The Spector Moons glowed through Lia's window, shining their yellow light upon the various artworks that adorned the stone walls. Lia sat at her wooden desk, focused on capturing the landscape that she envisioned in her head on the paper canvas. The scene was still underway, as the mountaintops and serene forests that populated the background had taken up a considerable portion of her morning.

She would normally be studying, but the lack of sleep had caused her mind to stir and grow heavy. Daylight had awoken her just enough to function with a brush, but a book was too much to deal with.

Since yesterday's incident where that poor girl died, Lia could not get her thoughts straight. Turning to her artwork was the only way for the fawn to find solace in this mess. She often did so whenever times got tough, which accounted for the multitude of drawings and crafts that she had created over the years.

She could not stop thinking about how the poils had all seemed to rally against her. She knew that her stress tended to alter her perception, but the noise of the crowd had gotten to her. It made her wonder if she could have saved that young lady after all, but there would likely never be an answer.

A fawn could not cure death. There were no do-overs once that happened.

A gentle knock on the bedroom door interrupted Lia's concentration. She hovered her brush over the canvas for a bit before she sighed softly. After a few seconds, she decided to just put it down and turn her head toward the sound. "Come in," she called out.

By the sound of that knock, I can already tell who it is.

The door creaked open, and in stepped her younger sister, Leta. There was a bright smile to be seen on the nine-year-old's face as she walked into the room, her curly, light-brown hair bouncing at her shoulders. "Good morning, Lia!"

Lia managed to pull a smile of her own as she watched her sibling enter. "Good morning, Leta," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue as she repressed a yawn. She momentarily glanced at the painting, still trying to forget everything that had happened yesterday.

"You look tired," Leta commented on the unusual draw of the fawn's eyelids. "Did you not sleep well?"

I guess it is that obvious.

Lia shook her head as she maintained that smile. "I'm fine. I just woke up sooner than expected and couldn't go back to bed," she assured Leta. She didn't want to have to involve her sister with the recent events.

Leta didn't know about the young woman or anything related to the incident at Acomb, for that matter. It was both Lia and Milo's decision to let it stay there. For the sake of the girl's innocence, she didn't need to be let in on such adult matters. A simple, white lie would be okay.

Lia was just grateful that Leta wasn't there to witness it.

"What do you need, Leta?" Lia asked in a sisterly manner, hoping to steer the conversation further away from the potential topic.

Leta sat there for a moment, appearing uncertain as to whether she should even ask or not. But after a very brief period of consideration, her face brightened with that typical expression of childhood excitement. "I was thinking... I want to go to Acomb today!"

…

Lia's heart sank slightly as soon as she heard the mention of Acomb. She had hoped to avoid returning for the foreseeable future, knowing that if she were to go back, some of the poils would likely start talking about what happened. She did not seek conflict of any sort, but after she had presented her flames to ward them off, the fawn considered that she may be seen as the aggressor going forward.

After so many years of bloodshed between both sides, ending with a fruitless war that changed nothing for the better, she just wanted to repair the past. Her and Milo's alliance was supposed to be the start of something greater, but if she had to remind them of what she was capable of, then what good did that bring?

"Perhaps Milo can take you sometime," Lia suggested, hoping that the man had done enough damage control to facilitate a safe environment for her sister to enjoy.

Leta's disappointment could not escape her eyes. "But I want to go with you," she insisted, her voice turning into an act of pleading. "It's been a while since we went together. A long while, actually! You were just there yesterday, right? Why can't I ever go with you?"

Please, let's not bring this up.

Lia sighed as she lowered her head and caressed her right temple. She could already feel the headache approaching. "Leta, I...," she began, only to stop short as she tried to search for the right words.

This was a tricky thing to figure out. For one, she knew how little the young girl got to go to the town sometimes. Her only close friend was her own sister, but Lia's studies and obligations accounted for a great amount of her time.

Second, the time that she set aside to get her mental health in order tended to alienate Leta from the situation. Lia emphasized how she needed to be alone, and the number of paintings and crafts showcased so many missed opportunities for Leta to socialize with her.

She knew the girl yearned for the chance to interact, and that was what made this whole thing so hard.

