<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"> Kiren and Mai</span></div><br/><div align="center">Location: Crystal Falls<br/><br/>With: Mai</div><br/><div style="text-align: left;">(https://i.imgur.com/2LM0XRfm.jpg)</div><div style="text-align: right;">(https://i.imgur.com/MxRdkBAm.jpg)</div><br/><div align="center"> Struggling with morning prep Kiren sighed as she finished the fish, a small rift had open beside her as an old familiar face stepped beside her.  "<strong> All this work and sacrifice and yet you still struggle to sleep, Honestly Kiren you figure by now you'd let him be on his own?</strong>" With an exhausted gazed about her Kiren rose up from the cooking area as she glared at Mai before breaking down in to tears. A warm embrace surrounded the Kitsune as Mai rubbed her back gently. "<strong> I made a vow to watch over him till he was ready to return to his people and guard over them.... It's been constant travel, constant hiding. I had to seal away my own abilities and even give up being a plains walker just to protect him..</strong>." The blood mage sighed heavily as she consoled her best friend. Gazing up into the trees Mai listened to the world around her then gazed back back Kiren. "<strong> Does he even know what you gave up just to protect him? Does he even know you can't go back to who you where many years ago? Relinquishing your plains walker abilities isn't some thing you can reclaim in an instant let alone be graced with again.</strong>"<br/><br/>A gentle push signaled Mai to release Kiren from her grasp. Plating the food Kiren staid silent as Mai gazed into the tent. Shaking her head she best not tell Kiren that the boy she was watching ran off, nudging Mai with the plate the blood mage took a seat next to Kiren as she gazed at her friends hand. Placing her plate down onto the ground a gentle glow came off Mai's hands as she Healed Kiren's hands. "<strong> He's been trying to mend my cloths, cleaning things but I won't let him. Ive been pushing him to study and train as I've been picking up the slack around here. He doesn't talk to me at all. All this time I keep wishing Florian would show up, saying that he was hiding all this time an that we could finally be together but as time has passed I realize now that this is my life now. Watching over a being I don't even understand just because I thought my lost love would come back to me. I guess it is time for him to be on his own...No I can't. I prom-</strong>"" Mai gripped Kiren's left shoulder, knowing how much her best friend had given up she smiled slightly.  "<strong> Hey isn't your birthday a few days away? Why don't I look after Kaizen and you go out on adventure. I'm pretty sure Lee needs some help with some thing and you need the break, If you don't want to do that maybe I can stay here for a while and help out?</strong>" Kiren sat their eating the meal she prepped as Mai started doing the same, staring off into space Kiren pushed her food around on her plate. "<strong> I love him you know. I do what I have to in order to protect him...I just don't know if he feels the same way.</strong> Finishing her food Mai grabbed Kiren's plate and set it beside her, rising up from resting place Mai helped Kiren up as a smile shown across her face. "<strong> Let's spare that will take all of the stress off your mind for a while.</strong>"<br/><br/>Rising up Kiren an Mai walked a few feet away from camp, Mai gazed at Kiren's slumped her way towards the sparing ground. Once their Kiren began to stretch as Mai watched her. How long had it Been since Kiren had fun. The blood mage knew her best friend wasn't the motherly type and yet Kiren never let Kaizen out of her sight. Now the boy was gone an she didn't have the heart to tell her. Taking a deep breath in Mai took a stance and waited for the Kitsune to strike. </div>