he wanted to encourage that as much as possible, but she had also been asking about hunting with him.  He had put it off, waiting until he was positive that it was something she wanted to learn, but she had been sneaking out to watch him practice, or just using the excuse to sit outside the wagon as he set up his targets.  His bow was almost as tall as she was, but, despite that Seir had caught her holding it on more than one occasion, tugging gently on the bowstring, eyes wide at how taut it was.

He had found a seller with a Lalafell sized bow--not too hard on the pull--and bought it, hiding it in his pack.  She wasn’t much taller than most grown people of that race, and he didn’t want to get her something too soft.  If she couldn’t pull it, she’d do chores to grow into it.  He had gotten a collection of arrows to fit it as well, and laid it in her chair for when she awoke in the morning.  She might not realize, but it had been a year since he found her in the clearing, alone and forgotten.  All their lives had changed so much in so little time, and she had blossomed in their care, growing towards the bright sunny future.

Many years later, the small kitten had grown into a lithe teen, the blue in her hair more pronounced, and tan facial markings darkening with time.  Karo had taken to the bow as if she had been born with one in her hand, an equal to his hunting skills after her years of training.  Together they took on small bounties and hunted for those that couldn’t for coin, helping to augment their trading and adding pelts and meat to sell.  She had long graduated her starter bow, and now carried a short bow well suited for the forests the mainly hunted in.  Despite being a natural, if they were out together, she still looked to him for guidance though and approval, finding his eyes after every shot to make sure she had done well.  He thanked the Twelve that she hadn’t lost her thirst for knowledge either, days filled with hunting and evenings filled with learning.

It all hadn’t been smooth sailing, several winters were very lean having to be creative with their stores and food, and there had been one that they had to forego staying in the cabin altogether, staying on the road going far south into Thanalan hoping for the warmer weather to stave off the ill fortune of that year.  There were the normal storms, rocky patches, and growing pains as well, though they all came together in the end.  And she continued to grow.

The short wooden bow was gripped with white-knuckles as tears streamed down three broken faces.  They had arrived back after five long years away--traveling all over, giving succor where able and learning the new pathways and ways of the world after disaster had struck and torn all asunder.  The last thing Seirlait and Feophaux expected to be confronted with when they joyously made their way back to their home was the stranger in their daughter’s body.  Blue eyes held no recognition, wondering who they were as they invaded her haven from the outer world.  They had tried to reconcile, tried to make her remember, each moment, each sun bringing more pain.  A small pack was slung over her shoulder, bow in hand as she fled--no memories to help her on her path, no desire to remain a moment more.  The men clung to each other, distraught, but knowing nothing else to do but let her go--their precious daughter they could no longer protect.

The silver trimmed with deep blue gems called to Seir as his hand hovered over beautiful trimming on the sting bow.  They had come, traveling further than ever with the rumors of the Warrior of Light being in the area, but were about to flee again with actually looking for her--again.  The fear of the unseeing, unrecognizing eyes glancing over them was almost more painful than not seeing her at all. They had found that plenty of the people in the rebuilt outpost knew and loved their daughter--which did not surprise them.  Seir looked over at Feo, and dug out most of their funds, paying off the balance of the beautiful bow that could help keep her safe.  Next time she was there, the bow would be her's, and they could sleep just a little better.  

They were able to pull the trick off of funding her a better weapon one more time, just before the battle at Ghimlyt Dark.  The exotic bow that she had started paying on was fashioned with a dragon in the Doma style, and they knew she had spent plenty of time there the past couple of years freeing the people there.  It was hard to picture their little girl pulling such an obvious weapon of war instead of a hunting bow made for practicality.  It mattered naught if it kept her safe.  They could hear commotion at the tunnel leading to the lands toward Ala Mhigo, and they fled back to the Shroud as fast as their Chocobos were willing to go--once more fearful of eyes that would see right through them.  They would linger though, helping these desperate people rebuild as best they could.  They had already brought a wagon full of travelers--refugees--from Little Ala Mhigo in the south of Thanalan back to their homeland.  It didn’t pay much--but that’s not why they did it.  

To be able to help her, in the slightest way, to help those that she helped as well and hear the first hand tales of those that she had sat and talked with, made a difference to.  It was all they could have for now, and would take with both hands as best they could until she came back to them.  A letter sat, forlorn and full of hope, ready to be found it time brought her back home when they weren’t there--a reminder of their love of her that never waned.

