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Chapter Text

Taishen thinks back on the night before: of the strange illumination that had swirled and shone with a sea-foam blue above their heads, and had dissipated, separating into thin strands of light before fading into the clear darkness of the night's sky as stars peaked back through the unusual clearness in the air.

The lights had stayed for quite some time, even after the confusing, terrifying and terribly sad vision ended alongside Barnabos's last sullen words of his tale, and while it made not much sense, Taishen had missed them when they left.

Jornir had spoken about them in that ominous way with infinite wisdom he always talked in, informing them of the natural night lights he had seen before and quelling the group's worries in a way that made Taishen extremely grateful, due to his own placidities usually not working.

When he had finished, Skrimm had burst into question after question, cursing the rotten cold and snow for it's ways making 'no fucking sense'. Queenie had gently probed Barnabos for more details, talking softly to him with the calming nature she always did have in times like these, as they all thought over the glimpses of Barnabos's life, like it had been their own.

Taishen stayed quiet, thumbing the tufts of fur along the end of his tail, and feeling slightly lost. He thought of Barnabos, so small and oh so alone, at his mother's funeral, and then of Mei Li, who was probably serving tea and smiles in their big open tea shop back in Jadeshell, all by herself. They were so far apart, and for so long... He bit at his tongue and turned back to Barnabos, to listen to his friend, and to try to ignore such thoughts.

The rhino was strange - Barnabos had said that as soon as they had laid their eyes on the poor beast -  and he insisted that it didn't happen like that. But, everything else had occurred. His mother's passing, oh so much too young, and the brutal crushing of his absent father's skull. The monster's wide jaw crushing the ship into splinters while he had buried into the beast's stomach.

Where, had the memory acted as it should have, he would have found his lover. The small, pearlescent pink shell that the triton didn't go anywhere willingly without.

The group had been bemused and horrified to wake up at the edge of dusk, all but Barnabos himself feeling horribly exhausted and chilled to the bone, despite the fire somehow staying alight while they tranced in the tale. While not as bone chilling as that awful basalt tower had been - and great dragons, had that been awful - it still put Taishen on edge as they reluctantly packed up camp without having slept a wink and trudged further on.

Barnabos, looking evidently stronger than the rest of them combined had taken the helm so to speak, leading the group over the ice. The others had followed, but it was obvious to Taishen that the rest of his friends were exhausted.

Skrimm dragged his feet - whining and complaining for most of the day before he lost the energy to even do that - but he stuck close to Barnabos, giving him small glances when he thought the triton wasn't looking. It was odd to see him at the front of the group, but Taishen knew that Skrimm did care for Barnabos, even if he didn't show it outwardly, and it warmed him that the goblin was worried in his own way.

Jornir brought up the rear, his staff a constant thunk against the ice, as he stayed quiet and contemplative. Every few hours he would redirect the group - somehow always knowing true north - but otherwise he was silent, surveying the area with knowledge that Taishen couldn't help but envy. He was glad the firbolg was here, with his unspoken power and connection to the triad.

Queenie walked with Taishen in the middle, staying close to him and his 'warm dragon skin' as she conned it. He appreciated the company, even as she told stories he only half understood from all the country slang and concepts he didn't quite grasp, but she too began to yawn and quiet down, pawing at her ears to try and keep them warm. Taishen tried his best to channel his fire and breathe warm air in her direction - even as his own exhaustion tore at his limbs - and didn't mention it when, not just Queenie, but the rest of the group shuffled closer together no longer shivering so harshly.

They had been walking in a frigid silence for hours, as the sun began to dip below the never-ending expanse of ice that surrounded them, when Barnabos had suggested they had walked far enough for today and gave them the order to set up camp.

Their group set to work, ignoring their exhausted bodies. Taishen had attempted to assist Jornir with his snow wall, but had been forced to sit and help with the fire, because of his efforts warming them as they walked. Taishen's weak protests were ignored and he eventually sat on the ice, piling the last of their wood, and the scraps of a barrel into a pathetic pile in front of him, holding off on lighting it before his friends were done to allow the warmth to last as long as possible.

Hopefully, when she got back from scouting the ice, Queenie would have fund something for them to cook and eat. His stomach growled and Taishen laid a clawed hand gently against it. He was so hungry. He knew the others were too, but he felt as if they hid it better, with experience in rationing and quelling their hunger.

Taishen was never hungry for very long back home: food an abundance and an unknowing privilege. He thought back on the platter of dumplings he and Mei Li had made - he had been teaching her, not too long after her mother, his sister, had passed due to his niece's longing for a familiar meal. He remembered how they had made so many that Mei Li had dragged him out the house, late in the afternoon, and they had handed them to neighbours and friends. He remembers her smile then - it had been lost in grief she didn't fully understand yet, but seeing the joy on other's faces as they shared the recipe of her mother's made her grin as warm as a thousand sunrises. What he wouldn't give to have a dumpling right now.

He was dragged from his thoughts as Skrimm sat beside him on his right - somehow out of any job orders - and blew out a visible breath.

"Hello." Taishen glanced warmly at him, knocking his leg against the goblin's.

"Hi." Skrimm said through chattering teeth, rubbing his hands together, "Are you gunna light this thing or what?"

"We have not much firewood left." Taishen frowned looking at the frankly pathetic pile in front of them, "I though it best if we at least waited until the sun sets to start it, to keep us warm throughout the night."

"That's annoyingly understandable coming from you." Skrimm huffed, sicking his hands under his armpit, "But, shit, it doesn't make it less cold."

Taishen's chest hurt seeing his friend so upset, looking down at the last sprays of sunbeams glimmering on the ice. Feeling the warmth of the sun - however foggy and distant as it was here - he though back of the powers of fire and life granted to him by Fu Zhao: of his quest to defeat fear, doubt, anger, and despair. Skrimm seemed to fit most of those.

He nudged Skrimm, "I could help warm you without a fire if you cannot wait?"

"I'm not hugging you." Skrimm scoffed, looking him up and down oddly, shuffling away.

"You don't have to." Taishen just smiled, closing his eyes as he focused his dwindling magic to warm his scales, sighing licks of flame from his nostrils that lit shadows around the space for just a moment. He silently rejoiced as Skrimm slowly edged back to him and wearily nudged their knees, then legs together, enjoying the heat. 

"Better?"

"I guess." Skrimm grumbled, rubbing his palms together, "It's not my fault you haven't lit the fire yet."

