Sanctuary

After the airship had returned to Sanctuary, Amanda was rushed to a quarantined lab. Tests showed that while she was still alive, she was completely unresponsive. Ariel watched through a window as her Mother laid on a hospital bed.

Ashe walked up behind Ariel with two coffee cups in her hand, and handed one to Ariel.

"Thanks" Ariel smiled slightly, as she took a sip from the coffee.

"It's okay" Ashe nodded.

"The doctors told me that she took in too much of the corrupted aether out in the wastes, it's basically brought her to a state where she can't function" Ariel explained. "They don't know if she'll ever recover" She added, as her voice broke. Ashe comforted Ariel as she broke down in tears.

Later that night, after Ashe and Ariel had headed home, Roisin walked over to the window, and looked at Amanda, she sighed.

"Why do I feel bad for her?" She asked herself. "She killed my mother..." Roisin shook her head and thought to herself.

"Because you're not a bad person, Roisin" Atlas smiled, as he walked into the room.

"Oh, hey, Uncle Atlas" Roisin smiled slightly.

"You missed Ashe and Ariel, they were here about an hour ago" Atlas smiled.

"I didn't want to intrude, wanted to give them some space" Roisin said, as she sat down.

"The recording device picked up some useful scans out there" Atlas said, as he sat down too.

"So it wasn't in vain?" Roisin asked.

"The creatures that Amanda named 'Demonhawks' seem to be what because of the bird life, colossal winged beasts that roam the skies" Atlas explained.

"Similar to what Syl saved us from, I imagine" Roisin nodded.

"From his report, it sounds about right" Atlas agreed.

"This will mean trouble for airships coming in and out" Roisin pondered.

"Thankfully, we are pretty self-sufficient, however, Disceath will still send an occasional airship, so we've informed them of the dangers" Atlas replied. "Rychard also went on about having something of a defence against any 'Demonhawks'" Atlas chuckled.

"I still don't trust that guy" Roisin sighed.

"You're right not to, after what he and his mother did to you" Atlas nodded, before frowning. "I'm sorry for sending you into that alone" He sighed.

"I've never blamed you for anything, Uncle. You've always done your best for both me and my brother" Roisin smiled. Atlas flinched slightly at the word 'brother', he still hadn't told Roisin about Keegan.

"Thank you, Rosie" Atlas said, as he hugged her. The nearby door opened, and they both looked over to see Ariel enter the room.

"Oh... I didn't know anyone was here" Ariel stuttered.

"We can leave, if you want to be alone" Roisin smiled.

"No" Ariel shook her head. "I don't want to be alone" She added.

"Where's Ashe?" Atlas asked, as he stood up.

"She fell asleep" Ariel sighed. "I'm glad she's getting rest" She smiled.

"You need rest too, Ariel" Roisin said, as she walked over and hugged Ariel.

"I know, it's just, I feel like I have to be here" Ariel shook her head and looked at Amanda. "Like, what if she wakes up, and I'm not here?" She sighed.

"I understand that feeling" Atlas nodded as he walked over to the window. "After Ruby and Darenth were killed, I was petrified of leaving Roisin and Syl home alone, I though, if I left them with the babysitter, something horrible might happen to them too" He admitted.

"Uncle Atlas..." Roisin sighed.

"So, I stayed home, and I drank myself into oblivion" Atlas frowned. "One day, Roisin... she nearly knocked one of my many bottles of a table, onto her head... if I'd have been slightly more drunk, I wouldn't have been fast enough to stop it hitting her" Atlas looked at Roisin, who frowned.

"I can't remember..." Roisin sighed.

"You were too young" Atlas wiped a tear from his eye. "So, the babysitter found out, and she was furious and called me all the names under the sun, I thought I was going to have to find a new sitter, but, she calmed down and sat me down. She told me that she knew why I hardly called her any more, and that I needed to get out of the house more, to move on from what had happened" Atlas explained.

"I at last realized that, by throwing my life away to protect Roisin and Syl, I'd also endangered them. I know this situation is slightly different, but, you can't throw your life away to wait here for the day when Amanda might wake up" Atlas continued. "Ashe needs you, she lost her Father quite recently too, and he is gone forever" He concluded. Ariel looked at Amanda and nodded.

"I know, you're right, it's just hard" Ariel admitted. "I know I seem like the strong willed, smart type of person who can hold it all together, but the truth is, beneath that, I... I'm terrified, of everything, every moment of my life. From being stuck in Aranei, to battling all manner of things we've fought. The only time I feel safe and happy is in Ashe's arms" Ariel explained, as Roisin hugged her.

"Seems you are human after all" Roisin teased. Ariel chuckled slightly, then hugged Roisin back.