[karoiseka]

Feckless

((yes, again, posted on time, but... screenshots.  Then I got REALLY carried away last night because... omg, I finally created Karo’s Da an Pa, and... then passed out promptly.  Pre-Cal backstory goodness!  [of which I really wanted to write more of, and will prob later, but... writing gremlins are starting to wear out...] Also, much thanks to @kukurubean​ for helping me with some mild lore-points/flavor which kept me from making a decent lore mistake while at work and not really a whole lot of access to looking things up!))

“Go on! Get! You feckless stray!” the words stung, thrown as if stones to Karo’s young ears as she ran from the market booth, ears pinned to the back of her head and tears pricking the sides of her eyes.  She hadn’t even had a chance to show the gill clutched tightly in her small hand before being chased away from the stall.  Her small frame shook as she darted through the sparse crowd searching for her Da’s sturdy presence.  It was her first visit to the Drybone with her Da and Pa, and they had given her free reign to explore while they bought supplies and bartered their own goods.  She had protected the gil Da gave her, not even putting it in the pouch at her side, preferring to hold onto it as she wandered wide-eyed through the riot of color and sound.

The smells from the food booths made her mouth water, but she had wanted to spend what gil she had on a gift for her new parents.  As young as she was, she had learned much in the time she had already spent with them, knowing that everything they had needed to be useful for life on the road.  The booth tucked away behind the well that had drawn her eye was filled with cups and mugs etched with varying symbols.  The merchant also had leather mug frogs meant to carry the cups when not in use.  Karo hadn't even had a chance to ask how much they were before being chased off.

She found her Pa first, a good hand taller than most in the little oasis, he saw her coming and scooped her up, holding her close.

"Sweetling,what has you all worked up?" Feophaux's voice was just for her, even as his eyes scanned the aetheryte plaza for what had harmed his little girl.  She only buried her face deeper into his neck, clinging tightly, her words gone once more.  Not seeing anything obvious, he turned his attention back to the Miqo'te kitten in his arms, and with a sigh headed back up the path to where they had left the wagon that was their traveling home. Seirlait would find them there bells later, Karo curled up asleep with her head in the duskwight's lap, a lullaby still on his lips as he played for her. Carefully extracting her, he got up slowly making sure not to wake her and went to his partner with a slight shrug about the situation and an embrace before settling in for the evening.

[karoiseka]

FFXIVWrite2021 Master List

Welp, I got another year fully done, all 31 entries.

Yes, I’m proud that I did, despite feeling like from the first week I was running a loosing battle in time and... talent.  I’m glad I got these out, glad I got things written, and new things figured out.  I do really like several of these, so I’m not all down on myself about it.  I was basically out of spoons as I finished the month, and probably should have just let it be, but I was being stubborn.  I do hope that those that read, enjoyed.  Thank you again to @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast for hosting such an amazing list once more!!  I do look forward to this!!  

Already posted to AO3 HERE! 

Soul Memories:

1) Foster:  Pre-Calamity, Karo meets Seirlait and Feophaux

2) Aberrant: 5.3 Spoilers for Kar’azem Story

3) Scale: Late base ARR, Karo has some insecurities.

4) Baleful: 5.55 Technically with a small reference, Karo and Tataru silliness

5) Free Day 1: 5.0 Spoilers, Rak’tika-ish timeframe.

6) Avatar:  5.3 Spoilers for Kar’azem, MSQ is second major solo duty in SB

7) Speculate: 2.5-ish Spoilers.  A now-deleted MSQ mini-questline! Karo/Tataru

8) Adroit: 5.3 Spoilers.  Karo/G’raha shippy lemony goodness

9) Friable: 5.0-5.1 Spoilers.  Karo/G’raha shippy softness

10) Heady: Late HW Spoilers, Karo/Thancred firsts and softness

11) Preaching to the Choir:  5.0 generic spoilers.  Karo and Ardbert

12) Free Day 2: 5.0 generic spoilers, Karo and Ardbert

13) Oneirophrenia: Karo at the Calamity

14) Commend: 5.3 Spoilers for Kar’a, Hythlodaeus and Hades

15) Thunderous: 5.0 Spoiler (generic) for Thancred x Karo Song lyrics!

16) Crane: 2.1-ish, Karo with Urianger, teasing about backstory

17) Destruct: No real time frame, poor Karo in the kitchen.

