[.x.] The raging storm calms itself during the night, the torrential downpour that had been buffeting King Autumn, the warrioress Icinnia, and the late prophet Lana has faded away to mere drizzle, finally clearing away to leave the night clear and crisp, stars twinkling merrily over the lands, as is always the case. The mountain itself appears to steam as the hundreds of millions of droplets that have poured from the heavens begin to evaporate. The emerald carpet glistens under the newly found silver lune-light, the viridian cavas beaded with aqua that glistens like miniature diamonds upon the terrain.

A silvery figure four-beats in, his swift gait and proud carriage determining him as the Sacred King, Forever Autumn. Skidding to a halt swiftly, Autumn directs his gaze over his shoulder, to search for the form of Icinnia, the warrioress who has been his travel companion for their last journey to the moutains. Orbs sweeping over the familiar terrain with ease, the dappled czar sighs and folds his pillars underneath him, realishing the cool tickle of the saturated terrain below his moon-drenched frame. Rolling violently, the brujo kicks and rolls upon the sodden geo happily, raising his nape and his crown with it as he stays lying upon the topography. With his banners ruffled casually and small bits of grass and mud stuck to his tassels, he, oddly, looks even more handsome than before. Closing his orbs in fatigue, Autumn sighs softly and casts his mind over the events of tonight, what Lana had said, and what things he now must do to act upon them. Too tired to ponder them now, the King allows his worries to slip away, and, unwittingly, drifts into a deep slumber, completely forgetting that the warrioress Icinnia is meant to be following him here. [.x.]

Her appendages carrying her as swift and graceful as the breeze, Icinnia gallops into the terrain on the trail of her King, her ashen daggers stiking the geo in tantric rythm. Clods of the damp earth and blade of the emerald grasses are flicked behind in her wake, so sharp is her pace. She had followed her King far behind on his trail, and was now catching up on him with such ease now that they were back in safe territory that soon she was almost upon his silvery heels. The warrioress slides to a precise halt beside the czar's snoozing form, and looks at him with a puzzled expression, wondering if she should wake him. Nervously she clears her throat softly for his attention, deciding it the best course of action - and it was, after all, her usual way.

[.x.] The ivory brujo sleeps on, banners ruffled by the wind as the silver moon glows gently upon his frame, giving his peltage an almost ethereal sheen. His auds flicker as blades of grass tickle them, his pillars twitch slightly as he rolls over. In his mind, Autumn is lost in the mysterious world of dreams, teaching his son all the things needed to be a King, while Ice watches on beside him. Feeling the dream beginning to slip from him as a small cough interrupts his stream of thought, the King's amber pools slowly open to find himself lying upon the topography, with Ice standing above him, looking rather perplexed. His orbs brighten for a moment, and then dull as he realises that the future he has just dreamed of is not the one he is living in now. Whickering gently to Ice in perfectly polite tones, merely a greeting and nothing more, Autumn unfolds his pillars from underneath him, and shakes violently as he stands, dispersing bits of bracken and leaf from his frame. Satisified, Autumn looks up to Ice, and brings his crown up to a regal level, shaking his banners from his handsome visage, clearing his vision so he can address Ice in at least a semi-professional manner.

"We must now decide on the next course of action in the effort to sway some of Torn's descision to ally with the Shadowed. Lana was right - there is no point in waiting around moaning about these things when we could actually be doing something. If we aim for the lands with the least contact with the Torn King, there is more chance we will succeed in our quest. We can move onto other terrains more closely allied with Blue Moon later, but now we must discuss the best course of action." he says boldly, feeling strangely energized and refreshed. Pawing the ground impatiently, Autumn leaps forward, heading for a secluded part of the woodland where him and Ice can disucss their plans in secret. Whickering for her to follow him, he suddenly skids to a halt and looks back at her, pools softening slightly as they caress her form.

"That is, unless ye don't want to come with me? I can easily find another if ye don't wish to." Autumn says to her softly, a flicker of a smile playing upon his librims, a hint of his true feelings for her, which he is determined to bury until this war is over. [.x.]

Ice raises one slim brow and smirks at her Autumn, letting her military facade drop for a moment to allow silvery laughter to slip from her pallid librims. She rolls her azure pools and treads over to the brujo, her flints almost dragging across the geo as she half slinks over to him. Jokingly she responds to him with confidence thick in her tones,

Go ahead and try to find another. Ye may do so very easily - but I know ye will find yerself missing me. She nickers, her tones losing their confidence somewhat as she realises her lyrics were bringing her into dangerous territory with the King.

