It wasn't far to Arialla's current home -- which made it worse, in a way, that she'd been attacked so close to the place she called home, in an area that she had to walk through every day.
"The city of the gods," Arialla murmured. Once the idea would have intimidated her -- after all, she had grown up without ever seeing a city. But now she'd lived in Haulani long enough that she could accept urban areas. Especially blessed urban areas. "It sounds wonderful."
And not just because of the lack of Ascended, though that would help. Gideon might think it was the flash of fang that would scare her, but the truth was the opposite: what frightened her more than anything was the idea that anyone could be Ascended, the fact that they couldn't be easily, visually distinguished from ordinary people. Not knowing who to trust was worse than seeing an actual monster.
"I see." Arialla didn't know any Abandoned well enough to really care that they were banned from Stormbreak for something they genuinely couldn't help. Instead she focused on the idea that she would be welcome there. "I've sworn to serve Safrin ... I would appreciate the help."
First she had to get inside and get cleaned up, maybe get some sleep -- though she wasn't sure she'd be able to rest, feeling the knot of emotions and energy in her chest. Then she could move.
please don't take my sunshine away
