RP:Fractured

Part of the Through A Glass, Darkly Arc

Summary: Meri receives a letter from Talyara asking for them to meet at the Sanctuary. Upon arriving, Meri sees that the shelter has been damaged by a fire and learns of much horrible news. Lanara and Talyara were kidnapped, and while they are now safe from physical harm, Lanara is not returning for her mind has been shattered into several personalities. Another friend that Meri has to say goodbye to. Circinus is given to Meri as a goodbye gift. Khitti has been left goodbye gifts as well which Meri is to deliver as a favor to the witch sisters.

Lanara's Animal Sanctuary

Talyara had just returned from seeing Lanara at her new home in the institution in Corlonia and it was clear she wasn't doing well with this new reality. She was barely eating and sleeping prior to this knowledge, still trying to heal after her abduction by the witch hunters. Nicolai Carter, the Backstreet Bard who had found Lana in the midst of her mental break and placed her under his mother's care, had told the emerald eyed witch that her sister had burned down the barn at the sanctuary, killing the animals inside. Before she returned to Frostmaw, the little witch needed to see the damage for herself, needed to speak with Venin the caretaker to discuss the future of the sanctuary. In a moment of lucidity, the animal empath had tasked Taly with divvying up her possessions and most trusted animal companions amongst her friends. Letters had been sent, presence requested at the very sanctuary that she inherited. Talyara looks, quite honestly, awful. Dark circles hover below her eyes, there is a slight limp to her walk, and she occasionally presses a hand to her ribs for additional support. Her face is marred by purple and yellow bruising, and there is a thick bandage snaked around her right forearm. She stands before the burnt wood and ashes that remain where the barn once stood, quietly conversing with Venin who was sporting some of her own healing injuries. "I need to know whether you still want to stay on board here. I wouldn't blame you after everything that's happened," Talyara says with a frown. Venin scoffs and shoots a glare in the younger witch's direction, as if she had called her an offensive name. "If you think I'm going to let a couple of mishaps chase me away, you've got another thing coming. Some one has to keep things going here. She may have driven me crazy..." Taly stiffens at the choice of words; she knew the caretaker didn't mean any harm by it but Lanara's psychosis was so new it felt like a jab. A rare apologetic expression colors Venin's face and she sighs. "Sorry," she mumbles. "I just meant that, despite our differences, I respected Lana and the work she did here. If you're still in then so am I."

Meri had received the letter requesting that she come to the sanctuary. Normally Meri would be quite pleased to receive a letter asking she come out to this location, it was no secret that the woman had a soft spot for animals. A fox. A horse. Two dogs. Why wouldn't she want to come out here? ...Except this letter did not come from Lanara. It came from Talyara. This struck Meri as odd, so much so that she has a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. That did not stop Meri from coming, but it did keep her from bringing her entire entourage with her...her entourage being the dogs and her child. The only company that Meri was keeping today was the company of her gray mare, Kadence. The sound of the mares hooves thudding dully against the earth would be enough to announce Meri's arrival to Talyara and Venin, not that the blonde was attempting to keep her approach a stealthy one. She'd dismount at some point in the middle of the interaction between the two women, but she's too shocked by what she sees to really be able to process the conversation fully. What happened here? It looked like there was some sort of fire? The smell of smoke still lingered heavily in the air. A human would easily still be able to detect the smell, for the werewolf it was almost overwhelming. That wasn't the only smell that Meri was picking up on. Blood? Death? The thought that Lanara might have been the one responsible for the damage that the sanctuary sustained does not even cross Meri's mind. It was every other option but, starting with the most obvious. "What happened here?" The werewolf asks out of genuine concern. "Were you guys attacked by witch hunters? Did they do this?"

Talyara startles when she hears the hooves of Meri's mare approaching. It wasn't a threatening sound, it wasn't even unwelcome, but clearly the younger witch was still on edge after her ambush and subsequent capture. The slightest thing sent her panicking these days so it's no surprise when she whips around, anxiety flooding her eyes, until she recognizes the familiar form of Meri. For the werewolf's sake she attempts to smile, only it comes out as a slight twitch in the corner of her lips and nothing more. "I'll leave you two to talk," Venin says, leaning towards Taly. "I'll go check on the animals. We'll speak more on the reconstruction of the barn when your done." With a curt nod given to the blonde, and a surprisingly affectionate pat on the emerald eyed witch's shoulder, the petite caretaker moves off to tend to the other creatures. "The injuries are from witch hunters," Taly confesses. "But the fire was...not." The witch frowns, she couldn't keep up the chipper facade, especially when all she wanted to do was cry. "Thank you for meeting me here," she eventually says, pressing her hand against her side as she closes the distance between her and Meri. "As you can probably tell it's hard for me to get around much right now."

