Phoenix Maplewood What a beautiful world

Their strategies for dealing with grief were remarkably similar. Her tracking and his patrols were one of the same. They both drowned their sorrows in a flood of background noise in the hopes that their numbing routines would would protect them from the unavoidable and unrelenting pressure of silence. This maddening silence that had gripped the Maplewood as of late shook Reek to the very core. However, the effects of this silence were more difficult to discern in their effects on Desna, who appeared to be dealing with her mother's death in stride.

She spoke first and Reek stopped beside her. He was surprised by the strength in her voice. "Hey Des," hoarsely spoke Reek in a quiet whisper. "I just wanted to check up on you— How are you holding up?" It seemed quite well, but Reek knew some could fake a smile easier than others. It had never truly been a talent of his; he tended to wear his feelings right on his sleeve.