The gentle bumping of the carriage kept Bolormaa from truly feeling like she was relaxed as she woke up. Her mouth tasted like ash, and her eyes were full of tears. She looked around - they must have left while she was elsewhere. Her eyes were unfocused as she gave out soft whines - until she looked at Minfilia, and she frowned.

Bolormaa knew what would be asked, and thus, she looked to the group. “It was very vague. I couldn’t see much. But I saw meteors falling towards a large city - and I was being led by a lot of big people.

…I felt comfortable in that moment, even if I knew I was going to be dying,” Bolormaa said, her lips curving into a soft smile. “As it should be. For I’ve always been Bolormaa, haven’t I? And I always will be.”

“You were out for a while,” Minfilia said, her expression worried. “Though - we’re nearly back to the Waking Sands.” Minfilia had to catch herself. She nearly said they were back home. Bolormaa looked around, now she was a little more aware - Chlodebaimt was half-hidden under a blanket, Fordola was nesting up next to Minfilia again, and Lyse… well, Lyse seemed distracted.

Eventually, Lyse expressed her feelings. “Papalymo is going to kill us. Papalymo is going to, like, double kill us. We’ve got a dragon with us, for Rhalgr’s sake!”

“I’m still an Ishgardian, though and though,” Chlodebaimt corrected. But Minfilia crossed her arms.

She seemed to be thinking. “If he does not accept your request for asylum, Chlodebaimt, I shall find a place for you. I promise.”

The dragon-man snorted, burying his head more. “I hope so. I cannot return to my family. I-I can’t warn them - if they’re still around.” As he spoke, Lyse looked to Fordola, and gave a small nod. Seemed that some of them would need to go and check, and they were likely still free. Their trip to Little Ala Mhigo would need to wait.

The caravan pulled in, quietly, and the five got out. Minfilia then paused - and looked to the others. “We’ve got a long report to give. This has been quite the adventure, my friends. Thank you.”

Papalymos’ blank stare was the most frightening thing of all. Minfilia had led the report - spoken of how Ramuh was now sealed, and the Sylphic relationships had been mended. But then, speaking of how the group had moved to help out both some Ala Mhigans and then some Duskwights, and the strange cavern they’d tended to. That they’d proven was safe, as long as you didn’t go down too far. Oh, and they’d found what they found out was an actually declared dead Ishgardian who was perhaps caught in a heretic plot.

A lot of it was unbelievable. But eventually, Papalymo found his voice. “…you’re not telling any lies, are you?”

“Of course not!” Minfilia said, her voice raising a tiny bit - Papalymo raised a hand, to stop her.

He gave a little tired look to her - but deep down, there was pride in his eyes. “I’m used to strangeness when it comes to Yda. And it seems you’ve been though a lot of strangeness. Still— Minfilia, we cannot keep this refugee here.”

That term. Refugee. It struck though Minfilias’ core, as she frowned to herself. “Then I shall find somewhere else for him.”

Papalymo did not move from his desk, his arms now crossed. “You know that even if Ishgard is not part of any Grand Companies, and is closed off, they would send their armies to take down any nation that sheltered one of theirs - especially one from a high house. Especially if he’d been declared dead!”

A Papalymo lecture was not something anybody wished for. And then, Minfilia got an idea - her lips curving into a smile. “…then I shall take him to the territory none own - unless the area around Silvertear Lake has been claimed?” She recalled that it was… barely developed, ages ago. Minfilia, however, was not going to appeal to any people who lived there.

She recalled the tales of the large giants and gigants who settled the land, who lived above the Lake. They were thought as brutish and frightening, who in stories had enslaved each other until around a hundred years ago, when their society had gone though a strange reorganization, and had taken up residence near to Silvertear Lake. None knew why they had changed, and none seemed to care.

For they were beasts, they were not one of the Spoken races. And thus, they fought. She wondered how such had changed over the last few years, after the fall of Dalamud…?

Minfilia shook her head. No. This wasn’t for her own sake, for her curiousity and desire to ally with the many tribes. Still, two birds with one stone. Papalymo kept his eyes focused on her. “…Minfilia Warde. You are a strange, strange woman.”

