If You See Her

JIAO

Delah spoke authoritively, boldly; it was hard to not feel like she was right. Jiao nodded along, though when asked the final question, as if it was somehow a personal failing to be interesting in the humans, she responded: "I have noticed. I just...hoped it was some sort of new seasonal thing. Do you...have any idea what it is then, if it isn't? Do you think it's because of the humans?" She did not like to worry much, so she had tried to put the blighted trees out of mind.

The show of mercy, however small, from the woman surprised Jiao, who had expected her to continue speaking in her harsh tones, had expected her to demand death for all Outlanders. "Maybe we should put up some sort of sign or barrier at the outskirts of the woods, to warn them off." She suggested, while knowing nothing of the sort would stop her.

Leave all of my regrets to sink like shipwrecks
Through oceans dark