What does she mean, probably nobody will die? Demeter? What?

In the back of her mind, she can't help but feel like she's missed something. Forgotten something. Some little mental gear has shaken loose in the past minute--she can hear it tic-tic-tacking across the floor of her mind, skating to hide itself under a cupboard somewhere.

[quote]“Still down here."[/quote]

Alexa whirls around. 'You're not suppose to be here' dies unspoken in her throat, and now it's Redana's turn to receive the confused stare.

Did you know Redana could do that? She shouldn't be surprised, but it still astonishes.

Something about the image is off, insists her brain. She doesn't know what, can't tell. 

But comprehension is swimming around the edges of her minds like a fin around a shipwreck survivor. Any second now, it's going to decide it's had enough of teasing her, and will dart in, mouth agape with razor realizations.

It's not the star at the heart of the image--that's part of it, no doubt.

Comprehension beats its massive tail and goes for the kill.

It's the hair, floating in a halo around the star. She spent months on this planet--endured typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes. Was sandblasted almost to bare stone. She's seen every weather this planet can torment a body with, seen the effects on miserable troops. 

This is new. She sees the leaves floating in reverse, sees the shine on the girl's face.

Alexa would need several things to turn white as a sheet--blood, skin, a complexion not already best described as marble--but she's giving it her best go. The [i]cannon!--[/i]

As if to underscore the realization, the ship grumbles as one of the engines burns hotter.

[quote]"You’ve got—"[/quote]

And she's out here, looking for a quickie! Gah! At least Redana only endangered herself for her stupid whims, not an entire planet!

Hot grief pushes her to her knees in front of the goddess. "Mistress of the hunt. This spear was given me of my mother--it has won many battles, slain countless foes. Stop the hermetics from firing their cannon, and I will burn it as a votive at your shrine."

She doesn't dare look away--or, vexingly, to meet the goddess's eyes. She can't bear the thought of the anger there--but worse, surely, would be pity.