07-02-2017, 11:03 PM
***
Mothra led Pinay along a winding path, under fallen, broken trees, past polluted mires overflowing from the debris-choked river, and around drifted dunes of ash until eventually the wasteland gave way to moist, black soil and growing wood. For the first time in days, the sour tang of bygone fires left the elf's nose, replaced by the sweeter scents of a living forest. Shouldering her glaive, she turned to face the healer.
"Thank you," she said. "For all that you've done for me. I hope we meet again."
Her benefactor smiled sadly. "I hope so too. Good luck, Pinay. I wish you a happier future than the one you expect."
The last Oskinder didn't know what to say to that, so she turned, and disappeared into the forest.
Mothra remained in that spot until it could no longer sense the thoughts of the traumatized elf, then turned back towards Harnburg valley and began to float away. It wondered what would become of its patient: Saving her life and seeing to her needs had been the least it could do after failing to arrive in time to save her people, but it was wise enough to know that the kind of help she needed now wasn't help it was qualified to give.
The healer's smile brightened. At least it had been able to point her away from Ghidorah, for the time being. With any luck at all, by the time Pinay felt ready to confront him the problem would already have been solved.