Seeing her sister's hesitation, Leta's shoulders drooped slightly. She had heard this response many times before. There was no use in pretending that it was going to be anything other than a denial. "It's okay," she said quietly, turning to leave the room. "We don't have to go."

"Leta, wait," Lia called out, feeling that the girl deserved a better outcome than this. "Come, sit with me," she urged, patting the edge of her bed.

Leta turned back, surprised to see the change in Lia's attitude. With a sense of eagerness behind every step, she trotted over to the bed and hopped on. Lia's chair was not too far away, and the fawn decided to rise from her seat and join her sibling atop the fur blanket that she sat on.

"I'm not trying to be mean, Leta," Lia said softly as she nestled beside the young child. "It's just... I have a lot on my mind lately. None of it is your fault."

Leta looked up at her. "Maybe you should talk about it instead of not talking about it."

Lia couldn't help but chuckle as she held her sister's shoulder. "That's quite wise of you, Leta," she admitted. "Did Milo tell you to say that to me?"

Confirming Lia's suspicions, Leta nodded. "Yes, he did," she confessed proudly. "But I added to the verbiage! You said that fawns are supposed to be concise and elaborate in their words, did you not?"

As I have. My, she really listens to everything that I say, doesn't she? Oh, Leta. I love you so much.

Lia nodded back softly as she twiddled her thumbs. "That is a part of who we are," she affirmed.

I know Milo wants me to open up and talk more, but I don't know what to say to him. What is there for me to talk about? Ugh, I suppose that there is a lot, but what would he understand? What kind of help would he provide? He's not a fawn. Leta is, but I can't talk to her about those kinds of things. Why should a child have to… Forget it, Lia. Just stop thinking about it. Leta doesn't need to hear about your problems. You can figure those out some other time.

"But you are right, Leta," Lia said. "We should make time for some activities together. It's been too long since we've had fun."

Leta's eyes filled with excitement. There was no holding her back as her mind rushed with ideas. "We can have a meal on the grass, pick fruits, or maybe go for a walk along the edge of the forest!" Her fingers curled into her palms as her hands lifted at her chest. She eyed Lia with much anticipation, hoping to get the approval on any one of those suggestions.

Lia's smile brimmed warmly at everything that she had heard. "That is all very doable, though I must ensure that the forest is safe before I ever take you over there." Her grace faded a bit as she quickly reminded herself of the dhin's she and the poils had encountered. "There are many predators still lurking about, and lately, I fear that they have been migrating closer toward the town. Maybe we should revisit the forest at a later date, perhaps?"

"Are you still worried about the dhins?" Leta pointed at her sister's hands. "Can't you just use your powers to throw them away?"

That was when her smile suddenly vanished. "Leta, I can't just… That's not what we do!" She didn't raise her voice too much, but for the child, it was enough to sour every ounce of happiness that she felt. Leta's eyes moved away, aimed at the ground in shame.

Great Lia, now look what you've done.

"I'm sorry, Leta," she apologized. "I didn't mean to say it like that. I just don't want you to think that our powers are meant to harm anything."

"I know…" Leta's voice was subtle as she rolled the corners of her mouth, still dealing with the idea that she was responsible for upsetting her sibling. "We're not to use our powers to hurt anybody. You've told me that many times. I'm not saying she should ever hurt dangerous animals, but I just know that you would protect me, that is all."

That is all I want.

Lia turned her head so that she could gaze out of the window, her eyes lingering on the vast array of mountains that remained visible from the square hole across the room. There was such a big world out there left to be seen, and as much as she herself wanted to explore it, she knew that it was a treacherous place.

Could she stay in this castle forever? No. She hated the thought of that.

But then, why should Leta?

Suddenly, the girl snuggled closer to her. "Are you thinking about Mom?"

Lia's breath stalled as she found herself caught off guard. She wanted to lie to her sister and avoid the subject, but why? She had done too much lying about her thoughts over the years. "Yes, Leta. I am."

"What was she like?" Leta asked a powerful question.

Lia smiled as her green stare stayed on the landscape, only to break away and move toward the little girl by her side. "She was such a sweet and loving woman," she began, recalling all those warm afternoons back in their commune. Leta was only an infant at the time, but at thirteen, her sister had amassed a large collection of memories. "She taught me everything that I know, and when she had you, I never saw her so excited before. She was the happiest fawn in the world."

