#davt

A cold breeze swept through the old barn, the wind bashing against the wood, causing loud bangs and soft creaks. It felt ready to fall apart at any moment, but it held strong as in the hayloft of the old barn, Reina de Luca-Mercar sat, hiding behind a hay bale. The young shadow dragon's breathing was quick as she tried to even it out, and in her hands her brand-new staff was snapped in half. There had been no time for her to dwell on it when it had snapped, but now as she is exhausted and wounded, her hands ran over the splintered wood as she gripped the half that she was able to keep ahold of.

It was supposed to be a quick fight. Originally there had not been so many venatori but of course there were more waiting in the shadows, acting like orcas playing with their prey. In the end all the half-elf could muster with her remaining mana was a cloud of smoke to make a getaway, which did not go as smoothly as she had hoped it would. Reina laid down against the wood planks beneath her able to feel her body start to ache and the adrenaline wear off as pain set it. Maker, she didn't remember them getting so many hits in. Slowly she began to feel the chill in the air. If she had the mana and strength, she would set a small fire to keep her warm, but that wasn't possible. The chances of her even being able to make a tiny flame were slim, not even enough for a cigarette, which she could go for in this current state. Her eyes drifted closed as her breathing evened out. By Andraste's mercy, she was so exhausted. A small nap is all she needs, and then she can leave and make her way back to the lighthouse.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed until she heard the sound of faint footsteps that were followed by the sound of someone climbing the ladder to the loft. Her dark eyes opened up as she gripped the snapped staff in hand. It may not be any use as a staff, but she could still hit someone with it. She pulled herself up, fighting against her aching body.

As soon as she saw the top of someone's head aiming for it, she threw her broken staff, only for her brain to register that it was no Venatori but instead Portia, her darling crow. Luckily, Portia's crow training and instincts were faster than the broken staff that flew at her head as she ducked before her pretty blue eyes met Reina's. "Reina?" she said softly, her face flashing through several emotions. Confusion, worry, anger, and finally relief. The emotion seemed overwhelming for both of them as Portia quickly ran to her side. "I've been looking for you. They said they hadn't heard back. I- I got worried."

"It- Portia." Reina's voice was hoarse from both exhaustion and the cold. The crow quickly wrapped her lover in her arms. "They were everywhere, an ambush. I- I swear it was on purpose. As if they- they were after me," she explained as Portia slipped off her crow cape and wrapped it around her.

“Shh, shh, darling Rose, they've been taken care of. They are gone, and they’re never going to hurt you again,” Portia said firmly as she made sure that Reina was wrapped up in her cape. The cape was warm—left by the feeling of Portia's body heat—it did not erase the chill from the shadow dragon's body, but it did ease it. "That should help with warmth. I need to get you out and to a healer. Maker."