( She isn’t sure she’s got it in her to clarify about Pocketcat. Or, rather, all impulse about it disappears with the question.

Are you okay?

Despite herself, Abella feels her expression twist, looking away from Astrid as if that’ll make the grief less obvious. )

No.

( Her voice betrays her as much as her face, but the reality she hasn’t shared since she got here tumbles out regardless. )

They’re all trapped there. It’s not fair that I get to be here and they’re all being hunted down by monsters, and Levi and Marina are just kids.

( Abella knows she’s said too much. If there’s a fault in a dam, it’s inevitable that it’ll fail. )