Living Room - Crossroads' Home
This room seems less like a modern construction and instead is much more
like a cave. Pipes, fashioned to look like roots, cross back and forth over
the ceiling of this room, with small lamps resembling glowing plants curled
around them. The walls resemble roughly hewn stone. Several pieces of
furniture are scattered around the room somewhat nonchalantly, all tying in
with the room's 'theme'.

The last stop on his list was also the most difficult, unfortunately. Ambience couldn't track Crossroads down as easily as the others, for some reason; her natural mana 'tracks' didn't present themselves as easily as Kalin or that pony, but fortunately, he'd had a little help! And that help current sat its fuzzy white behind on his shoulder as he knocked once, twice, three times on Crossroads' door, thankful that this ordeal was almost finished; it was getting on in the evening by now, and he still needed to prepare himself for the biggest day of his young life on the morrow.

A small white three headed pup lay curled up on Crossroads' lap sleeping peacefully as she sat cross-legged at the end of the coffee table. Before her sat a pile of papers each with a drawings more terrible than the last of a girl in a dress. She had no talent or skill in this department, the girls were out of portion, awkward looking, their dresses just basic shapes and all of incorrect sizes. An 8 year old could do better. She was just crumpling up her last drawing when the sound of knocking came at the door. Immediately 3 sets of ears perked and Sir Barkington was wade away and making for the door already to further announce the arrival of their visitor with a series of excited yips and barks. Crossroads stood up and followed after him yawning, not nearly as thrilled or excited by this development. She cracked the door open to see who it was then opened it all the way, brows knitting in worry, "Ambience?" The puppy squirmed past her legs trying to get closer to their visitor as she spoke, "What are you doing here?"

Ambience seems a little (just a little) put out by the manner in which Crossroads greeted him, but then instantly remember that it was more-than-likely merited; he had no idea what harm had befallen her in the past, directly or indirectly of his doing. His attention was only briefly taken by the little cerberus's antics, drawing a small grin from him before he resumed his demeanor. "So, it's true. You do 'member me. In that case, this'll be pretty easy, if maybe a li'l awkward." He was kind of tired at this point, having spent all day traveling the middle realm and looking for specific people, so Ambience opted to be straightforward about it. "I came to 'pologize. If you're weirded out, I un'erstand. I don't know what I'm 'pologizin' for. My memory's been messed with; I don't remember a lot of things. But I got the feelin' that I did somethin' bad, awhile ago. And you were involved in it, maybe others too. So I came t'make amends, 'fore I have t'go to the Fortress tomorrow." He seems genuine enough, but his standoffish stance is very boyish.

Three noses sniffed and snuffled around your feet, tail wagging as the pup picked up all sorts of interesting information on the boy just from scents alone; Where he had been, what delicious foods he had eaten, etc. But there was another scent too on him that was holding Sir Barkingtons interest. An odd mystery scent that hung around him and they were determined to find the source of it. Crossroads felt her chest tighten a little as you spoke, "You never did anything, you. You have

You have nothing to apologise for." Crossroads assured the boy, feeling the familiar shift of a vision change. She chewed lightly on her lip ignoring how odd it might look to you as she wondered what the cause was and what it had changed to. It didn't take much to figure out which vision was likely changing but she had made a promise not to look anymore. She had seen enough of it already, hadn't she? And then something hit her, "You are going to that fortress tomorrow? Why?" She looked at him worriedly. Was the fortress what had caused the change? Maybe she should look. Maybe...

