paying the price

M  A   E    A I talked to God to no avail Said, "If you won't save me, please don't waste my time." Vai's assurance and orders to the nurses gave her some comfort, but while Maea was exhausted and still only concious by the strength of get will, she didn't want to sleep. How could she, when others might still be inside the Spire? But she did stay in the bed and pulled the blankets over herself, missing the scarf that someone had taken away to clean... She wanted it now, because the night was cold and something inside her was shivering. She turned to Emmett at his mumbled statement, and nodded. Something... but she didn't have the kind of sixth sense that might predict a disaster while it happened, couldn't scry in her water to see what went on at the hop of a black Tower even as they spoke. She believed him but only because it made more sense than to think they had all failed and been forced to retreat. "Emmett... Thank you" she murmured. "For bringing me here..." It had no doubt saved her life. Yet the boy looked as forlorn as if the world har already ended... and in a way, Maea knew it had. For him, for her... they just had different ways of coping with the aftermath. He lay down in the ashes to revel in what he'd lost, and she planted roses while pretending the burns didn't hurt... and it was hard to tell which way was more destructive.