The first several moments are silent as Pennyroyal panics, his grief loud enough to drown out other sounds and yet his own ears were deaf to it; wearing him down quickly until he was left trembling and softly crying, murmuring soft nos and I'm sorrys.

Suddenly, all he heard was Valeska, insisting that the blame be taken out on her, and Pinesprings, the sweet, soft, brave, perfect sibling he'd always been... agreed with her. Lunged, just as Penny turned to look over his shoulder. Tears began flowing all over again, and only a strangle of squeaks leave the boy as he tried to call out to his brother; it isn't Valeska's fault, it isn't anyones fault, their parents made a choice to stay. He remembered hearing Nemean wonder aloud one night, perhaps seeking guidance of The Five, if he should send them all to an ally, but Penny knew the Nightshade unit wouldn't have split themselves up on purpose.

And Spiderlily -- oh, gods, Spiderlily's scent wasn't here at all, had she tried to follow him and Verbena? Did she set out on her own? Had something terrible befallen her, first, the most sickly of them all?

Penny hiccupped a sob, watching the goings-ons with stress creasing his features and trying to hold back the new wave of desperate crying that wanted to envelop him. Nemean and Fleetwood, they'd died for Valeska, sure, but for this place, their home they'd sought for so long, their right to stay, the hope it might be fixed. Elysium, Fate's Respite, it was everything his parents had loved. Nemean had considered Valeska his sister, family by extension of loyalty.

It wasn't right for Pine to take it out on her, even if Penny understood the need to blame someone.