your poker face ain't fooling nobody

He focused on her name and barely registered that she took a step closer. He wasn’t about to go anywhere fast, even before Samara had stopped him Rhyme was coming up on the end of his energy. Samara was still speaking and the once alpha managed to half perk his ears to catch her words. What happened? He knew what happened, but digging deep enough into his conscious would disrupt the safety of the bunker he built. Internally he was trying to protect himself by believing the hallucinations and grasping like iron to denial.

Rhyme wasn’t really lucid enough to realize the state he’d allowed himself to sink to. He didn’t see the wet mud caking his fur, or the distant gaze in his eyes. If he thought about any of that he had to think about his loss. Had to acknowledge the reality of his loss. He couldn’t bring himself to, he’d been offered a way out and he took it despite that it would eventually lead to his own demise. His mind made an attempt to form an answer as he watched the delicate woman with his depressive stare.

”The volcano.” He answered simply at first, but jumped slightly as Imperia suddenly landed on his shoulder. Even her light weight was too much and the aging man was forced to the ground, barely even conscious. The raven tsked lightly and offered her companion a quick nudge before hopping closer to Samara.

”Samara.” She cracked, her sharp gaze showing her concern. ”Much had happened in your absence. Noir and Verse are both gone. Noir of his own accord but no one is sure about Verse. Motif was found, but her sister has taken her place as captive. Shaye died in an accidental rock slide, and Rhyme hasn’t been the same since.” Imperia wasn’t often vocal, and the huge amount of words strained her voice. ”He’s not right, Samara.” Her worry was obvious as the midnight raven returned her gaze to the exhausted knight.