Serpent Lake I'm sorry, I didn't mean any of it; I just got too lonely, lonely woah

The walk to the mesa was long and frightful, made longer by the ache in his shoulder and the sting in his leg. Panacea couldn't seem to stifle his racing thoughts. It was obvious that Kemal knew the woman at the mesa, but what did that mean?

He wasn't left wondering for long, at least. He stood back when Kemal moved to greet the woman, ears slicking back against his skull. At Kemal's words — let's go home — he could only manage a shuddering sigh. Panacea didn't think he understood any of what had just happened. He wasn't sure he wanted to.

After a moment he fell into step beside Kemal, keeping a careful distance. It was going to be a very long walk back.