#anywhere

After Piper speaks, there is a long moment of silence.

"If you want me to leave - I'll go. I won't go back there... but if you don't want me here."

"I do not want you to leave." She states it simply. Another pause. "What fosterage did you have, beyond that trago?"

"One of my moms was - is - a Satyr. My other mom is kinain." Then, she insists, "It wasn't THEIR fault. They never taught me to - " She shakes her head insistently.

"But I was with Rand and Tris since almost I can remember. We were tight, you know? I mean, now they can rot in there." Bitter.

"Fosterage by parents can be difficult. There are blind spots." Her voice is quiet.

A pause. "How long were you in the mirrors?"

A long pause, and a haunted look. "...weeks? Months? ...at least a season... they wouldn't tell me. You... can't even tell night from day, and it's just..." She turns away, covering her face with her hands.

Another pause. "The butterfly...it is connected with the mirrors. In what way?"

It flutters watching

"It's name is Jiminee. It's... a reminder. I guess. He said that if I ever did anything again, he'd know. I don't know if it reports back, or what. But it's to... remind me? Or just to be cruel so that I never forget what it was like in there." Not really any ping - but she seems unsure.

"Mighty Lords don't need to explain themselves to their parolees."

Brekke regards her. "I know Count Jude. He can be ruthless...but I have never known him to be cruel."

"Maybe he didn't send that one after me." She allows, eying the door back into the lodge. "But I don't know what else to call it. (a glare to the chimera) And everyone thinks it's so pretty - but it... haunts me. I hate it!" A shake of her head and a small stomp of a hoof. Then she shoots a glance up at Brekke, and swallows. "I'm sorry. ...if it's the price of walking free of the... of there, then it's fine."

A small ping there. It's, maybe, not fine. But she seems that she'd deal with it.

The butterfly reflects the satyr's expression back at her in its wings

"Perhaps it is. Or perhaps you have crafted it yourself. Regardless...I do not wish you to leave. You did what was necessary. You paid a price. You have not repeated the offense. I do not wish you to leave."

the kitchen door opens from the outside, It's Olgar "Chief. We got something on the trods you need to see. "

Dubious. "If he'd take it away, he could have it back in a heartbeat." But she nods, exhaling with audible relief. "I..." Inhaling again, and squaring up a bit. "I'll not to do anything to make you regret that."

Wary glance over to the Rover.

"Good enough," she says to Piper, then a frown of concern to Olgar. "Piper, please tell the others that I've gone to the trods. Lead on, Rover Olgar." And she follows him out the kitchen door.

"It's damn weird... and from me that's saying something " Olgar is heard to say as he leads the way and is gone

Leaving Piper alone, in the kitchen

She leans against the counter, taking a few moments to recompose.

The butterfly seems small again

And she shoots it a look as though this is all it's fault - splashes a little water from the tap on her face, dries and steps back into the lodge, which, fate allowing, will have emptied out.

(Narrator's voice : Fate did not allow)

(End scene)