18) Devil’s Advocate: 5.0 Spoilers, Karo and Ardbert in Amaurot

19) Free Day 3: 4.0 Spoilers, Karo and Hien bonding (special guest Lyse)

20) Petrichor: 5.3 Spoilers for more than just Kar’a and Convocation talk

21) Feckless: Pre-Cal Karo family!

22) Fluster: Late HW, Tataru teasing Karo after #10 Heady!

23) Soul:  5.3 Spoilers, Karo and her crystal(s)

24) Illustrious:  5.3 Spoilers for Kar’a, Final Days

25) Silver Lining:  5.3 Technically mild spoilers, Karo unwraps and old gift

26) Free Day 4:  5.1 Spoilers, Karo reflecting on Gaius

27) Benthos:  4.0, Karo freaking out Hien and Lyse to the rescue

28) Bow: 4.0 Spoilers, Seirlait still finds a way to take care of his girl

29) Debonair: 3.2-3ish Spoilers, Karo gets surprised

30) Abstracted: 5.55 Spoilers, Karo and the Scions at home

31) Free Day 5: Late ARR, attempted poetry once more

Stats and some more commentary under the cut!

I actually somehow wrote almost 600 more words this year than last, though I swore I only wrote half as much.  I think my favorites were Heady, Oneirophrenia, Avatar, Illustrious, and Silver Lining all for different reasons.  I had quite the little sappy set up there in the beginning of the second week, and kinda went a bit more angsty for the rest.  I did... notice this and attempted some happier stuff near the end.  I wrote most of this at work, or super late at night, and probably pushed myself a bit more than I should have.

The shortest was the last one, the poetry of course at only 57 Words.

Longest was Heady at 1630

I really liked talking about Karo’s dads, and I do have... reunion setting and ideas in my head, but I kinda need Endwalker to come out so I have the proper lore setting without messing anything up (or time) because I do like to stick mainly to the big plot points/timeframes even if I take some liberties.

I also wanna give a little mini-shout out to the Writer’s Lounge of @onyrica​’s Discord, and three of the best cheerleaders I could have asked for: @autumnslance​ , @elveny​, and @sami-at-ciela​ .  I think some of the comments you left me there are honestly what kept me going this month, and I truly appreciate it with all my heart.   THANK YOU.

[karoiseka]

Break a Leg

((Couldn’t think of something theatrical with Karo, so literal it was!  Pre-Cal silliness))

“Karoiseka O’dayla, get down from there!”  Feophaux’s voice was tinged with alarm and concern, noticing his daughter a couple dozen fulms up in one of the trees surrounding the cottage.  He knew that she loved to climb–that had been apparent from the second time they had visited her–but this was a bit higher than she normally had gone.  At least in his presence.

“You’re going to break a leg if you attempt to jump down from there!”  A flash of white teeth in a confident smile was all that was returned to him, as she skirted along the wide boughs of the tree.  She had a pack slung over a shoulder, and with an exasperated sigh, he realized she was hanging a new archery target among the leaves.  Still, it wouldn’t do for her to fall, so he watched her impatiently as she finished her task.

Heart stopping in his chest, she didn’t stop the acrobatics as she skillfully  dropped from branch to branch, sometimes jumping lightly, sometimes swinging from another fork above.  She even had the gall to use the cottage roof as a bridge to reach another tree with branches closer to the ground, safely dropping the last few fulms with a practiced roll and a happy wiggling of her ears.

How could he be mad at her?  Feophaux attempted to keep the stern expression on his face despite being impressed at the abilities.  When had she been practicing all of that?  Was it a natural ability?  He mainly saw her when she was being studious, Seirlait being the one mostly outdoors with her–but his partner hadn’t mentioned anything about this.  Sighing, he dropped a hand to her head, musing her hair and picking a leaf out from behind her ear.

“Please at least don’t do that unless we’re here to make sure you’re safe,”  it was his compromise as she grinned back up to him, nodding a silent agreement.  He had a suspicion his little troublemaker would hold to it for a while, and that’s all he asked for now.

[karoiseka]

Foster

((Day one!  OMG!!  And here I thought I’d do something small and be done.... 1365 words later.... >.>  Anyways, have some earlyearly Karo, very pre-calamity!))

