AMALIA
THE SHIELD OF SAFRIN
i think it's beautiful how a star's light
She tries not to look up as they descend, the great gaping hole that tears through the spire leaving her mouth dry and her stomach heavy with dread. Late at night she's laid awake, staring at the stars and wondering, agonizing, dreading and hating herself for what might have been if only she had not asked what she asked. If only she allowed the tulmhainar to die in the dark, would Safrin be well? Would Ronin? Would the blight be better contained?travels the universe long after it dies
Gripping her staff she shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts. There is a time for guilt, for drowning in sorrow. That time is not now. Now is the time for redemption, for purpose, for reforging broken things and trying, trying, yet again.
As the rest draw to a stop Amalia does too, looking around with eyes changed to an owl's, the better to pierce through lingering gloom. To the torch the girl shakes her head, raising the glowing staff in response: she has light already, and fire as well, and would rather not invite scorching and burns. She listens to Ronin's suggestions, listens to Deimos' wise reply, and wishes she had more to give, that she could contribute something concrete. To shield themselves is a good idea, but they cannot clear the air from their area first, unless...
Biting her lip, Amalia speaks. "The shield is a good idea. It protected us last time, when Delah did it. What if... What if those of us with wings try to blow some of the gas away first? Like this, see..."
So speaking Amalia leans her staff on a wall and her shield beside it before shifting her body carefully, arms contorting and feathers growing until she wields wings, not large enough to fly or have any purpose, but larger by far than the small owl's. Stepping forward Amalia beats her feathered appendages, trying to force the air and gas away, to create a haven, small as it may be, for Remi to shield them in.
Ama tries to blow some of the gas away from them with people-sized wings.
That's what I want to be in this world —
someone whose light lingers after I'm gone
