An undisclosed location"

A pair of beings no one seemed to even notice, what so ever.

A discussion no one else seems to hear, what so ever.

Not even the pair of flame tressed children, sleeping rather soundly just before them.

"They look so peaceful do they not?"

"Aye, that they do' Sometimes too peaceful, given what has transpired. At least that is my take on it, for what it is worth."

"You act as if your opinion matters little, sister-mine."

"And you act as if it does, hmmm?"

"Of course it does."

"You mean outside the annual festival, where my defeat is celebrated by your daughters?"

"Oh come now, it's hardly that bad. Besides, they are your children too, you know. Whether you believe that or not. They were and are shaped by our actions, and teachings since back when, and will still be as such. "

"Despite your current situation, sister?"

"A situation that is being dealt with, as you know firsthand, Aife. But yes, current issues withstanding, they will press on as they have before and will continue to do so."

"Of course some already had, you know"pressed a bit more so, and quite harder than others."

"Aye that they have, Aife. That she has—-Jenai."

"You sound a bit saddened, sister. Why, pray tell?"

"It is not sadness, but more of a reflective pondering."

A pause was taken, as the pair looked to the children once more. The pair of 'red headed beasties" as their mother lovingly called them, were rather snuggled together within those heavy blankets, the occasional shift of form, and soft snore giving credence to their rather peaceful slumber.

"There is nothing to ponder, sister. You did what had to be done, and that is all there is to it. You carry the faith that your"or our children, as you said before, will press on and deal with whatever comes their way. Mind you, as they always have since the beginning, and more so, as they will continue to do so, in the days yet to come."

"You are right, and I know that. But sometimes I cannot help but wonder, if this—-rift. Was truly necessary. Did I make a mis——"

"Cease that train of thought, sister. You did exactly what you had to do, to save your children and many others, when you intervened in West End, and you will do so yet again when it is needed. It is what you have always done, and—- well, what we all have done. Again since the beginning."

"And the rift' Illea, and Jenai?"

"Is a rift that I pray will fare better, then the one you and I have had to endure, Scathach?"

"Aife, you almost sound—— remorseful."

"And you sound all to hopeful" In regards to my remorse, sister. For the record, I am not remorseful, or regretful. Well, not always. The truth is I am regretful, a bit. I am regretful that our daughters below are enveloped within the madness that we have not seen fit to circumvent. I am regretful that we are forced to watch, while they continue to suffer time and again. I am vexed that the hard line of righteous vengeance has not been laid down on those who would see fit to put down those that are ours."

"Aife, you know we cannot simply intervene. Teaching is what I do—- what we do. Or are supposed to do, granted you do a bit more than that, hmm?"

"I do what needs to be done, Scathach. Same as you have done before, save I am a bit more open with my ways, than you are with yours."

"Is that a bit of venom in your voice, sister?"

"No Scathach, it is not venom' But there is distaste."

"There has been such since the beginning of this long journey, has their not?"

"Yes, there has been. But there is also a healthy respect, Scathach. I follow the ways you have set forth, just as you respect my hardened approach to certain matters."

"You refer to Jenai, Aife?"

"Tis one of the things I refer to, Scathach' One of a few, but an important one. Especially given what she is to endure in the very near future."

"Jenai is one of many who serve, Aife. One of many who have lost, and one of many who has learned, and will gain from everything she has ever endured. She has come a long way, from the na've daughter who arrived fresh from the boat under the mentorship of Illea and her gathered. A long way from the little girl, who was brought to the Isle of Shadow as but a babe."

"A long way from the child your people 'sealed" so long ago, Scathach' The child you denied the right to live, as she was created?"

"Careful, Aife" That borders on blasp?"

"That may work on your followers sister, and while I follow your teachings, I am still your sister and not a daughter. I respect and love you, but I do not have to like what you do, the same as you do not like what I have done, and do at times."

?"..Well said, Aife. You are right."

"If Jenai was such a danger, Scathach"why was she sealed" Why was that "thing" that harbors itself inside her, allowed to remain?"

"Because we will turn no one away, Aife. Every one of them is worth keeping, and saving."

"And the prodigal, hmmm' Is she worth saving, Scathach' After what happened and what has returned to Rhy'din, is she worth saving?"

"Yes, Aife she is worth saving."

"Why!" Why is she worth saving, after what she has set upon your own daughters!?"

"Because, Aife. She is worth saving—- to answer for all she has done. With her life, both here and the ever after. Both she and those who follow her."

"Now that is something we both can agree on completely, sister."

"Thank you, Aife."

"Do not thank me so quickly, Scathach. There is the business at hand" This "Raven" and his machination, and that "is" going to require a hardened and rather decisive approach, in order see this ended permanently."

"I've seen your hardened approach, Aife. And now Jenai runs head long into the madness so to speak, because of that guidance of yours."

"Guidance she has been denied, Scathach. But no longer, and I am glad you respect that much. Like myself, she serves your cause and like myself, she will do so in her own way, and the ends will justify the means, I promise you that."

"Why does that not comfort me in regards to the rift between my"our daughters, Aife?"

"Because that rift will remain, so long as they look at each other as if they were an enemy. Much as how you and I were looked upon, and looked upon one another. But that can change, and I've a way we can assist our daughters openly, and let them see for themselves, what we are capable of. We will show, and we teach and we shall lay down absolution on this "thing" that has seen fit to torment our daughters, and perhaps this can be a message to those that strike cowardly from the shadow. We will let them know that despite all that has happened, we will not cower to anyone, and we will not falter when all seems lost!"

"Aife?"

"Avatars, Scathach..."

"Avatars" Do you not mean, Avatar?"

"No Scathach, I mean exactly what I say' Avatars, as in two of them' Two from one, yet following their own path. As you and I had done, as Illea and Jenai have done. Save this time, it shall be different?"

"How so, Aife??

The pair continued their discussion, well into the early morning hours. Back and forth they went, agreeing and debating altogether, and all while in the presence of those who would never even know they were there.

Especially, the two children that slept ever so soundly directly before them.