Marion gave Loci a puzzled, abit wounded look- what was that for?- and missed some of the conversation going on with that distraction, but he did catch on the more important things like Rekkel's side hustle.

And you just saw his expression become a little cross. This never really happened before- and all you saw of him was his smiles and his worriedness and concern, but with that information, Marion actually seemed to have his whole view on the person in question updated- long warranted, for sure, but-

"He's just a con man. He would know there is nothing like those, miracle cures- not without side effects, by any means- and he knew and he chose to lie about it and selling them, and people won't even know what they had put into their own bodies. Best that the substance itself is harmless and they only get their money and hopes cheated. Worse that this prevented patients from getting proper care, and that the improper mix of different substances being taken creates detrimentally harmful effects, possibly leading to life-long injuries, and death,"

Marion said, quietly.

"People that take advantage of others like this without regards to any other life than his own at all... no. I don't think I would allow it."

Loci just bleps his spectral, emerald tongue out at the elf and nestles a little more firmly against Beak's side as he squeezes her hand.

Wind lets out a triumphant trill, wriggling free of their Bab'sk's grasp and darting over to Beak with an intricately carved wooden figurine of Beak held in her little bone talons, "look!" the youngest daughter chirps as she plops down on Beak's lap and holds the figurine up, presumably for Beak to take, "it's you!"

the other children tense slightly at this, glancing at eachother before three sets of varicolored eyes focus on Beak and Wind...

...Rena chuckles softly, “...the wee ones ‘re a big reason as t’ why I’ve put so much work int’ our reputation, yeah…” those shining eyes flash flick up to gaze into the sky above, “...honestly, you’re mostly still alive ‘cause we make a habit of gettin' the other side o’ the story before deciding how t’ proceed…learned the hard way back in the Valley that every story has at least two sides to it-” she gently nips at Nev’s inky feathers, “-an’ I’ve never been fond of buggers who try t’ get me t’ do their dirty work on false pretenses. One innocent is already too many, so I don’t intend t’ have any more o’ those on my conscience…” she lets out a soft, almost mournful trill, “...that’s the thing I haven’t managed t’ work into the stories yet…always try an’ get the other half o’ the story whenever I’m contracted t’ take someone out. Most folks figured out the lesson by now regardless, but…well, some buggers think they’re smart enough t’ get one over on us…” a long, slender flight feather appears in her hand as though by magic, catching the light in a strange and unnatural manner as she turns it for her own examination, “...lizard’s lucky ‘e’s got a family t’ take care of, elsewise I’d be gettin’ some more practice in tonight…”

That…tracks with the stories, actually; more than a few of them involve people hiring the Blackfeathers to kill someone who’d simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time…and most of those stories ended with the prospective client being found…scattered about their quarters, with the luckier ones being left crippled, their reputations ruined…spared only due to their families…

For a moment, Beak is stunned beyond words, or even the thoughts she broadcasts as words. That her skeletal face is fixed and unmoving is no surprise--it always is--but that channel through which she broadcasts her telepathic speech... simply isn't, at least not until several long moments have passed. Just when someone might think to check whether she's okay, the mental communication finally resumes.

"I... n-no one has ever... child... you...."

Well. It sort of resumes.

"Oh, little one... sweet, sweet little one...."

The rest of the group has now seen what happens when a skeleton "cries" twice this evening. The way one can tell when Beak is "choked up" is when she simply starts to lose her grip on that telepathy, when the mental connection cuts and jumps and otherwise feels like someone who is far, far less proficient or capable at how to use a messaging spell than she normally is.

"... I shall treasure this. Thank you... truly...."

It's almost enough to make her forget about Rekkel, and it is enough to make her forget that these are the big scary Blackfeathers she now finds herself surrounded by. They have a reputation, sure, but look at them! If anyone is going to be killing her this evening, it's with kindness.

"... And... Marion? You are right. His medicines are... suspect, at best. I had little choice but to try to ignore that when conducting my business with him, but it seems he has decided to... terminate our arrangement. I know not why. In fact...."

Oh, yes, of course. This must have been how Bell felt with the belated introductions.

