#r2q

Nels read the letter over again, one lazily manicured eyebrow raised as her eyes skimmed over the short and poignant words again. Taash was asking for Lucanis’s help with a rescue. It was rare for the Dragon Hunter to reach out to them, especially since they were more skilled with dragons than the two Crows, but no. The letter requested Lucanis, and her if she could make it.

As she flipped it over to check the back, Lucanis himself came out to the courtyard where she was seated, spotting her, then the paper in her hands. “Anything good?” He asked as he approached, Nels holding the letter out to him with a smirk.

“Taash is asking for your help with a rescue mission. They did make it sound like I’m welcome to tag along, but you were asked for by name.” Nels said in an amused tone, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Interesting.” He unknowingly mimicked her expression from before. “I have a few days free, and I could use a break.”

Nels looked up at him with a knowing smile. “Illario getting on your nerves again?” She chuckled dryly.

He laughed humorlessly. “He is getting there. We have a lot to work through, but he's talking to me, at least.”

“That's something.” She nodded slowly.

Lucanis let out a frustrated sigh as he sat down next to her, motioning helplessly with his hands. “I don't understand why he's more open with you. Maybe if I stab him in the leg a few times…”

“A dart would leave less of a wound.” Nels added, Lucanis nodding sagely. He had been struggling with Illario, while Nels could walk in and strike up a conversation with the younger Dellamorte whenever she pleased. Or whenever he demanded her attendance. She was getting tired of that one. She wasn’t his plaything, she wasn’t here to entertain him, even if he was still stuck in place due to his broken leg.

“So, do you feel like going to Rivain, or is it too soon for you to go travelling again?” Lucanis asked, Nels holding herself back from answering too quickly.

“I could visit Rivain. Maybe do a few rounds in the Hall of Valor? I know Spite would love it.” She would also love the escape from his needy cousin. Let the man deal with Viago again for a few days, maybe he would be more grateful for their attempts at neutral conversations when they got back.

The fact that the Eluvian network still functioned was a marvel that Nels and Lucanis used as often as they could, wandering through and reminiscing on things that had happened in their travels as they made their way to the Rivain Eluvian. The Crossroads had flourished after they cleared out the corruptions, spirits of many colors and backgrounds congregating in certain places and making the Crossroads more lively, despite Nels knowing each person here was dead. She still nodded and smiled at them politely, scanning the crowd for their lost friends. She always did, and never found them. Perhaps they really had moved on.

Arriving in Rivain, they were greeted by their tall Dragon Hunter friend, Taash giving their signature cocky smirk of a smile. They hadn't changed much, aside from a ragged looking cloak in a conspicuous indigo color that hung rather proudly from their shoulders, and their green crystalline horn was shorter from growing out. “Ready to go? We don't have much time to catch the poachers.” They waved for them to follow, leading them into the dense forest of Rivain, not speaking. Nels and Lucanis were decently good at keeping their chatter and footfalls to a minimum, but both still didn't know why Taash had requested Lucanis. They just assumed it was dragon related. “Okay, we can stop here for a bit.” They muttered, scanning the forest warily.

“Hey, Taash? What is going on with these poachers? We assume they took something with wings and scales?”

“Yeah, so, I've been tracking them since they crossed over from Orlais, and they have her babies.” Taash replied distractedly, settling Nels with their gaze a moment later.

“Dragon babies?” Lucanis asked.

“Wyvern hatchlings.” Lucanis froze, staring up at Taash with a blank expression as they turned their attention to him. “What?”

Nels saw his reaction, letting out a stifled laugh. “Oh no, you said the word.”

“Babies?”

“Wyverns.” She grinned. Lucanis turned on her, determination gleaming in his eye.

“Well, yeah. He's an expert on Wyverns. That's why I asked for him.”

“Taash, you never said we were rescuing Wyvern hatchlings.”

“You know this means we have to save them now.” He stated matter-of-factly, leaving no room for arguments. Not that Nels was even thinking about arguing with him. Nothing was going to stop this man from seeing a wyvern today.

“I was planning to anyway.” Taash chuckled, Nels shaking her head in amusement.

“Are we perhaps going to have to hold them at some point?” She asked, not looking away from Lucanis. She felt bad about him being a grown man, because she could see the repressed boy inside of him squirming to break free.

“Maybe.” Taash shrugged. Lucanis twitched, his eyes locked onto Nels'.

“I don’t have to hold them-”

“Yes you do.” Taash and Nels answered simultaneously, laughing together a second later. “Rook, do you have any poisons you want to use?”

Nels sifted through her pouch, faking taking inventory of what she had. Lucanis knew she had memorized every vial in every position, she didn’t need to look to know where any of them were. “Viago may have requested I test a few new ones out.” She muttered.

“Can I watch you use them?”