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[ Entering ]

Eva led Gale into the tent, keeping a firm but gentle grip on him as she made her way over towards one of the empty cots. "Let me just get you to a cot and see if I can flag someone down to help." The Life and Moon hunters milled throughout the tent busily, tending to the various injuries of those who were lying on the cots. It looked like there was a bit of a line, so to speak, in front of them.

"I'll wait with you until you get checked out," The girl added after a moment of thought, lips quirking upwards in a small smile, "Until then, is there anything I can ask for for you? Some water, or something?"

Now that her initial panic had worn off, Eva felt that familiar sense of relief flood her. With it, however, also came fatigue--she may have forgotten that she was lacking in sleep, but her body certainly hadn't. Still, as tempting as those cots looked, she had things to do first--things that revolved around assuring that Gale, Reine, and Otto were all safe and sound. After that, maybe she would drop by the rest tent to relax for a bit.

Whether she would able to have a restful sleep free of nightmares was another matter altogether.

Wilson nodded to Molly. “Good to hear, and you stay warm too, okay?” he called after her as she headed back to the portal area.

“Now that he’s calmed down?” He frowned, worriedly eyeing the unconscious moon trainee. [More like the poor boil got knocked out. Oh shut it, Gramps. “So Dakota was angry? What was Dakota angry…about…” His voice trailed off as came to a slow answer by himself. “Strike that last question, actually.” Wilson kneeled down, taking another roll himself so he could try to patch up Dakota before he woke up again. “I’m glad you’re not too hurt. Really glad.”

“Physically? Took quite a bit, but I’m feeling better now. Bandages really help.” Wilson laughed weakly as he patted at the bandages on his cheeks and arms. “Mentally? Um. Probably not so much, but I’ll manage.”

The lab tech cleared their throat and Clarice remembered that Harrison would benefit from being able to breathe. Letting go, she gave Marcus a small wave, and then turned back with a smile that was slightly broken but trying despite it all. "Yeah...I...I've got to go. And...do the science now. But um...if you need me, I'll be here. Just call me, kay?" She really...really didn't want to leave him. Harrison wasn't a child, or even particularly fragile...but from the moment he'd woken up, she'd felt responsible for him. A feeling that had quickly turned to genuine affection and a fierce desire to, if not protect him, at least do what she could to ensure his happiness and survival. Her eyes slipped to Jordan, and her expression relaxed a bit. She didn't want to leave, but at least Harrison would be in good hands.

She hadn't forgotten Jordan's rescue during the kitchen incident JulieohgodJulie or missed the way he'd waited at the portal just earlier. The way Robert looked toward him, as well as a large number of other trainees. It was hard, to care for other hunters, to let them get close and try to take care of them. They died so easily, so suddenly despite your best efforts. It left you vulnerable to so much pain and loss after loss after loss, only ending when either you were dead or your heart was. And when she saw someone so willing to open themselves up to so much potential heartache for so many people...

Admiration mingled with pity, and she found herself glancing away.

With a nod to the both of them, Clarice turned and left.






(exiting)

Bloodied glove or not, Eva reached out to take both of his hands in hers, giving them a gentle squeeze, "I'll stay here as long as you'd like me to," She answered simply, lips curved in a soft smile, "But only if you promise to get some rest after they've checked you out. You look..."

Troubled, but who could blame him after what had just happened? Eva had come into this mission knowing full well that something could go horribly wrong--that someone could die--and it was clear that most of the trainees had had the same thoughts. They had all been preparing themselves to deal with the possibility of someone's death.

No one had been prepared for Julie's death.

Eva felt remorse at having been unable to help Julie, but more than that, she felt fear. She hadn't known the Moon assistant very well, but it was just the fact that she had been a familiar, friendly face--that she had been one of them--that had made attacking her so hard.

So what if it had been someone that she knew well--someone she cared about? What would she do if one of her friends...?