"... I realize now that I never gave you my formal answer. You... seem to have gathered this much already, so I'm not sure how much I even need to say this anymore. But to make it clear, as the other side of the story you seek: No, I did not curse Rekkel's daughter. I... wouldn't have the power to do so if I wanted to. If such a spell exists then I do not know it. At present, as of this moment, my only magic is my telepathy, a regeneration factor for wounds I sustain, and a way to soothe people's furious or terrified emotions if I touch them."

"Nor do I know who did--if anyone did--or why he decided to place this crime at my feet, instead, and have me slain for it. I... pray forgive me; you came to me looking for answers and there is much that I simply do not know. Perhaps we can learn more by confronting Rekkel when he's at his usual location for conducting the more illicit end of his business... I can show you the way once we return to town. We'll need to be there either early in the night or early in the morning--just before or just after his usual long day in his fruit stall."

Marion nodded, not at all fazed by the idea of confronting the man with a much sterner attitude- now that he understood.

The thought weighed heavy on his mind- but he still smiled, when the chick went forward and presented her gift- and when the telepathy promptly broke off, the elf was concerned, but it became apparent that it was simply a spike in emotions that would make holding spells difficult- Marion hypothesized that telepathy links also suffered from such moments, the sheer load stress being an added factor to which the link would break under.

"It's settled then, we have to talk to him about... all this, as soon as optimal. We should probably head-, oh, on second thought, maybe not back, yet. Least he spots you, I mean."

He furrowed his brows, thinking. To be fair to him, he never had prior experience on... any of this sort of happenings, but he is trying to think about it in a reasonable sense.

"Are there any places we can go to in the meantime..? I don't think lingering here would be a good option, since he sent us to the location in the first place. Maybe he'd have other people come look for us, when we didn't return for too long a time."

Wind lets out a flurry of overjoyed chirps and trills, sparing only the barest of moments to set the figurine down and out of the danger zone before she’s hugging the eldest skeleton as best she can, rose gold eye lights flicking to upward arcs in her sockets as she nestles into Beak’s lap.

Loci sighs softly, trilling happily as he relaxes, nestling a little more firmly against Beak’s side and continuing his contented purring.

Whistle smiles softly, idly spinning a coin of her own along her knuckles as she begins to pace around the group, ruby eyes scanning the group’s surroundings as she makes her patrol…

Wind lets out a pleased chirp, relaxing heavily and turning his attention to cleaning his crossbow, carefully wiping down every inch of the weapon with an oiled cloth…

Rena sighs, “...figured as much jus’ from the fact ye didnae smite us out of the air-” Hanehiko lets out an offended trill at this, “-ach, calm yerself Hiko. I know well that ye’d’ve been able t’ keep us and yerself safe had that happened,” the Manta chuffs softly, seemingly mollified as Rena continues speaking, “...probably best if we head t’ one o’ the burrows we’ve got set up near town. Cozy little hideaway that’s close enough to the target t’ be convenient…”

Nev chirps softly, cobalt eyes softly shining as they hug their wife and husband close with a happy trill.

Beak nods, satisfied as the plan seems to be coming together. "Agreed. We'll make for the burrow, and that way we can wait for the right time of night to make our move without being seen in the meantime.

She turns to Marion, her now-ungloved skeletal hand on his shoulder, her skeletal face looking him straight in the eye. Now that he's beginning to understand that Rekkel isn't a good upstanding merchant, perhaps she can impress the weight of the rest of the situation on him as well. "Marion... listen... I know you don't want to believe this, but this is important. Rekkel tried to kill me. He sent the Blackfeathers-"

Wait. No. He wouldn't understand that part without the context, either, would he?

"... These avians here have a very mean, very scary reputation. And I know you're thinking, "But they're so nice, though!" And they are! They're total sweethearts." A contented feeling radiates in the general direction of the children, especially. "But Rekkel didn't know that. He thought they were mean, and that's why he hired them. He wanted them to be mean, because he wanted them to kill me. Do you understand..? We're not... he's not playing around, here. He wouldn't hire a group with that kind of reputation just to come yell at me until I undo the curse." She shakes her head.

