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Vesna was loud.
That was simply who she was.
She complained when she was cold.
She complained when she was hungry.
She complained when her coffee didn't have exactly two sugar cubes in it.
She complained whenever she had to patrol in the middle of a blizzard and came back with snow clinging to her wings.
She always had something to say, whether anyone asked for it or not. Sometimes Danica wondered how Vesna managed to turn even the simplest question into a five minute conversation.
Danica had gotten used to it. They had grown up together, after all. They had trained together under the Captain since they were young. Danica had known Vesna for long enough that her constant talking had become something she barely noticed anymore.
So when they finally made their way back from Svetloledovka to the train, she expected Vesna to talk the entire way.
She expected complaints about the cold, about what had happened, about how exhausted she was, and probably several comments about everything Danica had done.
Instead, Vesna barely spoke.
Her gaze remained fixed on the scenery passing outside the train window.
Even Paimon, who usually had no trouble finding something to talk about with Vesna, seemed unsure of what to say. The Traveler occasionally glanced in her direction, but Vesna either didn't notice or pretended not to.
At first, Danica didn't think much of it.
They were all tired. Svetloledovka had taken more out of them than any of them wanted to admit.
And Vesna had used sxtract seals of Life more than enough.
Danica knew that.
She had seen it herself.
What bothered her was that she had never seen Vesna use her power to that extent before.
Still, Vesna was sitting upright. She was awake. She had even responded whenever Paimon or the Traveler spoke to her.
Maybe she really was just tired.
Danica told herself that several times throughout the journey.
When they finally arrived and parted ways with the Traveler and Paimon, Danica expected Vesna to return to normal.
Surely the moment they were alone, Vesna would burst.
She would complain about how exhausting the entire mission had been. She would tell Danica every single thing that had annoyed her in Svetloledovka, including things Danica had already witnessed herself. She would probably complain that Paimon had eaten too much, that the train was uncomfortable, or that Danica had been staring at her for half the journey.
Danica waited for it.
Nothing.
Vesna simply waved goodbye to the Traveler and Paimon before turning around and walking away.
That was strange.
She followed.
Vesna walked beside her with her eyes fixed on the road. Her shoulders were slightly hunched beneath her coat, and her steps were slower than usual.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
Danica waited.
Usually there would be more.
There wasn't.
A few minutes later, she tried again.
"Are you sure?"
"Just tired."
Two words.
Danica looked at her again.
Vesna didn't even seem to notice.
That was when something started to feel wrong.
Vesna didn't answer questions with two words. Vesna answered questions with stories. With complaints. With unnecessary details and opinions that Danica had never asked for.
Even when she was tired, Vesna was loud about being tired.
Especially when she was tired.
"Vesna."
"Hm?"
Danica stopped walking.
Vesna continued for a few steps before finally noticing that Danica wasn't beside her anymore. She turned around.
"What?"
Danica stared at her.
Vesna stared back.
"What?"
"You're quiet."
Vesna frowned.
"I'm not quiet."
"You haven't said anything for ten minutes."
But she didn't.
Vesna simply turned around again.
That was when Danica noticed.
A little too late.
Vesna had barely taken another step when her body suddenly pitched forward.
There was no stumble. No attempt to catch herself. One moment she was standing, and the next, her legs simply gave out beneath her.
"Vesna!"
Danica lunged forward and caught her just before she hit the ground.
The sudden weight nearly pulled Danica down with her. She dropped to her knees, one arm catching Vesna around the waist while the other supported her shoulders.
"Vesna?"
No response.
All the irritation that had been on Vesna's face only seconds ago was gone. Her eyes were closed, her head falling limply against Danica's arm.
For a second, Danica just stared.
Then she frowned.
"Vesna."
Nothing.
A ridiculous thought crossed her mind.
This was a joke.
It had to be.
It wouldn't even be the first time Vesna had pulled something like this. She had always found far too much amusement in watching Danica panic over nothing, only to open her eyes seconds later with that insufferable grin on her face.
Danica waited for it.
For the corner of Vesna's mouth to twitch.
For one eye to crack open.
For her to suddenly sit up and laugh at the look on Danica's face.
"Very funny," Danica muttered. "You can stop now."
Nothing....
The seconds passed.
Danica's frown slowly disappeared.
"Vesna?"
She shifted her closer, one hand coming up to her face.
"Hey. Open your eyes."
Nothing.
Her skin felt cold beneath Danica's fingers.
Too cold.
Something tightened in Danica's chest.
"Vesna." She tapped her cheek.
No reaction.
That wasn't right.
Vesna was terrible at pretending to be unconscious. She always smiled. Always. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, Danica could always tell.
There was no smile now.
There was nothing.
—-
"She's fine."
Danica looked up.
The doctor was standing on the other side of the room, putting away the last of his equipment.
"She exhausted herself. Whatever she did out there took more out of her than her body could handle."
Danica's eyes returned to Vesna.
She hadn't moved.
Vesna lay beneath several layers of blankets, her face almost unnaturally peaceful in sleep. Her breathing was slow and even now.
"How long?"
"It's hard to say. A few hours, most likely. Let her sleep for as long as she needs."
"And that's it?"
The doctor glanced at her.
"That's it."
Danica didn't look convinced.
"She collapsed."
"Because she overworked herself."
"She wouldn't wake up."
"Her body needed rest."
"She was cold."
"Danica."
She finally looked at him.
"She's fine." The words should have been enough.
Danica nodded.
The doctor left shortly after, closing the door quietly behind him.
Danica remained where she was.
For a while, she simply watched Vesna sleep.
It was strange.
Vesna looked peaceful when she slept.
Danica hated it.
She hated how still she was. She hated that there were no complaints about the blankets being too heavy or the room being too warm. She hated that Vesna wasn't telling her to stop staring.
The room was too quiet without her.
Danica leaned back in her chair.
"You scared me."
Vesna, unsurprisingly, said nothing.
Danica looked at her for another moment before reaching over and pulling the blanket a little higher over her shoulder.
"Don't do that again."
Danica sighed.
Normally, Vesna would have argued. For once, Danica wished she would.