[Of everything emanating from Joshua, it's the surge of aether that wakes Jill up. Like steam it rises from him, filling the room and filtering into her lungs and throughout her body with the full force of adrenaline. Shiva stirs, too, just a tickle of a chill at the edge of Jill's nerves – a warning against what still feels like a threat whilst her sleep-clouded mind clings to the instinct and impulse to survive.
Then, she feels the heat; she sees the light of flames and hears those small, gasping cries, all coming from a single source, and she's filled with a different kind of dread.
Adrenaline still guides her as her mind roils with a chaotic melding of confusion with concern. She damned near flings herself out of bed, tripping over her sheets and hitting the ground with a thud, with a curse. The shock sets her mind right, though, and as she pushes herself to her feet she's better positioned to take in the whole scene before her.
No danger. No threat. Just a man whose heart set itself so ablaze while he slept that the resulting smoke of a nightmare choked out everything but whatever terror had gripped him as he slept unawares.
Jill moves with the same speed but greater urgency. The heat is intense but not oppressive – she's experienced worse in Beinn Leodladh – so she pushes right through it to sit on the edge of Joshua's bed. With one hand kept at the ready just in case she startles him into lashing out, Jill places her other hand on his shoulder and gives it a gentle shake.]
You're all right, Joshua. We're still at Martha's Rest. But I need you to wake up, do you understand?
[She speaks softly, her voice barely rising above that of a whisper so as to hide the fear within. The balance she's trying to strike is precarious in ways that mingle with the heat to make her feel queasy. All she can do is maintain an absolute focus on him, searching for any signs of his mind guiding him towards respite or further into ruin. All the while, she mentally prepares herself to shift, too, should the Phoenix prove to be more in control than his Dominant.]
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Then, she feels the heat; she sees the light of flames and hears those small, gasping cries, all coming from a single source, and she's filled with a different kind of dread.
Adrenaline still guides her as her mind roils with a chaotic melding of confusion with concern. She damned near flings herself out of bed, tripping over her sheets and hitting the ground with a thud, with a curse. The shock sets her mind right, though, and as she pushes herself to her feet she's better positioned to take in the whole scene before her.
No danger. No threat. Just a man whose heart set itself so ablaze while he slept that the resulting smoke of a nightmare choked out everything but whatever terror had gripped him as he slept unawares.
Jill moves with the same speed but greater urgency. The heat is intense but not oppressive – she's experienced worse in Beinn Leodladh – so she pushes right through it to sit on the edge of Joshua's bed. With one hand kept at the ready just in case she startles him into lashing out, Jill places her other hand on his shoulder and gives it a gentle shake.]
You're all right, Joshua. We're still at Martha's Rest. But I need you to wake up, do you understand?
[She speaks softly, her voice barely rising above that of a whisper so as to hide the fear within. The balance she's trying to strike is precarious in ways that mingle with the heat to make her feel queasy. All she can do is maintain an absolute focus on him, searching for any signs of his mind guiding him towards respite or further into ruin. All the while, she mentally prepares herself to shift, too, should the Phoenix prove to be more in control than his Dominant.]