[KQ] Raise You Like a Phoenix

a m a l i a Amalia looks around carefully, her body tense and tightly wound as she adjusts the antler upon her back. She is not alone, it seems, and as the glowing dream fish swims into view she cannot help the swell of relief that blooms within her heart. Thank you, Safrin, a quiet prayer, for it is surely she who sent this spirit, a guardian against the dark. Nodding toward her two companions, she begins to drift closer to the ruined structure, a glowing beacon of red and gold in the otherwise pitch black night. Her greatest fear is for an injured party, or someone lost out in the dark. It takes her a moment to notice Edrei, the girl from the library and festival of lights. Amalia's eyes narrow slightly as the volatile younger woman draws near, apparently unhurt - is she responsible for the destruction of the perch? She wouldn't be surprised, but Edy does not seem particularly guilty. If anything the wild, dark woman is surprisingly subdued. No, Erdei is not the culprit of this crime, which means whoever - or whatever - caused the disaster is still nearby. Waiting. Amalia does not hear the whispers, and so she does not immediately notice the change that overcomes her companions, the seeping insidious darkness from which she is safe. Her hand trembles as she extends it toward the shattered log, inspecting for any sign of what caused it to fall. Maybe, maybe, it was random chance. Maybe they had simply failed to support it correctly, and the thing had toppled under its own weight. It hardly felt improbable. None of them were carpenters, after all. And if the perch falling is a random occurrence, it means that this is not an attack at all. As long as they get back inside soon, maybe they can be safe. Unless it is a trap. She spins around just as Edy begins to snap, fire rising at the dark girl's fingers. Rory is not far behind. Edy shouting is not unexpected: it is Rory's cry that clues her into something being very wrong. "Be quiet--!" she hisses, sotto voce, panic and fear rising in her throat at the tableau of chaos which has suddenly unfolded. Her black eyes flash between Rory and Edy, down to the fox and then back up as there's a flicker of light, a bolt of heat, and Dear Vi what is happening? Have they all gone mad? The world slows as Rory falls, collapsing off Esaia's back. "No--!" The girl springs forward then, running to her friend's side, the glowing fish not far behind. The man is breathing, thank Vi, though his face and chest are exposed and raw, bright red with fresh burns and the smell of seared fresh. Panic and adrenaline lend clarity to her thoughts: she quickly scoops up a handful of snow and presses it into his skin, hoping to ease the scorched flesh. Onyx gaze snaps to Edy, fearful and furious and ready to strike. "Something is doing this to you," she whispers quickly. "You need to get under control." Amalia looks back at Rory before turning a beseeching gaze to the fox, who is certainly an Attuned and as far as she can tell, unaffected. Do something. Help.