Pain and confusion now haunted every single one of Amazon's steps. Moving was almost a chore, despite her desire to see everything in the caves. She had to keep moving, but every step seemed to send her tumbling. Her stomach flipped and her head pounded against her skull. But, no, she had to keep going. She didn't have all the time in the world.

She focused inwards to herself and released her healing magic from the gem - ironic, considering that her gem was the one harming her in the first place. It seeped through her body and she felt a bit of strength flowing through her limbs, but it didn't take away the pain entirely and she knew it wouldn't last long. The longer she used the spell, the less it worked. She needed to remember to use it sparingly from now on.

The sound of a shattering gem wrenched her out of her thoughts. She whipped around and widened her eyes as she watched a young bird bursting from their gem. Images flashed before her eyes. A young pup struggling to get out of their chrysalis. The shatter as they finally tumbled forward. Their strange speech and behavior before they collapsed. The sight of the last breath leaving their body. Their decayed corpse as she gave life to the stone embedded in their brain.

She was frozen to the spot as the pigeon got closer and didn't move, her eyes wide with fear. What could she do? Did she really want to be here for this young one's hatching? After what happened last time? Did she want to go through that again?