She was staring at her hands in her lap as he spoke, chewing the inside of her cheek as she let his carefully chosen words wash over the numbness of her mind. She debated in her mind whether or not he was right, what if he was? She had gone all this time, forcing herself to push away the smallest of hope that was offered to her. But now, now she had nothing left to lose, maybe a little bit of hope --false or not-- was something that she could use to her advantage. She looked up to him when he reached for her hands, taking them in his. She couldn't help but notice how small her hands were compared to his. "Maybe." She admitted quietly. It wasn't much, but she didn't know what else to say.<br/><br/>When he stood, adjusting the strap on his back, she followed suite. She brushed off her legs, wiping the sand off her hands as well before standing up next to him. She turned as he did, motioning that they begin to walk back, she had lots to do. When he urged her not venture out into the unforgiving world alone, she bit her lip, but nodded. "Okay, I promise." She may have been considered rebellious, but she kept the promises that she made. "I think we should go back, I need to find my mom." She spoke with a wry smile that fell as soon as it came.<br/><br/>She walked with him back up to the town, assuming he had things he needed to attend to now as well. They eventually parted ways and she faced the direction of her home. She knew her mother was in there, and she could almost feel the drop of her stomach from what she was inevitably about to face. Her mother never truly took to her, Malia wasn't the favorite child. Now that Oliver was gone, there was nothing holding them together. She swallowed, willing her legs to bring her home. Her body felt heavy, her legs were lead, but she managed to drag herself into the stale air of the place she called her home. Her mother was standing in the kitchen with her back hunched, turned away from Malia. By the time she stepped into the house, rain began to fall outside, thunder in the distance.<br/><br/>"Mom--"<br/><br/>"Don't, Malia." Her mother looked to her, shaking her head. "I can't do this now, not again."<br/><br/>"I'm so sorry, I swear I didn't--"<br/><br/>"Didn't what? You were arrogant and stubborn, Malia. You made a mistake, one that your brother paid for. Did you not learn from you father?"<br/>That comment made her flinch. Her dad had died protecting her from a raider, when she had put herself in the path of the danger knowingly. She made the mistake, he paid the price. Much like Oliver.<br/><br/>"I didn't want him to go alone, maybe... he might've still..."<br/><br/>"No, you distracted him, just as you do everyone else in this town. You need to learn to grow up, before anyone else gets hurt." Her mother's voice was cold, but she tried to keep her composure. She had always found ways to fault Malia for everything that went wrong, this was no different. She lost the only child she was proud of, and she was putting the blame somewhere. "Family looks out for each other, not get one another killed. You've always wanted to go out on your own, right? Well you've got it. Leave."<br/><br/>"What? No, M--"<br/><br/>"Leave."<br/><br/>Malia held her gaze on her mother, her eyes wide. She held her ground for a moment, but the followup glare that her mother gave her was enough to send her a step back. She swallowed thickly, nodding as she took a shaky breath. She walked back to the door, listening to the downpour outside before she took a deep breath, opening up the door and stepping outside. She had nowhere else to go, and no one was going to take her in at this hour. Or in general, she wasn't the favorite. She watched as the rain impaired her sight, the thick downpour enough to send shivers up and down her spine from the chill. She sighed, wiping her eyes before setting out in the rain. She decided to try and stay dry under a tree, which didn't work but... she had no where else to go. She had nothing left, she lost everything, and it was all her fault. At least, she thought it was. If they didn’t want her here, that was fine. She was strong, she’s be just fine alone.