Lion Head Mesa forty-first

Senmut was right, and she knew it.

She will come back, Nazli answered, almost defensive in her tone, when really she was hurting — mourning a piece of herself that was missing. No wonder she had felt so strange when she'd returned! A withered mess; but worse, it felt as if her Ka suffered with Makono's absence.

Nazli sighed in to Senmut and inched back, then pressed her forehead against him. Sesh. I will work hard — so when she does return to us, there will be bouquets, and vines, and — everything blue, like the sky. She was tired. Her rambling was almost pleasant save for the sorrowful undercurrent.

At last, though, it was decided.