Eva shook her head quickly to rid herself of the thought, her face having grown a little pale. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a few deep breaths. That wasn't going to happen. No, she would do everything in her power to make sure that that didn't happen.

"...Let's have a spar." The request was sudden, and there was a short pause before she went on to clarify, "After all this...when we get back to Deus Ex, what do you say we have another spar sometime?" When they got back to Deus Ex. When they made it out of this alive.

Gale's cheeks were flushed red, but he could feel the reassurance coursing through him, the warmth and care. His fingers hesitantly curled around Eva's, squeezing them back before he let go and turned away, not wanting to fall further into something he was trying to get out of.

But he appreciated - and needed - her kindness concern more than she knew.

Tiredly he sat down on the nearest bed (or cot, rather - bed was a wildly generous term, since they were more like two metal poles with a piece of flat, canvas cloth strung between them), grateful for the chance he had to sit down. Some of the ache in his legs lightened a little, but he still felt pathetically weak and uneasy.

You knew what you were getting into from the start.

"I look just dandy, I know," murmured Gale, a bit dryly, and shook his head, pushing the sweat dampened, blood stained, sand encrusted strands away from his face. He felt utterly disgusting, but at least here he could get a bit of rest and maybe wash up a bit.

"...Let's have a spar!"

Gale's eyes jerked back towards Eva, widening in surprise. He pressed his lips together without saying anything, his expression softening.

"...yeah," he said quietly. "Yeah, let's have a spar."

His hand reached out again, found hers, and squeezed her fingers. Maybe she wouldn't notice how his were trembling.

Look at me. I'm a kid. I'm afraid.

For the first time since I became a hunter I'm scared.

Don't think about it.

The mantra was back.

"I think I'll rest now," he said softly. "I'm...sure I could use it."

Clarice let go. She'd always been there for him, from the very start, and she was the smartest and strongest Hunter he knew. Whatever went wrong or whenever he needed help, he could always count on her. She could fix anything, it seemed like.

Julie had seemed invincible too. In the sewers she'd made it to the other side of the gate and out of danger without batting an eyelash. She was acrobatic, confident, and not afraid of gore. She could cook and make any kind of clothes. Danger seemed to roll off her like water off a duck's back. But it'd gone bad, somehow.

Harrison had known people would die today. Maybe everybody. Right now, he wasn't dead. Clarice had to go.

He nodded back. "Okay." He was going to stay in the infirmary a little while. Until he was steady on his feet again. He wasn't doing anybody any good walking around like a zombie...wrong metaphor.

"Thanks for-" he started, as Marcus excused himself. Checking up on him. Filling in some of the answers he couldn't. "...Thanks."

His phone buzzed. He typed a response. He felt like talking about anything but bugs.

Eight

feeling shitty. not hurt @ infirmary. u ok? food = good

Marcus and Clarice were gone. But Jordan was here. He'd been calm during the fight, been able to figure out...Harrison didn't want to think about bugs. But it seemed like Jordan was always able to keep a cool head. Harrison was grateful he'd come over.

"Don't guess you brought any gum?" he asked. "It's...hell, I'm glad you made it out of there okay. Wish I'd been in any shape to make sure you had."

Thankfully because Tori's trip had been slow going, Bix had moments to pull himself together a little more. Minute by minute it was easier to deal with and soon he'd be alright enough. He'd be able to save it for later, when he was home in his room and could let it out properly.

The albino hunter grunted but pushed himself to his feet. After Before's offer he wasn't going to change his mind. The lanky young man pulled Before to his chest and then yanked each girl in with his long arms. He couldn't reach all the way around them but it was enough for a snuggly, mopey 4-way hug.

Jordan checked his pocket, found that his packet of gum was still there, and held it out with a faint smile. "Yeah, you too," he answered. "I don't blame you for - having trouble. That was pretty awful." Awful didn't even begin to cover it, but he wasn't about to think about it any more than he had to. He winced away from the mental images that started to rise, shoving them away.

Ferros rumbled quietly. Think of other things, the dragon advised.