[Caregivers] Prompt 3

Blackness clouded their vision as another vision tried to come forth. However, Herja and Garmr immediately knew what they were about to see when they heard the trumpets of battle ring out before the vision fully formed. Alowyn couldn’t see what her companions were experiencing but for once Alowyn felt the familiar chill of home and knew what was about to be viewed. All three reoseans, surprising the Handmaids, slammed their minds shut. 

The atmosphere was tense as the three waited for their vision to be restored to the present day. When the crystal cavern came into view, Garmr and Herja wasted no time as they raced out of the pool. It took Alowyn a moment to gather herself before she slowly left the pool. 

“You could’ve seen any memory, but not that one,” Alowyn grimaced when she was on the shore looking at the Handmaids. 

Garmr and Herja agreed but ultimately grew curious about the memory Alowyn was going to experience. They only knew her as this empyrian that was happy and laughing no matter the situation. Despite the encounter with Shira, they expected Alowyn to have never experienced anything so terrible she would refuse to see it again. The Handmaids and vayrons were all curious about what would have been seen.

Alowyn on the other hand was exhausted. Though she hadn’t shared the memory, it was already playing on her mind repeatedly. 

“Refusing to reflect,” A disembodied voice of one of the Handmaids started, “results in denied entry.”

“Please leave,” Another Handmaid added. 

The curiosity about Alowyn’s past quickly faded as frustration replaced the moods of the vayrons. Even Herja had to admit it was too harsh a judgment for simply not wanting to relive past trauma. Alowyn was too tired to feel much of anything besides accepting the decision. 

“No,” Herja stood tall, “We’ve come all this way, we’ve only failed one test.”

“No matter,” The Handmaid hissed, “Leave.”

Garmr growled in response, “No.”

The Handmaids collectively hissed and growled. Their unique voices and synchronicity added a haunting layer to their threatening behaviour. Alowyn dragged a hand over her face as she remained unaffected by the agitated behaviour on both sides of the room. 

“Guys,” Alowyn sighed, “Let’s just go.”

“Don’t lose focus of our mission so easily,” Garmr huffed to his empyrian companion. 

“Garmr’s right.” Herja added, “We’re tasked with meeting The Matriarch and we will.”

Alowyn’s tired eyes rolled to the ceiling as she shook her head. 

“You will not,” The Handmaids growled. 

The Handmaids moved to block a door that the three hadn’t seen before. The haedians stood tall and their covered bodies added to their size. They seemed to act as a wall, except Herja was certain they wouldn’t be a hard fight. While Herja started to strategize in her head, Garmr smirked at the Handmaids’ mistake. They wouldn’t have known where to go, but they revealed the door to them. 

“I can tell what you’re thinking,” Alowyn whispered to Herja, “Stop.”

“What’s gotten into you?” Herja asked when she finally turned to focus on her empyrian companion and noticed her low energy. 

Garmr turned to his companions to see how the conversation would play out.

“They said to leave,” Alowyn dragged out her voice, “It’d be easier to do that.”

“Nothing about this journey has been easy,” Herja reminded her, “Why now?”

“I’m tired,” Alowyn whispered.

“I can see that,” Herja replied with a tilt to her head.

“I want to go home,” Alowyn continued quietly. 

Alowyn didn’t elaborate, but truly she wanted to see her brother. The memory that was playing on repeat in her head was one of the loss of her parents and while she still had many good memories of them, the bad one made her feel lost and alone. 

“After we see the Matriarch,” Garmr growled when Herja didn’t reply and then turned to the Handmaids, “Let us through.”

“No,” The Handmaids echoed each other as they all refused their visitors. 

Alowyn flinched as her exhaustion hit a new low and flipped to frustration. Frustrated with the Caregivers for refusing their entry simply because they wanted to keep the bad to themselves; and frustrated with her companions for pushing her boundaries. Alowyn made a noise of frustration before her eyes began to glow white. She grappled with her magic and her usual politeness with plants was gone. 

Alowyn didn’t ask for permission, in the moment she used her magic to grab at the plants in the area and immediately pulled them to the Handmaids. Vines wrapped around the haedians and in an instant they found themselves pinned to the walls of the cavern. Alowyn growled. 

Herja and Garmr were, as always, surprised and amazed at the power of their small companion. 

“Get moving,” Alowyn huffed, frustrated. 

Herja didn’t like the tone because it felt like Alowyn was losing her joyfulness, but Garmr found the new tone exciting. Herja started to think about the last few moments and realized her mistake when approaching Alowyn. Garmr was still clueless, he was just thrilled to see a different side of Alowyn no matter how damaging it might be. 

“Wyn…” Herja attempted to repair some of the damage done. 

“Don’t worry about it now,” Alowyn said sharply as she turned her glowing eyes to Herja with a harsh stare, “It’s done.”

Herja swallowed the words on her tongue and solemnly walked through the door with Garmr and Alowyn at her side. 

[910]