~~~~~~~~~
Amongst the deafening rain, whimpering breaths and faint wheezes of agony could be heard from the center of the room. The agonizing sounds leaking from the Nelfin and slithering from her bed, corrupting the pleasant atmosphere of the home that Aiyana tried so hard to create. Her small home was almost completely covered in different types of grass, flowers, vines, and leaves. They thrived within her household, craving the company of their Nelfin and the purity that rolled off of her in waves. Their Nelfin was now in a fetal position in the middle of her bed that was woven from more vines and flowers. The same vines and blossoms whispered amongst each other and into her ears in an attempt to console her.
Aiyana's gasping breaths bounced off the walls of her bedroom as Diablo curled around his partner in a protective barrier, whimpering at his failure as a guardian. He was no better than trash, wasn't he? "D-don't say that," a gentle whisper accompanied by a harsh grip on his dark coat ripped him from his self-belittlement. Heavy-lidded, teary green eyes forced his molten gold ones to connect with hers.
Aiyana continued to whisper, "You are not to blame, nor will you lay here and attempt to take accountability for this." Her breath hitched as another wave of pain came forth. "There are so many hurting right now," a sob interrupted her, "it is over-overwhelming- how could such a place exist?" She took another moment to catch her breath before continuing as it felt like she was being stabbed in the ribs, or maybe someone else was. "And how could you expect me to let you try to burden yourself with my pain? Do not sink into despair, everything is okay." The huge animal could only reluctantly nod at his beloved before slipping his large head back onto the soft bed and curling even tighter around her. The night continued silently, save for the pelting of water against the ground and the gasping breaths of Aiyana. An empath living in the violence-ridden slimy area of Crookback was, admittedly, not her smartest decision.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bare, nimble feet slapped against the stone road, dutifully carrying Aiyana to her destination as she ran through the streets of Regalia. Her mood was drastically different from the one three nights before. Now that the sun was beaming down on her face, the wind sifting through her hair, and a new world to explore, how could she not feel elated? At that thought, her grin widened.
Her faithful familiar trotted by her side as always, though he seemed less thrilled to be out of the comfort of their new home sporting a constant grumpy look, the animal dutifully followed his partner. Diablo also, to the disdain of Aiyana, who had already told him to "turn his frown upside down," seemed to be scaring off any new faces that passed by them on the street. Does she not know that not everyone is as pure and simple as she is? All beings are twisted and double-crossing, and there was no convincing Diablo otherwise. These two-legged creatures also bore mean scowls and ugly mugs as well... they did not deserve to interact with his Aiyana.
"Quit that," Aiyana attempted to scold the animal with a smile breaking out on her face, "How am I supposed to make friends with you looking as if you want to eat them?" She teasingly asked. With that question lingering in the air, she heard a strong and gruff voice enter her thoughts. "Because I can and I will, Smiles." At her companion's response, musical laughter erupted from Aiyana, which also eased the tension that had spread throughout the animal's body. "It is very mean to eat people, Diablo." The animal snorted in reply. Soon enough, his partner's footsteps ceased, and they arrived at their final destination: The Burning Bridges Clinic.