"I want this to end peacefully just as much as you do. Ideally, I'd like us to be able to prove what he did wrong, and clear my name, and then have him put in jail. But if..." Hmm. Would the topic of guards possibly siding with the corrupt merchant over her, even though she did nothing wrong and he did, just becuase she's a skeleton sink in with him? ... Perhaps she can save that part of the lecture until next time. "... But if things don't work out, there's a chance this could get... violent. I don't want it to come to that, either, and we'll try as hard as we can not to let that happen. But we need to be ready for the chance, okay..?"

Marion nodded. He didn't seem to mind the touch, nor the somewhat lecturing tone that it was delivered in- he looked thoughtful, but not hesitant.

The elf had never really wanted to hurt anyone- and his magic had been about growing and healing and recovering, the sort that looks absolutely harmless. But he know how so many things could be made to hurt- and he had done it, really. Marion know how to hurt other people with it. It is just the simple question of- would he do it? Will he one day grow cordyceps under someone's skin？Marion thought about it, and he thought- he would.


"- I have healing spells, and Kweh, and... well, punching poises and spike moss, it things came down to it. I'll keep myself safe, and I'll do what I can."

He is indeed somewhat worried, still- his experience with combat is little more than none at all. No childhood play-fighting, no street brawls- they did wrangle beasts sometimes, but it had never really been up close and personal. Marion was just more worried about being a hindrance- in another light, it will be a chance for him to learn as well. Given that things take a turn for the worst, that being said.

As the two talked, Kweh ambled up behind Marion- it was quite loud on the ground, much louder than it is in flight, foliage being trampled and everything- and nudged his back with it's head. Marion turned to give the giant dragoonfly a rub, and whispered something to it, before climbing up onto it's back.

"I would love to ride with you, but Kweh doesn't produce enough lift for two people's weight... Maybe later you can take him on a flyaround, after you two had gotten to know each other better."

Rena trills softly, “...t’be fair, we have done a fair chunk o’ intimidation jobs, but those usually need some demonstration that we are who we claim be, even when we make little effort t’ hide it…” she chuckles dryly, “...how many murders are half made up o’ the undead?” the silver eyed crow shakes her head, letting out an amused chirp as she spins the strange flight feather along her fingers, “...if things come t’ violence, he’s not gettin’ past the wee ones, let alone myself…Bell makes good weapons, ‘n I like t’ think the chicks an’ I wield ‘em well…” a flick of her fingers sends that feather lancing out to…drive into a tree on the other side of the clearing with the thunk of metal sinking into wood. Another twitch of her fingers, a pulse of inky black and starlight from her hand, a crack of displaced air, and that feather vanishes from its place in the tree only to appear in her grasp in the same moment…

Nev trills in amusement, nuzzling their wife with a soft, “...showoff…”

The feather vanishes among the rest of Rena’s plumage as the murder stands in unison, Rena glancing to Hanehiko and letting out a considering trill, “...Bell, Nev and I won’t need to ride…Hiko, make sure t’ follow Bell once everyone’s loaded up, alright?”

The Manta lets out an affirmative trill, happily sucking up the handful of honey biscuit crumbs that Loci tosses her way before lowering down so the children and Beak can file on…

Never in Beak's life or unlife has she felt so simultaneously terrified and reassured by the same gesture. That tree could have been her.... but it's not. She's among friends, now. Family. And now that tree is... whoever would do something like this to her? It's still quite a lot for her to be wrapping her head around. The first real friends she's made in her fifty or so years of roaming the land as an undead herself would have been enough of a change of pace for her usual routine anyway, but this day has been piling surprise upon surprise on top of the poor dear.

This is also her first time flying. The Ibekki were not exactly known for traveling outside of their village, well, ever, and she's been too reclusive to look into stables or mounts since her reawakening. And she's going to be invited into someone's home after all this, too! Well, a burrow, a hideaway, but it's still shelter claimed by someone other than her, with an invitation! That counts!

