#odyssey

The fire of the memory calls to her, even as she knows it might burn.

All in good fun, and more than once they saved each other's hide's from incarceration, maybe worse

And not those cheap wigs either

Eponine... she called herself then.. other memories of that life trickle merrily in. Well ,some not merry, some sad, some scary, but through it all, her motley, Kassandra most of all, stood by her, and her by them And SO many women they guided realized how brave they could be

It's a perspective that having more than one life's memories can give you. MAYBe the pool of wisdom can make it last

"Off with their heads" Rikki says happily, her own past life on her

She pulls back a little, checking out her companions...

Oddly, Zane weathers it best "First time?" He grins at them

"Your new found confidence is a bit patronizing at times" Jonas grumbles to the 'wizard'

"Jonas, is everything okay?" She moves over to reach up and give her troll a squeeze. A mountain of muscle and somber expression, but still hers.

Jonas looks down for a moment he seems distant, then "yes, sorry, unpleasant past life"

"Look farther away? Or closer? One life shouldn't dictate everything..." She says, realizing that herself.

"It's hard to shake it..." he admits "I think back, and it stings again"

She leans on him, wrapping arms around as much as she can reach. "Tell me?"

"I was old... there was another changeling with me, we had.. we were very close. But .." A pained look to his eyes "She .. it was a banal time, too much for her. She faded, rotted away, forgot her true self. I watched her as long as I could... then.. she was gone, half of she who I loved rooted out"

A soft squeeze. "No matter what we do, it waits for us all. Instead of remembering how she left... remember that you were there for her, until the end. You were strong... she never had to face a life without you. That's the sacrifice you made for her."

A slow nod "horrible time.. the great depression I think..."

Lacing her fingers with his large hand, she lifts and kisses his blue skin. "She must have meant a lot to you, to hurt that badly when you lost her. But that means you had so many more good times, right?"

"Harder to focus on those, but yes." he squeezes 'HOw .. how was your past life flash?"

"Exciting... intriguing... confusing..."

"Do you think we'll remember any of it?"

"Odds are sliim but feelings may linger" Zane answers

She frowns a little, conflicted. Does she WANT to remember this? A nod to Zane. "I guess... it is what it is.

"Is what is, or was what it was, will be will be let's go...." Rikki says and heads down the trod, in a talking raccoon form

Piper laughs and chases after her playfully - her emotions as tangible and changing as a gust of wind.

Piper maybe faster, but that ringed tail makes a good game of it, even staying on the silver, it zigs and zags in random patterns. Jonas smiles. Zane joins in

Laughter, though she doesn't forget Jonas, and circles back regularly, sometimes using him as a shield, or as a launchpad... but lovingly.

Jonas bears with good humored dignity.

Finally they come to the next monster...

it trundles on the edge of the trod and yarls and snaps at their knee level

Well, more like shin level for the troll

"YIKE!" Piper is UP in into the safety of Jonas's arms, or shoulder, the farthest point from the weird critter she can reach.

The creature looks satisfied, it is feared!

Rikki says "you've got to be kidding me. What stoner ganjaed this one up?"

"Is it a... fish? Otter... dragon... dog? Whatever it is, don't invite it over here. It looks slimy!"

"Look, it can't hurt us, as long as it doesn't have some dangerous rede like..."

As Zane tries to explain that with it off the trod, the only thing they have to fear is fear itself, it lets loose a horrible gurgle growl roar!

With magic behind it!

"No no nope! Hurry, let's get moving!"

Then the fear rede hits her, and she turns from "ew ew ick" to 'squeal of terror'

THere are times when having a sturdy troll boyfriend helps. As Piper climbs up Jonas, and is about to DIVE from the top of his head like a plunge in an action movie, he manages to get strong hands on her, firm, and holds her still while trying to calm her while one of her hooves is in his left nostril "Easy easy... we're leaving... honest... but stay on the trod"

She buries her face in his shoulder. "I do not like that thing!"

Rikki scoffs "I wasn't scareed... ignore the yellow water"

they pass on from the HORRIBLE HORRIBLE thing...

Which looks smug that something so small can be feared. Let us all pause a moment, and be glad Twobit does not have a fear rede