I closed my eyes and let out a shuddering breath. My fingers were numb and cold, my arm aching where the needle pierced the vein. Something clattered onto the pavement, and I looked down to see the needle. It had slipped out of my hand. Nothingness swirled around me, bringing the first sense of peace I'd felt in my short, miserable life. There was no one to miss me, and no one I would miss. There's always someone else to beat or rape. The regulars would move on quickly. I died. Only...wasn't death supposed to be dark? And since when did 'nothingness' have so many gods? Discord: https://discord.gg/PX3xqJdZMY
"Sari," I said, lifting a weak, trembling hand and resting it on her head.
The soft sensation of her silky hair between my fingers, and the kitten-like fur of her ears put me at ease. She looked up at me with wide eyes and a slow smile spread across her face. Then, she closed her eyes and leaned into my touch, nuzzling me lovingly.
I smiled faintly and stoked her head for a few more seconds before taking my hand away. She had been so weak, emaciated, and scared when we saved her. It had taken months for me to get to the point where I would accept someone's touch like I know offered her. Just how resilient was this child? Had she really recovered so quickly?
A slight frown replaced my smile at the thought, and I looked up at Elinore, who was busy preparing an ointment for my sunpurge. "Elinore, how long was…asleep?"