The Doors of our Heart

[losthunter]

Many thoughts about his latent magic had given Hunter a lot to think about in the past few days. He really wanted to find someone to help him learn more about his abilities. And maybe, help him to become stronger.

Kendra was gone, but that didn't mean there weren't ways to find her. Or at least find the people that were connected to her.

Hunter had spent a few days looking for the right door in the Nexus that would bring him the answers that he sought. And finally, he felt that he had found what he had been looking for.

But before entering into an unknown place, Hunter knew that he should have a couple of people come with him. He PINpointed a message to Jim first, since it was an adventure that he thought the restless captain would enjoy. Then he PINpointed a message to Faris, who had become his story-keeper in a fashion.

All that left was to wait for his guests, before the adventure could begin.

Comments

[boldygoing]

Jim is very careful with the butterfly, gently guiding it into the confines of the lantern and off his hands. "There you go, buddy," he says to it.

[losthunter]

The butterfly settles inside the lantern. Once Hunter closes the lantern door, there is a soft glow from inside. Seven little stars illuminate on the lantern. They lift up and off the lantern, heading towards the girls. Six of the stars land on each of the six girls, while the seventh star just hovers... waiting.

As each girl is touched by the star, a small network of tattoos show up on their arms. Jim might recognize the patterns as star charts. It is these tattoo star charts that will reveal which girl is which.

The missing girl is Merope. The youngest sister.

[boldygoing]

It takes him a moment to recognize the patterns, but once he does, he picks out the missing one immediately. "We're missing Merope."

"The sister who hid her face," Faris remembers.

[losthunter]

"Merope was the only one of the sisters who loved a non-God. A human."

"And I think... she represents Kendra's feelings for me." Hunter traces part of his tattoo on his left arm.

[poetwarrior]

Faris tilts his head to the side in puzzlement. "It is possible. What might this mean?"

[losthunter]

Hunter looks back towards the tree. And sighs. "Time to put my heart out on the table. Again."

[boldygoing]

Jim reaches for Hunter's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Anything I can do to help?"

1 of 2 posts. Just wait...

[losthunter]

"You being here has been a big help already." Hunter reassures him. And squeezes his hand in return.

He leads Jim and Faris back to the tree, where the girls are waiting.

"I found your treasure. I understand now."

2 of 2 posts. And now for NPC journal

[maze_ofthorns]

The girls nod, accepting his answer. They turn, to look towards the river, where another young child is coming towards the tree. This is the young girl that they had seen in the town. She quickly looks at Hunter, before glancing away.

Walking up to the tree, she reaches up for the star that is waiting there for her. It settles on her skin, giving her the Star Chart tattoo with her name.

Then all seven girls glow. They hold hands, and glow brighter. The light is so bright that Hunter has to look away. When the light fades, there is just one person there. An adult woman, with long blonde hair, deep green eyes, and a simple white dress.

"You found me. Hello Hunter."

"Hello Kendra." He answers.

[poetwarrior]

Jim has never met Kendra, obviously, but Faris has. And the K'da wonders if he will be recognized also. After all, they are back in time, somehow... but she knows who Hunter is regardless. "It is agreeable to see you again." There's no reason not to be polite, either way.

never got an notification

[losthunter]

"As am I glad to see you." Kendra holds out her hand to Faris, as a gesture of kindness and recognition.

"You have a new friend, Hunter." She turns her attention to Jim.

"Kendra..."

"Don't worry. I won't test him, like I did the other."

DW seems to be eating them lately

[boldygoing]

Faris bows his head slightly to her in return.

Jim doesn't really know what to make of all this, but he gets that this is the woman they've been looking for. Apparently. "Thanks?"

[losthunter]

"He is handsome." Kendra smiles. It is a soft and sincere smile.

"Is this where you went, when you left?"

"No Hunter. This is where I came from. Tonight is the night I was given my task to touch lives in an unique way. Tonight is the night when I was given my gift." Kendra reached up and touched Hunter's face.

"My gift failed you. So I only had time to give you the whispers of who I will be, when that time comes."

"How did you fail me?" Hunter whispers.

"My intent was to open your heart to new possibilities. And I suppose..." She looks at Jim for a moment. "It has. But the kiss never broke the spell, because the kiss was not the one you desired. You have the one you desire now, but his kiss does nothing..."

"I wouldn't say that..." Hunter quietly argued.

"All my magic was placed onto one single kiss. I wish I could have seen the truth, so that I would have not faded away."

[boldygoing]

Jim frowns, uneasy and uncertain with the way this conversation is going. "Sorry, I'm lost. Faded away?"

[losthunter]

Kendra reaches down to lift Hunter's arm, holding it gently. "My magic changed him. It became part of him. When the kiss never broke the curse, my magic stayed with him. And I grew weaker."

"Until I had nothing left, and I had to return to nothing."

"Kendra..." Hunter shakes his head slightly. "You are right here. In front of me. How can you say that?"

"This is the me before. The me that comes later will still do what she needs to, by changing you, so you can be the man you are." Kendra looks at Jim again. "I think we can all agree he is a good man."

[boldygoing]

"Of course he is." Jim has never known Hunter to be anything different, even though he's heard a little of the backstory.

[losthunter]

"And your pride would have made you a selfish man, had I not gave you my magic. I do not regret anything." Kendra tells Hunter.

"But if you are gone, how do I put your magic to good use?" Hunter has to wipe away a stray tear.

"You have to make it yours, Hunter."

"No regrets. Accept the love in your heart. And make it yours."

Kendra starts to glow slightly, the bottom of her body starts to fade away.

[poetwarrior]

Faris tenses a little, watching her fade, so like what happens to his people when they die. But this seems... expected, perhaps. At least, by her. "Will he see you again?" he asks, fairly certain that he already knows the answer.

[losthunter]

"No." Kendra answers. Hunter chokes back a tearful gasp. She takes his hand in hers. "You were meant to find the door to this time only once. Hunter."

"What will happen, will happen. And time connects at the beginning and the end."

As Hunter noticed that Kendra is fading away, the tears come faster. "I will do whatever I can to make you proud, Kendra."

"You already have Hunter..." Kendra glances at Faris. Then Jim. "Take care of him for me. Such a tender soul."

[boldygoing]

"As much as I can," Jim promises, stepping close enough to Hunter to put a hand on his shoulder.

Faris bows his head to Kendra, for what is now the last time. "I shall, to the best of my ability."

[losthunter]

Hunter leans into the steady presence of Jim right beside him. He is shaking so much, he can barely speak right now. But the last part of Kendra is just starting to fade away. "Goodbye Kendra. You will always have a special place in my heart."

In a matter of seconds, Kendra is gone. They are alone, except for the tree.

[boldygoing]

Once Kendra is gone, Jim puts his arms around Hunter in a hug. There's also a brief sensation of weight on Hunter's arm as Faris transfers himself to Hunter's skin, wrapping around him in the most comforting gesture he knows.

[losthunter]

Being wrapped in an embrace, and feeling Faris' wrap around his body in his form of an embrace, helps settle Hunter's sobs. The tree also seems to be sheltering them with its branches.

"I never thought saying goodbye to her would be so hard." Hunter whispers.

[bed]

[boldygoing]

"Saying goodbye is always hard," Jim says quietly, and he speaks from experience - too much experience. "You gonna be all right?"

[losthunter]

"I will be... in time..." Hunter knows that his heart will be heavy for the next couple of weeks.

"When we get back, could you both stay the rest of the night with me?"