summoned

[mute_pen]

Etty is awoken not by her transformation, but by her summons, a few minutes after dark. In her sleep, she drifted to shore; she's lying in human form - arm intact - half in and half out of the water when she feels it.

It's very insistent.

She cannot bring herself to move. She tries - she does; intellectually she knows it's the smart thing to do - but - she can't. Cannot get up and go to him.

Comments

[mute_pen]

"So - next time he takes me - if you think you can - then, you can come in after. He always falls asleep when he's through with me," shivers Etty.

[growcrooked]

Nona hugs her.

"Okay," she says. "If I think I can. I will. And then I won't have to worry about if it'll work with you not there."

[mute_pen]

Etty nods and tucks her head under Nona's chin and sobs once.

[growcrooked]

Nona hugs her.

[mute_pen]

"I'm afraid I'll get used to it. I'm afraid that I won't."

[growcrooked]

"I don't know if you will," says Nona. "I did, a little."

[mute_pen]

"If I do, then, maybe it will be less - immediately unpleasant - but it would feel like giving up," Etty whispers.

[growcrooked]

Nona hugs her.

[mute_pen]

Hugs.