It was already evening by the time Vica realized Constantine was gone. She looked around the dim cave - the fire had petered out to a hand-sized flicker - and noted his absence with foggy surprise. She'd slept on and off, ignoring the dull hunger in her stomach. It was moderately comfortable. Not as warm as she'd like, but it wasn't cold enough to do anything about it. And so she'd slipped back into sleep over and over and never noticed she was alone, save the also-slumbering dragons.
Where had he gone? She contemplated walking out of the cave to look for him, but the thought of the effort required nauseated every inch of her. She could hardly move. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and disappear again. That was all she wanted.
You are free. Is that not what you wanted?
She
