There wooden crates marked with the silhouette of a snake-like wingless dragon, and two sentries stand guard at the entry into the grotto. One of them is some sort of Karnor, his flat face made up almost entirely of wrinkles, and the other is a bipedal shark. Tasha can see Galatea nestled in the roots of the tree of Lothrhyn, which seems bigger than she remembers but not yet a tower. Next to the large flat stone lies Kainudy. She's looking small and delicate compared to Gwyndrael and the other dragons, and has a serene look about her. But the Queen of Demise's crown of black flames still hovers over her head.
"I'll be waiting out here," Thoth tells Tasha. "She has her privacy ward up, so I suspect she wants to talk to you alone."
"Oh, probably. Try to get all my ashes if you could, it should make it easier to put me back together," Tasha jokes, though in truth she doesn't expect to be incinerated, no, it's more self-deprecating. What lead to all of this was hardly her finest hour, and she had meant to fix this if she could. But time did not wait, and likely wiser heads interceded, so it's more a matter of personal and interpersonal failing than anything. And, perhaps, a touch of the sting of revealed hubris.
She gives Thoth a thumbs up, then looks to Melchior. "Want to stay back or join me?"
"I don't know that I could offer anything," Melchior says. "You need to be able to face at least one monster by yourself," he suggests, and gives her the same thumbs up she gave to Thoth.
"Really? Face one monster by myself?" But Tasha sticks her tongue out, then throws her hands up. "I'm going, I'm going," she declares as she turns, trailing off as she walks towards Kainudy.
The sentries turn their heads to watch Tasha, and she feels a tingle as she crosses some invisible threshold. At least here the water adds some sound, which just emphasizes how silent the forest beyond is. Kainudy raises her head and turns it to look at Tasha. "Still sane?" the dragon asks.
Tasha raises her hands, palm and shrugs her shoulders, ears canting back. "It's debatable really." Her hands fall, then she thumbs back at the people waiting for her. "And depends who you ask; but I have a daughter now, so if I'm not, I try to hide it as best I can. How about you? This all looks very serene, but looks can be deceiving, and I see you haven't abdicated the murder throne." She points at the crown, raises an eyebrow, and then drops down on her butt about a foot from Kainudy's head, sitting in the dirt, legs crossed.
"It's a part of me," Kainudy says. "I'm not repressing things anymore. No more letting pressure build to the breaking point. It was very painful getting back to myself." She looks to Galatea, and says, "But some things are worth it."
"She was kind of bratty until I got to know her better, but she eventually faced her weakness, and she learned to take responsibility, see herself clearly. She's come a long way. I know I'm a flash in the proverbial Terran pan compared to both of you, but still, I mean what I say." Tasha takes a moment to smile over Galatea, looking content and at peace for once since she's known her. "I guess you can go home again, even if it's not quite the same. It can be better, too." And then she turns back to Kainudy.
"So, I remembered you said we're basically good, but I'd like to resolve any lingering malice, concerns, or regrets. I'm sorry for what happened, but I know talk is cheap and words, while they can change the universe, are also cheap. Still, even if I'm guilty I can't offer you justice, nor would I surrender for too much of it. I have a responsibility to Pheeny to be around. I know that's not fair." Tasha glances at the guards, the trees, the world, and back. "I think I'm losing my edge," she admits out of the blue, with a sigh that speaks of a long struggle slipping from her fingers. "So take that for what it is."
"Nothing to be done for it now," Kainudy says. "Maybe it could have been prevented, maybe it couldn't. I pushed you too far, to see if you would break. If you were really up to the task you planned to undertake."
"It seems that neither of us are up to the tasks we would undertake. But that's the universe, there's not always a 'best option', and sometimes not anyone at all. So we do what we can because we must. Personally, I think I've done very well." Tasha stretches, realizing even after everything she really isn't that bothered by it all. She enjoys the stretch, then falls back to put her arms behind her head, looking up at the dragon. "And who are we to judge who is suited and who is not? Neither of us are exactly perfect. Maybe we're too hard on those who would try, and ourselves. And at any rate, we're both still alive."
"Technically, yes," the dragon says. "Galatea will be staying with me for a while, if you can do without her. You can still have Kai though, if she hasn't fully returned to her old ways."