"I just wish that I got a chance to meet her before she died," Leta said.

Lia felt her heart turn to stone. It placed such a weight in her chest that she almost choked up. The biggest tragedy in this world was how someone's hatred could cost a baby their chance to know their parent. How could an infant have ever done something to warrant such a loss?

They couldn't, and that was why Lia resented their present situation. Being in this castle was a reminder of what they had lost. She could only wonder what the poil who killed their mother might be up to nowadays. She wasn't even sure if he was still alive. It had been nine long years since that dreadful day, but the result of his actions had impacted two young women more than he could have ever known.

Did it solve all his problems? Did it make the world better? Lia could only answer the second question.

Lia somberly agreed. "I wish you did, too."

You don't deserve to feel like this, Leta.

"What do you think Mom would have wanted for us?" Leta asked. It was a question that turned that stone heart into a metal sphere. The pressure that it placed on her was so strong.

She wouldn't want me to be like this. I'm certain of that.

Lia's gaze dropped for a moment, her thoughts riddled with all types of emotions and no clear way to answer for any of them. "I'm not sure what Mom would have wanted, Leta."

Without warning, there was a knock on the door that interrupted their conversation. Lia and her sister both turned at once. "Yes, Milo?"

"Can I open the door, Lia?"

"Come in."

The door opened, and sure enough, there he was, his brow piqued in an odd fashion. It looked like he had something important to relay to her. "Lia, there's someone here to see you."

"Who?" Lia asked, stunned to imagine that anyone would be here to visit her. Leta, however, looked just as curious, which made her older sister more concerned. She didn't want her sibling to get involved in any potentially sensitive matters.

Milo's gaze shifted between the two girls, which only amplified Lia's suspicions that this had something to do with the death of the poil. "It's one of the people that I healed," he said, but the look on his face spoke through the lie. It was Lia's cue to go alone.

"Leta, I'll be back," she said in a gentle manner. "Just go to your room and wait for me, okay?"

Leta's dismay was already apparent in the way her eyes glimmered at Lia. "But I want to stay with you," she protested. "Can I go downstairs and hang out with you guys?"

"Leta," Lia spoke with more firmness, "please, go to your room. I don't want this to be a big deal, alright?"

Reluctantly, Leta nodded and slipped off the bed. The girl didn't want to risk another argument happening. There had been enough of those lately. She gave Lia one last, longing glance before she left the room. Her sibling watched her with heaviness in her heart, even after the door behind them shut and the sounds of the child walking away dimmed out.

"Who is it?" she asked again, her eyes narrowing as she sought the truth.

Milo scratched the back of his head as he looked down, still trying to find the best way to answer this. "Do you remember the people you saved in the forest yesterday?"

You know I do…

Lia's expression lowered to a stern glare. "Of course, I remember," she snapped, her voice burning with irritation. "Why wouldn't I?"

She hated to think that he saw her as someone so ignorant. Maybe he was just trying to ease into this conversation, she figured. Lia didn't know why she got as mad as she did. It might have had something to do with the way she believed that Milo sometimes treated her like a child. It was hard to tear away that sort of viewpoint when the bindings of her responsibilities threatened to dice her apart.

Responsibilities? No. A child wouldn't have to worry about those, she thought.

Milo backtracked on what he had said. "I'm sorry, Lia. I know you do. I just wanted to let you know that the girl you saved is here and wants to speak to you."

Lia's brow furrowed again. "What does she want?"

"She just wants to talk."

"So she can do what? Insult me because I couldn't save her friend?" Lia spoke with bitterness as she envisioned a second round of what had happened back there. "How could they look at the injuries that she had and think that, on a whim, I can just reverse all of it?"

Her response turned into a rant. She had not spoken about the death ever since it happened, and what left her mouth was the byproduct of an entire day of negative thoughts. "Those poils expect so much of me. And so, it's my fault now? They need to understand that fawns do not control life and death!"

Milo raised his hands, trying to calm her down. He had seen her like this before, and he didn't want her to overthink what was going on. "Lia, I want you to understand that she means no harm. Believe me, I spoke to her for quite a bit before I even considered coming up here. She just wants to thank you."