"Of course, friend." Taishen replied, as Skrimm eventually lost against his pride and barely touched his shoulder against Taishen's arm glaring pointedly at the unlit wood when the others glanced their way.

Eventually, Jornir felt their snow wind shield satisfactory, and walked over to sit beside them. He gave Skrimm a look Taishen couldn't decode, but Skrimm shared with him the finger greeting he had taught him, so it must have not been so bad.

"Come and sit." Taishen invited softly, "I will light the fire when Queenie returns."

Jornir acknowledged him with a slow tilt of his head - glancing to Barnabos who still stood near the snow wall, observing - before he sat opposite them, cross-legged on the ice and began mumbling beneath his breath before sitting quietly in meditation.

Taishen smiled as the runes on Jornir's clothing began weakly glowing as he communed with magics he didn't really understand, but were precious to Jornir, and so precious to Taishen. He watched the firbolg's breathing slow to practically nothing, then looked over at Barnabos who was fiddling with his shell, looking out into the white landscape, the setting sun on his back.

Glancing down, he saw Skrimm doing the same, and fought back the urge to pat his back like he would Mei Li, instead just breathing another warm breath for his friends to enjoy. Skrimm shivered, cheeks noticeably more coloured than they had been during walking hours.

"Do you think the lights will come back again tonight?" The goblin said after a few minutes of quiet, not taking his eyes off Barnabos.

"I don't know." Taishen admitted, looking up at the clouds above them, "The skies are not as clear as they were last night, so perhaps not?"

"Good." Skrimm set his face, crossing his arms tighter across his body, "That dream thing was freaky as shit and I don't want you guys to look through my life or some shit like Barnabos'."

Taishen sat quietly for a moment, contemplating this, his tail wrapped around him into his lap, "You have things you don't want to share with us."

"Well no shit." Skrimm huffed, "We've known each other for like a year, tops, and for most of that we were in prison."

"That is true." He laughed softly, "I did not enjoy prison."

"Make that two of us." Skrimm grunted, pulled his legs to his chest and fiddled with something in his pocket.

"Well. If the lights do return, and if you aren't ready, I promise to tell my tale first." Taishen swore, gently pressing the back of hand against Skrimm's, "I am not afraid to help a friend."

That made Skrimm glance up to him, eye barely visible under his hat.

"A friend." He repeated, almost a question.

"A friend." Taishen confirmed. He shivered - from both cold and a magical exhaustion he hasn't felt since he acquired his gift - but still smiled, pushing himself to share further warmth.

"Sure." Skrimm sighed, but he leaned his head against Taishen upper arm which he counted as a win.

Just as the last of the sunlight edged behind the ice, Barnabos yelled out for Queenie's return. She trudged into camp looking like a rabbit icicle, eyes bagged and fur matted with snow. She looked genuinely regretful when she explained she didn't find anything out on the ice that even Skrimm couldn't find it in him to complain about having nothing to eat: at least within earshot. And while his stomach stung, Taishen wasn't surprised. There was no need for anything to go out onto the icy wasteland.

At her return, Taishen lit a small flame on his claws that seemed to pull at his very being with how much it exhausted him but still gingerly coaxed it into their firewood, softly instructing the flame of where to grow to best warm them while not eating away at their supplies.

Before sitting down again, he called out, "Barnabos? Come join us by the fire."

The triton barely glanced at him, practically enthralled by the shell, before replying, "That's alright, Mr Fireblossom. I'll take first watch."

"Are you sure?" Taishen asked, "It's warmer over here."

"You know that the cold don't bother me, or the dark." Barnabos said, waving him off, "I'll be alright, you rest lad."

Taishen hesitated, before sitting beside the campfire again, focusing on keeping the flames slow moving with their fuel, while also trying to stay awake. Jornir still sat still as the mountains themselves, but Taishen liked to think that the light from the fire seemed to cup at his chin, keeping him strong.

Queenie, who had just been talking quietly with Skrimm, looked up to him as he sat, "Taishi?"

"Queenie." Taishen quickly gestured to the spot beside him and soon enough Queenie sat mirroring Skrimm's pose from before, hugging Taishen's side, nuzzling unconsciously into his torso as he rubbed her back.

"I'm real sorry, Taishi." Queenie whispered again, hugging his tail to her chest like a bundle of warm coals, "There was just nothin' out on the ice."

"Oh there is no need to apologise, Queenie." Taishen murmured, "I am sure you tried your hardest; it is not your fault we are the only ones out on this ice. I'm just happy you returned whole and well."

"Oh you thornless blackberry bush, you." She said with a yawn, knocking her head into his side gently.

He smiled at her odd lingo, eyes tracing her drooping eyelids as exhaustion slowly took hold and she slowly fell asleep. Taishen guided her to lay beside the fire, still hugging the tip of his tail as the snow melted from her fur. She truly had earned that rest.

Queenie reminded him so dearly of his niece in this moment, and of how she tended to ask for sleepovers in the winter months just to cling to him like fresh tea-leaves to skin after a rain shower. He would wake with the sun to find her hugging his tail under her cheek, still deep in sleep, and he would just lay there until she woke hours later: warm and comfortable.

Taishen felt his hand glance across his waist and looked down at his teapot: green dragon-glass, with incredible carvings from Mei Li of flower fields, tea plants and sunbeams across it's belly. His claws traced the lines of the sun and thought of the valley of the setting sun: of Jadeshell. Of Mei Li.

Home-sickness was not an unfamiliar feeling to Taishen, but here, in this desert of ice and cold, he has never felt further from the golden valley of his village home. 

He stared at the teapot, and schooled his emotions to not cry.

His stomach growled and yearned for something to eat, and Taishen welcomed the distraction. Brewing tea, and helping others with the perfect drink, always did help him feel better. And while not a filling meal, tea never did make him feel worse. With such a magical teapot that supplied him with all the leaves and spices he could wish for, there was not much else he could hope for. 

Taishen - quietly as not to wake Queenie, or irritate Skrimm who was watching him with tired eyes and trying very hard not to look interested - slowly scooped handfuls of snow, ignoring the chill and pushed them into the body of the pot before holding it between his hands and pushing heat, causing it to melt into water. He thought of tea types for just a moment before heating the water to a gentle simmer, brewing a pot of oolong.

The teapot steamed, filling the air with a gentle sweet aroma as he pulled out his handmade engraved cups.

"Skrimm?" He said, in the dark apart from the crackle of the fire, "Would you like some tea?"

