"Well, it's not possible with that kind of attitude," Madrigal pursed her lips. She got a good pile of rubbish started and then turned to Sage. "Do you have a broom or a brush? We can sweep the floor- it'll make it smell cleaner too." She pulled the ratty old rug off the floor and moved it to the door to shake outside later.

Sage shrugged and thought about that for a second. "Uhm, maybe?" He spread his hands out in front of him, fingers wide. "I told you, I really have no idea whats in here." He thought for a second and then yawned. "Can we figure that out in the morning?" He was done trying to keep himself awake, he would force himself to sleep for at least a few hours, even if he didn't like doing so.

Madrigal nodded. Sage did look exhausted, and she was tired too. "I think that's a good idea."

She looked around the small space. It would be an easier job for the morning.

She thought about what he might do. He could sell this place, even for the little money it was worth. He could leave. She could leave, too. So many options, too many options.

"I'll... Leave, then. If you want, I can come back in the morning. Otherwise, also if you want, we can part ways now." She was used to being alone now, anyway, and she guessed he was too.

He nodded. "That's fine." He glanced around the cabin and then went to the door. "I'm not sleeping in here," he said shortly, and walked into the forest, leaving the girl to do whatever she wanted. He k, if she wanted to stay at the cabin, it was fine with him.

Madrigal hesitated, then nodded slowly. She eyes Sage's form as he promptly left.

That's fine. She cocked her head at the direction he has disappeared in. Alone now, she huffed. "Seriously?" She flicked her hands up in frustration. What was fine, exactly? Her leaving and coming back tomorrow, or them oarting ways now? Or did he mean fine to whichever option she chose? She guessed that she'd just have to see how she felt in the morning. But she wouldn't stay here.

At the open door, madrigal cast a wary glance around the forest. The closed the door behind her. As soon as the house began disappearing behind her, the felt the eyes. Her own gaze flicked around her nervously as she made her way back to her living space. As the space between buildings grew smaller, so did the prickling feeling of eyes diminish.

Sage walked through the forest until he reached the river. He sat down heavily and curled up under a rock out ledge and fell asleep. He jerked awake a few hours later, the nightmares plaguing him like they always did. He looked around to make sure he was alone and then sighed. He needed to do something to keep his mind off of the nightmares so he sprinted off, not thinking or knowing where he was going, he just ran. He ran and ran and ran until the rising sun stopped him in his tracks. He bent over, breathing heavily and holding his aching side. He stumbled back to the cabin in trembling legs and slid down under a tree next to it. He fell asleep again, not able to stay awake no matter how hard he tried

The first thing Madrigal did when she got to her small living space was clean her crescent knives. She got out her favourite cleaning cloths and prepped a basin of water. It took her the better part of an hour to clean them shiny. She went to bed straight after, the blades under her makeshift pillow.

She awoke the next morning with the sun on her face. The early rays were warm, so she knew it would be a hot day. She dressed, having slept in only her undergarments, and ran her old comb through her long hair before braiding and pinning it behind her head as she normally did. Looking outside, she spied the clocktowner peaking over the roofs. It was early, so she decided she'd have a wonder in town.

She wondered, and stole, and thought about Sage. Thoughts rn through her mind, and soon she found herself heading in the direction of his house. She ignored the eyes, which didn't go away even in the light of the sun.

Madrigal stood facing the wooden door to the cabin. She heard no movement, but decided that she was here now so she'd either greet him here now or she'd wait til he got home. She banged her fist on the wood, and then swung it open. No one was home. She turned and assessed the forest nearby, and it took her a moment, but she spotted him. Sleeping againstba tree. She huffed, stalked over to him, crossed her arms over her chest and peered down at him. She cleared her throat, nudging his leg with her foot.

Sage sighed and muttered, "wake me up and I'll use your skin as the pouch I boil your teeth for a soup you rotten-" he opened his eyes as he talked and when he noticed who it was he trailed off. "Oh. It's you." He stood up with a grunt, sore from the cold ground. He figured she was here to clean the cabin so he gestured to it. "After you."

Madrigal raised her eyebrows as she listened. "Yup, very nice."

She led the way to the cabin as Sage gestured her to do. When they got inside she turned to him, arms crossed over her chest. "I think you should leave." Her gaze flicked around. "Sell this place, or whatever, and make a new life for yourself." Madrigal shrugged and toed a small shard of glass on the floor. "There's obviously nothing left for you here... Go somewhere where there is."

Sage shrugged. "I doubt there's something for me elsewhere either. In case you haven't noticed, other people don't exactly like me." He bit his thumb nail, thinking. "No one's gonna buy this heap of junk, unless they tear it apart and use it for firewood, so that's out of the question." He kicked a bunch a glass shards into a heap. "Besides, I wouldn't know where to go. I don't know about anything or anywhere besides this area, I never went to school. We don't the money, and even if we did I was too busy."