Close together and far apart

She had thought she was getting sick, another victim of the blight. But she wasn't experiencing any other symptoms. No hallucinations, no fever, no convulsions at least! She had gone to Oleander believing she was getting the blight. But no... He gave her another diagnosis... Morning sickness except it gave her a strong aversion to different random things...

She was elated! But suddenly somber, when should she tell Bas? He would want to know immediately, but they still haven't figured out how the Blight was spreading! It was so strange! Oleander hadn't let her see the samples yet. And now he wanted her to stay as far away as possible from it all.

She swallowed. She rejoined her entourage of Oso, Larimar, and the falcons overhead outside of the Warrens. She looked down the Col toward the woods and saw him prowling along the edge like a caged animal. Maybe it'll be good enough news to soothe him?

She walked toward the line between the woods and the Col, her gaggle of companions getting more anxious as she neared it. Oso eventually ducked his head to keep her from going further. She soothed him with hushes and hums, a stroke along his nose.

"Bas, my love." She called to him. Her attention was on petting Oso, she didn't want to see the agony of their separation in his eyes.


"Speech"