River was hardly aware of her claws digging into her own skin, nor her tail lashing with violent speed. The thought of the woman who caused her brother's murder possibly being just across the street from her... Well, it took all her strength to not bound over to the blood-stained apartment and check to see if Mapleshade was there, and if she was, slowly strangle the cat-woman to death, all while sinking her claws into her remaining eye.
Taylor shrugged, running her fingers threw the soft gray fur of Scorch. "I don't know. He's a strange person. Has a heart of glass, easy to shatter, but a mind of stone, impossible to read."
Wolfram looked up, sharing her half-hearted smile. "As tempted as I am to go and get it right now and make sure she never gets her filthy claws on it, I guess you can't exactly go looking like uh...that." He snorted softly, though a crestfallen look crossed his face, as though he was thinking deeply about something.
River gave a quiet chuckle, before suddenly leaning heavily against the wall, her eyes going dull as she stared vacantly at her feet. "I'm sorry." She muttered, not meeting his eyes, fearful of the pain that mirrored her own. "I'm so sorry about all of this happening to you, Wolfram."
"That sounds like him." She replied, sighing. "I wish he would just...talk to someone. Sure, he had Silver. But she's dead. He had his girlfriend. But she's gone. I'm sure he would feel better if he didn't hold all his hurt inside. But Wolfram...just doesnt do that I guess." She stood up quickly, leaving Scorch to scamper off. "I-I'll just leave you alone now."
Wolfram couldn't look at her, looking to the side slightly. He could hear Taylor and Toby's quite conversation in the silent house. Sure, he had Silver. But she's dead. Those words, seemingly harmless to the red-head, sent a dagger into his chest, ripping at him, tearing the words off his tongue. It took him a minute or more to speak, his voice trembling violent. "None of this is your fault...you don't have to be sorry....I made my mistakes, and I got what I deserved. Pain. But it hurt so many other people in the process....It...I..." He drew off, unable to find the words he wanted to say. His shoulder hit the wall, supporting his weight. He ignored the stinging pain as his wounded arm collided with the wall.
River shook her head violently for a moment, before stilling again. "But it is. I should have known..." Her voice broke, and it took her a few agonizing moments to continue. "I should have known his soldiers would do this. I should have known they had more of that... That stuff! I should have told the police. Then they'd be alive. I should have known that they'd kill people. I should have known they would look for the key at Thomas's... I should have protected all of them like I promised." She muttered, blinking rapidly to cast away the tears she knew was about to form.
