Lily monitored Samira closely and made sure she ate over the next couple of days. She also examined the equipment Victoria used on her. It was something she'd read about, but not seen in person. They were used for surgeries to inject medication or nutrients into a patient. She'd have to keep it and study it further in case she needed it.
As for Samira, she was mostly just malnourished and dehydrated. Beyond that, her body was exhausted from all the walking. Or slithering. But with proper rest and food, she'd be fine. Mentally, though, is where Lily noticed issues.
Her memory came and went. Sometimes, she'd remember their names and her village of Amora, but other times she wouldn't. Then, when her memories returned, she'd have a panic attack. It was clear that her time as a prisoner was highly traumatic, along with her magic being used on her people. It left her mentally in a severely fragile state.
There were brief glimpses of hope, however. Those rare moments when she wasn't panicking or forgetting everything let her true personality come out. Lily observed her interactions with the rest of the party, especially Claire. With the others, she was kind and sociable. She'd encourage Toni to dance or for Ursa to explain more about her heritage. With Claire, though, she seemed much more flirty. That was the best word to describe their interactions. When she was clear of mind, Samira would wander close to the paladin and have Claire support her. It was a very obvious tactic to get close to Claire and initiate skinship. Though Claire didn't truly seem to notice.
It was the brief respite that Samira had. Otherwise, she either forgot everything from the last year or was panicking. It was the small sliver of hope for her to get better. They just had to be patient. Lily was just thankful that she would be physically healthy soon.
On her fourth day of travel with the Scarlet Seraphs, things did get quite interesting. None of the members had any real alone time, so they were quite pent up. Something that Samira caught on to, given her animalistic senses.
In one of her moments of clarity, she asked. "Why are you all in heat?"
Lily almost dropped her notes. She readjusted herself and pushed her glasses up. "Um, what do you mean?"
Samira pointed to Ana and Claire. "Ana is radiating attraction pheromones for Claire right now."
"Right, snake sense," Lily rubbed her forehead. She glanced at the pair. Claire was helping Ana with something. The two were trying to concentrate, but they were far too close. Lily watched Ana squirm against Claire, then glance up at the redhead. Lily knew that look all too well.
"And Claire…" Samira gulped as she watched the two. "She's always giving them off. Makes it hard to think sometimes…"
Lily frowned. She just realized something. Samira's clarity was often when Claire was nearby. Maybe it was her aura, or maybe it was the pheromones. One of them eased Samira's mind.
"And she smells so good," Samira continued. Lily watched her tail squirming on the floor.
"Like her pheromones?" Lily asked as she jotted down her observations. "Or just her natural smell?"
"Natural smell, I think," Samira adjusted her clothing unconsciously. "It's different than the scents you give off when you're like that. Smells like lavender or something."
"Does it help?" Lily asked.
"I think so," Samira shrugged. "It takes my mind off of all that."
"Hmm," Lily pursed her lips. She and Jasmine were hesitant to give Samira Claire's gift right away. They feared what her magic could do in the throes of lust, but maybe it'll be for Samira's benefit. Or maybe it's how they "purify her mana" like Claire's Goddess said. "Well, to answer your first question: We are very different from normal women."
"Yeah, I noticed that back in Amora," Samira mumbled. Her face grew red as she remembered flashing Lily when the alchemist asked about how her human side blended with her snake side.
"Right," Lily smiled. "Um, we have an extra appendage that sets us apart. A male one."
Samira blinked. "A penis?!"
Lily glanced around them. Everyone turned to the embarrassed lamia, who was covering her face in shame. "Yes. A penis. A gift from Claire's Goddess."
"W-w-why would she give that?" Samira stumbled over her words.
"Necessary for Her goal," Lily gently pulled Samira's hands from her face. "She wants to free men and to reunite families. She cannot change the Tyrant's Curse on us, but She was able to give us an alternative for men in breeding."
"The Tyrant…" Samira rubbed her temples. That word caused something to stir within her mind, like a memory long forgotten. "Right. That guy who massacred the old Gods… I remember Jolder telling me that story."
Lily nodded. She clocked Samira's strange reaction to the word immediately. "Right, um, we also met some goblins that were similar to you. They were human/goblin hybrids." Lily ducked under the seat to find the book she bought back in Fyre. She wondered if the images would jog Samira's memory.
"Really?" Samira blinked. Her eyes wandered over Lily's ample curves. The busty alchemist's breasts almost popped out as she bent over. It was causing Samira's heart to race. "Th-there are others like me?"
"Yup! They were quite interesting," Lily popped back up with the book. She readjusted her dress and flipped open the book. "They didn't want to admit it, but they were the Tyrant's companions. They must have been reincarnated or something."
"I-I see," Samira gulped. Something about these women awakened feelings within Samira that she'd never felt. Attraction and lust were not something she was used to. "How though?"
Lily shrugged. "They were vague. Something about Old Magic that bound them to secrecy. Here they are!"
She turned the book to face Samira, the old recruitment poster with all three. The Tyrant in the middle, and Firewater and Silkie by his side. She studied Samira's expression for any signs of recognition, but found none.
"I see," Samira studied the two men. Jolder said that men used to grow facial hair long ago, but it was odd to see it depicted. "I imagine they were greener, right?"
Lily exhaled. She was hoping Samira had some answers to her questions. "Yeah. A dark green. By the way, when was your first memory?"
Samira tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember anything past six years ago?" Lily asked. It was roughly when she was found by Jolder, and when Firewater said his first memories were from.
"I don't know," Samira rubbed her chin. "Vaguely? I remember faint memories like my mother… The one who birthed me, not Jolder. I think I remember my father, but not much. I do remember the time passing, and it felt like longer than six years ago."
Lily rubbed her forehead. That really threw off a lot of her theories. If they all came to being around the same time, there'd be a definite connection. There still could be one, but nothing is clear. "Anything specific?"
Samira shook her head. "No. Blurry faces and figures. My mom was like me, but my dad was human, I think…"
That was something. Lily grabbed her hand, "Thank you. Don't strain yourself too hard trying to remember. Right now, you should focus on getting better. I just thought you might be connected to those two. Just another mystery we have to figure out."
"Can I have one?" Samira asked without thinking. She watched Ana grind against Claire and felt a burning sensation overtake her body. She shook her head and blinked rapidly. "I-I mean, uh-"
"Eventually," Lily giggled. She watched the lamia act all embarrassed and was reminded of how Ana used to be. "You are important. Claire's Goddess said we needed you."
Beyond the burning need and embarrassment, there was a more comforting feeling that started to grow. A warmer one. The feeling of being needed. Something she lamented over her time as a prisoner.
She didn't feel worthy of it.
She glanced over at Claire and Ana again. It would be nice to experience what the two were currently experiencing, but she felt unworthy of it. She looked down at her lower body in shame. She wasn't like them.
"Samira," Lily pulled her face up to meet her. "That's the same look from when you disappeared.
"Sorry, it's just hard to accept," Samira felt tears begin to well up. She looked away from Lily. "I don't feel worthy of any form of love."
"That's nonsense," Lily whispered. "We'll prove it when we return to Amora."
The faces of her people flashed across her mind. She missed them. The kids, the adults, and especially her mother. She fought against the feeling of doubt, the feeling of guilt, for the hope that they missed her too.
Lily wiped away the tears from Samira's eyes. "You're wanted. We'll prove that in far more ways than you realize."