The tears didn't want to stop, no matter how hard she tried to bite them back. She wasn't even sure why she was crying. Was it the pain, or the relief over not being hated, or perhaps the hurt over being treated like she was by those that should have been her comrades and friends? Perhaps it was just a mixture of all of it together, along with being tired beyond belief. The fainting hadn't given her much rest, and to wake up and be in this much pain... It was bound to affect anyone, and no matter how much she liked to pretend it, Rista was far from the strongest.
Unable and unwilling to protest as Taln scooped her up and held her, the little girl just gave in to the tears and let them flow freely. She never cried usually; she'd learned to swallow them down, turn them into anger and stubbornness. This, being helpless like this... Beaten, weak, unable to defend herself and incapable of controlling her emotions... Even though it was involuntary, Taln was probably the first person to see her so unguarded. The mongrel hacked and sobbed and hid her face away against his chest, leaning into the rocking motion. It was soothing, the way he held her, and somewhere below the sense of humiliation and shame over how she was acting, the girl was grateful. To think that he actually cared enough to help her... And it wasn't the first time. It felt strange to admit it, but she was indebted to him. For finding her and taking care of her to his best ability, for not hating her.. Gods knew that he had reasons enough to do it.
Slowly, surely the girl began to calm down and grew still in the others embrace. The sobs quieted, her breath became even again, and the only sounds that came from her was the occasional sniffing; why did crying bring a stuffy nose? One would think it was enough with the wet face and the lump in the throat, and the aching feeling in the chest. The runny nose was just overdoing it, there wasn't anything remotely graceful about that... Rista had never really cared much for her appearance and she would laugh at anyone who called her elegant or pretty, but lacking beauty didn't mean that she never longed for a sense of grace at the very least.
Her thoughts slowly began to work again, and brought her to a realization of where she were. The contact with another human being was still foreign, but unlike the first time Rista didn't resist or tense over having contact with the skin of her friend. They were just that after all; friends. At least she hoped they were, she wouldn't know what to call it otherwise. The warmth from his body felt good even though the grasp of his arms pressed against the welts on her back, it made her relax. Something about it made her remember times that had passes since long; a memory of a warm sun, golden grass that swayed around the lakes and the feeling of a sticky boys hand in hers as they lay on their backs, looking up into the sky where the eagles flew freely. Taln wasn't anything like Karva in either appearance nor personality, it was just the physical contact and the sense of safety in brought that made her compare them. An old feeling of loss clasped around her heart and almost managed to press the air out of her; it had been so long since her brother died, but from time to time she still missed him. Gods how she missed him... It wasn't fair that they took away the better half of the twins, leaving her alone to fend for herself.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to bring order to her mind again, Rista slowly pushed herself up and away from Taln. There was a limit to how long she could lay there and think to herself; there was a limit to how long she could stay in this room too. Sooner or later someone would come looking for her to see where she were - Kovac was a good first guess - and she didn't want to draw attention to this room, wherever it were located. Using a hand to wipe the salty tears away from her face, the yasi looked around; the fledgling caught her attention again, and she spent some time looking at it before turning the gaze to Taln, a faint smile on her lips.
"Thank you" she said straightforwardly. "I think I needed that.. Sorry for making you worry. Is that your bird? What's his name?" Her voice sounded a little hoarse still, but the tone was decidedly more alert. Perhaps she was feeling better, or she might just be pushing herself; it was hard to tell.
Unable and unwilling to protest as Taln scooped her up and held her, the little girl just gave in to the tears and let them flow freely. She never cried usually; she'd learned to swallow them down, turn them into anger and stubbornness. This, being helpless like this... Beaten, weak, unable to defend herself and incapable of controlling her emotions... Even though it was involuntary, Taln was probably the first person to see her so unguarded. The mongrel hacked and sobbed and hid her face away against his chest, leaning into the rocking motion. It was soothing, the way he held her, and somewhere below the sense of humiliation and shame over how she was acting, the girl was grateful. To think that he actually cared enough to help her... And it wasn't the first time. It felt strange to admit it, but she was indebted to him. For finding her and taking care of her to his best ability, for not hating her.. Gods knew that he had reasons enough to do it.
Slowly, surely the girl began to calm down and grew still in the others embrace. The sobs quieted, her breath became even again, and the only sounds that came from her was the occasional sniffing; why did crying bring a stuffy nose? One would think it was enough with the wet face and the lump in the throat, and the aching feeling in the chest. The runny nose was just overdoing it, there wasn't anything remotely graceful about that... Rista had never really cared much for her appearance and she would laugh at anyone who called her elegant or pretty, but lacking beauty didn't mean that she never longed for a sense of grace at the very least.
Her thoughts slowly began to work again, and brought her to a realization of where she were. The contact with another human being was still foreign, but unlike the first time Rista didn't resist or tense over having contact with the skin of her friend. They were just that after all; friends. At least she hoped they were, she wouldn't know what to call it otherwise. The warmth from his body felt good even though the grasp of his arms pressed against the welts on her back, it made her relax. Something about it made her remember times that had passes since long; a memory of a warm sun, golden grass that swayed around the lakes and the feeling of a sticky boys hand in hers as they lay on their backs, looking up into the sky where the eagles flew freely. Taln wasn't anything like Karva in either appearance nor personality, it was just the physical contact and the sense of safety in brought that made her compare them. An old feeling of loss clasped around her heart and almost managed to press the air out of her; it had been so long since her brother died, but from time to time she still missed him. Gods how she missed him... It wasn't fair that they took away the better half of the twins, leaving her alone to fend for herself.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to bring order to her mind again, Rista slowly pushed herself up and away from Taln. There was a limit to how long she could lay there and think to herself; there was a limit to how long she could stay in this room too. Sooner or later someone would come looking for her to see where she were - Kovac was a good first guess - and she didn't want to draw attention to this room, wherever it were located. Using a hand to wipe the salty tears away from her face, the yasi looked around; the fledgling caught her attention again, and she spent some time looking at it before turning the gaze to Taln, a faint smile on her lips.
"Thank you" she said straightforwardly. "I think I needed that.. Sorry for making you worry. Is that your bird? What's his name?" Her voice sounded a little hoarse still, but the tone was decidedly more alert. Perhaps she was feeling better, or she might just be pushing herself; it was hard to tell.
