He could tell that he upset her, but he was bringing up a sensitive subject to a healer, so it was pretty inevitable. When she finally answered, she stumbled over her words. He waited, though it was a bit difficult to bite his tongue while she tried to give him an answer. Still, he was grateful that he remained quiet, because he learned quite a bit about the girl. Anabelle lived with her mother, and had very little understanding of what she could do. Either she wasn’t strong, or she hadn’t learned how to control what she could do. “Yes, Anabelle.” Kieran answered finally. “I think that I can help you understand what you can do. I am sorry for springing this on you, but there is no delicate way to talk about these matters.” Kieran knew that magic wasn’t considered ‘real’ in this world. It was doubt that helped people hide here, and while it benefited them as individuals, it did not help the rest of the mages at home fight for their lives and their freedom.

Kieran continued to eat, because while this might have been very stressful for Anabelle, he had known what he was getting into. She could have run, but he didn’t think that she would, since she hadn’t already. “What you said before, about living with your mother. She hasn’t… told you about this sort of thing?” He questioned. He felt like she should have at least taught Anabelle about the basic things she could do, that way she could better control her abilities. Then again, he imagined that it was [i]possible[/i] her mother was not someone who used magic. He had never heard of someone being born of this world and having magic powers, but anything was possible. It could even be that the man who had fathered Anabelle had come to this world and had gifts; her mother might not even be aware. “Have you talked to her about it at all?” He questioned. 

Around this time, the server brought more drinks to the table. Kieran paused to thank them, and then finished the last of the meal, waiting for Anabelle to reveal whatever information she felt comfortable revealing. He thought about telling her about himself and what he could do, but if she really knew so little about magic, then he might overwhelm her, or make her think that he was simply insane. 

-.-

Despite her attempt to make a joke, Devon found something else to lecture her on, namely running her mouth. She had been on her own for a few years already, and she felt like she knew not to piss off the wrong people. They ate, and began to settle down for the evening, and Devon explained that they didn’t need to keep watch because he could sense people coming more easily from his slumber. “Awesome.” She replied, glad that she could get a good night’s sleep. Devon then told her about his friend, Kieran, a mage with visions of people with magic roaming over the world. Rhys was surprised, but it sounded great. “Brave, or perhaps a little stupid.” Rhys commented lightly. She took her pack, shifting a bit, and then turned away from him, using it as a pillow as well. 

She took a while to fall asleep, hearing the sounds from the forest, and the steady breathing of her traveling companion. She wasn’t used to sleeping with someone else around, or outside, and it made her nervous. Eventually she fell asleep, though, and woke after the sun rose the next day. Rhys drank a bit of water and washed up a little, figuring that Devon would wake when he was ready. She braided her hair, using a small string to secure it, and took out a bit of food to eat, as well as a small journal and some charcoal in a cloth. 

As a child, Rhys had been fortunate enough to learn how to read and write, though she wasn’t doing that now. Instead, she spend a little time drawing the scene. It wasn’t exactly what she saw, but she stayed true to the energy of the clearing, drawing trees, the stream, and trying to capture the warmth of the environment with the single color. Drawing had always been something that had helped her relax, and with her ability, having something that helped her relax was really important. She was so engrossed in the drawing that she didn’t even hear Devon when he initially woke.