"Oh." Not exactly the hopeful reminder she was aiming for. "I'm sorry, big guy. Opposing elements or not, that's harsh."

It puts some heavy context on his earlier words about death, too. The whole story sounds like some kind of children's tale - except if she's learned anything since she was raised, it's that those old tales are far too truthful for comfort... and all too painful for the real people who've lived through them. Light and Darkness, nightmares and heroes, victory and slaughter. Life and death. On impulse she leans forward to touch one of his hands. She has no idea how you comfort a being of elemental flora, but she can reach out all the same.

"Are there others like you? Serving the- uh, the green?"