let them see your black heart, baby

[Sage River Lykoi]

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<3 WC: 306

She'd been so excited at the mere presence of her beloved, albeit strange brother that it didn't register immediately for her when he said that he couldn't stay. Sage's smile faded slowly, and her laughter and bright face fell with it. No, he can't be serious! she thought. Where else would he go? They would be safer here, together. What reasons could he have for not wanting to be here? She thought about that, for a moment, and realized that maybe it was actually Daddy that he didn't want to see.

Yellow eyes fell to the ground; she hadn't wanted to think of those rumors, of that discovery and that strange, seemingly linked series of events. Sage had always refused to believe it; their beloved Father wouldn't kill his own daughter, certainly. Why would he? Frustrated and conflicted, Sage cleared her throat and turned her face back up towards Micah as China and Clover expressed their own dissatisfaction at the news he'd spoken.

"Micah," she started, her voice calm and nearly sad. "Why not?" Her question came hesitantly, almost afraid to hear the answer, the possible truth that she's managed to hide from for so long.

If he wouldn't stay here, they would need to at least convince him to stay close. After seeing him again, Sage would not want him to be so far away again. Being away from Mum and having Daddy missing was hard enough on the girl; she were growing up, sure, but that ache for family was always still there. Sage knew she had family in Inferni, of course, but it wasn't that same close-knit, shared family feeling that she'd loved about Juniper Peace. Her expression was pained, but tender, her arms limp at her sides, no longer so intensely excited. He can't leave us... she thought, Not him, too...