Stronger than this. Her mantra. Repeating over and over in her mind, a whisper against the storm, but she can still cling to it. Her eyes close, head falling back to the wall. In her minds eye, he's there. Dying and watching her refuse to, to cling to life. They're burning, burning up, both of them turning to ash and dust and then pain sparks, brings her back to herself and she screams at the betrayal. Let her go, let her burn up into nothing.

For several long moments in the midst of this, she's forgotten he's alive and the memories are all there is. In those moments, she's waiting for death, waiting to burn alive too. Ash and dust and pain.

But he moves on to somewhere new. Her eyes flash open, a noise tearing from her throat--and she focuses back on his horns. No, don't get lost in that again. Stronger.