and as you leave there are children playing at your feet

”I know..” She offered back, equally full of regret. How could she leave Abaven like this when she was needed? All she could do was hold tightly to her sister, regret flowing through her veins. If only she had been stronger. ”I don’t want to go.” She whispered, her voice filled with the emotions that warred inside of her. She didn’t want to have to leave, but there was no telling what the Warlord might decide to do if she didn’t come back. He hadn’t threatened her, but not knowing was almost worse.

”Motif is mostly okay, shaken up. She’s been blaming herself for…” Poem choked, unable to even say the words mom’s death. She sobbed again softly, her throat swelling and eyes filling with tears. ”He’s been training me.” She finally managed. ”Any damage I’ve sustained so far has been because he doesn’t pull his punches.” There weren’t any real wounds visible on her now, but he’d battered and bruised her more than once. The only consolation was that she let his blood as well. ”The hurt to my soul is worse.” She whispered, being held back from her family when they needed her so badly… Her heart was breaking because of it.