[.x.] Somewhat puzzled as Ice raises one brow in a slightly seductive manner, Autumn takes a few steps forward, wondering what the devil she is up to. His dark amber orbs, intelligence and power harbouring within their somewhat troubled depths, follow Ice's every move as she slinks over to him, her dappled form enhanced by the faint beams of silvery moonlight breaking through the thick canopy of viridian firs that cluster in dense groups to form the magnificent forest the terrain is well known for. As she nears him, the King eyes her slightly suspiciously, wondering what on Earth she is doing. A few weeks ago she was telling him to brush aside his feelings for her and behave like a King should do, but now she is prancing toward him like some kind of lovestruck filly! As she speaks, a dark flash of anger taints his stormy pools, somewhat riled by her flirtatious vocals, noticing how her tones begin to fade somewhat toward the end, as if the femmora realises she has gone to far. Watching her for a moment, the respect fading from his opticals, Autumn raises one brow at her, letting her know without words what he thinks of her actions. Fallen for her he may have done, but first and foremost he is her King, and she would do well to remember that now. His harks pressed backward slightly in annoyance, Autumn parts his librims and adresses Ice in cold tones, all emotion sufficiently drained from them.

"As ye wish." he says simply, his pools staring into hers, behind spinning round and sharply and stalking off rapidly, pillars stretching out onto the topography in an almost forced march. He feels strangely toyed with, for it seems to him like Ice is playing with his affections, brushing them away one minute and teasing him the next. Breathing out sharply, nares flaring to release a large cloud of his inhaled oxi into the atmosphere, Autumn carries on walkng toward the seculed areas of the woodland, taking a path that few know exist, not caring whether Ice follows him or not. Hearing flint-falls behind him, Autumn doesn't turn to see whether Ice is following him. He doesn't know whether she is, or what she is going to do when she reaches him, but all he knows is that it will take a damn good explanation to talk herself out of this. [.x.]

Thoroughly confused by the disapproval and coldness in Autumn's features, Ice flicks her harks backwards is discomfort. What did she do? She knew that she had almost went to far with her words, into a subject that was still painful for the both of them, but she thought she had stopped herself in time. As regret shot through her body she wished that she hadn't let herself slip out of her usual military professionalism - but he had been joking about with her and the temptation to play back had been irresistible...

Her maw opened and shut repeatedly as she fumbled for words, but nothing came. Feeling hurt and hopeless she watched him walk away from her with sad optics. With a sigh she decides that she should probably follow him, her orbs the only features of her facade showing how hurt she was as she paces dejectedly after him. Ice knew the problem that they had - they both felt strongly about the other and neither were emotionally brave enough to admit it. She knew he was fragile about it, as was she, and really intended no harm by her actions or words. Maybe he had said what he said because she was wrong - perhaps he wouldn't miss her at all if she left...

[.x.] Autumn resists the temptation to look back and see whether she is following, and continues to stride forward with the same rushed impulsion that he started with. Stepping into the dim coolness of the forest, Autumn picks his way carefully through the abundant foliage, growling in annoyance as a branch snaps backwards and flicks him sharply upon his hind pillar, a thin line of redness pigmenting his pallid canvas as he walks on. Coming to a halt suddenly, Autumn's keen harks flicker slightly to catch the direction from which Ice is coming. As he detects how slowly she is walking, Autumn sighs and leans back against the damp trunk of a great tree, disturbing one of the branches and showering himself with fragrant needles of pine. Closing his eyes, the anger bubbling within Autumn is sated by the quiet stillness of the night, and the soft rustlings of the forest around him. As the feeling of anger and hostility fades, it is a replaced by a strong feeling of regret and loss. The one time Ice showed him any kind of affection; he threw it back in her face and made her feel like he didn't want it. Now he has probably blown the last chance he is going to get with her. Brilliant.