"I'd drink mud if it was warm at this point." Skrimm growled, taking a cup - engraved with winds, swirling and diving and fleeing with vigour - of steaming liquid from him and hugging it to his face.

"I assure you my tea is much better." Taishen said, picking up another cup, that had images of a mountain scene, the stones sure and strong in their place in the world.

"I would like some." Taishen jumped a little, glancing up at Jornir who was no longer glowing, but looking at him with a very tired, yet not unkind expression.

"Of course." Taishen nodded, carefully passing him the mountain cup, full of oolong, from across the fire. He took it with a small smile and word of thanks, sipping at the liquid.

Taishen looked down at Queenie, before filling a cup of tea and placing it by her face. The engravings showed a still image of a field, awake with stills of bugs and flowers that swayed and did not falter in their jobs despite their small size.

His teapot was still heavy with servings, and he tapped his claws anxiously at the pot, glancing at Barnabos, alone in the cold darkness. He could barely see him.

"That will cool quickly because of the weather." He warned the others, "I will be back."

Not waiting for their responses, Taishen made his way to his feet - feeling guilty when looking back at Skrimm wrapping his arms back around himself - before walking over to Barnabos, teapot in one hand and a stack of two teacups in the other.

"Barnabos?" He called softly, the light from the campfire only just reaching far enough for Taishen to see his outline.

"Mr Fireblossom." Came the tired, but not unkind, voice of Barnabos. "I thought I told you to rest."

"I thought you could use some company." Taishen replied, setting down the cups on the snow wall, "I find it easier to sleep if my friends are all cared for."

Barnabos let out a breathy chuckle, "We're alike in that way, I suppose."

Taishen frowned at the tone, before he took a breath and blew the smallest of flames onto his fingertip for light. His gut pulled painfully at the magic use, but he didn't mind as he could now see his friend.

Barnabos was holding his shell, pressing the spiral to his chest with a sullen expression on his face, staring out into the darkness of snow and ice. He had looked rested, calmer, after sharing his tale last night, but Taishen could tell he was still bothered by something.

"Would you like to pick a cup?" Taishen offered, gesturing at the two cups.

"Aye." Barnabos muttered, and grabbed blindly for the one engraved with a visage of the sea, foamy and powerful, pulling a ship along it's waters.

Taishen contemplated this choice before he poured oolong into Barnabos's cup, infusing a little fire to keep it warm. Barnabos held the glass with both hands and didn't drink. He then poured himself a cup, laying the teapot on the wall to hold the tea and keep up his light.

"What is wrong?" Taishen said after a moment, the flame licking at his claw, "You have not seemed yourself since last night."

"You saw the same thing I did." Barnabos tilted his head, finally looking at Taishen, "My whole damned life laid out before you."

Taishen's fingers followed the grooves of his own cup's engravings. The glass embezzled with the image of the sun - a matching set with his teapot - yet instead of setting, it was rising between two mountains, warm and inviting. It was similarly warm with tea, and he took a sip, enjoying its sweet taste as he thought over what to say.

"Did you not want us to see?" He eventually asked, glancing at the rest of their group, "I understand how that could have been uncomfortable."

"No, that's not it." Barnabos took a slow deep breath of oolong steam, his other hand clutching his shell. "I don't have anything to hide, especially not from any of you."

Taishen looked at his friend's face: at the wrinkles and up-curve of his eyebrows, and sat patiently waiting. Listening.

"I guess that..." Barnabos looked down at the tea that had begun rapidly cooling in the cold night air, "I didn't want to see it."

Taishen thought this over with a little nod, gesturing for him to continue.

"To see myself like that. So angry. At my pathetic excuse of kin." He spat the word, "I don't regret what I did to that scum. I had the chance, in that vision, to do something different, to end things differently, and I still killed him. He deserved to have his skull caved in. But. I don't know."

Barnabos rubbed the shell with his thumb for comfort. "Maybe I should have done something differently."

"Even had you had done something differently now, it would not have changed what had happened then." Taishen tapped his claws against his cup, thinking, looking at Barnabos with kind eyes, "If anything, you would have been caught in a web of anger at not doing that the first time around."

"Yeah." Barnabos looked up at him, fingers twitching on both his shell and cup, "Maybe I'm just angry at the world. Angry for my mother."

"If... if it offers you any solace, I believe you did the right thing." Taishen reassures, tail wrapping around his ankle, "No one should abandon a child. No one should abandon a woman, let alone a mother. He was not fit for another day of the sun's embrace."

Barnabos didn't reply but he took his first, long drag of tea, undeniably cold now, blinking down at the snow. 

"I've moved past mourning him, Mr Fireblossom." He said, grimly, "I've found my calling now, and that's caring for you lads and the lass."

"And you've done a perfect job so far." Taishen encouraged, almost making his light snuff out at his lack of concentration. He focused, willing it to stay alike and it popped with a spark, struggling on the tip of his claw, as exhaustion tore at his bones. 

"I'm not so sure." Barnabos grimaced, taking a solemn look at the group.

Taishen blinked away his tiredness in surprise, followed his gaze and saw their three friends curled around the small fire, having moved closer together since Taishen had left. Skrimm sat near the sleeping Queenie, arms wrapped around his stomach and looking pointedly down at the fire as if he had just been observing them. Jornir was tending the fire, near to the smaller of their party, then looking up to the sky, palming the mammoth tusks strapped to his back. 

"What do you mean?" Taishen asked, sipping tea from his cup.

"My old crew." Barnabos said, thumbing his shell, "The ones eaten by the beast that held my lover. They died because of me."

"Barnabos-"

"No. They did. I've to peace with it." He interrupted, looking down at the fire reflecting off his shell, "I was young. I was stupid and thirsty for adventure. They were stupid enough to follow. That beastie was enormous: none of 'em stood any chance. And by the time I realised that, it was too late to even try to save em."

"I-" Taishen swallowed, "Well, I'm sorry you lost them."

"The sea is a powerful mistress. She houses all kinds of life, and all life needs to eat." Barnabos said, in a matter-of-fact way that was hard to argue with, "I have always prided myself on protecting them who can't protect themselves. At feeding that life. But..."

He turns his head back to their group, and this time Taishen catches Skrimm quickly looking away. It's quite a sad sight, now he really looks at it. Tiny campfire, dwarfed by Jornir's giant frame and yet Skrimm and Queenie have never looked smaller. Skrimm's still clutching his stomach, and Taishen can see the twin empty tea glasses from across their camp. Queenie's, though no longer steaming, still seems full beside her sleeping head. The air is cold away from the fire, and Taishen tries not to shiver.

