A few marbles short

M  A   E    A I talked to God to no avail Said, "If you won't save me, please don't waste my time." Attacked by squirrels? It sounded almost cute. And he said it so matter-of-fact that Maea wasn't sure if he was serious or not. But the part about moving hedges and boggarts... yes, that fit well into the descriptions she had heard. Her lips tensed as she looked around, eyes darting to and fro as she scanned the surroundings. She wasn't scared, not really, but the tension was there. Readiness, she preferred to think of it as, to react if something should happen. "I should probably say I hope we don't run into anything like that," she mumbled, "but truth be told... I'd be disappointed if nothing happened. Now that I'm ready to face... it. Things." The unknown. And that's where there real terror lay for her. To not know. To head toward something she couldn't predict, couldn't really prepare for and were not equipped to handle. How was she to know whether a knife would be useful or not? What if her magic was proven useless, if her legs weren't fast enough to run away when it mattered? Perhaps it would turn out a test of wits, and her second-hand knowledge of so few things ended up costing her... and now Loren too? And what if... Fortunately her racing thoughts were interrupted by her impromptu adventure companion, and a very familiar name. Amalia. She almost wanted to sigh. Of course it was only proper to be concerned for the baker, but old habits died hard and it was difficult not to let her hackles rise at the mention of the name. Sweet, perfect Amalia, who had so many talents, friends everywhere and the favor of the gods like a cherry on top. Everything Maea wanted, everything she didn't get. Of course someone would go pick herbs for her. "I know her. We played together as kids," she said, with as neutral a tone as she could manage. "I hope she will get better soon. I'm sure the gods will aid her, if mortal medicine fails."