RP:Cookies and Contingencies
Part of the The Prophet of Vakmatharas Arc
Synopsis: Lanara, Khitti, and Zahrani all meet a few days before Yule in the Paladin's Guild to discuss plans regarding Larket and Venturil. Rani learns that Lana has joined their ranks, and in return, the paladin joins the Adventurer's Guild.
The Sacrosanct
Khitti || Very, very recently, the Sacrosanct has been decorated for the Yule season. With the fact that on that massive round table there seemed to be a plate of Yule cookies in various shapes and a fresh pot of tea at all times, it’s highly likely that the culprit was Khitti. The guild’s leader was finishing up some paperwork before she headed into the main part of the Sacrosanct, taking a seat at the previously mentioned piece of furniture. She wasn’t alone though--with her was that incredibly adorable child of hers, who was sitting up in a chair of his very own. “Now, you eat this and be good for mommy, okay? She’s got very important business to take care of.” Khitti handed Dominic an oatmeal cookie and he happily gummed away at it, the treat eventually turning to mush in his mouth after he sucked on it. Whenever Lanara and Zahrani would arrive, Khitti would motion to the nearest chairs at the table, and their guildmates Ulah and Camina would also join them. Ulah was wellknown throughout Lithrydel. The blonde elf follower of Arkhen had for so long held a place in the Warrior’s Guild as the paladin trainer, and now she and the people she trained had a place to call their very own. Camina was… well… a bit more like Khitti in a lot of ways. The black-haired half elf dressed in dark clothing, with even darker makeup ringing her eyes. The follower of Q’na was quiet for the most part, and as Khitti’s assistant, she tended to the recording of the meeting. “Sorry about the kid,” Khitti said finally, gesturing to Dominic, “It’s my day to take care of him, so I usually bring him with me when I’m in the office here or up in Frostmaw. He’ll be quiet though.” A hand waved dismissively at the matter before she moved on, “So. Before we start, I want to introduce our newest member, Lanara. She’s our advocate of nature and if things having to deal with nature specificially or witch things, she’d be the one to go too. I know many will think it a bit unconventional simply because of the guild’s name, but frankly, they can go frak off.” Khitti said that last bit with a innocent grin, Ulah and Camina smirking in unison at her. “And, Lanara, you’ve obviously already met Zahrani, but these two are Ulah and Camina. Ulah is our light magic and weapons trainer and Camina is training to become a priestess of Q’na.”
Zahrani steps inside the Sacrosanct, glancing outside the door for a moment before turning back to Khitti with a warm smile. The paladin is in her more pantherlike form, making use of her black fur to help stave off the winter chill that was settling into much of Lithrydel. She wears a simple sleeveless chestplate, greaves and boots, her fuzzy arms bared except for a pair of steel bracers. Her dreads are pulled into a simple ponytail and her Cyris amulet clinks slightly against her armor with each step. Cyan eyes glance at Connor, before turning back to the Templar with a sheepish smile, "Funny you should mention that. My student, Raahin is just outside practicing her archery. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate for her to be in here, so I asked her to wait for me." Should either Lanara or Khitti look outside, they would spot a young tiger-striped feline lass doing maintenance on a beginner's crossbow. She looks no more than 10 or 11 years old, and built very much like Rani was at her age. To Lanara, the panther smiles warmly, offering the witch an embrace, "It is always good to see you, my dear. I'm glad to have you with us."
