[color=D6CC88]"No?"  The child was disappointed that there wasn't anyone else with the gift of Sight who could teach her how to do things.  "I didn't expect a Seer, but maybe just someone who knows more about teaching Magi than my parents did...."  She trailed off, dropping her gaze again.  It was hard, having to figure everything out on her own just by what hit her and what worked.  "Yeah, I tried to steal food from Ethan because it had been two weeks, and I couldn't find enough to eat on my own.  I didn't have anything to start a fire...and I tried to eat a rabbit raw but it made me sick."  She looked guilty at the memory.  "He was nice.  ...Too nice.  He's going to get hurt worse than he has already if he's not careful."  Amuné twisted her fingers around each other.  "I think...I think I have to find someone who can teach me, not just to be useful but because if I don't, I'm going to get people hurt."  She'd not even told Ethan this, but she very much wanted him to like her and that made it hard to say some things.  Taliya was kind of mean, but not a bad person, and in a way she was easier to talk to.  "It's my fault Daddy was hurt.  I always tried not to see things, but I couldn't always control it.  ...Trying deliberately has helped me get better a little, but...now and then, the really strong ones, I'll say things without meaning to.  I did that back home and they were already upset and trying to kick Daddy out, and it just made everything so much worse."  The memory hurt, but it was a better hurt than trying to keep it to herself, like draining an infected injury so it could heal.  "I need a teacher.  I don't want something like that happening again."

She flinched a little when prodded, but nodded solemnly at the woman's words.  "You said not to bother the townspeople though, so...do you mean in the compound?  I'm going to have to leave soon, but...it's nice here.  Maybe when I find my parents we can come back.  Do you have room for another healer?  And Daddy's a good cook, or I'm sure there's something he can do here.  ...I think I'd like that.  A town of mages...we wouldn't have to worry about the Church or anything here."    "...I'm sorry I called you a meanie.  I mean...you are kinda mean, but you're not bad.  Just...rough, I guess."  She gave Taliya a hopeful smile.  "But you listened, and I'm glad you did.  So thanks.  ...I should go now."  Her brow furrowed.  "Norman will have Cecil waking up soon I bet and he's gonna be scared.  I know I would be.  Bye!"

With that, the girl hurried out the door and back to the machine shop.  She was still tired, but she had to be there for Cecil because she knew how awful it was to be all alone.  By the time she made it back she was all but dragging her feet.  "Sorry I ran off, Mr. Norman."  She hoped he wouldn't ask why she'd left in such a rush, or about how upset she'd been.  The thought fled when she realized the Machina's eyes were open.  "Cecil!  You're awake!"  She almost dashed forward to give him a hug, but remembered not to just in time thanks to having that drilled into her by her mother.  You didn't hug someone when a healer was seeing them, no matter how happy you were that they were going to be alright.  Not without asking.

"Mr. Norman I know you're helping him but is he well enough for me to give him a hug /please/ I was really worried I mean it looked like he died -- I thought he had and I just -- I really want to give him a hug so can I please?"  Amuné had clasped her hands together to keep from touching, but the words came out all in a single run-on sentence with hardly a pause for breath, and the girl was leaning forward a bit as if straining.   " ...Can I, Cecil?  You don't mind do you?"[/color]