As they were on their way back to pass the library key back off to Kenrir—Alena, Elijah and Kazran had stopped in their tracks, just as they were about to turn into the dojo once again.
Alena's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open in surprise, for stepping out in front of the archway was a twin-tailed woman with vibrant orange hair—donning a long white dress. Elijah, who was on Alena's shoulder—gave no hesitation, as he leapt down and took off towards the gateway.
Kazran was caught by surprise when Alena came to a sudden halt—even as Elijah hopped down, making a break in the wrong direction.
As for Alena—her face soon lit up bright, her eyes welling up at the sight. From where she stood, Alena shoved the book off to Kazran, and that very second made a mad dash to her mother as she hollered out.
Tatalia had stopped in the middle of the road, right between the dorm house and the temple ground arch. A few students were strolling about, and soon she heard a familiar yowl approaching her. She looked to her left, and Elijah was seen running up to her feet.
"Oh, hello Elijah dear! Are you doing well?" she asked him, as Elijah was not rubbing his body right along her ankles.
"Mommy~!" Alena cried out.
Alena fast approached, spreading her arms out wide—her face heavy with joy—as she grew near.
Tatalia turned up her gaze, witnessing as her over-thrilled daughter ran up.
With a breathy voice of relief, Tatalia went down on both knees as she exclaimed to her. "Alena~!"
Tatalia couldn't be happier, as she swooped Alena straight into her arms.
Alena's small body slammed into her mother's embrace, and the two hugged onto one another tight.
"Mommy I missed you...!" Alena ecstatically exclaimed. She was so thrilled, that she was practically trembling from the joy of being in her mother's arms.
"My sweet girl~ You've been so missed~" Tatalia replied, as she tightened securely around her daughter.
Tatalia gave Alena a gentle shake in her arms, as though she were cradling Alena as a baby, while Alena's feet remained on the ground—swaying.
Once they pulled back from their embrace, Tatalia had unraveled herself to rest her hands on the ends of Alena's shoulders, and Alena's paws cupped over Tatalia's forearms—not quite fully breaking off their embrace.
"How is my sweet girl?" Tatalia asked her.
Alena got a slight nod—blinking, as a small tear of joy glimmered down her cheek. She was overwhelmed.
"Better now that you're here~" Alena answered in a shaky voice. Her smiling lips trembled—and she then sealed her eyes as she giggled to her mother gratefully.
Tatalia responding to this gesture, pulled a hand back from Alena's shoulder—moving it to cup over her cheek. Her thumb wiped away the tear, and she returned to Alena a heartfelt gaze—her eyes sparkling as they glossed over.
As Alena felt her mother's hand, her eyes reopened, and her mouth closed—yet the rumbles of her giggles continued a moment longer, locked in her throat.
Alena's paw which had been made vacant, rose to cup over her mother's hand, resting on her cheek.
"What about you mama?" Alena asked, "How are you?"
Tatalia returned to her a subtle nod, while bearing a cherishing smile, "Home has felt a bit different with you away, but I'm managing," she answered admittedly. "I felt I had to see you though, because of how different our days have become."
"I feel the same way mom," Alena replied back softly. "I was hoping to see you as well. Daddy came, but I miss the three of us being together most."
Tatalia brushed Alena's cheek once more, and another tear trickled behind it.
"I know sweetheart, and you've been such a strong girl haven't you?"
Alena's slightly pushed herself forward, pressing more firmly into her mother's palm, "I have, and I've been studying really hard..."
Alena's tone almost fell flat, as she was eagerly taking in the first bit of motherly embrace she has received in days.
That is when Elijah, as he most always would, leapt up onto Alena's back—where his specialized harness still sat even now.
As he perked his head over Alena's shoulder, Tatalia took this time to lift her other hand from Alena's shoulder—the same one Elijah was perched over now—as pet Elijah atop his head, right in the middle. Elijah pressed himself up into Tatalia's caress, and nudged himself forward to progress her palm towards his shoulders.
"And have you been taking good care of her while I've been away?" Tatalia asked him.
Elijah answered her with a soft, bellowing meow, followed by a chitter—his way of summing everything up in a straightforward rhythm. That's when Tatalia gave light scritches on Elijah's cheek, which he happily leaned into with that kitty smile of his. As he enjoyed every scratch, a brief purr sounded over.
"He has! He's been with me as always," Alena confirmed.
Alena then moved her paw from the hand on her cheek, as she reached out to touch Tatalia's elbow.
"Mommy, will you be here for very long?" she asked.
Tatalia's hand left her daughter's cheek, slipping her elbow out from her paw as she took it now into her hand as she got ready to answer.
It was at that moment, that Kazran had finally approached them. After standing in surprise for a short duration, he observed the interaction between the three of them—and for only a moment, he thought about his own family within his subconscious. His surprised expression soon faded, and slowly, he carried toward them one step at a time—as his own tail curled and waved around, almost nervously behind him.
"Oh, and who is this?" Tatalia asked curiously, as Kazran gradually approached from the sidelines.
Alena blinked her eyes curiously wide, her lips parting slightly as he mother's attention had been diverted away. She looked over to Kazran, who now stopped beside them, and she smiled.
"Mom, this is one of my teachers~" she answered, turning back to her.
"Kazran," he nodded, giving a light introduction.
A soft, wondrous gasp escaped Tatalia's lips.
"A teacher?" she said in kind wonder, "One so young?" The concept left her amazed.
"Mhmm!" Alena hummed in confirmation.
