There was a pain growing in her heart that she could not shake. Ara wondered, if it hurt so badly for her to know this, how much it must her Song -- and how terribly it was hurting Novel. Though she had always known that the world contained more cruelty than she could possibly imagine, how could someone simply do this to Novel? She was stunningly kind and generous, and wouldn't ever provoke a soul. Another sigh left her lips, and she found her head shaking slightly in disbelief still. All she could hope for was that Novel would find time to rest, that she would trust Ara in watching over her and sleep for as long as she needed, slipping away from reality even if just for a few hours.
The woman turned to watch as Song slipped into the den, gently nuzzling her daughter. What if something worse had happened? She was grateful Novel was alive and, physically, mostly unharmed. It could've been so much worse. "Of course," she would murmur quietly, fearful her words would awaken Novel. "Just tell me if you need anything from me, Song. I'll do anything to help her and you." Ara wasn't known for being particularly selfless; though her mother was a generous woman, her father was much more reserved and independent, often reminding her that family came before anything. But in this case, she wanted so badly to help and to keep Novel safe.
