Oh, darling. 

We have not reached the star yet.

We have

[i]drip[/i]

just about

[i]drip[/i]

Reached the first

[i]drip[/i]

[b]circle.[/b]

Heat. Iron. Pressure. The base of your spine, just above your tail. A screech of tearing guitar through the crystal focus in your ears. A [i]branding iron[/i] presses down into the circle. One. Two. Three.

Release.

The beat cycles for a moment. A moment of breath. A whisper of soft breath on your skin, eyes close enough to feel, checking for damage, ensuring that the healing is taking properly. Listening for a sign that this is too much.