Ambience looks slightly confused at the notion of him not having done something. That concerned look on her face, when he and Mollianne were here before... it was what sparked his curiosity to ask his mother about what had really happened to him, in the first place. Maybe she was hiding it. Maybe she was just trying to spare him; it felt nice that she was considerate, if it was the case. As the tri-headed puppy sniffed about his lower half, Ambience merely stood there for a moment, searching for some way he was connected to this strange woman with a next-to-nonexistent mana trail. What had really happened? How well did they know each other? He struggled mentally to remember, but there was nothing there; he was going to give himself a headache if he kept trying. With a stiff nod, Ambience exhaled. "I'm kinda glad, then. Since I didn't know what I did or din't do, I didn't really know what t'expect." Kyuubey, meanwhile, is pretty much staying steadfast and immobile on his shoulder, apparently taking measures to be as unannounced to the curious canine at Ambience's feet as possible; all the while, though, his deep red eyes stare forward, but knowing him, it's hard to tell if he's actually watching Crossroads, or just spacing out to some other measure. "And yeah." Ambience glanced skyward, turning slightly to peer in the general aerial direction of the Fortress on high; as he does, a radiant sword hilt can be seen sticking out of a sheath on his back, bearing the symbol of some majestic, almost royal-looking Tree. "Me an' another guy are goin' to try and bring it down tomorrow. I gotta go because there's no one else in this realm who can break th' barrier on it. Only someone from my tribe can do it, an' I guess I jus' got picked."

The puppy was feeling increasingly frustrated. Just what was THAT? Where was it coming from? It had to know! The center head lifted his nose in the air and sniffed. The scent wasn't lingering on the boys clothes. It was fresh and separate. A second nose lifted into the air coming to the same conclusion, while the third one made a huff, continued on sniffing for a moment following the scent up the leg before it too came to this realization. Eurika! The scent was somewhere up higher than

The scent was somewhere up higher than them! But how could they get to it? Crossroads looked down, letting herself sink into the vision. She had already seen it so many times, how could it even hurt her anymore? Nothing came though. It was almost as if it had never existed in the first place. It seemed impossible that her death vision would be suddenly erased. she had to die at some point right? What did it mean? she turned this over in her thoughts reaching no conclusions. Her frowned deepened. Maybe she should try again? It was then that she realized that you was still speaking to her. "No one else in your tribe could do it?" you was just a kid after all and that fortress was dangerous! What kind of people were his tribe that they would send someone so young to do something that could easily get him killed!?

Ambience almost subconsciously reached down to pat one of the pup's heads as it looked up at him, smiling a little. Despite Crossroads' concerned rebuttal, he kept his silence for a moment longer, scratching one of the six ears lightly. "It was half 'n' half. The unanininanimous decision was that I was th' best choice t'go. But they said I could back out if I wanted to. Next to mama, I'm the strongest of my tribe. And mama can't go, 'cause she's one of the tribe's leaders. Th' idea is that I'm everyone's best hope, but I dunno about that. I'm not th' only one goin', either. There's another guy, but he's kinda mean." Ambience didn't look at Cross as he spoke, focusing instead on the little cerberus puppy. "I'm goin' 'cause I gotta. That's all; sometimes y'just gotta, for everyone else's sake."

As Ambience started scratching the ears of one of the puppies, his brothers became instantly jealous, nipping and pushing their heads so they could have the attention. The two who were left out feeling it unfair that their brother was getting attention, while the one getting his ears scratched got irritated at his brothers for trying to take it away from him. The result quickly lead to snarling and growls and biting. Crossroads bent down to pick the puppy up, narrowly avoiding gettin her hand bitten, "You shouldn't play favorites with them." She said, remembering what Tyrranis had told her, scratching their back. Crossroads took that moment to dig up another vision, this time regarding you and the Fortress. you of course being there and the man who had harrassed her, and a third she didnt recognise. They were approaching the fortress atop a winged beast high up in the air. The vision shifted and there was Mollianne there with them, her and Ambience'd lips locked in a kiss (wasn't he too young still? then again how old was he really anyway?) The scruffy man was not amused but the other one seemed to be laughing. And then the vision began to shift revealing-- Crossroads was snapped out of the vision immediately, her hand leaving the squirming puppy's back and reaching up to rub her forhead. Crossroads blinked not entirely sure what had just happened. She had never encountered a situation where her visions were blocked before.

Ambience follows the puppy up as Crossroads took it away, and looks concerned as she suddenly looks uncomfortable for a particular moment, tilting his head to one side. "Are you okay..?"

Crossroads continues rubbing her head, "Yeah, I think I am just getting a little bit of a headache is all." She anwered, struggling to keep the squirming puppy in her arms. It had clearly had enough of being held. Especially since that smell was much heavier at this height. She looked at Ambience, smiling a small smile. Her vision didn't really offer much to help. But she realized that she could say one thing; "The guy you mentioned might be mean, but chances are he knows what he is doing. He wouldn't be coming with you if he didn't, right? Just try not to let anything he says get to you. Some people are just that way."

