[color=f26522][b]"Mornin' all, what did I miss?" 
[/b][/color]

How did it not occur to her that Amber would return to the temple? Eve was prepared for many things today. But this?

This was not one of those things.

So what was it that Amber missed?

[i][color=fafabe]No idea, but I hope it's me. Leaving. In front of you. Because otherwise this is going to be very, very awkward.[/color][/i]

And sure enough, what not with Eve's usual luck, such simply couldn't be the case. No, Sodalite had already told Amber that she was here. At that moment, Eve wished she had never left the room -no, never left [i]her[/i] room, the little crevice isolated from the world, where she was meant to stay in until Talc returned. She still liked Amber, but she doubted that feeling was mutual after their brief meeting after Howlite's death, and the last thing she wanted right now was a draining interaction or hostile reaction. Though now there wasn't much of a choice. Leaving would probably result in a worse one.

So with her face yellow-green and her ears pointed down, she took in a deep breath, collected herself, and opened her mouth. A thousand different words crossed her mind.

Not one came out.

It was as if any sound she tried to make was sucked away before they could take form. Closing her mouth quickly, Eve simply stood where she was, head down, left hand tugging at her right sleeve, heels on the floor, trembling ever so slightly.

[color=fafabe][i]This was a mistake.
[/i][/color]

[i][color=b9cebe]H-He could crush you...j-just like that.[/color][/i]

[i][color=fafabe]He probably hates me.[/color][/i]

[i][color=b9cebe]W-What if he d-did it?[/color][/i]

[i][color=fafabe]He must be furious, seeing me.[/color][/i]