Quiet Moments.

Anna grinned up at Adiris, her legs unfolding quickly to bring her standing as she dropped the rag (almost carelessly) into the dish she was given for it. She suged forward, her care and warmth for Adiris fueling her veins, and scooped up the priestess into her arms, exhaling a soft huff as she pulled her inward to situate her comfortably. 

It was now that Anna was aware of the comfort she felt holding the other woman close to her like this. She felt a comfort and a peace with Adiris safe in her arms, held away from all the hurt and pain that her joints surely felt and the guilt she knew the woman carried with her. She took a moment to press her nose briefly into the thin fabric of Adiris' headdress, taking a soft, deep breath. Adiris, while smelling like the Fog, also smelled like (what Anna imagined to be) home. 

"Is okay," she rumbled to Adiris, smiling at broadly as she could at her. "[We will go to my cottage, and I'll warm some water in the cauldron for you. Your legs will know rest. No more weight of the world on them.]" She cast a quick glance at her mask, kicked it to the side, and shifted Adiris in her arms once more before taking her broad, sure steps out of the Temple and to her own home.

Adiris was special. She deserved everything Anna could ever imagine of giving her. More, even. Things outside of Anna's failing imagination.

The walk to her home was a short one (thought surely it was longer for others, people with shorter legs), and the branches, underbrush, and leaves shifted and crunched under her step with a constant familiarity that Bear knew by heart by now.

The words that went unspoken ("I'll do anything you ever ask me to" "Anything you want is only a request away" "I'd take down the moon and the stars for you if you wanted me to") were grave ones, ones that held much more weight to them than the simple requests and offers she gave Adiris now. They were words to be spoken to someone who wanted them, wanted the weight and care they held, accepted everything that came with it (Anna's shortcomings and all).

Once they came into view of the house, Anna cleared her throat (the humming she had taken up one of habit [yet hopefully calming] clearing her chest) and gently, ever so softly, pressed a kiss to the priestesses head. "You okay if me put you in tub, to rest? While me warm water? Me can sit with you, talk while water warm, that sound OK to Adiris?" She thought for a moment. "Me can try warm bath-tub, so no cold for 'Diris to sit in, you want that? Me do that, all need is ask."