People are in Arknights and becoming Griseo at the beginning Chapters1-5 (Patreon)

GR Chapters 1-5

Chapter 1: Snowfield and Conflict

"Cold... so cold..." As the chilly wind howled through the woods, dislodging accumulated snow from the trees, it fell in its entirety onto the small, murmuring figure nestled beneath.

"Ugh!" Startled by the sudden onslaught of snow, the blue-clad figure beneath the tree abruptly awoke, opening her pair of bewildered, violet-colored eyes.

"...?" After taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, the girl's eyes, besides confusion, displayed surprise and perplexity. She attempted to struggle to her feet.

However, before the girl could steady herself, her body's stiffness caused her to stumble. Instinctively clutching onto the large tree draped in silver frost beside her, she narrowly avoided another tumble into the snow.

But evidently, reality granted the girl scant time for observation or contemplation. In the next moment, a myriad of memories erupted in her mind.

"Ugh!" The pain prompted an involuntary groan, prompting her to instinctively cradle her head, attempting to alleviate the ache.

"Ah... who... am I? Ye Li... or Griseo?"

Due to the overwhelming number of memories flooding her mind, and their disjointed origins, the girl found herself questioning her own identity.

One set of memories, relatively brief, depicted her as an ordinary Earthling. Yet another, seemingly monotonous yet vast, portrayed her as one of the Thirteen Flamechasers from a past civilization, representing the MANTIS bearing the Signet of "Stars"...

"..." After a brief interlude to collect her thoughts and alleviate the pain in her head, the girl quickly regained composure and began sorting through the jumbled memories in her mind.

Upon regaining her composure, she noticed the details she had previously overlooked.

Though lacking a mirror to view her own visage, she confirmed her present identity as Griseo through scrutiny of her body and attire, at the very least.

Otherwise, the girl couldn't fathom a scenario where a barefoot, bare-legged individual in thin garments could endure survival in such an inclement, unidentified locale.

Yet, even with composure regained, the girl remained unable to discern whether she was a transmigrant thrust into the world of "Honkai," or Griseo imbued with memories of a transmigrant.

Both sets of memories were too vivid and lucid.

Whether the ordinariness and frustration in Ye Li's memories, or the profound solitude Griseo faced when she finally confronted the universe alone, resonated deeply with the girl, as if she had experienced them firsthand.

"So... what should I do?"

----------------------------------------------

The sky was already dim due to the blizzard, and the woods, shrouded by trees, were even darker, pervaded by darkness, coldness, and silence.

"Goo~" The expressionless, blue-clad loli clutched her groaning belly as she trudged through the dim, frigid woods.

From afar, one might mistake her for a pristine elf amidst the snowy wilderness.

However, as they say, one's own family knows one's own business. The girl... Griseo was well aware that her inner calmness did not reflect her true state.

She was cold and hungry now. While neither of these was fatal or significantly impactful for a MANTIS, they still caused discomfort.

Moreover, rather than portraying surface calmness, it was more accurate to say that Griseo's exterior showed no other emotions.

Though her heart had become lively due to the influence of another set of memories, this vivacity remained confined to her inner world, unreflected on her countenance.

"Ugh...?" Suddenly, Griseo halted, tilting her head slightly as she observed the path ahead. Through the woodland foliage, she caught sight of faint light and heard muted voices.

"..." For a moment, Griseo hesitated. She pondered the advisability of advancing further.

Yet, she was eager to grasp the current situation and, if possible, sate her hunger.

After a brief period of deliberation, Griseo opted to approach and investigate. With a nimble motion, she lifted her already slightly reddened feet from the snowy ground and proceeded forward.

...

However, as she drew near the light, Griseo realized that reality was starkly different from her expectations.

She heard a cacophony of people shouting insults and laughing uproariously...

And what met her eyes was a gaunt, bloodied figure, surrounded by individuals brandishing weapons gleaming with a cold light... and swathes of darkness.

"Boss, there's a kid popping up from there, what do we do?"

Concurrently with Griseo's shock at the scene before her, someone else took notice of her presence.

"Tsk, why even ask? Of course, we kill it! When we engage in such activities, we can't leave any survivors!" The boss, upon being queried, flashed a ferocious glint in his eyes before bellowing impatiently.