Before he could continue, Lyse spoke up. “She’s got a point, though. Even if Mor Dhona is right next to the snows, well, it’d also prove that this Ishgardian wasn’t a threat to us, right? If he could live close and not burn them down then we could move him back here!!” She sounded so very emotional - even if Chlodebaimt did not like the idea of being called just the Ishgardian. He let out a little grumble, but Lyse looked back and smiled at him - her little toothy grin.

Papalymo was now tapping his fingers, before letting out a groan. Again, before he could speak, the door opened - and Thancred entered, looking a little tired. “You called for me, Papalymo…

…oh, what’s all this?”

“Minfilia has stopped Ramuh, but has given us dire news. Thancred, I know you haven’t given your report on the movement of the Paragons, but may I ask you to help?” Thancred nodded, and Papalymo continued. “Good. We need you to investigate the claims that both Minfilia and Chlodebaimt have made - that there are heretic movements that risk House Haillenarte. If we can prove such and stop it, perhaps they will repay us with aid.”

Lahabrea couldn’t help but smile internally, at the command. Of course he’d love to. He could use Thancreds’ body to continue aiding Igeyorhm in her schemes. They always had to have schemes moving. He always had to be moving. But he did not show his excitement, and instead nodded as Thancred. “As long as I get to rest for the night - and, of course, get to give my report, hm?”

That night, Minfilia couldn’t help it. She had to go see Thancred, even if he seemed to exhausted. She’d also be setting out that night, after all. Thancred was quietly sitting at a desk, barely paying attention to the crowds around them. So many Scions and others - were those some visitors from Sharlayan? A lot of them were a haze, however, in Minfilias’ mind - and it hurt so much. Could she try and make them remember? No - not even Thancred remembered.

And yet, she wished he did. And thus, she sat across from him - warm tea in her hands, slid over to him. She was unaware of Lahabrea - but Lahabrea raised his head, making sure to keep his expression unimpressed. It seemed tired to these people. His eyes looked to Minfilia, though, and that tone in her eyes—

—oh, crap. There was only one person he knew before with those tones. And he had seen them before in earlier eras, when Nabriales had nearly given up on the Rejoinings - his dear friend. Damnit. Double damn it. Of course those two had found a way to reunite. And still, Lahabrea knew he had to bide his time. “A treat, for me?” he asked, giving Minfilia a soft smile.

Minfilia didn’t move her hands for a few moments, looking down at the tea. “Yes. It’s a bit bitter - it’s an Ala Mhigan blend. But… it’s the kind we used to share, before I was sent forward in time.

…I learned that some remembered me a little, Thancred. With my old name.”

Thancred stared. Only for a moment - only confused for a moment. It wasn’t like she’d know… nevermind. Still, he put a hand to his necklace, gently. “I believe that people can’t truly forget somebody. That somewhere deep down, they hold some fragment that could be stoked to awaken - and could remember. So of course people remembered you, Minfilia.”

His words were a comfort, and Minfilia slid over the tea. “Perhaps someday, I’ll be remembered. And we can be a family again.”

How little Minfilia knew. How little she knew that every word she said was like a dagger to Lahabrea, thinking of a past that had long faded away. Still, Minfilia continued, gently. “Though - Thancred, I wonder. Do you know if F’lhaminn…?”

Who? Lahabrea thought to himself, probing at the others’ mind. Trying to steal the knowledge from the one he possessed - even if he couldn’t feel what he really wanted to, within. Ah. One who Minfilia cared for. Even if Lahabrea was trying to calm his thoughts, he knew what he could do. “I’m sorry, but there’s been no word of her. And we all know what that means,” Thancred said, his face tilting downwards, at the tea. Faking sadness, he reached a hand out. Minfilia gripped to it with a soft whine, and Thancred squeezed. (Fake sympathy.) “I’ll keep an eye out, but…”

Minfilia let out a soft little squeak to herself, putting her arms around herself a little. She should have thought of that. She should have considered that not everybody survived the Calamity - but, still, she kept her composure. “Thank you, Thancred,” she whispered - moving to a stand. She barely noticed how hoarse her voice had become. “Please, make sure to drink all your tea.” It’ll make him feel better as well. He’ll be able to catch his breath and take a rest. He looked so tired.

