"Endings rarely happen as expected," she notes, mentally marking the salt in the wounds she hadn't looked for. "So. What will get you from here to there?"

"Perhaps you should be," is the challenge, the newly dubbed Carolina leaning forward a moment, wings parting just enough to shift and relock claws under her chin. "Caution keeps you alive, fear makes you wary, keeps you alert. Makes you aware of details you might otherwise miss."