Okay, so. It turns out being near such a large discharge of ether sucks, actually. Like a lot. So that's no fun. Anna thinks it might have been somewhat better had Malos not reflexively thrown up a sheild to protect them, but he had, and, well. Aegis ether is Aegis ether, regardless of which Aegis it's coming from, and even if this discharge had not been a blast aimed to hurt, the mere act of that much strength kissing Malos' shield is enough to send him spiralling into sharp panic and overwhelming dread. Anna's so busy choking on it that it takes her some time to even catch up to Kratos, and by the time she has--
Mithos is gone. It's just Kratos, holding a dormant core crystal.
"He'll be fine," Kratos says, and it's kind of like the words go through a kind of filter first, distorted. Anna bites her tongue to see if that helps her see through Malos' panic. Sort of. "Aegises remember, so. He'll just need some time."
"Ah," Anna says, and nothing else.
Kratos looks up at her, then, really meets her eyes. She has trouble holding the gaze. She's-- okay. Malos isn't, though, and it's definitely affecting her. Anna swallows. Kratos' eyes move away form her, considering the rest of their companions. Anna doesn't even have the energy to look, but the decision Kratos makes doesn't take too long, doesn't appear to need her input.
"We should set up camp, so we can rest," he says, getting to his feet, then holds a hand out to Anna. Anna blinks, a little surprised, but he wouldn't offer if he didn't mean it. She takes it, somewhat relieved. It's a welcome anchor.
Kratos hesitates, sending a weighty glance to one of the few not-incinerated corpses that litter the ground around them. "...not here, though. A little further out, if we can manage."
Anna nods numbly, and lets him lead her along, any other input from anyone else a blur in her ears. It's difficult to think about anything other than Malos' panic and Kratos' hand in hers, so she doesn't.
camp segue bitches
Mithos is gone. It's just Kratos, holding a dormant core crystal.
"He'll be fine," Kratos says, and it's kind of like the words go through a kind of filter first, distorted. Anna bites her tongue to see if that helps her see through Malos' panic. Sort of. "Aegises remember, so. He'll just need some time."
"Ah," Anna says, and nothing else.
Kratos looks up at her, then, really meets her eyes. She has trouble holding the gaze. She's-- okay. Malos isn't, though, and it's definitely affecting her. Anna swallows. Kratos' eyes move away form her, considering the rest of their companions. Anna doesn't even have the energy to look, but the decision Kratos makes doesn't take too long, doesn't appear to need her input.
"We should set up camp, so we can rest," he says, getting to his feet, then holds a hand out to Anna. Anna blinks, a little surprised, but he wouldn't offer if he didn't mean it. She takes it, somewhat relieved. It's a welcome anchor.
Kratos hesitates, sending a weighty glance to one of the few not-incinerated corpses that litter the ground around them. "...not here, though. A little further out, if we can manage."
Anna nods numbly, and lets him lead her along, any other input from anyone else a blur in her ears. It's difficult to think about anything other than Malos' panic and Kratos' hand in hers, so she doesn't.