"Not always. She has periods of clear focus during which she can follow simple commands and answer easy questions, but these periods follow no set pattern or time of day. They come and go when they will," Galen answered with a tired sigh. He said nothing further about the cape incident. The whole fiasco had resulted in him losing one of his oldest assistants because the man could not keep his mouth shut, leading to news getting out that there was a selkie in the medical wing. It was only his stern threats of bodily harm and the increased presence of palace security that kept the gawkers away.
"She was able to tell us her name during one such period, though we don't know much else about her," he continued after a minute. "Her ability to communicate is limited to broken speech comprised of only a few short words at a time. We're assuming that it is caused by the loss of her pelt. She has indicated as much as best she can."
Clearing his throat Galen stepped forward, carefully easing into the selkie's line of sight. It took her several moments to notice him but once she had she reluctantly drew away from the sculpture. He favored her with a smile that was meant to be reassuring and beckoned her closer. Only then did she see Orm standing nearby. She blinked and slowly drifted over to join them, an uncertain frown ghosting across her lips as she touched down beside the desk. She was cautious but not afraid - an improvement over last week when she shrank away from every new face she saw.
"King Orm, this is Willow. Willow, this is King Orm. He is the one who rescued you," Galen said once she was settled. The selkie - Willow - blinked again, her eyes going a bit wide as she stared at Orm. Then her gaze shifted to something behind the King. It took a second for Galen to realize that her attention was focused on the cape flowing behind him, and another to see that she was lifting her hand as if to grab the object. He quickly but gently blocked her from doing so, wincing a bit at the confused look she gave him in return. "Ah, no, Willow. Remember what I said about touching?"
For her part Willow just lowered her arm and turned her gaze to the office floor before murmuring a quiet, "Yes. Sorry..."
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"She was able to tell us her name during one such period, though we don't know much else about her," he continued after a minute. "Her ability to communicate is limited to broken speech comprised of only a few short words at a time. We're assuming that it is caused by the loss of her pelt. She has indicated as much as best she can."
Clearing his throat Galen stepped forward, carefully easing into the selkie's line of sight. It took her several moments to notice him but once she had she reluctantly drew away from the sculpture. He favored her with a smile that was meant to be reassuring and beckoned her closer. Only then did she see Orm standing nearby. She blinked and slowly drifted over to join them, an uncertain frown ghosting across her lips as she touched down beside the desk. She was cautious but not afraid - an improvement over last week when she shrank away from every new face she saw.
"King Orm, this is Willow. Willow, this is King Orm. He is the one who rescued you," Galen said once she was settled. The selkie - Willow - blinked again, her eyes going a bit wide as she stared at Orm. Then her gaze shifted to something behind the King. It took a second for Galen to realize that her attention was focused on the cape flowing behind him, and another to see that she was lifting her hand as if to grab the object. He quickly but gently blocked her from doing so, wincing a bit at the confused look she gave him in return. "Ah, no, Willow. Remember what I said about touching?"
For her part Willow just lowered her arm and turned her gaze to the office floor before murmuring a quiet, "Yes. Sorry..."