"What... what..." Encircled by the group at the roadside, the already wounded girl turned in horror upon hearing this, her face a mask of terror as she looked back.

And in this moment, her gaze met Griseo's striking eyes.

In an instant, only one thought occupied the girl's mind: do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of this adorable child before her.

"Run... run fast!"

"...?"

Clearly, Griseo, who had been lost in thought moments ago, did not respond promptly to the girl's urging. Instead, she stood rooted to the spot, gazing at her with a puzzled expression.

In the fleeting moments, among the group surrounding the girl, one individual with a menacing countenance wielding a long blade had already charged towards Griseo.

His demeanor suggested he intended to cleave this stationary little girl in two with a single stroke.

"Don't!" Witnessing the scene unfold before her, the girl's fear and urgency transformed into boundless anger involuntarily.

Dragging her injured body, she surged forward at a speed she wouldn't have dared to imagine under normal circumstances, rushing toward Griseo, aiming to embrace the little girl in front of her.

Even though the girl knew that by doing so, she was almost certainly sealing her own fate, and knew that such an action couldn't protect the little girl for long, perhaps not even for a moment, she still did it...

In the instant their bodies made contact, the tremendous force of the girl's charge sent Griseo tumbling to the ground.

Before Griseo could utter a word, the girl tightly enveloped her in her arms, using her own body to shield her.

"Don't be afraid... big sister is here with you..."

In that moment, Griseo noticed the darkness surrounding them fading away quietly, replaced by a faint, warm yellow glow.

But as she raised her gaze, her eyes met those of the person about to swing the blade down upon them, his form suffused with murky hues.

Internally, a ripple of emotion surged within Griseo as she witnessed the scene unfold before her...

"Mr. Knight, please...!"

Chapter 2: Recognition and Escape

"Mr. Knight, please!"

Clang!

As Griseo's voice fell, a handsome knight clad in silver-blue armor suddenly appeared before them, blocking the long blade swung towards them with his own knight sword.

"What... ah!"

After his attack was thwarted, the man holding the long blade looked shocked. Before he could react further, the silver-clad knight struck again, using his sword to send the assailant flying backward, crashing into several trees.

All of this happened in an instant.

Meanwhile, the deer-horned girl who had been embracing Griseo, anticipating the impending pain, also noticed the change behind her and carefully turned her head to observe.

After all, she had heard the plea from the little girl in her arms, addressed to the "Mr. Knight".

Upon seeing the situation behind her clearly, the deer-horned girl swiftly stood up from the ground, still holding Griseo in her arms. Though she wasn't sure what to make of the silver-blue knight who seemed to have only half a body, she knew it was a good opportunity to escape.

However, as the girl led Griseo away, she found herself being pulled back by the blue-haired little girl in front of her.

Sensing this, the girl began to feel anxious because she wasn't sure how long the sudden appearance of the knight could hold off the attackers...

"It's okay... Mr. Knight will protect us." Sensing the deer-horned girl's anxiety, Griseo raised her head to look at her, her tone calm as she reassured her.

In that instant, upon meeting Griseo's calm, beautiful violet eyes, much of the deer-horned girl's anxiety and urgency dissipated.

At the same time, the silver-blue knight, who had just repelled the attackers, as if receiving some command, moved again.

"Oh, Boss, that monster is coming! What should we do?!" One of the assailants panicked at the approach of the silver-blue knight, clearly showing fear.

After all, the man who had been knocked away by Griseo's knight was still lying nearby, groaning in pain. He seemed seriously injured.

"What are you panicking for?! Everyone, attack! Hold off that monster, and as for the others... Heh, kill that girl and the little brat!"

"If we let them go, you know what we'll face next, right?!"

After pushing aside the person next to him, the organizer of this violence flashed a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes, then issued the command.

"Yes!"

Hearing the boss's command, those around him suppressed their inner fear and all wielded weapons, charging towards the silver-blue knight and the two behind him.

"Don't be afraid, Uh... I mean..." Sensing fear once again emanating from the deer-horned girl beside her, Griseo gently squeezed the hand holding hers, trying to provide some reassurance.

Although Griseo still hadn't figured out who she really was, she had always been confident in Mr. Knight. She believed Mr. Knight would protect her... and her friend.

