[CENTER][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210119/e22bd06ad7c8eb71800663bf01cd8627.png[/img][/CENTER]
[hr]
For a moment, Alja was quiet as they sloshed through the sewer, thinking over the argument from earlier. She'd gotten heated. She shouldn't have; that wasn't how you made a point.

[i]"[color=d1fffc]It's our responsibility! We need to![/color]"[/i]

[i]"[color=d1fffc]Yeah, I know it's not a game anymore! That's WHY! If it's not a game, then the denizens that are dying because WE AREN'T DOING OUR JOB are dying because of us![/color]"[/i]

[i]"[color=d1fffc]Fine! Maybe I WILL go with them, dumbass![/color]"[/i]

But despite what she'd said, she hadn't gone with the other group. Because she was still afraid, and she wanted to go with people she knew. As much as she and Rael had their differences...as much as Benkei and Kalie had annoyed her in the past...she could at least [i]trust[/i] them. Trust them to do their jobs. They knew what they were doing, they were good at what they did, and she could rely on them to have her back if she needed it. But the other group? She'd only ever met one of them, and it had been months ago. she had no idea what they could do. Had no idea if they'd have her back. And because of that—because she was selfish and afraid—she didn't have theirs. She let the silence continue for a few more seconds.

"[color=d1fffc]Still, it's kinda BS, innit?[/color]" She shook her head, speaking quieter than she usually did. "[color=d1fffc]Graves is right. We should be out there. You know it as well as I do, Rael.[/color]" She sighed, pulling Glacier Chain off of her back and slinging the chain over her shoulder in case she needed it, and to have something to do with her hands. "[color=d1fffc]We're cowards, is what we are. We're the best at what we do, so why are we hidin'?[/color]" She heaved a breath. An image of Enos impaled on the spike, eyes staring at nothing, suddenly flashed in front of her eyes. Luci screaming. Aaginim's crumpled tin-can corpse. Leaves—precious Leaves—in mortal danger. She'd been [i]late[/i]. She'd [i]let them down.[/i] 

What a stupid question. She knew whey they were hiding. She knew why [i]she[/i] was hiding. If she let something like that happen again, she knew damn well that wouldn't be able to forgive herself. But still...

"[color=d1fffc]Next time a dungeon needs clearing, I'm goin' in. I'll do it alone if I need to, goddamnit.[/color]"