Lanara :: The witch had to get away from the sanctuary, as she found it nearly impossible to focus on her work, when so much was on her mind. The letter from Khitti, requesting a Paladin’s Guild meeting, couldn’t have come at a better time! Saddling up Moonachie, she mounts the ebony unicorn and rides for what seems like hours, trying to clear her thoughts. So much had happened in the past few weeks, and Lana was feeling a bit misguided. She had moved into Elioyahazer’s home in Cenril, which caused quite a rift between them at first, though things were definitely improving. She led an expedition to Twister Island, and her team worked together to defeat a powerful mage and reclaim their village. She was planning a festive event at the end of the month. The witch truly had a blessed life where things were all pointing up… So, why did she still feel so out of sorts? After having circled Sage Forest three times, she steers the unicorn in the direction of the meeting hall and once there, she dismounts and allows the mare to graze. Finger combing her hair, Lana steps into the sacrosanct and heads over to the table where everyone is gathered, along with Dominic. Unzipping her coat, she rests it over the back of her chair, and gives the child a smile and a little wave. He looked adorable nibbling on his cookie, and the room was so festive! The witch appreciates all the decorations, being overly fond of Yule, and also being especially fond of cookies. Everything from the Ginger Snapped Bakery was delicious, so she snags a cookie from the platter before taking a seat and devoting all of her attention to Khitti once she makes her introduction. Camina and Ulah are both given a smile, “Pleasure to meet you both…” A curious brow quirks, “I don’t mean to be ignorant, but what or who is Q’na?” A bite of the cookie is taken as she awaits an answer, only to be pulled into an embrace by Zahrani. The panther is an old friend of the witch, and so Lana gives her a tight squeeze, “Thank you…” She replies, trying not to spit crumbs on her friend’s shoulder.
Khitti shook her head at Zahrani with a smile, “She’s absolutely welcome to come in if she wants, especially with it getting cold outside. Plenty of cookies for all of us--so long as Dominic doesn’t drool on them all, that is.” The black-haired child peered up at his mother innocently, blinking cutely at her. He’s not even a year old yet and he already seemed like he understood everything he said. It boggled Khitti’s mind, but maybe it was just that parent-child bond? Camina scribbled away on her pad of paper when Lanara asked about her chosen god, “Q’na is the god of time and space. One of those considered neutral by most, much like Frostmaw’s Aramoth,” the darkly-clad woman said in her thick islander accent. Khitti bobbed her head a bit, in acknowledgement of Camina’s words before shifting her attention to Lanara, “I can teach you about Lithrydel’s deities, so when you come across people that are devout--of whichever one they choose, of course--you’ll know how to speak accordingly, if guidance is needed. It’s nothing major. Basically, each of the gods have their own set of beliefs and rules and whatnot. But, that’s not to say that you can’t bring in your own teachings with your own personal deity--which, I’d very much like to learn about Rhiannon as well or any others that you and your sister might follow. I’m all about equality amongst the various religions and the lesser known gods should be no different than those that Lithrydelians find themselves following.” She paused, letting Camina get all of this down before continuing, “Moving on--unless there’s more questions--I need to address the situation in Venturil. Things should be back to normal. The problem was dealt with when I was rescued and now those Venturili folk that were giving me issues should also be fine again. They were still under the influence of a mindflayer, hence their agitation. That said, I probably will not go there for quite a while unless necessary. I need a bit of mental healing after that ordeal. In other parts of Lithrydel, things are not so great. While things in Cenril have seemingly calmed down, we should definitely be on the lookout for witch hunters. I don’t expect them to just give up that easily. Not with that Kramer idiot running around spewing nonsense about our friends.” By that, of course, she meant the witches. “And finally, in Larket… well…” Khitti motioned to Zahrani, “Rani and her father have been keeping up on that more than I have as of late.” Well, technically it was just her father, but Khitti wasn’t going to our Zahrani on that. Khitti gave Zahrani a nod, allowing the feline to speak if she wished to.”
