gotta keep going

it was as if a million tiny pin-pricks had been pressed upon her paw pads, every step was agony, torturous and tiring, but shaw put on a great show of appearing as if he didn't feel the weight of their travels. ever the mindful little sister she tried to keep her whining silent, and like her brother attempted to show as little of her discomfort as possible - with an expression obviously flushed with exhaustion, but trying to seem content with the situation, the bundle toddled after shaw slowly and without complaint. as she frequently did, the girl had become untethered from her earthly pegs, and her mind began to engulf her - like icecream the trees melted away and a sea of red began to lap at her paws, rabbits with coats of cotton hopped around her head and her mismatched eyes grew wide at the sight of it all; she almost felt like giggling.

just as she was about to greet an approaching herd of winged deer, a pained yelp carved a crack in her other-worldly adventures. miliani's attentions turned to her sibling with a curious compassion, but she was allowed no answers as his face turned and he hid his pain from her. unconvinced and intrigued by the tangy scent of blood the girl chirped indignantly, and moved to try and nuzzle her little head into the softness of his neck, a gentle attempt at comforting him.

her silence remained as he suddenly suggested resting, but a rush of relief enveloped her completely. she had no problems with the place they'd chosen to take a break in, unlike shaw she was unaware of vulnerability and exposure to the fangs of hostile creatures and disease, she was simply content to be off her feet. she slumped in a fluffy heap beside her brother, her eyes watching him closely as the world around her flashed in a rainbow of colors, "shaw, are you hurt?" she watched as drops of red fell to the ground below him and she waited for him to confirm the obvious and allow her support. "a kiss can make it better."

but silence captured the child once again as a most puzzling specimen approached her - it was a woman, her eyes opposites just as hers were and her coat glimmering as if it were a deep violet. words such as mischief and strength bounced around in the girl's head as the stranger crouched before them, and miliani's curiosity was sparked almost instantly. intrigued and eager to discover more the child fidgeted beside her brother, but she remained silent as she waited for shaw to lay his judgement.