"I can't even give my crew a meal." Barnabos said, angrily, "I can't even feed such young lives. How am I supposed to protect you all if I can't even fuel you?"

Taishen's tail twitches and he can feel the emptiness of his own stomach and immediately is filled with guilt.

"It's been just one day, Barnabos. I'm sure we'll find something to eat." Taishen said hesitantly, "We had the lard to eat up until today. And I try to make hot tea for you all whenever I can."

"Pure fat isn't a meal, Mr Fireblossom." Barnabos said tiredly, "Neither is nothin' but tea, not matter how much love you put in it."

Taishen's heart clenched and he looked down at the final dregs of oolong and water in his cup. He swirled the cup and the long, partially oxidised patterns of leaves stuck to the bottom of the cup. 

"I know." He mumbled, "I just thought..."

"It's better than nothing, lad." Barnabos said, taking another swig of long-cold tea, before holding out his cup, "It's still something in their bellies."

Taishen frowned. Barnabos had left a little water in his cup too, his fire reflecting off the liquid that was beginning to freeze.

"In my family," Taishen began slowly, "We had a belief that tea leaves could help guide you. You would drink all but the dregs, and the shapes they'd form would reveal things."

"Oh?" Barnabos said, peering down at his cup, tilting it slightly in his hand and squinting at the leaves, "I don't see nothin'."

"I could assist, if you wish?" Taishen suggested, setting down his own cup on the snow wall beside his teapot.

Barnabos stretched out his hand, and Taishen pulled both Barnabos and the cup closer to him so he could read the leaves, but still allowed Barnabos to hold it in two hands.

"If you would swirl the water, gently?" Taishen asked.

Barnabos obeyed, and the tea leaves waved in a circle before stopping and sticking to the sides of the cup. Ice crystals began solidifying around the rim and oolong leaves, but Taishen could still read their patterns fine in the firelight.

"You see here?" Barnabos nodded as Taishen pointed to a long tea leaf at the bottom of the cup making a wavy line, "This means an uncertain trip."

"Well no shit." Barnabos laughed coldly, "And the clump above it?"

"Hm." Taishen leaned his alight finger closer, "It's a padlock: an obstacle in your path."

"So an uncertain trip with obstacles in the way." Barnabos sniffed, "Smart tea leaves ya have, Mr Fireblossom."

"Thank you." Taishen smiled up at Barnabos, who looked at him with amusement, before turning back to the cup, "This final shape..."

"It looks like my anchor." Barnabos mumbled, "Is that one of your magic symbols?"

"Yes, quite." Taishen pointed to the anchor shape behind the lock, stuck along the side of the cup, "As it's near the top of the cup, it represents stability: a consistent love. The anchor is an emblem of hope and promises rest and contentment after a tumultuous event."

"Tumultuous?" Barnabos asked, glancing his way.

"Difficult. Intense." Taishen defined, letting go of Barnabos's hands, "An experience that is scary and harsh."

"Like the ship sinking." Barnabos stated, looking down at the anchor, glistening with ice, cupped in his hands, "The basalt tower, the captain dying, the crew running off to who knows where."

"Quite." Taishen frowned, "But the pathway, however uncertain, does mean we are going to leave this place for one that will let us rest. That we will prevail and live on."

"That's a nice thought." Barnabos said, smiling wryly down at his cup, before placing it beside Taishen's, "I hope it holds true."

"I think the anchor describes you quite well." Taishen smiled softly, "A symbol of stable hope and protection."

"I quite like your tea leaf magic, Mr Fireblossom."

Taishen carefully strapped his teapot to his side and stacked their cups in one hand, "Thank you Barnabos. Though, we call it a reading."

"Never been to good at that." Barnabos laughed breathily, "But, I quite like your tea leaf reading, then, Mr Fireblossom."

"Do you like it enough that you would rejoin us by the fire?" Taishen asked hesitantly looking up from his job.

"No matter how you act, you're one slippery salmon, lad." Barnabos sighed, taking a look into the darkness of the night before turning back to the fire, "Ah, what the hell? You've convinced me."

"Really?" Taishen beamed, and the fire on his fingertips popped excitedly into sparks and fizzled out. "Oops."

Barnabos just laughed, and slapped him so hard on the back that he almost careened over into the ice, waving his arms out with a little chuckle of his own.

He led Barnabos back to the group, of which the awake members perked up and welcomed them around the fire. Taishen smiled at the calmer expression on Barnabos's face as he cleaned each cup with care before replacing them in his pack.

His eyes felt like they had weights on them, and his magical energies were so low it was like they weren't there. He was exhausted, but looking at the crackling fire, he decided someone else could take the first watch and gently bid his friends goodnight.

He yawned, stretching with his own body before laying out behind Queenie, revelling in the fire's warmth. Soft good-nights followed, and, before he drifted off, he felt more arms and bodies joining him in a big pile of body heat for the night.

Even as the ice tore through snow, the pile of friends, against all circumstances, were warm and cosy embracing each other, covered in wolf pelts, creating their very own pocket of heat. 

Chapter Text

Taishen had many friends, back home in Jadeshell village. And then those unknown, outside of the Valley of the Setting Sun, eventually tended to warm to him and his optimism rather quickly. He thought of himself as a rather charismatic fellow, and even with his 'ditsy personality' - as Skrimm often called it - people found themselves allured to his gentle words and calming presence.

So, yes, Taishen had many friends.

And, while he didn't like to play favourites, his ragtag group that he'd collected in that bar oh so long ago were his best friends: the closest to him, only under his dearest niece Mae Li.

Skrimm Skabbascotch was one of Taishen's very best friends.

To pull this all together, if there was anything Taishen knew about himself, it is that he cares about his friends more than anything. And so, Taishen is worried about Skrimm.

Those lights had returned - days and days after Barnabos's vision, sure, yet they returned none the less. Pure white and waiting for them, while they peered out the broken, boarded up windows of the ancient cabin of a long-forgotten people they had stumbled upon.

Barnabos looked up at them - not smiling - but not even half as nervous as the rest of the group. They talked anxiously between themselves, yet the lights didn't react, or even flicker in their pure white sluggish dance within themselves.

"Anyone else getting the feeling that we have to be outside for this bullshit to work?" Skrimm said hesitantly, looking to Jornir.

