The cave off the road just before the keep.

Oh gads, I hate it when Yehudit cries. "I wasn't going to do anything to myself," Sileas said softly. She sat down next to Yehudit. "I just wanted my time and space to grieve in my own way. I want to break things and train and...Please don't cry, Yehudit. It's just that it's obvious to me now that I'm supposed to be alone. I was simply never meant to have anyone in my life to care for me." Just like Galina said, I was never meant to be happy. "Can you just understand that I need some time alone?"

"You're my best friend." Yehudit's voice was all shaky. "I need you."

"Would a promise that I will join everyone when I am done grieving be enough?" Sileas implored. She really did not feel up to being around others. She wanted to commune with nature, break things and just be able to breathe. She certainly was not up to her aunt and Questa doubling up on her about what she had lost. Questa wouldn't understand and Aunt Lia, well, she would just speak ill of her father and Sileas didn't want to hear it.

Yehudit shook her head. "I'm staying with you."

"Dammit, Yehudit, that's not fair. It's what I need," Sileas said, a hint of anger in her voice.

Yehudit gave her a stubborn look. She didn't want to say why else she wanted to stay with Sileas. Yehudit had been thinking about how she had come into this world a lot lately herself, remembered what Galina had said about both her and Sileas. Yehudit did not know why she was still alive, she never should have been born in the first place, while so many others who deserved to live more had died.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 1):

Much deeper in the cave a young woman in chains and rags trembled as Mazi pressed a hand so hard against her mouth she could taste blood on her lips. Mazi had extinguished the torch the moment they heard voices, plunging them in complete darkness. All Ila could do was listen to an apparent argument between two girls, their words and subject of the argument were lost in the echoes.

Ila felt the familiar prick of Mazi's shell knife against her cheek. "If you make a sound I will cut you." Mazi whispered unnecessarily. Ila already knew he wanted her to be quiet, and if she wasn't quiet he would cut her up some more with that shell knife, or beat her, or abuse her in some way. Ila had several jagged cuts from his shell knife that refused to heal and were going to leave terrible scars if they ever healed.

Mazi released Ila's mouth and Ila heard the slosh of him checking how much potion was left in his jug. Then Ila heard him quietly feeling his way through the cave, leaving her alone in the dark. Ila felt around but he had taken the flint and steel with him, not that she would light any of the torches- he would get angry if he saw any light. But it would have been a comfort to know she could get some light. Ila curled into a tight ball and closed her eyes, trying not to feel the oppressive dark of the cave pressing against her.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Mon 14 Mar 2016.

In reply to Yehudit Buckley (msg # 7):


Sileas sighed deeply. "Fine. I'll go back with you." She would make no promises that she wouldn't sneak off at some point. Some time when Yehudit wasn't near her. Yehudit couldn't possibly stay by her side the entire day and night.