'So does that mean that I should just give up on revenge? Give up on the only thing I have been resolving to do for all these years?'

'…I'm just saying that you have other things in life to live for. Things that are much more precious and meaningful. Things that are much more worth living for.'

Clare didn't like being angry at Teresa a single bit, but she couldn't help but feel offended... And hurt at what Teresa was saying.

'So I should just forget about everything that happened, all the hurt and pain and what happened to you, and just live happily with my comrades like you never existed? Like you never came into my life and left such an irreparable gap in it?'

'Clare...'

The feeling of not being understood by Teresa was horrible. It felt icy cold. It was as if the one person she trusted the most couldn't empathize with her emotions.

She stood up from the position beside Teresa, feeling the need to get away.

'I will never forget what Priscilla did to you. And I will never stop my pursuit of killing her. Even if it means I die in the process.'

Ignoring Teresa's eyes on her, she started making her way into the forest, away from the heat of the fire and the warmth Teresa's presence. Into the cold, dark and empty forest she decided to venture to seek solace.

-
Clare sat against a tree bark, pulling her knees towards herself. The moonlight shone brightly despite the tall trees blocking its path. There was no burning fire to keep herself warm, and she was alone. The air was still, so the only sound was that of insects occupying the vast forest.

She had ran away in the spur of a moment. Despite her calm countenance, she always had such a rash nature, jumping into doing things with seemingly less consideration. And she had done so yet again.

But she was kind of glad that she did it because she managed to calm herself down and think about what Teresa said. She had been so caught up in emotions that she didn't think deeply enough... And in a sense, she did agree with Teresa. For such a long time, she had been living with a sole intention of killing Priscilla in her mind. It had been that way for so long that she didn't realize the change in her herself. Now, she did have people that she wanted to live for. She did have people she wanted to live and be together with. The Seven Ghosts, Raki, they have all occupied an irreplaceable part in her heart. Even though part of her wasn't afraid to die if it meant killing Priscilla, the other part was scared of losing the people she cared for if she or anyone of them were to die.

That's why Teresa had been right... Her friends were much more important and precious to her than the act of taking revenge on Priscilla. And instead of recklessly living, she actually wanted to survive to be together with them.

But what did that mean? Did it mean that she had to just let go of the past? Forget about Teresa's death? Forget about her reason for becoming a Claymore? That too was beyond her. If she just gave up on that, her whole life would have felt like a lie. Like she was giving up on both herself and Teresa. And she didn't want to do that.

It also dawned upon her that even though she had only left Teresa's side for awhile, her heart ached for her friend to be by her side already. It was, after all, the first time in these 'days' that she had actually been away from Teresa. Considering the fact that she might wake up in the real world anytime and never ever see Teresa ever again, it was a pretty awful decision to just walk off. She felt guilty for leaving Teresa alone, and felt ten times worse if the last time she saw Teresa was going to be in that kind of situation.

'Teresa...'

She yearned to walk back to where they had camped. She wanted to get back to where Teresa was. But she was suddenly so filled with the fear that she might see an empty spot in place of where her friend originally was. That thought made her feel too hollow to move.

She gripped the sides of her knees tighter, a little overwhelmed by how she felt. She wished that her friend would find her here, just like the many times in her years of being a trainee and a full-fledged Claymore when she had wished for Teresa's presence. During those countless painful and lonely times, she would always hope that Teresa would somehow appear in front of her, and embrace her. No matter how foolish that sounded, she never failed to feel disappointed when Teresa didn't appear. Even though it was a foregone conclusion that her friend would never be there by her side to comfort her ever again. It had happened so many times that she was so used to being disappointed and feeling the loneliness that deepened after that.

But she heard the familiar clinking of boots crushing on dried leaves approaching her, and then a figure sat down beside her. An arm wrapped around Clare's side and she felt herself being pulled closer to the person beside her. She instantly felt all her anxieties vanish with the warmth of the person as she took in the familiar scent.

'Finally found you. You alright?'

She found herself reaching forward and hugging Teresa in an instant, hiding her face from Teresa's sight. She felt slightly ashamed of being the one that ran away, and then being the same person who needed Teresa so much.

'I... I could never forget about you, Teresa. And neither would I ever want to.'

She felt Teresa hugging her back, which made her feel a lot better already.

'I understand, Clare. I really do. I didn't mean that I wanted you to forget me. I just wanted you to be able to move on, accept and live with everything that happened and not be caught up in a vicious cycle of pain. I never wanted you to be so immersed in such anguish that you are feeling.'

'I know... It's just... Difficult. It's just too hard to not hold on to the past. To not hold on... to you.'

'...Take all the time you need, Clare. One day, you'll be able to do it, and at that time, you'll be able to let go of all the hatred and pain. And of course, I know that even when that happened, I'll always live in your heart... Isn't that so?'

That brought a small smile to Clare's face. Teresa... really did know her.

'You know, this is the second time that when I wished for you to appear, you really came for me.'

'Really? When's the first?'

'The first time... Was when you saved me from the bandits.'

She remembered that moment clearly herself. All the raging fire and dead people everywhere... She had been so afraid. She tried to hide, but that particular vengeful bandit still found her... She prayed that Teresa would come and remove those intrusive hands that grabbed her, whimpering her saviour's name over and over. And when she opened her eyes again, she was already in Teresa's safe arms.

'I see... I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for...all those other times.'

Clare shook her head and laid on Teresa's shoulder.

'You're here now. You wouldn't have any idea how grateful I am for this.'

'I'm grateful that I can be here for you too...'