Jornir took a deep breath before replying calmly and with such conviction that Taishen would have been convinced he could speak only fact. "The Wyrd works in ways beyond your understanding, Skrimm, but not beyond even your instincts. If you are feeling this, it is essential you listen to that feeling."

"Hah, that- that was almost a compliment, Jornir." Skrimm said glumly, fiddling with the frayed rim of his hat.

Taishen glanced at Skrimm, who wouldn't meet his eye, and thought back to the conversation they had back out on the ice. Taishen had promised his friend a security blanket: that Skrimm, should he not be ready to share, could listen to Taishen's tale first.

"Are you ready to share your life with us, Skrimm?" Taishen spoke softly, eyeing the nervous movements from the goblin, "I'm sure another of us could go."

"Yeah, Skrimm. No pressure." Queenie said, punching him in the arm.

"Ah." Skrimm said, rubbing his arm before his face set, "No? No. No, I don't need another cop out. I'm not going to cheat the Wyrd of all things. If that's what these stupid lights are anyways."

"That's a lad." Barnabos laughed, patting him o the back hard enough that Skrimm moved towards the door.

He took it in stride and burst into the cold, before trudging through the snow. Skrimm scrambled up a broken down section of what once was a wall and scanned the area for long enough that snow was melting from where it had wedged itself down Taishen's boots.

"Alright." He said, mostly to himself as he made his way back down to them, "Alright, you wanna hear about my background? What made Skrimm Skabbascotch who he is today? Sure, whatever! Listen up, whoever's listening in the sky! Hope you enjoy this, cus I won't!"

Skrimm pointed a sharp finger to the air and shook it in despaired confidence.

The lights stayed bright white for half a moment more - as if in defiance - before the white bled away for another: moving with speed and vigor in shades of slate grey as it smothered the sky like smog.

Skrimm met Taishen's eye for a half second, the slate grey reflecting storm clouds off of his iris and swallowed anxiously. 

He then turned away, cleared his throat, and bore his heart to the group.

Skrimm's story was not one of joy, or of redemption, or even revenge - like Barnabos's - but instead was a tragedy of hardship and fear and of fleeing one's past.

Skrimm had already been without a home - sleeping in a graveyard - and had taken to cheating in simple games to make money, only to spend it all on booze and bad bar food. But, he'd cheated the wrong person, received that cursed coin, and signed that contract. And now the beast - this Graveyard Jack - was haunting his every movement.

And then the story had deviated, just as Barnabos's had, and that awful black wolf of a dog had lunged, and had Skrimm's neck in it's maw and they had all just frozen and watched Skrimm squirm under the mess of midnight fur as the drool and teeth had closed in on Skrimm's skin- before the vision fizzled out and they were standing in the snow the morning light inching over the horizon.

Taishen blinked the memories - the entire life - away from his brain and swerved to Skrimm who was clutching at his nape, hands running over where the beast's hot breath had been, just moments ago. He was breathing heavily and his head was darting around

It was a quiet few moments before Queenie first burst from their shared stillness and coaxed Skrimm forward and back towards the house. His friends quickly followed, and they all tumbled back into the cabin, despite the daylight shining down on them, and Taishen went to light the fireplace which had long since smouldered into soot during their vision outside.

As he loaded firewood - after escaping from the frozen sea, this abandoned village was practically a palace of supplies - Taishen overheard Barnabos whispering to Jornir. He wasn't great at keeping his voice down, and Taishen didn't mean to listen in, but he did so none the less.

"We should stay another night, Mr Jornir." He said, hushed, "Allow everyone to get an actual night sleep. Mr Skabbascotch and me can get some more fishin' in too. Just so we can stay prepared. We don't know how long until we'll get somewhere else with food, and is dry and warm to rest."

Taishen followed their shared gaze to Skrimm, who was holding his blade and staring anxiously out of the window, while tentatively hopping from foot to foot: Queenie sitting beside him.

"If it were just me, I would have been far from this place already to avoid the winter winds." Jornir breathed in and out, looking between the frosted windows and each party member, "And yet... Barnabos, I believe you are correct in your decision to stay another day."

Taishen's exhausted body exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding and lit the fire with it.

"Thank you, Mr Jornir." Barnabos finished, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, before walking over to Taishen who looked quickly back down at the fire and desperately tried to look like he hadn't been listening.

"Mr Fireblossom!" Barnabos said, rubbing his hands together and palming them towards the fire, "Aw, how I've missed a warm fireplace, ay lad?"

"Exactly right, Barnabos." Taishen smiled back, "And we have enough wood to last a long while, along with the candles that Skrimm found."

"And we've got grub!" Barnabos grinned, "Fish for days. Finally something to fill everyone's bellies."

"I must say, I am looking forward to a filling meal." Taishen said, pushing himself up from his crouching position when it looked like the fire was holding strong. "With tea of course."

"Fish and tea! Well, why wait, hm?" Barnabos's eyes glanced at Skrimm with what Taishen thought looked almost like nerves, "Let's go check the smoker, and cook some fish up for everyone."

Barnabos grabbed Taishen by the arm and pulled him to the door.

"Whoa- Sure thing Barnabos-!" Taishen stumbled behind Barnabos's much stronger and larger frame.

Barnabos ushered them back outside, letting go of Taishen and marching off towards their smoking shack.

"Well, the fire sure makes the cold feel colder." Taishen said, hugging his arms with golden hands as they trudged through the snow to the house Barnabos had fashioned into a smoker.

"Sure, but if you think about it the other way, the cold just makes the fire more warm." Barnabos said, giving him a look he didn't quite understand.

They made it to the smoker, and found the contraption had worked, preserving the meat for travel. As Barnabos gathered more than enough for the group, and handed them to Taishen to carry while he checked on the fire, he spoke.

"Never would have guessed that we would ever eat this good again." He expressed, motioning for Taishen's flame.

Taishen quickly shot a bolt of fire from his mouth to the spot, which Barnabos fanned, "It is always important to keep hope in times that seem dire, Barnabos."

"Well, your little tea reading seemed to do that quite easily, Mr Fireblossom." Barnabos mentioned before standing from where the fire was smothered, smoke billowing into the room, "Thank you, for that by the way. Seems that all you, uh read, came true."

"An uncertain path to begin with, but prevailing and feeling stable once again." Taishen smiled, recalling the reading, "I too am glad it came true. And to hear that it quelled your nerves. Please know I can do readings anytime, whenever you need them."

"Thanks for your offer, but I'm alright for now, Mr Fireblossom." Barnabos said, holding the door open for Taishen to walk through.

