Aftermath

[Ayen]

"Are you going to be okay if I'm away?"

“Don't be stupid. I'll be fine.”

Pride. Pride kept the young witch from showing how she really felt, how she really wanted the Battling Bard to stay by her side and not leave. Pride and stubbornness kept Zora from expressing herself and it didn't help matters that Gabrielle was asking this question right in front of everyone.

"I should be able to slip by unnoticed. Not sure about her. Nor do I trust going into Moon Valley with an Utopian."

“You shouldn't worry so much. Besides, my people are staying right here with me.”

[Aminee Starlight]

"It's decided then. I'll return to the refugee camp to bring the rest of my people here while Gabrielle and Sincara go to Moon Valley and Utopia stays here to guard the city." It was a simple enough plan and everyone involved were more than capable at their assignments. Here's to hoping nothing would go wrong. "But first we rest."

[Gabrielle]

Gabrielle should have expected much from the witch. Though everything from her look and feel told her that Zora would rather have her around only lies came out of her mouth in a poor attempt to mask what she was really feeling.
"You know, Zora, admitting that you're afraid isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength."
Gabrielle stood up and turned back to Kain to acknowledge what he said.
"Sincara and I will depart at dawn."
She looked at Sincara.
"If that's okay with you."

[Sincara]

"Your people were responsible for the full scale attack on Genesis that threatened all of existence when you tried merging the realms."

Sincara said for the benefit of Kain, Gabrielle and anyone else present who was in the dark so the light could be shinned on the Utopians here with them today. They were only here to fuel their own agenda and couldn't care less about Kari, Jherra or Genesis.

"I wouldn't advise leaving your city in their hands. Have some of your people stay here with them."

Sincare turned her attention to Gabrielle.

"Sounds fine."

[Ayen]

"You know, Zora, admitting that you're afraid isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength."

Zora said nothing in response. For Zora it was a much deeper problem than just being able to admit to others that she was afraid back there. She couldn't admit it to herself. Zora was the daughter of Zorin Manson. A proud and noble pure-blooded wizard that accomplished great things. It didn't do for her daughter to be afraid by anything. It just simply would not do.

"Your people were responsible for the full scale attack on Genesis that threatened all of existence when you tried merging the realms."

“That attack was a stage to get Tajna Rasha out of hiding to reveal him for the fraud that he was. But you keep drinking from the kool-aid.”

[Aminee Starlight]

"Enough! This argument is pointless now." Necessity kept him from turning the Utopian soldiers away and necessity in return would keep them from betraying them as neither one of them could fight off the Netherrealm on their own. Kain turned around and then motioned for Zora to follow him. "Come, Zora. I have a place where you can rest your head."

[Gabrielle]

Gabrielle didn't pitch in on the back and forth between Sincara and Edie. Not like she could add anything constructive anyway. She was still an outsider to Genesis in more ways than one and knew nothing about what Utopia was, what it stood for or who was Tajna Rasha. But if a demon army was on their way to attack then she could agree that that should take top priority. An army of demons she had faced before.
"Come on," she began to Sincara. "You can brief me on Moon Valley."

[Sincara]

"I'm not the one drinking from the kool-aid."

When Kain spoke Sincara held her tongue and turned away from the Utopian joining Gabrielle's side. She didn't like the presence of Utopia but for now she would put up with it as she briefed Gabrielle on what to expect by the time they get to Moon Valley.

[Ayen]

"Enough! This argument is pointless now. Come, Zora. I have a place where you can rest your head. Come, Zora. I have a place where you can rest your head."

For once in her life Zora was completely quiet. No smug expression, no witty retort or obnoxious one liner that would make you want to rip the hair from your scalp. All of that was gone and the only thing remaining was a scared child who just wanted to go home. She followed Kain from the scene of the battlefield, turning her head to see Gabrielle depart with Sincara and Edie rejoining with the other Utopian soldiers to stay guard here. It wasn't until that moment when she was faced with Kasul, faced with the Empress of Jherrazad that she realized.

She would give anything to be back at Hogwarts.