Thay+approaches

Wren stood up on deck near the side rail staring out at the land barely on the horizon. Crowe wandered up next to her, "Having second thoughts yet?"

Wren didn't answer her, she just stared out across the water, some deep imagining overtaking her thoughts. It felt like ghostly or magic hands were reaching out and grabbing her... she wanted to scream, but she couldn't speak... she couldn't move, she felt frozen, paralyzed with fear...

Crowe turned to look at her and seen her hands trembling as she stared out at the horizon, "Wren?" Crowe laid a hand on her arm and nudged her gently, "Wren." She looked up at her face, her eyes were filled with fear. "Whoa... Wren!" Crowe moved to stand between Wren and the railing, blocking her vision, "Hey... I know you're scared, but let's not let everyone see it, okay? We can't have you freezing up like this in Thay. You'll get us killed." Still no response... Crowe put her arms around Wren and drew her into a warm embrace, "Come on, Wren, stay with me. You're going to be okay... I'll be with you the whole time." Wren looked at her, her eyes still a little vacant.

"Good, come back to me a little bit more... show me that Wren face... you know the one... where you always look like you're ready to take on whatever trouble comes your way." Crowe smiled at her encouragingly. Wren smiled softly.

"Oh... well... that's just not quite it," Crowe shook her head at Wren, "Go on... go get back to yourself. You don't need to be up here staring. We'll get there soon enough, and we can go to greet our deaths together." Wren blinked at her and scowled. Crowe grinned.

"I'm sure he'll be looking over you too," Crowe glanced toward the front of the boat. Wren turned to look at what Crowe was looking at, and seen Kale toward the front of the boat, keeping a close eye on the two sisters. Wren couldn't help but smile at him.

"I still think you're letting yourself be too close to him... but if you need a security blanket, He looks like he might still be susceptible to your damsel in distress routine," Crowe shrugged, teasing her. Wren narrowed her eyes at her, "I thought you were trying to make me feel better..." Crowe laughed, "I am. And you're looking better every minute," Crowe nodded to her.

Wren folded her arms, "I don't know what has gotten into you. You used to be such an inspirational big sister..." Crowe laughed, "Well... I'm still the best one you've got." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sighed. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe smiled at her, "You're growing up, Wren, and I can't protect you from everything forever... There's only one person who ever **enjoyed** pushing you to your limits... and that pale psychopath isn't here... so someone has to be there to push you forward."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren glanced at her, shocked, "Loch didn't attack me... sure, she dragged me into some dangerous situations... and she loved to torment me with distractions of kisses and such when I tried to work on my skills... but she never intentionally harmed me by her hands like you did... she's not the crazy one. You are."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe looked at her, "She is the crazy one. She would drag you into uncontrollable, dangerous situations... where both of you could have easily been hurt. Just look at what happened to you when she brought you back from survival training. You were death warmed over. I would've never let that happen. I maintained full control with my spells. I could see how much you could take and I pulled it off when you'd had enough... perfect control."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's mouth dropped open, "Perfect Cont.... you really are a crazy person." Wren shook her head at her, "Loch is much better at 'pushing me to my limits'... so please... stop trying to be what you think I need... and just be my sister."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe smiled at her, "I love when you get all fiery. It's nice to see you back. Now hold on to that fire because you're going to need it." Crowe nodded to her and walked away, casting a watchful glare toward Kale before going below.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled at Kale and walked to stand next to him.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale wrapped an arm familiarly around Wren's waist, pulling her against him possessively, unable to resist tweaking her sister when she was so close. He was rewarded for his insolence by a scowl from the older elven witch, who sniffed and turned away, pretending to ignore them.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren laughed, not minding at all the sudden closeness. "You really like pushing your luck don't you? I don't know how to turn you back from a frog yet, you know." She teased him.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He smiled in return, "Risk is all part of the fun, isn't it?" He turned to look at the foreboding coast ahead. "We're almost there mi’lady..." He held her a little tighter. "No matter what happens, I'll protect you." He tried to sound as confident as he could...but he had to admit...he was frightened. Not for himself...but for her...and Yuki...and the other women. He would likely be killed when she...and the women...well, he didn't want to think about it. He wouldn't let it happen, he wouldn't!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren snuggled in close, holding him tightly, "We'll protect each other." She nodded confidently.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"The very reputation and aura of this place..." She shivered, "I hate to admit it... but this place has me a little on edge."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"If anything happened to you... I'd ... well... I don't think even death will stop me from coming for you...and if something happens to me... know that I'll do whatever it takes to get back out... you survived for 3 years in that other world... and that will be my strength to survive my way back out of here."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She laid her head on his shoulder, comforted slightly by his warmth, "Just hold me here a little longer, okay?"