Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled raggedly against her. "Who knew she was so nimble," he murmured. "What did you do with the priest? His smell is everywhere..."

[Emora Deen]

"I didn't do it, though I wish I had. Knight finished him. He's behind us in the doorway," she told her husband, nodding back behind her, but not looking at the crumpled form.

"Do you think you can walk?" Tenele wasn't sure what to do. Vlad didn't look in any condition to walk back across town to where Atul was staying, but she couldn't very well leave the King and her child stranded out in the city without someone other than a wet nurse to watch over them.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Of course," Vlad scoffed. He pushed himself upright and shoved up to his feet. His legs accepted him for a moment before going to sausage. He barely caught himself and straightened again, slower this time, with only a continuing quiver in his knees. "I'll get it," he murmured half to her and half to himself as he focused on his footing, standing like a newborn foal.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele slipped under his arms and helped support his weight. She wasn't sure how much good she would do, but she would give him all the strength she could manage. They made there way over the body and up the steps, out the palace's less guarded side gate, and through the streets of the city. "Let me know if you need to rest," Tenele whispered, balancing his weight with her own. "We aren't too far."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was feeling out of breath, as silly as that was. He didn't say much while he concentrated on not slowing Tenele down. He considered teleporting them both, but his shoulder would absolutely hate it. Holy wounds did not travel well. He walked as straight as possible, determined not to request the rest she'd offered. He didn't feel great, but he'd certainly seen much worse. Atul, on the other hand... The vampire kept his pace brisk until they made it to the cottage. He didn't question it as Tenele opened the door for him and half-dragged him up the stairs.

[Emora Deen]

"My lady!" Merida gasped when Tenele entered with Vlad and half-slung him into the chair near the bed. She made sure he had his balance before she let her hands drift from him. Then, Tenele, ignoring Merida, when to Atul.

The King was flat on the bed, his brow glistened with perspiration.

"Atul?" Tenele asked, brushing his face with her hand. She forced his eyes open, tapped his cheek. "Please, just give me some sign your okay."

"He got himself in bed, if that helps," Merida muttered from where she stood in the corner cradling Tenara.

"Gods," Tenele muttered. cupping the King's cheek. "I'm sorry I forced you to do that, when you are so weak. I just couldn't lose him."

Atul didn't respond, but his breathing was even, and his pulse felt strong. He must be so exhausted.

Tenele stood up, wiping the back of her hand across her brow. She turned her weary gaze on her husband. "Alright... You too. In bed. You can squeeze on, or I'll drag you downstairs and put you in that bed. Whichever you prefer."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled a little blearily. "I'm fine. I have my wife to rescue me," he chuckled to himself nonsensically, apparently forgetting the question.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele shook her head. She climbed onto Atul's bed and grabbed his arm. She dragged him to the far end of the bed, closes to the wall, and then went back for his legs. She shoved and wiggled and pushed until she managed to make enough room for Vlad. Then, she went back to her husband, stooped down and wrapped her arms around his waist. She dragged him the short few feet to the bed and dropped him a little too roughly onto the bed. Hey, he was heavy! She winced as he settled onto the sheets covering the thin layer of hay.

"Okay," Tenele exclaimed, drawing the covers over them both. Exhaustion growing more evident in her features by the minute. "Rest," she murmured to him, brushing her fingers through his hair.

"Lady Raider," Merida called as she placed Tenara back in her basket. "I'm not sure what's going on, and I don't think I really have any place in knowing... so I'm not going to ask..."

"Thank you, Merida," Tenele sighed, lifting her green eyes to the woman. "You have been such a wonderful help. I am very thankful for you... Please, take these lenins and go make the bed downstairs and get some sleep."

"Where will you sleep?" Merida hissed, appalled by the prospect of taking Tenele's bed.

"I will manage, do not worry. Please, go rest," Tenele whispered. She stood and dug through the bag Vlad brought them and handed the woman the sheets she needed, and then ushered her from the room.

