(o) as above, so alone

Isla

Isla winces at that - because of course things are so tangled up now that the presence of one demigod is enough to spur another to fight until the death. "I see. Well, perhaps we'll have to get Nate some anger management when he comes back, hm?" It's a weak joke at best, but it's kinder to think about when the Ranger is back than the right-now where he's gone. "Either that or we can start a gang. Nate can pick fights but only when he's got good backup. Like you."

She pretends not to see the tears, knowing Sunjata well enough now to know better, though she does shift a bit so she can link her arm through his, letting her cheek rest against his shoulder. "I didn't either, until Wessex said," she whispers. "If they don't give him back, though, then we negotiate until they do. They'll want something, Jata. Assurances, revenge, whatever it is. Once we know the price we can work towards trading." No part of her intends to leave Stormbreak empty handed.

It's a long couple of beats before she continues, and when she does it's with trepidation. "I don't know that Ronin would keep him from you, either. I would hope not. For all that has happened, that kind of spite isn't like him, right? Not when it's your husband."

we're gonna separate ourselves tonight
we're always running scared but holding knives