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Sage sat astride Lennon, her body swaying in a lazy, melancholy way as his long, slow strides carried her through the lands. She didn't want to do anything. She hadn't eaten since she'd gotten the news, and her stomach was rightly growling at her in protest. Normally one to eat at least one small meal every day, she had already begun to look thinner. The Ma-Tzu had even neglected her drug of choice, though a few rolled joints were tucked into her bag nevertheless. Listless, she tugged one out, eyes puffy and half-lidded, baggy as she wore a pitiful frown, tucking the thing between her lips. It took her another while to slowly dig out a book of matches, but she lit one and the end of the joint with it. A heavy cloud of smoke followed her after that first breath of the sweet musky stuff, and she was quickly puffing away at it, nursing it and clinging to it like she might a good friend, if she had any.
The Ma-Tzu's stallion sensed her depression, and would occasionally glance back at her, large brown eyes wearing the closest horsey expression to concern. Sage did nothing but stare back, unblinking, unfeeling. It hurt so much. What was she supposed to do? Go on, she told herself, but it was hard to believe, you have to live your life. She knew it was true, but she felt like she just couldn't. Sage had made a botch of her entire stay in Inferni; she wasn't even allowed back, even now, and she often wondered if Ezekiel had spies watching her and her pack. Most of those thoughts had faded now, though, and were replaced with more urgent ones. Her current pack, the one she'd thought she'd come to live and die in, seemed to be falling apart. Two deaths at the borders, the abandonment of her father, Nayru, Pripyat. She remembered Pripyat's words, his sullen welcoming. "I hope you come to find peace and happiness in Ichika," he'd said, but it meant nothing now. There was no peace, it seemed, not ever. And happiness was fleeting from her.
When she came upon Saluce, she barely realized it. By now, her mind was a thick fog, and the tight knots in her stomach were wrenching from hunger and from anxiety. Large chocolate ears swerved, barely registering, and right after soft ambers swayed hazily towards him. "Saluce?" she said, ever-so-softly. If she hadn't known better, it might have been a dream. Lennon had slowed to a stop beside the large gray figure, and as her wits came about her she recognized it truly as the newest Exultare. He was Xy'rin's mate, but it had been clear to Sage that his demotion had been a heavy blow to their relationship. She didn't want to mention that to him, though. Really, she just didn't want to do anything. She blinked, and some of the cloudiness went from her eyes. She could still see his fresh scars, and her ears fell against her head at the noticing. "How are you healing...?" she asked flatly. Her concern was true, but her heart was just not in it. Sage wondered if he would notice.
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