While he went on to explain the differences in Armada's past and present territories, she nodded along. There were advantages and disadvantages to both. But if you had expressed fondness for one over the other, she imagined it would make it far more difficult to think with your head over your heart- and it was plainly clear where Mortis' heart was.
When she was able to answer, she was met with Mortis' outpouring of warmth. It was appreciated, but would take her some practice to figure out how to receive it. When he offered her a friendly touch before moving to the pathway to First Light Point, her frame went rigid- but at the same time, she made the effort to force herself into remaining still. She knew he likely didn't mean anything by it other than an attempt at comfort in a friendly welcome ... it was just something that needed time.
As they worked their way up, he asked a different kind of question. One that caused a sudden pang of anxiety, but she did her absolute best to quell it. Adelina took a steadying breath, before struggling for an answer. "It was the consequence of taking off my tethers on my own." She answered softly with apparent reluctance and shame. That wasn't the whole story, but it was the gist of it. It simply wasn't in her to outright hide information, but at the same time, she didn't want Mortis to feel like he had to pity her either. So, she was quick to offer reassurance in an attempt to avoid it. "It doesn't hurt, though." Adelina added, looking a her misshaped toes on her right paw. They were flattened for the most part. Not perfectly straightened, but fused together so her knuckles could no longer bend. "It doesn't feel like much at all, really." The girl assured him as her attention shifted to the path ahead. "Just not very useful, which was the intended purpose, I guess." While it no longer hurt now, her previous captors went to a lot of trouble to ensure that it was nothing but useless. Though, she didn't want to talk about the details of it, nor plague Mortis with the knowledge.