"Yes, we're both very technically alive, aren't we? Nothing's quite the same after death, no matter how much we may act otherwise." But Tasha nods. "It's best she stays here a while. We have a major operation coming, but maybe she shouldn't be there for it. She's fought a long time and she's earned her trip home. I don't want to ruin that with more blood and more horrors. As for Kai, maybe she has. She's hard to know, though I do know she's more than just a split personality from you." Tasha exhales with a swell of cheeks and smack of lips. "And to answer your originally question, I manage. It comes back to me, sometimes, and I feel like I'm becoming something else, so I have my own version of this place, our own little purgatory, to work through it. You're welcome to try it some time."
"I've faced all my demons, and fought alongside them," Kainudy says, and looks at Tasha. "Kai was very old before she made her contract with me. She gave me someone to provide me with plausible deniability, and I gave her a body and an escape from slowly fading away as a forgotten god."
"Sounds like a a good deal. Hopefully I won't turn in to the kind of being who needs plausible dependability. With all due respect, I don't intent to be as manipulative nor as cunning. It's really not my style and not what people expect from me." Tasha shifts her legs to lay them on the dragon statue, looking for all the world serene in her own way, but like a resting dragon, still dangerous. She is, after all, some part dragon now. "Be careful about saying you've done it all, I find that's when the universe can surprise you. I know hubris a hoary past time of dragons, but we have no excuse to not be aware of it. At least for me, when I think I can't change any more, that's when life always gets me."
"Life is a state of constant change," Kainudy says. "What else have you been up to? What's this about a daughter.. it hasn't been that long has it? I haven't looked into Galatea's memories, and I'm not about to read your mind either. But I can tell you made a pact with her."
"We came to an understanding, Galatea and I. I'd call us partners, not pact holders or anything else. We work together. As a team." Tasha smiles a little at that; that, too, has been a journey. "As for me, well, planning for our operation. I ate the heart of a dragon, so now I might be more real dragon than you are, and therefore even more insufferable than when you last met me. I've learned more than a little about the magics of creation and destruction. I am bound to Life, as a whole, with a dragon's and... Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I saved the Phoenix from imprisonment while Thotep was distracted, but more that, I offered her a place with us to grow up and be happy. We drew her through me in to our reality, and so I think I may be the first being to have given birth to the Phoenix. Now she's my daughter." And then Tasha sits up suddenly, reaches out, and makes grabby finger motions with a big grin on her face. "I love her to bits. It's all I can do not to hug her one hundred percent of my time."
"Isn't the Phoenix.. rather large?" Kainudy asks. "Dragon-sized, from what I recall. And so you've been to the Dreamlands. I wonder how the power vacuum has been playing out."
"Well large when grown up, but being a entity of dream and concept as much as anything, her size and shape is mutable to some degree. The egg was quite large enough though, thank you. I'd have been more reflective about the matter, but then Galatea was blown up by the hatching, and we had a time of it making sure she stayed with the living." And here Tasha's big smile falters, and she drops back down to sigh, looking a tad older. She's silent for a long moment, then pushes herself to speak, "Yes, I went through the Dreamlands. It's war torn, Whore-witch, a Golden man, and a handful of demigod grab bag others are all vying for the throne. I decided to stay out of it, though I feel for the City of Cats. As a whole, it really hasn't been my finest hour." It's said wistfully as she looks at the sky. "I'm sorry I wasn't more help in the end, we were planning our own effort of course. You won't be happy to know I met Daniarood in person, but what else could we do? At least she and I get along, I think."
Kainudy is quiet for a moment, and the asks, in a suspiciously calm voice, "My daughter was blown up, you say? I would like to know more about this."
Tasha holds up her hands, palms out. "We brough the Phoenix in to our pocket reality through me. But the hatching was more intense than either of us predicted, and Galatea saved myself and everyone in the base from being effectively vaporized by a nuclear detonation of the raw fire of life. Unfortunately, as Galatea explained, she misjudged the blast's power and... " Tasha's ears cant back, her hands fall, and glances off at Galatea for a moment before not being able to look her way anymore. "It was really awful, honestly. seeing her in parts like a broken doll. It was really awful. I realized how much I missed having her around. I didn't want her to die. It was... An emotional day." And so she blinks a few times, and then wipes her eyes with the back of her arm. "It still bothers me. But I kept it together, found all the parts, and used my newfound connection to the Flame of Life to clear the damage, connect ansible to Timestone, and we got the healing process going. Later I ventured in to her mind to help her deal with her pain. It's where we got the idea for our little slice of Hell -- when I understood we all seemed to want someone to punish us but that impulse wasn't being put to good purpose. So we made one. And she rejoined us shortly after."
