The girl was so glad that Lena allowed her to drape her neck across her withers, that she had a support system where she should have had been given a look of hatred or worse. But Lena was a saint, a beautiful soul in a land of darkness, and the painted girl was lucky to have found her as a friend, even luckier now to be able to lean against her. And Imogen, the little dancing Fox, to have burned her and then offered her salvation within moments... they were both worthy of thanks that Kahlua could not offer now, could maybe never offer, but she would try, she had to try, because she could not ignore what gifts had been offered to her.

And yet, Lena did not seem to find them gifts, only duties. Would the Glazier herself have required payment if her glass crafting was required to save a life? She could honestly say no, but still she did not think of it that way. But Lena's nose along her shoulder offered her peace, gave her strength, made her feel the love that bonded two friends, that tie that kept them together even when their families waged war against one another. And, in the end, Lena's brilliance won out, her infectious laughter driving its way into Kahlua's heart and soul, her very bones, to make her laugh and trill, to make her smile where she still should have been laying on the ground and lamenting her very existence.

Still, though Lena's words said she required nothing, the painted girl couldn't help but feel like there was need of repayment. But there was nothing she could do now, no gift she could offer to make this right. If there was anything to be done, it had to be done another time, and Lena was right. Kahlua needed to be safe... or, perhaps it was that Kahlua needed to keep others safe from herself. And in that moment, Kahlua made up her mind. She was leaving. Her smile turned to a frown, her eyes threatening to spill over once again, and she took a deep breath, if only to calm herself long enough to speak. “You too, Lena. Stay safe, my friend,” she said as she began to back up. And then, without warning, she turned, picked up a gallop, and ran, her heart pounding too had to just be from the exercise.

She had to escape, needed to leave. There was nothing good for her to do here. There was only one way to... stay safe.