[The Sanctuary] Aftermath

[Kavala]

Timestamp: Spring 1, 512 AV
Location: The Sanctuary
Status: Open

It took them nearly a bell to get the giant tunnel doors set well down into the earth open enough to squeeze by. They'd been so difficult because debris had been piled up against them and Aweston had volunteered to go down the tunnel, out the sea cave doors, and walk the road to get back to where the tunnel was and partially uncover its entrance. Kavala had grown slightly impatient and worried when he'd departed and then it had taken so long to get the passage even opened a tad big.

When they stepped out into the sun, joining Aweston, it was apparent why.

Their home was in ruins. The wooden buildings and fences hadn't survived the way some of the stone structures in the city of Riverfall had. Inferior or competent carpentry had given way at the force of the djed winds leaving the outside of The Sanctuary a pile of rubble, splintered wood, and debris that was all but unrecognizable.

Kavala took a breath, then another, her face going completely blank as she turned in three hundred and sixty degrees and saw that nothing was left standing.

Once, when she'd walked the Chavi of an Eth and faced his grief at a konti long dead that he hadn't been able to stay home and love... she'd thought that the only security one had in life is that what one built for oneself. Loving men, even good ones, had a price. Loving ideas and places came much more cheaply. And that places never left you, never rode out on patrol or to destinations unknown with ones heart and never came back.

But The Sanctuary she'd built was gone.

Suddenly she couldn't think or feel anything. It was as if her body had shut down the capacity, slamming internal doors shut before the deluge could hit and sweep what was left of her heart and soul out to sea. The sea. Kavala turned and looked over the cliff to the wide expanse of the Suvan. It was an odd brownish color and though she couldn't see the beach being too far back on the cliff, she realized it must be filled with flotsam as well.

Clinically, coldly, with a silent voice screaming inside of her mind, she realized if Ronan, Sama'el, Leto, Denen and Issi were out in open when the storm hit, they'd be dead. Dead. Oh Gods...

Dead.

The people here could easily have been dead. If the Konti's warning hadn't come as fast as it had, there'd have been nothing left. They would have all been dead too, either in their beds or trying to find shelter. Had she not built the underground two seasons prior, nothing would have survived. Their very existence depended on that move. Kavala walked forward, awkwardly, for it was not easy to move through the debris field. She stooped and picked up a shattered board. Then she picked up another, slowly loading up her arms with debris. She'd left Tasival and Shayru down in the Great Room. He'd be fine for a while. Here though, now though, she needed to start cleaning.

And as she picked up the broken pieces of her dream, she began to cry. She didn't even realize it. Bend, stoop, load wood into her arms, the Konti lost her mind a little as she started straightening a path out from in front of the big doors, so they could swing them all the way open. She said nothing, for there was nothing to say. If Sanctuary looked like this, Riverfall would be hard hit as well. They had to get ready, for animals would need help, so too would people.

Endrykas... the tent city... her first home. Her family. The Denusk Pavilion. Riverfall had sent warning, but had they heeded it? Was there truly any warning for something like this? Kavala kept working, going numb inside. She wondered how many had died... especially of the Drykas and Svefra. Homeless, no walls, no ties... it was the best of lives at times and the worst as well in others.

[Raiha]

Shadowplayer, you’re not going to be happy... The warnings had come fast and thick from the shadows as Raiha had waited with the rest of them to be able to get out into the aftermath of the storm and see how bad it truly was.

All gone, Raiha Shadowplayer. Nothing remains.

Torn and lifted by the winds... Snow and muck and mess.

With each whispered word of Makath, Raiha’s expression did not change, even as she folded her arms across her belly to keep it from lurching, and waited, moving her hands and tucking it into the pocket across her belly, where she could clasp her hands and grip her hands together, and no one could see how white her tightly-clenched knuckles went. Calm. She had to stay calm. If you can keep your head...

