true mouthpiece [mtg]
The usual trickled in and Hani remembered once again how little of the pack she knew. She tried to not think about the others as she focused on Natalya. Her friend took a moment, and then began to speak. Her words seemed to ooze out slowly then come out all at once. She was dying? She couldn't be cured? Why didn't she ask Hani for help? The two of them healed together! Natalya had taught Hani to heal, why couldn't they work together? Hani's body felt numb. Her mind fumbled over unanswered questions. She felt herself grow very still, her breath coming in shallow huffs. Sea green eyes focused on the ground. Why hadn't Natalya told her sooner? They were friends, right? Hadn't they been friends? Quickly, after the news of her dying, Natalya demoted Hani and Conan. Hani knew she had reasons. Hani knew she shouldn't be shocked or upset, but she was. It hurt. Everything hurt. She wanted to close her eyes and wake up. She didn't feel real anymore. A tingling, jelly numbness surged in the woman's body even though her heart cried out.
The ground blurred and it took Hani a while to realized she was crying. People could see her! Why was she crying? She didn't want to be here any more. This pack wasn't her home, Natalya had been. Now Natalya, without warning, was leaving, dying, and striking through Hani's rank. It stung like she had been bitten. Her demotion the final slash against her friendship with Natalya. She felt betrayed. She wanted to scream and fight, but she couldn't muster the energy through her numbness. She couldn't be here. She didn't want to be here now or maybe ever again. Natalya had named Hani's rank as Antiatomist. She didn't want that rank. She didn't want any rank! Hani looked up after Natalya had stopped talking. How long had it been since Hani zoned out? It didn't matter. Her vision swam, but she looked straight at Natalya. Her maw opened and her voice choked out, "No I- I'm not going to be the Antiatomist. I-" the woman's voice cracked to a whisper, "I'm leaving. Maybe forever." She turned to leave before she could change her mind, "Sorry..."