Dark hair for catching the wind, not to veil the sight of a cold world
"That should take care of it. But don't overdo it again, girl, or I won't patch you up the next time." The glow faded from the healer's hands, and Seren breathed a sigh of relief when hands ceased their firm grasp on her face. The ache behind her eyes was already fading away, and the nausea seeped off along with it.
"I won't, I promise," she murmured, fervent enough that the wrinkled old lady nodded in satisfaction.
Listening to the receding footsteps as the healer departed, the starchild slumped back onto the bed with a deep sigh. For what felt like the hundredth time she counted the boards in the ceiling. There were still the same number of slats separating her from the sky beyond. Almost equal to the days she had been gone from home, but unlike the days the roof did not expand as she lay prone and did nothing. The problem, she thought, was that she didn't know what to say. All the explanations she had thought out only sounded like excuses. Would her father ever believe that she hadn't meant to do all this? Be gone so long, get so lost, wind up in Halo of all places. And that wasn't even the worst part.
Groaning to herself, Seren heaved herself up from the cot and reached for her coat. Tumbling down the stairs, she struggled to get all the knots and buttons right while at the same time dragging information from the bartender. Whatshisname who put her up here, where could he be found? Oh at home, great, and where was that? Directions, vague and unhelpful were offered, wonderful, thank you; but off she went anyway, in search fo this Noah who had saved her life. Three times she went the wrong way, and had to stop a stressed-looking mother of two along the way for help.
By the time Seren knocked on the door to the man's house, she realized she still didn't know what to say. Gratitude was in order, of course, and yet... All she could think of was the utter mess he had landed her in. (Like she hadn't done enough on her own.)
"I won't, I promise," she murmured, fervent enough that the wrinkled old lady nodded in satisfaction.
Listening to the receding footsteps as the healer departed, the starchild slumped back onto the bed with a deep sigh. For what felt like the hundredth time she counted the boards in the ceiling. There were still the same number of slats separating her from the sky beyond. Almost equal to the days she had been gone from home, but unlike the days the roof did not expand as she lay prone and did nothing. The problem, she thought, was that she didn't know what to say. All the explanations she had thought out only sounded like excuses. Would her father ever believe that she hadn't meant to do all this? Be gone so long, get so lost, wind up in Halo of all places. And that wasn't even the worst part.
Groaning to herself, Seren heaved herself up from the cot and reached for her coat. Tumbling down the stairs, she struggled to get all the knots and buttons right while at the same time dragging information from the bartender. Whatshisname who put her up here, where could he be found? Oh at home, great, and where was that? Directions, vague and unhelpful were offered, wonderful, thank you; but off she went anyway, in search fo this Noah who had saved her life. Three times she went the wrong way, and had to stop a stressed-looking mother of two along the way for help.
By the time Seren knocked on the door to the man's house, she realized she still didn't know what to say. Gratitude was in order, of course, and yet... All she could think of was the utter mess he had landed her in. (Like she hadn't done enough on her own.)
Seren