As she moved to leave, though, she could feel Uriangers’ half-glare on her - and she turned to face the Elezen, who had not shifted from his place in the corner of the room. Judging them beneath his goggles? It wasn’t easy to tell. Urianger had that sort of resting look where he was judging everybody, even if he was kind inside. Urianger took a step forward towards Minfilia, before hesitating. “My lady Minfilia…”

Minfilia bowed her head.

Urianger gave an awkward smile. “Words can hold lies and deception. Perhaps you should ponder such - and words thy hath heard in recent moons.”

That was all Urianger wished to say - Minfilia could tell by his stance. Oh, dear Urianger - he was such a shy boy, the way his hands twitched as he talked - the way his legs bounced as he moved back to sitting. She wished she could say more to him, but all she could do to hold back the tears at the news she’d gotten was turn to leave.

She hoped that Urianger understood— before Minfilia remembered, and turned back. “Ah, Urianger— I actually sort of made a deal with the Primal we recently sealed.”

That got Uriangers’ attention, as he looked at her, hands still twitching and flapping slightly. Minfilia continued. “Ramuh— Ramuh agreed to share knowledge with us. Well - with you.”

“Truly?” Urianger asked, sounding curious but not too hopeful.

Minfilia nodded. “Though letters, so that he does not enthrall anybody. I— did Kurin survive the Calamity…?” Minfilia then asked, hope leaving her voice.

Kurin was a queer one. A Moogle with the Echo - who used his abilities to live to deliver mail to super dangerous places. Even if he had once gotten shot in the head, and another time had caused some form of disaster close to Thanalan that resulted in a nigh-unlivable hellscape. (A lot of Gigants lived there. But more horrifying… things… did as well.) He was also quite adorable - with a tuff of black hair, and a massive scar which would seem bad-ass to a lot of people. You know. If he wasn’t a moogle. He tended to be nicknamed Six by those who met him, for reasons Minfilia wasn’t quite sure of.

He would be a perfect courier for the task. “Aye, Six lives. Him and his… companions… have set up their own camp in Mor Dhona, but we are able to reach them,” Urianger said. Ah, yes. He had a few companions of his own. Including one who was rumoured to know of the Fists of Rhalgr. Not that Minfilia would ask - she knew she wasn’t worthy of knowing such. (Though, the fact that the one she’d heard whispers of wasn’t even Ala Mhigan by blood was stranger still.)

“Then I shall visit him when I seek a shelter for Chlodebaimt,” Minfilia said with a nod. She had her goals, then. And her sorrow.

Later that night, as she tried to sleep, Fordola crawled up onto her pillow - giving a little grunt, forcing her way onto the fluffy pillows. Minfilia put an arm around her - kissing her forehead without thinking.

Neither of them had to admit that it was nice to be together, that they understood each other. But in trying to distract herself, Minfilias’ thoughts turned to the Ala Mhigan nesting in her arms.

And she realised, with a quiet sound to herself, that she was getting— perhaps a crush? It couldn’t be love. Could it? This other Ala Mhigan was still indoctrinated to the Garlean ways. She was rough, but she cared so much. And she didn’t take crap like others did. They were two lost young adults, thrust out of their comfort zone and without their support networks.

For now, Minfilia would call it just a crush, for that was easier. Was Fordola thinking the same things? Was Fordola crushing on her as well? Perhaps the way she’d flirted with the half-naked Minfilia in the Shroud was proof. Or perhaps she was just acting like any Ala Mhigan would - they tended to wear little.

Fordola let out a soft snore, though, and a single word. “Yulia…”

Ah. So Fordola had learned Ydas’ birth name…? Had she learned all of it? No, she couldn’t have - or things would have been a lot different when they returned. There would have been - well, if not bloodshed, at least a lot of yelling. The only loud sounds she heard were the sounds of Lyse and Yda squeeing over each other, gushing about everything - though Minfilia wondered if Lyse was truly happy. Tomorrow, before she set off, she’d need to meet this postmoogle… and enact her plan.

It was one of her old goals to unite what had been called Beast Tribes.

And Minfilia would still do such, for it would bring a brighter tomorrow. And Fordola would come with her, to see what could be seen. What could be done, when you worked with those who did not look like you.