"What of Riverfall?" She asked them in Makath, her voice almost inaudibly low as she murmured when the others spoke to disguise it. "Go find out, please, and let me know." She pushed after Kavala into the cold, frosty morning, her heart sinking into her pit of a stomach. The reports, as horrific as they had been, had not been exaggerated. Everything was gone. Even through the clouds of warm breath that the group exhaled in the chill helped to obscure the chaotic destruction only briefly, there was no escaping the harsh reality. Raiha and Kanikra were both silent for a long time as they looked around the mess that had been their home for nearly two years. It had been a labour of love - of blood, sweat, tears, joy, laughter... And now it was gone. Gone. Torn with a finality that reminded her how small and young they were in comparison to everything else that had been faced.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw herself down where the mews had been, her own haven within the Sanctuary that she had spent so long in, and wail and cry like a little girl. Now, however, was not the time. She couldn’t afford to crack right now. They had survived. This was just property damage. It could be repaired, rebuilt... but so much... She clenched her fists in her pocket again before forcing the muscles to relax. She wanted to say something as she looked at Kavala, taking in her shock, and almost wanted to reach to touch her, to hug her, to do something, but as she hesitated, knowing that that blank look and complete and total lack of feeling meant Kavala was on the verge of losing it. Kanikra settled the internal debate. Don’t. You know that look on her face. That expression? She’s going to break. Now is not the time. Raiha just leaned against Rath instead, for a few moments, before drawing in a mighty breath followed by a bigger exhale, and then she pushed herself away, beginning to gather up pieces of wood.

If anyone tried to reach for Kavala or get close to her, they would find the young female Akontak standing squarely in their way, or pulling them back, a slight shake of her head, warning in her otherwise sad face, her golden eyes a bit too bright in the morning sun. There was a set to her jaw as she held an armload of wood, surveying the wreckage of her home. She wanted to tell everyone that it would be okay. That they could rebuild. They would. It would just take time. And a lot more blood, sweat, and tears. If you could meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same... Of she and her sister, she was the optimist. The pessimist saw the difficulty in every opportunity, but she had to see the opportunity in every difficulty. “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph... We’re all alive. We’re safe. That is the important thing.” She paused, then, looking up at the sky before at the rest of the staff. They would have to start again. From ground up...

“Salvage what wood, anything, we can,” she said more firmly. They were going to have to get this going, because there was no cure for disappointment and heartbreak like hard work. “We’ll need it for fencing and rebuilding. If it’s warped beyond use, it can be used for perches, firewood. We’ll find a use for it. We’re going to need to clear a way to one of those more open spaces,” she gestured with her hand, in the direction she meant, “then we can get the wheelbarrows and carts out and start moving the bigger chunks of rock.” She bent to scoop and grab more wood, her shoulders set as she prepared for what was going to be a very painful day, keeping an eye on Kavala.

[Kadrath Onktaka]

Being cooped up underground just waiting idly was sheer torture. He didn't care how bad it was, he and his animal crew just wanted out! Or so they thought until the complete and utter devastation lay bare before them. The land had a strange, ruined, forlorn look just laying there in battered pieces over a heavily scarred face.

The entire habitation of Sanctuary was simply gone. It wasn't just knocked around a bit--it was totally flattened. He walked slowly through the rubble, staring at what had once been a well ordered, neat, clean kennel. A singed collar lay half buried in ankle deep icy mud, trashed and abandoned.

All landmarks like the stately trees by entrance were obliterated. That spot where he'd seen Raiha for the very first time was only a pile of filthy snow and charred debris. Anger welled within them and Uruk came to fore as Rath lost himself to the rage inside. His indigo fists clenched and a small muscle ticced in his jaw as the only show of emotion.

Icy green eyes raked over Kavala, Raiha and the other inhabitants of what had once been home to them.

'It's gone! Every last petching thing is gone! Where can I raise my daughter? What god did we anger to deserve this?! This was our home--this was everything to Kavala.'

'You're such a whiner Rath. It's only things that were ruined here, not the lives we know. If someone takes all of our weapons and clothes are we less of a man? No. Man up you Venhrehk. When you're done acting like a woman, I'll let you up for air--'

The internal argument stopped cold when he saw Miss Kavala start to cry. He would've moved to speak to her, but Raiha's golden eyed pupils were at pinpoints--a clear sign of a volatile mood he wanted no part of. He forcefully squelched down his brother to the darker internal recesses to get out his pms in private where he couldn't embarrass Uruk.

Uruk turned his attention to where the clinic used to be and signaled Fidens' to Search. If there was anything that was still or once alive, the dog would find it. For a few chimes, he shifted his vision to a mild but wide auristic field and scanned the area for viable lumber that could be reused. Although more than half was ruined, there was still just enough good pieces to get started.

The tall Akontak began separating debris into two piles; useful and trashed. The icy mud made it slow going and every now and then Fidens would find some mangled wildlife and shove it away into his own idea of orderly piles.

