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 Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 4:23 am
The strike to the throat definitely took him out for a count. The firearm had been hastily stowed in his holster leading to no mishaps. He coughed and sputtered, holding his throat, adams apple definitely sinking into his larynx. For a moment the inflammation made him retch, sucking down air, trying to breathe. So the aviator laid down, taking in his surroundings forming a plan before slowly standing up. He'd barely been able to hear familiar shrill voices. Anita- and she was struggling. He slowly stood up, moving towards the young woman, coughing before setting a very practiced look towards Melisande. The same look he'd give a soldier for insubordination, or a mechanic for ******** up the aircraft.
"Hey, Anita.. I know, Enough... Let's stop," He placed a large heavy hand on Melisande's shoulder and the other on Anita's, "But you're acting reckless, and stupid. You went through pain once or twice. Now Pasha, shut the ******** up and listen. You will get yourself hurt... Someone who loves you here WILL run in after you, they will get hurt. Now you have two people who are integral here, writhing on the ground like Anya. Don't be a ******** up, you can do good by staying here with me and helping me understand this s**t. Prep for when the doctor is free. For now your wing is definitely crooked at a weird angle. Go to the aid station."
His grip was strong but he tried to keep his own turmoil down and treat Meli like he would a daughter of a friend or something, "If you head to the eye again, I swear to god I will stop you. Go on, and you gotta trust me. I've been in situations like this once or twice." Troxel pulled his shirt up a hair, displaying a long since scarred and healed hole having traveled through the flesh of his torso, he then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ibuprofen bottle- made for airline travel and handed it over, "Get your wing looked at, take four of these,"
He then pulled Anita, gently, looking her in the eyes in a very sympathetic manner-- I know.
"Sorry, I was... literally throat punched," Harrison rubbed his neck and scanned the area, giving Pasha one last look, "Which one is Jeremy?"
That's when he realized the very green raevan now behind him. His face cracked into a huge furrow and he looked over his shoulder, eyes widening in shock 'oh, damn, someone is there,'. He coughed and gave Eiry a tight lipped and forced grimmace-grin. Then he looked at the blisters coating his body.
"You okay there, green lantern? What people fail to acknowledge here is that, amid chaos we need order. The world isn't going to stop if you don't attack right now. Think maybe you and Pasha will get looked at or have you already been seen?"
He paused, hand still on Anita's arm but now more for spatial recognition than anything else, "Harrison, by the way... And you're seeing me at a low moment, this is the first time I've felt this useless. So which one is the ring master here?"
A lightbulb went off once more and Harrison looked towards Pasha again. He held a finger up, explaining everything.
"Another reason you should calm down and get your wing fixed. This isn't your show. It isn't Pasha the martyr gets to flounce off to heroism. This was organized by Jeremy, I can't see him by the way... But it was organized by someone, and you willingly abided his rules in joining teams and scrambling through the woods. Now that we're at ground zero you're going to give him the middle finger and go on your own vendetta? Reign it in. It isn't all about you unless it's about getting water, painkillers and aid."
He pointed back towards the aid station, "You could calm people. You could help and be a little selfless for a second."
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 6:22 am
((Xiu -> Lazarus))
Xiu’s hand had been poised and ready to deliver the second blow when Lazarus’s expression told the white Sigel that the other had finally regained his senses. Lowering his hand slowly, Xiu felt his cheeks reddening with guilt at the sight of Lazarus’s bloodied lips. He hadn’t planned...didn’t think he’d be able to punch that hard. But now that he had...
“No, I do not think that the Doctor is dead,” said Xiu slowly. He didn’t think so many would be risking their lives for the Doctor if he was. “But I do think that he is running out of tim- NO! Lazarus!” said Xiu taking a firm hold of the Sigel’s hand when the other made a move as though to dart in. “No one has succeeded with such a rash move! L-Look at Rivener, Anya and LuLu! They are in no position to fight anymore,”
“But Jeremy...he seems to know what to do,” said Xiu giving the old man a nod. “I would say that he would be our best bet. Let’s listen to him and do as he says. I’ll do all I can to help,”
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 6:43 am
There was so much chaos, so many suffering around him, and he felt like it was all his fault. Jeremy thought as he flipped through the tattered notebook with the aid of a flashlight in between his teeth, trying to look for the right page. It has to be here, somewhere! He had found it the night before and marked it with a leaf, but the fire incident had them strewn stuff all over the place and in the chaos the leaf had simply slipped off. Every page of the book just looked the same to him, pages and pages of different incantations and directions for magic that Kyou had created himself.