"Of course." Taishen shifted the fish in his arms to get a more solid hold on them, before leaving the smoking cabin.

Barnabos closed the door and made sure it was secure, before standing beside it and crossing his arms. Taishen stopped in his walk and turned back to him, realising he wasn't following.

"Barnabos?" Taishen tilted his head, "You coming?"

"Skrimm's not doing too well. After his vision." Barnabos blurted out, looking up to the sky as if he would see the slate grey instead of the morning sun, "Your tea magic helped me after my vision. Maybe you could help him out too?"

Taishen's expression softened, "Of course I'll try to help."

"Thank you, lad." Barnabos looked as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, "I would do it myself, see, but I'm not exactly the comforting type."

Taishen laughed, and turned back to the path, "Don't underestimate yourself."

The crunching of snow behind him, and the incredulous chuckle indicated Barnabos following behind.

Taishen's tail was laying lazily by his feet as he sat with crossed legs by the fire, belly truly full and his hunger quelled for the first time in months.

He cradled a cup of Chamomile in both hands by the bend of his legs and inhaled it's sweet, floral, and slightly apple-like scent. It made him think of his neighbour's apple orchards back home, that ran parallel to his family's tea fields and an almost background hum of homesick nostalgia burned softly in his chest.

They often swapped fresh tea leaves with the family who lived nearest them: along with the fruit orchards, they grew a plethora of vegetables and berries in an impressive garden. Mei Li would often ask him with her big shiny eyes to make tanghulu with all the berries, and his weak will would always give in for her.  While her young energetic hands would often drop the sticks in the pan so they couldn't get them out without burning their hands, and they both would get molten sugar all over the kitchen chasing each other with candied strawberries and tangerine segments, Taishen looked back on the memories fondly.

It had been so long since he had tasted sugar.

He looked back down and saw his face reflected in the liquid's surface, eyebrows slightly pinched.

But, Taishen's yearning for home was not the priority at this moment. He took a deep, long sip of his teas and glanced up from the warm liquid to his friends.

Jornir was asleep, still in his meditative pose, but his face was slack and he look a lot calmer than usual in his rest. Queenie was curled up in front of the fire, dwarfed under Jornir's coat she had pilfered off of him in a display that was not unlike Mei Li in it's manipulation, and effectiveness. Barnabos had given Taishen a knowing looking, before  he too all but collapsed onto the floor, snoring loud.

Taishen was the last one awake, save for the bundle of nerves that he intended to talk to without any prickling ears.

And Skrimm didn't look like he was going to be sleeping anytime soon, and was cycling between sitting by the fire fiddling with his brutal blade or pacing back and forth, glaring warily out of all the windows.

He was pacing now, little feet making a surprising lack of noise as he spun the blade between his fingers and peered out the window closest to him nervously.

"Skrimm?" Taishen called softly, breaking the calm tranquillity of the room.

Skrimm leaped almost his own height in the air and brandished his blade towards Taishen before blinking away the shock and lowering his arms down, still clutching his weapon.

"Man, Taishen, warn a guy!" He hissed, eyes darting around the room, "You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"I was just going to point out how you seem a little tense." Taishen said slowly, looking at how Skrimm's hands shook from how tightly he held his knife, "Come sit by the fire. I'll brew you some calming tea."

"I don't need any tea." Skrimm huffed, looking to a window quickly.

"Skrimm." Taishen said in a voice usually reserved for Mai Li, placing his cup down and pulling out the cup he had subconsciously applied to Skrimm. Firelight reflected off it's swirling, fleeing winds, and he placed it beside his own cup.

Skrimm eyed Taishen like a feral cat as Taishen heated his teapot again, brewing a second pot of chamomile and ignoring the second wave of heartsick longing at it's familiar smell. He inched over slowly and stood, tapping his foot, by Taishen as he poured tea into Skrimm's cup first - as his culture insists - and refilled his own cup second.

"Please rest." Without looking up, Taishen spoke when he realised Skrimm wasn't sitting, gesturing to the spot by the fire, "At least for a few minutes. You are strung up so tight, Skrimm."

"I dunno Taishen..." He scratched at his neck.

"I will help with watch tonight, and as we drink." Taishen promised.

"Hmph." Skrimm hummed, looking between the fire and Taishen's welcoming body language, "Fine. Just for a few minutes."

He sat next to Taishen in a grumpy huff. He was still holding the blade and, after staring at it for a long moment, and then nervously to Taishen, he span the blade around his fingers - as Taishen had seen many times before - but this time it seemed to blip out of existence, leaving behind barely a puff of dark smoke.

"That's a neat trick, Skrimm." Taishen said, blinking in surprise, "Have you always been able to do that?"

"No." Skrimm grimaced, and picked up his cup with both hands, "Only recently, out on the ice."

Taishen thought back to the image of the smoky black beast, with it's dripping foul teeth on Skrimm's neck, and then to the final wisps of smog dissipating from Skrimm's hand.

"Well it's almost as impressive as your knife spinning." He commented, sipping at his tea.

"Yeah, well." Skrimm's sentence pattered off as he grabbed his cup, tea spilling onto his fingers.

Taishen took a long inhale of chamomile as he watched Skrimm fidget, and rub his fingers against the grooves in the cup. His eyes darted between each window and door, as if in wait.

"The beast." Taishen said, softly, "Graveyard Jack?"

Skrimm startled, more precious tea sloshing onto the ground. Taishen tried to hold back his wince.

"Yeah?" Skrimm frowned, shoulders raising, "What about him?"

"Does it follow you here?"

"Why, you scared that me being here is gunna get you killed?" Skrimm hissed, glaring at Taishen.

"No, not at all." Taishen's eyes widened slightly, "I was just wondering if, since you have been hiding his existence - now that we know of him - you'd want help."

"Oh." Skrimm's shoulders were at his ears now and he turned his glare to his feet with a huff, embarrassed, "Right."

"Do you..?" Taishen asked, "Want help, that is?"

Skrimm huffed noncommittally and took a long sip of his tea to not speak.

"I'll help." Taishen confirmed, "I'll always help my friends. And you are one of my best friends, Skrimm." 

"You choose some poor company then, Taishen." Skrimm mumbled with a small smile.

Taishen sighed, affectionate, at the upturn of Skrimm's attitude.

Then the howl of the wind tore through a loose board in the ceiling - stoking the fire to make wild shapes - and Skrimm jumped, and turned his entire head to the door with a quiet inhale through the nose. He shook, dropping the teacup and spilling any remaining liquid. From between his fingers came the brutal blade, quivering in Skrimm's hands.

