"...Everyone keeps asking me that." Erin props her cheek on her palm. "Hell, even Ruby asked me that and I thought she'd get it. She was...little. Real little. Her sister was barely bigger and practically raising her. Useless fucking dad too busy being depressed that he married a warrior who went out the way warriors go. Stupid. No one who raises a sword dies in their fucking bed. So, I stayed. Gave them someone in their house who could let them not be okay. Learned to cook blind. Loved 'em. I mean, I already loved Ruby but...you know...and then when Ruby went off to school to learn combat I got kicked out."

"...It was a pretty good life, allowing for how sorely I missed everyone here."