Honestly Venin leavin was to Meri's liking. Even if Meri and Callum were no longer together, the blonde had no love for Venin. She was tolerated only because she somehow managed to prove to be useful with the animals, just not the people that was adopting them. Venin's presence is ignored, both because Meri does not like her and because the werewolf is trying to process everything she is witnessing at the moment. The tattooed woman was without words. The injuries were from the witch hunters? But the fire was not? There are a thousand questions speeding through Meri's mind, but she does not bombard the witch with them. Talyara is just met with silence and a pleading expression, one that is begging for further answers to what exactly has transpired here.

Talyara nips at her bottom lip, aggravating the healing split there so that a few droplets of blood drip down her chin. "Damnit," the witch mutters, quickly wiping the crimson away. She senses the pleading in Meri's gaze and Taly shifts uncomfortably. She didn't know the werewolf as well as her sister, but she couldn't help trusting the blonde. She was a member of the guild after all, the sibling to her friend, Khitti. However, Nicolai had warned her not to tell a soul about what really transpired here, for if that information fell in the wrong hands, then more innocent lives would be in danger. As much as she wanted to tell Meri the truth, she did not want to jeopardize her life. "We're not sure what happened. Witch hunters came here for Lanara and killed two guards, nearly killed Venin, too. It could have been something as minor as a lantern falling over and igniting a hay bale," Taly says with a shrug. "With no real staff here, they didn't find it until it was too late."

If Talyara was telling the truth or not did not really even cross Meri's mind, what was said was blindly accepted, if only because there was no real need to press for more detailed information. Meri had the least to gain from really knowing all of the details, and she has already sacrificed much in the name of helping witches. After all, she once had a home and a business within the city limits of Larket and now she no longer does. The blonde frowns at the way Talyara bites her lip so nervously that she causes it to bleed, but she does not read too much into the gesture. Were the scenario different, she might be inclined to read more into this nervous ticks that are being displayed. For now, Meri is mostly still quiet. She is scuffing the toe of her boot into the earth in brooding contemplation. Someone needs to do something about these witch hunters. They have been a problem for far too long. Except despite Meri's want to help, she didn't have enough information to really be of use to anyone. "I'm sorry. You two should really not be having to deal with any of this. These witch hunters...it should have been dealt with by now." Meri frowns, her thoughts straying back to her own child. Maybe Callum was right. Maybe the world was too dangerous for Fleur...but that is neither her nor there and Meri pushes that line of thought to the back of her mind. For now. "I'm sure that you did not ask me to come out here to meet you for no reason though. Is there something that I can do to help?"

This time when Talyara smiles, it's not a tick of her lips or a grimace of force, but a genuine one, although muted and sad. "You have no reason to apologize, Meri. But I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless." The witch rubs at her tired eyes and stifles a yawn behind her palm. "They are sneaky and elusive, blinded by their leader and dangerous beliefs." Taly had no knowledge that Callum and Meri were no longer a couple, so naturally she assumes they are still together and feels the need to warn the werewolf. "I believe they are watching us. If they were tailing me and Lana, I can't imagine they'd leave the rest of the witches alone. When they kidnapped me, they wanted information about who all the witches were and what our plans were and who our leader was." A shiver runs down Taly's spine and she hugs her arms around her chest, a defensive move to keep the nightmare of her experience at bay. At Meri's offer to help, the emerald eyed witch gives a slow nod. "In a manner of speaking, yes." Now came the hard part. If warning Meri about the witch hunters and lying about the fire was hard, this next confession was downright excruciating. "I don't think my sister has been shy about telling people that she experienced horrors in her past, even if she omitted the details. After our rescue we were taken to a clinic to heal and she was released after about a week. I assumed she was going to her home with Elioyahazer, as I had to stay behind due to this." Here Taly pauses to hold up her bandaged arm. "Apparently, the Sandman abandoned her. That was the last straw and she broke. Lana...isn't herself anymore." The last words are spoken in a voice barely above a whisper, her tone thick with emotion, as tears shine in her eyes.

Meri frowns, honing in on a new piece of information that Talyara is revealing to her. The witch had been skirting around many details of what happened, Meri barely had a full story. "After...your rescue?" They had been taken? That is why they sustained these injuries? How long had they been held captive? How did Meri not even hear a single peep about this? Meri makes a vague motion to the damaged sanctuary, "You weren't just attacked? They actually took you?" Meri and Callum might not be together anymore, but in light of this warning and what has happened to Lanara and Talyara...well Meri's mind definitely strays to how the Catalian was doing. She had written him to tell him that Fleur was born, but has heard nothing. Meri had her assumptions as to why that might have been, but now she is starting to second guess them. What if something had happened? Another rabbit hole for Meri to wander down at another time, but she was not far from where he lives and so Meri resigns that it would be best if she wandered by. It's not like she had to go knocking on his front door, she could just hang around the forest like some creepy lurker to make sure he was at least still in one piece. Meri closes her eyes and sucks in a breath, releasing it slowly. "What do you mean Lanara is not herself anymore?"