With all of the experiences she's been, well, experiencing since she arrived in this clearing, she half expects to wake up at any moment, for the pleasant if rather fanciful dream she's having to fade and return her to her lonely isolation and wandering. But... no, she is here. The others are here. After all these years, this is happening... She takes one more glance at Nev before climbing aboard, suddenly understanding how they must feel.

Oh, oh my.

Marion watched from Kweh's back when the whole little display happened- and his mind instantly skipped past healing to resurrection. He haven't got the song written fully right now, but this sight somewhat made him feel much more pressed to getting that done as soon as possible.

And the dragoonfly took off- it's brilliantly colored veined wings casting a golden shadow beneath it like stained glass. Marion raised a hand to fix his hair in the wind- and waved down at you all on Hanehiko.
"Go ahead- we'd follow!"

While Marion had known for sure that regular manta rays do not eat biscuits, he took note of it being part of their menu for the magical celestial manta- to be fair magic can entirely throw off normal consensus of how things should happen, like according to all known laws of physics, Kweh would not be able to fly-

Having a little chuckle to himself at that thought, the elf reached down and gave the mothy creature a good tousle and a rub- it had been a very very good dragoonfly today, doing it's own sunbathing while they talked, and didn't fuss alot with the whole crew of corvids being present. It had not done very well with crowds based on previous experiences, and Marion felt like this time it handled the situation with stride.

Rena spares one last glance at Hanehiko and the group on her beak, smiling as she sees her little ones huddled protectively around Beak before the silver eyed crow turns her focus forward once more, cracks her neck, spreads those massive wings, and brings them down hard to send herself soaring into the air one wingbeat at a time, a flurry of starry night having her reappear ahead of Marion and Kweh as she turns to lead the way to the burrow…

…it’s about an hour’s flight to the burrow, and by that point Rena has begun to flag. Her wings were Nev’s to begin with, and even after all this time after the Hag grafted them onto her back they’re still ill adapted to her frame, tiring more easily and taking longer to recover than they ever did when Nev bore them…

…Bell and Nev share glances as they float alongside their wife, each spirit worried that Rena’s constant pushing of her own abilities may be contributing to the difficulty she’s had in acclimating to Nev’s wings…surely she’d have adapted by now, if she’d just taken some time to relax and recuperate for more than a few days between jobs or projects…the family’s rather comfortable by this point, she doesn’t need to be taking every contract that comes her way…does she?

Beak has never been in this type of burrow or hideout before. She's... not really... done much in the way of shelter, really, these fifty years or so she's been "awake" once more. It all just felt so... pointless? She wasn't going to starve or catch cold in the rain or anything, and she never really understood what she was doing here to begin with. Who raised her from the dead, and why? And what now? Marion said that whatever Abek's fate or even the fate of the entire Ibekki village had been, Beak's life is her own to make of it whatever she wishes... she's never really thought about what she wants to make of it, though.

All of that may have been something of a heavy topic to discuss with the children on the flight, but they knew their newly adopted skelefriend was seeming out of sorts and not just because it was her first time that high off the ground, and all of them wisdom far beyond their years (or... seeming years? Perhaps Loci and Wind's effective ages are suspended the way Beak's has been... she'll have to ask about that at some point.) Especially Loci, who's already said exactly the right thing to lift the poor elder skeleton's spirits once before earlier today, and seems to be the one to talk too about... a lot of things, really. There's a connection there.

When the entire party has reunited, Beak takes a moment to admire the surroundings, then observes Rena's overexerted state... Rena's chicks aren't the only ones who can tell when someone isn't all right.

"... I'm feeling rather fatigued after everything we've been through today," she offers, in a tone that suggests what she meant was "You're feeling rather fatigued after everything we've been through today, but you might just be too proud to admit it, so let's all slow down and you can blame me if it helps."

"Rekkel likely wasn't expecting you back for days, anyway, not hours. Let's make camp here..." make camp. Has it really been that long since she's been indoors? "... Let's rest here for now, and go over our moves. Dawn and dusk--just before or after his time in the fruit stand--are when he conducts his other business. I suggest dusk; it's more stealthy for an encounter that takes longer than expected to become night than it is for it to become day. Which means that we strike tomorrow evening, I suppose."