"I'm still a student, but sensei and I are teaching Alena together now," he explained.
Their conversation carried on for a short while longer, but they still had the task of making a return to Kenrir.
"It sounds like the two of you have become good friends as well," Tatalia stated.
Kazran didn't say much about it, and just nodded to Tatalia before shifting his attention to Alena.
"We should get that key back to our sensei, that way our promise is kept."
"Ah—right!" Alena exclaimed, remembering the task at hand.
Alena turned to her mother.
"Mommy, would you be okay with staying with us for a little while?
I want to spend some time with you," Alena requested.
Tatalia deepened her smile and gave her daughter an approving nod.
"Of course!" she answered her proudly.
Alena's eyes lit back up again, as she pulled her paw back to wipe her eyes.
"Thank you mommy~!" she said low and excitedly.
After all, why wouldn't Tatalia want to be close to her daughter after so much time apart?
Alena took her mother's hand back into her paw, and used both now to pull heralong.
"Come on, let's go!" she exclaimed.
That is when Kazran too turned back towards the gate, with the book Alena passed off to him now being lifted up to be held securely as his arms rested over it across his chest. As he rose the book, Tatalia took notice of it, recognizing just what type of book it was with some surprise. Of course, a surge of happiness for her daughter initially spread over Tatalia, as Alena guided her in the right direction—then seeing the book, a warm reminder also spread.
The four of them were now heading through the archway, returning through the front courtyard as they turned right toward the dojo entrance.
"That book you have there," Tatalia began, "That's one for understanding sign language isn't it?"
"It is," Kazran answered. "Alena really wanted it, so we picked it up for her. We were just about to take a break from training together."
"That's right! Just like how everyone used to read over one with me!" Alena chimed in as she began to hop excitedly from one foot to the next, back to back.
Alena spun around, her back now facing the entrance as she began to hop backwards instead in the same direction as her dress swayed.
"It's going to be amazing!" she exclaimed, completely certain that it would be so.
"That's wonderful~" Tatalia responded warmly. "It makes me happy that you still get to enjoy the simple things, even now."
Alena's hopes came to a stop, as she nodded affirmatively, "Uh-huh~!" and spun back around.
They were now all entering the entrance, and Alena quickly rushed ahead to Kenrir's quarters, then knocked on his sliding door—which had almost immediately slid open.
Earlier, when Tatalia had walked out of view, Isaac stood there below the tree he had been observing from.
Isaac turned his head to the left, looking back in the general direction of Cheiro's hut. He was quiet, his expression almost one of somber. As he blinked his eyes, they had dropped off towards the ground in a moment of thought, then blinked again—raising them up ahead. Following, his body turned to his gaze, and he soon stepped onward.
However, as he walked, it would soon become clear that Isaac was not heading back—as he began to run. Our scene follows the passing trees and structures, panning up and turning into Isaac's point of view, following all that he could see.
Passing Cheiro's hut, our eyes momentarily lock-on, as our vision curves with our focal point on a small, side window. Catching brief glimpses of Cheiro and Variann, our view continues to curve until the window is out of sight as Isaac continues running ahead.
Our scene pans round, pulling away as we now look upon Isaac's face, slightly lower than and to the left of his jaw level. Gradually falling back from him, Isaac soon takes a great leap, moving out of our scene.
It was now somewhere out within the outskirts, where our scene had leapt ahead.
Among all the trees and wildlife, there stood a large, stone structure. The structure was surrounded by patches of tall grass, stones and patchy wildflowers. We looked upon it from an angled view. Not only was the structure large, but from the entrance it ran deep, stretching beyond our view.
As our view of the structure shifts out front, we hang low to the grassy ground, facing the empty doorway. Of what little could be seen, it was dark inside, and it would appear a door stood beyond the entryway. Soon on, a set of black shoes had stepped into view, where long black pants hung over.
Our scene rose, and Isaac stood there facing the stone structure. The wind blew through his hair, shuffling through his clothes—as the grass and surrounding foliage too flowed in the oncoming breeze. All but the wind—the world is quiet here.
Following, we find our scene angled down from overhead, inside the stone structure. The chamber is dark, faintly illuminated by blue light. As the heavy door to the outside creaks open, the sun illuminates the floor in a trail of light.
Stepping into the way of the light trail, Isaac's shadow can be seen. In moments, he steps within the dark chambers and seals the door behind him—a faint echo coming from his step. As the door closes, it creaks once again, and a loud song echoes as the heavy door weighs shut behind him. For a moment, Isaac stands still, allowing for his eyes to adjust to the faint blue light.
The adjustment period was brief, and within seconds, Isaac walked ahead. With every step, there was an echo—and with every step, he drove deeper into the structures depths. As he would come up to a narrower, yet taller hall, the sounds of his steps grew louder as the echoes grew beyond.
Before long, Isaac came to a lower archway. Upon stepping through, the space around him opened wide, and the blue luminescent light shone brighter. Our view returned overhead, and it became clear that more than a single light source lit this plane.
Our view begins to fall, as we pan over, getting a closer sense of what Isaac looked upon before him.
Several pillars stood around a wide, hall-like sanctum—and to either side of the center path stood four wider, yet shorter pillars totaling of eight. The blue light came from the other pillars, but our view began to rise, the scene skipped ahead.
We looked upon a veil, one that was tall and wide. Behind it, there sat the silhouette of a curvy, long-haired woman with much fluff behind her—barely to be seen.
"Welcome back, dear child..."
The scene blinks to black.