The dragon is still for a full minute. "Tell me about Daniarood," she says, a bit tersely.
"Pleasant. We talked about how to save you. I figured if anyone knew, it's her. We didn't exactly have a lot to go with. And I wanted to meet her for myself. We had a relaxing talk. I thanked her for her hard work and gave her a hug." Tasha tilts her head, sitting up, hands in lap. "I felt like I could sympathize with trying to make the best thing I could and making a hash of it, but continuing on regardless. It's nice to know the work is appreciated. Some of us wouldn't even be around without it."
"Making the best thing she could," Kainudy chuckles. "A million years of eugenics, a thousand years of torture, death and mind control. I cannot sympathize with her. How did you contact her?"
"I suppose I've become more understanding as I've gotten older. I know so many beings now, with a universe of blood between us all. So long as there's some measure of regard for Life and Hope, I think I can find commonality with any being." Tasha tilts her head to the other side. "How? I wrote a little prayer and submitted it at a small roadside shrine."
"Daniarood doesn't answer prayers," Kainudy claims. "No gods do. Not for free. But that was your only interaction then? Galatea wasn't involved was she?"
"No, I felt like she'd have reservations, and besides, I wanted the meeting to be between us and entities without expectations and old baggage. I wanted to meet her as I am, and she to me, without pretense." Tasha tilts her head back and forth. "There's serenity and a world of sensory experience in the simplicity of an open meeting."
"Daniarood without pretense would be a sight to see," Kainudy admits. "I myself have only been without pretense since being reassembled, although I began loosing it after pulling back the Queen of Demise. Then the Harlot showed up and made all of that moot."
"She's rather grating, isn't she? Even more so, as I believe her power is genuine. I considered trying to kill her, but the endeavor seemed like fishing for more enemies, and reckless." Tasha frowns, scratching her muzzle. "I'm sure she'll fail at the throne and they'll all grind their armies down without accomplishing much. It's Thotep's way. Very entertaining. It's a shame about all the collateral, but there's little I can do to stop it. Perhaps I could do more, but I've been trying to avoid mission creep. Gabriel tells me it's my favorite hobby." Her nose wrinkles. "I think all of us wish to be ourselves without judgment or pretense. The past simply builds until all we can do it speak for it, react to it, become its shadow. There needs to be a way to move forward. That's what I've been working on, what it seems like we all have. The dust is cleared and we are all still alive."
Tasha reaches out to gently try and nab Kainudy's nose. "I'm glad you're alive and healing, whatever you are now. I'm not one to admit to failure or weakness anymore, but, well, I'd have been very upset with myself if you had ceased to be."
Kainudy snorts through her nostrils at the nab. "Nyarlathotep scattered me, but my crazy friends pulled me back together," she claims. "Fewer cracks this time. No gaping holes anymore." She pulls her head out of Tasha's grasp, and looks to the pool of dark water. "Time to make use of those renewed ties, I think. Let's see how bad things are in the Dreamlands." She holds a claw out over the pool, and tells Tasha, "I used to be an Oracle. I'm tied to a being that exists in all realities and times. It's normally pretty useless, but it does let me see current events if I really try."
"Don't tell that to Katherine, she loves being the one most current on everything that's going on," Tasha advises as she stands up and walks over to sit at the edge of the pool. "I didn't know you were an Oracle, and do you mean Daniarood? She does seem to be everywhere in her own way. I can also report being tied to Fire, Destruction and Life is about as useful as you'd expect, which is to say, very."
"No, a draconic entity known as a Jana'fasal," Kainudy says. "How I became his oracle is a long story. All my stories are long ones, unfortunately." After some time, an image begins to form in the pool. A familiar port city, Dylath-Leen. And outside of its walls, oozing golden blood from its hundreds of eyes is the Ophanim, now lying in pieces as the people scoop up its blood in buckets.
"The Fallen Angel was released from Ulthar when Nyarlathotep left the Dreamlands?" Kainudy asks in wonder.
