they say it's better to bury your sadness.

[Kaena Lykoi]

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mall-caps;">Out of Character     I think Kaena & Gabriel require a thread after this is over? mall-caps;">In Character     Part of the coyote hybrid's head was still elsewhere, just as it always was—some might say her whole life was just one miserable chain of tragedy and trauma. Kaena herself was no optimist, to be sure; she had never seen the bright side of anything in her life. Yet standing on the outskirts of Inferni's new territory, inhaling the scents dancing on the wind that spoke of strength and cohesion, looking on her son, the Aquila—all she felt in her chest and her head was a swelling pride that did not seem to end. This was still Inferni, the same one Zarah had crafted what seemed like years ago on that beach with Kaena at her side. They met by chance, and recreated and redefined the coyote clan there, basing it on things that had happened what seemed like eons ago in another burned valley. Paradise always burned, it seemed—there was no other way for it to die but in flames. Her daydreams ceased, and she shook her head to clear it of them.     The young Lykoi questioned Gabriel, and Kaena's gaze followed the lavender eyes of the youth to her son. There was something on his face she could not place at first, but she realized after a moment what it was—he had been here the whole time she had not, for certain; he could fill in the blanks in her brain and more. In an instant she wanted to corner Gabriel and devour all of the memories his mind held, but she couldn't be so demanding of him. She wanted to close the distance first—she was not so heartless she did not detect the schism between them. The elder hybrid had allowed it to happen, and she was responsible for it. She ought to be the one to mend it. Again she wanted to go to her charcoal-dusted son—but this time she wanted to crawl on her belly and beg his forgiveness for leaving him and his siblings and their children for one wretched child. He would not allow that, though, and Kaena had not grovelled in so long she did not think she remembered how. The coyote would have to figure another way.     Gabriel's eyes were intent on her. She felt them pierce through her soul; his gaze was the mirror image of her own before she'd lost her eye. He spoke, and Kaena felt a wave of relief wash over her. As she had gotten closer and closer to the old territory she dreamed of being chased off, fantasized that not even her family would want her anymore. She didn't know what would happen then—maybe she would have just let them kill her and ended it. If they didn't want her anymore, no would would, and she was destined to a short life of isolation anyway, so why not? The thoughts had left her consciousness shortly thereafter, though, resurfacing only at that moment to be swept away by her son's invitation. "This is where I belong," she affirmed, finally getting to her feet. The pain in her leg was gone, the false devil defeated. He released his hold and crawled away to some other poor soul.

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