The battle did not last long. Sansa actually felt surprised at how short it seemed to be. When the noise of chaos slowly died down, she took a step in the direction of the pack. However, Epione stopped her, her hand coming up to hold Sansa back.

"Let me go and see," the female whispered.

Sansa took the elder's hand, surprising Epione as she shook her head, "Let's go together."

Epione seemed at a loss for words before a small smile graced the female's face.

Together, both she and Sansa retraced their path through the woods.

The cries could be heard. Just as Epione had predicted. Sansa felt her hand tighten on the strap of her bag and knew that her role was soon approaching.

As they emerged from the trees, Sansa for the first time in her healing career, felt a wave a nausea hit her from the sight she saw.

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself before opening them.

Esmond.

She looked around desperately for him and saw him laying upon the ground- Randolph and several others crying over him.

Sansa rushed to his side, pulling off her bag and pushing the others away.

She quickly checked his pulse feeling something heavy in her heart as she took in the thin beat.

"I need clothe, hot water and as much alcohol as you have."

The males around her stared down in stunned silence. Sansa whirled on them, her voice rising to a scream, "Go!"

Quickly they moved, hurrying to obey her orders.

Sansa felt the next hours were a blur. She had never commanded others like she did in those moments.

I can tell you have...maybe some Alpha...

Esmond's words came back to haunt her as she leaned over him. There was nothing she could do now to help him. It was up to him as Doctor Nox had always told her. Up to the patient to decided where they wanted to open their eyes to.

Without hesitation Sansa rose, grabbing her bag and moving on to the next pack member who seemed in the most critical condition.

"You can't just leave him!" Sansa turned fiercely on Randolph. In the past hour she had grown tired of his constant hovering. She wished he had made himself useful and helped Epione with the others instead of watching her work on Esmond.

"I am a healer," she hissed, "and I am doing my job, move aside or I will make you move."

The male wordlessly stepped back, allowing her to pass. His mouth hung open in astonishment as he watched her rush by.

Sansa moved from one pack member to the next, feeling tears fall from her eyes as she took in those she could not save.

What was this fought for?

She knew she should not question it out loud. Knew that families had been torn apart, worlds had been shattered, and lives changed forever in the span of a few minutes. But really... what had been the point of this.

Pride? Justice? To not be repressed. To have the power to hold ones head up, look into the sky and scream at the pure ability to know you were free.

Sansa felt like screaming now. She felt like screaming with those who were in pain. To look them in the eyes and say, well you're free- does it feel different? Do you feel better?

But her mouth never did move to ask the questions.

Her heart knew the real reason for why actions that had no purpose to others were done.

After all, she had been searching for nothing but a shadow her whole life, chasing something that had erupted from dreams and fantasy.

She felt the blood on her hands, and cried with fresh tears realizing that some part of her connected to these people. Some part of her knew their sorrow.

That to have what you wanted, and to raise you hands in reach of it, was the ultimate source for burning your world and everything in it.

They would do it a thousand times over, even if it meant the same result.

And because of that, Sansa knew, she could understand their pain.

*   *   *

Sansa sat next to Esmond's bed, her eyes drifting open and close as sleep came and went.

It was some time later that Sansa opened her eyes to darkness, startled to see that the sun had descended without her noticing.

She quickly looked at Esmond, realizing that he was already awake and staring at her.

"How are you feeling?" Sansa's whispered voice felt to loud in the dark room.

Nothing but the thin light of the room helped her to see his face. She felt her chest grow heavy at the raw look of pain upon his face.

"I'm fine," his voice sounded harsh, grating against a dry throat.

"Let me get you some water."

Esmond shook his head though.

"I need to apologize first."

Sansa stopped midway from rising, looking at him curiously.

Esmond continued to stare at her, the darkness obscuring his face, making it hard to read anything of what he was feeling. All Sansa could see was the faint outline of his eyes. Still holding their pain.

"I should not have involved you in that."

"You protected me."

"No...I used you. For the challenge. I knew he would not like you here, but I let you remain at the pack anyway. I knew he would try to bait me to rise and fight him. And it worked. But he just wasn't expecting the others to join."

Sansa sat back down a small smile on her face.

"I could have already figured that out."

Esmond sat up suddenly, startling her.

"You don't understand."

"You're going to reopen your wounds," Sansa chided, "lay back down."

Esmond shook his head, "no, not until you understand that I-,"

"You what Esmond?" Sansa felt suddenly impatient with him, "You used me? You already said that. You let me be the source for your challenge? Okay, I get that. What else is it that you want to say?"

Esmond stared at her in blank shock.

"Well...aren't you....why are you not mad at me?"

Sansa gave a long sigh, "Should I be? I guess I should," she mused silently, "but in reality, I have encountered worse in my travels. Much worse than a son standing up to his father."

"What do you mean by worse? What's been done to you?"

It was Sansa's turn to stare blankly at him now. "Do you really want to know?"

There was silence between them. Sansa sighed and stood, knowing that answered her question. She turned to walk away, to fetch him some water, but before she could, his hand grabbed her wrist.

"Yes. I want to know."

Sansa looked down at him, startled by the sudden contact.

"Esmond..." there was a warning in her voice that caused him to immediately let go.

"You never respond in the way I think you will," he whispered.

Sansa smiled at that, "should I be proud? That I'm not predicable?"

Esmond laughed, "You can be predicable in some ways. I've come to realize that these last few weeks. I don't know if there is an evil bone in your body to be honest. I really was looking forward to actually seeing you be mad...maybe a part of me wondered what it would look like, but you proved me wrong."

Sansa frowned at him as Esmond smiled up, "have you ever gotten mad at anyone?"

"I can only really think of one person," Sansa muttered suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

She left the room quickly, feeling suffocated at where Esmond's questions had taken them. She took her time in getting the water. As she reopened the door to the room, she felt a long sigh wanting to leave her at the sight of Esmond still sitting up and waiting for her.

"Who have you gotten mad at," he asked, gratefully accepting the water.

Sansa remained quiet, her eyes staring at Esmond in silence.

He seemed to register the sorrow his words brought her for the first time.

"I'm sorry. I won't ask again."

"Thank you," Sansa whispered, knowing his words would be true.

There was a silence between them until Esmond broke it, "thank you...for saving me and my pack members after."

The word stuck out to Sansa then- my pack members.

"Your father..."

Esmond looked at her curiously, "I challenged him."

His simple answer made Sansa feel a sense of nausea roll over her. Of how calmly someone could speak of taking away another life that had been part of bringing their own into the world.

"So he's...gone?"

Esmond's eyes seemed to be confused at her question, "well, I'm alive so yes...he's gone."

Sansa searched his face, looking for any trace of hidden sorrow.

But she could find none.

She wanted to ask what he was feeling. Or more, how he could be feeling such blank emotions.

But she never did. Instead he only smiled down at her, something close to triumph and relief filling his gaze.