The full extent of Morgana's scarring is apparent given her state of undress and the sheer amount of it perturbing. It's no surprise that she's become much more reserved since the Incident.
Right now though the only danger Morgana appears to be in is catching a cold as she kneels in the surf shuddering. It takes several long minutes before she stops shaking and begins merely to shiver. It isn't until she realises how cold Vasia is as well that she finally moves.
"I'm sorry mi cara. Come on, let's get you dry." She stumbles out of the water and moves slowly towards the towel she made a point of picking up in the village. Strangely she doesn't seem to be particularly cold - perhaps due to the higher body heat she's been exhibiting for the past few weeks.
She towels Vasia off gently and then wraps her in her arms.
"I'm sorry. I just... it was so sudden." She shakes slightly. "It's just like when they got me. Four of them jumped me, with knives. They didn't really hurt me, just a couple of blows but it was so violent, and so sudden. Being down in the caves, in the dark like that... it was... too similar, and now I can't stop thinking about it!"
"And I'm sorry I took so long to tell you that I love you. Because I do. A lot." That thought at least brings a weak smile.
"I'd like to make it so it never happened," Vasia says, attempting to hide her shivers. "But I know that's not possible. All I can offer is to try to keep it from happening in the future. And I'll always be here to listen whenever you want to talk."
She grins at some of what's going on with the others.
"And maybe we can find somewhere with a little more privacy and I can help take your mind off of it?" she adds with a grin.
"Not until you've warmed up." The old Morgana makes a brief reappearance as concern for Vasia overtakes the rest of Morgana's emotional turmoil. "I don't want you catching cold here. Besides," Another glimmer of a smile. "I don't think they're done just yet..."
She pulls Vasia into her arms, wraps the towels around them both and just holds the spiritualist while they both pointedly don't look towards the other couple on the beach.
Sitting there together is oddly relaxing and Morgana can feel the beat inside her letting out an approving growl.
Mate. A sensation of warmth, comfort. A dimly lit den that smells of Vasia. The tickling sensation of whiskers rubbing together.
Yes. Morgana pushes back. Our mate.
An answering sensation, a wisp of agreement and Morgana, unknowingly, lets out a soft and contented growl. Holding her mate is a good thing. They can both agree on that.
The next two days pass peacefully, with plenty of time for rest, recuperation and swimming. The frantic hustle and bustle around the colony is beginning to die down, now that the Peregrine has sailed once more for Magnimar and people are starting to find their own daily routines. Ramona takes it upon herself to visit the caves you found and reports that she was able (through magic) to speak with the creatures and convince them to leave peacefully, although they took most of the mined stones with them. She hands over some of the remainder to you all as payment for your work however.
The next morning, rather early, there is a knock on your door. It turns out to be Alba Divenvaar, the dwarven alchemist who planned to open an apothecary on the island.
"Hello dears!" She says, with a surprising amount of good cheer. "How are you fine young ladies doing today? Had quite the busy time haven't you?"
She takes a seat and looks around expectantly until a cup of tea is brewed. Once supplied with her hot beverage she seems quite content and chats for a while about how things are going so far. "Well now dears, I know I've told you about my plans for my little shop and I need your help with it. Lyra, dear girl, has been out and about and she thinks she's found some places where I might be able to harvest useful plants. Unfortunately Ramona has forbidden me from 'wandering about on my own'." She seems unimpressed by the leader's caution. "I'm 'too valuable' she says. If I didn't know she means that I'm too old to do it I'd be flattered but there we are. I was hoping you girls would be willing to go look for me. Lyra has drawn a little map that should help and I'm sure that you've got the right hands for the job Miss Melody."
She gives the halfling a friendly smile. "I'll happy mix you up some potions with what you find, free of charge of course, as a thank you for helping me with this. I'm sure Ramona will be grateful too."
"Why my hands?" Melody asks with some curiosity. She set down a plate of truly horrible cookies next to the master alchemist. Melody has been trying her hands at baking and so far no one has had the heart to tell her that they are beyond Bad.
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Morgana happily takes a cookie and nibbles. She has eaten everything Melody has cooked so far and her only stated problem has been that the meat is a little overcooked. Although its become rather obvious that Morgana likes her meat on the rarest side of cooked these days.
"We can do that." She says, glancing at Vasia and Shaumatiel for confirmation. "We can set out today and be back by evening. We've still got some bits and pieces of food we can take right?"
Shaumatiel nods enthusiastically. "Right! You can count on us, Alba!"