(VITAL FAVOR) Tiarana

[Tiarana]

No More Grief woke slowly, with a heavy grogginess that meant she was probably still asleep. A gentle sparkle danced at her eyelids, and when she opened them, she discovered before her a delicate moth bathed in light. Confused, No More Grief turned her eyes skyward: this was no sunbeam; only the distant twinkle of the stars penetrated the darkness. The doe quickly offered a prayer to the Motherfather and turned back to the moth. One wing shuddered and jerked as it fluttered, though the reason was not obvious to No More Grief.

"Oh, you poor thing!" she gushed. "Hold still, I want to help you..."  

[Tiarana]

No More Grief carefully inched closer to the moth, but it fluttered and twitched at her approach, so she drew back once more to study it. She had no idea how to care for such a delicate creature, just a faint notion that caring for the giant insects of the swamp required gentleness and experience that she lacked. Maybe she could distract the moth with something long enough to get a good look at it. She seemed to recall that moths drank the nectar of flowers -- but in the limited light the only flowers she could see grew on high thorny vines. Reaching them would be painful and difficult.

Still, No More Grief gritted her teeth and pulled down one of the vines, a thorn digging into her cheek as she did so. Carefully she maneuvered it near the moth, who hopped closer. A promising sign, she thought.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 28/30
Current Trust: 12
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

Too promising. The second she started to inch closer, the moth hop-fluttered out of reach again.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 28/30
Current Trust: 10
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

Cautiously, No More Grief brought the vine closer to the moth again, the sharp taste of blood seeping onto her tongue. Yet again, the moth hopped forward as the doe withdrew to observe it, but now she noticed something else.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 26/30
Current Trust: 12
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

She inched closer to the moth again, attempting to confirm her suspicions, but it fluttered and twitched until the doe stepped back. She was quite sure now, though.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 26/30
Current Trust: 10
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

The moth wasn't attracted to the flowers at all. It was the blood on the vine that it wanted. No More Grief steeled herself and brought one leg down on the thorns with a whimper, and when she stumbled away, sure enough, the moth hopped over to where she had been.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 24/30
Current Trust: 12
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

No More Grief tried to inch closer, but the moth still fluttered away from her. Her resolve wavered - the creature would surely be fine without her help, wouldn't it? But, no, there was no way she could leave it there alone. She would not be able to forgive herself. No More Grief wrapped her tail around the vine, gasping at the pain.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 22/30
Current Trust: 14
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

She stumbled to the ground in pain, and this time the moth came to her, fluttering gently on her tail while it soaked up the blood.

"Ah...that's good..." No More Grief smiled weakly at it. "Just stay there...I'll see what I can do for you."

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 22/30
Current Trust: 17
Section notes:

 

[Tiarana]

It took her a long time to work up the energy to move again.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 20/30
Current Trust: 17
Section notes: clues: 0

 

[Tiarana]

The moth quietly sucked up her blood as she lay there, breathing raggedly.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 18/30
Current Trust: 17
Section notes: clues: 0

 

[Tiarana]

Finally, she lifted her head enough to examine the creature.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 18/30
Current Trust: 20
Section notes: clues: 0

 

[Tiarana]

The moth’s probing proboscis might have tickled if not for the pain from the thorns. No More Grief looked it over, but she could not clearly see what hindered its flight; the glow was almost blinding to her tired eyes.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 18/30
Current Trust: 21
Section notes: clues: 0

 

[Tiarana]

She pulled herself to her feet and the moth floated down to the ground. From this angle, it became clear: one wing was bent at an odd angle.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 18/30
Current Trust: 20
Section notes: clues: 1

 

[Tiarana]

The wing was torn.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 18/30
Current Trust: 20
Section notes: clues: 2

 

[Tiarana]

The asymmetry prevented the moth from flying straight or far.

OOC Footnote

Current HP: 18/30
Current Trust: 20
Section notes: clues: 3