[ Zelda doesn't hear Somnus's approach (which would probably be the norm even if she wasn't distraught), but that familiar greeting immediately sparks recognition in her frantic mind.
She jerks her head up at the same time that he drapes the chlamys over her shoulders, flinching just slightly at the suddenness of its weight upon her. It's not heavy, but it's solid, steadying, something palpable to ground her against the fear and anguish and adrenaline racing through her all at once. It's not just her failure to swallow the stone and return to Hyrule, but the onslaught of memories that have been buried in her mind for well over sixty years. It's all rushing to the surface at once and overwhelming the young woman who has once again lost everyone she loves and once again stands on the precipice of the ultimate sacrifice.
A familiar figure crouches down beside her and places a hand on her shoulder, the coldness radiating from his touch mitigated by the fabric of the chlamys. A name doesn't surface immediately, but recognition is clear in her gaze. And with it, the innate certainty that she is safe in this stranger's presence.
As instructed, she tries to focus solely on her breathing for a minute, drawing in slow deep breaths and then exhaling them. ]
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She jerks her head up at the same time that he drapes the chlamys over her shoulders, flinching just slightly at the suddenness of its weight upon her. It's not heavy, but it's solid, steadying, something palpable to ground her against the fear and anguish and adrenaline racing through her all at once. It's not just her failure to swallow the stone and return to Hyrule, but the onslaught of memories that have been buried in her mind for well over sixty years. It's all rushing to the surface at once and overwhelming the young woman who has once again lost everyone she loves and once again stands on the precipice of the ultimate sacrifice.
A familiar figure crouches down beside her and places a hand on her shoulder, the coldness radiating from his touch mitigated by the fabric of the chlamys. A name doesn't surface immediately, but recognition is clear in her gaze. And with it, the innate certainty that she is safe in this stranger's presence.
As instructed, she tries to focus solely on her breathing for a minute, drawing in slow deep breaths and then exhaling them. ]