Darling please, just give us some time, and I swear we'll be alright
Sleep is still light, even with the return of the sun. It is beginning to take a toll on her body, but Hotaru is more than willing to ignore the steady degradation if it means being there for Nate. The same way she'd remained awake half the night most nights after Remi attacked Sunjata, ears tuned for the early warning signs of nightmares. It has been a very long LongNight to say the least, and she has given herself no time to mourn. It feels too early all the same. There is no body. To her, that means there is still some level of hope, no matter how small the odds. The Gods will not answer someone like her, or she would have already gone to Ludo's shrine in hopes of receiving a more affirmative answer. Haai's existence alone keeps the ember of her hope alive.
What rest does come is pitiful at best. She hasn't slept this light since she was a new mother, constantly afraid something would happen to Arya if she so much as blinked. In some ways, the exhaustion is welcome though. It keeps her mind off of everything that has happened and that yet remains unsolved. Keeps her in a haze where the pain can't reach her.
The creak of wood, of words at the door, already tickles at the edge of her consciousness, but it's simply been too many days for it to rouse her immediately. As the steps grow closer however, it's a matter of forcing herself to awaken, her consciousness reminding her that she may be needed. If not needed, then wanted, as a presence of distraction at the very least. It's a terrible fight of mind against body, but as hands are laid on her skin and her shoulder is shaken, Hotaru gives a pitiful noise as she forces her eyes open once more.
Who greets her is...certainly far from the realm of who she'd expected. At first her face crumples, pain creasing the corners of her eyes. "'m I dreamin'?" she murmurs, even as she props herself up onto her elbow to try and inspire clarity in her head. When it comes, trickling slowly, her eyes widen and she reaches for Sunjata before she is even fully risen. Terrified that if she does not grab and hold now in this moment, he will reveal himself to truly be a figment of her imagination, and disappear once more. "Jata," she breathes, tears springing to her lashes so quickly she has to blink them away just to see him clearly. Hotaru moves to throw her arms around him, only to immediately hesitate before she makes contact, eyes suddenly roving to determine his injuries lest she make them worse.
What rest does come is pitiful at best. She hasn't slept this light since she was a new mother, constantly afraid something would happen to Arya if she so much as blinked. In some ways, the exhaustion is welcome though. It keeps her mind off of everything that has happened and that yet remains unsolved. Keeps her in a haze where the pain can't reach her.
The creak of wood, of words at the door, already tickles at the edge of her consciousness, but it's simply been too many days for it to rouse her immediately. As the steps grow closer however, it's a matter of forcing herself to awaken, her consciousness reminding her that she may be needed. If not needed, then wanted, as a presence of distraction at the very least. It's a terrible fight of mind against body, but as hands are laid on her skin and her shoulder is shaken, Hotaru gives a pitiful noise as she forces her eyes open once more.
Who greets her is...certainly far from the realm of who she'd expected. At first her face crumples, pain creasing the corners of her eyes. "'m I dreamin'?" she murmurs, even as she props herself up onto her elbow to try and inspire clarity in her head. When it comes, trickling slowly, her eyes widen and she reaches for Sunjata before she is even fully risen. Terrified that if she does not grab and hold now in this moment, he will reveal himself to truly be a figment of her imagination, and disappear once more. "Jata," she breathes, tears springing to her lashes so quickly she has to blink them away just to see him clearly. Hotaru moves to throw her arms around him, only to immediately hesitate before she makes contact, eyes suddenly roving to determine his injuries lest she make them worse.
HOTARU
