It prompted a stale chuckle, and she shook her head. "How am I supposed to answer that? Wake up from the nightmare of watching the world crumble and die just long enough for Vanille to get herself in trouble, and some magic crystal scoops us up to press us into service here?"

Moxie, who had been hovering awkwardly back through much of this, at last came forward again, setting a paw gently on Fang's arm. Strangely, Fang didn't rebuke the gesture or turn any ire on her. In truth most of the anger seemed sapped out of Fang, like she'd already expended it all. Like she'd lost hope, really.

"I left her there. Alone, with those Order fanatics, because I was trying to save her. And now she's just going to think I ran out on her."