In The Works...

Hitomi felt weak, Tala didn't even seem to register her struggles! It was so frustrating and even worse so, she found herself getting too comfortable despite herself. She hadn't felt this in so long, the feeling of being held close, the warmth, the relaxation of it all. As the minutes went on, she'd go entirely limp, beginning to drift to sleep despite her best efforts.

Her eyes snapped open for a second time as the grip loosened and Tala spoke. Hitomi blinked hard, bleary eyed as she tried to register what she was saying. Right...yeah that made sense. It was cold...She should just...let Tala carry her...

...

WAIT NO! AAAAGHHH WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON!?!?!?!??!?!? She shook her head wildly, just in time to be smothered again. The illusion must be really messing with both of their heads! If Hitomi didn't do something, who knows what would happen! She began to struggle again, her teeth clenching as Tala simply coddled her. The her frustration began to grow again as she pushed her head against Tala, trying to pry herself from the woman. She didn't know what to do...Tala barely registered her struggles. This was all so frustrating! What could she do? What could she do!?

...

After a moment, Tala would suddenly feel a sharp pinch as Hitomi turned and nipped at the first bit of flesh she could find. She barely even registered what she was doing, acting more out of instinct than anything else. At the very least, this should get Tala's attention.

Tala was just swept over the need to hug because she was completely taken aback by the sharp nip she felt on her arm.

"AH!"

In an instant, she let go of Hitomi. Well, not so much as let go than reflexively hurl her across the snow. Whether it was Tala being taken by surprise or her instinct to just hurt anything that suddenly hurt her, she didn't know, but when she realized what she did, her face instantly filled with horror.

"OH MY GOODNESS! HITOMI I'M SO SORRY!" she yelped before covering her mouth.

She'd quickly rush over to the bite-sized version of her partner.

"Are you okay!?"

Hitomi in no way had expected that Tala would throw her. She had no time to react, nor was she even used to this small body enough to react effectively! She crashed hard against the snow, the cold taking her, replacing those nice warm feelings she'd been feeling up until that moment. She'd been thrown aside...It was an unfair thought but it suddenly lodged itself in her head. She couldn't get it out. Her body began to react before her mind could keep up. She shook slightly, her nose began to run. Without thinking, she hugged herself as tears began to spill out of her eyes.

She wasn't used to this. The feeling was overwhelming. It didn't feel like hers at all, but she couldn't stop it. By the time Tala got to Hitomi, she'd see her silently sobbing. Tears were freely streaming down her face. She seemed like she was freezing, despite only hitting the snow for a few seconds. Hitomi, in an almost panicked state, looked up at Tala with wide eyes. She tried to nod her head, to let her know she was okay in some way, but her body just wouldn't let her. For some reason, she began to cry harder, pushing her face against Tala's leg in an almost silent apology.

When Tala rushed towards Hitomi, she was more than surprised to see tears streaming down the girl's eyes in a quiet sob. When she cried even harder and started pressing against her leg, Tala just instantly went into a panic and started scooping Hitomi up again. The girl was practically shaking both from cold and the crying. It was enough to make Tala's heart melt.

"Oh, god, I'm so so so sorry!" Tala said cradling Hitomi back up into her arms. "I got surprised! I-I didn't realize what I was doing when I---"

Tala sighed and would shift the small girl into her arms so that Hitomi's head hung over her shoulder. She held her the way she would an infant and started to rub her back soothingly as she rocked her back and forth.

"I'm really sorry, Hitomi," Tala said, softer this time, a motherliness in her voice showing. "I won't do it again, alright? I'm so sorry..."

As she waited for Hitomi to calm down, Tala would survey her surroundings. That bright light was whatever caused Hitomi to look the way she did, and it was obvious this was an illusion to her at least. She'd move over to Hitomi's sword and grab it, tucking it under her arm. She didn't know if they'd have to start walking, but she couldn't afford them to be idle too long. She just needed Hitomi to calm down.

...

This was infuriating. At this point it was like her body simply stopped obeying her commands. She couldn't stop shivering, she couldn't stop crying, she couldn't stop feeling like Tala was going to toss her aside now. As she was picked up again, Hitomi's arms wrapped around Tala's neck, hugging her as she was placed over her shoulder. She nuzzled against the side of the woman's neck, more and more tears streaming down her face. She didn't even know WHY she was crying anymore. Hell she didn't know why she'd been crying in the first place!

