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[Jordana put her other hand over Ivy’s heart and waited one more moment before tapping into her connection to Gaia and sparking the Flames of Hestia.

Bright white fire ignited about both of the Garou's hands but nothing caught ablaze, nothing hurt as the essence of Gaia burned away any impurities. Normally this gift would heal the effects of poison too but in Ivy poison was not an impurity. It might help lessen the effects of overextended powers, but mostly it felt like slipping into a nice, relaxing, hot bath.

And then it was over; the flames gone and Jordana withdrew her touch. The warmth lingered for a while. Unfortunately, it didn't restore Ivy’s missing memories.]

[Ivy's poison can't be neutralized anymore than a foxglove could be—she's living, and the toxins are a part of her. The feel of the fire is pleasant, like a quick warm shower and it does feel as though it eases a tension in her that's been there since she was first resurrected.

But it doesn't do anything a couple of edibles and a deep tissue massage wouldn't have.

She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as the flames fade away.]

No joy.

[That disappointing.]

I had to try. Thank you for letting me.

Thanks for trying. Like, I do feel better. It does feel nice. Like I could go for a nap and regroup.

But...

Sorry. Looks like I'm still fucked up.

[Jordana was silent, trying to think of anything else she could do, and then she shook her head at herself. She was just going to ask.]

Would you like a hug?

[Ivy pushes the heel of her hand to her brow but it doesn't have the same controlled violence it might have a moment ago.

She nods.]

Yeah, I could use one.

[With offer accepted, Jordana enveloped Ivy with her arms, pulling her close, and let the other woman decide how tight of a hug this would be. It would be better that way. A proverbial shoulder to cry on.

She was warm and present; that's what mattered.]

[It doesn't exactly help. Ivy isn't sure anything could help short of fixing this or killing the Duchess or Samyrtan (and probably not that). But it does give her a little more comfort in the face of it. Like it sucks, and the gentle reminder that some things don't suck doesn't make the situation any less awful.

But it does make it a little easier remembering that she's not alone.]

[After a few moments, Jordana stroked Ivy’s hair.]

I can tell you the things you've told me about her and you... if you'd like.

[It wouldn't be much more than a few grains of sand from a missing beach, but it was something and likely the only other thing Jordana has to offer. It's not like she can use Rite of the Questing Stone to locate Ivy’s missing memories.

And then Jordana lifted her head up suddenly, looking away from Ivy off into the distance. Back toward the castle. Now that was an idea.]

I remember some things. Like how we met, and how... fuck. I remember being her friend, and there's this feeling like—

[She cuts off, not even sure how to describe it.]

What did I tell you?

[After a moment to refocus, Jordana told Ivy about the things she'd said about Harley, Ivy voicing she thought Jordana and Harley would get along, that she'd like the Biker vibe, and all the other little things that had come up in the months that she knew the verdant woman. If she gave the impression at one point that she may had been hoping for a possible threesome if Harley had ended up there, it was entirely accidental (if true).]

I know that's just a drop in the bucket, but... I don't know what else to do to help you. Other than going to find your bone tree and destroy it.

Shit. That thing is still in there, isn't it?

[Ivy doesn't look toward the castle, but she doesn't have to. She knows it's out there, wrapped in an island of Void.]

You don't think it's that... not easy, but simple?

[It was hard to say how many of those trees had survived the explosion the Garou had heard not long before the word that Zlatka had been saved and they needed to flee the castle had reached her ears. But given the rate that they had grown and the number of them, Jordana was willing to bet on them still being there in the castle.]

We know the bone trees here, the ones not grown directly from people may have their spirits in them. That man that said he could hear the trees indicated that he may be hearing random ambient memories from them.

If it is what took the memories from you, it stands to reason that they may be contained within it. My people - myself specifically - have the ability to take spirits and place them inside physical items to empower them. Usually, this is through a negotiation process with the spirit in question, sometimes temporary while others are more long term, but if necessary or the spirit is hostile, we can force the matter. To free the spirit, regardless of whether it was willing or not, you break the physical item.

So it may be that simple.

[But definitely not easy seeing as they would need to get inside the castle first.]

It's worth a try. Maybe it will make me feel better to smash a few of those so-called trees.

[Impostors. Ivy knows just how hard they are to destroy, but they can be destroyed and it's fucking worth it.]

There's no way she's not going to take her castle back after losing it like she did. Only a matter of time before we get the opportunity.

Exactly.

[And then Jordana sighed.]

I've already committed to helping my girlfriend look for that captive guy if we try to take the castle back. I can't promise I'll be able to help you destroy the tree.

I want to, but...

[She can't be in two places at once.]

That seems fair. Like, I get you have to be there for your girlfriend. Ride or die, right?

[Maybe. Either way.]

Worst case, as long as we get the castle back, the trees will still be there.

[Jordana never considered if she was ride or die for anyone that wasn't her pack. She decided not to consider it now; Ivy seemed to understand and not be upset about it.]

And I don't know if we'll even find him. Once that's settled and it's safe for me to leave her - she won't be alone without me - I'll come help you if you still need me.

[She didn't think Vex would object since Vax would be with her. But there was only so much planning that could be done right then.]

It's still a long way off. But if I need breaking a fucking tree, I'll call you.

[Because if that's how she gets her memories back? That's what she's going to do.]

Shit...

I'm not like—you're not supposed to be somewhere else now, are you?

Right now, I can't think of anything more important to me than comforting my friend.

[And then she raised her eyebrows at Ivy.]

I didn't cancel any plans, so don't worry about it. I would have, but I didn't need to.

You have. You really have. I know it's kind of hard to tell with... all of this.

[When people with powerful elemental connections have a meltdown, it does get a little dramatic.]

But this is a lot less awful than it could have been.

If you need to upend an acre while there aren't defenseless people within it, go ahead. I know you'll put it back. You're much more controlled than Stegosaurus was.

[Jirdana pressed a kiss to Ivy’s brow.]

I'm glad I helped.

Sometime when I'm a better listener, I'm going to ask you who that is.

A literal Stegosaurus spirit. Long story.

[She gave Ivy another squeeze before letting her go.]

I'm happy to tell it under better conditions.

I could use something to look forward to.

Good. You want to take that nap now? I'll watch over you. Do some more basket trap weaving.

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