Loneliness burns

The prospect of going with Void and Gloom to search for their missing family was equal parts relieving and terrifying. He didn't really want to leave Abaven, not when he'd just begun to feel like he was settling in and really getting his bearings. He was looking forward to more lessons with Meadow too, and the thought of putting that on hold didn't settle well with him. But... neither did the thought of never seeing his mom or his brother again. Not that he'd been close to Desolate at all, but still, family was important and getting them all in one place seemed like the most worthwhile pursuit right now. It'd be hard, but he needed to go with Gloom and Void, Spirit knew that now.

His thoughts were disrupted entirely by the familiar sound of Gloom's voice. Jerking his head around, he had the brief urge to rise and properly greet her, but his sadness outweighed that urge. He felt defeated, which unfortunately wasn't a terribly uncommon feeling these days. "I-I- I don't know," he stuttered. He wasn't the type to lie, but he didn't want to worry Gloom either. He was intuitive enough to know that she was struggling too with their mother and brother's absences, and he didn't want to make her fret over him, not when they needed to focus on leaving soon. Before he had time to explain further she was lying down with him, and her presence was enough to make him feel infinitely better. Not that he didn't still feel dreadfully small and sad, but she made him feel better. "Are y-you okay?" That seemed far more important to him, as he shifted to press closer into her.