#elsewhere

Ivan indeed has played his part, fighting off vines that reaches for Takota, who had hung back out of the battle. Now, he tuns and kicks soil over the sizzling mess, a small part, but covering up the remains.

Mato is crouched off to one side, his skin oozing and bleeding from great rents. Now, Takota moves to him, and with quiet chanting, his Song of Power starts a Healing upon the Rock Giant.

The giantess glances to Thistle and Art, "You two hurt?"

She shakes her head.

Art's eyes are a bit wild, and he still breathes heavily. It occurs to Gwen that this may be the first time he has seen real Battle.

"You did well, both of you" She says "You did Beaumayn proud, Art. Thistle, well, you're always Fire"

The ancient pine creaks, its massive branches shifting like slow-moving arms, parting to reveal a distant, hidden nest far, far above. The nest is nestled in the highest boughs, draped with soft moss and the twisted remnants of old vines.

"Magpie placed the arrows in my boughs."

"May we go up and retrieve them then, great Pine?" She asks politely

With a soft whirring buzz, Citrine shoots upward, her delicate wings vibrating as she rises toward the nest. The air hums with energy as she strains with effort, her metallic form struggling against the weight. Slowly, with sharp commentary of determination and words that Thistle would swear that Citrine should not know, the wee Never (bolstered by Hummingbird) manages to heft the two arrows, their shafts glimmering with ethereal light, down from the high branches and into her grasp. She hovers, holding them carefully, before descending to hand them over.

Gwen, without saying a word, holds up a Kitkat once the arrows are handed over

Thistle laughs. "You did!"

It maybe slightly melted by all that heat nearby

She rubs Art's back, between his shoulder blades. She's a bit shaky, too.

Art takes a breath, and turning to Gwen, says, "You could keep the arrows. The Healing Arrow would surely heal Marigold."

Mato and Takota are a ways away, working their magic to heal, and out of earshot.

"I really couldn't, Art. They're not mine to take and while i didn't give an oath, I said what i said. I will not betray any tribe of the people when I gave my word."

She's not sure he can understand.

"Oh, who cares about that? It's here and easy."

"No one would need to know." His eyes glint a bit.

A scowl "I would know. This is beneath us to even consider"

"You earned it by fighting."

"Yes, it's yours, isn't it?"

"A warrior earns glory by fighting, but the good goes to the tribe." A troubled look at them, "Are you two having fun with me? Because it's not funny. "

A laugh that echoes like a series of canine yips cackles through the night, then fades away, and Art and Thistle both shakes their heads, and say in unison, "Too bad, it would have been fun."

"Oh, for the love of a knock-kneed whore!"

A shake of her head, "You two had to pick Coyote."

"Gwen, you must believe me, I didn't mean it."

"Sorry Balboa."

"And I as well."

A hand touches his chest. "It feels... he was using me - us - to test you. He's sleeping now. Or pretending to be. I do not know to what end that test was for. Maybe his own amusement?"

"Mmmph" She troll grunts at something. Then she takes a cleansing breath "I know it was Coyote now. And even then I knew it was unlike you, either of you."

Pine remarks, "Coyote's mind is known only to Coyote. And some doubt even that He understands Himself."

Citrine is starting in on the second half of the candy bar, gleefully.

There is more to her feelings on the matter, but... it would not help. "Ready to continue?"

"We should check with the Nunnehi."

"We should" She agrees, "And don't worry. I won't mention what Coyote made you say. As you pointed out, it was a test for me. "

A rumble of relief, and they can see that Mato's skin is intact once more, though the new skin has a slightly different rocky appearance than the old.

Scar tissues on a stone, perhaps.

"Thanks. C'mon, Piglet." She scoops up Citrine.

"I guess we know why you are called Stone Bear." Art says, as they approach the two.

Takota gives a slightly guilty glance over to Gwen. "You were magnificent in battle."

Mato chortles, "You always say the nicest things Dogwood, but I still won't go walking with you in the moonlight."

Gladiola seems almost Linnae or Dancia like right now. For good or ill. She does however close her eyes "Thank you as well, Thunderbird."

Gwen gleams brighter for a moment, and then it fades back inwardly.

Thunderbird acknowledges her thanks.

Then Takota coaxes a bit of a smile out of her "It is the only time I am magnificent it seems. Come, Dancer. We have another prize to recover." She hands the arrows over if they've not been already to the Rock Giant near him

A rumble from Mato. "You are modest, too." At her remark about magnificence.

"Citrine will brag enough for all of us, don't worry."

"Luckily, her mouth is full of chocolate."

"I was told one should approach the spirit lands with some degree of humility and a lot of respect" She answers Mato "And you were amazing in the fight, Rock Giant. The scar you now have , the shift of stone, is a source of proud tales at the fire. Your people have their arrows returned. Is this where we part?"