Mel delighted in Nurse Isuna's attentions, her fingers feeling dumb and boneless as they tickled her chin and cheeks with little strength behind them, gazing fondly at the beaked kitten, not so much batting an eye at the thought that her hair might grow in white. "That's okay." The witch chirped, head easing back against the wall to look him in the face again. At this point, she seemed fairly agreeable with whatever the universe willed for her at this moment, and if the universe willed a stranger to mummify her in her own cloak to stop her from coming apart at the seams, then so be it. If the universe wanted her to have white hair, so be it. Feeling more than a bit worn out but somehow bolstered by the realization that she had, in fact, a fighting chance with Jigano's aid, she really was fine with anything in this moment so long as it meant survival. Her beastly guide and fondest acquaintance would understand that, she was sure of that.
As Jigano leaned away, she thought about gods and spirits being apparently within arm's reach and did not find it entirely unfamiliar, only curious. She hoped she might recall these exchanges later to better flesh out her understanding of this new world. Finally, after some great concentrated delay she nodded with some effort and shifted about in an effort to find some position in which she could be pulled to her feet with little fuss from the wounds littering her body. The effort demanded rest as she panted and returned her attention to Isuna, fondly focusing upon the gryphlet as she reined in her short shallow breathing, gaze becoming glassy for a short moment. What had Jigano said? "What I'd trade for ink and parchment." Mel muttered gruffly beneath her breath, coughing as she came to and focused on the extended palm before her and her savior's green sleeves. After some hesitation she took his hand, sucked in a deep breath and locked her narrow fingers around his wrist in a vice-like cuff, focusing all of her strength and willpower on the great heave that would bring her to her feet.
Invitation was not needed for her to lean on him, in fact Mel seemed quite the natural at using another humanoid body as leverage to stay upright, wrapping her arm under his and gripping his shoulder quite fiercely. A low whine and a clenched jaw grimace accompanied her experimental leaning on her left leg, discovering that while not a great leg at this moment, with Jigano's help it would be workable. It was a thankful thing that, while not skin and bones, the witch weighed very little indeed - it would certainly make the trip back to Sanctuary less of a tax on the bard's shoulders. Recovering her strength, she gazed about the dark interior of the Spire one last time before they managed to limp out the door and into the humid air.
She focused on walking and left navigation in the bard's knowledgeable hands, focusing on her water-logged leather boots and the black glassy floor. Dark hair fell in damp curtains across the right side of her face, blinkering her vision further, though she found she didn't particularly care, her swollen and battered face scrunched in a thoughtful mask of concentration that could scarcely be distinguished from her characteristic glowers and grimaces. "Druids, right?" Craning her neck she looked up at him, using this moment to pause and catch her breath. "They're guardians in the way knights are not, protecting what is truly important. I knew one, I think. Talk and broad and practically a beast himself - he showed me the place where they pray deep in the woods where even the air is green-" she sighed wistfully, returning to the dreamy shrine, thinking back to damp knees knelt in the mud and moss. "Every part of their life is devoted to something larger and more important than themselves, and each would sacrifice themselves for their duty - it's all they know." She sounded... Appreciative. Longing, even, wistful though the thought of self sacrifice did not sound as attractive if she was the one meant to do it. It just sounded stupid. "Their transformations were gifts, things they earned by training and beseeching their goddess and spirits. I'm sure that if they were to die so would the world around them."
The trek was arduous, her entire body aching and on the verge of collapse, though she soldiered on and spoke slowly, focusing on the words as a means of distraction. "There were witches when I grew up - not the same but not all that different. They spilled blood for healthy crops and burned offerings for strong babies. We were told stories about their power and potential for cruelty to keep us in line, but it's all the same. The sacrifice it takes for the land to thrive, they were necessary to us as wolves-" Howling. "As... As wolves are to deer..."
As Jigano leaned away, she thought about gods and spirits being apparently within arm's reach and did not find it entirely unfamiliar, only curious. She hoped she might recall these exchanges later to better flesh out her understanding of this new world. Finally, after some great concentrated delay she nodded with some effort and shifted about in an effort to find some position in which she could be pulled to her feet with little fuss from the wounds littering her body. The effort demanded rest as she panted and returned her attention to Isuna, fondly focusing upon the gryphlet as she reined in her short shallow breathing, gaze becoming glassy for a short moment. What had Jigano said? "What I'd trade for ink and parchment." Mel muttered gruffly beneath her breath, coughing as she came to and focused on the extended palm before her and her savior's green sleeves. After some hesitation she took his hand, sucked in a deep breath and locked her narrow fingers around his wrist in a vice-like cuff, focusing all of her strength and willpower on the great heave that would bring her to her feet.
Invitation was not needed for her to lean on him, in fact Mel seemed quite the natural at using another humanoid body as leverage to stay upright, wrapping her arm under his and gripping his shoulder quite fiercely. A low whine and a clenched jaw grimace accompanied her experimental leaning on her left leg, discovering that while not a great leg at this moment, with Jigano's help it would be workable. It was a thankful thing that, while not skin and bones, the witch weighed very little indeed - it would certainly make the trip back to Sanctuary less of a tax on the bard's shoulders. Recovering her strength, she gazed about the dark interior of the Spire one last time before they managed to limp out the door and into the humid air.
She focused on walking and left navigation in the bard's knowledgeable hands, focusing on her water-logged leather boots and the black glassy floor. Dark hair fell in damp curtains across the right side of her face, blinkering her vision further, though she found she didn't particularly care, her swollen and battered face scrunched in a thoughtful mask of concentration that could scarcely be distinguished from her characteristic glowers and grimaces. "Druids, right?" Craning her neck she looked up at him, using this moment to pause and catch her breath. "They're guardians in the way knights are not, protecting what is truly important. I knew one, I think. Talk and broad and practically a beast himself - he showed me the place where they pray deep in the woods where even the air is green-" she sighed wistfully, returning to the dreamy shrine, thinking back to damp knees knelt in the mud and moss. "Every part of their life is devoted to something larger and more important than themselves, and each would sacrifice themselves for their duty - it's all they know." She sounded... Appreciative. Longing, even, wistful though the thought of self sacrifice did not sound as attractive if she was the one meant to do it. It just sounded stupid. "Their transformations were gifts, things they earned by training and beseeching their goddess and spirits. I'm sure that if they were to die so would the world around them."
The trek was arduous, her entire body aching and on the verge of collapse, though she soldiered on and spoke slowly, focusing on the words as a means of distraction. "There were witches when I grew up - not the same but not all that different. They spilled blood for healthy crops and burned offerings for strong babies. We were told stories about their power and potential for cruelty to keep us in line, but it's all the same. The sacrifice it takes for the land to thrive, they were necessary to us as wolves-" Howling. "As... As wolves are to deer..."