Zahrani releases Lanara from her embrace, then motions for Raahin to enter the meeting room if she so wishes. The young lass does so, her nares flaring with curiosity at the sweet and spicy smells of the Yule cookies. She wears a simple sleeveless tonic, pants and boots, a combination that would allow for mobility and protection from the cold. The paladin and her student listen carefully to what Khitti has to say about other gods and the situation that occurred in Venturil. The panther is glad she asked Raahin to come in, as this would be good opportunity to learn from Lanara and Khitti as well. This entire building is a treasure trove of knowledge and opportunities for the young one. The two of them take a seat near Khitti and Connor, the tiger lass deftly reaching towards the center of the table and enclosing her fingers around a ginger cookie. Felines are more partial to spice and savory than sweetness; indeed, they have a lower tolerance for sugar than humans, and much of the treats and delicacies they make for special occasions prioritize their aromatics and presentation, with just a bit of sweetness. Raahin takes a bite, a small smile creeping onto her face at the lovely scent and taste of ginger. Meanwhile, Rani pours herself a cup of tea while Khitti gives her update, and with the nod from the Templar, she begins her own, "My father Falion is currently at the Chapel in Larket, keeping an eye on things. While many citizens are eager to turn to this cult of Vakmatharas for relief from their curse, there are also plenty of families who have chosen to reach out to Cyris in their time of need. We've been able to help them in much the same way, but as the influence of the cultists grows, many are looking to take their families and leave the city, lest they be turned into scapegoats or...'undesireables.'" The cat uses the last word with a hint of righteous anger; her people were no strangers to being marginalized or deemed unwanted. The cat continues after a moment, "The Chapel is offering to help get them out, but we may need some backup if Macon or his ilk move against them. I ran across an elf named Linken, who is familiar with the city and is willing to help, but the next step is resettlement." Another pause so Camina could record, "Raahin and I have also befriended a contractor willing to build small and moveable homes. A very jovial white dragon who goes by Xiem. He's offering to build these homes for whoever needs them with, the only compensation being help feed his workers, if we're able." That is the gist of her update off the top of her head, and she waits for the others to ask any questions they have.
Lanara takes another bite of the cookie, her dark gaze trailing to the platter every so often, as though she were considering taking another. Better not, it’s Yule. There would be a bounty of delicious baked goods in the coming weeks, and if she wished to maintain her dancer’s physique she best not go overboard on the calories. If it gets past the lips, it can settle on the hips, and she never wants her legendary derriere to be in jeopardy! At Camina’s words, Lana’s eyes flick from the cookie platter to the woman, and her tapered ears take in each syllable exiting the woman’s mouth. The islander accent earns her a grin, as it reminds her of Dean Smyth, someone Lana once held in high regard, before her presumed death. “A neutral God is wonderful. They have fully established balance in their lives, and they establish order.” Much like the craft that Lanara and her sister had practiced since their birth. As Ulah furiously scribbles everything that is said, Khitti waits for her to catch up, before continuing. As the services of instructing Lana about the deities is offered, the brunette’s eyes light up and she nods, “That would be wonderful! I love to learn new things, and being as I come from a faraway land, I’d love to become acquainted with the deities that are worshipped in this part of Lithrydel.” Khitti would come to know that the advocate of nature loved to learn, and that she would take each lesson to heart, committing it to memory for future use. “I’m living in Cenril now, so maybe I could stop by the bakery after the morning rush passes, of course. We could do weekly lessons!” Lanara loves this idea, though she supposes studying at the sacrosanct amidst their massive library would also be beneficial. “If you need to send someone to Venturil, I don’t mind filling in for you… I know you aren’t quite ready to return, just yet.” The comment about Kramer has the witch biting into the final bite of her cookie with far more force than is required. She had suffered at the hands of his lackeys, twice, and one of those attacks had killed her beloved familiar. Lana turns to face Zahrani, wondering what news the panther would bring from Larket, secretly hoping it didn’t involve the massacring of more witches. The facts are laid out, barely better than she was expecting, and she sighs softly, shaking her head. “Wait. A –white- dragon wishes to help build homes for those in need? I could be very wrong about this… But I thought they were usually aligned with darker intentions than most. Are you sure your contact can be trusted? I… I cannot be seen in Larket, at least not without the use of a glamour potion. Macon and Josleen would recognize me in a second, as would several of their henchmen. I still wish to help. I can mask all of our appearances, if need be. And should you require horses for pulling items, or transporting the residents of Larket… The sanctuary has some strong ones that I can donate to the cause, though of course, I ask that they be returned to my care, should they not be adopted or needed any further.”
