Kneeling next to Athyn, Ina clasped the Femage's hands, prying away her fingers from her arms. Ina's grip was sticky with the blood Athyn had drawn from digging her nails into her skin. Ina's ears were still ringing from Athyn's first screams. But they were faint now, coming in short squeals. Ina only hoped her throat wasn't completely torn.
The Femage stopped thrashing suddenly. Slowly, Ina loosened her grip on Athyn, but she started quaking. Ina tried to restrain her again, but realized Athyn had woken up and was sobbing.
"That's what you did to them," Ina whispered in Athyn's ear. "That's what taking their soul did to them."
Athyn held Ina's arms tight around her and curled up. She could cry. Her body could feel her emotions, and she meant to cry as much as she could now.