[P]Limping Home

[Neela Garcia]

[html]

OOC text here

Neela's call was answered quickly by the sound of breaking glass followed shortly by a very welcome voice calling her name. She looked up weakly, ignoring the pain that jolted through her body as she twisted slightly to catch sight of Tony running towards her.

Neela yelped loudly in pain when Tony swept her up into his arms but didn't struggle, instead wrapping her arms around him and burying her muzzle into his shoulder, whimpering all the while. After a few seconds that seemed like a lifetime the pain eased as Neela was lowered down onto a soft surface, the bed she realised dimly. She let out a small sound of gratitude, running her tongue briefly over Tony's muzzle as he pulled away to fuss around the room, collecting several blankets as he went.

Eventually Tony returned, curling up besides her and petting her hair. Tony's weight on the bed was comforting and her head wasn't injured so she leaned into the motion, making a low hum not dissimilar to a purr. Unfortunately Tony asked her what had happened and the pain she had been trying to ignore flooded back as she tried to collect her thoughts and answer him.

There was only a brief moment of hesitation before she answered; with any other she might have edited the truth, tried to keep her son out of it but Tony alone among the cavaliers knew the full story of her past. He wouldn’t judge her or her family. "Out by border… stargazing… attacked…" Neela's voice was hoarse and scratchy and she stopped a minute to swallow and think, suddenly going rigid as a thought occurred to her.

Grynn wasn't with her. The bird's body had been dropped during the commotion when Tony had picked her up, tossed aside and forgotten in the mud. Neela's ears glued themselves to her skull and she started to whine loudly, weakly struggling to try and stand. She tried for a few moments before giving up and flopping back down, gazing at Tony piteously, "Grynn, body… outside."

Word Count :: +343