Words spilled out of Itxaro's translator as Kareet gently pulled their decidedly-intact limbs from her grasp. The translator formed a coherent sentence, but in her frantic state it took Itxaro several moments longer to fully understand what they meant. When she finally processed what had just happened, she felt a surge of anger, then disbelief, found a brief moment of humor in it, and then finally settled for exhaustion, slumping onto a metal crate that served as a chair. 

Kareet, too, seemed a little confused; at least, confused by Itxaro. [color=fff200] "No, no, I... Nevermind, doesn't matter. I'm just glad you have two working hands again. Claws, I guess,"[/color] Itxaro replied, quietly packing up the medkit and tucking it under the table as if to hide her mistake. [color=fff200]"Next time you decide to chop off your arm for laughs, give a girl a warning, yeah?"[/color]

Kareet further explained that any life mage would be able to heal any similarly grievous injuries on a human, given adequate anatomy lessons. Itxaro's prosthetic reflexively at the thought, as if protesting the idea of being replaced by flesh and blood. The possibility of becoming fully organic again both excited and frightened her, though she wasn't sure why. [i]Steel can be replaced, but muscle and nerves? A bit trickier,[/i] Itxaro considered, and even in her own mind knew it was a weak and fearful excuse. [i]Too bad we didn't bring along a therapist. We'll all probably need one, however this trip ends.[/i]

Kareet expanded her knowledge of life magic, mentioning that Kerchak would be able to turn them into a variety of creatures, if they so desired. Itxaro raised an eyebrow at this. [color=fff200]"Ok, so you turn me into a bird. Then what? I immediately know how to fly? Or do we just fumble around until we figure it out?"[/color] Itxaro asked. She didn't doubt that Kerchak [i]could[/i] do this, but wasn't sure it was the best idea for her or her human comrades. 

Then again, flying could be fun.

Itxaro looked to Vigdis, who, as she guessed, was laughing her ass off. She flashed a vicious scowl at the Venerian engineer, but the grim façade was broken by an embarrassed grin. [color=fff200]"Yeah yeah, keep laughing and I'll have Kareet chop off your head, see if [i]that'll[/i] grow back too,"[/color] Itxaro replied, a little shakily but in decent humor. [color=fff200]"Sorry, by the way,"[/color] she added, a weak apology for her rough handling of Vigdis moments earlier. 

Shirik interjected with some words Itxaro [i]thought[/i] were meant to comfort her, but the image of a mangled man knitting himself back together after being torn in half only made her queasy. Mercifully, his story was cut short by a sharp horn blowing in the distance; judging from what little she knew about the Glenn, she had a feeling more had just arrived, which was confirmed by Shirik before he left the table. 

The air was tight and strained as a stretched skin, and Itxaro could feel it. Her hand checked to see if her holster still contained the revolver. The wheel gun still sat there, secure, which made Itxaro feel a little better. Her eyes sought out the source of the horn. She wished she hadn't. 

Hideous, massive creatures skittered through the marsh on stilt-like legs, nightmarish beasts with riders. Itxaro watched in disgust as the creatures shivered and vomited people, [i]living[/i] people, who then proceeded to climb through the foothills towards them. Itxaro looked to the aliens at the table as she slowly stood up, mentally preparing to greet or shoot the new arrivals, whichever the situation called for. 

[color=fff200]"Friends of yours?"[/color] she asked hopefully, but judging from how the Glenn flocked around them, she seriously doubted it. [color=fff200]"If Nellara hasn't already, she's gonna have a stroke when she sees this. If we make it out alive in the next two hours, it'll be a damn miracle."[/color] Itxaro let out a deep sigh before looking to the others. [color=fff200]"Well, no time like the present. Let's go."[/color]