A few marbles short

M  A   E    A I talked to God to no avail Said, "If you won't save me, please don't waste my time." She too stood up, unsteady yet on legs not used to so much running. Whatever she had been doing in the past year it had done little to aid her physique. Still small, still frail in body and mind, Maea had to look up to meet his gaze. He smiled at her and she returned it, albeit somewhat lopsided. Perhaps someone ought to take his own advice about shutting people out? But she would not insist. Too much had happened, and this encounter was still too young to call anything but an introduction. So far? Mixed impressions. Loren was impressively capable and equally imposing in his privacy, hinting at deeper depth but letting her not at all closer to see what was really beyond. In that they were similar, herself only marginally more open and only because of the unknown grounds she'd been treading. But still. Maea had a feeling that they might become friends, one day. If the opportunity arose. When some wounds were not so raw anymore and certain tragedies had been laid to rest. "I would beg to differ on that. You did just save my life. I don't know that it makes up for any of the losses you've had, but... It definitely made a difference for me." She smiled. "I'd say you are plenty good to be around, Loren." Of course, she did not mention that he'd most definitely see her again soon enough, whether he wanted to or not. They were members of the same guild, after all, and before long their paths were sure to cross again. She saved that tidbit of information, savoring it as a surprise for later. "Me too. I... want to say I had fun, but that would be a lie." She grimaced in the direction of the hedges, the entrance so tantalizingly close, so terribly innocent looking now that it no longer tried to swallow them whole. "Let's just have tea or something, next time?"