Hushed Willows oh, clean eyes

the blood came as a surprise; cortez moved forward a little, shocked, before holding himself back. he had to be the steady one, here. it would do no good to get overly emotional over the sight of a little blood. if it needed tending, he'd call for seabreeze.

and then reif spoke. . .goddamn near broke his heart, right then and there.

i know, kiddo, the shakti managed to choke out through his own grief, swallowing. but not because of you or anyone else. he just. . .he had to go. his eyes strayed to the designs, the blood, for a brief moment before returning to reif's face. do you see him, when you go to sleep and dream?