”Jon is going to need more supplies then I have to give him,” Teu mused aloud as she stood facing away from the rest of her shop. Her hands were working quickly to make as many pain reliever pouches as she could to make ready for her soldier friend. Despite putting on an air of confidence, the healer’s heart was beating quickly in her chest. DaeLuin had fallen quickly within the Void. It had been sheer luck and blessing that Teu and her children had come to Revaliir. Yet this land was falling into a chaos that had not been witnessed by the woman before. She was nervous for her family. Dae and Alairia took their indications from their mother and future step-father.

The shop had been quite busy when the earthquakes had first begun to strike the land. It had taken everything in the mother to hold her nerves together when their city had been hit. Kieran had been a steady rock for them during the ordeal. Flash backs continued to plague Teu back to when DaeLuin was being swallowed whole. Damage had been done to their city, and that meant that patients and customers flooded the healing shop. All four of them had worked diligently to take care of everyone, but it had left Teu exhausted. Her powers of healing were being strained to their very ends. Thankfully, Alairia was a quick study and was helpful with traditional medicine.

A steadying breath was released as Teu leaned against the work counter in front of her. Eyes closed slowly as the exhaustion hit her again. Supplies were extremely short since the trade had all been brought to a halt. The healer was finding local remedies that could help in exchange for the supplies she no longer had access to. -“Mother. You need to go and get some rest. I can finish these up for you. We will have more patients come in, and you need your powers.”- The voice was low and calm and it belonged to her son Dae. Teu turned her head to look at him from over her shoulder. He had grown again and was looking like a teenager more than anything else now. Each time she looked into his gray eyes and maturing face she was pang with worry. The power from the Lord Raktor was definitely showing its influence on his growth rate.

”If you are certain. I need you all to get some good rest as well. I don’t know what is going on, but we need to be of the best help as possible. I also want our ‘go bags’ ready.” Teu turned around to face Dae who was now only a few inches shorter than her. Her hands rested against his cheeks and looked upon him fondly. ”My growing lad. You take such good care of your mother.” Teu hugged him close to her chest before going to the back of the shop to enter their home.

Dae watched his mother carefully before getting to work on the pouches she had been preparing. He understood his growth was a point of concern for her. There was no denying his origin or the influence from her past. Despite Teu’s attempt to keep him unknowing, Dae did know his heritage. The darkness whispered the truth to him. He was not going to let his mother know of the secrets told in the dark. Instead he was going to keep his family safe with the growing potential inside him.

The healer found her way to the living area in their house and flopped onto the couch. Arm rested over her eyes to block out the afternoon sun that was shining in through the open window. She needed a rest, but her mind was a flurry of concerns that would not come to rest.

The earthquakes were startling for many, especially his baby niece, Delfine. With wide eyes, she watched Dae, Alairia, and Teu work diligently make preparations for potential patients, as well as treat the ones who are already injured. She wondered how they could stay so cool under pressure. Even Kieran was doing his best, even if it was holding someone done, moving heavy objects, or sometimes assisting Teu in more delicate matters. He would place his hand on her back, close his eyes and stand very still. Ice laced up both of their hands as she healed the person. Delfina had read a great many books in her few years thus far, and she was learning that reading about it was a far cry different than witnessing it first hand.

Rumors, fears, and tensions rose. Along with it was the droning. At first, it was imperceptible, but gradually grew. The low drone grew steadily, reminding the nobleman of a swarm of insects. Kieran made sure that she knew to stay by the sphinx if being by himself was impossible. If the sphinx was not in sight, then she was to find Dae or Alayria. Many safeguards were in place to ensure her protection. Z would kill him if anything happened to Delfina. As it was, she was too glued to watching them to let more than one out of her sight at any time. She had decided that this was not what she had begged for, but it was still highly fascinating nonetheless.

Kieran watched Teu go into the back, glad Dae had managed to convince her to rest. He finished the inventory of what they had prepared. It was difficult to predict the necessary quantity in the coming future. His eyes wandered over to Dae and Alairia. Both had grown so quickly, and Teu assures him that, while it worries her as well, it seemed to be consistent to their past. If Kieran blinked, would Dae be a young man? His line of thought stopped as the ever present droning sound abruptly ceased. The noble glanced to his niece, motioning a finger to his lips for silence. She gazed at him with wide, fearful eyes. Kieran crept to the door. Before his hand could touch the handle, screams broke out, the sounds of battle erupted around them. With a curse, Kieran rushed to Delfina, scooped her up and started for the living area.

”Dae! Alayria! Inside now!” He held the door open for them, trying to usher them inside. An attack was not what he was anticipating, yet here it was on their doorstep. Putting the child down by the sphinx, he regarded the creature with a deep air of respect. ”Keep Delfina safe.” Kieran turned toward Teu, sympathy and worry written all over him. Would she be alright to defend herself? She’s a mother! Of course she’ll be fine! But, what could make that insect swarm sound, yet cause people to fight? It literally sounded as if sword was being met with some kind of weapon. ”I’m going.” This time he had a weapon, he’d be ready to defend himself.

There was regret to the visit of Delfine with the family, or it was not full of what they had hoped for. The earthquakes and the sky breaking put the small family to work to aid those within the city. Not only that Teu worried about the unspoken terror the young girl must feel with the world in such disarray way from her family. She was a sweet little girl and filled with wonder at the world around her. Most of her time was consumed with reading books when not watching the actions of Teu and the children. Alairia enjoyed having another little girl around even though she was growing at an astounding rate. Dae was silent per usual, but he did look out for Delfine’s well-being as he was already seeing her like another one of his siblings. He showed little signs of comfort by bringing small treats to help bring some smile to her face during the trying times.

