章 240: Taking care of each other

The remainder of the hike down through the ruined city was subdued. Valentina and Josie seemed to have plenty to talk about, though as Dahlia watched from the side she could tell that there was far more being said in posture and body language than just the words leaving their mouths. It wasn't their usual bickering either but rather… something more primal, like two predators meeting the other on the edges of each other's territory.

Perhaps that was a poor metaphor though. Perhaps if things were different, if this weird unspoken confrontation was happening back during the war and back in that little town of Lastholme, the two would be trying to tear each other limb from limb. Instead it felt more like they were feeling things out, trying to get a read on the other, and find how to coexist. There was very little hostility and far more cautious curiosity.