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]

"I believe I mentioned people don't usually talk about one of your pastimes. They also don't tend to want witnesses."

[growcrooked]

"Oh, that," says Nona. "I don't mind if you watch that."

[mute_pen]

"...Oh."

[growcrooked]

She shrugs.

[mute_pen]

"...Why not?"

[growcrooked]

"I don't know, why would I?"

[mute_pen]

"It's - private. Usually."

[growcrooked]

"Well, I guess I don't care about that."

[mute_pen]

"...Okay."

[growcrooked]

"Why, do you want to watch?"

[mute_pen]

"...No. Not soon, anyway." Etty wraps her arms around her knees and one cold shiver runs through her.

[growcrooked]

"Okay," says Nona.

[mute_pen]

"...Flying is nice," she volunteers after a silence.

[growcrooked]

"Good!" says Nona.

[mute_pen]

"I'd be terribly bored during daylight hours I couldn't spend sleeping otherwise," agrees Etty.

[growcrooked]

"I bet."

[mute_pen]

Etty sighs and sits quietly. It appears to be their unspoken agreement that they don't discuss exactly what the Baron has done to either of them.

[growcrooked]

It appears to be, yes.

Of course, the problem with unspoken agreements is that it's hard to be sure about them.

[mute_pen]

Etty's not going to be the first to volunteer.

She reaches a hand down to the dirt and starts drawing idle shapes.

[growcrooked]

Nona curls up close by.

[mute_pen]

Etty pauses, and thinks, and then reaches out to pet Nona's hair. Gently and quite chastely.

[growcrooked]

She closes her eyes and smiles.

The curse approves.

[mute_pen]

That is good. The curse should approve. Etty goes on with what she's doing.

[growcrooked]

Nona goes on smiling.

[mute_pen]

Etty's arm being tired is the least of her worries. She'll stop if the curse - or Nona - stops approving, or when the operative arm becomes a wing.