in limbo

[Sage River Lykoi]

[html]

<33 You can reply if you want, guys. If you don't want to, though, feel free to archive this now! WC: 409

Nayru had been nothing but receptive and kind to them, but the second she got the chance, Talitha exploded. Sage couldn't stop her, and didn't even bother trying. The hippie Lykoi knew the instability of her cousin, and feared the worst if she tried to step in. Instead, she simply hung back, an annoyed, hurt, and disappointed expression clear on her face. Her head shook slowly as the hateful words spilled from her red-headed cousin's mouth.

Of course Sage knew that such serious matters from their past could not be forgiven or forgotten so easily. She wasn't trying to forget; she was only trying to make Inferni a better place. They didn't need all of this hostility; the only thing that it bred was more of the same. How could she convince her cousin of that? Didn't she understand that by spitting in the face of the fresh Dahlian leader the way that she was, she would only bring more hatred into the world? How could Inferni remain neutral when Talitha ran around spouting all of this prejudiced garbage?

Sage sighed heavily. Oh, Talitha would hear her thoughts on this yet. But not here; Sage knew better, unlike her cousin. The black-masked Optio turned her face now to Sage, who felt smaller, abused. Her eyes narrowed, scowling as Talitha lowered her voice, dangerous. The words she spoke stung, and the earth child's expression fell. "You don't mean that..." she breathed lowly, her voice soft. There was both sadness and anger there. Did she really believe that? Maybe she was right.

Yellow eyes fell to the floor as Talitha said her piece and then turned to leave, just like that. "Talitha!" she shouted, but knew that it wouldn't help. The tan girl stood there for a moment, awkwardly, before clearing her throat. "I'm so sorry," she said to them. Her bleary eyes attempted to focus on Nayru, but they were filled with the emotion that she wished she could just let pour out. "I'll come back," she said quickly, glancing behind her again to see how far Talitha had gotten, "but I'll be alone next time." Her choice was firm; Talitha didn't want to be here anyways, Sage knew that.

Sage almost didn't want to chase after her, but knew that she must. With a brief, courteous bow of her head to both Saluce and Nayru, she turned and flew away in pursuit of her spite-filled cousin.