Akir Man Yamut Malak Al-Mut (SSoDI-N)

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Yes, El, I'm leaving," Mino stated matter-of-factly as he started sorting through his junk piles in search of things he might actually want to keep. "If those prissy f*cks find out I'm here, I can almost guarantee they'll try to pull me back in. I'm not going back to that. If I have to inspect one more self-righteous dickhole b*tching about a twisted feather ever again, I might... What was the phrase you used? 'Go postal'?"

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Yeah, that sounds about right." By this point, Kelsey was actually willing to relax. Mino had made it perfectly clear that he had and wanted nothing to do with the army invading the island. He was no threat. Moreover, he had actually proven himself useful without her having to absorb his soul. For that, Kelsey was willing to display a small, begrudging amount of gratitude. "Well... all the same, thanks for the spell, Mino. I assure you the angels will not learn about your presence here from my mouth."

Then she wearily looked to El-Sayal. "Is it alright with you if I stick around until my hand fully recovers? I'd rather not face those bastards again with a spork sticking out of my wrist."

"Oh... yes, go right ahead," El-Sayal hesitantly responded.

"Thanks. I'll... let you two talk this over amongst yourselves. Don't let me sway your opinion." With that, Kelsey turned and walked out of the bedroom.

El-Sayal quietly watched her go, then she let out a sigh and turned back to the angel. "Mino..."

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Make sure of it," Mino grumbled back to Kelsey, ignoring her from there on out as she left the room and he continued packing.

Before El-Sayal could speak another word to him, Mino cut her off, "Don't try to stop me, El. I don't see why this surprises you. The entire reason I came to this island was to not be found, and yet you managed to pull off just that. It was only a matter of time before someone else found my hiding place, let alone them. Besides, I'm basically a nonentity in your life. Can you honestly say you'll miss me?"

[ParamountKeymaster]

El-Sayal's response was blunt, immediate, and nothing short of genuine... "Yes."

---------------------------

About forty-five minutes passed, a tangible silence enveloping the ghost town. Sietch. Whatever it was called.

Kelsey sat on the porch of what she assumed was some sort of saloon, watching the sand roll by on the desert plains beyond the wooden shacks while keeping herself relatively out of sight. She hadn't thought much about the angels, what kind of mess she would return to, or how they would react to her still being alive. Put simply, she wasn't ready physically or emotionally to contemplate such heavy matters. Based on her own perceptions of Mino, he didn't seem like the kind of guy who thought too hard about difficult subjects, let alone much of anything else. Since he was nice enough to heal her arm, Kelsey decided to follow his example as well and put her mind at ease, if only for the time being.

Mino was leaving. Kelsey was going back. Right now, that was all she felt she needed to worry about.

She looked utterly exhausted, perhaps more so than she had when she first woke up. Now more than ever, she was craving that morning cup of coffee.

"Still?" Tri materialized in a rocking chair next to Kelsey's. "Girl, you need to find a support group to help you with this addiction."

Kelsey never even considered dignifying Tri's remark with a response. Instead, she gave her hand a good look. It had grown exceptionally quickly during her down time. It was nearly big enough to sufficiently fit her wrist again. At this rate, if she started flying eastward now, it would likely be back to normal by the time she returned to the city.

Her focus shifted from short distance to long distance when she noticed a blurred image approaching out of the corner of her eye. El-Sayal was walking her way, offering a wave and a weary attempt at a grin. "Kelsey..."

"Oh, hey, El," Kelsey responded, waving back. "I was actually considering heading home now. If that's alright."

"Oh, yes, perfectly fine," El-Sayal replied, sitting down in the rocking chair, oblivious to the astral projection already occupying it...

"Whoa, hey, it's not even Friday night!"

"I had actually hoped to catch you before you left."

"Well... here I am." Kelsey shrugged. "How's Mino?"

El-Sayal rubbed her neck. "He's... alright, I think. I talked this whole invasion business over with him. He agreed to stay a little while longer to see if this simply blows over. As long as he can remain solitary, he's content to do so here. At least I... hope he is. I hope he isn't taking this matter too hard. Honestly, I've known him for quite a while now, but he still has expressions and a voice like a William S. Burroughs novel."

"...What's that mean?"

"He's difficult to read."

"Oh. Heheh..." Kelsey smiled at the young, robed woman. "Again, though, thank you so much for your kindness. Mino's spell definitely sped up my healing process and... you've been really cool too. After the crazy as balls week I've been having, I think that was just the respite I needed."

