Indigo (NaNoWriMo13)

Chapter 41 - Marking of Fate

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Chapter 41 - Marking of Fate 

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When Talon came back into view, Athira almost broke down in relief. 

She held her wrist out to him, hoping he'd understand how much she needed him with her to soothe the colour rampaging through her insides. Her organs felt liquidised, blood evaporated inside and pressing against her skin, begging for release. 

Talon, she tried, unsure if he could even hear her. 

The raven's head cocked towards her. A double wing beat pulled him higher, the third dove his colour-formed body towards her, aiming straight for her chest. 

His beak made contact. Athira embraced him. Her fingers touched the silky feathers as her body re-absorbed the colour container of his consciousness. Like someone had dipped her in liquid nitrogen, Talon's presence solidified her, grounded her mind to her body. He acted as a filter, holding back the tides of colour so she could think. 

She was vaguely aware of movement behind where Talon had come from, Raph and Kione having followed him into the room. With Talon back in her mindscape, she cared little for anything else. 

How'd you cope, Thira? he asked. Athira could feel him settling down inside her mind, even as it was readjusting to him. You're like my nest. Your mindscape's all warm and... what the hell happened in here? 

Rathe was a little loose when you left, she said. The fire of colour hadn't gone, but it was boiled water compared to magma. Manageable. The colour... when you're gone, Tal, it's bad. 

Talon paused. So kind of like a situation where the males of Indigo would be in a room with one of their more recently apprehended criminals? Say... Reader?

Athira's attention clicked back into the physical. Reader was looking at her curiously, like he could solve all the world's problems if he could just read her mindscape again. 

You let him read your mindscape? said Talon, sounding rather offended by the idea. Thira, why--

"A personal spirit animal," said Reader slowly. "It would explain a fair bit, namely how your colour has survived this long... although I imagine the colour as a whole will still require an animal stabilise it completely. In this state, your bird wouldn't be able to stay away long, nor control the colour as a spirit animal should. Still, it's interesting. Very, very interesting."

As he spoke, Athira caught Shift edging towards where Raph and Kione stood in the doorway. The new arrivals still wore the same colour suits they'd been abducted in and showed no signs of the cuffs Shift and her had been subjected to.

What's he on about? asked Talon. Spirit animal?

Explain in a second. "Glad you're impressed," said Athira. "My life suddenly feels complete."

Reader raised an eye but otherwise didn't react to her comment. "May I speak with the bird? A raven, if I'm correct?" 

Tal? Athira asked, holding Reader's gaze. 

Talon considered it. I want to see what he has to say.

Athira held out her hand to Reader, this time without the clothes grabbing. "Only speak with him. Go anywhere you shouldn't and he'll know."

He took the offered hand and smirked in a way that almost made her pull it back. "I've already seen everything I need to, my dear. A willing participant allows much deeper access than those unsuspecting."