Dawnlark Plains the pit and the pendulum

The word made no sense, but it showed that something was wrong with Indra. Oh, what had they done to her? She looked like a wreck; destroyed, battered, bruised... What have they done to you? Laurel muttered, her words no more than a whisper beneath her breath, though it could be heard by Indra herself. Should she try to caress and soothe Indra now, in this state, to bring her back to the present? But she did not realise she was Indra. The angered look on her battered face showed how very much she did not realise that she was facing her dear sister. Oh, Indra, to have fallen so far...

Time to release her. But Laurel was not a violent wolf. For all of her bark she did not have much bite. Could she truly..? And to Indra..?

Like a rabid wolf Indra looked at her, bewildered and filled with uncontained rage. It was the only humane thing to do! But how could she!

With pity did Laurel look upon the enraged Indra until finally she said: I will release you. YES, dearest, YES! That's my girl. Let the violence flow. She did not, refused to give in to Iliksis' voice lapping at her insides and calling her to arms. Yet she did give in to the violence, because it was the only way she could rescue Indra. And perhaps, just perhaps, the children in her womb...

Finally Laurel lashed forward with teeth exposed (for she knew Merrick's daughter would never let go willingly, and so it must be taken by force, no matter the cost); clumsy in battle and a lot less attuned to it than Merrick's daughter — than Indra — but in much better health to balance the scales.