Ambience nods, at ease from Crossroads available smile. "Yeah. He's doin' it for his own reasons, but he's pretty adamant 'bout it. There's someone he wants t'protect, too, so there's that. We'll try our best, and we know lots of people're counting on us. We don't want to see another town destroyed because we couldn't do anything sooner." He sighs to himself, and nods again. "But okay. Now that I know everythin's okay, I better get goin'. It's gonna be a big day tomorrow, and I 'preciate you listenin' to what I had t'say."

Crossroads took note of the boy's sigh and she frowned realizing that this had to be a lot of weight on his shoulders. Really could she not say more? Could she not do more for him? "you before you go... You know I can see the future, right? Maybe Mollianne told you? I looked ahead just a moment ago." She smiled at the boy, hoping that it appeared genuine and that he wouldn't see right through it. "Do you're best and don't lose hope. Everything will be okay." This was a lie of course. Sh

Crossroads wasn't certain of what was going to happen after he took the barrier down. Maybe everything wouldn't be okay. But you was still a kid. And if she was in his shoes she would probably be having all kinds of doubts, wouldn't she?

Ambience smiles, a bit more brightly than he had before. "Thanks. My tribe wouldn't have asked me to go if they didn't think I would be killed on the spot. I think maybe people have more faith in me than even I do. I'll try hard for everyone, I promise." He'd actually forgotten; she had mentioned it. If she had seen it, seen something, maybe it was beneficial. She didn't seem too stressed out; if she had seen them all killed, it would've been apparent. He smiled one more time before giving a little wave, and turns to walk away, evening light glinting off his weapon as he sets off down the south road; as he leaves, Kyuubey leaps off his shoulder to land in the place Ambience was standing, and from that level, something like a small pouch can be seen held within the confines of his poofy tail. "It's a good thing that boy had he hold this, else he likely would have forgotten all about it. The innocence of youth, I supposed." The cat-thing looked up at Crossroads, unblinkingly.

The puppies were really trying to escape from Crossroads' arms now. What was that thing? That thing has the weird smell! That thing looks like their toy! Would it squeek if they bit it too!? Inquiring tiny puppy minds needed to know and they needed to know NOW! Crossroads wasn't sure how long she could hold them back or if she even should but she wanted to hear what the cat had to say to her. Her eyes followed you though as he left, her worry returning. Some small voice in the back of her head suggesting uncomfortable theories as to why she couldn't see her death or even anything beyond the fortress. Maybe they had failed and she was dead herself before those points. Crossroads wasn't sure, but her stomach was twisting into a tight knot regardless. "What is it, Kyuubey?" Once the boy was far enough away she turned her gaze down to the cat.

"Mollianne and the Coldwater Twins left a present for you, entrusted to the boy to be delivered safe to your hands. And, if I may beat a hasty retreat upon informing you of this, I have seen the variety of plush paraphernalia you have have come into possession with, and I do not wish to join your companion's collection." Kyuubey speaks succinctly and a bit haughtily, uncoiling his tail and leaving the small bag on the road as he does indeed scamper off toward the south, not intending to become a chew toy on this evening.

Crossroads grins a little at Kyuubey's hasty departure. It just as well as the puppy slid from her arms and she was forced to set him down. She took hold of his collar and scooted him inside before he could take off after the cat, then went to go investigate the bag left on the road.

The bag is half-opened as a result of the cat-creature's tail helping hold it closed, and the glinting sparkle of some kind of black crystal can be seen in a trace amount from what little it has been opened. In fact, on closer inspection, there appears to be not one, but two!

Crossroads spills both grief seed out of the bag and into her palm, looking at them with a confused expression. She wasn't going to deny the fact that she needed to cleanse her own gem and seeing these were something of a relief but surely they could use these themselves, couldn't they? Why would they go through the trouble of sending her these? Crossroads replaced them back into the bag and made her way back to the door. She wanted to use them but she needed to know how Tyr and Lorastine were doing first.