[Sybil POV]
She felt her consciousness returning in a blur, though only momentarily. Every part of her body hurt, and her stomach screamed its fury at the neglect it had been shown. Before she could make her return to consciousness known, a small chunk of flesh was offered. She didn't open her eyes, but the scent. The scent! She snapped at it, the juicy meat wetting her throat. A part of the meat resisted her eating, and she ground her teeth down on it.
"Sybil!" a familiar voice shouted. It didn't speak more, though its scales shifted and became much harder. The flesh escaped her maw and she whined needily. She was so hungry.
Another chunk of meat was held in front of her face, and again she snapped at it. This time, there was nothing left behind, and before she could struggle for more, another and then another mouthful was presented to her. Her stomach stopped its complaints, though her throat remained parched. A cupped hand carried a pitiful little puddle of water to her mouth and poured it in. She swallowed, the fluids from the raw meat she'd eaten before having wetted her throat enough for her not to choke on the water. Again and again the hands brought water to her mouth, pouring it in with a patient consistency.
Her hunger sated and thirst slaked, Sybil tried to open her eyes. Everything was blurry, a faint light filtering in from somewhere. She could only see a silver figure before her, and though she couldn't see him, she knew it was Ashlani. At ease, she lowered her head and enjoyed the ministrations. She slowly succumbed to unconsciousness, but before she did, Ashlani began softly humming to her, the comforting tones carrying through her bones, settling the pain to mere aches, and she sighed in comfort while her mind was taken away from the misery that was evolving to Keel.
[Varali POV]
As the months had passed, her mind imperceptibly shifted. Varali couldn't say what it was that had changed, but more and more, she regretted listening to the various Soulspeakers' advice. She'd grown up admiring the relationships of Soulspeakers and their Soulbound Companions. She'd always wanted an imposing animal friend, and she'd had that opportunity. Sure, Fen was a little weird, but she was a friend. She was there for Varali when her parents died, and she'd always tried to make the girl laugh.
When had Varali started to think that Fen wasn't a friend? How did her mind shift from appreciation and closeness to the impartial regard held for a tool? Why had she forgotten the happiness she'd felt when she'd stumbled across the sole scaled deer? When had she begun to think that Fen would be happier if she didn't have to think so much? Why would she ever have considered herself to be capable of making decisions for her companion like that?
Now, though, when she tried to speak with Fen, her mind wasn't just closed, it was diminished. The months where she'd thoughtlessly wiped away a portion of Fen's sense of self were too much, and though she no longer perverted and twisted Fen's mind like that, it had been damaged, possibly irreparably. Varali took time every day to sit with the hollow creature that had replaced her friend, and most days she left weeping. There was no medicine for her regret, and it was the bitterest pain she'd felt since her parents' death. Even so, she recognized she warranted no care or forgiveness. After all, she was the only one responsible for her actions.
She left the stable, walking slowly while wiping her tears away. Frul walked into Fen's pen after Varali left, and Varali listened to her gentle Speaking, trying to heal Fen from the damage Varali herself had done. Varali swiped at her eyes and instead walked to a training ground, somewhere she could work off at least part of the restless energy that filled her at every step. As she walked through Fort Thnufir, the constant movement that filled the garrison was heightened beyond anything she'd seen before. She reached a hand out to Sara, one of the people in her battalion, as she walked past.
"What's going on? Are we under attack?"
"No, of course not." Sara smiled widely. "We've received reinforcements from the Gran Verat, so we're preparing for their arrival!"
Varali too felt her excitement rise as she considered getting some of the elites from the capital to come assist with the effort. There was so much that they could do, and so many lives could be saved if one of the Synod came. Could it be one of the Veran? She wouldn't hope for one of the High Veran, but if the High Veran Djallma came? Next to the Thnufir River, her Wavespeaking would be able to wash away the entirety of the Sunkindred's defenses! But no, that couldn't be. Maybe it was just a new wave of graduates from the Red Abbey. But they wouldn't be panicking so much for mere new graduates. When she received the answer, though, Varali's stomach twisted with concern while, for a reason she couldn't comprehend, part of her relaxed.
"It's the High Lord Alniyh. He came before, but had to leave before he could rout the enemies. This time, he's brought his leviathan! The cows over there won't know what's coming."
Varali shivered involuntarily. That man was returning. Why was a part of her relieved to know that he'd be near her again? He'd taught her exclusively how to use Soulspeaking to twist the minds of a Soulbound Companion into a Bound. There wasn't any reason for her to have even fond memories of him. Though, perhaps that came not from his personality, but his power? It was undeniable that Doluk was an immensely powerful creature, and Varali had heard of a leviathan before. Could it live up to all the excitement that surrounded a legendary creature like that?
Regardless of what she wanted, though, Varali remained a soldier belonging to the garrison, and she needed to participate in welcoming the High Lord. Even if he was a self-important ass. The rest of the day was spent in a frenzy, rushing back and forth, searching for anything that could be done to ensure that the Fort would be a suitable location for the leviathan and its master. When night truly threatened to fall and the last light of the suns disappeared over the horizon, someone called a warning. The soldiers all bristled to respond to the threat, but nearly immediately after, the warning was replaced with greeting. The High Lord had arrived, and the Thnufir Fort was ready to greet them.
Varali was within the fort when he arrived, sweeping one of the courtyards. Somehow, though, she knew when the High Lord, no, Leiyalt arrived. Her mind began to fog, to lose sensibility, and she fought to retain her sense of self as she realized why she had lost so much of herself those months ago.