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Alicia would admit to a pang of fear as the giant blast of water came down nearby, the product of that racing towards them in a mighty wave. At least that's how she saw it anyways. Luckily for her Dan built his stuff pretty sturdy, so the sled ended up riding the water back to the lodge rather than being flipped and sunk instead. She wasn't exactly the biggest fan of a chilling dip. [color=aba000]"Well that was exciting,"[/color] she observed as the sleigh drifted to a stop.

Like Kimble she hopped off, doing her best to not splash the water too much as she stepped towards the door. [color=aba000]"Perhaps. But the thought matters to me. At least when it's this kind of event"[/color] 

Her considerations were interrupted as they spotted FanFan, and Kimble waved her over. She listened carefully as FanFan explained her woes, nodding slowly as the situation was laid out whilst her smile shifted to more of a frown. She'd known it was bad, but the Ascendancy had been pretty quiet about the whole thing. Getting news was difficult, even for her. 

While Kimble went about helping, Alicia expressed her sympathies as well. [color=aba000]"I'm sorry to hear that,"[/color] she said, stepped over and laying a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. [color=aba000]"Magic isn't the be all and end all, despite the name. I've seen how strong both of you are, and I know you'll get through this."[/color]

Even as she said that, her heart burned with anger and regret. Sure, partially at Mariette and partially at the girls who had supported her, but also at herself. If she'd just fought harder, been smarter, everything might have been different....

In the end it had been her mission, her crusade. That blood was on her hands. How could she ever make it up to the others? They'd paid so high a cost, only for her to fail in the end. Though she kept up a firm exterior, inwardly her shoulders sagged beneath self inflicted blows. Personal cost she could shoulder. But to others? She did not have the same resolve. 

To hide this turn of feelings, she shifted to look at Kimble, offering her a renewed smile. [color=aba000]"So, what's the rating for our date?"[/color] she asked, mostly jokingly. Anything to distract from the tension she felt inside.