Raz face hardened. "Even more reason to kill him," she snarled. "Whatevah' he did to me before...before Pitch, I guess," she grumbled. "He still has to pay for, and now he's gone and gotten his ICY friend to practically SCAR me." Raz rubbed her injured arm gently once more, face softening in pain. "I don't know if this'll EVAH' heal." she muttered, before drifting off to sleep.
As the group sat, trying to figure out their next move to make on Raz, Nina walked a ways away to sit by a small pond. She thought about what she'd done, how she'd defended Raz in the face of all odds, and suddenly wondered if it truly WAS the right choice. Sure, she totally understood what the poor kangaroo had been subjected to; she knew that it was torture fit for no living creature. But...what if releasing Raz had allowed her to run free again, and hurt innocents? Destroy things? Kill people?
Nina sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, remembering one of the arguments Dean and Squint had engaged in in the past. Sure it hadn't been the actual DEAN at the time, but what if there was a point to be taken into consideration? What if trying to give Raz mercy and drawing her back to the good side proved fatal to everyone and everything else? She was now more dangerous than Squint had EVER been, on account of the fact he'd related his pirate past to her during their travels and spare time. "Hey," a gentle voice greeted. Nina turned to look up at her mate, and gave him a small smile.
"Hey," she said. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About Raz... I'm wondering... If I actually did the right thing."
Squint frowned. "What do you mean?"
"About getting Jack to release Raz. And... I was thinking about one of the arguments you and Dean had. About Raz."
"The one when it wasn't actually Dean arguing?" Squint asked
"Yeah..." Nina began softly. "But, maybe he had a point."
"A point?" Squint inquired, sitting next to her.
"Yeah, I mean...you know how that felt, you knew it wasn't the right way to treat ANYBODY. And you stood up for it. You defended Raz against practically everybody." The buck smirked and lay a paw on his chest. "And if you hadn't, you know I certainly WOULD've." Nina chuckled and gave a nod. "Personally, I can't complain; you defended my sister and saved her from a whole lot of pain." Squint continued, wrapping an arm around Nina and pulling her close.
"Yes, but... What if she does kill everybody?" Nina asked.
"That'll never happen. Remember, this is RAZ we're talking about."
"Right; Raz the former pirate who's got a vendetta against YOU." Nina replied sarcastically with a smirk. "But I suppose even SHE would have trouble killing off the entire world."
"Yeah..." Squint trailed off sadly, face drooping. "I kinda' wonder WHAT she thinks I did to her, you know? Why she feels the need to get revenge on ME of all people."
"I don't know," Nina whispered. "But whatever she thinks you did, it must have been bad."
"No kidding," Squint scoffed. "Do you think...SHE thinks that, it's MY fault Pitch turned her?" he asked. Nina tilted her head quizzically at him. "I mean, she probably isn't AWARE that, that's what it really is, but...what if deep down she thinks that it was MY fault she took Pitch's blow?"
"But it's NOT." Nina reasoned. Squint shrugged.
"Maybe," he replied. "All the same, what if she thinks I really AM the reason she's...the way she is NOW? And what if...what if she's right?"
"Don't say that!" Nina exclaimed. "It isn't your fault!"
"Are you sure?" Squint asked softly, staring into the water. Nina lay a paw on his shoulder in a comforting fashion.
"Of course I'm sure, Squint." she soothed. "And I know you would do EVERYTHING in your power to turn her back. She's your sister, and you love her."
Squint smiled at Nina. "Thanks, Nina." He thought for a minute, and then said, "You really are perfect for me."
"Why is that?" Nina asked, also smiling.
"Because you always know how to make me smile."