Qeya River I know the pieces fit

there was a romantic thing in ksura's words. a romantic stupidity that made her wonder if they'd die together. if they'd be buried wherever ash paw came to rest.

then there was another man. one who hardly seemed as threatening as the inked leader. she realized now that she had been very right and that it all made her feel very wrong. she doubted this was someone come to just gawk. if they had driven him off, he might have returned with whoever this was.

now she had to decide. did she place more importance upon her pride or her life?

she knew in her heart that challenging him now would only end in more death. it would be cruel to leave ksura alone with another body, without her knowing if he would be okay. if she took punishment now then it might allow them a moment of recovery when the dust settled.

fresh wounds irritated and reopened beneath his teeth. marks he (or the deceased medic) had already placed upon her sprang to new life again in tendrils of blood. her tongue pinched hard between her teeth when her face met the earth. the headache that had been a dull roar felt like an icicle running through her skull now.

she could take it, as long as they lived. she silently prayed ksura would be able to do the same.