Though she truly had wanted to stay with Novel and to make sure she was okay through her sickness, she wouldn't have dared expose her parents to this horrible plague. Ara had even taken a small amount of the herbs herself, as though it might keep her safe from the illness. She didn't know if it was contagious, but she had not contracted it -- she was thankful, but wondered if she had been stupid to be so willing to be in such close proximity to Novel through it all. What if she had gotten sick? That wouldn't have done either of them any good.
But somehow, they had gotten through it. Together, even if the girl beside her had not expected her to still be here. There had been no other option for her. A contended sigh slipped from her lips as she felt Novel lean into her, and suddenly she felt all the worry she had felt for so many weeks slip away. "No need to thank me," she said, her voice soft, hardly louder than a whisper. "I couldn't imagine just leaving you alone..." She knew Elohim wouldn't leave her completely alone, but even still, it wouldn't have felt right to her. A soft smile was offered as she turned her head to the left to gaze fondly at Novel. "It seems the others are healing as well. There will be no fatalities, I hear." It was truly a blessing, and she wondered if the other packs had been affected, and hoped that they had fared as well as Ludicael had.
