Blacktail Deer Plateau Fell apart south of Salt Lake

While the wind whispered and the night closed around her, Raleska was shutting down. Perhaps this was the twilight of her heart -- the last closing of her tender youth's march. She had lived a hard life -- and it had been short -- but god, did it feel long.

Always she had wanted that stability. She had scrapped and clawed and fought, just the way her mother had -- but for a different end.. and she found, even without Caiaphas around, life was just as shitty as before. It just had a different ring to it.

Raleska was tired of living in that world. As tempting as it was to just believe things would be okay now, she knew that wasn't true. Even if Rosalyn's words were threaded with immense care (as they were), and even if her mentor believed those words.. a part of Raleska's heart had turned thorny as the battered shore. Maybe the stability came from within. Maybe, she had been stupid for entrusting her cares in everyone else all along.

Maybe, she could only count on herself.

Her gaze was hard as it lifted. "I hope not." Her tone had lost none of that thick edge -- but Raleska said nothing else. She had nothing else at all, she wanted to say in that moment.