[CENTER][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210119/e22bd06ad7c8eb71800663bf01cd8627.png[/img][/CENTER]
[hr]
A bitter prayer formed on Alja's lips as she ran over to the small group by the edge of the ravine, face stinging, out of her mind with worry for Rael. They were incredibly lucky that Seele had been paying attention; otherwise, they could have lost something--someone--[i]very[/i] important. And maybe they might anyway; those careens into the wall of the chasm looked painful. And maybe lethal. And her own Tundra Glass shards seemed to have slashed Rael up a bit, too. A burning guilt began to dig into her stomach. If, somehow, she was at fault for Rael's death--

[i][color=d1fffc]What was she THINKING?[/color][/i]

The thought came out of nowhere, searing through her head. Glacier Chain was replaced firmly on her back, the weapon buff from Seele having long expired on it. Her mouth was pressed into a thin, pale line as Rael lay on the ground, unmoving. No. Rael was just doing what she'd always done. She couldn't be faulted for playing the game like she always had, relying on instinct. Alja still was, and look where that had gotten them--

[i][color=d1fffc]What, so she just FORGOT that this isn't a game anymore? There's no place for risk-taking like that![/color][/i]

Graves made it to Rael before Alja did, and he looked just as worried as she did. That wasn't good. Her heart jumped into her throat as she hammered her way over to them. Rael was doing what she needed to do. The bad needed to die for them to advance. And the sooner they got out of this dungeon and to safety, the better--

[i][color=d1fffc]She should have WAITED for it to land! It could barely fly! It would have had to come back! Oh god oh god Rael--[/color][/i]

Then she saw Rael's head lift, and her knees nearly buckled with relief as she slid to a stop near them, breath heaving. [i][color=d1fffc]She's fine. She's fine.[/color][/i]

Her mouth opened for admonishment. [i][color=d1fffc]You aren't THINKING. You can't take RISKS like that. You should have WAITED. That was STUPID.[/color][/i] But the words caught in her throat as she looked at Rael's injuries, and after a moment, all that came out was: "[color=d1fffc]I'm sorry about your arm.[/color]"

[hr]
Eventually, they managed to gather again, having made it through another encounter, and Alja sighed as she felt the slices in her face disappear. She looked over at Rael, concerned. She was [i]worried[/i]. Incredibly so. Who knows what kind of internal damage she might have sustained from those cracks against the wall? But she forced it out of her mind for the moment, walking up to Kazuki after the healing song. "[color=d1fffc]You might want to take a look at Rael,[/color]" she murmured. "[color=d1fffc]She got knocked around in the chasm by the bat, might have some internal injuries.[/color]"

Then she moved on, walking over to Benkei and listening to the tail end of Kalie's conversation with him. "[color=d1fffc]I'm with Kalie. Pretty much all of my damage abilities are AoE in some way. I'll defer to you--you seem good at this leader thing--but I think I'm better off tankin'. Don't want to risk blowin' up our backline by mistake if enemies get too close, right?[/color]"