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Cinthia took a place by Tessa's legs, holding them down too. Kiriti blew out a breath. "Here we go." She pulled on one wing, and Tess lurched up, thrashing against Runner and Cinthia as Kiriti worked as fast as she could to properly set the wing.
He winced as a fist struck hum in the face, but his grip never failed.
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"Got it!" Kiriti quickly healed the wing and scurried over to the other one to repeat the process. Tess continued to thrash in her sleep. Cinthia muttered something and Tess calmed some, but she still arched her back in an attempt to free herself from Runner and Cinthia's grips.
There was a slight dribble of blood trickling from his nose , but other than that he appeared fine.
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Kiriti set the other wing and healed it too. She grabbed a bottle from a cupboard and poured its contents into Tess's mouth. Tessa sagged, wings drooping and scraping against the floor. Kiriti noticed Runner's nosebleed and briefly touched his face, healing him too.
"Thank you," he said, standing back upright.
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She nodded, then sighed and leaned against the wall. Cinthia rounded the table and cleaned the blood off of Tessa with a wet towel, dunking it into a bucket occasionally.
"I've got someone I need to talk to," he said, stepping out of the room and heading for the exit.
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Neither one of them stopped him, and the rest of the Vanguard was in the sitting room, looking worried. None of them stopped him either.
Rhianon was outside, perched on a large tree branch and watching a pair of birds.
He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, walking over to the tree. "So, you have no clue what has been happening to me for the past 17 years?"
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She shook her head sadly. She removed the pendent that made her voice more ethereal. "I cut contact with Agdrin and Chaos as soon as you were born. I prefer being alone, having been exiled from most places I've been to."
He scratched his face. "I guess I should tell you, then." He started from when he first met Tess and Cin, reflecting on everything like how he had in the moment. It took him almost 3 hours to finish, even with him forgoing the more romantic parts of him and Tess's relationship.
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Rhianon listened quietly, nodding every once and a while. When he was done, her face looked pained. "So. You've met your sister, then."
"…Sister?"
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She nodded slowly. "Half, to be exact. I had her a little less than a year after you."
He frowned. "Wait, who are we taking about, here?"
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"I do not know her name, but I do know she lost an arm as a child in a car accident."
His eyes widened slightly. "Clover."
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She tilted her head. "Is that her name?"
He nodded, rubbing his nose.
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Rhianon floated off of the tree, slowly approaching Runner. "You should go back to the girl, be there when she wakes." She looked to the sun. "I must take my leave now."
"…Can I get a hug before you go?"
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She looked startled again, but slightly opened her arms for him.
He stepped into her arms, wrapping her up in a hug.
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She embraced him back, holding back her tears of joy. It has been… far too long.
He sniffled slightly, stepping back and wiping his eyes. "Please come back, if you can."
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She bowed her head, jewels of her headdress tinkling with the movement. "I will try."
"Thank you."
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She smiled and stepped back, folding herself into a large, black butterfly. She fluttered around his head, then flew away.
He watched the butterfly for a moment, then turned back to HQ and walked inside.