Oblivious to the people's misery, Rock bounced from place to place, thinking it great fun to find the 'good' sticks and bring them to Uruk for later fetching. Even unknowingly, he served a useful purpose, unlike the fastidious cat, Chain who refused to take a single step outside in the snowy muck. Rath would have to find time to desensitize the cat or she'd be useless. He was the trainer, not Uruk. He might make full use of the animal's training once completed, but he was much better at healing.

"Exactly right Raiha. Let's get moving and clean this up. The sooner we get things organized the quicker we will rebuild Sanctuary to an even higher standard."

He nodded as he spoke, with a firm optimism in his tone. Uruk was glad of the hard work because it kept him occupied. Let Rath withdraw inside to indulge in his useless displays of emotion. They needed to move on and -work- hard.

Uruk didn't have to wear gloves to hide his scaled arms or webbed fingers now, nor the heavy neck guard to hide his gills. He was able to be himself and indulge in some honest hard labor which was just fine with him. So a building was trashed. It was an object not a life and they should be thanking Wysar that their lives had been spared. The green eyed Akontak made a mental note to send an offering of thanks to Wysar later. He and his brother had been spared to procreate and Wysar's gift should be acknowledged.

"Together we will make this place bigger and better than it ever was. Now it's a group effort of more people working to build Sanctuary so it's bound to be improved."

(When Rath speaks and when Uruk speaks.)

[Wanthred]

When Wanthred had wished to visit The Sanctuary, he hadn't imagined it to be under such conditions. Ever since the animal center had opened, Wan wished to work there, but other business kept him away. He had decided that at the change of the season he would drop all other business so he can achieve his dream; a simple life working with the animals he adored. And even though the storm came through, Wan was still going to go to the Sanctuary. But instead of worrying about if they'd accept him as an employee, something he worried about for days after he first decided on this course of action, Wan was instead worried of something slightly different. He was worried how damaged the Sanctuary. So Wanthred trudged onward to the Sanctuary, the hilt of his scimitar sticking out above his right shoulder. As he walked onward, he imagined what it would be like to ride a horse. To push away the bad images of what he thought the animal center would look like, Wan instead imagined the humorous scene of him trying to learn how to ride a horse. He could spot most injuries on that majestic beast, and even saddle it, but actually riding it eluded him. But he would learn. He would learn at the Sanctuary, which was still standing, surviving after through the storm. The bad part about thinking postively is being dissappointed when even after all of it, bad things still happened. Looking ahead, The Sanctuary was gone. The buildings were decimated, merely splinters after the storm knocking on it. Were the workers here hurt? No, Wan told himself as he looked ahead. Walking closer, he noticed three individauls walking around in the rubble. Two women and one Akalak, all picking up the remainders of their business. The bald Akalak spoke, speaking postive. He actually sounded calm, speaking about building the Sanctuary up, bigger than before. And talking about this time, more people would be helping. This was Wanthred's chance. He didn't know if they had noticed him yet, so no need to startle them. "Yes, it is time to rebuild. And I would like to help, if you allow me. I go by Wanthred, and I had hoped to come here on better terms. Although I'm still seeking work at The Sanctuary, even if it is gone." Wanthred paused, letting this consider his words. He wondered whether or not to start helping before they spoke. How would they see the gesture? Wanthred bent down, picking up a stray wood chunk. If they'd allow him, he continue. But he was intruding unless they wished him so. Everyone had lost things in the storm, and sometimes they were emotionally attached to these things. No need to mess with their emotions anymore. So he waited.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Getting to the surface was much like being liberated from a cage. Anticipation loomed overhead, he knew this. He had heard the warnings; just like the rest of the staff. He had been listening carefully all night. Never sleeping, no; only waiting for the inevitable. For the ascent to the surface to survey the damage. And given what he had heard…what he had felt in the pit of his stomach he knew it wouldn’t be good. But even then he was somewhat of an optimist. Something would survive; something always did. He was living proof of this fact. Through hardship something always survived; worse for wear but survived.

However when he ascended behind the rest of the staff…he knew. Even before surveying for himself he saw Kavala’s stance. Her expression then said everything else. He need not look around; but he did. Nothing stood. Everything….EVERYTHING that had once stood was no more. Not even a single board stood erect in defiance against the turmoil. Complete devastation of EVERYTHING above ground. He couldn’t believe it, and he knew the others had to be welling with almost uncontrollable emotion. This was home to them, and now…well now it was no more.