Lia fell silent, but that did not put an end to her temper. Her face grimaced before she considered kicking her painting over. She was so worked up, and there was no clear avenue for her contempt to go. It would have almost been better if she was able to rant for a little bit longer.

"Couldn't you have just told me that in the beginning?" She groaned, tired of having to dig for answers.

Milo nodded, acknowledging that he probably should have. "Yes, but I think she has more to say than just that."

Great, just what I thought…

"I don't want to speak to her," Lia replied as she sat back down on her bed and laid her hands at her lap. Her voice dimmed to a monotone pitch as she shook her head. "If she has anything important to tell me, then she can tell it to you. I'm done dealing with these people. I don't want to see any of them right now."

Milo gazed at her as he stood by the doorway, arms crossed, wondering what it would take for her to stop thinking the world was against her. But as soon as he said that to himself, he knew that the answer to her problems could be found in a mirror if he were to look into it.

As Lia rotated her head to glance at the grey walls that encased her existence, he saw a fawn who felt like she was caged up. This wasn't her fault. It was his.

Every time he asked her to step out of her comfort zone, he felt like he was striking her. All Milo wanted was for her to be able to live an enjoyable life, but every day she woke up, she always looked like she was missing something. He had never seen someone so conflicted with themselves before, but she was so silent about her problems at the same time.

The bricks that built this castle would be easier to speak to than her, and they would likely have a lot more to say as well.

Lia was a difficult woman, but she needed to be. Life had been difficult for her.

"I'll tell her that now is not a great time," he suggested. "Would that be alright?"

She'll just come back later.

"Forget it," she said, rising from her bed. "I'll speak to her."

…

Lia descended the stone steps of the castle, feeling the apprehension rising in her stomach. She prepared herself for what might happen, imagining scenarios in her head that she could rehearse. As she reached the main room at the entrance, she immediately spotted the blonde figure standing near the door.

Yep, that's her…

Lia knew that she could have just teleported in front of her to save time, but the abrupt arrival may only serve to startle the girl. As a fawn, she did not want to come off as threatening. There was no telling exactly what this lady felt inside, so she decided to approach her as any other person.

When her feet touched the floor at the end of the staircase, Lia saw a nervous smile brim across that woman's skinny face. She glanced at her visitor for a second before bowing her head, suppressing a long inhale. "Can I help you?"

The poil spoke softly as she greeted her, "Hello, my name is Ruth. I came here because I wanted to thank you for saving us." The room seemed to echo with her words. After a slight pause, she added, "And I wanted to check up on you to see if you were okay."

Lia's response was somewhat cold. She was still testing the waters to see where this conversation would go, despite the warm words that had been tossed her way. "I'm fine," she replied, only to offer some form of compassion after. "I'm glad you and your friend are alive."

Ruth's nervousness grew as she crossed her arms, giggling faintly as her eye contact with Lia waned. "I apologize for Jath's behavior," she said. "He loved his sister very much, and grief is a powerful emotion. I know what he said and did back there, but I need you to know that he isn't normally like that. I've actually never seen him get mad before in my life."

So, you came all the way here to apologize for your friend? Fine. Whatever.

Lia tried to ignore her thoughts and sought to focus on the present. "Well, you can let Jath know that I forgive him," she said, cupping her hands at her waist as she considered the facts some more. "There really isn't much for him to be forgiven for. That girl was his sister. I would have reacted the same way."

Ruth broke an uneasy smile before she closed her eyes. It looked like she was doing everything in her power not to cry. The loss of her friend must have weighed so heavily on her. "I will let him know everything that you've said. We're still so grateful that you saved us. I thought that we were all going to die back there."

Lia took a breath, as well as a few extra steps towards her. The two women were still a couple yards apart. The fawn never liked to get too close to anyone. Her personal space was her best shield in these instances. "But you are alive, and that's what counts."

Ruth crossed her arm over her chest, grasping her left as she averted her eyes from Lia again. She seemed unsure of what to say next. "It was our fault for being in the forest in the first place," she confessed. "Parsleta... she made the choice to go in. We were on our way to Acomb, hoping to find a nice community that we could trade with and whatnot."

She let go of her arm and joined her hands behind her back, digging her heel into the ground as she reminisced about her departed friend. "She wanted to see this town so badly. She talked about it for days, you know?"

