Sequoia Coast come back! even as a shadow, even as a dream.

emaleth had told her not to follow, deirdre knew--but it had been two days. two days without her father. two days without her other half. had she meant to leave her, forever? deirdre did not understand it, and so for the day departed donnelaith. she did not wish to leave the sentinels at all, but her devotion to emaleth brought her to seek her out once more, to find her and clarify this query. the days were full of plague, plague, plague. the destruction was far reaching. they threatened, now, to eat her whole heart.

the organ proved too big. though she was full of misery, light sought to infiltrate the darkness that took her. it was love that drove her still. love for emaleth. love for her father. love for eilidh, casmir, constantine. love for her mother. love for donnelaith. she resented that she breathed as her father did not, but all of her fathers efforts were to ensure that she did survive this infestation of insects--she would not dishonor that wish. nor would she dishonor him, in trying to bring him back from The Otherside; she knew what he thought of this, knew he thought it an evil and terrible thing, and so--though she thought on it--kept away from the body and the grave to avoid temptation.

she was tortured. and yet, her loveliness did not change; she still appeared radiant and grand. even as she trudged, there was no denying her quiet dignity, her pretty features. deirdre quietly wept as she moved, tired, so tired... and yet, she followed her wisps, the things that led her. surely they would take her to emaleth, and then she could return home.