Talyara gives another slow nod of her head when Meri asks for clarification if they'd actually been taken. The witch hadn't meant to give pieces of a story, to confuse the werewolf with missing details. She was just...struggling. "They ambushed me outside of my cottage in Frostmaw. There were several of them. They bound my magic and knocked me unconscious. When I awoke I was in a strange place, locked in a cell, and chained up." Taly begins to gnaw on her bottom lip once more, anxiety beginning to consume her at the fresh nightmares she had endured at the hands of the witch hunters. "They tortured me for information," she adds, her voice cracking. "They thought that by bringing in Lana too they could force my tongue. But one of them had a change of heart and then Krice showed up." Talyara clears her throat and takes a steadying breath, allowing the reality of her words to heavily settle around them. As Meri inquires about Lana further, Talyara doesn't bother to hold back the tears. "Her mental state is...fractured. Unable to cope with all that she's been through, her brain separated into several different personalities." The little witch falls quiet for a moment before adding, "she's never going to get better."

Meri is not the greatest conversationalist at this exact moment, not that she really thought Talyara could blame her. Everything that was being explained to Meri, well it was a lot to take in and process. There are no words. The blonde is shocked by everything that is revealed to her, so much so that she takes to leaning against her gray mare in a bid to support herself. Kadence does not really appreciate being used as a leaning post though, and steps away. This results in Meri slowly slipping to the earth and assuming a seated position. There is no easy way to deliver news such as this. Her mental state is fractured, she's never going to get better. Brows furrow together and blue eyes fixate themselves on the ground. Meri's not even entirely sure how much time passes before she finally speaks to Talyara again. "I wish there were words. Apologies seem futile. Statements like...I am glad you made it out okay? They're not fitting." Meri frowns. "All I can say is that...I wish I would have known, and I wish that there was something that I could have done to make things different for the both of you. Words like 'have hope' seem so futile right now..."

Talyara watches Meri through her watery eyes, starting towards the werewolf when the mare steps away from her leaning and she slides to the ground. The witch is feeling a little weak herself so she ends up crossing her legs and sitting beside her. Tears continue to roll down her cheeks, but Taly does her best to not let it go further than that. Upon leaving the psychiatric facility initially, Talyara had completely broken down, heavy sobs racking her body until she was too exhausted to cry anymore. She was barely hanging on, but she wasn't about to put Meri through that, especially after dropping all this heavy stuff on her. Despite the werewolf claiming to not have the right words for the situation, Talyara finds them oddly comforting. "I appreciate your candor. It's better than 'have hope'. Her doctor assures me that Lana's condition is so complex that to give her false hope is more detrimental to her health. As much as I want to hang onto it, maybe it's best if I don't. And that makes me feel even worse," she admits with a frown. "Sometimes the real Lana comes out. Not often and not for long, but she is still a part of the system. In one of her moments of lucidity, she asked that I give some things to people she cared about, so her friends have something of her. I know you already have pets, but she wanted you to have Circinus." Meri would undoubtably remember him as the wrinkly, bull mastiff puppy who acted as mascot for the Adventurer's Guild and was their tracker.

Meri wasn't crying, though that is not to say that there was not genuine care. It's just...this is Meri? If she cries (and she does), it's probably in front of a select few...because being vulnerable is just some major suckage as far as she is concerned. Talyara being in full blown tears was not really helping the situation, her eyes were definitely watering up but she was resisting the urge. Unfortunately for Talyara, Meri is also not the smartest when it comes to these situations. A hug might be appropriate in an attempt to comfort the other witch, but none comes. Maybe one day Meri will figure out how to balance tough with sensitive, she's a work in progress and has been for many years. Still, she cares. Talyara's tears are pulling at her heartstrings. When the witch goes on to explain that the doctors do not believe that they should give Lanara false hope, Meri just nods. She can understand the point, and yet much like Talyara...there was guilt. Was it right to just accept such an answer when it comes to someone you care about? Meri wasn't sure. Lanara's wish that Meri care for Circinus is given another slow nod. It takes a moment, but Meri does manage to muster up something of a smile. "Well, when you visit her..." Would Talyara visit with Lanara? Or would it be too hard for her to see her in such a broken state? Meri was not certain, but she could not fault the witch for whatever choice she makes. "If you have a chance to speak with the real Lanara again, you can let her know that I will take care of Circinus." One more addition to the herd did not bother Meri, though she wishes it were under different circumstances.