Next, the silver-blue Mr. Knight did not disappoint Griseo's trust and expectations. Facing the attacking enemies, he effortlessly blocked and repelled them with his knight sword.

"Aaahhh..."

"No... please don't kill me!"

The infected individuals who were knocked back and sent flying were now lying on the ground, groaning and screaming in agony.

Seeing this scene, the organizer of the operation flashed a trace of fear in his eyes. Then, quietly retreating a step, he immediately turned and fled towards the nearby forest upon realizing that the silver-blue knight showed no response to his actions.

Observing this scene before her, Griseo did not make any other moves, simply lifting her head again to look at the "Warmth" beside her.

She wasn't interested in how these people would be dealt with, nor did she have any thoughts about it, so she turned to the person beside her for guidance.

Upon noticing Griseo's gaze, the deer-horned girl first frowned slightly, then lowered her blue eyes in thought for a moment before softly saying, "Let him go... And then, let's quickly leave this place."

With that, the girl led Griseo away along the path.

Although for now, the attackers had been subdued, she still wanted to leave quickly to avoid further trouble.

"Mm." Upon hearing "Warm's" words, Griseo simply nodded obediently, allowing herself to be led forward.

For the deer-horned girl's decision, Griseo chose to respect it, especially since she wasn't surprised at all.

Ever since she saw the deer-horned girl in the forest, Griseo recognized her identity immediately, even knowing which world she was in now.

It was all thanks to Ye Li's memory, which included a game called "Arknights". If that memory wasn't mistaken, Griseo remembered the kind girl with antlers was called Alina, and the continent she was currently on seemed to be called Terra.

To be honest, these realizations almost ruled out the possibility of Griseo having the memories of a transmigrator.

Unless, this world was the new home that "Ark" had been seeking alone in the universe all along, but no matter how you looked at it, that possibility seemed unlikely.

Although Alina, holding the little girl's hand, was eager to leave the area, she hesitated for a moment, collected her belongings that had been snatched away earlier, and then quickly left the area.

Throughout this process, Griseo simply followed obediently. It wasn't until the two were far away from there that she let the knight who had been intimidating the enemies hide his presence again.

...

"Hoo... um... little girl, where is your home?"

After running with the little girl for quite a distance and confirming there was no immediate danger, Alina slowed her pace and began to inquire about Griseo's situation.

However, before Griseo could answer, Alina furrowed her brows, a hint of concern flashing in her azure eyes.

The previous events had been too dangerous and sudden, leaving her with little time to observe the child in front of her.

It wasn't until now that Alina noticed Griseo's attire, which didn't make sense.

While she could accept the dress and bare legs, she couldn't fathom how the child could be barefoot in the thick snow!

Even her home in Talulah only had bare legs, but never bare feet!

"Home... I don't have a home anymore..."

After a moment of stunned silence, Griseo slowly lowered her little head, feeling a sense of loss that she hadn't felt in a long time.

Meanwhile...

Gurgle...

Chapter 3: Mom

"Growl~"

Just as a little girl lowered her head in disappointment, her stomach let out another untimely growl.

"Are you hungry? We only have fruit right now, but it should fill your stomach a bit. Once we get back, I'll find you something else to eat. Also, are your feet cold? Do you need me to carry you?" Alina bent down and gently patted the little girl's head, her voice soft and comforting.

"Don't worry, if you have nowhere else to go, you can come back with me."

After saying this, Alina took a few fruits from her supplies and handed them to the adorable little girl in front of her.

"…Thank you, ..Warm."

Griseo stared at the fruit in front of her for a moment before accepting it and thanking Alina earnestly. She knew how scarce supplies were here; many people had starved to death.

"No need, you’re injured… and I’m not cold."

Griseo gently shook her head, refusing Alina’s offer after taking the fruit.

It wasn’t necessary. For a MANTIS, this temperature and chill were at most just cool and slightly cold, not enough to freeze anyone. Besides, Alina was injured.

"Oh, you're not cold? My injury… isn't very serious. It’ll be fine once it's bandaged."

Hearing this, Alina was a bit surprised but relaxed when she glanced at Griseo's still white and unfrostbitten legs and bare feet.

"By the way, my name is Alina. What’s yours, little sister? And why do you keep calling me Warm?"

Feeling reassured, Alina introduced herself simply and voiced a question that had been on her mind. She had noticed that the cute little girl in front of her kept calling her "Warm One."