He knew they had built it themselves. And there was a certain level of success and pride that came with this undertaking and completion. However now, well now they saw just how easily everything could be swept clean by the hands of the greater powers at be. The camp…

Like a pang across his brain a wave traveled across his spine and shot down burning a path. The camp likely didn’t survive. All those innocents…what kind of death did they receive? What of the red man and his slavers? If this was any sign of what the camp received…they were all dead now. This was a strange sort of closure for Serrif. He didn’t want to think of the kind of death they all got. But; it was an almost graceful death compared to what they could have. But that thought didn’t stay long. It was replaced by Raiha’s words of action.

He knew he would be the most emotionally collected individual among all of them. HE didn’t have an attachment to this place like they did. And for once this was a blessing. He was thinking clearly among the chaos. There was something to be said from building up from the ruins. You knew what your weaknesses, were where you went wrong, what to do next. There were lessons to be learned here. Plans to be made for the new Sanctuary. He was again a mural for this. Torn down to nothing, less than a man. And then through careful hands built back up to what he was now. Sure his body bore the scars of his past, just like the land would bear the scars of this event. But they could build it back stronger. It was unfortunate yes, but not unrecoverable.

His mind started to focus, there was now much to do. His body would suffer, his muscles would scream, but he would offer them no quarter. Working just as hard as any would expect. He would begin to move some of the larger beams of wood and start organizing them in piles. Squatting down he gripped a large stone and then heaved it up so he could carry it a few feet to a pile. He then set it down, his face a slate free of expression the entire time. He was fixed on the task at hand. And as such he could continue onward. Piece by piece he would continue. A piece moved was one less piece out of place; maybe…just maybe when this place didn’t look like a disaster zone they could start rebuilding. But first they had to clear this place.

Help had come, but in the form of a rather randomly appearing Akalak man. Another pair of hands would be good. But he wasn’t sure who would speak to him. He had learned on his arrival here to say little and choose words carefully. Perhaps this is why his longest exchange of words still belonged to Kavala. He hadn’t really talked with anyone else as of yet. But he knew there would be time for such things. And now was not this time. He nodded to the Akalak and just continued clearing setting things in appropriate piles. This was healing for the Sanctuary staff, but he knew that when the new buildings went up that would be the true closure.

Now the wounds were still fresh, and they needed to make sure they didn’t infect by making poor decisions. Kavala was crying, that was part of healing. He wanted to do something, but Raiha wouldn’t allow it. And he knew far better than to do anything contrary to Raiha. He said nothing, and instead stated sternly his commitment to this place and these people with his actions. Clearing debris.

[Kavala]

Kavala would have been glad Raiha, even though she didn't realize it, kept everyone away from her. She needed time to fall apart without everyone trying to sooth and comfort her. As she stared out across the wreckage of her dream, it was less about the facility being total gone and more about the fact that there were people still out in the world that they had no idea what happened to. Did she start grieving because her Drykas family might be gone? Did the people traveling to Avanthal and back on Ragnor's behalf make it? Did Cugacon survive the storm?

Emotions boiled over in her, half because it was the worst thing she'd ever seen, and half because she was in the early stages of pregnancy and things simply upset her. She stared, almost numb, until everything in her mind came to a violent crescendo and she suddenly clutched her stomach, leaned over, and began vomiting the contents of her stomach up in the carefully cleared area she'd just made.

White skin turned ashen grey and abruptly she sat down on a pile of rubble to let her stomach stop heaving. Into the air she suddenly asked, all of them at once, a pointed question.

"How do we do this? How do we rebuild all of this?" The question was an angry sword, a thrown dart, a bola thrown out into the general chaos of the storms' aftermath.

She lifted her hand, studying it, as a scientist might take note of a new species of plant or animal. It was a thing that had taken on a life of its own and as she held it out, it danced in a trembling motion as if disconnected from her will. The other one, tucked almost behind her, was similarly shaking.

[Raiha]

Another comes, the shadows sang. Blue man, Shadowplayer. He comes from the city.

“What colour are the flags?” Raiha murmured as she bent in half to add more wood to her arms, obscuring her face and mouth.

Damaged, but not broken. Damaged, but not beyond repair. Damaged, but still there.

Close enough, she supposed. Riverfall would be fine. Built into the cliffs and stone as it was, the devastation could hardly be to the degree that it was here. “I thank you all. Please keep me posted.”

