Aaliyah flicked her ears in acknowledgement of Imperia. She watched as they began to walk away. When they stopped and told her to take the stone, she looked up in surprise. But Imperia was already gone. She stared back down at the badger, and looked at the stone. What could she do with the stone? Could she...do the same as Imperia? Should she give life to it? She quickly shook her head. No. I don't want to have to look at a reminder of what I've done. She sighed.

She continued to stare down at the badger, thoughts swirling in her head. How could she live with what she had done? How could Imperia bear it? They had to look at what they had done every day. A thought suddenly hit her. Did Imperia...ever regret their decision? Do they wish they had saved it, hoarded it? Maybe by now they'd have collected more. If it wasn't for her...Who knew what they'd be doing now? Maybe they'd have gotten what they wanted, for everyone to fear them. Aaliyah was only getting in the way, since Imperia had to train her.

And...Did Imperia expect her to stick by them? To help them fight? To help them kill? That had to be what they wanted, but it wasn't what she wanted. She wasn't sure how much longer she could handle this. She had gotten over the naivety of her youth. She had seen what Imperia is really like. So why can't she stop them? What could she, a newly full grown gembound, do against Imperia, who was much older than she? She sighed.

Aaliyah's gaze turned back to the stone. Imperia had told her to take it, but could she really do such a thing? Could she really stand to take it? Imperia would probably hurt her if she didn't. With a sigh, she walked closer to it and grasped it firmly in her jaws. She tugged a few times until it gave way. She skidded backwards some until she regained her footing, the green gem in her jaws. She set it down and pawed at it before looking up in the direction Imperia had gone. She didn't want to follow them, not yet. So she picked up the gem and walked in the opposite direction, her paws trailing behind her as she left Farran's body where it was.

-Exit Aaliyah-