"My name is Griseo… because you're warm."

Looking at Alina and the warm yellow color surrounding her, Griseo blinked her violet eyes and explained calmly.

"Heh~ Griseo… it’s a nice name."

Alina chuckled softly and extended her hand to Griseo again, inviting her, "So, Griseo, will you come back with me?"

[Ding, task triggered]

[Task: Protect Alina and ensure her safe return to camp]

[Reward: Exclusive weapon for Griseo (Elysian Astra), complete set of painting tools]

As soon as Alina invited her, a mechanical voice sounded in Griseo's head. She was initially stunned, but then her eyes lit up when she noticed the second reward. At that moment, the exclusive weapon didn’t seem as important.

"What is it?"

Seeing the suddenly energetic little girl in front of her, Alina asked in confusion.

"Nothing… I will protect you," Griseo answered seriously, looking at Alina.

Griseo wanted to protect Alina not just because of the task, but because she liked the warm color of the person in front of her—it made her feel comfortable…

So, even without the task, she would still protect Alina. Besides, she had nowhere else to go and needed a safe place to figure out her current situation.

"Hehe~ Then I’ll be relying on you, little Griseo. Let’s go."

"Mm…"

Now that everything was settled, Alina didn’t plan to stay any longer. Who knew if there would be another group of people trying to take her supplies?

Alina was kind, but not naive… She wouldn’t assume the best of everyone, especially after what had just happened…

Of course, Alina didn't underestimate Griseo… After all, the previous knight and other details indicated that this little girl was not ordinary.

---

On the way back to the camp, Griseo was exceptionally well-behaved, quietly letting Alina lead her while they carefully kept a low profile.

As they neared their destination, although Griseo's face remained calm, her heart fluttered with emotion.

Through various details and the system confirming her suspicions, Griseo had realized she was a transformed transmigrator.

And she could transform into other characters besides Griseo, but they needed to be unlocked by completing tasks or under certain conditions.

Though affected by Griseo's memories, making her a quiet and emotionless little girl, she couldn't help but feel excited about meeting the characters from her previous game (crossed out).

…

"Alina!"

As they approached the camp and prepared to greet the guards, a slightly anxious voice rang out.

"What happened? Why are you so flustered?"

Seeing the dragon girl rushing towards her, Alina asked in confusion.

"Alina, I’m so glad you’re okay! No… wait, you're injured!" Tallulah, who had rushed to Alina, first sighed in relief but then became worried upon seeing the bloodstains on Alina.

"We encountered some trouble, but it's nothing serious. I'll explain later." Alina shook her head gently and glanced at Griseo, giving Tallulah a meaningful look.

"?"

Only then did Tallulah notice the blue-haired little girl beside her beloved friend. One look made her frown…

No matter how she looked at her, this little girl gave off a strong sense of incongruity… like a naive princess appearing in a slum.

For one, her clothing didn’t seem cheap, even if Alina didn’t notice it. Having been with the Deathless Black Snake for so long, Tallulah could tell that Griseo’s white dress was made of expensive fabric.

Not to mention, Griseo exuded an innocent and pure aura that couldn’t be hidden…

"Alina, who is this child?"

With a belly full of questions, Tallulah looked to her friend for answers.

"This child is…"

But before Alina could explain, Griseo’s almost flat voice interrupted her.

"Mom…"

"?"

"???"

Chapter 4: Can I Use It to Paint a Picture?

"Mom…"

"?"

"???"

Griseo's calling Alina "mom" completely stunned both of them, especially Tallulah, who looked shocked and confused. Even the infected guards standing nearby turned their curious gazes toward them.

"Little Griseo… you’re really something."

Seeing the shocked expression on her friend’s face, Alina felt a bit helpless about the little girl she was holding. She bent down and gently pinched Griseo’s smooth, cute cheeks as a playful punishment.

"Alina… really…" Griseo didn't mind her cheeks being pinched. A helpless look flashed across her face as her demeanor shifted from innocent to gentle, her words slightly muffled.

However, Alina didn’t notice this small change in Griseo. After another gentle pinch of the girl’s soft cheeks, she let go and explained to Tallulah, "Alright, Tallulah, don’t listen to little Griseo. It’s complicated. I’ll explain later."

