A Family Discovered

[Grayson Sawyer]

Grayson scooped away the kittens so Alex could lie down and she put them back in the basket. "Stay there." She whispered to them before turning when Alex drew her attention to the parchment in her hands.

Looking at her younger sister briefly, Grayson accepted it with a small sad smile, noting the smudge far too quickly. She tried to ignore it as she read through it and for a moment, she did feel the loss. The words were simple yet it touched Grayson in a way she didn't know she could be and she sighed as the tears fell down her cheeks.

She drew part of the sleeve of her robe across her face as she rolled the parchment back, getting off the bed to rummage under, extracting a woven basket that held all the letters she had received. As was customary every time she got a letter, Grayson pressed her lips against the parchment and closed her eyes, saying a little prayer for her parents, and slid the parchment into the basket.

She then went to her small wardrobe and took out a towel, unwrapping it and laying it on the pillow. "So you don't catch a cold." She explained to Alex.

[Alexandra Sawyer]

Having someone looking out for her, someone who cared (even if it was expressed in a gesture as small as pulling a towel out to tend to her damp hair) nearly brought back the sting of tears to Alex's eyes. The kind hearted woman who had seemingly taken her under her wing without a second thought was her sister, yes, but the simple fact remained Grayson didn't know Alex. Neither of them knew the other any more than could be gleaned from a handful of letters.

Resting her head upon the towel covered pillow, Alex let out a soft sigh. True exhaustion couldn't be felt until the moments before rest. She looked older than youthful 16 years of age as she yawned. "Grayson." She said, her voice low and sounding very small. "Will you stay with me... at least until I fall asleep?"

[Grayson Sawyer]

Grayson's heart pinched when the younger woman called out to her. She sat next to her on the bed and gave her a smile. "Of course." She pushed away Alex's hair that had plastered itself on to her cheek and pulled up the thin blanket to cover her sister's small frame.

"Have a good sleep, love." She patted Alex on the shoulder and waited as she promised. Once she was sure Alex was sleeping, she went about sorting out her food.

The kittens had once again managed to get out of their basket and had climbed on to the sleeping Alex. One of them curled up in the crook of the girl's neck while the other two played around her feet.

[Alexandra Sawyer]

Even though it was the most restful sleep Alex had experienced in months her dreams were still haunted by the horrors of her journey. She didn't snap awake after a few hours like she was used to, rather she slowly came to. As she became aware of the world around her she felt a soft warmth against the skin of her neck followed by movement from near the bottom of the bed. Her eyes opened slowly, blinking in the light that shined through the window. A yawn escaped which wrested the kitten that had curled up next to her from its own slumber.

"Hello, there." Alex said softly as she smiled and reached a hand up to lazily stroke the kitten's fur. Tiny teeth nipped at her feet causing a giggle and Alex sat up. She'd been vaguely aware of Grayson's kittens from when she'd first arrived to her sister's door her emotions were so overwhelming she paid them no mind then. Now, though, Alex's eyes lit up. She gathered the sleepy one into her arms. "Are you still sleepy?" She asked, lifting the kitten up and studying its fluffy, whiskered face. A yawn from the animal answered her question.

[Grayson Sawyer]

After a quiet cooking session in the main kitchen, Grayson took a loaf of bread and carried the food items back to her room where she was met with the image of a young woman just as small and wispy as the kittens she was playing with.

A smile made its way to Grayson's lips as she stepped inside, placing the food on a nearby table and sitting down at the foot of the bed. "Are you feeling any better?" Grayson asked, waiting for Alex's answer, whereupon she introduced the food with a dimpled grin. "Mind you, I'm still not as adept at this than I am with my potions but it's edible, I promise."

[Alexandra Sawyer]

When Grayson had slipped back into the room Alex was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Two of the kittens had taken up residence in her lap where one had opted to try and curl up for a nap while the other had seemingly taken offense to this and was batting at its sleepy sibling in hopes of starting playtime. The diminutive girl had a third cradled in her arms, a bright smile spread across her face as the kitten playfully swatted at her nose. Large, expressive brown eyes showing just the faintest trace of a childlike gleam that had long been absent, turned toward the door as it opened.

