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(XD B e a u t i f u l)
Echo had hit the ground before Germaine could catch her.
"...Owwwww..." Echo mumbled, laying on her back. She had her eyes closed and looked uncomfortable. She didn't move other than to cover her face with her arm.
"EhhhHhhhh..."
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Germaine put out a hand to help her up. "Hey, are you al-"
Then she saw who it was.
She froze in place, as if a ghost was in front of her.
Well, not that she feared ghosts. She'd seen them before too, but the simile stands.
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Echo sat up and stared at Germaine's hand, then up at Germaine.
"U-uhm... uh, hi? You're Germaine, right?"
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Germaine stared dumbfounded while the icy rain fell on her through the tree. She only managed a nearly imperceptible nod.
She wanted to say it. She wanted to say Echo's name warmly.
But something in her heart, in her throat, was quivering with mixed feelings. Her lips barely moved to form the first letter of the goddess's name.
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Echo looked up at the sky, nervous now and feeling rather awkward.
"Uhhhm... it's raining. Rain is nice."
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"...Echo...?"
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Echo tilted her head and then smiled.
"You know my name! I think that's good. That means I wasn't forgotten by you."
She thought for a moment then frowned and mumbled to herself, "But that doesn't help much, does it..."
Seemed like Echo didn't quite read the mood.
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"Oh, Echo," Germaine breathed out, taking both her hands to her chest, "I could never ever, in a million years, forget you!" She smiled with clear tears peeking from the corner of her eyes.
Her heart was melting and burning with warmth despite the cold shrouding Germaine all around.
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Echo saw the tears and immediately started panicking.
"O-oh, uh, please don't cry-"
Echo felt a bit guilty because she had lost almost all of her memories.
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"I can't... I can't help it," she apologized, joy in her voice. "I'm just too happy."
Germaine went to hug Echo.
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"Happy?"
Echo's eyes widen a bit when Germaine did so, but she let Germaine hug her.
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"It's not a dream, right?"
Germaine held Echo tightly.
"I'm not... hallucinating... right...?"
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"I don't think so? It would be strange for us to share a dream, I think, unless if one of us has a cool dream-telepathy power! But I'm pretty sure I got up this morning."
Echo, if Germaine had not noticed already, looks a bit different than last she saw the goddess. Maybe a bit older, and her hair seemed to be more glittery? Strange.
As well, Echo's body feels really cold, like an ice pack.
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Something did feel off to her, and she didn't know if it was Echo's looks or the simple fact that the goddess was there.
But through blurry eyes and overjoyed thoughts, Germaine ignored the feeling. She couldn't let go. It almost felt as though if she did, Echo would fade away like a mirage.
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Echo blinked a few times.
"Uhm... I'm sorry for, uh, dying..."
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Memories of that day popped up in Germaine's mind again.
Oblivion. The cold. Echo fighting back. The pain she took from the goddess in an attempt to help. And then, the void she felt when she sensed Echo's death.
Her eyes burned with fresh tears once again.
"No use apologizing for that," she whispered in one fluid breath.
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Echo didn't say anything, feeling bad for causing Germaine to cry more.
Anger at herself burned but it didn't surface. Instead, Echo hugged back. It felt childish to Echo, but she did so anyway.
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"And... what are you doing out here in all the cold?"
For someone who was crying, Germaine kept her voice surprisingly level even if slightly strained.
Last edited by SpecterTheGreat (November 4, 2020 16:16:46)
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Echo pulled away and answered, "Following you for safety reasons!"
That was a strange answer.
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Germaine's hands were still half-held up from the hug.
"Safety?"
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"Keep you safe!" Echo partly sentenced, nodding. "Because, uhm, well, it's hard to explain."
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She wiped her eyes quickly. "You don't need to."
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"Need to what?"
(Echo you dense child-)
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"You don't need to explain," she said, with the sweetest smile she could gather at the moment.
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"Oh! Okay!"
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"I... really don't think this is the best place in which we can hold a conversation. Wouldn't you prefer somewhere drier?"
Last edited by SpecterTheGreat (November 5, 2020 02:45:50)
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"Probably."
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"You probably also should stay warm," Germaine suggested, disregarding the fact that Echo herself gave off cold.
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"Ah! Okay!" Echo nodded. "Where do I go to?"
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"First, get wrapped up." Germaine handed Echo her own shawl, which was strangely dry.