Brighid closed the door quietly. Cuchulainn sat at the foot of the bed, staring into the fire. She approached him and knelt, grabbing his hand.

"You did what you could." His words were barely audible.

"I'm sorry, Cu."

He looked at her. "That doesn't bring her back, Brighid; it doesn't make up for any of this!"

She watched him crawl to the pillows and flop down. "Are you whole?" she asked. He didn't respond. She stood up, walked to him and pinched his arm. "Are you whole, Cu?" she demanded.

"Yes," he growled.

Brighid took several steps back and began chanting. Cuchulainn squeezed his eyes shut as the blinding light illuminated the room; and opening his eyes, he looked at Brighid kneeling on the floor, breathing hard. Her four hooves were replaced by two human legs.

"Do you really expect me to be intimate with you tonight, Brighid?"

"No." She raised her head, shaking back her silver hair, then stood with a fluid grace and walked over to him. "It's just easier to hold you when we have the same form."

Tears were brimming in his eyes as she lay down, and pulled him against her. She said nothing, squeezing him tightly and sharing his grief.

"Father, don't," Kaina insisted, as she watched Lochlan bind her by chains to the headboard of the bed in the guest room they had been provided.

"It is for your own good."

"Mine or yours?"

Lochlan looked into her despondent, human eyes. "You killed Arianrhod tonight," he informed her, and watched her eyes go wide. "This is for the benefit of all of us, until we figure out what to do." He dropped the chains, letting them clank down onto the polished floor; then stood up and walked to the door. He put his hand on the handle.

"I know what I am going to do."

Lochlan turned.

"You can go back to MacCallan Castle; I know you want to," she assured him. "But I cannot be around all those children."

"Kaina, we are family. The MacCallans are our clan."

"I'm not going to be responsible for their deaths! And I am not going to ask you to watch over me."

"That is what families do."

"Right. They never kill their mother, their aunt." She shook her head at him, curbing his imminent objections. "I don't want to hear it, Father. I am an animal. Epona does not love me, and you shouldn't."

"Of course I should!" He dropped to his knees so their eyes were level. "And I am experienced with the madness. The rest of us know how to win the battles. The New Fomorians and I will continue to help you."

"It doesn't work that way!" The chains scraped on the floor as she moved her hands for emphasis. "You cannot be part of the Clan MacCallan and have me there. We're not compatible."

He looked at her, afraid to see the truth in her words.

She took a deep breath. "I am not a child," she said, forcing her voice to remain calm. "I don't need you there. There is no Prophecy to save me. I will live mad. I will die mad. It is something we just have to accept."

They looked at each other for a moment; then Kaina lowered her eyes and sighed. "I belong in the Wastelands. I do not want to kill again. I do not want to kill you, or Aunt Brighid, or Uncle Cuchulainn…" Her voice hitched. "To think, the only reason Uncle Finegas is safe from me is because his soul shattered. The news of Arianrhod will hit him hard; he will probably come after me." She tried brushing back her hair, but the chains restricted her arms. "Will you promise me something?"

"Yes."

"When I have left for the Wastelands, block me from ever coming back."

He stared at her, hardly able to believe this was the same girl who once begged him to never leave her side.

"And please apologize to them for me." She scooted back and settled against the bed, giving the chains just enough room to reach her face.

Lochlan stood up and retraced his steps to the door. "I will retire after."

"Okay." She watched him shut the door and then closed her eyes.

Out in the hall, Lochlan stopped at the sight of Rosaine; on her way to bed. "Oh. Hello," he said awkwardly.

"Is she okay?"

"No."

Rosaine smiled at him. "Can I see her?" she asked politely, knowing she could not be refused.

"Yes. It is safe."

They moved around each other and she knocked softly on the door. At the welcoming call, she opened it and looked down at Kaina.

The Fomorian laughed bitterly. "I'm a sorry sight, aren't I?"

Rosaine slipped inside and shut the door. Stepping out of its trajectory, she knelt in front of Kaina, who enviously watched her perfect elegance. Rosaine looked up at her and forced herself to smile. "I just came to tell you Epona did not reject you. And she didn't forget."

In the middle of sitting up, Kaina looked at her past her blood-colored hair. "You profess to know Her plans for me?"

"I'm not professing anything. She called me Beloved."

Kaina fell against the bed. "Of course she did," she grumped. "It's not enough you're beautiful? It's not enough you have both your parents? It's not enough the only voice you hear is your own?"

"It's not enough my parents have these impossibly high hopes for me?" Rosaine interrupted.

"At least they have hopes!"

"Kaina," Rosaine said sharply, "I'm just trying to help you."

"It would help me if you were like me!" Kaina shouted, and then paused, taking in the hurt in Rosaine's eyes and considering the volume of her voice. "Or if I were like you, or…something."

"I can't help being who I am. Kaina, that is the only difference between you and me."

Kaina scoffed, but then caught a glimpse of the repressed anger in her cousin's eyes. Rosaine stood up and let herself out of the guest room.