I don't understand why we are just standing here, he's dead. He can't be of use to us anymore. He was never of any use to us. We should leave him. I'm not sad that he's passed; I think I'm beyond sadness now and heading back to numb. Why is it those who are meant to protect or help me are always swept aside, forcing me to continue on alone? Don't take that to mean I want to die with them, I just want to understand. Violent deaths in the heat of a fight I get but to return and find him stiff on the ground hits to close to home. It's the same yet different and proves to me I'll never put my past fully behind me.

There is crashing in the undergrowth before us, Wolfgar always the hero calls for us to be ready to defend ourselves. I may not seem to be all here but even lost in memories I still have the presence of mind to know I need my rapier out. A shiny brass contraption which I could swear stepped straight out of my memories appears. My eyes widen and for me time has stopped. I don't recognise this particular warforged but I don't need to, it was made by my kin with likely one purpose; my death. Frozen in place I watch as Wofgar defends me knowing he would be better to run and survive. Not understanding I watch as it lifts its arm and pops out a crossbow to shoot at me. Reflexes kicking in I raise my own arm as a shield flickers up between us. Hand in front of my face, eyes closed I don't realise I've managed this until I hear the soft thump of something hitting the ground a few feet from me.

Lowering my hand I look up at the contraption, still steaming toward me, and feel silent tears beginning to fall down my face. I always expected when my time came it would be like this but I didn't think there would be anyone dying to save me. I can't let them, so gathering my wits I turn and run screaming that this can't be happening again. Blinded by tears and the memories of the day I found my parents I go, not intending to stop, until I am far enough away that after it has finished with me it will not hunt the others. It speaks and I don't stop to listen, certain I don't need to hear anything it may be programmed to say. I scream again telling it to get back and leave me to the life I have made. I stumble over some tree roots, turning, knowing that I can't out run it. I will face my end bravely and hope to save those I travel with.

My companions circle it as it stands in front of me. I tilt my head up as I place my rapier and crystal on the ground; I'm not going to go with my head hanging in fear. Hands up I step closer to it, breathing slowly and deeply so my voice doesn't waver.

"If you leave them, I'll go with you quietly"

I can barely speak above a whisper but I don't break down at I say it. There is comfort in knowing my companions have a higher chance of surviving if I choose to let it kill me. The lights behind its eyes flare and go out as it slumps over, I mirror its movement crying harder as I realise Wolfgar has knocked some of its internal mechanics loose and given me a brief respite. Wolfgar turns on me wanting to know what is going on. Too many thoughts about the whole situation come bubbling out; I catch myself explaining it's probably here to finish the job done on my family. Sina expresses some difficulty understanding this; I should have told them earlier, they deserve to know why something may attack us with no apparent reason. I explain as quickly as possible of my dragon blood and the chasing of my family from our home, glossing over just how much my people hate dragons. I tell of the day I returned to our new home to find myself orphaned and my suspicions as to what killed my parents. I confess I didn't stop to think when I saw this warforged, knowing they are all made by my people and how they hate me for something not my fault, I had to assume word got back to my village that somehow the dragon sorceress survived. I had to assume it was here for me.