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In that moment, it would have been fitting if rain was falling from the heavens and onto the humble earth. Not because the ground was dry or rain might mean water at the bottom of the deep canyon and a possible lifesaver for the girl who had just fallen. No, it would have been fitting because then maybe Talon wouldn't feel as alone if the whole sky was crying instead of just herself.
However, it was not raining. The night was bright and not a single speck of rain was found on the leaves of the trees.
So it was not a dark and stormy night. But it was a desolate and despairing one.
The plants around Talon were watered by her tears. Tiny flies circled her head, but she didn't shoo them away like she usually would. She was too preoccupied to notice.
"I abandoned her," she muttered between whimpers. "I didn't support her when I should have, and because of that she jumped off of a fucking cliff." She let out another huge sob, covering her face with her hand. The bugs circled around her head intently, listening to every word. Or maybe it was just her imagination trying to make her feel less alone.
It was funny how isolated she felt, even though she was in a forest full of trees, bugs, and eleven other people. But it was the truth. She felt alone. Desolate. Abandoned. Any other synonym that meant "deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness" a person could think of.
What was she going to tell the others?
Suddenly, it was as if someone had glimpsed into a crystal ball and read her mind, because there was Naya, running towards the distressed girl. Whatever she said was inaudible in Talon's ears, but when she looked up to see her face, she knew it wasn't a joyful thing.
When Talon's hearing came back, she could make out some of the words she was saying. "Talon? What are you doing? Why are you out here?"
Naya then took a look at Talon's face. She lifted her hand to her face for a second and touched gently, but still staring at Talon. She traced the places where the tears streamed down her cheeks. "Oh no."
"I tried to stop her!" she choked out. "But I was too late!"
"Who?" Naya asked, even though she knew who already.
Talon didn't answer, shaking her head as she squeezed her eyes shut. "Nico's going to take it so hard. I won't be able to bear watching him."
"We can just not tell him? Say she ran away?" Naya suggested.
Talon shot down the idea quickly. "He's fourteen. He's not stupid. Plus, he deserves to know what happened to his sister."
There was a brief moment of silence. Talon hid her head back in her arms. "I can go get them," Naya said quietly.
"Yes please," Talon muttered, keeping her face down, guarding herself from the darkness surrounding.
