Sage didn't know what to do. It didn't come easily to him...dealing with emotions. And Anya had practically cit herself off from him. He felt his heart sink when she just pulled away, dropping his gaze when she said he should leave. He nodded quietly before looking back at her, not wanting to show how much the thought of just leaving her hurt him. They were back to this again. Her shooing him away, and him not stong enough to do anything but leave. "I hope everything works out soon," he murmured softly, not really knowing what else to say, but keeping his face a careful mask as he scooped Amber up again. He moved to head out, pausing by the door as if about to say something again, before closing his mouth and slipping out, only allowing his shoulders to slump once he was off of the castle grounds.

Anya sat on her bed, her hands trembling as she tried to keep the tears at bay. But it was impossible. Everything had piled up so quickly, and now it felt like it was suffocating her. She knew Sage wanted to help, that he was trying his best to break through, but it didn’t feel right. He still felt like a stranger to her, someone who was trying to force his way into her life when all she wanted was the comfort of someone who understood, someone who had always been there. But that someone couldn’t be Sage, not now. She was grieving, she was lost, and all his efforts, though well-meaning, just made her feel more alone.

A soft, shaky sigh escaped her lips as she lay down, curling up in a futile attempt to find some kind of relief. Her body trembled beneath the weight of her emotions, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop it. It felt like everything inside of her was unraveling, and she couldn’t find the strength to hold it together anymore. Eventually, though, she let herself fall asleep, desperately clinging onto herself.

-

Sage let chaos wander home slowly, just walking along for the most part. The stallion knew the way by now, so he sort of just....let him go to do as he pleased. He was really just thinking, pondering everything that had happened and wishing he could have done something more for the girl. He would still go visit Att, but it was pretty clear Anya needed her space. He got home after a bit, starting slightly when chaos halted by the barn with a soft snort. He chuckled softly at the horses impatience, and moved to untack him and settled him in his paddock before wandering back to the house, amber trotting along behind. A soft smile took over his features when he saw Mari there, moving to greet her with a light peck on the lips and an embrace.

Sage chuckled softly as Mari went to say hello to the cat, sort of hopping up to sit against the counter and lean against the cabinets, giving her an easy grin. "And you claim I give the cat too much attention," he huffed, obviously just teasing her a little bit. "She seems healthy," he noted lightly, after Mari asked about the animal. "Was running around and all that still." He hummed lightly and shrugged when she asked how his day was. It was an ok day, though he was worried about Anya. "It was nice to get out and ride around," he chirped. "Anyas not doing too well, but that was to be expected. The queens isn't expected to hold on much longer," he added.

Sage hummed lightly when she mentioned the cat had been gone much longer than him, nodding along with a chuckle. "Fair enough," he mused, leaning into her when she wandered back over to him and kissing her back lightly before wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. "I certainly hope so, you got quite crabby sometimes, and she has claws," he noted with a laugh, really just teasing Mari a bit. He had t minded it much though....she'd been in pain most of the time, so he really couldn't be mad at her. He nodded along when she mentioned a new queen and king. "She's shut everyone out ... hopefully as her grief passes she'll find someone. After Luther though, she hasn't been up for a new relationship," he admitted with a soft sigh. He nodded when she mentioned the alums though, casting a look out the window. "She promised to make it better years ago," he noted. He didn't know if she remembered, or still cared though. But he could hope.

The woman rolled her eyes when he claimed she had been crabby, and let out a huff. "I was never crabby," she huffed playfully. "I am, however, glad not to be doing it again. She looked back at the cat, a hopeful grin on her face. She was excited at the prospect of having kittens everywhere, though. She felt his arms wrap around her, though, and flashed him another smile. "I hope she keeps her claws to herself, though," she mused lightly to him. She sucked on her cheek when he started on about Anya, though, trying to think about an answer of sorts. "It's not surprising. She grew up with Luther, and she probably felt pretty guilty for leaving him alone when it happened," she murmured softly. "She'll figure it out, though. And she does need someone to keep chipping away at her," she mused, gently poking his ribs. "That someone is you for the moment, by the way," she laughed.

Sage chuckled softly when she protested being crabby, shaking his head in amusement. Though, he nodded in agreement when she mentioned hoping the cat kept her claws to herself. "I would rather she didn't get crabby," he agreed, reaching to stroke the cat she she hopped up onto the counter top next to them. Though, at her comment about Anya he let out a sort of a sigh. "I don't know that I'm helping much," he admitted, a slight frown crossing his features. "She pretty much told me to get lost today," he added. It hurt more than he let on....but he mostly just didn't know if she wanted him to visit again in a few days or what. He certainly didn't want to make matters worse.