Cora noticed when Will tensed up, and she assumed the reason behind it was as twisted as hers. He had lost his own brother in that fight. Family. She felt guilty, partially responsible. Hind-sight is always 20/20, but how blind was she really only days before? Leaning over, Cora gently put her hand on Will's knee, locking their eyes in a meaningful glance.
The choices were just flying through Yahtzee's mind, the changes in his eyes were evident. He was extremely focused during her little speech, she could see he understood the gravity of what she asked. Will agreed on her last note, flashing Cora a warm look. "Very grateful."
Yahtzee spent about three minutes in deep thought, all the while the fire pit was quiet. They patiently waited as Yahtzee hopefully gained an insight, discovering how he truly felt. And with almost a minute and a half left, he made up his mind. "I might not be able to fight as well as you people can but I will do my best."
He glanced at her, determination in his voice. "For life."
Cora absorbed his level gaze, returning a sober one of her own. After a few moments she was satisfied with whatever she saw, and smiled. Her gaze flickered to the fire, then around their humble circle. "That sounds like a true Hygron to me. May I formally welcome you to Nature's Haven, Guardian."
She snapped her fingers, half-grinning. "Ah yes. Now, I don't know if you pieced it together yet, but Hygrons are gifted with one of ten elements. These are Darkness, Light, Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Lightning, Flora, Metal -- and my own, Ice. Will, he's of the Water element, and Phil's is Light."
Cora was quiet for a moment, staring off into the fire before an idea dawned behind her eyes. "How about a toast? I'm sure everyone's thirsty." She drew ice from the air, creating four thin, translucent glasses of reflective ice. The glasses hovered above her open palm, slowly rotating in suspended gravity.
Glancing at Will, she gestured to the glasses. "Would you mind filling these?" After he did the glasses would drift around the circle.
She raised her own cup. "To... the Elementals. By the hand of Kyra, may we see our mission to its imperative end. And may we see those we've lost again, after leaving a world green and life-bearing once more. Cheers." The water washed down her dry throat, and she finished the glass in seconds. Ignoring thirst long enough made her forget how parched her lips were.
"Did anyone else want to toast for us? I could use another glass, I'm so thirsty." Cora laughed, rubbing the back of her head.