"Alright, Tallulah, don’t listen to Alina. It’s complicated. I’ll explain later…"

As soon as Alina finished, Griseo looked up with her violet eyes and, with a helpless expression, echoed her words to Tallulah. Their expressions were eerily similar, as if they were cast from the same mold.

It was clear that Griseo had completely absorbed Alina’s "color", resembling her in every way.

"…You, why are you suddenly mimicking me?" Alina asked, unable to hold back a laugh at Griseo’s adorable behavior.

At this moment, Alina finally realized that Griseo was different, but she didn’t think too much about it, assuming it was just child’s play.

"…You, why are you suddenly mimicking me?"

Griseo’s eyes showed a flicker of confusion, clearly not understanding.

Alina didn’t dwell on it. She handed the supplies over to Tallulah and then picked up Griseo, heading toward the camp.

She hadn’t forgotten that the little one in her arms was still hungry. Besides, it was cold outside; any conversation could wait until they were inside.

"…"

Tallulah glanced at the supplies in her arms and decided not to say anything more. She quickly followed them inside. She didn't know exactly what Alina had gone through this time, but at least she was safe, which was a relief. Alina’s injuries were minor compared to what she had feared.

However this resupply, Alina had taken longer than usual to exchange supplies, and Tallulah had feared the worst…

---

It wasn’t until Griseo was carried into the warm tent that the mechanical voice of the system sounded in her mind again.

[Task Completed]

[Rewards have been delivered to the system space and can be retrieved at any time]

"Stay here and don’t run off, little Griseo. I’ll get you something to eat." After putting down the little girl, Alina squatted down and seriously instructed her.

Although she hadn’t conducted a thorough examination, Alina was fairly certain Griseo was not infected with Oripathy based on her observations.

It wasn’t that she distrusted the people here, but the camp was filled with all kinds of infected individuals, some of whom weren’t necessarily kind-hearted. Though Griseo’s identity was somewhat suspicious and they hadn’t known each other long, Alina didn’t want the little girl who saved her to get hurt.

"Um… Your color… is beautiful. Can I use it to paint a picture?"

Barely able to pull herself away from Alina’s warmth, Griseo didn’t respond to her instructions but instead asked a serious and unrelated question.

Previously, she hadn’t had the tools to paint, but now she did. Griseo just wanted to capture Alina’s colors on canvas.

"Paint a picture?"

"Mm…"

Griseo nodded slightly, then retrieved a set of painting tools from the system space. She looked at Alina again, waiting for her response.

"?"

"?"

Seeing the painting tools suddenly appear in front of Griseo, both Alina and Tallulah, who had just entered the tent, were slightly stunned, question marks practically floating over their heads.

"Where did you get these things, little Griseo?"

"I just… took them out."

Griseo thought for a moment before explaining.

"Took them out?… Never mind, you go ahead and paint. I’ll get you something to eat. Stay here and be good."

After ruffling Griseo’s hair again, Alina gave up on asking more questions.

To her, the little girl was mysterious and special, so having some secrets was understandable. Besides, Alina wasn’t one to pry.

"Tallulah, keep an eye on little Griseo. I’ll be back soon." Standing up, Alina gently spoke to her friend at the door.

"Wait, Alina, you haven’t bandaged your wound yet!"

"I’ll do it when I get back. It won’t take long."

"…"

While Alina and Tallulah exchanged these words, Griseo had already picked up her brush and started painting, completely immersed in her work, oblivious to her surroundings.

As Alina left, Tallulah cautiously moved to stand behind Griseo, watching her and her painting process.

…

"Alina, what happened to you? And what’s the rumor about you suddenly having a child?"

Sitting by the campfire, a member of the Yeti Squadron asked curiously as Alina approached, a hint of gossip in his eyes.

"Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t." Before Alina could respond, a white-haired, rabbit-eared girl sitting nearby spoke up first. She looked at her squad member with exasperation before turning to Alina, "Go tend to your wound first, so it doesn’t get infected."

"Jeez, big sis is so strict. I was just curious," the squad member muttered, scratching his nose.

"Pfft, got it, Yelena. I’ll take care of it." Alina couldn’t help but laugh at their interaction and agreed.

But remembering the little one in the tent, she added, "Could you do me a favor, Yelena? I need you to take some food to the tent for Griseo while I bandage up."

