[KQ] Raise You Like a Phoenix

a m a l i a Everything continues to go to shit. Rory is not doing well. The snow does not appear to help, and, indeed, only aggravates him more. She barely notices as the man flails at her: the movement is alarmingly half-hearted and weak, and Amalia is more concerned with the threat of his demise than the danger to herself. At least Edy has come around, moving off to try and repair the perch, perhaps their only chance at making it out. She wants to help, but there is no leaving Rory in this state. Gears turn quickly in her mind, an assessment of the situation leading to an idea. "Take the antler!" she calls weakly, gesturing to the glowing antler that sits atop Talys, the pony anxious but tied near the perch. So far, Amalia alone has been unaffected. She isn't sure if it's the antlers or the fish, but she would rather be safe than sorry. All is not calm. A flash of white interrupts Amalia's vision: the fox, moments ago placid, lunges past her to attach itself to Rory's shoulder in a burst of teeth and blood. "Mort!" she curses, scrambling, reaching out to pry the thing off her injured companion and hopefully fling it away, toward the perch. Fear taints her actions, panic pushing greedily at the corners of her mind, and she trembles without knowing it, her body a leaf in the absent wind. Turning back to Rory, Amalia sees his current state and her concern deepens even more. "No no no!" she whispers ineffectually as the man's - her friend's - eyes flutter and threaten to close. "Rory, don't- it's a trick, it's the darkness, you have to listen and be strong and brave!" This is her fault: she helped to build the failed perch, she wanted to investigate its demise, she was safe but could not save her friends. Tears spring hot and painful in her eyes. Everyone she loves has died or left her. It is her curse to endure. She slips the antler from her back and presses it into Rory's hand. "Hold this-" and then she turns around to face the darkness, crouched low and wary. She will throw herself at whatever tries to hurt him next, use her body to shield his. "Safrin," she pleads quietly into the night, "Vi, Mort, Caido, Rae- please, please help us."