Khitti grinned at Lanara’s eagerness, “That’s perfect. Now that Scandal’s helping out at the bakery, I’ll have a bit more free time. He’s as fast of a baker as what I used to be when I was a vampire. It’s pretty impressive.” Olive-green eyes shifted towards Zahrani, and then back to Lanara, a frown lining her lips somewhat at the mention of Zahrani’s contact being possibly a not good one. “From what I’ve come to see, it seems like there’s all types in the dragon world, just as there is in our own. I know the typical thing is that the chromatic ones tend to stay in the darker alignments and the metallic the opposite, but… I’m willing to give this dragon a shot. If things take a turn for the worse and it ends up being a trap, I know two people who have quite a bit of practice bringing down dragons.” It’s Brand and Lionel. Because they saved her butt when she got kidnapped the first time. Oi. “As for our appearances, Zahrani might certainly need it if things escalate. Her father and I, however, are pretty well undercover, essentially. You should definitely not go there. And we would certainly be glad for the horses and we’d absolutely take care of them and return them. But, we were also wondering, if it was needed, if we could use your sanctuary very briefly, as a hiding spot for those that might need to escape. The journey from Larket to the guild hall can be quite strenuous and this would only be in the event of an emergency. If not, I can certainly find somewhere else for them to hide in the meantime. It’s not like Larket has an jurisdiction out here in Kelay-Sage anyway, but I’m afraid of taking chances. I’ve done that enough lately and that’s what got me into trouble in Venturil.”
Zahrani turns to Lanara, offering a wry grin and saying in response to white dragons tending towards darker alignments, "And felines are often aligned towards smuggling and banditry." Or so the stereotype goes. She continues calmly, "I'm not saying we should trust a complete stranger, but this one seems eager to prove himself. We did meet him at Arkhen's Temple, so take that for what you wish." Raahin finishes her cookie, sipping a cup of tea before chiming in with a slightly accented alto, "He...reminded me of one of those papas that their kids roll their eyes at...or get embarassed at. Eager to please...and entertain and be silly...but also help." The tiger lass glances at the adults in the room, before her yellow eyes return shyly to the tea cup in front of her. She feels very much out of her depth surrounded by all of these strangers. She's usually much more cool and confident around her peers, much like anyone else would be. Zahrani adds, "Anyway, like Khitti said, this is more of a contingency in case things go bad in Larket. It wouldn't shock me to hear the regime try to, at the very least, accuse us of kidnapping if they receive word of this, but we've already helped a few families leave one at a time under the pretense of travel. And we even got some younger adults willing to join and train with us, as a way of thanking Cyris for his intervention." That was mostly the extent of her update. She'd just like to have a plan in place, and trusted people aware of it, should things go pear-shaped. "The Chapel of Cyris has its own contingency if people come after us. We keep precious knowledge copied and stored here, and we have escape routes." A not-so-glamorous route into the sewer and beyond the city limits.
