Each word Evren spoke felt like barbs leaving her tongue, and she saw them hit their mark. From the glassy shine to Persephone's eyes, to the tightness of her face, and the crack in her voice as she fought - and failed - to maintain her dignity, Evren could see that Persephone was crumbling. In all the time they'd spent together, Evren could not recall a time her own actions had so shattered the image of composure Persephone wore, not even when Evren had played a significant role in luring war to the peaceful shores of Luthien. Persephone, up until this point, had seemed an almost impenetrable fortress to Evren, impervious to whatever challenges screamed and hammered against her walls.

And so, as Persephone's voice rose in pitch and volume, Evren experienced a strange, momentary out-of-body detachment, in which she suddenly saw herself and the situation as it truly was.

"Yes, that's exactly what I want," she retorted with a lash of her tail. Though her words cracked like a whip, her tone was cold, the impassioned fire of before having been dampened by sudden self-awareness and revulsion. And as the dam in Persephone opened, spilling out a great flood of pain and hurt that she had clearly guarded like an open wound for years, Evren felt the last of her anger gutter out. She stood there receiving all Persephone had to throw at her, the lines of her body taut and rigid as a strung bow and her face burning with shame.

Then there was a moment of quiet, and when Persephone spoke again, her voice was softer, weaker. The freezing rain had all but ceased, too, and without the drumming of ice pellets all around them, the forest felt eerily still and empty, as though it was only the two of them left in the entire world. Evren's gaze had wandered, for it hurt to look directly at the mare she loved, but as those last words left Persephone's lips - I'm going to need some time - Evren's panicked copper eyes sought the roan mare's face.

Was this the end?

No. No. She hadn't meant for this to happen. She hadn't meant for it to go this far.

...Had she?

Evren watched as tears streaked down Persephone's face, the desire to reach out and brush them away so strong it was a physical ache. Yet she held back, the knowledge of what she had done turning her blood to ice. She searched for the right words - any words - but none came. So she did the only thing that was left to do.

She fled.