"I'm here. I'll be here. I'm sorry. I tried. But I'll be here." His words became a disconnected string of statements, of promises and apologies. That was all he had left, and each of them was infinitely weak. There was nothing he could think or say, and not a thing he could do to change what was still happening around him. She stopped crying, went limp, and he took the chance to pull her close. He felt like she was something he had to protect, or maybe something broken he had to mend, but she was also the one thing left of any value to him. K'piru, the tribe, these charred people and toppled tents.
K'piru was limp in his arms, and he wondered if she had fainted. It would be merciful if she had, but her tail betrayed her wakefulness. He couldn't guess what was going on in her mind or her heart. Those were things he could touch or sense, had never been able to, even though K'thalen seemed to manage. K'ile held her body, uttered his apologies and promises, but there was nothing he could do for her. He was helpless under the shadow of the smoke, through which burned the pitiless eye of Azeyma, reticent and unyielding.
Maybe she had broken. Maybe he had broken too. Maybe they would just stay there in the sand, unmoving, as the dunes blew in to cover them up. Just like the bodies vaguely shrouded just outside of camp.
K'piru was limp in his arms, and he wondered if she had fainted. It would be merciful if she had, but her tail betrayed her wakefulness. He couldn't guess what was going on in her mind or her heart. Those were things he could touch or sense, had never been able to, even though K'thalen seemed to manage. K'ile held her body, uttered his apologies and promises, but there was nothing he could do for her. He was helpless under the shadow of the smoke, through which burned the pitiless eye of Azeyma, reticent and unyielding.
Maybe she had broken. Maybe he had broken too. Maybe they would just stay there in the sand, unmoving, as the dunes blew in to cover them up. Just like the bodies vaguely shrouded just outside of camp.
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