The days went on as the worries grew from that unto terror. Teu was grateful for the help from her children and Kieran. All were showing great improvement and further progress in the path of healing. She did her best to keep her attention from the droning that hovered within the air and wind. The healer was concerned of the growing sound, though she attempt to keep her attentions to her tasks. Injuries were brought in to the shop for need of care. She found herself tired from the constant duty. Kieran helped with his own grow in power and capability. Teu was proud of his progress and support.

As she lay in the living area to rest there was an intense sound that boomed through the air. The elf had been close to sleep but was stirred quickly as the screams filled the air. Teu sat bolt upright with wide eyes of shock. ”Children,” she breathed while pushing hard against the couch. Just barely to her feet when the family joined her in the living quarters. Syn was not far behind with joining them to make a plan for what they were to do.

”I am going with you,” she responded. Teu would not have Kieran go alone especially if their family was in danger. Her green eyes looked to each child before she quickly grabbed her armor to don it. It took little time for her to dress and put weapon in sheath on her back. Now there stood a mother armored to protect her cubs. She walked to stand in front of the children who all had stoic faces. ”Dae, you are charged with Syn to keep all safe in these walls. I will put up protection, but do not stand at ease. If you see this is to fall….leave and find safe haven.” She lightly bit her bottom lip at the thought of her children needing to flee. It took much of her willpower to not let tear shed. ”Don’t let yourselves be afraid. We will deal with this.” It pained her to leave them. A kiss was placed on each of their heads, including Delfina. ”Trust them. They will keep you safe little one.”

Teu looked to Kieran for a moment before they exited the shop. Before running down the streets her hand was placed upon the door. Shadows began to grow across the door and then the shop itself to be absorbed into the walls. ”This will protect them,” she stated over her shoulder to her beloved. ”Are you ready, my heart?” Teu was nervous and tired, but ready to fight for their family.

Little Delfina nodded at Teu’s words. But as the pair went for the door, she rushed to Kieran, grabbing his hand. ”Uncle Kieran!” Her gaze was so full of worry that Kieran smiled as he knelt before her. ”Don’t you worry about me, sweet heart. I’m scarier than Uncle Elwin is. Because I fight for you.” He tweaked her nose, which caused a giggle to bubble.

Kieran followed Teu out of the shop, after donning his own gear. He frowned at her. ”My love, are you sure? You look exhausted. Surely, adrenaline alone cannot sustain you long in battle.” Despite his protests and concerns, Teu was not going to back down. Of this he was positive. Too many lives within her shop depended upon them for safety.

He took point as they hastened towards the growing sounds of fighting. What was revealed gave him pause. Humans and other known races of Revaliir were clashing weapons with giant insects. Wasps, beatles, ants, even spiders (although they were arachnids, not insects), were all human sized! What was worse, when one of them killed a guard, it turned to face Kieran and Teu. Was that even possible, to have creatures suddenly so large with weapons obviously of their own make?

The wasp that spotted them charged foward. In an instant, his sword was unsheathed, soon to be poised in retaliation. Kieran parried the organic looking weapon, which surprised him with its solidity and durability, that he lost the chance to counter. ”Weak species!” It hissed at him with a distinct buzz in its voice.

The half elf could feel her chest tighten at the thought of them leaving the children behind, but there was no chance that they could come with. There was literally a war at their doorstep and there was something to be done about that. Teu trusted the children to handle those that were still too injured to leave the shop. She did feel some delight that her home was now known for healing and protection. Emerald gaze shifted to Delfina as fear began to take her over almost completely. The child was one that had been sheltered her entire life. Alairia and Dae had been constantly surrounded by discord since the arrival in Revaliir; an existence she had not wished for them. They had adapted well, and it was almost too well. Teu’s expression softened as Kieran attempted reassure the little one.

Once they were outside and the protection spell placed, Teu turned to her beloved. ”I may be tired, but this is for our family. A mother’s love can go far, but a mother’s rage can go farther. I am filled with wrath right now at the audacity that they come to our home to bring this chaos. I want to drive them out to the point where they realize how dumb they were to come here.” The healer was not in the mood to heal, but one to destroy like her patron had once poised her to do in her previous line of duty. Raktor would have been proud.

She pulled forth her weapons to prepare for the potential enemy around any one of the numerous corners. Teu bit the inside of her mouth as she saw the clashing of races. She was mortified to see the damage done to buildings that had once been standing and had given shelter to neighbors…friends. Teeth gnashed together as one of the guards that had been a frequent visitor of the shop had been killed. He had been a young man that enjoyed the smells of the herbs; now he would not enjoy anything.

The giant wasp made a charge to attack the couple to be met with Kieran’s own weapon. Teu’s rage surged further to the point where she only saw things with a highlighted shadow. Green eyes turned darker by the second until they were mostly black. More insects began to turn their attention towards them in an effort to take down the newcomers. As Kieran dealt with his opponent, Teu threw her hands out to the side where ice erupted from. Black shadows interlaced through the ice to strengthen her newly created weapons. ”You will not take this city or my family.” Her voice was low to the point of an almost growl.

In unprecedented speed, the elf rushed the attackers to pierce them with the ice in the weak points of their armor. The frozen water broke off within the creatures to allow the shadows to infect the beasts and halt their organs from functioning. Teu continued this process repeatedly, though with each strike her energy was dwindled. It was an effective strategy though it was flawed. Bodies of their assailants littered the surrounding ground. The healer stood still finally with her chest rising and falling drastically as her breath was difficult to catch. Her eyes finally turned back to emerald as her power receded. ”Kieran?” she breathed.