Danu thought that she was probably supposed to be disoriented and confused, maybe because she'd been kicked in the head once or twice. Sure, her vision was getting blurry, but when she blinked quickly, the fog went away and Zach came into her vision. Gazing at him and wondering where she had finally gone right, Danu was pretty proud of how her body was reacting to the situation. Not to Zach, but to the damage handed so forcefully to it. Instead of snapping into a thousand pieces, she was bending, about as far as physically and mentally possible, but it was working and she wasn't falling or breaking. Thankfully. It was rather reassuring, that after everything she'd been through, nothing was actually going to break her spirit or her body. A few bones, yeah, no one could withstand blows like that and not give, but she was still functioning and that was pretty good for what the shifter had just gone through. Perhaps it was her breed, perhaps the animal in her had taken the abuse better than a human might. Danu wasn't sure about it and knew she didn't want to know the answer. Better not knowing.

Zach picked her up and she knew he was doing it gently, but she still groaned a little, through her teeth as she tried to dull the sound. She was still in his arms, thinking in quiet shock over how different he was now from the ferocious killer who had ripped into her torturer. Zach had been so incredibly ferocious, a cold killer intent on causing pain and getting revenge. And now.. As he touched her with gentle hands and cried over her, because she had gotten the living crap beaten out of her, Danu couldn't think of any other way she'd have him. Not only was his concern for her overwhelming and amazing in her blurring eyes, but because she would be the exact same way. If anyone attacked him and hurt Zach this bad, then she'd get revenge with the same eyes that burned with rage. It was simple, except for now, when the person who had hurt him was her. How could she punish herself, satisfy the need to get revenge for hurting him? It wasn't like she could do anything, because every muscle in her body ached and bruises splattered across her skin like melted wax from purple and blue candles. Danu had a few bones broken too, but she focused instead on Zach's eyes, that were wet with unshed tears and felt her heart break for him. She'd caused him so much pain; how would she ever make that up to him? Her hands clenched uselessly at her sides and she had to blink again, to clear her vision.

She heard his question and blinked at him, completely speechless. "Hell no.." Came her intense reply, as she tried to figure out where the question had come from. Then, Danu glanced down and remembered that she was almost half-naked, with nothing on but ripped up shorts and a band around her chest. She didn't flinch or anything, but, hearing the concern in his voice and seeing it in his voice, said reassuringly, "He didn't get that far, Zach." Danu would have hugged him or made some kind of contact if she didn't hurt so much. She kept her mouth shut, lips pressed together tightly, in order to keep anything that might betray her pain inside. She didn't want him to feel in any way responsible for this. It was her own fault, her own stupidity had landed her in this position, with bruises lining her skin and broken bones making her stomach turn on a regular basis. Zach told her she couldn't kill him and she made a face at him, sticking out her tongue like a little child. But she was very serious and unhappy when she told him, "But I tried. I can't get past that. My aim was off, but I was going after you like I would any other attacker and you weren't attacking!" She gritted her teeth, loathing her lack of control. "You're Zach. A fellow Shifter, my closest friend.. The man I love.. I shouldn't have even gone into that mode, like I was hunting you like prey."

"I love you, Danu. I would do anything in the world for you." She gulped, half in fright and half in surprise. How did she respond to that? She'd never known anyone who felt so fiercely for her. Danu blinked again, gazing up at him, and loving him so much, when she finally realized. She didn't have anything to compare his feelings for her with, except her feelings for him. It all made sense when she thought about it. She reached up and wiped away his tears, hurting more with every tear that fell. "I.. I love you too, Zach. I still think you deserve more than me, but I want you.. More than anything I've ever wanted and, even though I've only been traveling with you for three days, I can't imagine enjoying life without you at my side." She paused, still touching his cheek gently, grimacing at the specks of blood that appeared on his skin and quickly wiping them off as well. That had sounded incredibly poetic, which certainly wasn't her thing. She did poetic as well as she did flowers, dresses, and perfume. Danu couldn't remember the last time she'd bought a dress, though she'd worn one for some lord she had been entertaining. It was strange how off track her thoughts got and how erratic they were, especially when Zach was holding her. She tried to sit up a little and groaned through her teeth as she did, muscle and bone protesting the movement quite loudly.

Once she was something resembling a vertical position, Danu put both of her hands on Zach's face, trying to get him to look at her. She wasn't at all sure about how they were getting out, but first, she had to make sure he understood something. Once Zach was looking her in the eyes, she told him, "I've only ever cried for one man and that's you. A life without you doesn't seem worth living, to me. So don't leave me, ever. Got that?" Danu tipped her head to the side, a small smile gracing her lips before she kissed him, to seal the bargain, before he could say anything or agree. It wasn't a long or passionate kiss, just one to remind herself that the way he kissed was yet another reason why she loved him so much. That and his dedication to her. "You came for me too... You came and you didn't have to, especially since I attacked you. Not that I'm not grateful." She pulled closer to him, turning sideways so that she could press her head under his and curl her bruised body up against his, uncovered skin and all. Danu sighed, smiling again. She felt so relaxed next to him, she wasn't worried about anyone coming in on them or attacking, because she was sure he'd protect her. Because she knew he'd forgiven her for attacking him. Zach loved her. He did. And she loved him back, more than anything she could possibly think of.