[some of them survived, for Wen Ning to find in their future selves' time. there was more than enough for him to recognize this.

he stops dead for a good twenty seconds and stares at them when his brain puts together what he's half-receiving from Wei Wuxian and what his own eyes are trying to tell him more coherently. this is his fresh nightmare, too, for all that they've drawn apart enough that Wei Wuxian might not pick up his reaction.]