Stone Circle until the ashes of Eden fall

She seems to understand, and as Merrit catches her smile, he feels guilt douse his fire and his step catches and slows. What is he doing? There is an ache in the empty cave of his heart, and he is once again torn between the need to keep charging and the deep want to simply collapse right here, curl up and sleep. He can't do that, and his legs shake to middle ground as his shoulders buckle beneath the strain.

Please leave. he says, and his voice is strained, tired. This girl is no threat - now that he is near, he recognizes the scent of their allies to the South - but whatever she wants, he can't deal with right now, and he waits, sunken in neutral and oblivious to the energy that climbs through his chest.