Over the sound of her own sobs Mizuki barely heard the sound of hooves galloping towards her hidden location. She lifted her head, the world blurry by unfallen tears, to see a painted form emerge from between the trees. “Nicodemusu?” She whispered in slight disbelief, his name still clunky upon her tongue but at least she had made an attempt. It wasn’t really surprising that he was here, she had indeed spotted him checking in on her from a distance, and she very much appreciated his respect towards her space. He softly whispered her name and before she could respond her brother had joined them, the horse she had expected to see first.

Her gaze was vacant as Ashitaka slowly approached her baby and sniffed at it. His condolences brought her back to reality. She felt white hot anger sear beneath her skin and in a moment of thoughtlessness she lashed out towards her brother’s head. He was making a point to converse with her in English but she was in no mood for lessons. Surely he could see that this was neither the time nor the place. Shrieking his words back at him in their mother tongue she demanded something from him.

The anger had subsided as quickly as it came. Staring at the look of bewilderment on her brother’s face it dawned on her that she could have seriously hurt him. Remorse mixed in with her grief. “Nothing,” she mumbles despairingly in response to his question as she turns her face back towards her baby that was starting to grow cold to the touch.