Dawnlark Plains the pit and the pendulum

After spending time with Wintersbane, Laurel lingered around; afraid to return home, afraid that everyone would see her for what she was. A slut. A desperate one, at that. Afraid to be ridiculed, afraid to be cast out, afraid... to see Mahler again, to whom she meant nothing. She didn't want to be reminded of that.

A part of her wanted not to return at all to Rivenwood. Why stay someplace where she meant nothing? Why try to build a castle on quicksand?

These thoughts drove her into the wilderness. Not far enough from Rivenwood so that she could not return, but far enough to... well, she wasn't really sure what she was doing, at this point, in all honesty.

Deer graze the plains; how easy their lives must be. They risked death every day, but at the same time, they did not need to think about life or living it very much at all. What a great way to live it must be! She lamented the fact that life was so difficult for those like her, instead, as she encircled the meadow, until finally, she ran into someone who was arguably worse off than her.

It took her a few seconds to realise the sunken face that she looked into.

Indra!

Oh, what had happened to Merrick's once beautiful daughter now? Laurel did not even know her own name, but she could feel a greedy madness consume her when she watched the woman. Indra. The plan.

Kill her.

Even Iliksis wanted her dead, but how could she kill her dearest sister? For a moment Laurel just stared and looked at her, a look of sorrowful pity on her face to see how this life had mistreated her.

But you'll make her next life so much better, dearest.