Night 58: Greenhouse Yard

[roseoverture]

[From here]The three were mostly silent as they kept moving, which suited Utena fine for now. Maybe she would've preferred to talk with her new companions on any other occasion, but for right now, the most important thing to them was speed. The less distraction they had going on, the faster they could get through the building and out to the forest

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[yin_yang_fox]

Moving through the halls became simple enough, but reaching the greenhouse provided another issue altogether. She knew, abstractly, but hadn't considered the aspect. A wall to be climbed provided no problem naturally. Renamon was a creature of heights and agility, and climbing a wall was near to nothing. Near to nothing, but for a minor issue.

She stopped some distance from the wall and watched Utena and Tear approach it. There really wasn't getting around it. They needed to move forward, but doing so would open any healing that was done on the hole in her stomach instantly. She knew this, and yet....

There was a beat of swallowed pride, and then she skirted her eyes in Tear's direction. A medic, at least, might know.... "Tear. Do you know of any way to climb that won't..." Cause entrails to slip from her stomach. "Aggravate things?"

[melodists]

They met with empty corridors and ended in chilly air, and Tear refused to let up her caution. They had not even begun the extensive portion of their trip; it would be a mistake to be careless. She scanned for potential dangers before walking up to Utena's side. "Let me," she said, folding her hands together for the upcoming boost.

It was here that Renamon voiced a question, one significant enough to give the Melodist pause. With a stomach injury, it would be extremely difficult for the woman to climb the wall unscathed. This would require some sufficient precautions. "Hm." She momentarily released her hands to place them on her hips, her face stuck in contemplation.

There wouldn't be a choice here. The girl knew without going so far. "I have a fonic hymn that may help close up the wound and provide some protection," she said, sighing a bit. "We can then both help you up the wall. Would that be fine?"

[roseoverture]

It took Utena a moment to realize she wasn't being helped right away, and another to realize why. "Aggravate things"...?

Her eyes widened when Tear mentioned a wound, and suddenly it became clear why Renamon had seemed favour the back of the group a bit as they'd moved through the halls. It shouldn't have surprised her that the blonde was hurt again, considering the state she'd been in the first time they'd met, but Utena felt no less distressed. "Why didn't you say something?" she asked, turning away from the wall. "If you'd told me you were hurt, I would've slowed down a bit for you!"

Why couldn't people just take care of themselves in this place, Utena wondered in frustration. Didn't they know they could die or disappear and let everything be for naught?

[yin_yang_fox]

The girl considered and Renamon waited her judgment. It came soon, but seemingly at a price. The girl's ability could be used but would it weaken her as it did others? There was no point to Renamon being treated to an extent if it hindered another. She moved to say so, but Utena broke in, and Renamon half felt like wincing. Last time, too, with this girl.... It was as if Renamon was trying to show her own uselessly.

Uncharacteristically she averted her eyes, not maintaining eye contact with the youngest girl. "I'd rather not be a hindrance," she said quietly. "And speed is necessary for this task." If they were to gain access to the man before daylight.

The Digimon chanced a glance back at the medic. "...Will it weaken you for the night? Things as such... Seem to normally do." For those she had otherwise associated with. "If it doesn't, I would ask you to. If it does, I would rather go without. I'll find a way."

[melodists]

In truth, Tear understood Renamon's mindset. As aggravating as it might be to have another withhold the severity of their condition until the last minute, she knew the difficulty involved in admitting a weakness. Furthermore, the young woman appeared more than willing to work with the situation as opposed to, say, griping about it. Therefore, instead of adding to Utena's chastisement, the soldier focused on the question presented.

"It will result in dizzy spells," she admitted, "but as long as I keep to one hymn, I should be fine." The only fonic hymn in her repertoire, sadly, but this detail wasn't relevant to the current conversation. "Alright, let's begin. If you will stand back, Utena..." Tear stepped to face Renamon, her hand slipping to her heart as she formed words and tunes well-known.

"O magnificent song of angels. Va Rei Zue Toue Neu Toue Ryuo Toue Kuroa.A violet light formed at the base of her feet, etched in patterns around her. To burst into bright magenta as it spread across the field. Unlike before, only one was

[roseoverture]

"You'd be a lot bigger hindrance if you suddenly fell over and died because you pushed yourself too hard," Utena half-snapped back, but before she could say much else, Tear did the smart thing and simply set about doing whatever it was she was going to do for Renamon.

Which, apparently, was some kind of magic. Utena took a step back and watched in minor awe. Even after watching Himemiya draw the Sword of Dios from her chest countless times, or seeing other benevolent magic performed by people like Skuld or Yamada, things like this never failed to catch Utena's breath in her chest for a moment. A leftover reverence of things that were only supposed to exist in fairy tales, perhaps. Whatever it was, it kept Utena's attention; her eyes followed the violet light as it spread under Renamon, her ears filled with Tear's heavenly-sounding song.

When all was said and done, Utena could only utter a soft "Whoa..." as she waited to see if Renamon felt any better.

[yin_yang_fox]

The Digimon only blinked at the youngest girl's outburst. It was a possibly, perhaps, but a low one. Renamon had enough faith in her survival; it was only, now and always, simply a question of her competency. Of whether she was good enough, strong enough. Even now, even still

[melodists]

It took no time for the nausea to sink in, waves threatening to overtake balance. Tear managed to stand ground, however, only faltering long enough to plant a hand to her forehead. Preparation, cold air, and physical stability seemed to have lessen the damaged incurred. Furthermore, Renamon appeared less labored. Healthier where it counted. The soldier was satisfied, knowing this was the best of possibilities.

Of course, this also meant she would have to leave her artes behind for the night. Still, the loss was worth what was coming. They were facing hours of travel before them. Tear could make do with dizzy spells, but Renamon likely could not last with a stomach injury.

She smiled wanly at the thanks. "It was no problem." It really wasn't. Already, Tear had mostly recovered. She turned to Utena, motioning to the wall. "Shall we?"

[Eryn, feel free to move them forward in your next post!]

[roseoverture]

Utena breathed a big sigh of relief as she watched Renamon check herself over. Whatever Tear had done had worked, thank goodness. Utena knew that what she had said about death wasn't something that Renamon had been close to with this, but it was the principle of the thing that mattered to her. Just because the other girl hadn't been mortally wounded this time, that didn't mean she wouldn't be some other time - or heck, that something else bad wouldn't have come out of a smaller wound left untreated.

Hoping that Renamon would at least get the message for next time (maybe), Utena returned her focus to the task ahead of them. She nodded at Tear and gestured for Renamon to follow them over to it. "Sure thing."

With two of them helping Renamon up, the blonde went over the wall easily. Utena went next with a boost from Tear, and helped in turn to pull the brunette up with her. In what seemed like no time, the three were all on the ground and making for the forest.

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