"I am." Alex confirmed with a nod. She was still exhausted, her mind continued to race and she felt a dull ache growing in the pit of her stomach but rest had been a welcome relief. Her journey had been long and harrowing and she could scarcely get herself to believe it was not time to rest. Time to look forward instead of back. Time to mourn her loss.

The smile didn't waver as food was presented. Alex carefully relocated each kitten in turn, placing them on the bed beside her, before happily accepting the offered meal. She had felt the pangs of hunger gnawing at her gut more times than she could imagine making the warm food, regardless of its maker's skill, a heavenly experience. "It's wonderful." She said after swallowing a large mouthful of bread. "I... I can't thank you enough."

[Grayson Sawyer]

As the kittens roamed on the bed, trying to get to the food, Grayson swooped in to pick them up, resulting in little scratches and nips all over her arms. "Come now. You've already had your share." Grayson chided softly as she released them on the floor. As they played amongst themselves, Grayson's attention turned back to Alex and she smiled, nodding at the sincere gratitude coming from the smaller brunette.

"Eat up, you will need your strength." Grayson commented. They were supposed to meet the head mage to actually get Alex situated into the Enclave. This wouldn't be the first time Grayson had to make the introductions but this would be the first time she was emotionally invested in the new addition.

The way Alex ate made Grayson question just how long she was on the ship coming here. She wanted to ask but something held her back.

[Alexandra Sawyer]

Alex ate a bit too fast for her liking but she simply couldn't help it. She had lost track of the last time she had a meal that was hot and didn't look like it was about to grow legs and walk away. It was a welcome relief from the emotions that roiled just beneath her now calm exterior. If she allowed herself to think of anything other than the food in front of her she may lose control again and she knew that was something she couldn't handle so soon after her last break down.

Once the food had been wiped out, Alex's shoulders slumped. The exhaustion, though not as prevalent as before, was still evident in her eyes. She glanced over toward Grayson and offered a faint smile. While Alex wasn't falling back into her thoughts and lingering emotions, she was beginning to take all this in. It was surreal to even consider the idea she was safe and would no longer need to sleep in fear among rats and other vermin.

"What's next?" Alex asked curiously. Her gaze dropped to her hands sitting in her lap. She fidgeted a moment before continuing. "They made me prove I was a mage but... where do I go from here?" After all, there had to be a catch. Certainly the Enclave didn't allow new recruited to walk around freely.

[Grayson Sawyer]

Grayson couldn't help but stare at this new family member she was reunited with just moments ago. A lot was going through her mind. When the younger woman looked up at her after finishing her food, Grayson didn't speak for a moment.

After gathering her thoughts, Grayson cleared her throat and nodded. "Right...well, we will need to meet the council. They will guide you through what happens next. Your quarters placement, where you will be doing your studies, things like that. Since you're my sister, you will most likely stay with me but we still need them to set you straight." Grayson answered and looked at Alex. "Are you feeling up to it?"

[Alexandra Sawyer]

The plain, simple truth was Alex didn't feel up to anything. She doubted she would any time soon. She'd scarcely stepped off the boat from Abrea and was now staring this new, uncertain life in the face. Even though it seemed the Enclave had far more to offer her than a life of running from mage hunters who would see her hanged or burned at the stake, Alex wasn't sure if she was ready to let go of the past, and the people that went with it, so soon.

Despite a heavy heart and worry in her mind, Alex nodded. There wasn't much she could do save for accepting her new future and embracing everything that was to come. She may have lost a previous life with her parents, but the one awaiting her had a sister she'd never met and safety, something she'd never experienced in her 16 years.

"Yes." The vocal assertion came a long while after the nod. Alex ran through the events of the last few weeks in her mind, replaying days far worse than her imagination could ever dream in the process. She was nervous, wrought with anxiety and downright frightened but she would stand tall (or as tall as her 5' frame would allow) and look forward, instead of back. With a heavy sigh she nodded again and got to her feet. She took a deep breath and turned her eyes to Grayson. "I'm ready."