Lanara leans back in her chair and seems pleased to hear that Khitti is eager to begin lessons, though she’s somewhat surprised to hear that her adopted brother is working at the bakery. She tried some of his cooking and while it wasn’t the norm she was used to, it was quite tasty. Especially his chili, though her reindeer was traumatized in the making of it, as venison was the primary ingredient. Raahin seems to truly be enjoying the cookies, and Dominic is being such a well-behaved little boy, that Lana shifts her gaze to give them a smile. Adoption was a definite possibility if she ever were to settle down. Snapping back to attention, the witch gives a slow nod, “Yes… It’s wise to always be cautious when working with anyone outside of the Guild… As we don’t know them as well as we all know each other. I will give this Xiem respect, as well.” But, should he not be deserving of the praise that Zahrani is giving him, she would likely be joining Brand and Lionel on their dragon hunt. Though, at the panther and the young tiger’s words, her gaze drops to the tabletop and she’s instantly chastised, “Right… And all witches do the devil’s work and seduce every man that looks their way.” The panther had a valid point. Hearing that she can do some good has her lifting her head and considering Khitti’s words, her face not revealing her thoughts on the matter at hand, until the redhead finishes. “How many horses will you require? I have a good dozen that are ready to leave the sanctuary. I just need an hour or so notice, so they all can be saddled and bridled. I also have a contact at the stables in Rynvale, so if more are required I can have them shipped to Sage, and they can remain at my sanctuary until they are needed.” Goddess knew she had the room, especially with the addition on the building! “And… I would be happy to take in some of those that need a place to rest. I’m no longer using my cottage that is to the rear of the sanctuary. It’s well hidden amongst the thickness of the forest. It’s not fancy, by any means, but it’s warm and well guarded by some of my familiars. I also have several storage rooms and holding pens at the sanctuary, itself… Again, nothing too fancy for dwelling, but that place is built like a fortress, and I have so many enchantments in place, it would be nearly impossible for someone to break in or harm those that are seeking shelter.” The witch pauses, as though she were going through her inventory in her mind, “I have blankets, pillows, and some medical supplies. Although… I don’t really have a large supply of food at the shelter.”
Khitti || Once Khitti had finished speaking, and both Zahrani and Lanara had said their piece, she watched Raahin quietly, with the faintest of smiles. There’d been many times that Khitti too felt out of her depth, even now at thirty-two years old, so she knew that look well. The redhead let out a hm and then excused herself from the meeting briefly. She’d step away for a few moments and head into the guild’s library, plucking something from the section designated for things not of a religious nature. Returning to those gathered, she stepped over to the tiger girl and offered over a black leather book, one with a single stem rose embossed into the cover on the front. “This might help to keep you busy. It’s not exactly a book on religious training, but each story certainly comes with its own moral at the end for you to think over. It could be something for you in your off time, if you wished. It’s a book of fairy tales and my absolute favorite. I have an original copy at home--it came from my homeland. If you do want it, and the stories seem too dark, I have another version, where the same stories are much nicer.” Khitti smiled at the girl, and whether she took it or not, Khitti would return to her seat to return to the conversation at hand. In the book, Raahin would find the bookmark nestled in between pages of the story about a redheaded mermaid and her captain love. It seemed the guild’s leader had been reading it again, likely to her son now. “We’ll sort out the details on the horses when we need them. Josleen and Macon are loud enough about their ill-doings that we’ll probably get word of some sort of an attacking coming way before it actually happens. And your cottage will do perfectly fine. We certainly don’t need a five star inn for this. I think they’ll be grateful for whatever sort of help they’ll receive. And not to worry about the food, my shop will take care of it.”
Zahrani looks to Raahin as the young tiger accepts the book of stories from Khitti. The book is held securely in her paws like a fragile work of art. The child is grateful for the reading material, and she would eagerly share the stories with her friends back home, but she can't help but ponder at the timing of the Templar's gift. The cynic in her was wondering if the redhead was just trying to keep her from chiming in again. Regardless, Raahin smiles, setting her empty teacup off to the side and getting out a piece of thin colored paper to use as her own bookmark. She opens to the first story and silently reads while the adults continue to plan. At the mention of the kind and queen of Larket announcing their ill-doings, the paladin adds, "I'm also anticipating the possibility of them riling up their more loyal subjects, so that they might do the work while keeping themselves separate from it." Maybe the panther is giving the Larketian royal family too much credit, but surely there are royal advisers who specialize in maintaining plausible deniability. Sighing, the panther then adds, "Alas, my father is the one who his ear to the ground over there. He can send word quickly, if needed."
