Sonera was never one to consider herself nosy. She was a silent observer, yes, and had eyes as sharp as a wolf, but she still rgely preferred to brood in isotion. The rot within her soul was present long before she ever met Yrix.

  But something had shifted. Lunae wasn't even around, yet she still felt that curiosity. It was a feeling she had encountered days ago, back when she first stood up for the Earthling

  It was happening again.

  Perhaps Sonera had encountered moments of individual growth far more frequently than she was ready to give herself credit for. But now it was undeniable.

  Why did she care?

  Sonera stared at that girl in the distance, the same one she rose to defend. She could feel her panic. And unlike during her time on Mars, she was ready to feel sympathy. Li hadn't betrayed her; if anything, she stood bravely against their shared enemies on every occasion.

  "Family," Sonera muttered to herself.

  There was a bit of spite in her from the onset. Once Sonera realized she didn't exactly care for something, she would do anything to destroy it, even if the enemy in question was Li's growing sense of dread and despair.

  For that reason alone, she continued to watch closely as the girl left her conversation with Rena and that strange dancer. And once Li was in range, Sonera pounced at her like a wild animal.

  "Li," Sonera spoke pinly, brushing aside her silver bangs as her eyes radiated with sor energy.

  "Oh." Li stammered. "Hi Sonera. How's Lunae?"

  "She's manageable. I'm worried about you."

  Li lied badly. "What do you mean? I'm fine."

  "I know what it's like." Sonera took a step closer, embracing Li's hand before lifting it up to her chest.

  Li faltered. "What?"

  Sonera emitted another one of her worldless expressions, detailing her inability to describe her mutual feelings. Li understood enough, however. There was something wrong with her, and Sonera could resonate with it.

  "Listen, I just-."

  Sonera interjected, squeezing Li's hand tightly. "It's Yrix. Not you."

  "I know, but I'm...I'm not enough for it." Li mented, the light in her eyes fading as she spoke.

  Sonera reached out with her other hand, pinching Li's freckles as she breathed deeply. It was then that the Earthling shuddered, her face turning red. She wasn't ready for Sonera to be so close, nor had she been able to process her fierce beauty until that moment.

  What had Ivy done to her? Surely she still had no interest in girls. Surely.

  "You think yourself a coward." Sonera implored, using her softer voice. "But I've seen your smile. Heard your spirit. That is no cowardly thing, not in the face of this danger."

  Sonera was rarely ever tender. But when she did commit to it, she was rather skillful. Perhaps some part of Lunae was already rubbing off on her.

  Either way, Li was enchanted.

  "I can't keep it up. That fire. Not like you." Li tried to expin, her voice breaking up as she panicked.

  "Not alone, you can't." Sonera reprimanded her, switching her grip on the Earthling's cheeks into a soft caress. "We're with you."

  "R-really?" Li asked with beady eyes.

  "Yes. Even the heiress. We're in this together now. In spite of the monster who brought us here."

  Li faltered. She appreciated every second of Sonera's pep talk. Heavens, she was even enjoying the close view of her. But some part of her soul simply couldn't beleive that Ivy was really on her side like that.

  They were barely friends. They had some tension, yes, but it was marred by conflict. Or at least that's how Li saw things.

  "I'm sorry, Sonera, you're being really sweet but-," Li mumbled. "I don't think Ivy-."

  "Did I stutter?" Sonera tilted her head. "Even Ivy. She cares for you."

  "She hates me."

  "That's part of caring."

  "How would you know?"

  Sonera had no answer other than the warm embrace she gave Li, enveloping her body in open arms. It was a close-run thing, given their ft chests. Li could practically feel Sonera's heartbeat pressed against her.

  "When I fought her," Sonera whispered. "I felt only desperation and fear."

  "I don't get it." Li stammered, her hands frozen in shock as she nuzzled her face into Sonera's shoulder.

  "It's the same thing I feel for Lunae. I get it."

  "Then why doesn't she tell me? She could have apologized!" Li began to fret.

  Amidst her frustration, Li freed up her arms and began to py with Sonera's hair, unaware of her own actions. A sense of kinship washed over her, as if showing affection to Sonera was a form of self-care. It did help that she was pretty.

  "We're in this together," Sonera replied. "When she does break free. When she does tell you. I can only pray Lunae will be the same."

  "So that's it then," Li released a sad chuckle. "We're the skinny ft girls with toxic gal-pals. Waiting on them to let us be happy."

  "Trust is a fickle thing."

  "Don't we trust them?"

  "Do we?"

  Li pulled away, making sure to maintain some connection as she rested both hands on one of Sonera's gloved fists.

  "I'm trying." Li smiled. "It's a bit easier with you."

  "Yes, well. We don't have much in common. But I do feel something with you."

  "A shared interest in prickly princesses?"

  Sonera released a tiny whimper. It was her best attempt at a genuine ugh. Perhaps that in itself was one of the reasons she felt close to Li.

  She was funny. Just like her old family.

  "Jokes aside, I do think we operate on the same wavelength." Li smiled. "And thank you for the talk. I needed that."

  "I'm confident Ivy will give you another. When she's ready." Sonera returned the gesture with her own. "And do try your best to smile. We all need it more than you could ever know."

  "Say, where are they?" Li wondered.