[ As soon as Set flinches, she pulls her hand away, but it’s not quick enough to avoid the swing of his claws. Maybe intentionally. The fabric catches and tears as she breathes out a startled little oh, but it’s naturally nothing she’s so concerned about as Set himself. Even if his claws had found her, that would be true.

She doesn’t respond right away. She both listens to his words and looks at him, trying to catch his gaze, but… She sees how his gaze is elsewhere, not to her. His question doesn’t feel like it’s directed towards her either. She places her hand on the seat in the space between them, simply there if he wants it, but she doesn’t move closer again now that he’d responded so sharply. ]

I’m here, Set. Quetzalcoatl— Tu amiga, your friend.

[ Her voice is firmer, not quite as soft, like she can use it as a cudgel to break through— Well, she doesn’t know what. But whatever Set is experiencing is deeply painful to him. Every time they’ve spoken or just exchanged blows in the Coliseum in lieu of words, he’s been all confidence to the point of (foolhardy) arrogance. Even when she had first scolded him and he had snapped and given her a little guess that he too had shadows he was fighting off… It was nothing like this. Whatever this is, she wants to beat it back for him. So, she just keeps speaking. ]

Just focus on me if you can, okay? I’m here with you, and I’ll stay with you.