Caregivers Clan: 3

The three empyrians were thrown from the memory as fast as they were thrust into it. The blazing fire faded to blackness as Griffith and Aule patiently waited for the sight to return. Oeric, on the other hand, was panicking and flailing in the water before his vision of the raging fire had completely faded. As the empyrians’ hearing returned, they could all hear the frantic splashing. 

“You can touch the bottom!” Aule called, worried whoever was panicking would get themselves into more trouble. 

Their vision was still black, but they could hear the noises in the cavern around them. Aule couldn’t be sure who was panicking, but either Oeric or Griffith could have touched the bottom. However, the sounds of frantic splashing didn’t stop as the Handmaids looked on with worry. They debated how they should help the empyrians while the effects of the reflection were still fading. 

“Oeric, stand up!” Griffith shouted as his visions slowly started to return. 

There was a pause in the splashing before Oeric finally settled in the water with his feet safely on the bottom of the pool and his vision of the crystal cave around him was restored. Tears ran down his face as he covered his head with his claws and took deep breaths. Griffith and Aule were saddened for him, and the Handmaids watched all three with pity on their faces. 

The Handmaids closest to them started to gently urge the three empyrians out of the water. Their warm hands touched Oeric’s shoulder and managed to bring him some more comfort after the traumatic memory. Griffith and Aule let the Handmaids help them out of the water but kept their eyes on their younger friend who clearly needed the comfort more than they did. 

Oeric numbly sat on the ground with his eyes downcast. He felt the Handmaids direct him to a more comfortable area, but for the most part, he was still trapped in his head. While the memory in his head wasn’t as clear as when it appeared in the water, the effect was still the same. He knew he had no control over the situation, but still, the guilt ate away at him. He couldn’t bring himself to look at anyone out of fear of retaliation or hatred. 

“Oeric,” Griffith started after a few moments, “It’s okay.”

Griffith and Aule watched their friend spiral. They could see the gears turning in his head, but they were unsure how they could help. All they could offer were words. 

Aule nodded, “We don’t blame you.”

Oeric flinched but slowly raised his head. The looks of pity on the Haedians’ faces threw him off, but for the moment he moved on to address his friends. 

“But it isn’t okay and you should,” Oeric said glumly, “I burned you both and the forest we played in as pups.”

“It was an accident,” Griffith sighed. 

“And look,” Aule added, “All our fur grew back, there’s not even a scar!”

The two empyrians did their best to try and cheer up the orange empyrian, but it didn’t seem to be working. The Handmaids dispersed slightly to give the empyrians more space. The odd Handmaid remained near in case they needed anything. Aule and Griffith shared some more words as they continued to bring Oeric out of the low mood he was in, except when Oeric finally showed more emotion it wasn’t directed at them. 

“Can you stop looking at me like that?” Oeric lightly hissed to the Handmaids who still stared at him with looks of pity. 

Griffith and Aule went quiet as Oeric turned toward them. 

“I know,” Oeric huffed, “It hurt to see, more than I was expecting.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve even thought about that memory,” Aule confessed, but Oeric and Griffith agreed. 

Silence fell over the friends as they each went into their minds. They quietly reminisced about the events that followed the fire. The Handmaids watched the empyrians as a few expressions shifted back into one of pity. They wanted to offer more comfort, but it was clear that they weren’t needed or wanted in these moments. Oeric noticed the Handmaids first and despite what he said earlier and what the Haedians were thinking, he felt the need to reiterate that all would be fine. 

“We’ll be fine,” Oeric said when he noticed the Handmaid closest to them watching. 

Griffith and Aule looked up. 

“He’s right,” Aule added, “It might not be immediate, but everything will rearrange back.”

Griffith chuckled, “What a way to describe it.”

Aule rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything else. 

Oeric looked between his two friends, thankful for their understanding. They didn’t add much else in the way of words, but they all could appreciate some thoughtful silence as they waited for the Handmaids to direct them to the next area. 

[810]