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[fears_nothing]

Niko never slept in, even in the relative safety of the island, and today was no exception. Sunrise brought tea and yoga, both for the purposes of limbering up and relaxing the mind. It was easy to get into a meditative state of mind in the early dawn quiet of the island. Most of the residents were still asleep at this hour and the few that were

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[fears_nothing]

"These just appeared this morning," Niko said, looking up and granting Ishiah a small smile. He hadn't seen much of the peri since the puck had disappeared and while it had been a while, his presence now was not unwelcome. Ishiah was nothing if not even-keeled.

"Have you had that happen? Gifts from no apparent source?"

[fears_nothing]

"I guess it'd be all right to let my guard down about them then," Niko said, still slightly wary. "Now that I know they're not going to poison me, or anything."

If Ishiah wasn't concerned about the source of the gifts, Niko thought that was enough of a vote of confidence for him.

[fears_nothing]

"As do these trees," Niko agreed, imagining they looked borderline ridiculous considering everything with such a wary eye. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry and if it meant saving his life and those he loved, Niko was willing to be more cautious than was reasonably prudent.

"Have you been well, Ishiah?"

[fears_nothing]

"Who had a child?" Niko asked, trying to follow. He had learned over the past few months that peri had a very different way of engaging the world and while he and Ishiah usually tended to click, sometimes he was given a firm reminder that Ishiah used to be anything but human.

"I doubt someone I know. I tend to keep to myself."

[fears_nothing]

"Susan Pevensie," Niko offered, thinking of the long afternoons he'd spent with her just talking and watching Rickon get into one scrape after another. She was a good mother, that much was easy to see, and a good person besides. He hadn't told her all the truth about his life before coming to the island and she hadn't shared everything she'd been through, but they'd shared enough.

"She has a son and a daughter, but both are far past newborn. I spend a good deal of time with her."

[fears_nothing]

"He did, yes. Some months before I arrived," Niko explained, not wanting to tell too much of Susan's personal life even to a friend like Ishiah. "She's a widow for all intents and purposes."

Niko had tried to respect that, as best he could, especially considering her brother and brother-in-law remained behind.