I'll Never See You Again if I Can't Help It

Fable had been running for so long that it felt good to finally lay down and rest. She continued to trace idle patterns in the loose soil with a forepaw as Noor spoke, her ears flitting back and forth as she took it all in. Hearing Noor apologize so much stirred some distant suspicion in her. It seemed clear now that she didn't intend to drag Fable back to serve her sentence, and it made sense that they would be after the rest of the kitchen staff just the same as the head chef. Really, anyone could have been responsible. Anyone.

"And here I thought you were coming looking for me," she said stiffly, not used to allowing herself this sort of vulnerability. Her entire life had been about measurable, achievable success: the perfect dish. The perfect soup course. The clean kill. Love was unquantifiable and was messier than a butcher's countertop. She hated the way it defied measurement, defied sense. It had already cost her so much and still, greedily, she wanted more. "There is no word to give. I can tell you I wasn't responsible, but in some way, I was. I missed the final check, didn't sample anything before it went out. I was distracted," she let the words hang there still, resisting the urge to say the painful thing. The thing that would be the sharpest paring knife between Noor's ribs: distracted by you. "Neither of us are going anywhere alone until the sun rises again true. I won't allow it," she said simply at Noor's final declaration. Fable's eyes glanced up towards the imposing red sky.

"No, until the sky is clear again and the earth has settled and whatever this is has passed... we will travel together. You need taking care of, and I need something to keep my mind off this," she gestured lamely at the area around them. "This" seemed too small for what they were embarking on, but it was the best she could do. "Now, let's rest." Without further discussion, Fable set her chin down on her paws and tried to steady her breathing enough to find sleep.

"Speech"