No place like Home (Bailey/Leon)

[Blake Oleander]

It was clear to Blake that they were all cracking. The hammer blows continued to drop. Being turned into freaks, exiled from their homes, shunned by those they loved. To find out that everything they had been taught to believe was a lie, and then killing the men who had been like Fathers to them. He didn't know what they were going to do, what was going to happen to them, or if it would be better to just end it all tonight.

But lie or not, he wasn't raised to quit. He couldn't just lay down and die, he was a fighter, and he would keep fighting. And if the others found themselves stumbling to stand on their own then he would stand strong for them. He was older than they were, it was his responsibility to be strong when they could not.

"You did well."

He'd say to Saw, giving him a nod of approval as he moved passed him to start digging, leaving several other shovels on the ground for the others to join or not.

[Leon]

Jake would join in and Sai would finish his work setting out a water bucket and salts to wash the bodies. He would then join in the digging. Once finished Brill would return, tear stains on his cheeks, his eyes red and bloodshot. He said nothing, staying silent and moving to help lower the bodies into the gravesite. Dianna would appear with cooked and salted snake meat, with scrambled egg for a side.

[Blake Oleander]

Blake would let Brill keep his silence and Pride. Giving him a pat on the shoulder once the bodies were lowered in as he made his way toward Dianna and the food.

"We should eat and then finish burying them and give our goodbyes. It's been a long day."

[Leon]

They would nod exchanging looks of uncertainty towards the future. Jake was a bit more steeled about it. Sai was being quiet as usual, but he maintained his discipline very precisely. Calm, collected, observant. He simply sat and ate food. Brill however, felt the need to talk over food.

"All of the elders die. When they banished me my mother protested and attempted to keep me from leaving and was shot with crossbows because of it. I accepted it as just punishment for her blasphemous actions and so did my father... They all die."

[Blake Oleander]

"The problem if it is blasphemous then the Elders were even worse, being freaks like us."

He frowned at his plate.

"They will likely try to kill us when we tell them about the Elders."

[Leon]

Brill looked at Blake, tears in his eyes returning.

"As long as the elders die. My life matters not."

Sai looked at Brill, finally emotion appearing on his face, concern. Jake clenched his fists, he didn't know how to respond, he felt much the same way. But...

"Above that, our people must be made to see. Free from those who control them."

Sai surprisingly was the one to say it.

[Blake Oleander]

He'd take a thoughtful bite of his food.

"I agree. They have to know the truth. No matter the cost to us."

[Leon]

There would be silence for the rest of the meal if no one else spoke up. Causing it to be late. Finishing the burial process it would be time to sleep.

[Blake Oleander]

Blake would turn in when the funeral was over, he dreaded what would happen in the morning. But it needed to happen, his people needed to know what the Elders were, and what they had done. His purpose was to protect his people, and he'd not leave them in the hands of monsters looking to manipulate and use them.

He would die before he let that be the fate of those he loved.

[Leon]

That morning Diana was sitting next to Sai ceremonially cleaning weapons and armor. Jake was off by himself with his arms folded and his blade planted in the dirt next to him. While Brill was still snoring in his little hut.

[Blake Oleander]

He would head over to Jake first, giving him a small pat on the back.

"How are you holding up?"

[Leon]

Jake would keep staring at the Zweihänder planted next to him as Blake asked his question.

"Better than before... I have been... Talking to my blade in a way. Asking it what it's purpose would be if I were not wielding it."

[Blake Oleander]

"Has it answered?"

He met metaphorically, but after yesterday, he was willing to entertain the idea of literally.

[Leon]

Jake would sigh.

"At first... I took the fact that it does nothing, as a sign of useless without a master. Without purpose. And then I watched as the wind moved and how nature reacted to it."

He'd point at the base where he had stabbed it in the ground.

"Insects... They used it's shade to hide... Used it's width as a defense against the harsh wind that would otherwise blow them over..."

Jake would unfold his hands and grip the handle.

"Even without a master, a wielder, it had purpose. Even without direction, it was used, and even by just being it protected those around it."

Jake would pull it from it's placement and sheath it on his back again.

"For now, I do not see my purpose, but that does not mean I do not have one."

[Blake Oleander]

"I had never thought of it like that."

It was an interesting thought.

"I am sure we will find out purpose out in the world. Or back at home, if they are willing."