Mal lead her into a ruined building. [i]You wouldn’t know it now, but this was the Taylor...[/i] Shredded cloth, disemboweled dress-forms, boxes, parts of the wall missing, windows shattered, the support beams cracked and groaning...

Once inside, Haven set Raty down on a bolt of cloth. She grabbed a handful of it, it was dirty, but she had to try and stop the bleeding. She would not remember remember what color the cloth was when she picked it up, but she would forever remember the color it became as she pressed it into Raty's fur.

Raty was quivering, his beady blue eyes darting about the place, he didn't seem to see her. Under her fingers she could feel his little heart racing, fighting... then it stopped.

Haven could hear Mal talking, something about a hunting spot... but he sounded as if he was miles away. She covered the Rat's with the red-cloth, then stood. [i]I’ll have to leave him here.[/i] She realized. [i]I’ve no choice…[/i]

Mal was being useful, surveying their route, devising a plan of survival, and all she could do was stare, half-listening--

--Mal grabbed her hands, demanding his attention. He came into sudden sharp focus, as if she were rudely awoken from a deep sleep.

And demanded a most terrible thing.

“W-What? Why would you say that?” Tears leaked from her eyes, her wrists twisted in an insincere effort to free themselves from the orc’s grip. [i]Playing hero? Of course I wouldn’t be able to save him, I can’t fight, I’m not strong, all I can do is run...[/i] She bit her lip and met his eyes. 

But did he have to do this? Now? Did she have to say it? Did she have to say that she would leave him behind? She stared at him, his resolve was iron-clad, she had the feeling they would not leave until she did as he asked. [i]I've no choice...[/i]

“I promise...” She answered meekly, her voice fluttered and trailed off... like a dying butterfly. Her small hands limp, surrendered, to his. "...I'll run."