"Aeni. Aeni, you there?"
Verdant eyes opened slowly to the light of day, ears awakened to the sound of the water as it lapped against her sides. The mage lied on her back as she came to, the sting of her wounds saying good morning as she rose to a seated position. She felt ruined, looked ruined. It was hard to grab onto her wayfinder as it hung about her neck, trembling hands taking ahold of it as she spoke hoarsely. "Yeah."
"Good! Good. I thought I'd see you when I came back, but you were ignoring me. I was trying to tell you that I'm back in the city- did you get my gift?" How long was she out here for? There was a pause from Aeni's end as she looked about herself, seeking to pull her pouch onto her lap. It was riddled with sand, drenched in old blood and sea water. Peeling the pockets open to the portal-bag, she reached inside the starry vortex within. Her fingers clasped about things that had come through to her; letters, small boxes, --something cloaked in burlap. Pulling the item from within, she held it across her hands as unsteady fingers freed it from its wrapping. Stars. Beautiful constellations held within her grasp as a dagger of lights lied upon her palms. Her eyes watered with her gratitude, speechless at the beauty in the midst of her current storm.
"You there? I keep asking that, but you're not really answering me lately. I'm worried; where -are- you?"
Aeni swallowed hard, pocketing the dagger as she nodded to herself and spoke in soft reply. "Ghostlands. I had to come this way, and I was about to head back, but I guess I...I guess I passed out." Although she was sore, her injuries had clotted and left blood to dry across her frame. A hand held her weight as she stood to sway, almost falling over once more. "Ghostlands? What in the world are you doing down there anyway?" Paij questioned, continuing after the pause. "-Do you need me to come get you?"
Aeni felt her defeat in her gut, churning about in shame as she began to walk. She didn't want to ask for help. She was stubborn. She was still walking. She was out of energy, out of the ability to wield her magic. Now, she wasn't still walking. She was falling.
She hit the sand with a grunt, weak legs behind her as she lied face first on the ground. There was an uncomfortable point in which Aeni hesitated to answer, looking about as she surveyed the area.