This girl is holding so much back. Poor thing. I kind of feel bad for acting like… No. I do feel bad. She doesn't deserve my animosity. Why am I always so negative?

Lia sighed again, her weariness at her actions having reached its peak. "You are more than welcome to stay. Acomb will take care of you, especially after what happened. I'd be happier knowing that you and Jath were safe here."

Ruth nodded, but there was still uncertainty in her eyes. It was clear she had more on her mind, something unspoken. The conversation lapsed into silence for a few moments as the two ladies just stood there.

Finding an excuse to become more personable, Lia took a couple of steps closer. "I never assessed you or Jath after the incident," she said with concern. "I was too flustered after he lashed out, but you two were cornered by a dhin, and if you sustained any injuries, I must help you."

But Ruth assured her that her concerns were not worth stressing over. "We are unharmed. The dhin attacked Parsleta, giving us time to hide. I think it was only less than a minute before you got there."

Lia gulped, her heart aching. She was back to thinking about what she could have done differently. She wasted enough time mulling over what her senses had picked up on. Had she dove into action sooner, then maybe Ruth's friend would have been here with her also. "I wish I saved her."

Ruth finally let out a single tear as she looked at her. "You saved us, though. Please, do not beat yourself up about it. I'm just glad that nobody else got hurt."

"Thank you," Lia replied, trying her best not to let out a tear of her own.

"I had never seen a fawn before," Ruth admitted as she studied Lia's form, from her gown and hair, all the way to her emerald eyes and the freckles across her nose. "I had only heard stories about them. After so many years, I really just thought that they were only stories. That blue fire that comes out of your hands is most mesmerizing."

The comment caught Lia off guard. She had heard enough compliments about her powers before. Most of the poils in Acomb liked to gawk at her abilities, even if Milo had to tell them to back away. There were not many fawns known to be close by, and while the region of Joulin held several communes, the fawns within them never ventured too far.

Ruth continued, "Personally, I find it comforting to know that there are people in this world who can help us."

'Help'? I guess that is what I strive to do. What is a fawn's purpose these days? Were we always meant to be healers? I'm not so sure. With the way things are now, who is there to heal if we do not interact? Ruth seems sincere. I shouldn't have judged her the way I had.

Lia let out a bit of a laugh. It wasn't to scoff at her comments, but more so to ease the remaining tension that clung to the air. Tension that only she seemed to be aware of at this point. "Do you fancy me as a sort of doctor or something?"

"Hmm…" Ruth's friendliness showcased itself as she pressed her finger to her lips and squinted her eyes, inspecting Lia's face and form. "No, not quite. The man you are with fills that role out very well." Her words teetered off the edge of her tongue as she swayed around, still trying to figure out what kind of person Lia might be to her.

"Oh!" The woman finally stumbled upon her answer, raising her finger in the air. "Perhaps, a protector!"

Me? A protector?

Lia's slender nose pinched as she laughed harder. Once her breathing finally simmered down, she tilted her head as those green eyes gleamed at the woman. "If only I was a fighter, then I would agree."

Ruth lowered her arm. "You don't have to fight to protect someone, but with your powers, I think you'd be able to take care of yourself."

It was just like the comment that Leta had made earlier. The same one that she had aggravated at for a fleeting moment. Admittingly, the same emotions were already brewing in the pit of her stomach when she heard Ruth's comment. Lia hated to imagine her powers being used for anything violent.

"You know that a fawn should not use their powers to hurt others, don't you?"

Ruth's composure withstood the accusatory nature of the comment. She dug her heel into the ground just a little bit more, but with a slow nod, her smile pursed up. "My parents were great friends with some fawns, before I was born, of course. They told me everything that those fawns told them, and that was one of the first things."

Lia lowered her guard again, now just feeling bad for even taking it to that point at all. "I'm sorry, Ruth. I'm not trying to argue with you. Sometimes, people think that I can solve my problems with brute force, and I don't abide by that."

"Of course," Ruth agreed. "I just think that someone who is a protector needs to be able to get themselves out of danger. I'm happy that you spared that dhin's life, even if he killed my friend. That dhin was just an animal, and while dhin's are, well, cruel, they're a part of nature. My parents explained how fawns are one with nature, in some way."

