Redsand Canyon You're just like an angel

She felt him nuzzle at her neck and it brought a soft content hum, comfort wrapping around her like a hug. It was peaceful. She couldn’t imagine how hard it was for him to hear these details, and it meant the world that he was willing to listen to them… she just hoped he didn’t blame himself in the process. It was not his fault, she knew that. Everyone knew that. No one could have predicted any of the events that had happened over the past week.
 
Her voice grew softer the more she spoke, an act of retreating into herself as he wrapped around her. She saw the restraint in him, avoiding disturbing either of their injuries. They were quite the pair at the moment, though at the moment she was far better off than he was. He assured her that she had been safe, and brave… she didn’t feel very brave. “I know… after it all happened, Germanicus came and assured me I didn’t have to do this alone, that Mereo would not hesitate to protect me and deal with him in the process.” She had been assured, and she felt safe. It was a strange feeling still.
 
“And I already knew that, deep down… I knew I was safe here, and I think it was why I allowed myself to be comfortable with the idea of staying at first… knowing he could find me if I remained in one place for too long.” And then she’d developed her own selfish reasons for wanting to stay: Kallik, helping the Matrona, gossiping with Towhee, learning from Germanicus, exchanging stories with Tamar, training Malila… somehow they had become her family without her ever realizing it.