Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.
because they are unpraised.
Alys seemed suddenly very nervous, tripping over her own words in a way that made him want to fidget. If only to keep from letting the worry overwhelm him, Zavien clenched his teeth, his jaw feathering with the effort.
At first, he couldn't tell where she was going with everything. He listened as best he could. That Mort had somehow answered her was enough of a surprise, but a quest to bring back Sascha? It was unbelievable - and the best piece of news he'd heard in a long time. Hope and joy bloomed in his chest. He might have smiled and congratulated Alys if she didn't look so distraught about everything. And the question remained: what did it have to do with him?
Words slowly filtered into his mind, piecing together the request she was laying before him. If he understood correctly - and it was very hard to tell through the tightening of his chest - she was asking him to talk about his death, and not just the facts of the events, but his experience. His eyes were wide as he reached to Sol for comfort. The golden dragon pushed against his leg, the weight giving him the strength to swallow his selfish discomfort regarding the topic.
Clearing his throat, Zavien gave her a thin smile. "I - uh. That's great news." Because no matter what, getting Sascha back was a good thing that would help reverse some of the loss and damage that the Void/Family had inflicted. His voice came out softer as he admitted, "It's not really something I've talked about with anyone..." Most people had wanted to know the 'how' of everything, not delving into his experience or feelings during death, which he'd been grateful for. It wasn't really something he liked to relive. It wasn't something he was proud of.
But for Alys - for Sascha - he was willing to walk through the darkness again. He just had to remind himself that it wasn't real. He wasn't dying again. It was just a memory, just a feeling that couldn't touch him again -
But that was wrong.
Because it could touch him. Death would claim him again, and it terrified him to think it might come sooner than later. Just the thought had his breath coming quicker, heart racing in his chest. His entire being rebelled against that finality.
Sol's pressure against his leg increased, a soft whine pulling Zavien from the spiraling thoughts. He took in a deep, shuddering breath to clear his mind, glancing up at Alys with shadowed eyes full of pain. "I - I don't know what you want to know... but if it helps bring Sascha back, I'll try my best to help." And he meant it, because Sol was one of the only things holding him together right now. How could he deny Alys that same support?
At first, he couldn't tell where she was going with everything. He listened as best he could. That Mort had somehow answered her was enough of a surprise, but a quest to bring back Sascha? It was unbelievable - and the best piece of news he'd heard in a long time. Hope and joy bloomed in his chest. He might have smiled and congratulated Alys if she didn't look so distraught about everything. And the question remained: what did it have to do with him?
Words slowly filtered into his mind, piecing together the request she was laying before him. If he understood correctly - and it was very hard to tell through the tightening of his chest - she was asking him to talk about his death, and not just the facts of the events, but his experience. His eyes were wide as he reached to Sol for comfort. The golden dragon pushed against his leg, the weight giving him the strength to swallow his selfish discomfort regarding the topic.
Clearing his throat, Zavien gave her a thin smile. "I - uh. That's great news." Because no matter what, getting Sascha back was a good thing that would help reverse some of the loss and damage that the Void/Family had inflicted. His voice came out softer as he admitted, "It's not really something I've talked about with anyone..." Most people had wanted to know the 'how' of everything, not delving into his experience or feelings during death, which he'd been grateful for. It wasn't really something he liked to relive. It wasn't something he was proud of.
But for Alys - for Sascha - he was willing to walk through the darkness again. He just had to remind himself that it wasn't real. He wasn't dying again. It was just a memory, just a feeling that couldn't touch him again -
But that was wrong.
Because it could touch him. Death would claim him again, and it terrified him to think it might come sooner than later. Just the thought had his breath coming quicker, heart racing in his chest. His entire being rebelled against that finality.
Sol's pressure against his leg increased, a soft whine pulling Zavien from the spiraling thoughts. He took in a deep, shuddering breath to clear his mind, glancing up at Alys with shadowed eyes full of pain. "I - I don't know what you want to know... but if it helps bring Sascha back, I'll try my best to help." And he meant it, because Sol was one of the only things holding him together right now. How could he deny Alys that same support?
Zavien
