62: Hail

Entry directly added by Thoriane.

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Rose wakes up with a beast-form Mjilikae standing on top of her chest, their eyes wild and claws scrabbling for purchase. A good minute passes before she realizes she's still in her wolf form herself - getting air taking immediate priority, squirming out from under the other creature being her second objective. As Rose skitters across the floor, the Mjilikae doesn't seem fully aware that she's gone, still staring around the room and panting. Rose catches her breath, watching the Mjilikae's eyes.

They aren't glassy.

Whatever was making the Mjilikae sick - if they were sick - isn't affecting this one. This Mjilikae is just plain panicking, glancing around wildly and focusing on nothing. Rose starts to shift back into her human form - wincing as she realizes that her clothes are somewhere underneath the panicked Mjilikae, and quickly pulling a jacket off a nearby chair until she can get to those - and puts her hands up placatingly.

"Hey, can you hear me?" Rose says, stepping closer slowly. "I'm not gonna hurt you, but I think you're kinda lost. Can I help?" The Mjilikae, still panting, slows a bit. Realizing where they are and that a person is talking to them, they shift to a step between their beast and humanoid forms, their muzzle reshaping itself in a way that better suits speaking.

"I don't... my memories, they're all wrong," The Mjilikae says, backing into a corner at the realization that they've broken into a rental in their panic. "My life is mangled pieces."

"It's okay, you can take it slow," Rose keeps her distance, trying to ignore the growing noise outside. There's a draft coming in from her window. It was hot last night, she's sure of that. "I can get you some coffee if you like the stuff."

There's a bang on the door, and a stranger starts speaking.

"Rose? Your, uh, charge told me you were called Rose."

Rose groans, time almost seeming to go in slow motion as the Mjilikae's eyes light up again, teeth flaring into a snarl. Instead of going for the door, they go towards the window, which happens to be right beside her. The stranger continues speaking at the door.

"We've gotta get going, there's a whole lot of chaos, um, like, right now? I don't know if you're awake but I hear something so I really hope you are."

The Mjilikae, bipedal in their half-shifted stance, presses Rose against the window. Their muzzle presses against her ear as a guttural voice burns from deep inside them. "STAY INSIDE. THE CASTLE IS FROZEN OVER."

As the Mjilikae rushes out the window, the stranger's voice stops, and her door begins to break down.

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