"Well, I'm glad I could provide that for you," El-Sayal mused with a calm, collected grin. Slowly, her expression drooped into one of concern, slight hesitance, and a twinge of fear. "Kelsey, I... I don't normally say this. As you've likely gathered, Mino and I have made this place our home so that we can escape the drama and conflict of the civilized world. But... if you feel as though you would ever need my help again... please, don't hesitate to come find me."

Kelsey took a deep breath, staring into El-Sayal's warm brown eyes with a tired look a gratitude, with just a hint of her own concern. She stood up out of her chair and stretched until her back popped. "Thanks, El... but... I'd hate to get you mixed up in whatever chaos I'm inevitably going to face, especially considering Mino clearly wants no part in it. Please don't get offended when I say this... but the last thing I need is for more people to get in the way. I-I mean that in a protective sort of way, I swear."

"No no, I understand," El-Sayal insisted. "Do what you believe is best. I can take care of myself quite well either way. Still, my offer remains open. I have a way with the worms if you think that might at all prove effective."

Kelsey let out a chuckle through her nose. She had to admit, the idea of a sandworm chowing down on angels was pretty funny. Still, this reminded her of a question that had been lingering at the back of her mind ever since her initial encounter with the creatures. "Say, about those sandworms... Should we city folk be concerned about them? Are you positive they'll remain confined to the desert?"

"Oh, definitely. Water is highly toxic to the worms. Matter of fact, when I first met Mino, I had to stop him from casting water spells in the open desert for fear that he would kill them." El-Sayal cast a somewhat wistful smile at the horizon, almost sounding sentimental for the creatures. "They won't drift beyond the desert. I've seen to that myself."

"Well, good. One less thing to worry about." Kelsey offered El-Sayal one last grin. "So... I guess that's that. No telling what my friends have been up to since my forced departure. Maybe I'll... see you around?"

"I'm certain you will," El-Sayal replied with a slow, comforting nod. "It was nice to meet you, Kelsey. Safe travels."

"Thanks. Take care of yourself. And that big green oaf." With a parting wave from her mostly-healed left hand, Kelsey unfolded her wings and began to walk away... only to turn back around and call out, "Oh, actually, real quick! You wouldn't happen to have any coffee, would you?"

"Afraid not!" El-Sayal laughed awkwardly. "Out here, I can't afford to waste water on luxuries!"

"Worth a try! Alright, then! See you around!" Kelsey waved one more time, then she turned away again and took flight, quickly rising above the rooftops and soaring into the expansive desert. Her brief moment of being dead was behind her. Now was the time to return to action. Now was the time to make those angels pay. Now was the time to set things right.

She wondered... Perhaps she should find Starling again. Maybe she had misjudged her. Maybe that one was onto something after all.

"Hey."

Kelsey turned to Tri with a raised eyebrow as he casually floated along beside her.

"Wanna try something cool?"

All the while, as she watched Kelsey depart, El-Sayal took a deep breath, letting loose a sigh of precious water for the young woman charting a course for clear and present danger. "Sallamaka al-lahu wa-nasaraka..."

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"I know what you intend to do."

When El-Sayal turned around, she found Mino standing nearby, staring at her with those same dead eyes and standing in that same slouched position. He didn't seem bothered by anything that had just taken place or whatever was on his mind. It just seemed like he was saying what needed to be said.

"I don't know why you're so keen to charge into this fight as opposed to any other fight that takes place on this island at any other given time. Seems like that girl has it pretty thoroughly taken care of."

[ParamountKeymaster]

El-Sayal sadly stared up at the angel, not sure at first how to respond. It was true, she had been avoiding conflict for some time now, and part of her was genuinely wary to confront it again. But she couldn't deny that meeting Kelsey had sparked something in her. A passion she long thought had died out. A desire to achieve that one thing she longed for most yet had been so scared to go after.

She lowered her head, unable to look Mino in to eye anymore. "I know this is not the path you want me to walk, if only to save yourself from that pain. It is a great risk, involving myself in these affairs... but this war... this jihad... it may be my only chance to redeem myself. To lay my demons to rest. To... To finally earn that which has evaded me for so long."

She clutched a hand to her stomach. "I understand why you don't want to fight. But... I would appreciate it if you stayed with me just a little while longer. I know we don't talk much, but you may just be the only thing still keeping me sane."

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Oh, I'll stay," Mino grunted as he stuck his hands in his pockets and began to walk down the road. She didn't expect him to fight. Good. She wasn't asking him to confront his past. Fine. "But I'm not helping you commit suicide."