Lanara can’t help but grin as Raahin’s face lights up at the thoughtful present, as it reminds the witch of her little sister. Talyara was such a bookworm growing up, whereas Lana was often outdoors befriending wild animals and pranking those in the coven. The smile on her face grows wider as she fondly remembers the time she had slipped a frog down the back of her sister’s dress, and Taly had turned around and beat her with mother’s book of shadows. “I will supply all of the aid that I can offer, gladly.” The witch would fall silent then, as the panther discusses what she thinks will befall Larket, and how her father is the one that will keep them updated on any nefarious planning that is going on within the area. It also couldn’t hurt to have another spy in the area, to perhaps look after Rani’s father’s well-being, considering he’s greatly at risk. “Perhaps we should plant a mole, as well… To make sure that nothing bad happens to Falion? It can’t hurt to have more than one watcher in the area, right? It doubles the watch, and it also offers a bit of protection to those that are there for that purpose. I think it’s best to be cautious.” A glance is given to Khitti now, to see her take on this, as she was the leader and would make the final call.
Khitti would certainly tell Raahin that things with Khitti were quite the opposite; she’d been hoping that maybe having something to do besides training and studying all the time might help her with her dealings with the adults more. Alas, Khitti does not know, however. “Have him send word here as well, just so that if you’re not in Kelay to receive it, we’ll also know here as well,” she said on the matter of Falion, as well as, “Camina can definitely help in that department. She’s well adapted to keep to the shadows, much like I am. Better even, I think, since she doesn’t use the same sort of holy magic as Zahrani and I do. There’s some that are well attuned to sensing it, and those that oppose us would know we’d be there. This is definitely a job for Camina.” The half elf nodded at her boss, the gears turning in her mind on how she might deal with this particular job. “I think, for now, that might cover everything. Except… Zahrani, I’d mentioned before that I joined Lanara’s guild. Depending on the situation, there may be times where we require a paladin’s aid. It’s a wonder that we didn’t with the last mission the guild had. But, ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not you’d like to do so, as I can grab Ulah instead. We had a member of the Mage’s Guild join us briefly, on the ship ride to the island we were dealing with, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary. In times like these, the guilds need to depend on each other as much as possible or things will only grow awful again.”
Zahrani nods, relieved to hear that someone would be available to watch her foster father's back. "He already knows to send word here as well, when he contacts me. If he's in trouble but can't say, he'll also include two key words in his message." The feline writes down the words on some scrap parchment and hands them to Lanara and Khitti. ~Whetstone.~ Followed by ~Epiphany.~ With a shrug, the panther also says, "But if he is in trouble and he ~can~ say, then he'll make that clear." Contingencies and discretion are two of the Chapel's most well-used assets. Zahrani then turns to Lanara, "It's the Adventurer's Guild, right? If I am able, I'd be glad to come with you both on your adventures."
Lanara looks relieved to hear that Zahrani’s father will have someone watching his back, as well as providing further insight from the shadows, to secure their findings in Larket. Family was of the utmost importance to the witch, as all she really has is her sister and adopted brother. The rest all died during the destruction of Kelvar, and her biological father had been murdered at the hands of Eirik, so she gives a nod to Camina. That half elf truly was ambitious, and it’s quite admirable. It seems as though all of their bases are covered, regarding the threats in Larket. The sanctuary would provide shelter to the refugees, the white dragon would build them portable homes, Khitti would plant a contact in the midst of things to look after Falion and send reports, and the horses would be readied when the time came. Lana seems surprised that Khitti mentions the Adventurer’s Guild during their meeting in the sacrosanct, but it’s of the most pleasant variety. After all, when Khitti joined the guild, the witch fired returned the question and joined the Paladin’s Guild! Friends often stuck together in all the trials and tribulations of life, so it made sense to band together in all their circles of life. Looking at the panther now, the witch gives her the warmest of smiles and nods, “We’d be honored to have you join the ranks, Rani. You’re like family to my sister and I, and you’ve already gone on quite a few adventures with me. Welcome aboard!” Later, she’d be sure to slip a key into the panther’s pocket, so that she could access their private meeting room.