The Miqo’te kitten’s feet made almost no marks in the grass of the clearing near the border of Thanalan and Gridania.  She had been humming to herself, making up tunes to match unspoken thoughts flitting through her small frame, occasionally dancing to the music of her own creation--or maybe that of the world around her.  Seirlait had stumbled across her bells earlier and had been watching from the shadowy tree branches as there were no guardians seeming to be present.  The girl’s black hair was blue-tinted in the light, and he could see that her eyes were a deep blue to match the few times she had wandered close enough to his perch.  She had naught but a small satchel with her, of which she had pulled an apple out of earlier to munch on, sharing with the small rabbit that had kept her company for a quarter bell.  The sun was starting to set though, and he knew that Feophaux was going to have his head if he stayed out much past sunset.  He couldn’t leave her alone though, not in the woods that he knew would swallow her whole if given the chance.

Climbing downs slowly and out of view, he took a deep breath before breaking into the clearing, not trying to hide his footfall.  The singing stopped as black ears swiveled at his sound and she turned her gaze toward him inquisitively.  What startled him most was the lack of fear in her young features, just pure curiosity.  Walking slowly towards her, he stopped several fulms away and crouched down so he was closer to her height. 

“Hello there,” Seirlait did his best to keep his voice calm and reassuring--speaking slowly and not taking his eyes off the young girl.  “I’m a hunter and tradesman from the nearby town and noticed you all alone here.  Are your guardians nearby?”  Her eyes got even wider if that was possible, and the magic was broken.  A torrent of tears sprang from those deep blue wells as a response seemed beyond anything more than that did not seem likely.  Holding out his arms in sympathy and compassion, she threw herself at the offered comfort as he stood, carrying her back to the wagon.

Over a moon had passed since they had dropped the Miqo’te kit off at the small hamlet near where they found her.  Seirlait and Feophaux had lingered in the area longer than normal, circling out from the clearing where they found her, looking for anyone searching for their own child, but found naught in the wilderness save what they saw most days.  She hadn’t spoken a word to either one of them after they had bundled her up and saw her to safety, but when they pulled up to the homestead where they had left her, Seirlait’s heart jumped with joy (and not a little terror) to see the ball of energy that hurled itself at him from the rooftop, trusting in him to catch her.  The breath knocked out of him, he hugged her close, petting the soft black hair and huffing out a laugh.

“Well, I guess that answers that.  You do remember us, eh?” the girl pulled back just enough to look him in the eye and nod enthusiastically, before wiggling free to greet his partner in the same manner.  The elder couple that had taken her in came out to chat before breaking the news.  She was just too rambunctious for the two of them.  A calmer child they could raise, but Karoiseka Vandor (as she had named herself to them), was a whirlwind of energy that needed more to keep her occupied than they could handle.  They had already reached out to the next family over, and wouldn’t the two tradesmen please to take her that way.  Snagging her now slightly larger pack, they headed out, staying the night in the woods, just the three of them in the travel waggon telling her tales by the fire.  The next morning came too soon as she protested the handoff, but with the promise of a visit soon, watched the wagon rumble off back south towards Thanalan.

Thrice more in the coming moons over the course of half a year did they transport the poor Miqo’te kit from one home to the next, none able to contain the energy, the curiosity, or the penchant for heights.  She slowly found her voice, talking a little bit more each time they saw her, but remarkably quiet for one so young.  Each trip was a bright point of joy, and each goodbye got a little bit harder for all of them.

They were finally headed back to their own little cabin, fall had taken over the woods, and winter's chill bite was making the nights a bit more unpleasant.  As promised though, they were headed to Karo’s latest home to visit at least for the day.  The screech of joy breaking the silence of the woods was the only warning Feophaux received before having to settle the startled chocobos pulling the wagon as Karo landed on the roof behind him and scampered down to cuddle between the hyur and duskwright on the wide bench seat.  They shared a nod, each putting a comforting hand on the child’s shoulder, fingers twinning.  Pulling up to the cottage, they noticed the sigh of relief at the sight of Karo safe between them--calm for once.

The normal song and dance continued for the fourth time, yet this time a surprise came upon them.  The people of the hamlet had noticed how much Karo looked forward to the wanders coming through, and despite being on the road most of the year, found that the two men would be the most suitable guardians of the child--if they felt up to the challenge.  Not ones to jump into anything too rashly, they agreed to take her home to test things out.  Two full packs were thrown in among their own as they left the following morning, three headed to the cabin nestled safely in the deep woods.

