Huckleberry took a shaky breath, but the nod he gave to Mercurius was firm. "I know. I won't forget. I won't start any fights, only protect when I have to." And that would be less of a burden on him as well. Violence still scared him but if he vowed to only fight once a fight had started, perhaps it would e easier to bear.

He watched Mercurius go, and then Oliver. When he looked back at Rift, and saw the somber expression on his face, his heart twisted. "I'll stay a little longer. Put more of a gap between us."

And he would - he settled in the garden with Rift for a couple of hours before he got to his feet and followed the flower trail Mercy had left behind.

*exit

Rift didn't respond to Mercurius and Oliver, merely nodded as each left in turn, a sense of sorrow really weighing down his chest. This was it. He was leaving Eridanus...and who knows when he would come back?

Huckleberry's offer to stay with him for a little while was gratifying and he sat down with the hybrid, silent for a while. And, once he'd left, Rift got to his feet. He wandered off into the forest, towards a familiar den that he hadn't visited in quite some time. Within the den, nestled into a nest of moss that had rotted long ago, was a large, shining ruby, holding the sillouette of his brother within. He sat down next to Sebastian's chrysalis and bowed his head. "Sorry, brother," he whispered, voice cracking. "But I'm leaving. I'm taking the Kingdom and running away. I wonder if...if I'll ever see you again." His throat choked up quickly and whatever other words he was going to say were lost in the tightness of his chest.

He rose to his feet and leaned forward, pressing his nose against the chrysalis for a moment before turning and leaving, heading out to find the other scattered members of the Kingdom, to inform them of their future.

*exit