[color=007236]"Likewise, you may call me Hilde instead of Hildegunde, if that so suits you," [/color] Hildegunde says, [color=007236]"But I have no qualms with using your full name, either."[/color]

The hunter keeps her eye on the scroll, trying to tie which words belonged to who. It was needless focus on her end, however; not only were the other two candid about it, but her own emotions appearing quickly broke said focus.

[b][i][h3]Admiration. Aggravation. Anxiety. [/h3][/i][/b]

Hildegunde bites the inside of her cheek. She does not like that being laid bare. Admiration was fine; she had expressed as much towards Iraleth, and to a lesser degree, Ciara. Aggravation was tolerable; it had been a long day, and it was an easy emotion to brush off with such an excuse. But anxiety...the girl masked that part of her hard, and it might very well come as a shock given her composed demeanour. That she feels as much prey as she does predator. It's a wonderful thing, that this scroll did not go into the minutia of her mental real estate. It would be, frankly, quite upsetting for Ciara and Iraleth to know how much of her mind was occupied with fixing out escape routes.

After a moment, another word appears on the scroll.

[b][i][h3]Embarrassment.[/h3][/i][/b] 

Hildegunde's cheeks burn. 

[color=007236]"That one is there 'cause I don't like my anxiety being made public,"[/color] she mutters quickly. [color=007236]"Nothing to do with these two."[/color]

She sighs, leaning back a bit. The other two had spoken frankly, from the looks of it, but how frankly? And moreover - how honest should she herself be? Her fingernails on her left hand drum  against her right. She decides to address what the others have said before opening up on her own.

[color=007236]"Call it a hunter's hunch, but I think your hopes have a very good chance of coming through. There's little use in playing the long game in a situation like ours, where entry was never guaranteed. Especially when other students were gleefully and openly at each other's throats. This ain't to discredit your intuition or de-legitimize your suspicion, as nothing says it can't be true. Perhaps it's because I'm too trusting or dim witted, but it all seems to be a very elaborate plan for reasons I cannot begin to fathom, especially from someone who took a metaphorical bullet for you."[/color]

Then, more quietly; [color=007236]"For all you know, I am a much bigger danger to both of you than Ciara is to us. Who's to say my eyes are on your side? I certainly took no such risks for either of you."[/color]

More drumming. Hildegunde sighs, her fingers going still. 

[color=007236]"My admiration for these two in the brief time I have known them is not to be understated. And in my admiration, there is a sense of safety. While I don't necessarily trust them as people, I do as fellow warriors. And as your scroll so frankly made clear, I am not nearly as collected and calm as I appear."[/color]

There's a small pause as Hildegunde struggles to decide how much to spill.

[color=007236]"My ethos is not something I always have full control over, and it is the main reason I wished to enroll here. I do not use it lightly; I learned that lesson the hard way. And yet, it is hard not to feel its urge when you are a hunter with the mind of prey, especially when today has been been, to put it lightly, just a tad bothersome. I am on edge and I am annoyed. I think it would be safer for [i]everyone [/i]if I were in the company of people whom I felt I could rely on. Iraleth has already stopped me from feeling the urge to use my ethos once today. Were it not for her interfering, who knows what would've happened with Chloe on the bridge? I didn't know her ethos to be reversible; I may have very well maimed or even killed her in self defense, and this conversation wouldn't be happening."[/color]

That was mortifying to disclose, but given the chaos of today, it doesn't feel nearly as heavy a confession as it should. She gives a small cough, unused to saying so much at once.

[color=007236]"We may not be close friends by any stretch of the word, or teammates with long-honed skills, but after the headache of today and our honest reasoning, I hope we have convinced you to let us stay together all the same."[/color]