It's not the words that reach her. Even straining her clever, pointy ears as hard as she can, Mittens can barely make out the muffled voice floating down the hall. And the words that do slip through get all muddled in the haze of catnip. But even still, they're not wasted. Because Mittens can feel the strain and the panic in that voice, and that makes her try to think. And when she tries to think, she remembers who that voice belongs to. 

It's like turning back into herself. Memories drift into her brain and stay there, old ones and very fresh ones, all clearer than the morning sun. She's not alone. She's not alone. She's not alone! She's... a princess. And, she...

She lifts her paw to stop the brush from coming down on her head again. It's harder than plucking a star from the sky. Harder than lifting Argossa itself by the roots. She looks up at her Mommy with clear eyes, but with no less love for the person they see. 

"Mommy, I," her words get cut off by a thumb pressed against her lips, that pushes so firmly before tenderly brushing her cheek. Her mother smiles at her and shakes her head.

"I need to go. I'm sorry, I... I can't stay anymore. I've got to go. My friends need my help so I--"

She tugs on her arm. She doesn't budge at all. Mommy's gripping her firmly, not letting her move, looking at her with a smile on her face, but eyes that look as hurt as they did on the Sad Day. What is this? When did somebody fill Mittens' heart with knives?

"Don't speak like that, my little kitten," Mommy whispers, "My precious Little Light. There's nothing out there. Stay with me. Stay where it's safe."

"Mom, I... nnf!" Mittens shakes her head. The incense is making it so hard to think like a proper princess, "I don't think this is, is real. We're not really--"

"Please," now Mommy's voice is strained. She's begging. Her eyes are filled with ice pain and it's cutting Mittens to shreds just to look at her, "[i]Please[/i] don't keep speaking. Sit back down, my love, let Mommy take care of you. Don't leave me all alone in here. Not again. Not again. I'm so cold, darling. I need you here. Don't you leave me like all the others. Please."

All at once, Mittens surges up with strength she'd forgotten she had. She can't see the room or even hear the rain through her tears, her sobs. She jumps up, and bonks her forehead softly against her mother's, while reaching up with one arm to hold them together for just one moment longer.

"You're not here! My Mommy's not here! I know because... because I left you in a soft bed in Illumina! You're resting in a dumpy house because the castle is in ruins! And, and, and you're sick, ok? You're very sick! I need to go! I need to go so I can make you better and I can't do it if I stay here any longer! I love you! I love you so, so much and that's... that's why I've got to go, ok?"

She wipes her tears away on her sleeve, and in so doing remembers she has sleeves. She remembers she's wearing a suit. It helps her stand on two legs. Her ears press miserably flat against her skull and she turns and runs as hard as she can before she has a chance to regret it. And every step hurts. It feels like she'd fallen apart and she has to remember how she fits together all over again. Every instant is painful and even as she reaches out to open the door and step back into the hallway, her heart and head are screaming at her to run back and just stay with Mommy, just a little bit longer. 

But she opens it and stumbles through. Toward the voice she heard. Kazelia's voice. Because that pain she heard was real. She's coming, ok? Hold on!

[Overcome: [b]9[/b]. Damaging Blood as the price to make it last]