Lil laid still with her eyes closed for such a long time, it took all her patience to pretend to be sleeping. Occasionally she peeked open one eye, ever so slightly, to spy on the Priestess who paced back and forth restlessly in the run- down building covered in moss. Just as Lil was about to give in to her own exhaustion, "the tree lady," settled in next to her whispering in a soft lilting tone, “Khee-Oh-see-ah, watch over Lil and keep us both safe through this night." Siteya rested a hand on the Nolthrirs back and closed her eyes to sleep. Lil’s heart began to race with excitement, she lie there waiting, her eyes adjusting to the darkness, as she watched the Dermorian next to her. After some time the woman’s breath got heavy and Lil knew she must act.
She began quietly rummaging through Siteya’s pack, finding a few small emptied bottles, that used to hold “Lil’s medicine.” She went to shove them in her coat pocket as one fell to the hard stone and rolled, it made a clanking sound. Lil froze and watched the tree lady. Siteya’s breathing became more shallow, as she stirred and shifted her position. Lil waited again until the woman settled back into a deeper sleep. She began digging in the bag and pulling the contents out, one item at a time, each item she yanked out made her grow with irritation. She found bread, cheese, cured meat, bottles full of liquids, cloth wrapped up tightly, everything except a sharp weapon. She knew she had seen the women cutting some herbs with a dagger and so slowly reached out to search the sleeping woman’s body. She slipped her hand into the right pocket of Siteya's coat and a wide grin spread across her face, as she felt the cold metal. Lil carefully pulled the athame from the hidden space, so very careful not to awaken Siteya She raised up to a squatting position, over the Dermorian, blade held in hand. She gently grabbed the Dermorian's left hand and held it in her own. As she went to make the cut, she stopped suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes, and she rubbed them away with the back of her hand that held the blade. She became angry at her weakness, her lips curling downward in a defiant frown, she quickly sliced the flesh. Siteya’s eyes opened wide as she yelled out in pain, recoiling her hand in fear and utter confusion, startling Lil momentarily. The Nolthrir quickly grabbed the Priestesses hand again and made a second gash, blood flowed more freely. They locked eyes with one another, in a long drawn out painfully bonding moment. Siteya’s body trembled with terror. Lil broke away from Siteya’s gaze, her own hand now covered in the Priestesses blood, and jumped towards the opening in the stone slab they used as their shelter. She quickly crouched down and swirled the Priestesses blood on the floor beneath her yelling out the into the night air, “Tutos! Tutos! Tutos!” She held her breath momentarily in expectation, but nothing happened. She screamed out mortified, lunging to grab her doll just a few feet away. She ran off sobbing into the night.
