( @hedgearcher for mentions of Tara. @sorenspath for mentions of Soren.)

There was much to think about. A lot to consider. Yet her words had been right. This much he knew to be true. The words were hard to swallow but they had needed to be said by someone. Yet they seemed to strike better through the pain and haze coming from her.

Hers was a face he hadn’t expected to find. Not standing right outside on the path leading from Soren’s apartment building. How many moons now had it been since she had departed without a word? Too many. No word from her on how she was or if she ever planned to come back again. He had figured she was gone like many others who came and went. Yet there she was that night as he was preparing to head back to those ruins again.

Everything she said was true. He was drowning his pain in drink. Recklessly hunting rumored ghosts to ease his anguish. Not once had he stopped to think of the repercussions of his choices. All he knew was his own suffering. Tried to turn that pain and suffering into something else. Heading down a path that would probably lead to his death.

The loss of so much that had been in his life. His father’s death. Being outcast by his own grandfather. Crashing at Soren’s apartment because he had no place else to turn to besides his cousin at that moment when everything seemed to be falling apart. Yet he did not want to burden her further when she had her own share of troubles. The same went for other friends. He would not be anyone’s burden. Or that was what he thought. Instead he was still a burden in other ways.

Tara… She had come back. Had cut through to him like no one else could. A part of him had wanted to throw his arms around her as he sunk to his knees and just cry. She understood him better then anyone. The first person he had truly let understand him on such a level, see beyond the mask. Yet he had forced himself to maintain some dignity with being out in public where other eyes could be watching.

It had all started with a hug. Something so simple and basic. He had told her the truth long ago about his family while tending his wounds. An she hugged him. It was so unexpected though he had allowed it. Something then had felt so right. He just hadn’t realized then why or what. Hadn’t thought that maybe… This young girl from the wilds was capturing his heart.

Only for her to disappear soon after Starlight. Without even a goodbye. Yet now she was back again. Everything began to feel like it was falling back in place. Things that had felt lost seemed to be finding their way back again. She had even taken care of his wounds before shooing him off to Soren’s bed rather then allowing him to sleep on the couch.

Hopefully Soren wouldn’t mind the additional guest at his apartment that night. Probably wouldn’t. Now if only he could get his cousin and Tara back on speaking terms things would seem just like they used to be. Tara was back once more and that was all that mattered to him as he drifted off to sleep that night.

Now he had to figure out where things went from here. First the drinking had to stop. As did the ventures into those ruins alone. He should have listened to Yuti before but her words, as kind as they had been, had not gotten through to him as effectively as Tara’s. Once he got past those hurdles… Maybe he could consider what his feelings for Tara really were.