before the dawn

Amalia I took the stars from our eyes and I made a map I knew that somehow I could find my way back Whatever nightmare Amalia has walked into seems to be far worse than she initially thought. Ronin sits without responding to either she or Remi, and the Alchemist is still more dead than alive, the strong young man bleeding and broken before her eyes. But at least he is able to take the staff, to hold it, proving he is not a monster. Gods, what would she have done if it wound up being a facsimile of her friend? Which brings her back to the question of what the fuck and why? She wants to shake him for his stupidity, but now isn't the time. Turning to the Star she presses her hands to his cheeks, searching for a response in his eyes and finding none. "Ronin. Ronin! You need to help me heal him. We need to get out of here." And when there is no reply her agitation only grows, kept at bay through sheer willpower and the knowledge that they are doomed if she cannot get them out of the dark. Looking back to Remi and praying her staff has done some more work, the Shield rubs her head. "Okay, Remi. I'm going to shift. I need you to help get him on my back, and then I can carry you both back to the temple. Can you do that?" Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too So I stayed in the darkness with you