The corners of Lia's mouth pulled to her cheeks as she gleamed. This conversation had yielded such an unexpected turnaround. She was admittedly quite surprised just how quickly her mood came around. "We respect what Locwitary has given us, yes."

Ruth's hazel eyes were fixed on the fur cape that was clipped onto the shoulders of Lia's gown. "Such wonderous people you are." She sighed as she shrugged. "I suppose I best get going. Jath is back in town, and I'm sure that he's waiting for me."

"You walked here all by yourself?"

Ruth let out a tiny giggle. "It wasn't that bad of a walk. I actually enjoy the fresh air, if you ask me."

As do I.

Lia couldn't help but extend her hand and offer some assistance. "I can get you back there right now and save you the time, if you wish."

However, Ruth politely declined, but not without leaving Lia with a touch of kindness at the hands of her words. "My gratitude, dearly. But I need to collect my thoughts still, and walking gives me the time to do so. I look forward to thinking about how well this trip turned out to be on the way back. It was worth it, after all."

The fawn's arm slowly lowered to her side, and almost as if to quell her anxiety, Lia interlocked her fingers and kept them at her waist. She watched as the tip of Ruth's left foot dragged across the ground and planted itself behind her left heel. The woman had such an innocent stance, and her display of enjoyment seemed like a triumph over all the despair that surely raged in her heart.

Lia couldn't take her mind off it.

It would have been nice to hold her hand.

"Then I wish you well," Lia said. "Feel free to come back, sometime, I suppose."

Ruth's closed smile elevated her shiny cheeks. The way she wore her short, baggy blonde hair stuck out amongst the rest of the poils. Lia had never seen anything like it before, and quite frankly, she liked it.

The young lady giggled one more time before she tilted her head and let out a low exhale. "I look forward to staying in Acomb, and thus, I look forward to meeting you again. Thanks for saving us."

"You're welcome." Lia watched as Ruth began to turn toward the door.

"Oh!" She craned her neck over her shoulder. "Your name is Lia, correct?"

"Yes."

"Goodbye, Lia."

The twiddling of Lia's thumbs increased. "Goodbye, Ruth."

As soon as that girl walked out of the castle, the fawn stood there in silence. Lia could not get her thoughts straight, nor did she understand them as well as she wanted to. It didn't make sense. She had spoken to many women throughout her time in Acomb. For the most part, they were all the same, and it had no effect on her. But as she watched that lady walk the way she did, her eyes could not stop studying her form.

It made her wonder why she cared so much. Lia almost wanted to call her back so that they could talk more. But she opted not to, feeling that she needed to maintain her self-control. But as the silence gnawed at her, she could only ask herself about one thing.

Self-control over what?

Present – Narratha's Castle

Falena would not take her eyes off Lia as she sat there in her chair. Those emerald orbs narrowed in on her prisoner, scrutinizing every single expression of pain that she felt. With a careless, somewhat annoyed glare, the petite blonde leaned forward, her hand against her cheek, as she groaned at her.

"Didn't sleep much, did you?"

The agony that Lia had gone through over the course of the night could not be hidden. Falena's warning about the numbness wearing off was not an empty threat. In a flash, all the effects of the magic had given way, and it was like Narratha had broken her hands all over again. Still chained up to the wall, her skin clammy and a little pale, all Lia could do was just look back at the malevolent fawn.

"I was sleeping like a baby until you showed up again," she sarcastically retorted, seeking to not provide even the slightest ounce of satisfaction to her captor.

It only served to elevate Falena's levels of apathy. With a gentle but firm swing, Falena kicked her left leg into the pocket of Lia's right shoulder. The tips of her toes bounced off the fawn's gown as she slowly brought her leg down, but it had resulted in a spark of radiating wrath that jumped across her arm.

Lia hissed from the jolting sting, her face tense and her teeth bared.

"Not funny," Falena responded.

Why is she like this?

"Do you want the truth?" Lia pushed through the pain and spoke to her.

"Always," Falena added.

"I didn't sleep well." Lia took a breath as the newest wave of torture subsided. Her hands still felt like solid stones of burning fire, but the rest of her body was as well as the situation allowed. Her muscles and bones ached from the forced posture, but she knew that it could be much worse. Tempting this deranged woman to cause her further harm was not the wisest of choices.

