Draining The Reserve

The empathy felt for the Skara, didn't last long as Islana could feel her mind being violated. Memories absorbed into the hive mind that she didn't freely give. There was no control, on the part of the young witch, and when the connection finally broke, it was also out of her hands.

Her eyes caught sight of Madaya. The girl hadn't run off. She should have but instead was trying to get the redhead up.

This Pilgrimage had tested Islana, made her find inner strength, like nothing she had experienced before. However, as good as the young woman had become at finding inner strength for herself, if it involved helping someone else, that strength was more. If that someone else happened to be a child, Islana would drain that reserve completely if necessary.

Madaya wasn't leaving. So, Islana knew she needed to find it in herself to get up.

With everything she had, the huntress pulled her body up to standing. Breathing heavily, in pain and exhausted, Islana stumbled her way forward. Collapsing could happen when they were safe.