"Oh. Yes. I remember that now, the one that Sung my soul in to the state it is now. Release, which posed a major defensive problem for the City. Last I saw it was about to be conquered by the Whore-Witch. I didn't have reference for how major a change that was, so I took it at face value and moved on. It's not like I could return it," Tasha admits.
"The Harlot couldn't have done this," Kainudy notes. "Nyarlathotep can't have reconstituted already. What are other players did you hear about?"
"There was the brother of the Golden Man, one of the original Vril-Humans from an equally lost land. Very bitter, that one, and a good reminder what happens when you get too caught up in the past. His brother apparently fought or worked along side Daniarood, which is very interesting. His power and threat are unknown to me, though given my experience with the new Melchior, it must be considerable. But his place is the moon, and I'm not sure he would have had a reason to free the Angel, especially as it only helps his rival in the end," Tasha relates.
"Freeing the angel is less important than killing it," Kainudy notes. "They are some of the most powerful beings there are. This one looks like it was sliced apart from a higher dimension, given there are a lot more pieces than needed to create the body you'd normally see."
"You're saying someone assassinated the angel? One of the most powerful beings in existence?" Tasha raises an eyebrow and glances over. "I take it all the major players in the war for the throne are immensely powerful, but they don't strike me as that type of powerful. Though, they certainly may have the connections. Who could do such a thing, and why? The City of Cats doesn't strike me as all that strategically important, and it seems equally difficult to hold. Have you ever tried to hold a cat? The longer you do the harder it gets. I have seen them used as spies, so maybe that's the benefit. But I feel like entities of this caliber could create their own spies of equal or greater ability."
"This is nowhere near Ulthar," the dragon points out. "It was clear heading towards Dylath-Leen on a rampage." She moves her hand, moving the scene back in time. She stops where Tasha encountered it for the second time, with the group of heroes sent to gather information about what was happening in the Dreamlands. She can even hear its chant: Be Not Afraid.
"Oh, that. Poor Kai got stomped in to pieces in that one. It was all I could do to hold my own barriers and protect the group. I'm glad it didn't focus on us because I have come to realize we were far outmatched. After that it passed on after killing some of the locals. I didn't realize it was the same entity." Tasha frowns at the entity, if Silent Ones only knew what real angels were like, she thinks they wouldn't be so quick to put them all over everything. Of course, maybe that applies to her too, now that she considers the matter. Angels are, as a lot, judgmental, powerful, dangerous, and singleminded.
The Ophanim moves on through the valley, in accelerated time, and eventually approaches the port city. The wall cannons fire, to no effect. But just before the Fallen reaches the walls, chunks of angelic flesh begin to fall out of the sky, and the main body falls to pieces soon after.
"That's... sudden. I know the city is protected by some sort of god, that it is, in fact, alive, and that as a city Kadath exists across realities. Maybe it bit off more than it could angelically chew? Could the city do that? And if so, why didn't it just obliterate us?" Tasha scratches her head. "is there some other player in this game, and why?"
"Kadath, the throne city of Nyarlathotep," Kainudy says. "With him gone, who commanded his army. There must have been a battle if the other warlords were all fighting to claim it." She starts gesturing with her claw again, changing the view. A dark city that seems to be carved out of basalt spires. It reminds Tasha a bit of Hastur's city, Carcosa. There aren't any signs of battle though. But the palace comes into view, and Kainudy zooms in. There is indeed an army standing outside, but Tasha sees both the Harlot's baskets and Haon-Dor's Moon Beasts mixed into it.
"Not Kadath... The other city. The living one. That one exists across realities. The name escapes me. But it's alive. And the angel would have died before we arrived, but I don't remember seeing pieces of it. Can you see where the pieces went Kainudy? I feel like we'd have noticed something like that. As for Kadath... " Tasha spreads her hands. "I stayed away. I was half-conerned I'd get roped in to the war actions, on any side. Kadath reminds me a lot of Carcosa, come to think of it... It looks like they're almost there, too. Honestly? I don't want either of them on the throne."