The clearing was as they left it--albeit a tad overgrown with weeds in the flower beds, and the stray branches that had fallen throughout the summer since their last stop.  Seirlait stabled the chocobos as Feophaux inspected, then opened the house--letting fresh air in and starting the mechanical water pumps and letting light start to shine.  The dusting could come later, as tradition a cleaning week happened the first few days of settling back in.

Karo had curled up on the stairs to the loft watching, her eyes wide at the cozy cabin and the routine dance the two occupants wove around the small space bringing bags in, smiling, teasing, and leaving gentle touches before moving to do the next step.  They dragged in a mattress from the wagon, shooing the kitten off the steps temporarily to set it up in the loft, armfuls of blankets following.  With all the excitement, they weren’t sure if she would settle down quickly, but it seemed that the adrenaline had faded, and she curled up in her new nest without a peep, falling deeply asleep within minutes.

The days that followed were a mix of old routines for the men, and learning how to integrate the new addition into it.  They needn’t have worried, for she moved into their lives as if she belonged, always lending a helping hand, or begging for another story from the road.  After she was tucked in for the night, Seir and Feo would talk for long bells about the future and what lay for all three of them.  In the end, they knew where their hearts already lay and by the end of the week, Seir saddled up one of the chocobos to  drop off the letter they had written and signed to be shared throughout the community.  For they had set the question before her the evening prior--would she be happy to stay with them, to take on the O’dayla name and be their daughter in all but blood.

A more enthusiastic yes could not have been made, as a new family was founded.

[karoiseka]

Forgotten Home

Spoilers for End of 5.0-takes place 5.1-2 ish. ((This is finally digging into a bit more of Karo’s backstory.  I really took my time with this one, and am very proud of it.  Hope you enjoy!))

The Twelveswood felt different. That was the only way Karoiseka could describe it.  The First was saved, and she was back on the Source again, giving an update to the Scions still here, but had felt a pull to the woods just to the South of Camp Tranquil.  The forest giants of years past had given way to a younger growth bordering Thanalan, the warm air from the desert colliding with the cool shade under the trees.  She could feel Ardbert's curiosity at what they were doing there, paired with her own.  The paths she had walked most of her life held an extra forgotten meaning that was clawing its way back into her memories. This wasn't just a hunting trail, like so many others, there--beneath the tall oak--she could remember her first hunting kill with her new larger bow, a gift from-- 

There was almost a physical pain as the forgotten memory surfaced, almost an Echo manifestation, and she could see a snapshot of the moment, Seirlait--her Da--proudly standing nearby.  Her heart ached as she saw his face in her mind as clear as it had been that day. As clear as it had been when she had waved good-bye to them-both her fathers- a smile on her face as they headed out to help with the preparations for the clash at Carteneau as she stayed to look after the cabin.  How? How had she forgotten them? Da and Pa both, the memories assailing her senses as feet tore along the trail heading to a destination her mind had not reconciled yet. 

There- that tree had been so good for climbing.

The little stream that held such wonders to the small child she once was. 

That clearing holding the best herbs for the evening stew to be cooked over the fire.

Tiny fingers weaving a flower crown, placing it triumphantly on Feophaux's (Pa’s) head.

The boughs of a willow creating a curtain to play hide and seek in--learning more skills from both her fathers. 

The perfect reading nook nestled high in the treetops with just enough light.

Eyes unseeing of the present, Karo lived in the flashbacks of her past as every step closer to- closer to home.  The word burned in her mind as a beacon, blinding her to all else. Was this what she had been seeking all these years? Wasn't that the Rising Stones?  Hadn’t she found her other home in the Crystal Tower on the First?  She vaguely remembered in her unforgotten recollections the Highlander and Duskwight, eyes full of grief as they watched her escape the cabin that she had lived in after the Calamity--and before she now knew again.  The pain in their voices as they pleaded with her to remember them, and the anguish when she told them to stop calling her their daughter.  She left shortly after, headed to Gridania to find her own way, adrift with scant more than the short bow she had been teaching-reteaching-herself to use, and a small pack. 

The Calamity.  It had to have been the catalyst of the memory loss, for she could see clearly now that nothing but muscle memory and a vague sense of what felt right were all that had remained from before that fateful day.  Now she wondered what had changed again, even as the sheepish feeling from Ardbert guided her to an answer.  The shock of living through the initial seventh rejoining of souls must have triggered the amnesia in the first place, her mind blocking the trauma of the moment.  The acceptance and welcoming of Ardbert's soul to her own had healed all those splintered parts, even those that were unknown to her to begin with.  It had taken time to come back to her, and a slightly longer stay on the Source than she had taken in a long while, but now that the trickle had started, the dam was broken--her mind filled with all that she had forgotten.  Ardbert ensured that they didn't stumble through the frantic rush she made down the trail--not caring about the tracks she was leaving in her wake. 