Talyara does not blame Meri for not knowing what to do. While the witch is overly affectionate by nature and would not have minded an embrace, she knows this is entirely different from person to person. Krice had been her friend for years and it took a while to build up to hugs, so she does not fault the blonde one bit. The emerald eyed witch sniffles and swipes at her damp cheeks when Meri nods, agreeing to take care of Circinus. "I will be visiting her, and I promise to tell her that he is in good hands. I'm sure that would make her happy." Taly gives a sharp, two note whistle, and the wrinkly puppy makes his appearance, bounding out of the sanctuary with his tongue lolling. He runs to Talyara first and she gives him a scratch behind his ears before pointing towards the werewolf. "You're going to go live with Meri now. She's going to take good care of you." The witch leans forward to press a kiss to his head before gently nudging him towards the blonde. "I was also wondering if you could do me another favor? She wanted some things to go to Khitti as well, but I...I just can't stay here right now. It's all been too much and I just need to go far away for a little bit to heal. Would you be willing to give her the items for me?"

Meri again nods, still frowning. It would be a bit before Meri stopped frowning, her heart was heavy. Even when the wrinkly puppy comes bounding toward Meri and Talyara, there was no smile. It was nothing personal to the puppers. Mountain would be happy to have someone more his size to play with. Poor Mr. Weanie would probably be less pleased with the newest addition. Meri rises to her feet and moves to collect a leash so that she can secure the puppy. Normally Meri would not be so forward with helping herself around the establishment, but it was within sight, and all things considered...it was just easier for her to snag it and gently leash the pup right now. "I'd be happy to pass whatever on to Khitti." She could understand Talyara wanting to take time to heal. "When you're done taking the time that you need? Don't be a stranger. If you need anything? Just let me know." Meri tries to manage a smile, but it's not the easiest task to complete right now. "I think we'll be heading home after you pass on whatever she has for Khitti." Meri needed her own time to digest and process everything that she heard.

Talyara doesn't try and stop Meri as she pushes herself to a stand and moves to collect a nearby leash in order to secure Circinus. She simply watches with a blank expression before giving her head a shake and straightening herself as well, brushing any lingering dirt off her rear. "Thank you for doing this. I really appreciate it." Talyara didn't know for sure where she was going, but she just wanted, needed to be away from anything that reminded her of her sister. Lanara was the last of her family and now she was pretty much gone, too. Meri's comforting words of not being a stranger are met with a sad smile and a nod. "I won't. And thank you. Although you might come to regret that offer," she says, hoping to inject a bit a levity into the heavy conversation they just had. The witch begins to head back towards the building and beckons for Meri to follow her. Once inside she pauses at the door of Lanara's office, taking a steadying breath before crossing the threshold and moving towards her desk. A small wooden box lay on the top and Taly takes it before offering it to Meri. "This is a wedding band. I'm not sure if Lana had it made for the Sandman or this was to be hers, but she wanted Khitti to have it. I know her and Brand are getting married and she figured they would be able to use it." Just then Venin walks in, holding the paw of a cute polar bear cub, whose big eyes look a little lost and sad. "She also wanted her to have Aspen. He'll need some time as he was more like a son to Lana, but I think he'll adjust well." A frowning Venin, turns her attention to the werewolf now. "I have a wagon you can hitch to the back of your mare for the dog and bear if you want."

In most cases, Meri would find some amount of amusement of Brand having to deal with a polar bear cub living on his ship. This was not one of those cases, this was the extreme rarity where Meri could not find the amusement. Even when she was going to present these gifts to Khitti, she'd not see the humor. "A wagon would probably be good..." Trying to manage three animals on her own all the way back to Cenril would probably be a challenge without the help of a wagon. "I will deliver both the ring and Aspen to Khitti, safe and sound." Meri would not leave Talyara to hitch the wagon to Kadence without assistance, the blonde would be there every step of the way. Afterall, Taly was injured. The werewolf was not. She did not want the witch straining herself further in an attempt to help Meri. Before Meri and the little gaggle of animals set off for the trip back home, she leaves Talyara with another sad smile. "When you feel up to it, come visit me in Cenril. I'm counting this wagon as a borrowed item, so you'll need to come reclaim it. Plus you'll need to make sure I am taking care of Circinus properly." This last part was more of a joke, as there was really no doubt Meri would be taking great care of the mastiff pup, but it was delivery is lacking enthusiasm. In time Meri would be back to better spirits.