Tension rose in the air as Taishen tasted his heartbeat and stared at the door with Skrimm for a moment, before turning back to the goblin. A moment of nothing but the screams of the wind, before the weather calmed once again. Must be a storm brewing.

"I haven't seen him since I met you all." Skrimm's despaired voice finally broke the silence, still staring wide-eyed at the door, "Not even his eyes, not once, not fucking once, Taishen."

"You're scared it follows you still." Taishen stated, looking down at the tea seeping into the floorboards.

"I- I thought, I hoped that he was... That I was- But, no. I can feel him." Skrimm thumbed at his weapon, looking suddenly so much more tired, "Under my skin. Like a- a breath on the back of my neck. That feeling of being watched but when you turn around nothing's there. I'm not just scared he still follows me. I'm sure of it."

"Skrimm..." Taishen gently lay a hand on his friend's arm, feeling him flinch at the touch, "I- I don't even know what to say. I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this alone, for so long."

"Tch. My own fault." Skrimm adjusted his hold on his weapon, "I stole, I cheated that man of his gold and now I'm paying the price."

"Even with that being true," Taishen insisted, "You don't deserve being hunted by a demon dog, Skrimm."

"I don't even think it is a dog. Or a wolf." Skrimm's hands shook, "I have no idea what it is, or what it can do. All I know is that he's hungry, and he's big enough to eat what he wants. And he wants me."

Taishen's chest burned as puzzle pieces slotted uncomfortably together about Skrimm and his behaviour. His evasiveness that he had once believed to be cowardice. His small, unnurtured frame that Taishen had believed to be normal for goblins, but was due to the constant run to anywhere besides where he was. That keen eye and smooth charm... All consequences of a curse thrust upon him

"Your tea..." Taishen spoke softly, "There's this, ritual of sorts, that my family does. To predict and prepare for the future? I- I could read your tea leaves if you wish? It could help you feel more centured and sure of what is to come."

Skrimm sniffed noncommittally, glaring for a beat more at the door, before turning back to Taishen. "Course you got magic tea."

Taishen let out a soft laugh, making Skrimm look at him oddly.

"Sorry, it's just Barnabos said the same thing." Taishen smiled, "But, it's not magic. Not like my flames are, anyway."

"Barnabos..." Skrimm looked over at the sleeping Triton, "Is this what you were doing with him after his freaky dream vision?"

"Yes. I read that we would face great hardships, but still succeed. Because of him."

Skrimm squeezed the blade between his thumb and pointer finger, dragging his fingertips down the bumpy flat of the blade in thought.

"You can do your not-magic magic." He huffed, sitting down, "I wanna see it up close anyway."

"Thank you Skrimm, but it's not all that flashy."

Taishen picked up the cup and, as he peered in, was almost pleased to find the dregs clinging to the glass. The shape, however, made his blood run cold.

"Skrimm." Taishen pointed to a collection of waterlogged flowers making an image, "Skrimm, look."

"What?" Skrimm asked, looking on edge at Taishen's behaviour. 

Taishen ignored him and tilted the cup his way, "You see? The shape at the bottom? What do you see?"

Skrimm rolled his eyes before leaning closer to peer in, going pale, "Oh. Great. Jack's in my tea."

He seemed to think something over in his head before pointing the blade at his teacup warily, glancing up at Taishen with a shaky smile. Taishen chuckle was strained.

Taishen looked down at the dreggs of Skrimm's tea and saw an angry canine, curled in a circle like it was chasing it's tail. And Skrimm had just confirmed his suspicions of the shape.

The dark wolf. The Grim. Death.

"It could be a wolf." Taishen nodded, convincing himself, squinting at the dregs nervously, "Which would read a challenge or betrayal of someone you know, or have known."

"Wow." Skrimm deadpanned, scratching at his arms, "You're great at this comforting thing. Wait, what do you mean could?"

"Or it could be a dog." Taishen ignored him, tense, and tilted the cup from side to side, "Which means a good friend. It's along the bottom which symbolises that friend needing help."

Skrimm blinked at him, "Are you being serious right now? Seriously? I'm not helping that mangy monster."

"It's not explicitly Jack, Skrimm." Taishen informed quickly, "It could be someone else. Maybe someone here."

"That's not a good thing, idiot." Skrimm eyed the sleeping party anxiously, "That's actually a very not good thing."

"Well..." Taishen's throat tightened and his tail lashed anxiously before he could get it back under control. This was not going to plan. Barnabos had told him to make Skrimm feel better, not worse. In fact, the reading had made Taishen feel even worse too. This was not comforting in the slightest.

"It's not inherently bad either?" Taishen said slowly, "The dog reads them needing help, not a foretelling of certain injury. If you help this person, maybe you could save their life."

"Maybe. But Jack isn't really a wolf or a dog." Skrimm grimaced, "Maybe something in-between. Definitely more wolf."

Taishen squeezed his eyes shut and breathed in and out, before staring down at the Grim's eyes.

An omen of death: not a literal dog but a symbolic representation of a negative event, death, or a significant turning point in life.

"Taishen?" Skrimm asked, and they met eyes.

The beast's mouth was open, symbolising an untrustworthy friend.

"Someone you have known will betray you, causing you to have to save another's life..." Taishen swallowed. Resulting in a death. In Skrimm's death. He kept that to himself.

"Well that doesn't sound too bad." Skrimm mumbled, pausing and looking at him oddly, "Do you, like, talk to tea now?"

"No. No, that was the reading. The drinker states what they see in the shapes, and the reader interprets what those shapes mean." Taishen explained, shaking his head to try and calm himself down, "A plea to Fu Zhao for warnings of the future. The premonitions aren't written in stone, however. They don't always come true, or how you believe they may happen.."

He was a poor comfort to lie to himself.

Skrimm frowned at him, looked between the cup and his face slowly.

"Oh. Neat." Skrimm said, willing his blade away, and pulling the cup to his face, squinting in the cup "What does a coin mean?"

"You're heading for a large sum of money." Taishen responded, looking up to him slowly, "Or a warning of greed and gluttony."

Skrimm grinned down into his cup, "I'll choose the first option please."

"It could be both, or neither, Skrimm." Taishen chastised gently.

"Nah, I'm going to be rich." Skrimm grinned, pointing in the cup again, "And a knife?"

