Verita did not have to glance over her shoulder to know the stumbling loud thread of the Ramen on deck. He had been severely wounded at both battles, and none on the ship was able to heal him save for herself. She had not taken the time to mend his wounds though, too occupied with drinking away her own pain. A pain that was much deeper than any cut could wound her. She looked different as well, as she held her hands in front of her, resting on the wooden balustrades of the ship to study her slender and pale fingers in the wary sunlight.<br/><br/>Her skin almost looked as thin as parchment, were once was a healthy glow of pink upon her cheeks was now a white wash of sickness. She almost looked like a ghosts in the misty light of day, her hair that much darker against the porcelain skin of her youth. Her eyes seemed to pop out only more, its orange flecked brown the only colour of her visage. She had finally dressed as well, though had not cast aside the warmth of the cloak Darion had once given her. Instead she wore a leather jerkin of her size, combined with boiled leather breaches and straps to hold it all together. Verita would have preferred a long robe over the somewhat uncomfortable garb, but Dawn had assured her that this was more safe for her to wear. She would become less vulnerable in battle, with more protection upon her body.<br/><br/>Tears glimmered in her eyes, but they did not seem to find their way over her cheeks, just merely sat in the corner of her eyelids to cast a multitude of colours on her cheekbones. Finally she looked at Foran, with a smile that told the man that she had much preferred to have keep him silent, rather then answer his painful questions.<br/><br/><b>''That is were you are very wrong, Foran. I did not do anything. It wasn't me, it has never been me that has done all those things... It was..''</b><br/><br/>Turning around to the sound of the forest elf she smiled at her words, and smiled even brighter at the sight of the pseudo-dragon around Tyora's neck. It was the first time since the battles that some joy had been able to warm her heart, and she let herself revel in it, before they would enter the dark caves that lie ahead of them.<br/><br/><b>''He looks amazing! Where did you find such a creature like him? Can.. can I touch you?''</b>She asked the small serpent, one of her hands hanging dormant in the air for the snake to sniff or get accustomed to. The strange green glow in her eyes has almost disappeared by this simple gesture of normality, her first sober humanoid interaction in days. She did comment on his words though, and let the sentence linger in the air for a while.<br/><b><br/>
''You would not have survived without me either, so your words are hypocritical as well. But I'm not one to make your stay either, it is up to you both to decide to stay with the group or not.''<br/>
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