Zan-Wei was dead. The hole in Lia’s heart ensured she couldn't forget that. His end had come quickly at the hands of the Watchers, Kathy delivering a swift mercy in his end. It had to be done. Lia knew this, and it couldn't have been with any more dignity. But her chest ached with grief, one tragedy dwarfing the last, as her life rapidly spiraled. She could only be grateful she was facing this madness as whole as she’d ever been. Lia and Amaai were echoes at the fringes of her subconscious after all the work done to repair the gap. It wasn’t perfect, likely it never would be, but for now.. It was enough to keep her going. Lia had spent much of the evening after Zan’s death running laps around Olivia’s Pond. Focusing on the beat of her paws splashing in the water, she had allowed her mind to drift, to come to terms with everything.
Zan-Wei was dead. In the coming days, Lia planned to submit herself to whatever punishment Sig deemed worth what she’d attempted. Though she had remained loyal in the end, her work with the Claw could not go undiscussed. If she was removed from power, so be it. Between Maaninder and Ebony, the Lor’Verloren would survive until Ricky could rise to his legacy. If he chose to.
Zan-Wei was dead, but the whirlwind of events surrounding that final showdown had revealed to Lia many problems with her parenting. In truth, Lia had failed. So wrapped up in her own troubles, Ricky had been left very much on his own to see to his own survival. She thought about it long and hard as she ran. Lia’s ignorance had allowed him to grow bitter and angry, emotions Laoku would have never allowed to grow to this extent. Laoku would have done much better entirely, if she were honest. But thoughts of him, brought other issues to mind.
Zan-Wei was dead, but Laoku’s body lived on. A demon wreaking havoc, all while wearing her greatest love’s face. By his letter, received earlier that day, that love no longer existed, melded beyond recognition into the dreadlord’s psyche. There was so little to do.. If Laoku couldn’t come back, would he need to meet the same fate as Zan-Wei? A merciful murder, very likely by her hand? Could she do that? Her footfalls grew heavy, her heart sinking into the lake below her as the water lowered her gently from the surface. Grief clouded everything, the questions left for another day.
Zan-Wei was dead.
Zan-Wei was dead.
Zan-Wei was dead… and it was her fault, in the end.
(( @crazyprophet-box-o-plots for Ricky, Zan-Wei, and Laoku, @ariiasaurusofdino for Kathy, @paksarra for Maaninder mention, @oldwornjournal for Ebony mention @kaldenflintheart for Sig mention))