"You should show caution against sharp words." Taishen said with a knowing look.

"Shut up, it does not mean that." Skrimm punching him playfully in the shoulder.

"The tea does not lie." Taishen smiled wearily.

Skrimm laughed, before silence fell and he looked at Taishen for a warm collection of heartbeats.

"It's not a dog, is it?" Skrimm said plainly, "Or a wolf."

Taishen bit his lip, tail lashing as he immediately stared down at his crossed lap.

"I said it myself that Jack isn't either, and that is definitely him." Skrimm gripped the cup tightly between both hands, "What is it?"

"It- it could be-"

"Taishen." Skrimm looked him in the eye, "Taishen, just tell me. I can take it."

Taishen's forehead creased and he blinked back emotion, "I'm not sure I can."

"Taishen." Skrimm repeated, grabbing at his hand, "Please."

He inhaled shakily, and met the grim's gaze. He thought back on Skrimm's vision, of the frothing mouth and piercing red eyes and the maw on his best friend's neck.

"Death." He practically wheezed, "It predicts death."

"Oh." Skrimm said, bringing a hand to his forehead with a breath, "I mean. Yeah, I thought so. I thought you'd say that, I knew it-"

"Skrimm."

"I- I knew it would happen, and I knew it'd be him, but- hearing it so plainly- and, and so soon-?"

"Skrimm."

"Taishen." The goblin mimicked sarcastically, "I'm not exactly in the mood for casual conversation after hearing I'm going to die today."

"You're not going to die." Taishen pleaded, grasping Skrimm's hand with both of his own and squeezing tight. He could feel his pulse through his skin.

"I literally am." Skrimm scoffed, his voice a little too high, "And my best mate Jack will make sure of that."

"It's not written in stone, Skrimm." Taishen winced, "It won't be today, and it very well may not even be Jack."

"Sure." Skrimm joked darkly, "The demon with a soul contract in my name isn't out for my blood."

"Skrimm." His voice cracked and the goblin looked back at him, despaired.

"Hey, don't cry-" Skrimm said, panicked, his free hand falling from his forehead to soothe Taishen, "It's not like you're dying-"

Taishen let out a sob and Skrimm's face fell into a deeper panic.

"Right, let's not mention that." Skrimm patted Taishen's hands, "Uh- There there, it's okay? Um, how about we..."

He awkwardly leaned forward to wrap his free hand over Taishen's shoulder. It looked uncomfortable, with them both still sitting, Skrimm's height being so much less than Taishen's - he was so so small - and one of his hands still holding Taishen's. Skrimm grunted and laid his forehead on Taishen's chest, patting at the base of Taishen's neck. He was warm.

Taishen let out another soft sad sound, before he pulled his hands free and hugged Skrimm back, pressing his snout into the crick of his neck.

"Whoa, there we go-!" Skrimm laughed and it sounded strangely wet as he wrapped his now free hand under Taishen's arm and held his back.

Taishen breathed in the smell of dirt and metal and smoke from Skrimm's skin and tried to pull himself together.

"I care about you a lot Skrimm." Taishen mumbled into his friend's shoulder, "And you dying-?"

"Hey, I'm not dead yet." Skrimm spoke with a odd kind of determination.

"I was trying to make you feel better." Taishen squeezed his eyes shut, "This is the complete opposite of that and I'm..."

"I'm so sorry." Taishen muttered, rubbing his thumb against Skrimm's spine.

"Hey it's okay, everyone needs a hug sometime," Skrimm replied, patting his back, before sniffing, "Too bad you got stuck with me; I suck at this."

"No, I'm sorry that you're going to-" Taishen felt the heat behind his eyes bubble up again, and he stopped himself.

"It's not your fault." Skrimm said, with no room for argument.

"It's not yours either." Taishen assured, "You were doing what you had to, to live."

Taishen felt Skrimm's muscles tense and another, noticeably wetter sniff sounded in the room.

"Woo, you sure are an amazing hugger compared to me!" Skrimm pulled back with an exaggerated sigh and a grin, patting Taishen's shoulder with one hand and rubbing at his own suspiciously puffy eyes with the other. 

"You're not bad at it, Skrimm." Taishen smiled, rubbing at his face, "I've just had much practice."

"Oh." Skrimm grinned, "You got a special dragon lover waiting back home?"

"No." Taishen corrected, "A niece. My darling, Mai Li. She will be seeing her eighth year the coming summer months."

"Oh. Oh shit." Skrimm looked him over like he had just met him, "I guess I didn't realise you had, like, an actual family waiting for you. A kid none the less."

"I miss her so much." Taishen picked up his teapot and looked down at his warped face reflecting on the carved glass, "But, And being here, I am able to help so many more people than had I stayed. I know she is safe in Jadeshell. "

"Lucky her." Skrimm huffed, crossing his arms, looking at the teacup, on it's side with the beast staring at him, "Taishen would you not um... The others might try to..."

"I won't tell." Taishen promised, "Just do not keep this so long that they have to find out another way."

"Heh, yeah. Maybe your tea is wrong."

"I hope it is."

Skrimm shuffled beside Taishen so they sat next to one another, leaning on the wall beside the fire and facing the door.

"You can go to sleep now if you want." Skrimm said, picking at his fingernails, "I'll keep watch."

"No no, you deserve to rest. And I promised I would keep watch." Taishen nudged Skrimm playfully, "I'll be fine."

"I'm not tired." Skrimm insisted at Taishen's resulting look, "Really. That vision thing? It made me feel strong again. Like I'm fully rested. I don't think I could go to sleep even if I tried."

"That's a first." Taishen joked.

Skrimm punched him in the arm with an insulted laugh.

"Well, I'm not leaving you awake alone after seeing something like that." Taishen concluded, "The vision and the reading."

"I guess then we're both staying up, then." Skrimm rolled his eyes, and picked up his teacup. 

He stared at it for a moment before running his thumb along the inside of it, pushing all the remaining dregs to the sides and showing the symbol-less bottom to Taishen.

"Tea from Mr Tea Man?" He asked, gesturing with the cup.

"Coming right up, Skrimm!" Taishen smiled gently and poured him the remaining tea from his pot.

They both cupped the warm liquid in their hands as they sat, side by side, and stared at the door. Quiet whisperings of anecdotes and tales of past experiences filled the room with more warmth than even the fire as their friends slept around them.

As their friends awakened, many hours later, Barnabos smiled at the pair - leaning on each other, drooling and snoring softly - before waking them up for the day to come.