Malms later, her feet stopped and past and present collided as her eyes saw again. The small cabin was sealed tight against the elements, and the overgrowth in the garden and clearing spoke of no one having tended to them for at least two years. The Bard fell to her knees, a low keening sound filling the air--she vaguely recognized it as her own voice, grief overwhelming her.  The run, much less the mental exertion, had taken a huge chuck of energy from her, and Karo wept, broken at the sight of her childhood home--empty.

As the sun crawled across the sky, Karo slowly took in the details of the clearing.  Not much had changed in the years since she had left.  The garden was overgrown, but the perennial plants fought for their place among the weeds.  The archery targets were still affixed to the surrounding trees, all at different heights, some now hidden from the growth.  Bluebells covered the small meadow, and she remembered stubbornly throwing the seeds all over instead of planting them in neat rows in the flowerbeds because they were her favorite and she couldn't see the flowerbeds from her bedroom window.  Looking carefully, finally pacing forward on shaking legs, Karo noticed that the cabin was carefully secured--just as it had been every time they had left for their summer journey.  The only thing that concerned her was that it looked as if they hadn't been back in at least one winter--maybe even two or three--not even passing through during the warmer months. 

Digging into her newfound memories, she spun and headed to the tree that was surrounded by the most bluebells.  The archery target there was still attached to one of the lower branches, but the Bard still had to climb a bit to reach it.  Fiddling with the back of it, the small compartment made itself known, and the prize ended up in her nimble fingers.  The front door key.  Jumping down, she forced herself to walk fully around the house, checking for any breaches that could mean that the house wasn’t secure, or that someone or something, was residing within.  Not finding even so much as something that would let a draft in, she braced herself and headed to the door.

The key slid into the lock, and only needed a slight bit of jiggling to get it to turn, the door itself stiff from disuse and the hinges creaking with the rust buildup.  Karo was hit with the sweet smell of dried lavender, vanilla, and sweet cedar; all the smells she remembered that hearkened to what home meant.  The curtains being drawn left the main room in shadows, the light from the doorway streaming into the air laden with the dust she had kicked up by entering.  The cabin was one main room split with partitions into areas for cooking, dining, and leisure.  There was a bedroom for her fathers off to one side, and a small bathing chamber on the other.  The tiny loft above the bath area had been hers to claim, curtains creating a small wall for her privacy.

Leaving the door open for the light, and to air the place out a bit, Karo started to open the curtains to let in more natural light before she looked around for any clues to where Seirlait and Feophaux had disappeared to.  Absentmindedly, she headed to the kitchen sink, and ran the tap for a few moments, letting the components loosen up and water to come back through the pipes since it had obviously been a while.  Grabbing a rag, she wet it with the first bit of water that came through, and wiped down the counters, removing the thin layer of dust that had gathered.  A quick peek at the pantry showed that beyond some items that kept for seasons, naught had been left.  That was normal enough, so she continued on to the all-purpose room.  The large fireplace on one end was one of two in the house that provided most of the heat in the winter, as well as some basic charms.  The wall was lined with books of all types, and one of the racks of shelves was full of supplies for writing, and hooks for instruments that had obviously gone wherever their owners were.  

Karo’s attention was pulled to her left, for there, lying on the table near the fireplace, was a folded piece of paper, her full name carefully written across it.  Hands shaking, she picked it up carefully, blowing dust off of it as she broke the seal on the back and started to read.

Dearest Karoiseka,

If you’re reading this, it means, we hope, that you have found your way back home and that beyond our wildest dreams that you have finally remembered all that occurred prior to Carteneau.  

After you left, we continued on best we could, despite missing you dearly.  We know that we had spent a long time at Carteneau helping to clean up and transport people all over Eorzea, but we had not anticipated you not remembering us at all or anything from your childhood.

Some time after you left, at least a year, we started hearing your name out of Gridania--how you were a bit of a local legend as an adventurer.  You had cleared out several dens of evil, and were becoming beloved by all that crossed your path.  Incredulous, we followed any scrap of information we could get, hearing about the Scion, Primals, and Garlean forces and your role in taking them down only made us fear for your safety.

