Shrub stared at the portal in front of her, glowing an otherworldly purple as violet swirled through it. She had all their wolves, they had everything they needed to leave and look for her people… everything, except for courage. It, as much as she hated to admit it, scared her to go back there, to go back into the fiery pits of, what Shrub could only describe as hell. It scared them to go back to somewhere so entangled in corruption and the familiar feeling of Xornoth (even if the demon was dead). Another thing… was Katherine. She’d miss her, like… a lot. Shrub loved her, I mean, how couldn’t she? The fairy was gorgeous and oh, so sweet, generous to a fault, and even a little chaotic, she could even be menacing if she wanted to! MENACING!.That was very hard for Shrub, and their height didn’t exactly help. Shrub shook their head, shaking the longing thoughts of Katherine away… for now, and was about to walk into the portal when-

“Shrub?”

The gnome froze. God, no… please, no. This was why they had wanted to leave as quickly as possible, she didn’t want to make the pain of leaving Katherine, and all their friends, behind more painful. She knew who it was, it was to obvious, to familiar…

“…Katherine, why are you here..?”