[Two steps ahead, Lightning also stops. Hands open at her sides, she turns back to look at Hope. Tiny, small, bright Hope. Not hers, but...someone close enough that this explanation hurts her, too.]

I told you. I was caught in a Conflict.

[Left behind to die when Kain's plan actually worked. A thousand years of wandering and fighting and wanting to die later, here they are. Slowly, she shakes her head.]

A Conflict is a never-ending war, Hope. I haven't seen Cocoon or Pulse in almost a thousand years.