Standard Disclaimers Apply

The land was barren. There was not a single person in sight. She couldn't believe that there was no one left. No one to save her.

Typical girl. "Oh, save me!" Well, in the past few years, she'd certainly had the whole damsel-in-distress routine down.

And it had killed them. She hadn't even seen them die. She'd just been taken into the forest, where it was "safe" for her.

Safe. Right. She'd emerged just a few minutes ago, searching for them. And then she had stumbled upon this desolate landscape, devoid of life.

She didn't see their bodies. Only cried out their names in hope that they would be there, but when they didn't respond, she just stood there, struggling to hold back the tears that she now felt. A cheap floodgate that let only a few salty drops roll down her cheek. She didn't bother to wipe them away, only twisted a small golden ring on her finger. He'd said he'd be back for her, but he wasn't coming back...

She felt the need to fling the ring into the forest, lose it for all time. But, too practical to give into her emotions, she left it on her finger.

Like that would ever bring him back. Like it would bring any of them back. All gone in this worthless battle of humanity. Gone, because some stupid, whack-job floating head wanted to take over the world.

Screw you, Talpa, she thought. And with that, the floodgate collapsed, and she was left with nothing but memories of the ones she had lost. She collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

A light hand on her shoulder. Was it the wind? She whirled her head around. It was a hand on her shoulder. A hand that led to a face she'd thought that she would never see again. A face so full of compassion and love. His mouth moved, but she couldn't hear words. But she could understand them, because those three words penetrated through her weak defenses and into her heart.

I love you.

She reached up to touch his face, but somehow, her hand went right through...

"Rowen?" she whispered. He nodded, lightly touched her face, and then gradually faded away, leaving Kayura wrought with a new flood of tears, and the precious memories of the life that they had all led together...

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