Amaranth wasn't the only one who hadn't slept.

Trailing after her like a ragged ghost, Valeska was every bit the picture of exhaustion. The water was poison, the gods were angry, and she'd either hallucinated or been visited by some messenger from another world in her sleep - when she used to sleep. How long had it been? The half-moons under her eyes could just as easily have been mistaken for bags at this point. As much as her body craved rest, she forced herself onward, trying to keep her focus on Amaranth and the little dark shadow that followed.

Glitch, was his name? Her mind was a mess of foggy details, and she struggled to recall much information beyond my throat really, really hurts.

Hnnnaaack - Valeska tried to speak. She cleared her throat - winced - then rallied again. ... I am afraid.

The words were almost plaintive, childlike as they came out.

What if - hnnnkk - we do not succeed?

Well, they already had a pretty good idea of what would happen if the Dream Wolf hadn't just been a terrible figment of her imagination. The question was meant to be redundant.

... What are we looking for? What - does it have a shape? A color?

She was trying to fill the silence; it made her uncomfortable.

Valeska hung her head uselessly.