Sighing softly, Autumn gazes up to the inky firnament, dimly lit by the millions of stars and the great silver lunine with regret filling his opticals. Orbs sweeping passively over the firmation, and feeling a gentle breeze sweep over his banners, the young King lowers his pools respectfully, paying his respects to the fallen leaders of the past. As he does this, his flutes flicker as they detect the flint-falls of Ice nearing him, now probably only a few seconds away. Looking down at the earth for a moment, scraping up the loam with his dagger gently, Autumn inhales deeply and exhales, circling round to face the belle as she walks in. As she enters the clearing, Autumn notices that she halts a few paces within it, obviously unsure whether to get any closer. Whickering softly and gestures with a quick throw of his crown, telling her without words that she should approach him; Autumn meets her orbs for a moment and then looks down, obviously slightly embarrassed by his outburst a moment ago. Opening his maw to speak, then closing it, then opening it again and still finding no lyricals come from his chords, Autumn bites his lip and forces himself to pull himself together, afore speaking to Ice in an apologetic tone.

"Ice, all I want to say is... well... sorry. I didn't mean to get that angry, it's just with Lana dying and the sheer scale of what we have to do... I just lost it for a moment, that’s all." Falling silent for a moment, he meets her orbs, the familiar twinkle back inside his own pools, afore smiling slightly and continuing with his vocals.

"And, just for the record, I probably would miss ye." he says quietly, tones still polite, but softening slightly as he speaks. Looking up at her, Autumn falls silent, wondering whether she will forgive him, hoping he hasn't hurt her feelings too much. [.x.]

OOC: Poor Ice...

Stopping unsurely a few steps inside the clearing, Ice comes to Autumn slowly when he beckons wordlessly. When she stops by him however, she is cautious, her feelings still stinging from his reaction, and therefore she keeps her distance. With blank azure pools that masked her hurt perfectly she looks at him and absorbs his apologetic vocals but does little more than nod briefly when he finished to show that she had listened. Flicking her long tresses she then walks briskly by him, a look of mild contempt forming on her visage as sadness and confusion evolves into anger and frustration.

He was not forgiven.

How dare he be completely and obviously smitten with her, try to charm her, get through her toughened, cold, warrioress exterior. Succeed. Then scorn her for finally feeling brave enough to show him affection; an act of pure femininity that was so difficult for her to perform.

He had scorned her.

He had hurt her.

And now she was angry - and he was definately not forgiven...

Okay. The warrioress says finally, a stubborn bite to her tongue, meaning that the conversation was over and she would hear no more of it. With an obvious flick of her gaze about the clearing she silently asks him for direction, eager to continue her brisk pace away from the brujo, her mind still writhing with anger and her body flushed with heat from efforting herself to control it.

[.x.] Autumn watches the belle silently as she approaches hesitantly. The cold, pale, moonlight streams through the viridian trees, patterning the shadowy landscape with alternating bars of silvery brightess and velvet dark, which in turn falls upon his handsome crown, illuminating the obvious sincerity lingering within his pools. Tossing his banners from his visage, the King looks to the warrioress, hoping desperately that she will understand. Meeting her pools, the young brujo is not suprised to find that the warmth and twinkle in her optics has disappeared, only to once again be repleaced by the military coldness he is all too familiar with. As she responds to his apology with naught but a mere nod, his gaze turns to the terrain for a moment, before looking up once again and falling silent, wondering if she is going to actually say anything. Awaiting her vocals, Autumn curses himself silently for being so stupid. To finally get her to drop her warrioress persona and show him the true, radiant femme she really is, and then to disregard it and challenge her in a way only a mere brute would do. Ice thinks she has managed to hide her feelings of hurt and sadness from him, but Autumn catches a slight hint of it in her pools as she walks by. Turning his gaze passively to the clearing he and Ice are standing in, he is not particularly suprised to see that she has ambled off, obviously not wanting to speak with him any longer. Turning in the opposite direction to her, Autumn walks a few paces away from her, then halts, takes one looks back at Ice, and breaks into a soft two beats, heading in the same direction as she. Careful to keep his distance, Autumn nears Ice and slows to a walk, reaching her nape, and then slowing to the same pace so as to match her speed.

Casting one subtle glance to her visage, Autumn catches sight of a dark flash of anger within her pools. His unguided footsteps lead him and Ice down narrow forest paths, made by forest animals years ago. Moving away from the glade, and into the close-pillared cloisters of tall trees, none of which permit much light to shine through. Racking his brain for something to say, Autumn finds himself lost for words. Settling into a steady pace aside Ice, Autumn falls silent, and allows her the chance to speak first, if she even wants to speak at all.. [.x.]

Resisting the urge to snap with strong jaws in hurt and anger at the pallid bronc pacing beside her, the warrioress sighs deeply and shuts her pools softly as she slows to a halt. Flicking her veil back in a motion to hold her head high and proud, she utters a few cold words to him.

You know my King, Autumn, perhaps it would be best if you found another loyal warrioress to accompany you after all. Maybe she will better satisfy you than I. She hisses at him with a wise and powerful glare that bites into his soul and refuses to release it. With a sharp flick of her whipcords and a timely twist of her frame she was about faced and three beating sharply into the dark embrace of the forest. In less time than a bird's wingbeat took to slice the air, she was out of sight, hidden in the night.

[.x.] Autumn casts a darting glance over to Ice as she pounds on through the undergrowth, small forests creatures scatterng under the rushed impulsion of her flints trampling the delicate terrain afore them. Noticing the dark, boiling anger within her orbs, reflected in the pale moonlight, the dappled brujo holds back his paces for a moment, allowing the distance between them to widen. Just as he is about to give up, and allow Ice to storm off without him, the silvery warrioress spins round suddenly, her cold, almost scornful lyrics reaching his auds unhindered in the deathly silence of the night. Noticing the hiss in her tones, and the fire in her eyes, the masculine backs off a few paces, somewhat suprised by her sudden outburst. He listens, and a rippling flash of anger shoots through his orbs with the speed of a lightning bolt as his mind processes what she has just said. Feeling his own anger grow, the young brujo throws his own crown higher than that of Ice's, which she has raised to a height to rival his during her proud outburst, reminding her of his position, no matter how angry with him she may be. His vocals emit a low hiss, somehow managing to sound five times more menacing than one of double its volume. Eyeing the warrioress in annoyance, Autumn too tosses his own banners from his cran, to leave his crown unveiled, the pride clear in his features. How dare she? True, he may be a 'softer' King, as one might put it, with a more relaxed view of 'proper' behaviour toward one with royal blood, but that still gives her no right to treat him in that manner.

As the warrioress ends her speech, and stalks off into the dense undergrowth, the shadows clinging to her frame and concealing her from his view, Autumn is left standing alone, in the silence of the night. Knowing a reply to her lyrics is unnecessary - she probably would not be able to hear it anyway, let alone take notice of it, the King turns in the opposite direction, his unguided footsteps leading him back the way him and Ice came from, his mind precoccupied with the events of tonight. Reaching the clearing once, again, Autumn crosses it silently, his burning anger now replaced with total shock over Ice's behaviour. Why had she spoken to him like that? And, now, the most important question, what is he going to do now? There is not one other he trusts as much as he trusts Ice, aside from Dancer, and the rest of his kin, harbouring in the Gods residence, awaiting the day he joins them. He has grown accustomed to her presence over the last few months, and now, without it, he feels rather lost. His directionless obsidians guide him through the darkened forest, pillars navigating him expertly over terrain he has known since colthood. A pale streak of moonlight illuminates his path forward, but truth be told, he doesn't need it. He knows every single inch of these woods inside out, something which proves useful if he wants some time alone. Finding a large, fallen tree blocking his path out of the woodlands, Autumn backs up a few paces, tossing his crown violently, then three beats forward, collecting his paces for a moment to perform a remarkably agile leap over the trunk, landing gracefully on the other side, settling once again into that steady, drifting pace. Reaching a cave on the other side of the lands, Autumn enters it, his flints making a soft, echoing noise against the cold, hard floor of the shelter. Folding his pillars under himself, and shivering slightly as the bitter cold of the rocky floor chills his thinly skinned belly, Autumn casts his gaze out to his lands, feeling utterly confused as to what to do now. Gazing out into the rolling plains, a towering mountain just visible in the distance, Autumn wonders where Ice is. Feeling rather sorry for himself, the Kind lays his head on his pillars morosely, auds pricked for any kind of movement. [.x.]

OOC: Okies, for Ice's glorious return, there shall be some ridiculous romance! Be prepared Freedom...

Her pace, which had started sharp and purposeful, has slackened somewhat as Ice begins to shed sorrowful tears in the caress of the bitter breeze that shared her lonely darkness. Walking with her body seeming to be pulled to ground with the weight of the world she thinks about what she has just done. Would it be too late to bolt back to him? Too late to tell him how she really feels about him. Drop the cold facade she uses to hide and be truly brave... let herself just confess what frightens her so... that she is in love with the King?

The howl of a wolf calls upon the wind as she halts. The wolf - signature of bravery, wisdom and courage. It was all the encouragement that she needed. In a split second she has turned upon her hinds and is racing back along the moonlight dappled deer track, keeping her footing effortlessly as she ponders upon what to say to the King - and hoping that she would be able to find him. She keeps her delicate nares to the wind, darting to and fro amongst the pines until she arrives at the point where she had left dear Autumn. To her relief, his scent was easy to follow, the wind seemed to be leading her straight to him.

Like lightning she ran through the woodlands, following his scent desperately through dense and treacherously rocky forest, over a fallen log, and a tad further until she reaches a large cavern. The cool air inside the cave smelt of him, and with a contented sigh she knows she has found him. She walks in quickly, before she loses her nerve and ignores how puzzled he seems as she tiredly lays beside him, folding her legs inelegantly beneath her (she wasn't the most feminine of belles after all), and contentedly snuggles her frame into his. At that very moment she didn't care how he reacted, because for the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

I'm sorry Autumn... She begins, apologising for her actions tonight. There was a hint of nerves upon her lyrics, and knowing this she hastily continues before the fear seals her velveteen.

I've been wanting to tell you this for the longest time - I love you... She nickers, feeling silly, but relieved. Waiting for a reaction she buries her tiara into his thick tresses, wanting this moment to last forever.

OOC: -squeals delightedly- i have been prepared for this moment for MONTHS!!!!

[.x.]Footsteps. Carried on the soft summer breeze, through the beautiful lands in which so many have lived, loved, and died. Swirling over the snow tipped mountain summits, swirling over the great silvery lake which lies serenely in the centre of the abundant terrain, reflecting in its clear depths the light of the moon, a great crescent arc curving gracefully in the sky. Approaching ever closer, gaining impulsion every second. Autumn hears these, and discards them as naught but an equine out for a midnight gallop through the lands. Drifting into a more relaxed state, his mind slowing down and becoming almost oblivious to anything around him, the sacred King rests his head on his pillars and sighs loudly, his abdomen rising and falling in a rhythmic motion as his thoughts turn once more to Ice, and his utter stupidity. Why didn't he just tell her then - that he loves her? That he has always loved her, and probably always will, even after his soul has passed from this mad world and into the blessed havens of Heaven Pass? It is nothing but cowardice, and his unwillingness to show any feelings for another, in case they are taken from him, as all he loves seems to have been? It would have to be someone extraordinary to make him cast aside all his fears of rejection and heartbreak, and finally open himself up to another, as he has never done before?

But, Autumn thinks, as he gazes out into the emerald forests that make up his lands, and watches a pair of rabbits bounding playfully around each other, he has already found that other. Iccinia. His warrioress - who is much more than what she is meant to be - just a mere pawn in the struggle against the Shadowed demons. She is his world, his life, all his hopes brought together in one being. Looking up to the heavens, in particular his gaze drawn to one star - the brightest of them all - which winks almost merrily at him as its soft light helps illuminate the great inky carpet of the firnament, patterned with millions upon millions of stars - the souls, some believe, of those that have passed on after their exit from this mortal world. Bowing his crown slightly to them, in a sign of respect, be they the souls of departed equines or not, Autumn looks up as the flint-falls carried so sweetly on the breeze become even louder, and gain even more velocity. Turning his intelligent gaze upon the mouth of the gaze, harks straining to identify the equine and discover whether or not they are friend or foe - he is honestly stunned into silence at the appearance of Ice. Blinking for a moment, unsure whether or not his over-emotional mind is playing tricks on him, Autumn watches the beautiful femme as she takes one tentative step toward him, then another, then another.

As she folds her long, elegant pillars underneath her slender frame, and snuggles contentedly into his frame, Autumn is all too aware of the aura of nervousness and anticipation that seems to stem from her. Wondering what the devil is wrong with her, and why the devil she here, Autumn turns a quizzical gaze to her, words forming upon his librims. These vocals are held back as Ice speaks, her apology clearly stilted by nerves. Nerves for what? This becomes apparent as she speaks. She loves him? Looking up at her, hardly daring to believe it, Autumn sees the sincerity, and utter innocence and pleading in her orbs, and knows what she says is true.