"I heard you whimpering all night."

Lia took a second breath. "I guess you didn't sleep well, either."

Falena laid her head deeper into her hand. Her eyes trailed around the dark room, and her scornful little voice dimmed to a displeased mumble as she sat there. "No. I never get as much sleep as I want."

You look so stressed all the time.

"Can I ask you a question, Falena?"

Her implied consent arrived in the form of her eyes shifting back to Lia and her still silence. A second passed, and she did not say a word, leaving the floor open for Lia to speak.

"What did I ever do to you?" Lia asked.

That glare that Falena had on her face remained there as she quietly gazed at her prisoner for a little bit longer. Lia figured that she had to be around the same age as her, if not maybe just a tad younger. The blonde's small stature may have naturally accounted for her high-pitched tone of voice, but she stared at the brunette as if she were some sort of spiteful teenager.

Falena only blinked once as she sat there, her head still resting in her palm. "For such a smart fawn, you ask the dumbest questions, Lia. Do you know that?"

She didn't look happy at all when she arrived here. Is she really going to act like I am the one to blame for this?

"I didn't think it was a dumb question," Lia argued, but Falena did not care.

The fawn sat up straight as she removed her elbow from her thigh and began to stretch out her arms. She sounded so tired as she went about the act. "Well… I think it is a dumb question, and therefore, it is."

"Were you always like this growing up?"

She kicked her again with the same foot, right in the same spot—but harder.

Damn it!

Lia couldn't hold back the yelp that barreled out of her mouth as the searing pain rocketed across both her shoulder and her shattered hand. She tried to curl up, but the shackles that held her in place prevented that sort of movement. The next thing she heard was the creaking of Falena's chair as the blonde moved around.

"The next one is going to be even harder than that!" Falena warned as the top of her lip curled toward her nostrils. With a huff, she straightened out her gown and flicked the exceedingly long locks of hair on her head over her shoulders. "Do not ask me anymore questions, understand?"

Choosing her words carefully, Lia sought to continue to engage her in conversation. However, Falena's warning was best to be heeded. Narratha's brutality was unquestionable, but her accomplice may not have been too far off.

Lia remembered how Falena had kickstarted the massacre in Acomb by tearing that poil's jaw clean off. The look of delight on the blonde's face spoke well for her sadism. Who was to say that she wouldn't add to her prisoner's injuries on a whim?

"I understand," she replied, breathing a little faster to maintain her composure. "No more questions."

Falena's arms simultaneously lowered to the edge of the chair. She scooted her body up, straightening out her back as she leaned forward again. Her upper eyelids were flat, mirroring the same angle as her brows. She looked so serious, yet so petty.

"If you're so smart," Falena squinted her eyes, "do you read up on history?"

Lia glanced up at her. "I know about fawn history and poil history well."

"You could have just said yes or no," the blonde grunted.

Coming from the girl who wants to talk. Why did you make such an effort to come back down here? You bring that chair with you as if you expect to be here for a while. What is it that you want so badly?

Lia abided by Falena's suggestion. "Yes."

The fawn shut her eyes and flickered her brows upward, shaking her head at Lia like she was an idiot. "Anyway, then you would know how poils kept fawns as prisoners, shackling them up, and breaking their hands?"

Just like you and Narratha have me right now? Hypocrites.

"Yes."

Falena glanced at the bindings that surrounded Lia's swollen ends, noticing that her pink skin had now turned to a dull purple. Her eyes remained centered on the injuries as she sat there, but besides that, the fawn did not give off the impression that she was going to do anything else about it.

The blonde reached over her shoulder and pulled at a long tassel of hair, playing with it as she spoke. "I didn't know about that until Narratha told me. She knows her history well. I think it is quite sick, if you ask me. Like, these people found out a way to exploit one of our weaknesses, and what did they do? They acted upon it. Those poor, poor fawns."

She could see the way Lia's face looked. Falena wasn't stupid. She may have come off as ignorant at times, but perhaps that display of ignorance was intentional. Lia had no reason to believe that this woman wasn't one hundred percent aware of the circumstances that she was in right now.

And sure enough, Falena's next comment elaborated on the obvious, and it got Lia thinking. "I know that is what we're doing to you. You must see us as hypocrites for our actions. Believe me when I say that I don't want you to suffer, but there is a reason for it, you know?"

