AMALIA
you're staring at the sky
watching stars collide
Coughing, gasping, grasping a severed head, Amalia emerges from the dark.watching stars collide
The last few steps were torment, single-focused diligence the only thing which kept her going. Gritting her teeth, clasping her staff, she forced herself up stairs after stair, refusing to stop as her lungs burned and her muscles screamed and tears flowed from her eyes. Only the knowledge that Rory was ahead kept her going, his absence from the stairwell a promise that he is out. Lucas, too, had fled up the stairs, and Jigano must be behind, and Roana...
There will be time to dwell on that later.
The doorway is a rectangle of promise, lit by stars and lanterns and air, air which had never tasted so sweet, air which has never mattered so much before now. It feels like hours between those last few steps, but truly only seconds pass-
And then she is outside, her staff dropping to the floor, clawing at the scarf which covers her face in between powerful, hacking, burning coughs.
She coughs, and coughs, and coughs, tears and snot leaking from her face. Catching her breath, Amalia gasps: "Rory?!" her eyes darting frantically, her vision blurred by tears, and immediately begins to cough some more. She is on her knees upon the earth, but it is earth at least, the grass of Frey beneath her feet, and above is Safrin's sky, and in her left hand...
Another thing to think about later. She does not know who the head belongs to, only that it could not be saved. Just like Roana. Just like-
Wait-
No.
She doesn't realize she's screaming his name until she begins to cough again, her hoarse voice tearing at the damage in her throat. "JIGANO!" He isn't there, he isn't there, which means he must below, which means she left him behind-
Sobbing, coughing, she stumbles to her feet, lunging weakly at the open door. "Jigano!" He isn't there - he isn't there - she left, and he isn't there -
It feels like losing them, all over again.