She responded to Tala's words with a small nod, she couldn't really do much of else at this point. God she needed to stop crying, she was being treated like an infant! She was a woman damn it! A swordswoman at that! She'd killed people and monsters! Currently, she was rebelling against Eisleyn! So. She. Needed. To. Stop. Crying!

Tala would feel Hitomi suddenly tense up as she tried to hold back her sobbing, she was failing, but she was definitely putting in a heroic effort. Tala wouldn't be able to see anymore bright lights at this rate, but as she looked around, a cold wind would begin to sweep over the area. The temperature began to drop, causing the Hitomi to start shivering even more. The poor girl had fallen face first into the snow after all, her clothes were wet and her robe currently did little for her.

On the plus side, Hitomi was starting to settle down, she was pressing herself tightly against Tala, though, seemingly trying to get some semblance of warmth as the bone chilling wind continued to sweep through the area.

Ambience music

Tala would feel Hitomi try to hold back her tears, which made Tala only worry a bit more. While her attention was divided, she wasn't about to ignore Hitomi. Seeing that the lights were gone and not hearing anything, she supposed that they'd be safe briefly. As a cold burst of air passed them and Hitomi shivered, Tala recognized her first priority was making sure Hitomi was warm. She had equipment with her and she had spells, she could probably manage a makeshift retreat to get Hitomi better before she caught her death of cold.

Seeing Hitomi resist trying to cry, Tala would start to gently pet her on head. The girl's black hair was soft to touch, as were her black ears. She'd stroke her lightly as possible as she'd rock Hitomi gently.

"There, there..." she said softly. "It's okay to cry. You can cry all you want in my arms, okay? Let me be the one to focus on the rest."

Moving about with a child in her arms was not unfamiliar to Tala. She had, after all, had her own kid. While still holding Hitomi, she started to kick at the ground before them, clearing out some snow so that she could get some empty patch of land going. She'd then start casting Cartic marks. Hitomi would hear branches snap as Tala summoned about tinder and pine cones. She'd gather the pine cones first in a pile and lit them up. Once they started catching fire, she hunkered down as she held Hitomi, placing the sticks in a pile and letting the fire grow.

Tala noticed a nearby log and would use more Cartic marks to edge it closer to the fire so she could sit down. She'd shift Hitomi so that the girl was seated on her lap. Hitomi would soon start feeling the warmth of the fire, but Tala knew it probably wouldn't be enough. Her clothes were still soaked and she needed to change.

"Hmmm...I think I have some spare clothes in here..." she said to herself as she dug into her pack.

Tala would manage and pull out a white tunic. It on its own wouldn't be enough, but Tala quickly unclasped her cloak.

She'd raise it and the tunic up to Hitomi.

"Hitomi, sweetie," she said gently. "We need to get you warm. You'll have to change out of those. Will you need help? Your robes do look a little tangled..."

The weirdness of the suggestion didn't seem to register for Tala. It was mostly because Tala was literally, at this point, regarding Hitomi as a child she needed to take care of, and that meant no embarrassment on her part. The reverse would be hard to say of course for the Enkidu, perhaps.

Tala's words, plus her affectionate gestures seemed to hit Hitomi hard. She hated being like this, but she couldn't stop herself at this rate. She needed to be useful, but couldn't do anything...So, having no other options, she buried herself into Tala's neck and just let herself cry. It wasn't something she'd done in a very long time, and she'd lost track of why she was even crying in the first place.

Fortunately for her, she had settled down a bit by the time she was placed on Tala's lap. Hitomi would unceremoniously lean over and rest herself against Tala. She was horribly embarrassed about this whole ordeal, but what else could she even do? She was useless right now...At the very least Tala seemed to be enjoying herself.

As she saw Tala begin to unclasp her cloak, Hitomi would reach out to stop her. Her cheeks would puff out slightly as she stared at the woman. She wasn't about to let Tala freeze here either. As she mentioned Hitomi needing 'help' the girl shook her head furiously. She...wasn't sure she could get out without tripping...but she'd figure this out! Idly, she reached up and pushed Tala's head towards the side. She DEFINITELY didn't want her to see her like this.

