a stranger I remain -- stranger

[Warringkingdoms]

  [font=trebuchet ms]Tena was trying her best, but Rin could see all of this was beginning to take its toll on her. Of course it was; kits, and she'd venture to say apprentices as well, were never prepared to be leaders. They had enough to worry about as a growing creature in a world out to kill them, without having to also bear the responsibility of several other creatures' lives. She'd seen it with herself, and she'd seen it time and again after that, yet no one seemed to learn.

  Maybe things wouldn't have gone south if Rin hadn't showed up, or if she'd actually left after she'd recovered, like she'd said she would.

  Another stranger arrived swiftly. The scent of sea salt and flowers wasn't quite calming, but it didn't set off alarm bells like the barrage of her friends' scents had earlier. Between her odd-colored eyes, webbed paws, and white wings, she was unmistakably the Typhoon's captain. Thankfully, Rin recognized her solely by others' descriptions, not enough for any of the gods to use her (or her appearance) as a front. That line of reasoning didn't make much sense, but it made enough sense to Rin's addled brain for now.

  Before Rin could even speak, Goldenluxury launched directly into an offer of assistance, her voice blending different accents that Rin couldn't place. The fact that she was already ready to help, without so much as a request, spoke to how severely the "Anti" incidents and the Pitt's warmongering had impacted everyone. The captain's reasoning made some sense, looking at it solely from a standpoint of conventional logic.

  Rin wasn't exactly in that position, however. Receiving that sort of generosity had resulted in two clans burning to the ground, and one more already on its way into the grave. For all she knew, if she accepted help, both Elysium and the Typhoon could be destroyed within the next few days. It wouldn't surprise her, with how everything was going.

  "Thought phoenixes were supposed to last forever."

  The echo of the impostor's voice elicited a shudder from her, but in the same breath hit her with a realization. Phoenix, the former leader of Elysium... which had lasted a while with no ill effects, for as long as she refused to think of herself as one of them. She wasn't a Typhoon crew member, and letting them help her wouldn't make her a crew member. They might actually be safe, as long as she didn't start to see them as family. Maybe.

  Blood loss would slaughter one's inhibitions, anyway. That, and the stress inherent to killing someone masquerading as her loved ones, had drained Rin of any energy she might have had to decline the offer.

  Surely... she could make it worth their while in some way or another. If Tena and the others didn't reach a decision soon, it was best to leave the Typhoon with as favorable an impression as possible. She knew how quickly a stronger clan's apathy could turn to spite, from all the times her past homes had been betrayed by supposed allies. Elysium couldn't afford a war on two fronts, not right now.

  With a heavy sigh, Rin nodded. "Yeah, th... thank you," she said hoarsely, feeling the adrenaline seep out of her, dripping from her wounds. "I'll, er, help as much as I can... until I'm okay to leave." She couldn't think of much else to say, a familiar nausea and weakness creeping into her bones.