To Love and Lose|Skyheort, Talen'sul

[Northen Light36]

Amaro wasn't surprised to see Acqua hadn't hung around after the fight. No doubt the kid had run off to sulk and stew on how much she hated him, but it had been the right thing to do. She'd been in no shape to handle a fight. Acqua's primary advantage in a battle was the same thing that made her such a skilled thief - her speed. Slowed down and in a battle against two far more trained Storms, she could only have gotten hurt and so he'd gotten her out of the danger. Sighing and bracing himself for an outraged child's fit, Amaro steps into Alethia and Talon's house.

"Alethia? Talon? Acqua?" he calls, slightly unnerved by the quietness of the house.

[Kender Bard]

The house was... Empty. Not a sound greeted Amaro from within it. But outside, there came a startled cry.

"Amaro!" Alethia gasped, running up. Still walking a distance away in the direction they'd arrive was Talon, and he seemed in no hurry to pick up his pace. He kept his eyes to the ground and hands in his pockets. Alethia, though, was worried.

"Acqua is gone," she whimpered. "After she ran off, we brought her back here. But she snuck away when none of us were looking!"

Taurus teleported roughly around then. Looking at Alethia, he just shook his head. Alethia's shoulders slumped slightly. "Oh, Acqua... Not again..."

[Northen Light36]

"Damn that kid," Amaro growls, carefully focusing on his anger rather then the sickening fear lurking in his mind. Injured and upset, Acqua would be fairly easily prey for anything in the mountains... No, he won't think like that. "She can't have gotten that far, not on a bad leg," he tells everyone. "Alethia, calm down, we're going to find her. Where have you already looked?"

[Kender Bard]

"With the help of Talon and Taurus, we've more or less swept all of Talen'sul's city limits and outer fringes," Alethia said, trembling a little. "Just tell us where to look, and we'll go."

[Northen Light36]

Amaro frowns, considering the options now. "Have you checked the heart of the city as well?" he asks. "Half the time when Acqua takes off, she doesn't go very far, you know that Alethia. Most likely she's just hiding in some back alley." He's not as confident of that as he forces himself to sound, but his first goal is to reassure Alethia. "If she isn't here, then the closest places for her to go are Ronduin or Maelstrom and a water/storm will stick out fairly well in either place. Taurus and I can search for her there if it turns out we need to."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia gulps, and nods. "I thought I checked nearly everywhere, but I'll do another search." By this time, Talon had shown up. Just as Alethia turns to run off again, he lays his hands on her shoulders and firmly, but gently, stops her.

"Go inside and try to rest," he says quietly. "I won't have you running around the city like this, Alethia. Let us do the work. You've done enough for today."

"But I-" Alethia starts to protest, but Talon gives her a look and she sighs, nodding, and heads inside.

Talon runs his fingers through his hair. "Forces.." Once Alethia is out of hearing range, he gives a frustrated growl and kicks a stone hard, sending it skittering down the road. "If she weren't hurt, Amaro, I'd say let Acqua go where she wants!"

"Talon," Taurus gasps, surprised. "But aren't you concerned?"

"Of course I am!" Talon snaps, eyes flashing angrilly. "But I am also sick of this. She's an adult, and she refuses to act like one. Alethia would walk to the ends of the earth for her sister, and Acqua abuses that love and trust. I'm sick of seeing her run away whenever she's upset. It tears my wife up, and it tears me up, and I'm.. I'm sick of it! Amaro, I'll help you find Acqua, but that's it. If she wants to keep abandoning the people who love her, then fine. She's too old to be indulged like this anymore."

Stunned, Taurus just stared at the man.

[Northen Light36]

"To be honest, I agree Talon," Amaro agrees. "The only reason I'm looking for her at all is because I'd rather her stupidity doesn't get her killed, but that's as far as my concern goes. Once we find her, I'll baby-sit her until she's healled and then the brat is on her own." Amaro scowls darkly. "You're right, we've all indulged her for too long and until she's prepared to grow up, I'm washing my hands of her. Come on, let's take a look around."

[Kender Bard]

Talon glanced at Taurus, but the Mind avoided his gaze. At the moment, he was using his concern to mask his heartbrokeness. So, without instruction, the man teleported away to resume the search.

Talon heaved a sigh and followed Amaro.

[Northen Light36]

After an hour or so of searching, Amaro leans against a wall and shakes his head. "I give up," he sighs. "She's not here... Ugh, there are times when I'd like to murder that girl. Why does she have to be so damn pig-headed, Talon?"

[Kender Bard]

"I don't know," Talon admits wearily. Taurus teleported back, looking like he had a headache tantamount to being slugged with a brick.

"I didn't get any word from her in Maelstrom," he admitted tiredly.

[Northen Light36]

"Then I'll start for Ronduin," Amaro sighes. "Although I doubt she'd go there, honestly. She's not fond of visiting there for whatever reason. Taurus, you look like you're going to collapse and I'm sure you're eager to get back to your wife, Talon. Taurus, you're welcome to catch up to me when you're feeling better. Talon, looks like this is where we part ways again."

[Kender Bard]

"And with sorrow in my heart that we do," Talon said with sincerity. "Please visit soon, Amaro. My home is yours." He smiled and, abruptly, gave Amaro a parting hug. Taurus just grinned and decided to leave the two men to their goodbyes as he walked off.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro returned the hug with a pat on the back. "You know I will," he assures Talon. "And tell Alethia I'll be bringing Acqua back with me. Stay safe Talon."

[Kender Bard]

"I will," Talon mumbled softly, then turned and headed home.

[Northen Light36]

With a tired sigh, Amaro walks out of Talen'sul and on towards Ronduin. "This time kid, I'm not just letting you disappear," he mutters to his absent little sister as he walks. This is one game of hide and seek that Amaro's determined to win.