The next minute would be spent with Hitomi only making things worse for herself. The robes were now heavy from the melted snow and she just could NOT get herself free. By the end, Hitomi was all but flailing, making annoyed grunts as she up and thrashed around.

Whatever did this to her was going to die horribly.

Tala had to resist the urge to smile as Hitomi struggled with her clothes. She was just so adorable! If their situation wasn't so dire at the moment, she'd just hold Hitomi close the entire day. Actually, that wasn't a bad idea. She'd be able to stay warm and...

Focus, Tala! Focus! Tala thought. Your partner CANNOT stay a cute little child as much as you want her to!

Hitomi started grunting and flailing her arms, the fabric of her clothes flapping as she did.

Haaa...but she's so cuuuuuuute!

Hitomi would feel Tala lift up her arms and gently start untangling the fabric.

"If you move around so much, you'll just make it worse," she said softly.

She'd start stretching out the fabric so that the sleeves were aligned with Hitomi's arms and stretched out the skirt of the body so that it was lying and draping over Tala's lap. Hitomi would be able to slip out of the outfit herself so long as she slowly stepped out of it and took the tunic over her. Oddly enough, helping Hitomi with her clothes felt...nostalgic.

"Quit it, Tala! Yer makin' it worse!" a voice reprimanded her.

The voice almost felt like it was right in her ear.

It was enough to make her turn her head and look at her side. For a brief moment she thought she saw the vague semblance of a tanned figure next to her, shirtless, lean and muscular, wearing a deep red cape that draped around him.

Tala's eyes widened and then blinked.

...

She then turned back to Hitomi, trying to shake off the disturbing visage and forced a small smile.

"Think you can get out now?"

"Think you can get out my cloak now?"

Hitomi let out a small sigh, her shoulder's slumping as Tala went and had to help her anyways. She didn't like this. It was nice to be doted on, sure, but she hated being useless. She just wished she could actually do SOMETHING in this scen-

Her own eyes widened at the woman's reaction to...something. Her head had snapped to the side so suddenly it very nearly made Hitomi jump. Hitomi watcher her eyes widen, she watched her blink and shake whatever she had seen off, then she watched her turn back and force a smile. Hitomi swallowed hard, unsure of what to do. Was she being effected by the illusions now too? Why did she seem sad now?

Hitomi's eyes fell as she thought. What was the illusionist trying to do? What would they want?

...

"Mm!" She nodded proudly. She could do something here! She was going to die on the inside this entire time, but...She needed to keep Tala present. If her attention got pulled away, if she fell for some other illusion, they could end up separated and then....Well, thats what the illusionist wanted!!!

So, Hitomi would calmly begin to slip out of her robe, take a wrong step, tangle her foot in the robe and fall across Tala's lap dramatically, letting out another small squeak as she hit her lap. Hitomi sighed, her hands reaching out almost comically. Slowly, she let out a sigh before turning towards Tala, a deep, embarrassed blush stretching across her face. Slowly her hands raised, a silent plea for help. "Nh.."

This.
Was.
The.
Worst.

It was necessary though. She'd keep Tala present. Keep them together, and then they could set up camp, wait out the cold spell and set out to destroy the bandit together. There's no way this dumb illusion would last forever!

Hitomi would instantly notice Tala's eyes seem to shine as the little girl stumbled and tripped.

"Oh, you poor thing!" she said as Hitomi squeaked. Tala would wrap her arms around Hitomi and scoop her up back into place. She'd then start working on untangling Hitomi's clothes again. "Maybe you do need help after all. What do you think?"

She did this chirpily, not at all fazed by potential embarrassment. It was funny in hindsight considering how she had been so flustered at seeing Hitomi nude in the baths. But this was different! Hitomi was a precious little girl who needed help clothing! And Tala, being the mother that she was, wasn't going to let her freeze to death, or let anything else hurt her for that matter.

Speaking of hurt...

Tala looked around.

"I take it that this illusion won't wear out by itself," she said. "Once you're clothed and warmed up, we should start searching. But I'll have to carry you on my back as we do it. You can't fight in this state, got it?"

Tala would then hear her stomach grumble. She flushed.

"...maybe we should eat too. What do you think?"