<div align="center"><strong>Kage Kuroshita</strong></div><br/>The last thing Kage remembered, was pain. The great carapace of Autocthon burned around her, as did she. Death, she thought, had come for the dozenth time. Though she pushed to the very limit, daring to struggle in trial against the severity of her wounds, they eventually overcame her. All had turned to darkness, and in the dark, she had been... Angry...<br/><br/>But now, decades later, Kage felt none. The pain remained, but had melted into a dull throb that beat her from head to toe. Her limbs were no longer slick with sweat and blood, but instead warm. She could feel the softness of the silk against her skin, and it's cool fabric felt more wonderful than ever she could remember. Kage's eyes opened slowly, flickering, unfocused. But slowly, they settled on the figure hovering over her. The so familiar, soft, delightful features of her sister Mai. Though the pain kept her from moving her limbs, she smiled softly. They had won, and Mai was alive. It seemed that this much in her little world, was as it should be. She nearly decided to let herself drift again. Though doubtlessly she'd been asleep for quite some time, her body felt drained of energy. Yet, she remained awake, laying in Mai's arms.<br/><br/>As her vision cleared, she studied her sisters face. She had been crying, which wasn't surprising. But there was... Something else. Her eyes, they were wiser. Her hair was not the same as when they had left one another. Though their faces did not age, she could see it in Mai. They were, for the first time she'd ever known; different. Kage had not the slightest clue, how long she'd been away. Somewhere in her heart she dared cling to the hope that these differences were caused by her own faulted perceptions, that the injuries had taken some toll on her eyes. That this was not some place, far from the battle so long ago. That Cathek or Mai had saved her, and somewhere out there, they were taking count of the casualties... But it felt wrong.<br/><br/>"What has happened, sister?" Her lips moved slowly, as if even that was a struggle. Though her voice did not come, the question was clear.