"I love ye too," he says simply, tones soft and passionate in the midnight silence. Knowing that there is no need for more lyricals - that they can wait until later, Autumn pulls the warrioress toward him with the aid of his strong nape, velvet muzzle nibbling tenderly at her tresses, such a soft, delicate touch from one so usually lively and strong. As Ice buries her tiara his in tresses, the young King sighs softly, hardly able to believe it. He doesn't really know what he is doing - but all he knows is that he is never going to let her go again. He has spent too long pining after his lost family. He has spent too long in fear of those willing to question his authority, and those who do not recognise him as their rightful King. He is Forever Autumn, rightful heir of the Sacreds, and tonight is the night his world begins again. [.x.]

OOC: Awww, that's so cute... they're so hopeless. Where to now? I believe that they were actually meant t be doing something important? And can you please go and see my site, it's finished now - would like some feed back, here's the link:
Celestial Spirit
LotN's banner and CD's banner are both on there too, so return the favour on CD please?

OOC: Hmmm... I don't know really... they were meant to be going to see the Torn :D . I've put CS's banner up, its in the scrolly footer.

OOC: Okies, Ice shall remind him of their task. And thankyou!

BIC: Hearing and feeling the responses from him that she had fantasised about for so long was enough to melt the bruja's icy heart. For now at least, her emotional blockade was down, and she was finally ready and willing to let someone in, and that someone was Autumn. She is half aware of the creeping cool air that bites her pelt and the surrounding cavern walls, moist with condesation. Amongst thoughts of Autumn and her own feelings, something nags at the back of her mind. Suddenly her lids snap open and she jolts from her cuddling position next to Autumn. With urgent pools she turns to him and questions him quickly.
Didn't we come out here in the first place to perform some sort of task? Weren't we supposed to be gathering the support of the Torns by now? She asks cooly, panicing a little on the inside. She wished that she hadn't interupted their happy moment, but she was right in thinking of their mission as important. Her biggest fear was her love for Autumn getting in the way of his duties as the King, and she was not about to let it happen so soon.

[.x.]Sighing softly in the moonlit night, Autumn rests his crown over Ice's nape, their entwined bodies keeping each other warm in the cool summer evening. Lipping her tresses softly with his velventeen, the dappled brujo closes his orbs sleepily, content with just laying here with Ice. Feeling his cerebrum rise and fall with every breath of the perfumed oxi she takes, the King allows himself to drift into a daydream. Happily fantasising about his and Ice's future together, ruling the Sacred kingdom, with maybe a bantle on the way. Knowing soon he will be asleep, Autumn snuggles up against Ice's divinely feminine frame, relishing the feel of her pelt next to his. Just as he is about to drift off, he feels Ice jolt up from his side. Raising his own boa, handsome cran tilted in her direction quizically, Autumn smiles a little as she questions him about their purpose of coming here in the first place. She cannot stay still and do nothing, even when they have just admitted they love each other. Sighing slightly, and unfolding his pillars to stand up from his lying position, Autumn rolls his dark amber orbs at Ice, a slight smile playing on his librims as she speaks. Although it pains him to do so, Autumn knows he cannot get distracted by Ice at this important time. They will have the rest of their lives to spend together if he manages to pull himself together and find the Sacred some allies to rid these lands of the filth that is the Cursed. When Lana said was right - he does have allies, and all he needs to do is find them.

"Aye, we need to find some Torn that are not too closely linked with Blue Moon and Legesain. We might as well start with Tornado Plains - it's the closest, and also the one that is furthest from Shadow Valley" he says quietly, careful to keep his tones hushed. You never know who is watching you, even in your own lands. Nibbling her nape softly with his velventeen, Autumn springs forward into a rapid four beats, the enthusiastic whicker from his librims encouraging Ice to do the same. Pillars navigating the terrain expertly, Autumn looks back to Ice to check that she is following. Seeing that she is, Autumn pulls his paces up for a moment to allow her to catch up, even though she could on her own. Reaching the borders of his own lands, and into the dangerous territory of the Torn, Autumn Makes sure Ice is safely at his side. He couldn't stand it if anything happened to her [.x.]