Private Tough Times Begs Some Toughening Up!

Bastet didn't tell, but some numbness was already setting in at various areas of her body, as they continued to go at each other with only the minimum restraints needed. And as the clash went on, Bastet's movements erred more and more... At a point she would fail to stand, seating up, breathing heavily, the light in her eyes almost gone. That was the limit, Gacha made it evident by jumping out of Bastet's shadow and standing between J and Bastet, giving a stern look from Bastet to J, as if telling "This is enough."

"I-I think s-s-so... G-Get my p-phone, m-m-mess... age... Serena.", Bastet panted, plopping herself back down, slowly closing her eyes and smirking. She was still alive thankfully, breathing slowly, steady, but trying to relax. Gacha let out a low meow towards J, there was no hostility whatsoever in the cat's behavior.

Bastet remained silent, aside of her breathing and rushed heartbeat she made not a single noise for a long while. Despite all that, she was calm, serene even... Carrying her was almost like carrying a rag doll. And soon enough, as the pain and numbness subsided a little, she found strength to utter a response: "Instincts... Protects me... Fought them..."

"A little.", compared to J, Bastet's personal struggles were like a grain of sand on the beach... Or so she imagined anyways. Bastet has had a lot of action before, but the island reduced the need to act as much as she used to. It wasn't long until a seemingly frail woman with golden hair would arrive, and with her a calming atmosphere would flood the gym. "Excuse me a moment.", she politely bowed to J and went to focus on Bastet, a warm energy pouring into her through mere contact.

"Ah, yes, it is just to undo any actual damage there may be. She will still need proper rest and nourishment afterwards. This is the third time she required my services, but the first time it is out of the hospital.", Serena explained, "The first time she had suffered internal damage from sparring with a fox in the forest, and the second was a burn accident with the exhaust of her bike."