The pit | I fell in the pit

He both had and hadn't wanted her to be with him. Her strength and presence alone would bolster his resolve, he knew that. But should he fail in his efforts, he'd have put her into unprecedented danger. Even with her bow and her new healing abilities, at this close proximity and with nowhere to run he was sure that she would be putty beneath his claws. The feeling of her at his side made his eyes flare open as his lips parted gasping for air. One hand, still clawed overlapped hers, but as his skin touched hers the claws retracted and it was only Remi's well-muscled hands clenching against her. Leaning into her, head buried against her as he so often had in the past, Remi gripped onto Vervain just as much as she held onto him. Breathing ragged, he tried to focus on the sound of her voice and her presence, rather than the Herculean efforts of the lion within screaming to get out. For a wonder, Vai's last comment made the alchemist laugh. As he did so, his entire body relaxed. In his mind, the presence of the lion all but died away, and Remi was left free and seemingly alone with his thoughts. Releasing a long and heavy breath, Remi gently released his grip on Vai, but only so that he could slide it around her waist and pull her closer to him as he collapsed forward into the embrace. "You did it." He whispered against her, tears rushing down his face out of relief as much as exhaustion. remi roar