Barer of ill news

[Northen Light36]

Arriving on the doorstep of the Veatherfall house, Tavin knocks quickly on the door and calls, "Mrs Veatherfall. Mr Veatherfall. Are you home?"

The worry and nervousness in Tavin's tone is unmistakable.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia answers; Talon was out in the back of the house, noisily playing with his children and the dog. "Tavin, what's the matter?" she asks, looking worried herself now as she offers to let him inside. "Talon is out back with the children."

[Northen Light36]

"Alethia," Tavin says as he enters the house, looking and sounding uncertain of how she's going to take this. "My brother-in-law, Zap, and your brother, Amaro were up against each other in the tournament in Maelstorm and... well, things got... out of hand." Tavin sighes softly. "Amaro's been hurt, Alethia. Rather badly hurt."

[Darastrix]

((Playing through, since it's to do with the same subject.))

Zira arrives at the Star home first, figuring that Cass will be anxious to leave once he speaks to her, and it'll just be easier if Aideen's already there to take Aria. Knocking loudly at the door, he calls, "Aideen, are you here?"

[Northen Light36]

"Coming!" Aideen calls. There's a flapping sound - Aideen ignoring the "no flying in the house" rule, yet again - and then Aideen opens the door. "Zira! Hi!" Taking in his expression, Aideen's own smile dims. "Zira? What's the matter? Are Mum and Dad all right?"

[Darastrix]

"Your parents are fine," Zira hastens to assure her. "Amaro, though...." He bit his lip. "He was hurt during the tournament's second round. Badly. Your dad is already here to take the Veatherfalls to Maelstrom and I'm going to get Cass. Your mom wanted me to ask you if you can watch their children."

[Northen Light36]

Aideen turns around and grabs her coat, struggling to get her wings through the slits in the back for a second. "Of course I will," Aideen replies. "I'll get little Aria from Cass then go straight to the Veatherfalls. Can you tell Dad I'll be there in a minute?" She hesitates, then asks softly, "Zira? How... How bad is Amaro hurt? Is he going to be all right?"

[Darastrix]

Zira sighs, rubbing Dream's ears. "I don't know, Aideen. I know Storms can handle the attacks of their own element better than most, but Zap hit him right in the chest with a lightning bolt." Not to mention beating him over the head with a wooden sword, but Zira doesn't want to go into too much detail.

"Let's go see Cass and Aria; I can talk to Tavin on the way."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia's hand goes to her mouth and her eyes widen in shock. "Oh Etaf," she breathes. "Is he going to live? Has someone told Cass?"

[Northen Light36]

"Zap did that?" Aideen asks, looking horrified... but not completely shocked. She knows there's bad blood between her family and the Melissans, even if she doesn't know the details. And she knows Zap has a temper. Falling silent, she follows Zira to see Cass.

---

Tavin swallows a little and sighes. "I won't lie to you, Alethia," he says quietly. "Amaro took a lightning bolt to the chest at close range and he has some head wounds. I'm not a healer, so I can't say how serious his condition is but... From where I was standing, it didn't look good. Your sister is quite upset as well." Tavin looks distracted for a moment as he gets a message from Zira. "Zira has gone to get Cass, and my daughter, Aideen, is willing to look after the children if you and Talon will come with me."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia nodded and headed quickly out back. After a moment, she returns with Talon. The children trail behind. They look a bit confused - and Talon looks very worried.

"We're ready now," Alethia said. "Children, Aideen is going to come keep an eye on you while your father and I go tend to some business in Maelstrom."

"Okay Mommy," Crentha says, quietly subdued. Spice holds her hand.

[Darastrix]

Cass opens the door, surprised to see Aideen and Zira. "This is a nice surprise," she begins, smiling, then cuts herself off when she notes the expression on the two Winds' faces. "What is it, Zira?" Noting her cousin's absence, she adds, "Is something the matter with Zack?"

Zira shakes his head. "Zack's fine; he's at home." He shifts slightly, smoothing down his feathers with the hand not occupied with holding his cat. "Amaro was hurt in the tournament."

Cass' face pales. "What? How badly? Is it serious? No, of course it's serious or you wouldn't be here. How serious?"

"Very serious," Zira admits. "He took a lightning strike to the chest and was hit in the head fairly hard."

"Efil...," she breathes. "But--but I thought it was supposed to be non-lethal!"

"It was, but the match got out of hand. I can take you to Maelstrom," Zira tells her. "Tavin is getting the Veatherfalls, and Aideen will take care of the children."

Cass nods and darts back inside to douse the fire and collect her daughter. "I'll be back soon, Aria," she murmurs softly to the little girl before handing her reluctantly to Aideen. "I just need to go visit Daddy for a little bit."

[Northen Light36]

"We're going to go play with your cousins, Aria," Aideen adds. Aria beams happily and waves to her mother.

"Hug Daddy!" she tells her mother before happily letting Aideen carry her off.

Tavin puts his hands on Alethia and Talon's shoulders and teleports to Maelstrom with them.