While insects are not notably long-endurance flyers, most dragons are exceptionally good flyers- like bats, but better! Since the magical fire in them- their flame, so to speak, counters the problem of excessive heat loss through wing membranes and thus could colonize further regions outside of the warm temperate climates that most bats are limited to. And a Dragoonfly is firstly a dragon than a dragonfly, exhibiting convergence towards insectile traits, in the same way how some crabs are not crabs and some snakes are not snakes.

But that is beside the point, and Marion pulled himself back from his thoughts again running into the listing of which snake are imposters- and the group made a landing at the beforementioned burrow. He did note how the flying form of Rena had lost posture as the flight stretched- he had came to the conclusion of how those wings are much more likely a graft, but Marion had not had intensive understanding on grafts as a whole.

His father opposed the idea of grafts quite opinionatedly, bringing up points such as encouraging hunting and trafficking for the harvest for parts, and that the unnatural additions poses a myriad of effects on the wellbeing of the host which is not yet fully studied- and so the young elf had never really had chance to learn about how they actually work. It is a point he made a mental note to further look into in the future- but right now, he only wish to help his friend to the best of his ability.

The little elf clambered down from Kweh upon landing, and untied a part of his things that was bound onto it- the dragoonfly seemed to have communicated something to him with its posture and the antennae waving, and Marion held his palm against it's forehead, after which the creature disappeared into a swirl of stars.

"Mn-hm! Take a sit-down after your heart rate had recovered, and I have snacks and drinks to share. You can ask for anything you want- I would suggest against chilled beverages or alcohol so early in the day, but it is up to you all to decide."

Rena stumbles a little as she lands, exhaustion evident in her posture as she folds those wings against her back, her eyes dim and dull for a long moment before they shimmer back to silver when her partners land on either side of her, Bell moving to support her from one side and Nev laying a steadying hand on her shoulder. “...you’ve gotten a lot better with those wings, love…” the wraith murmurs, an avian smile around their beak as they speak, “...I’ll admit that I’m glad some part of me lives on as part of you”

For her part, Rena sports a slight avian flush as she trills, smiling as she leans into both her partner’s touches, “...wish ye did nae ‘ave to…wish those bastards ‘ad never raided your village in the first place…” she shakes her head, smiling a little bigger before yelping as Nev scoops her into their arms, then grumbling a little even as she nestles into the wraith’s grasp with a contented purr, those silver eyes already beginning to droop as she relaxes…

Hanehiko makes landfall about half a minute later, the Celestial Manta trilling happily as the chicks guide Beak off her back, Loci tossing Hiko another honey biscuit, which the Manta proceeds to powderise with a smack of her stinger, then turns right around to suck up the crumbs with another happy sound.

Beak comes from a time before the modern concept of grafts even existed, and has no experience with them whatsoever.¹ She never would have suspected that Rena's wings weren't hers;/ they look so... natural, on her. Big, yes, but Beak had assumed that was just because they needed to be in order for her to fly. Now that she gathers from context, from what the others are saying, the backstory behind them, she has a much better understanding of why using them seems to wear the crow out so much.

Well, that settles it, then. Between the hours of flight to and from the clearing, night has fallen on the party anyway. Even if Rena wanted to go confront Rekkel right now, it may already be too late; he'd likely be in bed at this hour. The next chance to catch him would be at dawn... too early. Even if everyone fell asleep right this second, there simply aren't enough hours before then for it to be enough sleep. Not when this is the kind of confrontation that will require everyone to be as rested and alert as possible, and not with Rena in the state she's in.

"Tomorrow evening it is, then," she repeats. "For now, we should just... relax. Rest. Clear our heads and our hearts of anything that may be troubling us... we'll need to be ready for anything."

Oh, like all that emotional processing she simply filed away for the time being?, she thinks to herself.

Shhhh, she also thinks to herself.

---

¹ (OOC: The Gills graft for water breathing that she has on her character sheet is purchased for mechanical reasons only and is a reflavoring; in character, she simply doesn't need to worry about drowning becuase skeletons don't breathe.)