with a reverence unimpaired

This is a bad idea. Every fiber of her being knows this: her gut boils with it, her muscles ache with it, her heard hammers with it. Delah's feral pleasure is a sure sign of her mistake: why would the fae be so secure, confident at last, silent and alive? Wordlessly they pass through the watching fae, Amalia holding Jyoti close, dread growing stronger with each step. The starlit child senses her disease and trills a soft cry, trying to burrow against Amalia's chest Maybe if she were the leopard she would be brave, but Amalia the human is terrified. At last they stop before a copse of trees, clearly intentional, eerie in their regularity. Amalia swallows, trying to keep the anxiety from her face. No! she is tempted to explain, but the memory of Kiada in her arms holds her tongue. She cannot let them down, and this is her best chance at learning more of the threat that faces her friends. Amalia releases Jyoti and mentally instructs her to run if there is danger; the whale instead releases another star and begins to sing a young but soothing tune. Emboldened by her companion's light, Amalia stares at the trees and nods. 'Yes." Amalia Her eyes, they know too much. She'll treat you like somebody but you just can't touch.