***
Mika and Myriah wondered into the sitting room where Atoli, Angelo, Tyler and Axel sat. Mika rushed to Tyler's side while Myriah appeared behind Axel.
"What happened with his parents?" Myriah asked in a whisper. She bit her bottom lip in nervousness when the blonde male didn't answer her immediately.. was she wrong to ask?
"Axel-"
Axel was about to answer but he couldn't. the words seamed to lodge in his throat. He felt the stabbing pain in his chest as the memory once again came to the forefront of his mind. Watching that widowed woman sacrifice herself to protect her son... Axel felt his chest clench tighter, it brought him to age old memories that he preferred to remain forgotten.
Looking at Axel, Myriah could feel the sadness radiating off of him. She closed her eyes and she willed herself not to cry. Drifting closer to him, she gently placed her hand on his shoulder. 'I know I can't do much for you... but...'
"They sacrificed themselves so that we could leave with the boy." Tyler who was resting his elbows on his knees bowed his head further as his shoulders shook... Axel could not bring himself to comfort the boy. After all, had he been faster, they would be alive. "We should not let their sacrifice be in vain." Axel murmured with a sigh as he leaned into Myriahs touch, allowing himself to feel and grieve the loss of this boys parents. Regardless of if they were his blood or no... this boy claimed their appearance as they claimed him as their own...He would honor their wishes to the best of his ability.
Mika who sat beside Tyler with her head on his shoulder, slowly lifted her head, "Meṭṭāciṉkṭas kulattiṉ cārpāka nāṉ iṅku vantuḷḷēṉ.(I am here on behalf of the Metacinctus clan.. )." The shifter murmured, "Nāṉ paiyaṉukkāka iṅkē irukkiṟēṉ. (I am here for the boy.)"
Myriah found herself coaxing Axels frame into her own as she listened to Mika explain why she wished to stay by Tyler's side.
"Eṉ peyar mikā. Paiyaṉaik kaṇkāṇikka nāṉ aṉuppappaṭṭēṉ. Avaraip peṟṟa peṟṟōrkaḷ, pōriṉ pōtu namatu peṇkaḷum kuḻantaikaḷum kāppāṟṟappaṭa vēṇṭum eṉpataṟkākat taṅkaḷait tiyākam ceyyum pōtu'tirumuṟait tiyākam' ceytārkaḷ. Avaṉuṭaiya vaḷarppup peṟṟōrkaḷ pōyviṭṭataik kaṇṭatum, avaṉuṭaiya vācaṉaiyai uṉṉiṭam niṟaiyap piṉtoṭarntēṉ (My name is Mika. I was sent to watch over the boy. His birth parents invoked 'ritus sacfrifical' upon sacrificing theirselves so that our women and children could be saved during the war. When I saw that his adoptive parents were gone, I followed his scent to you lot)."
Mika sighed, after along and enlightening conversation with Myriah she decided to trust this lot... for now. Looking at Myriah, Mika recalled their time in the garden.
~Myriah hugged the girl with another squeal and Mika started to struggle, "Eṉṉai viṭṭuviṭuvāyā (Will you let go of me)?!" The tiny girl was frustrated at the lavender eyed beauty>. This was the girl who used her powers to heal Tyler while shielding them from discovery. she healed the sorcerer and herself in the same night. Myriah shook her head with another giggle, "You are too cute to let go of...you shall be my squishy" "Uṉakku eṉṉait teriyātu (You don't even know me)..." Mika pouted, "I don't. But we are brought together regardless. if what you spoke is true, it's very possible we are bonded to Tyler in the same way." Mika tilted her head as Myriah let go of her and decided to run her hands along a rose bush. "Shouldn't we work together for the time being?" ~
Mika sighed again as she looked from Myriah to Axel and back.. 'Inta peṇ, miriyā, avaḷ eṉṟu aḻaikkappaṭukiṟāḷ, avaḷ vīṭṭaip pōlavē cūṭāka uṇarkiṟāḷ... Avaḷ eṉṉait toṭṭapōtu, eṉ valikkum elumpukaḷ iṉi valikkavillai. Meṭṭal vēṉil eṉ māṟṟattiliruntu eṉ uṭal neḷivataiyum erivataiyum kūṭa niṟuttiyatu (This girl, Myriah, shes called feels warm, like home... When she touched me, my aching bones didn't hurt anymore. my body even stopped writhing and burning from my shift in the metal van).' Before she could think better of her action, she took a knee.
" Nāṉum anta paiyaṉum uṅkaḷōṭu iruppatu cariyā (is it okay for the boy and I to stay with you all)?
Tylers head snapped up, "You want to stay with them?!" he asked astonished. The amber eyed girl nodded, "Uṅkaḷukku oru kirāmam tēvai. Nīṅkaḷ ippōtu pātukāppāka payaṇikka muṭiyāta aḷavukku eṉṉuṭaiyatu veku tolaivil uḷḷatu (You're in need of a village. Mine is too far for you to travel safely right now)." She murmured. Myriah slowly walked toward Tyler and dropped to her haunches before the boy who eyed her warily. Mika watched, amazed as the silky white glow illuminated Myriah's body again and Tylers angry aura calmed some. "Eṉavē nīṅkaḷ oru kuṇappaṭuttupavar (So you are a healer)?" Mika asked gently, in hopes of easing the tension in the room. "To be honest, Mika, I don't know what I am." Myriah soothed as she turned her focus to the emotional boy before her, "What I know, Tyler, is that when Axel came to me with the offer to help extract you, was that I didn't want you to be taken by the soldiers." Tyler picked up on the hitch in her voice. He felt the anger completely leave his body. "I don't remember much from when I got the fever. I don't know if my mother and siblings are alright. if they're alive or if they're out searching for me..." Atoli and Angelo watched Myriah bridge the gap between herself and Tyler. "My parents and siblings are not related to me by blood either. So I can imagine where you're at. You're still healing and recovering from the fever, Tyler, so why don't you help us help you help yourself?" The lavender eyed girl coaxed with a gentle hand to his knee, "I am sorry for how you were brought here, and I am truly sorry for the loss of your parents." She whispered as his hands fell over her own, "Having gone through the fever myself not too long ago, I would love a companion in learning to navigate this new me. And then, in time, we can figure out the rest." Mika couldn't say why, but she was nodding before she could think the action through. She shyly glanced at Tyler who was nodding as well.
"Myriah-" "Personally I'm all for it." Atoli murmured as she looked to her mate whose lips were pursed in thought, "She knows him. She knows his history and his family better than any of us." The lavender eyed girl murmured, "As far as I can tell, this girl is the closest thing that Tyler has to family right now." Atoli sighed and rested her head on Angelo's shoulder, as vexing as she was, Myriah did have a point. If anyone could help Tyler from this point, it would be Mika. Looking at Tyler and Myriah, Axel felt himself relax some, maybe Tyler could help Myriah as well. These were the first two children to survive the fever since the war. Both the last of their kin, and the first of their kin at the same time.