Khitti took the bit of paper and eyed the words carefully, committing them to memory. “Alright. These words will stay between the five of us. Besides the two of you, I trust Ulah and Camina as much as I do my own family, so if we’re not here, then they can sound the alarm, essentially.” Khitti was pleased with the exchange between the feline and the witch, the moment between the two giving Khitti time enough to peer down at Dominic. Yep. He’d slobbered all over himself. “I don’t know where you get all that drooling from, but it must be from someone on your father’s side of the family.” Brand had grown up an orphan, like many others in Catal, and even Lithrydel. He had no idea who his family was and was perfectly fine with that, so Khitti was keen on blaming his side of the family for little things like this. “You wanna go see your dad, sprout?” Dominic may not be able to speak just yet, but he sure as hellfire know who his dad was and outstretched his chubby arms, as if asking to be picked up. “Alright then. I think guild business is completed for now. I think we should also attend to some things on a smaller scale as well, so once the holidays is over with, I’ll be seeking you both out to tend to things elsewhere.” Pause. “And that also includes your training, Lanara.” She waved a dismissive hand at the cookie tray then with a smile, “Take whatever you guys want. I’ll clean things up tomorrow. There’s hardly any of the students staying here anyway for now, so they’ll just go to waste.” Khitti finally picked Dominic up out of his chair and hugged him close. “Time to get you home, little one. Your father’s going to think I’m corrupting you with all this holy business around here,” she said with a smirk.
Zahrani turns to Lanara with a warm smile as she is welcomed into the Adventurer's Guild. Her black tail swishes slightly, as she responds, "It would be nice to travel with you and Taly again." Raahin had finished reading the first couple stories in the book she was given. She plants her bookmark between the pages and closes the binding, placing it carefully in her pocket. At the invitation to take whatever they want, the tigress has a pleasantly surprised look, before she reaches into her satchel and pulls out a small food box. With a "Thank you," she takes a few of the gingerbread cookies and places them next to a cinnamon roll (that's right, a whole cinnamon roll) that she had received from Xiem yesterday. Sadly she wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing on her own, but she could share it with some human friends back home. The paladin grabs a couple savory peanut butter cookies and places them in her own satchel. To Khitti's statement about students not being here, Zahrani adds, "If you want some help, I can also send word to the new initiates that you met awhile back. They're currently staying at the Chapel while its still safe."
Lanara chuckles at Khitti’s comment to Dominic, about the drooling from his father’s side of the family. The moment between the mother and son, and the way that Rani is so maternal towards Raahin is quite touching, so much that Lana feels a pang in her heart. It was time to head home and rock Aspen to sleep. The bear cub was an eternal toddler, and she wouldn’t have it any other way, as she treated him as though he were her own biological child. Eli wasn’t too thrilled with having the polar cub slipping into their bed at night, or the fact that he had a highchair and ate their meals at the same table. At least the bear had excellent manners! The tray of cookies are ignored at this point, as Lana was hopeful that the tiger scholar would use them as a studying snack. “Safe travels, Khitti. I would love to start my training as soon as possible. Perhaps after Yule? I’m living just around the corner from your bakery now. It’s the gated manor, south of the bread shop.” Smiling, she rises from the chair and slips into her jacket, knowing that Moonachie was likely done grazing and ready to stretch her legs. “I better head home, too. I’m really happy that we were all able to meet, and I look forward to working with both of you… In this guild, and the other!” She giggles, delighted to have earned another amongst the ranks, though she almost looks sad to part from Khitti and Zahrani. It wasn’t often that she was able to socialize, as she often had too many responsibilities that kept her away from her friends and family. It felt good to get out and take a breather for a few moments. Waving to Raahin and Dominic, she gives Camina and Ulah a curt nod, and heads for the door. Hopefully, they were all in high spirits and would have a blessed evening.