RP:Paladin and Good-Witch

Summary: Zahrani wanders the forest of Enchantment, finding Talyara grievously injured not far from the city. The panther intercedes with great effort and heals her.

Talyara had escaped the dragon through the shadows with Lanara and Encara, the latter the one to thank for their escape. Before they had disappeared, she had seen Meri make a run for it. Taly was in pain but she did her best not to show it, making sure her sister and the androgynous drow were settled back in the Green Fairy before she made up an excuse to leave, saying she needed to get some herbs in the forest. She only made it a little way aways before she collapsed, hand gripping her side as she undid the pouch at her hip with a shaky hand in search of a sterile needle and some thread. She would need to stitch this up.

Zahrani had found herself in the woods of Enchantment, the feline wandering and providing healing and counsel when it was accepted. A familiar smell reaches her nose, the panther's eyes widening slightly at the smell of blood. She carries herself swiftly and silently through the forest, praying to Cyris that the worst had not come to pass. She stops a couple yards from Talyara, before speaking with grave concern, "Taly?!" She could see the elf searching frantically for something in her pouch, and the paladin release a sigh. Not dead. Good. Zahrani kneels down next to the wounded witch, placing a warm paw on her shoulder, "Here. I can help." Her other hand glows with amber light, lines of fractal pattern playing across her fur in intricate fashion.

Talyara ’s head snaps up when she hears movement in the forest. It didn’t sound like the dragon, but if it was a foe there was no way she could defend herself. However, it seems to be a friendly face and the witch tries to smile although it looks more like a wince as she nods at her friend. “Th-thanks…” she stutters before lifting her shirt slightly to reveal a gash in her right side before her ribcage. Clearly the moving about Taly had done since receiving the injury had only succeeding in tearing and agitating it further.

Zahrani looks down at the wound, inhaling deeply. This was going to take a little more than usual. The panther's entire body begins to glow, and as she exhales, a pale mist seems to engulf the two of them. It is thick and hangs in the air, yet it feels as though it were providing warmth instead of sapping it like mundane water vapor. One of Zahrani's hands rests on Taly's shoulder, and the other passes over the wound. A sensation akin to static electricity courses through the wound, the flesh knitting itself back together. The paladin breathes heavily in the divine mist, her form beginning to shift. Her panther head becomes humanoid and androgynous, her fur disappears, replaced by dark brown skin. Aside from some inflammation, the elf's wound would be closed once the mist clears, and Taly would see the same androgynous face she had encountered at the Lover's Ball. Zahrani appears tired, perspiration making her dark skin glisten in the night.

Talyara turns her head away, not wanting to look at the wound and Zahrani begins her healing magic on it. The mist, thankfully, warms her instead of bringing a chill like the early morning rain as the witch suspected. And while the actual healing didn’t hurt, it was rather uncomfortable and she winces slightly. It doesn’t last long but when Taly peeks her green eyes open she looks down to see red, inflamed skin, but no longer an open gash. They then flick up to Rani, surprised to see her in her humanoid form. “Thank you!” She exclaims reaching forward and wrapping her arms around the feline in a tight embrace.

Zahrani wraps her arm gently around Taly, taking care not to agitate the newly healed side of her body. She is tired from the amount of required energy to heal such a large wound, but with her current form, she wouldn't overheat. Hence, the transformation. Alas, the feline doesn't seem to care how tired she is right now, nor how much she was sweating at the moment. She plants a kiss on the elf's cheek before saying, "I'm just glad I got to you when I did." Her head rests against her dear friend's, the feline maintaining their embrace until Taly lets go of her own volition.

Talyara didn’t mind any heat or perspiration that Zahrani has on her, the witch is just thankful that her friend stumbled upon her. Eventually, she pulls back slightly but still sits beside the feline all the same. “I’m lucky you found me! How did you anyway?” Shaking her head, Taly continue her jabber. “I didn’t want Lana to fret over me so I came out here to stitch myself up but I think I lost too much blood…"

Zahrani sighs, leaning against Taly and letting her body cool down from the night air. Within moments, she's dry, but still weary. "I was in Sage earlier, providing healing services while I search for someone. I decided to wander this way, just to see if anyone else needed help." She stands up, offering to help the elf to her feet, and if that didn't work, the feline would probably go as far as to carry her if necessary. "Do you know where the tavern is? I think we both could use some rest and nourishment after that…"

Talyara places her hand in Zahrani’s and allows the paladin to pull her up to her feet with a slight wince. “Wait,” she tells her friend before muttering under her breath and rubbing her hands together. Suddenly, her fingers and her palm turn a blue hue and she would gently press her hands against the feline’s cheek, the back of her neck, her forehead. It felt like an ice pack although there was no discomfort to the witch. “Yeah it’s not far from here. It was a little crowded earlier though,” she adds with a small chuckle.

Zahrani smiles with closed eyes as the cool hand is pressed against her skin, the paladin leaning into Talyara's touch slightly. The cooling down effect helps the feline greatly, increasing her situational awareness and restoring some of her energy. Sighing, she opens her eyes once more, resting them on the beloved witch affectionately, "If you can think of any other places that offer some food and rest, I'm all ears." She had just saved someone she cared greatly for from almost dying, so she isn't exactly picky.