When Merida was gone Tenele slumped in the chair near the bed and let her eyes close.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was oblivious to most of his surroundings for a few minutes. When he finally began to gather some of his wits, he turned and focused on the man lying next to him. "Atul," he said softly, touching the man's forehead. That put pressure on his bad shoulder under him, so he dropped his hand and let his mind continue to pick up momentum. "Tenele," he registered next, raising his head to look for her. It didn't take long for her to recognize her in the armchair. She'd been drained when he brought her here this morning. She couldn't be much better now. He pulled himself up to a sitting position. "Bed," he directed gently.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele shook her head. "I'm not tired," she told him. "You lay down and rest." She forced a smile, settling back in the chair. "I'm just going to sit here for a minute. I'll need to feed Tenara in a bit anyway, so it doesn't make any sense to lie down. There isn't enough room for three of us, barely enough for two. You sleep there."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked across the room at her, debating with himself whether to argue or just accept. He resigned himself to stay put, knowing he would even be able to carry her to the bed against her will with his arm the way it was. "Please get some sleep. I'll let you know if Tenara wakes," he said in a low voice. He didn't know if it was even possible to wake Atul at the moment, but he didn't want to try. The vampire rolled onto his side and threw his bad arm protectively over the king's waist. Then the heaviness of sleep sucked him down.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele waited up a little while longer and fed Tenara when she woke. She watched her child in the peace and quiet of the house with the two men she loved resting. When Tenara was full she placed the infant back in her basket of fluffy linens. Then, she gathered what was left of the sheets and made a pillow on the wood floor near the bed, where she slept until morning.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad came awake with a start, the bright sun filtering into his eyes from the window in the corner. He moved his arm tighter around Atul without thinking, and regretted it. Biting back a gasp, he shifted his weight to the other side and pushed upright to survey the room. Tenele was sleeping on the floor in a pool of sunlight. Atul seemed to be outcold. The vampire studied his friend carefully, listening to the thumping of his heartbeat to reassure himself the rhythm was stable. He then expanded his focus and listened to all three rhythms in the room. The sound was like music. The lifebeat of his family.

His body felt hung over and mercilessly thirsty. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and got to his feet. He crossed the room to Tenele's side and crouched beside her, touching her forehead lightly. His cool fingers brushed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. He looked across the room at Tenara's bassinet. Rising back to his feet, he crossed to the child's side and watched her sleep. The child didn't stir when he scooped her up and rested her softly against his good shoulder. The small, warm weight against his chest filled him with protective contentment. He sat in a plain wood chair across from the crib and held his impossible child, as he'd grown used to doing while the others were asleep each night.

[Emora Deen]

About an hour later Atul's form stirred. He flipped lazily onto his back and stared at the ceiling with heavy eyes. Then, he sat up and shoved black hair from his face, running fingers through the tangles as he took in the room.

He saw Vlad holding Tenara, which brought a wear swell to his heart, and then he saw Tenele curled on the hard floor.

"I guess this means we made it out alive..." he muttered, scooting to the edge of the bed. He flexed his arms and stretched them above his head. He moved with more fluidity than he had in the days passed, which was odd considering that he'd had to sustain Knight.

Atul stood up, unsteady on his feet at first, but managed to catch his balance. He was feeling more rested, more alive... and less sore. He wondered curiously if transitioning into Knight had jump-started his stagnated demi-god side, and if it was finally starting to wake up and gather enough energy to do the job his body desperately needed it to do.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked up at Atul. The sight of him upright and alert excited him more than he expected. "It would seem Knight saw things through. How are you?" he asked carefully. He wasn't sure the man should be moving around after last night. He was quite aware of the fact that his plan was the reason Knight had to be summoned in the first place, which had quite possibly stunted the man's recovery. "I appreciate the rescue. Things were getting a little hairy in there."