"It died outside the wall of Dylath-Leen," Kainudy says. "A living city? The army outside the palace isn't fighting though," she points out, and tries to get past the many wards protecting the place from skrying eyes. But eventually she brings up a narrow view, as seen through a window. There is the Harlot, and Haon-Dor and others, all down on knee and bowing to the throne. Upon the uncomfortable look stone edifice is a woman with golden skin and silver hair, with an altogether otherworldly look. She glances up at the window with violet eyes and smiles knowingly. That's when Kainudy's fist hits the water and shatters the vision.
"I... take it the silver-gold lady is not a good sign," Tasha deduces, tapping her fingers together Mariel style.
"Danu," Kainudy hisses and pulls back. "Danu has conquered the Dreamlands."
"Wellllllll," goes Tasha, who claps her hands together and looks down the road the way she arrived, "... at lest it's not Thotep and the Witch? Better the devil you know?"
"The fey cannot travel the Dreamlands, so how.." Kainudy frets. "Has she found a way to go anywhere now?"
"Look at the time," Tasha says, eying the road with further interest. "I'm sure my daughter is very worried about me, maybe I should be going..."
A clawed hand falls on Tasha's shoulder. "Tasha, I will know what happened, so you can tell me now or tell me later. I need to prepare defenses, and to do that I need to know what happened."
Tasha... falls over in the direction of the claw. Then she spreads her hands, getting comfortable for what may well be a yelling-at. "I needed to know the location of the Phoenix, so we went to the gigantic temple of deities. They wanted to know about a deity in exchange for the information, so I picked Daniarood. She accepted. It was a strategic move and I felt an ally in the area was better than the multitude of hostile forces and a whole realm that didn't realize yet how much they hated us. A gamble. Besides, I thought she'd think it was interesting. It was that or bargain with the Whore-Witch, and she wanted my wings and I didn't trust her having a part of me. " Tasha decides not to mention Galatea's agreement with things, or her part; she'll just take the responsibility herself this time.
Kainudy takes a deep breath.. but doesn't blow any fire. She exhales slowly. Her crown does flare up a bit though. "She can't control me anymore," she hisses. "Not after I've been put back together cleanly. But she was listening for your call, was she?"
"Well she's undoubtedly smarter than I am and adept at a level of grand strategy I cannot comprehend, so tentatively, we can think that she was. As far as I'm concerned, and what I knew, I have no idea. She answered me and came. I thought she'd enjoy it, it seems that I was correct. And, I'll add, my daughter is now safer, so in that I'm very glad indeed." Tasha intertwines her fingers together. "It was all for a good cause. I take responsibility, but I'm not sure I can take responsibility at a grand scale like this honestly. For all my connections and relative power, I'm still about twenty two years old with a limited understanding of things. I suppose I can't solve everything by stabbing it with a sword or setting it on fire."
"Yes, you need to avoid stabbing things," Kainudy comments, but releases Tasha from her grip. "But now my new haven may be compromised. I'll have to develop new wards, and then figure out how to ward you, and anyone else that was in contact with Daniarood."
"Why, what do you think she's going to do to us? Mind control? Genetic redevelopment?" Tasha stays where she is though, now that she's comfortable on the ground. She wiggles until she's nice and settled in. "And yes, less stabbing and more learning. I've been wondering if what I really do is bring people together. That's a lot more powerful than my ability to fight, though I do need to fight. But anyway, are we really in danger?"
"Just me," Kainudy says. "Hopefully. I understand how the Ophanim was defeated now. She made it commit suicide. But Daniarood is toxic, and I don't want her in my or Galatea's life."
"I see. Well, so long as she remains a friendly associate, I won't turn on her, but I'll take your advice in to consideration. To be quite honest, I don't know who to trust here, and your combined schemes and conflicts span far longer than I've even been alive. The whole thing is hard to evaluate. But, I don't take kindly to having my friends and family attacked, so I think that's all I need to say here. We both know I can bite hard when I need to. Hopefully, there will be no biting." Tasha exhales, head shaking. "It's bad enough to have enemies beyond time, space, and the concept of life itself, must my allies also be some form of enemy? I wish I were better at all of this. Everyone deserves better than my not being better at all of this."
"The key is to try and make your mistakes minimal," Kainudy advises. "Not avoid them. You won't be able to. There are always too many variables in play. And we're all bound by rules we may not know or understand. Limitations on our actions that may be self-imposed, for better or for worse. For you and me, one of those is not wanting to look like a monster to our daughters."