I… What? Did she just… Wait!

"Falena," Lia began, "I know you said not to ask any more questions, but there is something that I must know."

She sighed as she nodded, easing up a bit as her attention returned to those swollen hands. "Fine. Ask away, but it better not be stupid, understand?"

"I understand." Lia's face winced as her arms accidently pulled against the shackles, restarting another round of her nerves dancing away. "Is this because you and Narratha want to teach me a lesson?"

Falena's eyes turned to hers immediately. She rolled her lips, likely thinking about what she would say in return. With a hum, the fawn glanced at the ceiling, or at least, what was visible under the glow of the candle that that had brought in to keep the room illuminated.

In a surprise moment of what could only be described as friendliness, Falena spoke softly, as if Lia was somebody that she cared about. "Narratha wants you to see firsthand what the poils have done to us. It's so easy to forgive, isn't it? But when you've lived through pain like she has, that's when you learn that forgiveness only delivers more pain. It changes nothing."

She doesn't know a damn thing. Does she really believe that this is somehow a good thing? This is torture. They're torturing me. Coercion through pain is not consent. There are no poils in this room. What kind of fawn would do this to their fellow sister?

Lia would not stray from her values. Even if it meant that Narratha would break more bones in her body, she could not find the will to harm anyone. She remembered the devastation that wrought her soul after she battered Cassandra. Little did she know that she was hitting someone who she could love.

What Falena and Narratha were doing was robbing people of the opportunity to prove to them that life deserved a second chance. Lia witnessed the rage in the redhead's heart as she went after the poils that she killed in Acomb.

No matter what she did, the hatred in her did not go away. She was its prisoner.

"Falena, may I ask you one more question?"

The blonde's expression was motionless as she gazed at the chained-up captive. She debated accepting the request, knowing that Lia was not dumb at all. This fawn saw things in ways that many could likely not. She had her wits about her and was patient. Narratha had mentioned some stories about Lia's prowess and promising future.

When she said that they would finally be hunting her down to recruit her, Falena couldn't stop thinking about how the biggest challenge might not be Lia's strength, but her will.

"Ask."

Lia glanced at her above the candlelight. "You told me what Narratha wants, but what do you want?"

There it was. That was Lia's will at play. She had asked the right question.

Falena briefly considered striking Lia, but she stayed her hand. It didn't stop her from clenching her fists, but as soon as she did, she only opened her hand right after. There was so much anger brewing up inside her right now. She just wanted to scream.

Maybe kicking the chair over would have sent the message, but she couldn't do that, either.

The two fawns locked eyes as the blonde rose from her seat and collected her candle, ready to leave Lia in the dark.

I guess that is the end of our conversation. Something's not right with her. I can see it in the way she looks at me. Cassandra was the same way. So many things kept locked away.

Falena averted her eyes before she turned around, ready to teleport out of the cell. But nonetheless, she answered Lia's question. "I want to go to bed."

"But, will you sleep?" Lia asked.

Falena kept her face hidden away, her back toward Lia as the blue light flickered between her fingertips. "Then that's what I want." She vanished amidst an explosion of bright particles, which then quickly faded away in the air.

Lia was left in the shadows, but she had the answer that she wanted.

NOTES:

Welcome back!

I guess you can say that this chapter ends on somewhat of a better note. For those that know Lia, I'm sure you can guess what must be swirling around in her head. Honestly, I'm not sure if she truly knows herself. Ruth will return, no doubt about it. Where will their interactions go? Who knows?

And I'm sure that some of you are wondering if we will see Cassandra soon in the present or in a flashback, and the answer to that is yes. Do not worry.

As for Falena, she's a mixed bag of sorts. We know that she's not 100% evil like Narratha is. The blonde is a pretty tortured soul, but she is willing to cause harm if she believes it is for a purpose. In this new, strange timeline, where will their interactions go?

Is she the path to Lia's salvation, or is she the path to death?

The next chapter will be out in two weeks.

I hope that you are all enjoying this new story. Again, it's not going to be as big and expansive as the others, but it's an original tale of its own, meant for those who really cherished these characters. This is my present for you all, and it's yours to enjoy 😊

Thank you for all the support, and I'll see you again soon! 😊