Then came the accusations from Ul’dah.  None of which could be true.  Word of you dropped off except for hushed whispers, before rushing back in a whirlwind of fantastical stories of you bringing the Dragonsong War to an end in Ishgard.  We even made the trek to Mor Dhona hoping to catch a glimpse of you, but left before we did--partially because we feared you still wouldn’t recognize us.  We heard that you were part of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn there, and even talked with an Ironworks engineer who said he had worked with you before.  Knowing you were safe among friends eased our hearts for a bit as we headed home.

Another year passed and the uprisings in Ala Mhigo are now all that the city-states are talking about.  The Scions are said to be helping with the organization and negotiations , so we have decided to pack up for this year and help.  I know not if we shall cross paths while there, or if you will ever see this, but we must do what we can to help.  Not only for those that live there, but for you as well.  Knowing that we can hopefully take even a little of the burden off of your shoulders is all that we can hope to do.

We love you, and miss you, and pray that you stay safe and healthy through it all. 

~Da an Pa

A hot tear splashed onto the paper in her hands as Karo put together the timeframe that they had been gone.  They hadn't yet returned from the liberation of Ala Mhigo--and they had left near the beginning of the conflict, well over two years ago.  Considering they had taken almost five years to return from Carteneau, she shouldn't be much surprised.  They were probably helping courier refugees back home, and the wounded to the respective city-states.  She paced the length of the room, worrying for their safety throughout the conflict as well.  It had been extremely wide-spread with the Garlemald forces targeting anything and anybody they even thought were helping the Resistance.  She had seen it time and time again from the small villages and hamlets throughout the region in the aftermath as she tried to ease her own guilt from not being there for them and tried to help with the smallest of tasks from anyone who asked.  She knew logically she could only be in one place at a time, and that the forces she had been helping were the same.  If they hadn’t done what they had, there was a chance the country would still be occupied even now..

Had she seen them though? Walked right by with unseeing eyes?  Had they greeted her, only to get her strained public smile in return and a generic platitude--all that she could muster?  Had she passed by their graves not knowing who lay there?  She had talked to so many people all over the broken country, her mind raced, but all the faces were a blur.  She had spent plenty of time in Doma as well, not counting for all the travel back and forth, during that time-paths may have crossed, or may have been missed without even the chance of happening.  

Karo wasn’t sure how many times she re-read the pages, and wasn’t fully aware that she had curled up in the large armchair until the evening light hit her eyes streaming in from the still open door. Blinking blearily, she stood and lit a couple of the candles to provide some light in the growing dark.  The house had electricity, however, she didn’t feel like finding and turning on the generator quite yet.  She closed the door, and got a glass of water from the tap, scrounging for some trail rations that were still in her pack from earlier.  The Bard didn’t remember relinquishing her bow and pack at the door, but old habits die hard, and they were neatly hung by the door on the pegs meant for that very purpose.

Tucking the letter safely in her bag she cleaned up the small mess she had made and went to the washroom to clean her face of the salt-crusted tears that had dried there.  Not a thing had changed, towels and soap stored neatly away in the same places they always had been.   The vase on the sink, usually filled with wildflowers picked during the day, was empty for the time--and she longed to fill it and keep the room cheery, but knew not how long she would be there herself.  Responsibilities still loomed both here and on the First, her comrades bodies still laying still in the Dawn’s Respite.

As she climbed up to her loft, not much had changed since she had last been up here.  When her memories had first escaped her, she had stayed down in the main bedroom, not realizing that it wasn’t her’s.  The loft she had never quite gone up the ladder-like stairs, and so it remained very similar to when she last called it her own. The bed was made, but with an additional sheet covering it all to keep the dust off, ready to be used at a moment’s notice.  The hope that lived in her parent’s hearts nearly broke her own, as she caved to exhaustion finally, Ardbert’s comforting presence allowing her to drift off to sleep when she thought it was the furthest thing from her mind.  

On the morrow, Karo would write her reply and leave it where she had found her own letter, secure the cabin once more and return the key to it's hiding place.  She wouldn't forget again now that her soul was healed, yet her obligations would keep her busy, she knew.  When she had time, she would ask her various contacts, hoping beyond hope that someone has news, and if they didn't, that her note would be read, and that they would return once more to the Rising Stones, asking for her proudly by name.