"I fear the day Pheeny learns about what I've done to make it this far," Tasha admits suddenly, nodding. "Galatea and I refrained from attacking an avatar of Thotep because of the children's proximity, among other reasons. I just want her to be happy, and yet, she is the light of hope and life itself. More than a daughter, if I fail her, if I cause her to lose hope or see reality differently, I've robbed her of happiness and a bright view of reality, and cursed all those she might have helped. Compared to me, Pheeny can do so much. And I hate having to think about her that way. I'd rather protect her from everything, keep her happy, forever if I could. But I can't, and she'll leave me some day. And I wonder, what am I doing, when I could be with her?"
Tasha then shakes her head again. "But I wonder, what am I doing being with her, when I have an obligation to our reality and everything else? I'm not sure I'm cut out for this. I'm just an upjumped barmaid drover who decided to make war on absolute darkness. Now I need to guide the future of immortals and mortals alike, pick the very best path, and keep it all together. I feel like the queen of nothing and everything simultaneously. And more, Kai taught Pheeny to use her power for herself, and we both know where that can go, and yet, now she can make change on her own, not simply be there for others."
"Kai was once the goddess of magic. Well, several of them, actually. It's no surprise that she can teach the Phoenix how to use her own power," Kainudy notes, and looks at Tasha. "I suspect that you've become a Warden Dragon, Tasha. One who collects people. And who will one day pass on her power and knowledge to the next Warden."
"I collect people like some dragons collect gold? Which is wrong because I collect gold as well. I also like burning things," Tasha admits, on a wooden dragon head surrounded by trees. "Though I started that before I ate the heart. Maybe I'm just becoming more of what I always have been, my priorities changing now that what I have to lose has shifted balance over what I have to gain. And I think that's just it. What's the point of fighting if I can't protect what and who I care about? In the end, the enemy on the horizon may be me as I chase a crusade and ambition. But Pheeny has been a turning point. I can't bring myself to betray her, as much as restraining myself hurts. I can't." And her head shakes.
"Someone else... Who would want to have all this dumped on them? It seems cruel. It should be me. But while I'm now much longer lived I'm not immortal. But if people like me were common, so much would be done by now. And so my daughters, who can actually share my memories, are the obvious choice. I regret thinking about it already." She reaches up and rubs her face.
"I was the recipient of something like that," Kainudy says. "During my own crusade. It's what originally broke me. When the time comes, I can advise any candidates."
"Ugh," goes Tasha. "I'm either twenty-ish or one, and I already feel a million years old. Thoth was right, weight of the world. Well. I don't plan to give up, but I'm going to have to start thinking about the future if there's going to be one. Reality won't save itself, and maybe we shouldn't be the only ones involved. I suppose it's good I don't need it all to feel important, valued, nor give my life meaning anymore, I am satisfied to an extent with what I've done and achieved, it's more than the old me's wildest dreams. And you know, in saying that, I think I feel a lot better, actually. Like I can do it all." She reaches over to pat Kainudy's claw. "So, what's next for the doom quasidragoness? Going to rebuild Lothryn? Galatea could really use some peace and quiet, but I think you can count on her to be more responsible, too."
"She's synchronizing with the tree now, to try and recreate Lothryn, but it isn't something that's going to happen all at once," Kainudy says. "So she won't be here all the time. I don't want her fall back into being just an extension. As for me, I'm still recovering, but I'm not closing myself off again."
"You know, you're welcome out there with us. You don't need to dwell here with your guardians, if you like, I'm sure we could link this place to our pocket universe. Then Galatea can come and go, and if either group is attacked, the other can reinforce the other. And we're not just mortals anymore, the Phoenix and three true dragons are with us, Sam's left Thotep, and all of us are stronger, too. A sidhe child is with us, as our landlord. Come to think of it, you might know these dragons. They're your old compatriots. They joined us to keep fighting the good fight, and they remember you. You should say 'hi' to Gwyndrael." Tasha smiles. "We are stronger together, you know, and a world is made of people. You're welcome in our world."
"I'll keep that in mind, but being around too many other right now would be very taxing on me," Kainudy says. "I still have to deal some of my other duties, now that Oolong knows where to find me. I expect you take a crate of tea with you when you leave. And as for meeting fellow dragons, especially veterans.. I don't know if they'd actually want to see me again. The war did not end well for most."