Raiha had gone to and fetched Diallo and Dara to help, just as Rock and Fidens were. Her deerstalkers didn’t have the sheer size to them like Rath’s pair, but they could help carry things, and if she had to, they could pull. Those two had been put to work, finding and grabbing broken bits of wood and hauling them over and around the piles of rubble, dropping them, and going hunting for more. In a way, to them, it was a game, even if they didn’t understand what the Ukalas had happened to the world around them, because this was definitely not how it had looked before they’d all gone down to the Within.

She looked up when Wanthred spoke, having been made aware of him by the whispers that had told her another was coming up the frozen road. “You’re very welcome,” Raiha smiled faintly. In any other circumstance, she would have pointed him towards Kavala for the interview, but this was different. “Although I don’t think that this is the best of times for a job interview... but we can use all the help we can get. This is going to take a while. We’re trying to clear some paths to the more open areas so that we can get some wagons out.” It would take a lot longer than a while, she knew. It would take seasons, maybe years, to rebuild and recreate. She hoped it wouldn’t. But for now, they had to get this cleaned up so that they could rebuild. She deposited one armload of twisted wood that she was claiming for perches, her own stomach twitching as she heard Kavala beginning to retch, and she swallowed repeatedly before going back to where she had been working and starting to sort through, straightening again and looking at Kavala as she spoke up.

She knew that the hurtled words were not aimed at any of them in particular - it was hurt and bitterness and shock and horror. “It’s always darkest before the dawn... Look at Dara,” she told her friend. The chocolate brown deerstalker bitch was determinedly lugging a piece of wood after Diallo. It was far too big for her, but her jaws had clenched on it and she would not let go of it, even as she kept backing up with it, pulling it after her. “She’s not as big as Diallo or Rock or Fidens, but her strength is in her tenacity. She won’t give up until she gets her burden where it needs to be. Our tenacity will be our strength. The best way out is through.” She swallowed again, her eyes distant. “We will rebuild brick by brick, rock by rock, stall by stall, day by day. That’s how. It seems like a long road, and it will be, but when you walk it with friends, it’s not as long as it seemed when you first stepped onto that road.”

There was a bark in the distance, as Dara, with the help of the big white deerstalker, got the heavy chunk of what had been part of a stall, into a far pile, before coming back for more.

[Kadrath Onktaka]

Fidens paused in his labors, lifted his massive head and gave a low, deep MOOF at Wanthred's approach. The enormous dog's ears and tail remained on high alert until someone dealt with the new one's approach. His guarded posture relaxed the chime Raiha answered the man. Her scent was all over his master's things and person, so the stranger must be safe.

The large hunting cat suddenly leapt out into the midst of the filthy rubble and made her way over to Kavala. Something was wrong, very wrong with the Konti and she could smell it. Chain made it to Kav's side and purred loudly, her tail twitching out its concern. Something didn't smell right about the woman and she wasn't sure what to do. As much as the cat trusted Rath, she wasn't fond of Uruk at all. How to get Rath's attention through Uruk's control? Her first chirrups of worry went unheeded by the attention of the one she was trying to get.

Uruk was more concerned about the scrawny male human in their midst, Serrif. At least Wanthred was his own kind, with both Kavala and Raiha as strong, respectable women. He returned to shifting, carrying and moving the larger pieces of debris but his icy green gaze kept returning to the Drykas male.

While Rath had begun to feel some respect for the horseman, Uruk still didn't quite trust him--especially around -his- woman. The new Akalak would understand not to touch a fellow species' womb, but Wysar only knew what those lame brained, skinny Kuvans would do! Rath was a blatant racist and didn't really give a shyke what others thought of his opinion.

"Now we have a second -real- man around here Wanthred. Come on over here and help me get this area cleared so we can bring up things from the underground."

Uruk stressed the word real, giving a brief, scornful glance in Serrif's direction before settling back on what he considered his 'own kind.'

"Like -my- Raiha was saying, if we clear out just enough smooth ground, we can bring up the wagons, carts and wheelbarrows to start moving things outta here."

(When Rath speaks and when Uruk speaks.)

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

The staff was stressed, hurt and well the seriousness of what they had just seen was astounding. He could still hardly believe it himself. The destruction…just like Raiha he knew the only way to do anything in this circumstance was little by little. If each of them worked hard they would get something accomplished. Bit by bit little by little. Everything moved would put them one step closer to finishing. One step closer to rebuilding. And that was what the staff needed; rebuilding. The blatantly pointed words issued from Rath fell on almost deaf ears; pain brought out the worst in people. It certainly had done so for him.

