A/N: This is directly after the falcon incident, when Karma and Iris are recovering. To clear up any confusion, the falcons came to kill the mongrels in the Court, but left, probably because of boredom. Karma fell to Ecl and Iris got stabbed. Please review!
My eyes are too dry and burning
and I'm staring into the flames
before me.
Firelight dancing across my feet
as they rest upon the cold hearth stones
not yet warmed by orange glow.
Acelan and Karma are whispering;
I hear them but the words
do not register.
My mind is trapped in dreams
Of Ahnmik, of falcons,
and the home I'll never see.
Karma's beside me, I'm smiling
(forced smile)
stroking her hair and hugging her
"I'm so glad you're all right."
I let that be my excuse
for the tears in my eyes.
My mouth is lying
as I tell her I'm fine, just tired,
and I jump when loud voices
bruise my tender ears.
Iris and Acelan fighting.
"Karma and Mara have their own lives to live!"
(I bite my lip and taste blood.)
She's trying to tell him
he should go back to his people,
and the pull of Ecl is already too
strong just thinking of
him leaving.
Screams make me wince,
and I'm looking away from Karma
I feel too fragile for anyone's eyes,
even hers.
And the breath I let out
when Iris walks out
Is more like a
painful sigh.