"Pah, it was because of my association with you Gwyndrael was intrigued enough to join us, she knows I'm your 'apprentice' and I don't believe she harbors you any ill will. If anything I think she feels bad for how things ended, and for everything left undone. The others have their own feelings, but they know who I am and who I'm associated with, and they still came with their retainers. Gwyndrael, Wormwood, Thermoriax. They've been learning all about our reality, and, in fact, water park rides." Tasha leans in and waggles her eyes brows, as if Kaiundy might be tempted by water park rides. "There's piiizzzaaa."
Kainudy smirks at that. "I'm sorry that I don't recall those names," she says. "Few dragons survived the final battle. Those would be the ones that hate me. But you do know I can create pizza, right? I just like delivery. I'll have to teach Galatea how to create things. Better she learns from me than from Kai. Speaking of, she'll be back to full power now that I'm back, so be careful about asking her for things."
"All I can do is cook food, but let me tell you, I can feel the essence of the heat in food. I can perfectly cook all meats, every time. I will become the master of barbecue. No Karnor will resist me." Tasha lifts a finger and a little flame appears on it. "I should probably also learn to heal, while I'm at it. But I don't have the deep well all of you have, so I need to be careful. And creating out of thin air is not the same. Unless it's fire. In which case it's better. But there's no hunt in creating pizza." Tasha lays a hand on her stomach; soon. "As for Kai... I'll try and be aware of it. She's seemed more cognitive of her own existence lately. Is she as untrustworthy as she likes to seem? Can I really never put my trust in her, is she incapable of caring about or loving anything?"
"She is.. very old," Kainudy says. "As old as humanity on the world I found her on. Lilith, Ishtar, Isis, Hecate.. she's had a lot names. When I found her, she was the Morrigan, but had so few worshippers that she'd been reduced to a winter deity, down from a goddess of war. She's a human god though, and not that much removed from them in terms of intelligence. She's just very cunning, manipulative and mercurial. Not a creature of chaos though. I thought to use her as a way to drain off my excess energy."
"So her insistence I not trust her is... a front? Or does she not actually like me?" Tasha frowns, crunching up her face.
"She's being honest," Kainudy says. "You should never trust an immortal.. or rather never trust that you will understand one. That's what she's really telling you: don't think that you'll understand her."
"See the jokes on her, because she should know by now, I don't really understand anything," Tasha says with a laugh. "And I'm not exactly evasive about it either. But fine, you're right. Don't trust anything I don't understand, which means I can't trust most everything. I don't even understand myself sometimes, or Gabriel, or my cats. In fact now that I spell it out, trust isn't about understanding, it's about believing something has your best or at least positive interest at heart. It's about believing we are working together positively, and have each other's backs. It's not about understanding at all, no more than love is about understanding. I neither understand nor truly comprehend Pheeny, but I love her with all my heart, because I chose to trust her and she me. And that is enough." She then waggles a hand at the dragon. "Sometimes I think your long lives overcomplicate your beliefs. The road you all take... It only leads to darkness. And it was trust that brought you back, I think. Not understanding. Appreciation."
"Love, actually," Kainudy admits. "I still have powerful friends that love me, for some reason. But you should get going, so I can get to work on my new wards. It would be uncomfortable for you to be here for that, if there's really a connection between you and Daniarood."
"Doesn't that mean I'm vulnerable? Ah, who knows. have a hug, c'mere!" Tasha hops up with, perhaps, alarming speed, then leans over to try and collide with the dragon and grab her neck for a hug.
Kainudy is small enough to hug at least, even if she does make a noise of complaint. "Not so tight," she complains.
"Nooo you get hugged, I missed you, you cranky old grandma witch. I'm glad you're back." And then Tasha tries kiss Kainudy on the head, before hopping away, and she gives a big wave. "See you soon? And good luck on your wards!"
"Wards are my specialty," Kainudy claims and grins back. "Try not to destroy any more planets, alright? I don't you to be a bad example for Galatea. That's my job."
"Oh I heard her complain about you enough as it is, can't I mix it up a bit?" Tasha laughs, then waves some more. "And I didn't destroy the planet! Probably! Maybe? Good byeeeeee~!" And then she off, hurrying to join the two waiting, grabbing Melchior's arm as she arrives.