#dorksfromalternia

After a few days of mourning had passed, she found herself able to look at his picture without totally breaking down. It was still difficult, however. As her eyes fluttered to the bright and polished frame, she felt a tug on her heart; one that pushed her to reach out and clutch on to the picture.

Wearily, weak arms brought it closer, and a nostalgic gaze settled upon the cherry tealblood. If someone would have seen her, they'd have thought she'd been away from him more sweeps rather than just a few measly days.

But to her, it might as well have been that long. It certainly felt that way. 

Kronno brought the frame to her chest then, cradling it to her heart carefully as though it were made of cobwebs. She couldn't stand it any longer. This fight was so idiotic and...It was hardly anything to break up about.

With that thought, a grin spread across her lips, and once she'd pulled the frame back, kissing the glass, she rose from the couch. There was no use in sitting idly by and letting this get worse. The only thing she had to do now was swallow her pride and apologize. A difficult task usually, but for Dallan, she'd do anything.

-----

The night was warm, but in a way that was comforting to her. The heat was not normally welcoming for her, though tonight, it was egging her on, making her walk faster. Happy steps and humming could be heard, and her arms swayed back and forth with her gleeful striding.

In her mind, this would be it. As she made her way to the tealblood's workshop, she envisioned how they would make up; she'd knock, and he'd answer. He'd be surprised, but then she would hug him so tight she'd nearly pop his air sacs.

"I'll say," she spoke aloud, to no one in particular," 'Dal, I didn't mean to say those things. I just missed you so much, and I want to make up...' "

Her words came out in a soft, subtle tone that near to no one ever heard. It was a rare occasion indeed for her voice to be gentle, and a moment to be treasured as it was as unique as a blue moon. 

The smile that followed those words stayed put for a while, until she came to the door of Dallan's workshop. It was open. It was never open.Ever. Even when he knew she was coming, he'd answer it for her.

Dark thoughts pulled at her mind, though she swatted them away with a shake of the head, and hurried towards the entrance. The hinges gave a healthy squeal, leading her into darkness. Oh no. No, no.

She smiled, trying to convince herself that this was just some kind of accident. Maybe the power was out. Yes, that was it.

"Dallan?," she called, the name echoing and crashing around her, "Dally..."

For a moment, the mutant stood in the streak of light provided by the door. All was silent. Not even chittering of Raccoon Dad could be heard.Just as Kronno had been thinking this was all a joke, the clouds parted from the moon and silky, tender light oozed in from the open windows, illuminating the nearly empty workshop.

It made her heart stop momentarily and lump developed in her throat. No, she told herself while her flickering gaze darted about, No, this is wrong.

But it wasn't wrong. Everything was as true as could be. As much as she wanted to deny it, Dallan was gone. And by the looks of it, he wasn't about to come back any time soon.

While weak and shaking legs made their way about the room, a slip of paper caught her eye, and she hungrily snatched at it, yearning for any kind of insight. Though it was difficult to calm down enough to actually read the newspaper clipping, she was able to make it out decently.  "No...He'll be back, he'll...Be back," she told herself as she threw the paper away from her.

It fell to the ground soundlessly while the mutant rubbed her temples. It was able to sooth her enough so that she could breathe. After a few minutes of deep breathing, Kronno sat at a familiar workbench and looked around in search of anything to take her mind off this; a chemistry set, a pair of tools, anything-- Oh, a radio.  "I'll just stay here until he comes back," she mumbled, grabbing the instrument from its place on the worktable, " Music will help." Static fizzeled into the air, evaporating like smoke as she changed the channels. Some jazzy music caught her ear, and just as she'd smiled again, a voice interrupted the trumpets. A sudden news bulletin, which she thought nothing of, until the last bit wafted to her ears. "And finally in the news this evening, panic at the work sight," 

Not concerning.

"...The attack itself claimed 7 confirmed casualties, but three more trolls are reported missing." Her heart stopped for the second time that night. " Highblood Yeddes Agrona and Dallan Enneac, and lowblood Sissel Pirgov," she turned up the sound in a hurry, "The three were last seen in one of the hyperspace crafts, shortly before it unexpectedly launched,sending them into the path of a bomb." her stomach churned, and her hand cupped itself tightly over her mouth, "No wreckage or corpses were found, and the three are being presumed and labeled, "

"Please don't say it." 

"As dead."

Anything else said after that was unheard. She'd threw the radio across the room and it scattered into a million little pieces, much like Kronno's heart.

Tears streamed down her face as she fell from the stool, falling to her side and wailing loudly like a wounded animal. There were no sounds sparred, no cries bitten back by pouty lips, and instead screaming and yelling provided the background to the night.

Kronno didn't know what to do. She was like a rabid animal, knocking things off their shelves and smashing glass against the cold floor of the workshop. By the end of all her wreckage, she was a battered and bloodied mess, injured by the shards of glass and debris that flew up and cut open her pretty little legs and face.

There was nothing left to ruin, and she stood there in the sliver of light, looking at what she'd done. Snot, tears and blood caked her face, but none of that mattered to her. In the back of her mind, she knew this was a stupid choice. If anyone caught her tonight, she'd be dead.

She might as well be, though, right? One last scream emitted from her, which was soon dampened by cries. Her feet carried her far away from there, though against her own will. If she'd stayed any longer, someone was bound to find her. But it was all she had left of him.

-----

She'd made it back to her hive with no complication. Kronno was barely able to get through the door when she spilled out to her floor, weeping harder than she'd ever had.