The two days passed by easily and rather quickly, with little to no hassle along the way. But eventually they arrived at their destination, the boarder of Cre' Est. They had set up camp that night, ate dinner, talked around the fire again, and all went to bed at some point. When the morning arose, the sun light of the tents, warming them up and casting it ever bright orange glow everywhere. By this time though, Aetrius was already out of her tent and nowhere to be seen, Kieran slowly awoke from her slumber and looked around, and sensing something was off. She looked to a small hill in the distance, surrounded by trees and saw a figure in the distance, she decided to investigate and slowly made her way there. Eventually she closed in the distance, and saw a red haired woman sitting down, back facing Kieran. Kieran chuckled and walked up, and sat down next to Aetrius, who sat with her knees held to her chest and her chin resting on her knees. They both remained silent as they looked out in the distance, until one of them spoke up softly, "Can I ask you a question...?" her voice came out softly, as if it was almost a whisper.
Aetrius nodded silently, barely moving her head, but Kieran understood her all too well and understood her message. "Why..Why did you come and look for me in Veilbrand? I know it's been a few days now, but since we left you never told me anything...You've remained rather distant...Am I that different to you know? Do you look at me differently because of what I was forced into? I'd understand if you did, but even then..." her voice died down some, as Kieran looked down and couldn't help as tears slowly trickled down her face. Aetrius continued to remained silent for a few moments, not out of anger or resentment, or even disappointment, it was because she was trying to find the words to say, not even the right words, but words to say in general. She sat there for a few more moments in silence, Kieran nodded and slowly began to stand up, taking the silence as a way of telling her to leave Aetrius alone. But as Kieran turned to leave, a soft voice spoke up behind her.
"I'm not mad at you, Kie...I never have been. You're my sister, and my best friend. You're the only family and friend that I have left from my old life. You've always been the one person I could count on to survive. You were always by my side. For years we had each others back. Always looking out for each other, even when I was an outcast among our clan, you always had my back...Even when...Even when I was marked you were the one who believed in me. You left Saharan because you knew I didn't have a place there anymore. You left because of me, and because of me you eventually got sold and wrapped up into something that resulted in me having to go and find you, after who knows what you've been through..." her voice dying down as her long, breathless ramble and mess of words were expelled from her lips. She remained silent as she softly caught her breath, and after a few deep breaths she spoke up again, "I blame myself, Kieran. For what happened to you. It was my fault you got put into that situation. You should hate me by now..I do. I've hated myself for years because of what happened back there. because I couldn't help you..." she said softly and looked down, her own tears finding their way down her face. Kieran slowly walked infront of Aetrius, and crouched down, gently lifting her currently tear stained chin to look at her.
"You are my sister. Just as Saharans, family means everything to us, regardless as to what had happened. Just as you say, you're all that I have as well. We share the same blood, what runs through me, runs through you. I will always be there for you, just as you had always been there for me. Regardless to what happened all those years ago, regardless of what you've become since our departing...There is one thing you will always be to me." she said softly, as she sat down with Aetrius, hands covered by her own soft and smooth hands. Aetrius looked at Kieran with a raised eyebrown, "You will always be my little sister." she said as she wrapped her arms around Aetrius, and gave her a tight hug, resulting in Aetrius to fully break down into a heartbreaking wail as she wrapped her own arms around Kieran tightly, and continued shaking all the while she cried.
For so long did she blame herself for losing Kieran, and for even losing a part of who she was in Kieran. Knowing that she finally had her sister back again, and that Kieran didn't blame her for anything, or hold any resentment towards her, she couldn't help but finally let all of her emotions out, all of the self doubt and hate, sadness and anger, anxiety and stress, all came out as she cried into her sisters arms until she had nothing left to cry out. And so that sat, on that small hill in the distance, as Kieran hummed Aetrius a soft tune their mother used to always sing to them in their times of sadness, one that always helped calm down a sad Aetrius, but this time it only caused her to cry more, and silently they sat there until it was time for them to leave camp.
