The Butterfly Effect

{-Kiri-}

Another day, another mission. Not that they knew what it was yet—Micah had only just come to tell them that they should gather the others. Or, rather, they volunteered to gather the others. They were just thinking about how tired they were sitting around anyway.

The first two Messengers on their list to find were Kaius and Hayze. The two of them were together, talking to some of the “younger” Messengers.

“I was put on missions before the very thought of your beloved Saint-King even existed,” Kaius remarked proudly. As he said it, he casually tied up his red hair into a loose bun. “I daresay even the thought of finding fault within the Old Kings was nigh unthinkable. It led to an awfully boring time, might I add.”

Hayze sighed. Her wings were enough to show who she was—a fairy, albeit one who often worked at human-size to match her coworkers. “Oh, would you stop being so dramatic? You didn’t do anything. You don’t hear me boasting about seeing the very end of legends themselves, now do you?”

“I do believe I just did. Besides, I wasn’t the one who had to be picked up from the ashes…”

“I have no idea how or why I’ve dealt with you for over a thousand years.”

Kaius smirked when he noticed Kiri, gesturing to them. “I’m sure this Fos certainly has something to do with it. Need something, Kiri?”

They nodded. “I came to tell you that Micah has a mission for us—just go meet with him, I’ve got to find the others. Do you know where they might be?”

“If I recall correctly, I last saw Neville and Jacqueline with the other Fos. Try there?”

Hayze added, “Verity mentioned helping Elle with something, so they’re probably together. Oh, and assuming he hasn’t left by now, I noticed Tevie had a new plant with him, so he likely went to the garden.”

Kiri offered a smile. “Thanks. Go on and head to Micah, I’ll be back with the others in a couple of minutes.”

They waved goodbye and started to where the Fos usually gathered. A part of them did wonder if they should do everything else and come to that part later, in the hopes that others would have gone out to missions by then; they also knew, though, that the numbers of who were out and who were resting would remain the same no matter what. They were, after all, one of the people who regularly coordinated that kind of stuff—if they thought just a bit longer, they might even be able to list all of their siblings who were either here or away.

When they got to the room, though, they only pushed open the door once they heard that the twins they were looking for were there. Neville and Jacqueline were surrounded by other, younger Fos, advising them on their missions and helping with both their big and small problems.

Surprisingly enough, though, it wasn’t either of the twins that noticed Kiri first. It was some of the younger Fos—the ones who weren’t there to understand their whole story.

The ones who didn’t give them a nervous glance, then quietly mumbled their farewell.

“Oh, hello, Kiri!” one of the younger Fos practically cheered.

Another crept up beside her. “But if you’re here, that means Neville and Jacqueline have to go soon, doesn’t it?”

Jacqueline stood up in one fluid motion. “It likely does, at least for a little while. You’ve all got to remember, though: we all have our roles to play in Orestis’s plan, and we must work before we can rest.”

Neville nodded as he got up. “Yes. Then you can tell us about your own successful missions when we return.”

Most of the Fos seemed to accept that, and all of them dispersed from there. Kiri was actually quite grateful that the three of them were left alone.

“We have a mission,” they explained. “Can you two meet up with Micah? I’ve still got to talk to Verity and Tevie.”

“We’ll be there shortly,” Neville confirmed.

“Thanks.”

And with that, Kiri was off again, heading to the hallway that the gods resided in. That was, at least, where they guessed they’d find her if she was helping Elle. And, well… they didn’t have to get too much further to hear a familiar argument.

“Verity agrees. I am the better of the two of us.”

“Of course your Messenger is going to say good things about you! At least I’m not resorting to tricks to try to even the scales!”

“Oh, please. You’d be doing the same thing if any of yours weren’t away. You’ve done it before. You must calm down, Daphni, I’m afraid your vanity is going to lead to every boat on the water to overturn.”

“Don’t be smug with me! And don’t even try to claim this is about vanity. You’ve killed a mortal over it!”

“Now that’s just rude. Can’t you see I’ve paid the price for my actions, and have redeemed myself?”

Then, completely calm, Verity chimed in, “You are always learning and adapting.”

Daphni was the first to notice Kiri walking through the archway. “Finally, a neutral party! Kiri, dear, you settle the matter. Am I, the very embodiment of all the waters, better, or is Elle, with her annoying wind, better?”

“I politely refuse to answer,” was their simple response. “I know you’re in the middle of something, but Micah has a mission for us, so I’m going to need to borrow Verity.”

Elle let out a hmph. “Well, if Orestis asked for it, then there’s nothing I can say about it. Go on and do what you need to, we’ll undoubtedly still be waiting for an answer.”

Verity nodded. “Of course. I’ll be sure to remind Kiri of all your wonderful qualities by the time they return to give an answer.”

“And I’d once again like to point out that I don’t want any part of this,” Kiri remarked. They turned their full attention back on Verity. “I’ve only got to check on Tevie next, so can you join the others and Micah? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Verity mumbled her agreement and the two of them left, though they both went in different directions.

The only place Kiri had left to check was the garden, and they had a pretty good feeling about finding who they were looking for there. They knew they were right when they entered the garden and noticed the subtle signs of Thalis’s presence; everything there looked more vibrant, and nearly every flower was open to its fullest. It was the only place in Sanctuary where “mortal” things were allowed, even if those things were only flowers.

They could never tell whether they wanted to simply appreciate the beauty of them, or to take it as a reminder that this was the closest they were going to get to stepping foot outside of Sanctuary.

But they weren’t here to think about that. They quickly located Tevie, who was holding a potted plant in his hand and showing it to Thalis.

“…and this one lures bugs in, it gets trapped inside, then the plant dissolves it and breaks down the useful parts,” Tevie was saying. He spoke casually—almost affectionately—and seemingly unaware of Thalis’s more nervous expression.

“Quite, ah… interesting,” Thalis eventually mumbled, coupled with a weak and nearly forced smile. “Some things have certainly adapted since the last time I was able to see them… and this is one of the more drastic ones.”

“Oh! I found another one, too.” Tevie put that pot to the side and picked one beside it. In the same tone as before, he asked, “Did you know that this little buddy may taste delicious, but can cause paralysis? Practically the entire plant is poisonous! Isn’t that fascinating?”

“Y-yeah… fascinating.” Thalis looked like he was about ready to curl up somewhere and never reemerge. Which was quite common for this kind of conversation, actually, as he tended not to enjoy the more violent means nature operated on.

Kiri walked up to the two of them and prompted, “I know you’re in the middle of something, but do you have a moment?”

“We’ve got a mission?” Tevie asked. When they nodded, he placed the other pot back. “Am I allowed to go?”

“Of course.” Thalis carefully took both of the pots. He didn’t even hide his thankfulness for the conversation being over. “I’ll go give these two a proper place, and I’ll wait for anything else you might come across on your trip. Stay safe down there, whatever Orestis wants you to do.”