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Alca let out a sigh as she sat on an edge and looked over the Maw with bored eyes. As always, the damned place was dark, dreary, depressing, all around her she could feel the despair of the place surrounding her as if it were physical weight pressing down on her and keeping her there. She had spent a few years here, but she never quite got used to the depression of this place.
One of the few things that made staying here pleasant in the slightest was Zovaal, whom she loved dearly. He was the only one that had ever truly understood her, and it was because they shared such deep feelings for each other that Alca found herself able to endure being here for so long. She silently thanked him for that sometimes.
Speak of the devil, Alca could feel a familiar presence behind her, and she perked up at it. She turned to see who it was and smiled widely upon seeing Zovaal approach her. Her lover walked towards her with a slight smile playing on his lips. “My love.” she greeted happily as he approached.
He sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders in an affectionate manner, kissing her temple. "How are you, my drake?" He asked softly.
Alca looked up at him and smiled. "As good as I could be for being in the Maw, I guess." She answered with a shrug. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. She didn't need to say what she was thinking to her beloved, however, because he already knew.
Zovaal kissed her again, more caring and the gesture gentler than before. "I know." He whispered against her skin, "I just need time."
The drake wasn't really planning on saying the next words, but they escaped her anyway. "How much longer?" She asked suddenly, and she could tell her lover was caught off guard by the question, because his smile dipped down into a frown as he considered the question.
After what seemed like forever, he finally replied: "I don't know yet."
Alca sighed deeply and closed her eyes, feeling even more depressed than before. She considered herself a patient woman, but she knew she'd likely lose her mind if she stayed in this place for another few years. She doubted she could handle even one more year. To be honest, she was quite tired of the constant promises of "soon."
The drake spoke up after a moment, breaking the silence between them. "Okay." She mumbled simply, holding back what she really wanted to say.
Zovaal wrapped his arm tighter around Alca and held her close. "I promise." He assured her as he pulled her to lean on his chest. His heartbeat thumped against Alca's head, and the sound was comforting to her ears. "Soon we will leave the Maw."
She smiled up at him gratefully and nodded as she rested against him. It was getting harder to keep track of days or weeks that she'd been here anymore, but having Zovaal by her side made it a little bit more tolerable.