He had come here knowing he would be considered almost nothing to the Akalak people. He wasn’t as big, rough, or masculine in their eyes. That was fine he could use that perceived weakness in his favor; another one of the many skills he had picked up at the slave camp. NEVER let anyone know what you are really capable of. This way they misjudge you, and when they misstep you can take everything from them. Wait…like a predator. But for now he was concentrating on doing exactly what needed to be done.

Clearing paths so that wagons and such could be brought up. As he cleared he also piled things up. If the wood could be salvaged he put that somewhere, if not it went somewhere else. Same for anything else he found. He was sure that the staff would want to go through everything one last time before settling that some things were lost. But that would come with time. Right now they just needed to get preliminary things done.

Serrif’s mind shut down a little, concentrated on the task. Any pain or strain he felt seemed to almost vanish as he settled into his mission. He kept telling himself one more…just one more and pretty soon he had made more than admirable progress in clearing a path. He knew he would be feeling this later; but that was part of it. Anything worth having was worth working diligently for. Everything came with a price; only question was if you were willing to pay it or not.

And the cost of making admirable progress was strain on the body. If Rak’keli hadn’t renewed his bones those seasons ago he would be in much more pain than now. In a way this was a good test of his fortitude. His muscles aching he could put up with; however his bones feeling like they would break he could not. He numbed himself and closed his eyes for a second, only a second; to feel the inner serenity within him. He heard the waves, felt the sunshine…and for a second it was almost like he could feel the sand of the White Isle under his feet. Soothing he took a few measured breaths and wiped some sweat from his brow.

He didn’t much care for what the staff thought of him; even if they didn’t notice it they did have a use for him here. But eventually he would find himself a very specific niche here. Kavala had her horses, Rath his dogs, Raiha her raptors and he would have his medicine. The lab was where he was most comfortable and there was where he would do his art. But for now, in this moment and the next few days he knew that his work would be up here. Helping the rebuilding; because they needed to get the clinic back and operational again. Because there would be plenty of animals that needed healing. And the Sanctuary would be where they would come. They needed to be ready.

[Kavala]

Kavala heard Raiha's words and nodded, a small part of her mind knowing Raiha was right. Or was that Kani? Kavala wasn't sure and was so overwhelmed that it didn't register. The stranger she ignored, too lost in her own loss and pain. She felt a burn inside, like a fire, that started in her mind and coursed through her body. Animals moved about, mostly the dogs from the kennels - they had been safe below hadn't they? - and did what they could. Kavala herself wanted to help, wanted to do something to shoulder the weight of the cleanup, but something was wrong.

Something was broken inside her. She could feel the pressure, the burn, the pain that had nothing to do with what she was witnessing nor the wretching from her stomach. A furred shoulder placed itself next to her and she reached out, stroking the sleek hunting cat. Shivering she thought she'd wretch again as her eyes went blind to the destruction around her. Her body rebelled, angry, and even though her stomach heaved, the furred shoulder held her steady. A convulsion came and then another and then another and finally a hard sharp cramping. Momentary confusion filled her mind and then she drew a hand down her narrow frame to the womb that had not yet began to show its contents.

The hunting cat Chain growled a warning, hissing away a dog that had come up to investigate, as Kavala stood there in stunned silence. By the time she understood what was happening and tapped the double gnosis mark on her ankles to activate RAk'keli's power and pour it into herself it was past salvation. Too late though, she'd missed the signs and another hard cramp followed the first, as liquid began trickling between her legs. Konti had no menstruation like human women did, but in that moment blood flowed freely along with the tissue that would have become Cugacon's son or daughter.

"No. No no no no no... no!" Kavala said softly, chanting, as warm light coated her hands and poured into her abdomen. She was beyond saving though, not in this, because of what had come before. During the storm she'd reinforced shields over and over again. She'd worried and been scared and done everything a newly impregnated Konti shouldn't have done. Overgiving, stress, fear... gave her body the idea that it was not the right time for a child to be born into the world... especially one who's father had vanished.

Kavala stood there, her loose trousers spreading a blood stain, and openly denied what was happening to her as she stood surveying the wreckage. Her child, what was left of it, lost its life ejected prematurely from her womb while it was still too small to be anything more than blood and undefined tissue.

The destruction around her faded into nothing as her internal destruction took a forefront and yet another tragedy happened that she had no control over whatsoever.