This was becoming habit: another to join in company who appeared as battered as himself. Nigredo fortunately had the sense this round to be attentive before she offered her greeting. "Hello," he returned in a quiet voice. Brief hesitation had the child glancing at his uneaten food, only to look back at the newcomer. Her features were taken in with calculated indifference, but a part of him had to wonder why she looked so terrible.

One might have mistaken his upcoming question as sympathy. In truth, he could only act on a numbing sense of morbid curiosity. Such was the consequence of living the past few days.

Nigredo carefully tipped his head upward to meet the woman's eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked.