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Relieved that Zoli seems better, Ryllibelle breathes a sigh and releases her pent-up tension. But just then, her mouth drops open in shock. "Ta- Tanitus? You'll bring him back?" She wrings her hands and paces around the tavern. "This feels so surreal; did we already have this conversation?" She looks around at the faces in the room, half expecting to see Tanitus jump out in surprise.
She suddenly shrinks down to a halfling female with chestnut hair and rosy cheeks. "Maybe we can have a little mother-daughter time." She looks at Zoli to see any reaction.
She remains vigilant over Zoli until she finally awakes. She kisses her forehead, then steps away from her. When Zoli thanks her, she shakes her head sadly. "You shouldn't-- I mean, I don't deserve it. I've failed you again."
The rock disappears with an anguished, high-pitched cry. In its place, a small halfling races over to Zoli and hugs her fiercely. "My dear. My sweet, sweet dearest, I'm so sorry. My baby, my child, I'm here. I'm here."
Before: Ryllibelle embraces Zoli for as long as she wants. Finally, she steps back, though she motherly wipes a couple tears from Zoli's cheeks while smiling. "I-- I can be this way for as long as you like. If you-- if you want me to be your mother, that is. It might be somewhat strange, since I think a few of the townsfolk could recognize me." She tugs a bit at the fit of the resized dragonscale armor that shrunk with her. Ryllibelle had never wielded much more than a kitchen knife, and never wore armor. She knew she must look strange appearing as some battle-ready halfling druid. "Although, wearing this getup, who knows? It wasn't really my style when I was the doting wife of an actor and playwright."
Before, at Zoli's house: Rilee -- Ryllibelle -- stops short seeing Zoli's distress. She pats herself and touches her face lightly, a note of uncertainty crossing her features. They're young -- still the features of a halfling early in her adulthood. With all the tenderness she can muster, Rilee says softly, "It's still me: Rilee. My memories are the same, but now I can recall the bodies of all my old lives, and live in them again. You said you liked the thought of your mother still living through me, and now I can be her again. Different, but the same." She stands still for a moment, hands clasped together at her waist. "I can change back, if this is too much."
"Hello, my sweet, sweet daughter." Ryllibelle steps forward to embrace Zoli. |
