[PQ] smiling out of fear

ASHE.    Of course, the figures couldn't just move on, or just vanish like the others had. Her heart doubled its pace, and she scrambled to her feet. The large beast was moving fast, its companion close behind.    Ashe cursed. She ripped her dagger free and she staggered unsteadily, her lip curling back to bear sharpened canines --    A woman skid to a halt in place of a leopard. Her words were abrasive on Ashe's sensitive ears -- when had she last heard someone's voice? -- but that was a person.    "Months, I think," she said over the wind. "I got lost."    Her head snapped around when she felt the brush of familiar thoughts against her own, and it was a good thing Remi caught her, because her knees would have buckled at the sight of him.    His heart beat under her head as she leaned against him, and she grinned for what felt like the first time in a long time. "Remi," she sighed, letting her eyes shut as she wrapped her arm tightly around him, blade forgotten in her hand.    They opened when he pulled back, and her brows pulled together. "Remi... what happened to your--"    Ashe broke off at another's thoughts that drifted down an Attuned link. She blinked and looked up towards the raven. "Jigano?" And the woman... Emily? Amy? She couldn't recall, but she was familiar now as she oriented herself. She swallowed and started to say more, but she snapped her eyes on the stormclouds at another flash of lightning.    "We have to get out," she agreed. Her heart raced, and she looked back to Remi. Please, she almost went on, but the word caught at the back of her throat. i may be broken, but I'm not done.