Chapter 5: Painting an Outsider

"I’ll go bandage my wounds now. Can you take some food to the tent for me, Yelena?"

Hearing this, the white-haired, rabbit-eared girl Yelena was initially a bit surprised but then nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Yelena." Alina gave Yelena a gentle smile before turning to leave and tend to her wounds.

Thanks to Griseo’s timely arrival, Alina’s injuries weren’t severe. The worst was a long cut on her forehead, which looked frightening due to the amount of blood, but wasn’t actually too serious.

She had planned to wait a bit longer, until after Griseo had eaten, before tending to her wounds.

However, persuaded by Yelena’s concern about infection and the potential waste of more resources, Alina asked her colleague, codenamed "Frostnova," to deliver the food.

This would also allow her to introduce Griseo to Yelena.

"It seems like the food Alina asked you to deliver is for the child she brought back."

"Yeah, big sis, make sure to take a good look inside and tell us all about it later!"

"If you’re so curious, go see for yourselves." Yelena’s face remained stern as she spoke to the lively group gathered around her.

"Aw, come on, big sis, just tell us!"

"Yeah, sneaking a peek feels awkward!"

Despite their protests, Yelena remained silent, though a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes as she watched their antics.

---

In the tent, Griseo was deeply immersed in her painting, completely oblivious to her surroundings, even ignoring her growling stomach. Her violet eyes were solely focused on the colors before her.

Unlike Griseo’s absorption, Tallulah, who had been watching from behind, gradually furrowed her brows in confusion.

Though she wasn’t deeply involved in art, being groomed by the Deathless Black Snake as a successor had given her a basic level of art appreciation. To her surprise, the little girl whose origins were unknown was exceptionally skilled in painting. Even though the piece wasn’t finished, it already seemed to rival those of top-tier artists.

Adding to her confusion was her inability to identify Griseo’s race, which only made her more curious.

However, with Alina absent and Griseo engrossed in her painting, Tallulah’s questions remained unanswered. Besides her curiosity about the little girl, she was also anxious about the cause of Alina’s injuries, a question still unanswered.

These unresolved issues gnawed at her, leaving her feeling restless.

"Whoosh—"

Just then, the tent flap was lifted by a slender, snow-white hand, letting in a gust of cold wind and breaking the silence.

"Yelena, is something the matter?" Tallulah, initially thinking Alina had returned, was surprised to see Yelena.

"Alina went to bandage her wounds. I’m here to bring food." After a brief explanation, Yelena placed the food on the table.

"I see."

"…"

After setting down the food, Yelena didn’t leave immediately but instead observed the little girl absorbed in painting. Noticing her thin white dress, bare legs, and delicate, bare feet, Yelena’s expression mirrored Alina’s earlier disapproval.

There were many children in the Reunion Movement, most of whom Alina had taught and were attending school. But it was Yelena’s first time seeing a child dressed so lightly in this region no less.

Seeing that Griseo didn’t seem to feel cold, Yelena quickly categorized her as special, probably possessing some unique abilities. Just like Yelena herself, whose Originium Arts made her body temperature much lower than normal.

After making a quick assessment, Yelena decided to leave but stopped abruptly, as if remembering something. "Do you know what Alina encountered this time?"

"I don’t know. Alina hasn’t told me yet. This child… seems to be lost in her painting." Tallulah shook her head helplessly at Yelena’s question.

"Then ask her properly when she returns. I think you might have the same suspicions as I do." With that, Yelena turned and left the tent.

Unfortunately, Griseo was too engrossed in her painting to notice anything else. Otherwise, she might have tried to keep Yelena, the living Frostnova, around a bit longer.

"…"

Watching Yelena leave, Tallulah lowered her eyes, hiding her complex emotions. A sense of fear and relief surged through her, realizing just how close she might have come to losing Alina.

"Whoosh—"

"I’m back, Tallulah. Hmm? Why the sad face? Did something happen?"

As Tallulah was feeling down, the tent flap opened again. Alina had returned and immediately noticed her friend’s troubled expression.

"…"

Instead of answering, Tallulah quickly moved forward and hugged Alina tightly.

"?"

Surprised by the sudden embrace, Alina smiled helplessly and gently patted Tallulah’s back, comforting her.