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Her vision was blurring. No matter how many spells she cast, how much fire and ice and thunder she sent, the Garlean kept advancing. She was losing. Her friends and allies were counting on her and she’d lost. Zenos swings and she feels the blade in her throat. The pain is sharp and she falls.
She’s in the Waking Sands again and she’s rushing through the halls. Carnage and bodies are all around her and she’s searching. K’shai had to have gotten out. She has to be safe, she HAS to be. She rounds a corner and sees a form crumpled against one wall, hair she loves to run her hands through matted with blood. She defeated the Titan but failed her love.
She’s on the First again. Emet-Selch is laughing, enjoying his victory. All that contained Light is bursting out and her scars are on fire, as if old wounds are reopening. If she can just stand, if she can just FIGHT she can finish this and maybe everyone can go home and be safe but it HURTS! SO! MUCH!
In a hastily pitched tent on the Steppe Flidais Oakclamber, Warrior of Light, sits up. If her vocal cords worked anymore she would have been screaming. Her body shaking she crawls past the tent flap and into the cool night air. Sweat drenches her body and she takes heaving gasps of air. Her nightmares, her memories still sit in her mind and she sits on the ground, clutching her arms around her chest. She rocks, trying to clear her mind, to focus on ANYTHING else but her perceived failures. Her long floppy Viera ears register footsteps then a pair of scaly dark arms are around her.
“Shhh. I’m here. You aren’t alone.” the calm soothing voice of the Dorthal Leader. Sadu Heavensflame, warrior, mage, Flidais’ lover carefully holds the much taller woman. “Breathe with me. In for 5, hold for 7, out for 3.” Flidais complies, looking past the messy white locks of hair into the light blue eyes of her hunting companion. She raises her hands to sign, struggling to make her shaking hands still long enough to spell a single word but Sadu stops her, gently taking her hands in her own. “Take your time. It’s okay. I have you. We’re on the Steppe, it’s night. We’re sitting on the ground and I have you. You are safe.” Flidais simply pressed her face into the Au Ra’s shoulder, her heaving silent sobs shaking her body. This isn’t the first time during a hunting trip or visit the Viera has had night terrors or flashbacks. The first time she was embarrassed and horrified, but the Dorthal leader had assured her she was fine. As a tribe who were reincarnated and kept memories from their past lives, it was not uncommon for one to be tormented by old wounds or scars. Knowing how to safely help those suffering was something all Dorthal were taught.
Sadu slowly stroked her lover’s cheek, her hands pausing right before touching the crystalline scars that circled the warrior's throat. Flidais couldn't feel anything through them, but Sadu still avoided touching the spot. She’d never asked for the specifics of what happened to the former mage, what could have scarred her throat in such a way, taking away her husky voice and ability to cast Black Magic. It didn’t really matter either way. She still loved this woman, who could swing an axe or dance nimbly around the battlefield, chakrams spiraling around her. Yes she loved their battles, their fights, the sex afterward; but she loved the woman for so much more than that. All that mattered now was she was hurting, and that she was needed.
“Would you prefer to return to the tent? It’s chilly tonight and your tits, while always a welcome sight, are exposed for all to see.” the sobs turned into shaky laughs, and Flidais slapped her partner's shoulder lightly. Sadu laughed, deep and full of life, and helped her girlfriend back to the tent. “Lay down with me, I’ll hold you until you fall asleep again. You’ll be safer in my arms than anyone else's.” Flidais shakes with laughter again, shivrering slightly with the remaining stress of the night's fear.
“Remember, my love” Sadu says, looking deep into Flidais’s eyes as they lay back down in the makeshift hunting tent “you are not weak for this. You have been through so much, fought so hard and for so long. You are brave to keep going, and not weak to have been affected by your journey.” The Viera nods, wiping away the last of her tears. Minutes later she drifts off to sleep, her head resting on Sadu’s chest, the Au Ra leader’s hand idly stroking her ears.