My Brain Is Fine|Sensatiamens, Sensatia

[Kender Bard]

Crentha carried Summer in her arms as she reluctantly made her way to the Healatorium from the boarding house she was staying in. Talon had been reluctant to leave her anywhere but he figured if he had to pick a place, somewhere with many other children was likely the best decision. It didn't matter to Crentha. She didn't talk to anyone there anyway.

Stepping into the Healatorium, she waited silently until someone saw her and asked how she could be helped.

"Healer Talia," she murmured. The lady told her where to go--down a hall to a specific door. Setting Summer down, she headed to the room assigned.

[Northen Light36]

Summer trotted along at Crentha's heels. ~It'll be all right,~ he whispered into her mind. ~We'll get this over with and then we'll find something more pleasent to do. And I'll be with you the whole time.~

Healer Talia smiled at Crenthia as the girl entered. "Hello, you must be Crenthia, correct? And who's your friend there?" Her voice was gentle, warm and caring, as was her expression.

[Kender Bard]

"That's Summer," Crentha said. "He's my best friend. He goes wherever I go." The last bit had a little emphasis in case Talia had thought of suggesting she put the cat elsewhere. "And yes, I'm Crentha. Are you Talia?"

[Northen Light36]

"Yes, I'm Talia," Talia replied, still smiling. "It's very nice to meet you, Crentha. And Summer too. Why don't you have a seat, Crentha? Tell me a little about yourself. How long have you had Summer?"

As she spoke, Talia began taking notes on a piece of parchment.

[Kender Bard]

Crentha didn't return her smile. She didn't want to be here--there was nothing wrong, after all. And she certainly didn't feel like talking. About herself least of all.

She took a seat and patted her lap for Summer to jump up onto. "A couple years," she answered. How long do you think she's going to make us do this? Crentha thought at Summer.

[Northen Light36]

~Probably a while. Just answer her questions and play along,~ Summer replied, leaping up onto Crentha's lap. ~What would you like to do when we leave here?~

"Really? Was he a present then? From your father, or maybe your mother?" As Talia questioned Crentha, she reached out to gently probe Crentha's mind.

Instantly, Summer began growling quietly.

[Kender Bard]

Crentha grew tense as well, not because she felt the intrusion, but at the mention of her mother. Mother did so much, gave so much, so much, and I killed her in repayment!

But even her mental outburst did not last long and she gave no indication of her turmoil except for lowering her voice to only a little above a whisper. "No, my parents did not give him to me as a gift. My aunt did, sort of."

[Northen Light36]

Talia resisted a frown and continued her gentle probing. "Your aunt did, did she? Well that was nice of her. Why don't you tell me about your aunt? Do you see her a lot? What's her name? Do you have any cousins?"

She wanted to move the topic away from the child's mother a bit. Pushing the girl on the first session wasn't wise.

[Kender Bard]

Crentha was still on guard, but she relaxed a touch more once the focus was off of Alethia. She stroked Summer's fur to further calm herself. I... When we leave, I-I want... But there wasn't much for her to say because she hadn't thought that far in a long time. I don't know. I'm sorry, Summer.

"My aunt's name is Acqua," Crentha said quietly. "I have a whole bunch of cousins. Bas, Pas, Aries, Letha, and Robin. And a baby, but I don't know what it's called. They all live in Maelstrom. I don't see them that much anymore. Not when I was little and they lived closer."

[Northen Light36]

"My, that's a lot of cousins! How old are they?" Talia asked, reaching out with her empathy to try and help Crentha relax. "Do you miss them a lot since they moved or do you have other friends who you play with?"

[Kender Bard]

Crentha's eyes half-closed as she felt some of her tension beginning to flow away. She didn't even think that it might be Talia who was doing it to her. "I... Well... Bas and Pas and Aries are closer to my age. Robin and Letha are the little twins. And yes, I miss them. Bas especially--she's so kind. But Talen'sul has many, many children. I used to play with them. And my brothers."

[Northen Light36]

Seeing that Talia's interfearance was currently helping Crentha feel better, Summer decided not to clue Crentha into the situation and even settled down a little himself - enough to pay some attention to the growing mental tug he could feel. He purred softly as he realised what it meant - one of his siblings was somewhere reasonably near.

Hmm, Bas might be a good topic for today. Get her comfortable talking about someone she likes, with no bad memories connected, Talia decided. "Sounds like Bas is your favourite cousin. Would you like to tell me more about her? If you two are about the same age, I bet you were very close before she moved."

[Kender Bard]

"I don't have any sisters," Crentha admitted. "So Bas is the closest I have to one. And because she is my age and Spice is older, it means that she likes to play some of the games that Spice won't. S-so yes, we were... Close." She lowered her gaze to the floor, a flash of shame flaring up--but very small compared to the kind she usually felt. "I was kind of rude to her, the last time I saw her. I hope she forgives me."

[Northen Light36]

"You know, I've always thought that family make the best friends," Talia remarked. "Family members will forgive anything as long as you're willing to appologise." She smiled at Crentha. "I'm sure there's been times when you've been angry with your brothers, but have later forgiven them, correct?"

[Kender Bard]

Crentha wasn't stupid. She was quiet but she considered herself more clever than people probably gave her credit for--she knew that Talia was insinuating something about her mother. That was what she was here for, after all.

I need the Forces to forgive me, she thought to herself darkly. Mother can't anymore. It doesn't matter if she would or wouldn't. I made it so she couldn't say either way.

She swallowed hard and shoved those thoughts violently away. She's a Mind, I wonder if she can hear that. "I've gotten mad at them, yes. Over... Small and stupid things when I think about it. Like hiding a doll."