It hurts. Oh God, it hurts.

She imagines this is how it ends, in a sick twist of irony or karma; she's not sure which. The universe had proven itself to her to be unfair, but maybe now it's trying to make up for that. An eye for an eye and three other such sayings.

The next strip of skin is the worst yet. She can feel the tears streaming down the sides of her face, beginning to pool uncomfortably in her ears.

Spells aren't working, so she has to try something else. She knows she doesn't deserve to go gently, but she's weak. She admits to herself that she can't bear it much longer. So she lets her mind go there, to an afternoon snuggled in bed with Tara. Each new strip of skin Gnarl takes is another stroke of her fingers through Tara's silky hair. When she smells the sharp tang of blood, she sees Tara's face blushing. "I'm sorry, it wasn't supposed to come for another couple days." And when Gnarl's tongue laps at the pooling blood, she eases Tara back, assuring her that it's okay, that she's got this, that every bit of her fills her with life and love.

Tara is gasping in her mind to hold on just a bit longer, and she doesn't remember that part happening; she's pretty sure what Tara said then had lots of Oh Gods or Don't stops.

She cries some more and senses something is happening in the cave.

Please, Tara...please, anyone...

Gnarl is off of her now, but she can't see why.

Anya's voice is the last one she expected to hear.