Tiva steps back, away from the advancing figure. "No," she whispers. "No no no no no no…" Her eyes flick to Ahote. "What is this? Why are you doing this to me?"
The Elder's eyes never leave the wraithlike figure. "You had the right to know."
The creature removes its hood, and it takes several seconds before you recognize who it is that you're facing. He's been changed. Shaped in hideous ways as though torn apart and rebuilt by an architect unfamiliar with the building blocks of your species.
Tiva steps forward on shaking legs, eyes wreathed with tears. She meets the figure halfway, their reunion backlit by the light of the moon.
"I've missed you, love," the creature rasps.
"I've missed you too, Lapu."
"My Gods, Lapu! I'm so sorry this happened to you!"
"Quick, Ahote. We've got to get him inside and lying down. He looks like he's about to collapse!"
"What on earth happened to you, Lapu? I thought you were dead! We need answers!"
"I don't trust this, Tiva. Ahote, are you sure it's really him? It wouldn't be the first time Lapu's been involved in an ambush. How did he even find us?"
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