Zhira turned, in time to see Vesta stretching out slowly from the blankets. She trotted back to her friend with a wince. As she sat up, Vesta pulled the blanket over her shoulders and clasped it around her neck. Her grey hood fell back from her face. The morning light exposed her more unkindly than the fire had done the night before. A swollen blemish spread like angry violet flowers from temple to jaw down the left side of her face. Blood had dried beneath her nose and ringed it on the inside. Her eyebrow had split and healed and split again, so a clear pus oozed from it. Stains ran down both cheeks, tears over the grime. Her right cheek was a starburst of green and yellow.
The shock of her appearance was enough to halt Zhira in her steps and Vesta looked down, fumbling to pull her hood
