[i]Irys, I'm so lost. Where do we go?[/i] Cora squinted through the sandstorm, throwing her arms up in an attempt to shield herself from the biting shrapnel. The howl of wind was stronger on her right, probably where the eye of the storm was. Standing in the eye sounded like a pleasant idea, especially with all the grit flying at her. But getting closer to the tornado would probably take her off the ground. 

[i]"To the left!"[/i] Her spirit's voice chimed in her thoughts. At first Cora was skeptical, the left direction felt like the way they came, the way that led back to the Vygorns. Those terrible, terrible aliens. But as she shuffled closer, a figure appeared in the whipping sand. She got closer and tapped his shoulder. Phil, an iron grip on his weapon and a confused look in his eye. 

She nodded to him. [i]Kay Irys, how do we get out of here?[/i] It was too painfully windy to bother trying to communicate, so Cora took him by the wrist and started leading the two of them out. It felt like they were walking forever, taking turns here and there as Irys expertly led them away from Vygorns trying to scout the storm. Eventually the wind slowed down, and the haze of sand cleared as they broke out of the tornado's grasp. They were on the same ridge Shida had commanded the team behind, but no one was there to greet them. 

No one. 

[i]Oh God.[/i] Cora swallowed the guilt building up in her chest, turning to Phil. [b]"The aliens aren't too far behind us, we have to keep moving. I abhor leaving the others behind, but there's nothing we can do..."[/b]

She broke into a jog, using the scattered trash of the wasteland as cover. [b]"We'll rendezvous with them back at Nature's Haven, and sort this mess out then."[/b] She didn't say anything else as she navigated the way back to Kyra's oasis, trying to ignore thoughts of death clouding her mind. Who made it, who didn't. She felt sick when she remembered the Water Hygron. Will was right beside her when Phil freed them, how could she have lost sight of him? God, what if he didn't make it back? What if none of them made it back? 

[i]Stop this. Now.[/i] She begged herself, feeling a panic sweep through her body. They were almost there, she could see the mountain path clearly. She just had to hold out a little longer. 

Cora was in a dead run all the way up the mountain. She had to run from the thoughts, from everything. Keeping it together was top priority until she was inside. Wolgran would have to be told, and she knew his reaction wouldn't be good. Hell, Kyra was probably mad at her too. [i]Yeah? Even the goddess of the earth? Fuck.[/i] 

She could see the mouth of the cave, a black hole surrounded by hot stone of the mountain face. But as she neared, her steps slowed. [i]Something feels wrong.[/i] Cora couldn't put her finger on it, but there was definitely something going on. The air of the cave felt much drier, and she entered with apprehension. What greeted her gaze was something beyond the most unholy of unholies. 

It was dead. The Haven was dead. The grass lay in clumps of matted brown, the trees were withered and skeletal. Scatters of shriveled mushrooms were all that remained of what used to be huge and beautiful. Even the brook had dried to a trickle, almost impossible to sip from. There was a feeling of desecration in the walls of the cave, and it was as silent as the grave. Not a breath of wind. Nothing. 

Cora slowly removed her hood and mask, jaw slack with doe eyes. Every part of her denied what she saw. [b]"...W-Wolgran? Are you there?" [/b]The cave didn't stir. The sound of nothing was her reply. [b]"Wolgran? Please Wolgran!"[/b]

Her voice cracked, and she collapsed to her knees, head in her hands. [b]"Please, you can't be gone too. We have nothing. We have nothing and it's all my fault. I wanted to do something on my own, and my arrogance was my downfall." [/b]She drew a haggard breath, feelings of guilt and pain pouring in tears from her eyes. [b]"It should have been my doom. I should have died! But I was saved, because those idiots thought my life was that important. I was saved, and I'm here now. And what do I have to show? Nothing. The Vygorns still breathe, and I bet it was they who destroyed this precious Haven.

"It's my fault. It's all my fault. Will, Aerilyn, Shida, Thema, everyone... Their deaths will be on my head, and mine alone. And there is nothing I can do to atone. Nothing... Nothing... There is infinite emptiness in nothing. How could the aliens find such beauty in a shadow?" [/b]

Cora tilted her head back, staring helplessly at the cave ceiling. [b]"How could this tragedy be?"[/b]