Home sweet home

MaeA Maea wasn't sure what she had expected to find upon returning home. Something dramatic, possibly; signs of great change, of dramatic upheaval, of nothing at all... and what she saw as she looked around was a bit disappointing. A year had supposedly passed, and as she looked out over the wasteland that surrounded the Spire, she realized that nothing at all seemed different from last time she had been here. The tower still stood behind her, a looming shadow that sent a chill down her spine despite the warmth of the day. The ground was still dead, dusty and dry, and the rest... well. Trees. Buildings far off in the distance. The only thing that really struck her as unusual was a bird that came flying directly towards her at great speed, screeching off the top of its lungs. Just as she raised her hands to ward the face, it changed, took on the form of a man who practically launched at her with greetings and questions. Truth be told, it took her a moment to remember who it was. When the name finally came to her, it made her smile a bit, but without the exuberance he showed. "Hi, Adam. I'm okay. It's... has it been that long? Feels more like a week." It felt strange, to get such an intense reaction from him upon coming home. Had they been that close? All she could recall was a few conversations and a bit of help around the farm, but... did that warrant this happy reunion scene? Her hesitation showed through in the tension of her shoulders, the clenching and unclenching hands. She withdrew from his touch, taking a step back. "Is something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head to the side as she wrapped the ragged black shawl closer about herself. ------ OOC: For the sake of timelines, I'm placing this thread just before the Fiat Lux festival. Hope that's okay. :) you're so cold, but you feel alive.