Talyara is glad that she can alleviate some of Zahrani’s discomfort, unaware that her cooling touch restores some of her energy as well. Her hands fall away and she gives them a few vigorous shakes until the return to their normal color. “To be honest I’m not all that familiar with Enchantment…” her eyes life towards the canopy of trees and she smiles. “Although it is quite lovely, I think I might come here more often. As far as I know it’s only the Green Fairy, though."

Zahrani shrugs, "I am not as familiar with the place as I would like either. Let us at least try the Green Fairy. Most people might have gone home by now, given how late it is." The panther extends a hand for Taly to hold while they travel, her cyan eyes almost glowing in the night as they meet the elf's gaze.

Talyara smiles and takes the panther’s hand as she leads the way towards the Green Fairy. She pauses outside the door, listening, but Zahrani seems to have been right. Most of the people must have left when the dragon started attacking. In fact, a lot of the carnage seems to have disappeared as well. Taly pushes open the door and is thankful to find it nearly deserted. Even the armless man Taly had helped earlier in the evening seemed to be gone, hopefully to a healer.

Zahrani takes in the breathtaking view offered by the tree, looking out over the rest of Enchantment. The feline looks around at the establishment; she had expected it to be quiet, but not this uneasily quiet. She stops next to Taly at the door, looking around at the interior before asking, "Did something happen here?" She thought she had heard a racket in the distance, but the feline is unused to this area, and isn't sure what would would be considered an "unusual racket" in Enchantment.

Talyara eases her way over to a table in the back and down into a seat with another wince, resting her hand on her inflamed side. The few that were in the establishment looked at the witch wearily and she looked down to realize she was covered in blood. First from the injured man and then herself. “There was a dragon. That’s how I got hurt. He reached out to grab my crystal cloak and his claw dug into my side."

Zahrani turns to see the other patrons who looked at Talyara, the feline raising a dark-skinned hand and saying, "She will be alright." to them. Turning back to the elf, a look of mild concern on her face, she asks, "What was the dragon after?" When one of the waiting staff arrives, looking fatigued from the events, the panther offers a sympathetic gaze and orders some juice for herself, and a typically feline meal. Something with protein and vitamins and some bread on the side; nothing fancy.

Talyara scoots her chair deeper into the shadows not wanting the patrons to look upon her further. She waits until the waitress leaves before responding to Rani, the witch abstaining from any food even though she could probably use it and only ordering a water. “There are crystal skulls around the land,” she says in a whisper. “Several of us were charged with finding them. This dragon was protecting one of the skulls." Zahrani leans forward to speak quietly, "Find them for what, exactly?" The panther is curious as to what these skulls could mean if the witch was willing to piss off a dragon just to get one. The waitress would be back shortly with her food, and the panther would ask for another plate so she could share some with Taly. She takes a drink of her juice before placing the glass on the table right in front of the elf and saying, "Please drink and eat something. You've lost a lot of blood."

Talyara shifts in her chair slightly before leaning forward and continuing to whisper. It wasn’t that Mayor Uma said they couldn’t tell people but she’d rather the crystal skulls not fall into the wrong hands. “They are believed to bring back the murdered witch Valrae.” Taly takes a sip of her water before eyes the glass. The panther probably wasn’t aware that when the witch was feeling particularly stressed or emotional she starved herself. “I’m not hungry,” she says not meeting the paladin’s eyes.

Zahrani's brow furrows in concern, the feline sensing that the woman is indeed stressed. The androgynous panther shifts her chair so she's sitting adjacent to Taly. She doesn't care as much about the skulls as she does about making sure the elf doesn't exacerbate her condition. The paladin's power could close wounds, but it couldn't fulfill basic needs like hunger and thirst. She extends a hand once more, asking earnestly, "What can I do to help? What is it that you feel like you need right now?" There isn't a lot Zahrani wouldn't do for those she loves.

Talyara offers a sad sort of smile to Zahrani as she inclines her chin towards her meal. “You had better eat before it gets cold. It’s better when it’s hot.” When the feline asks how she can help Talyara, what she needs, all the witch can do is shrug. “Honestly, I don’t even know."

Zahrani sighs, taking a bite of her food. She isn't terribly focused on how it tastes, though in her fatigued state, most food would taste delicious. She then wonders what she would say if she were asked the same question. What does the feline need right now? She closes her eyes, breathes deeply, then turns back to Taly, "I thought I was going to lose someone I love tonight. Is it alright...if I hold onto you for a bit?" If she weren't so tired, she'd probably blush from making such a request.

Talyara supposes that maybe she would just like to forget things that transpired that evening. The armless man whom she tried to help save. The little boy she couldn’t but her being with him when he took his last breath. Worrying about losing Lanara when she tumbled into the water. Scared she would lose Meri and Encara in the process as they took an offensive stance against the dragon. When Rani begins to talk she looks up but her words don’t exactly register to the witch. She assumes that the paladin is talking of someone else. Only when she asks if she can hold onto Taly for a little bit does it sink in. Her mouth opens slightly and her cheeks flush a bit but how could she deny the request? She gives a small nod and a little smile. “Sure, you could do that."

Zahrani moves her chair to sit next to Taly, the feline facing her and gently wrapping her arms around the elf. The paladin couldn't make Taly forget things, but she hopes they could at least provide some small amount of comfort for one another. Her head rests gently against the elf's in her warm embrace, her eyes closed as the scent reminds her of the night she had spent in the witch's cabin. It felt right, somehow, no matter how wrong the rest of the world felt in that moment.