Perfect? Mir thought she was... perfect? A tiny ember of pride sizzled within her breast. Fiora had always strived to be a good big sister, to be the companion she'd always wanted growing up, to make Harper proud in showing she could care for more than plantlife. She'd been so excited to do silly things like paint making with them, simple walks once they'd grown old enough, fun excursions just like the one she and Mir were on now.

'But where has it gotten you?'

The words were an icy splash of water to the face. Tears welled in her eyes, her heart aching for Mir, for their siblings, for their parents; how many had been lost, alone, afraid, just wishing for a familiar face? Fi knew well the feeling, the smothering silence of loneliness, the hope of turning a corner and finally finding a familiar path home.
How long had many of them searched for that feeling of comradery before they vanished? How many of them weren't gone on accident, not lost?

'Has anyone ever looked at you?'

Mir sounded so desperate, but also so sure.

'fight for what makes you happy.'

I don't know what that is, she blurted back in a whisper, heart hammering. She had always done what was expected of her, had always been a very good 'seen and not heard' kind of child; knowledgeable, easy to teach, happy to learn, eager to earn her keep. Harper had always been her teacher, her Mother, her sole companion over the years. She'd never given Fiora a reason to doubt her, but Mir seemed to have enough in her own mind to make her leave.

Not think about it, not complaining like teenagers did, but with certainty -- left. Renounced home.

It tore up Fiora inside, because how could either of them be wrong?

How was she supposed to choose between them? If Harper never came back, how was Fiora supposed to choose between the looming job that awaited her and her sister, out here running alone?