It had been a bad idea. She had known that from the start. Who saddled a chocobo and went for a ride when they were ill? Fevered? As a healer, she knew better. She would never let someone under her care do such a thing. But the selfish, childish part of her overrode the sensible, healer part, and so she had clung to the choco tightly as the bird carefully made his way along the roads.
Stalwart seemed to know what she wanted. As before, there was no excited hopping, no challenging other chocobos to impromptu races alongside the roads. Instead, he kept his pace even and slow, ignoring the tall walls and outcroppings he would normally clamber atop. His gait was so smooth, she even found herself dozing off from time to time.
Or maybe that was just the sickness, making her tired.
Still, she had been mildly surprised when she realized her choco had carried her all the way to Gridania. In a mild daze, she handed the reins over to the chocokeep, and asked him to take good care of her Stal, because he was probably tired after the long journey. The man had smiled good-naturedly and take the bird to the stables, after a bit of a struggle -- Stal seemed reluctant to leave her side, but she patted him affectionately and told him to go rest.
Her hand had still been hurting. She would have gone to visit her mother, but did not relish the scolding she was due. Instead, she had made her way to the normally peaceful waterfall, thinking to rest there beside the water. Maybe dunk her hand in the pool, to soothe the burn.
Only to bump into Zanana. And of course Zanana was upset -- the last she’d known, Tala had been resting on the farmstead in La Noscea. Just that morning, in fact. What was she doing in Gridania? Why wasn’t she resting? How did she get that burn on her hand? And as if that weren’t bad enough, in the middle of the scolding by Zanana, Solya had appeared as well. Who also noticed the burn, and knew it wasn’t an ordinary burn.
She’d dozed off here and there while Zanana explained to Solya. She didn’t mean to -- but she was so tired. And in her fevered misery, she had admitted her fears of losing her healing skills. It terrified her, that she might lose the one thing she had always wanted, and had always striven for.
In fitful tears, she dozed off again.
Stalwart seemed to know what she wanted. As before, there was no excited hopping, no challenging other chocobos to impromptu races alongside the roads. Instead, he kept his pace even and slow, ignoring the tall walls and outcroppings he would normally clamber atop. His gait was so smooth, she even found herself dozing off from time to time.
Or maybe that was just the sickness, making her tired.
Still, she had been mildly surprised when she realized her choco had carried her all the way to Gridania. In a mild daze, she handed the reins over to the chocokeep, and asked him to take good care of her Stal, because he was probably tired after the long journey. The man had smiled good-naturedly and take the bird to the stables, after a bit of a struggle -- Stal seemed reluctant to leave her side, but she patted him affectionately and told him to go rest.
Her hand had still been hurting. She would have gone to visit her mother, but did not relish the scolding she was due. Instead, she had made her way to the normally peaceful waterfall, thinking to rest there beside the water. Maybe dunk her hand in the pool, to soothe the burn.
Only to bump into Zanana. And of course Zanana was upset -- the last she’d known, Tala had been resting on the farmstead in La Noscea. Just that morning, in fact. What was she doing in Gridania? Why wasn’t she resting? How did she get that burn on her hand? And as if that weren’t bad enough, in the middle of the scolding by Zanana, Solya had appeared as well. Who also noticed the burn, and knew it wasn’t an ordinary burn.
She’d dozed off here and there while Zanana explained to Solya. She didn’t mean to -- but she was so tired. And in her fevered misery, she had admitted her fears of losing her healing skills. It terrified her, that she might lose the one thing she had always wanted, and had always striven for.
In fitful tears, she dozed off again.