Yes, that's right. The book wasn't Jeremy's, it was Kyou's. Jeremy had managed to discover the book among Kyou's stuff at the lab. It detailed all the spells that the warlock had created, including the one on how to seal a fel essence. The man knew all the spells by heart, so he didn't needed to carry the book with him wherever he go. However, Jeremy doesn't, he had never captured a fel essence before, he had only seen Kyou do it!
This is a nightmare. It was too dark, Jeremy is too nervous, his hands are practically shaking with every cry and every groan that he hears, all sending chills and bouts of guilt into his heart. It has to be here somewhere, he remembered seeing a drawing in gold ink... there it is! His brows shot up as he read over the directions again, hammering the details into his brain like he did yesterday. He couldn't mess this up, he only has one chance.
More screaming, more shouting, he heard again and again people calling his name, calling for help. He cannot delay any longer! Getting up with the tools, he jogged up to the eye. "Let me through." He ordered Eirdirsceol, his voice was stern but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes. When the Sigel gave way, Jeremy went up to the floating eye, stopping just a few feet away from it. His eyes were focused on ground, trying not to look directly at it. However that only drew his focus to the person laying beneath the monster, and his heart wretched at the sight. His faithful friend, his old friend, reduced to this... even if Jeremy had known Kyou for almost a lifetime, he could barely recognize him. Shutting his eyes, he said a quiet prayer for the warlock before opening them with renewed determination.
Getting on his knees, he opened the cork of the jar and placed it before the eye. The existence of the eye is like the existence of the emotion of fear itself, it is a thing that exists, it cannot be killed or eradicated. It is not a living thing that you could suck the life out of, it can only be sealed, be contained within a vessel that it can no longer escape. And this will be that vessel.
With the book opened, he look through the directions again and memorized the steps, because there is no turning back with the thing that he is about to do. When he is done, he tore the page with the golden circle out.
You see, in order for the spell to work, the circle itself had to be drawn with ink that contains real gold, and it had to be drawn by a warlock while repeating a mantra over and over again. Normally Kyou would carry one or two pieces of the artwork with him on hunts, but without the knowledge of the whereabouts of these pieces, and without the luxury of time, Jeremy had no choice. He himself was not a warlock, and there are no way for him to know the concoction for the ink, more less draw a circle so intricate. There was no other option aside from using the one in Kyou's book of spells.
Slowly and carefully, he began to chant an incantation as he referred to the words in the book, making sure he do this right. Adrenaline was surging through his veins and he was shaking a little bit, due to nervousness as well, but his voice was calm as he read the incantations aloud. Pausing for a moment, he placed the paper with the golden circle into the glass jar before continuing on his chanting.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:21 am
The eye gave no heed to Jeremy as the man made it's way towards it. It was seeking it's next victim, and it already found one as it gazed in Ronan's direction. Thirty more seconds, and the man would've fallen under the eye's spell but it sensed something... threatening, and it pulled it's gaze away, now glaring at the golden circle sitting within the glass jar.
For some reason, it was able to sense that the circle was bad news, and it troubled the eye. The black tendrils stirred suddenly, seemingly disturbed as the eye pulled them back towards itself, gathering them around it like it was trying to form a protective shield or something.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 9:19 am
This is good, it was having an effect on the fel essence. Jeremy continued to chant as he read it off the tattered journal, keeping focus so that he won't do this wrongly. Grabbing a handful of the dirt underneath the eye, he threw them into the jar. It will act as the 'earth' to hold the fel essence inside. Then as he continued, something began to happen.
Parts of the black pillar began to be sucked into the glass jar, the eye was seen frantically darting it's gaze about when this was happening. Soon enough it was finally dragged in as well like the glass jar was a vacuum. When this was done, when the contents of the jar was no longer connected to the dark mist outside, Jeremy shut the jar with the cork cover. The paper with the golden symbol was seen burnt into ashes when it's job is done.
And that was it, it is finally over.
Jeremy let out a sigh of relief and stood back up as the black mist began to clear. The darkness lifted and a beautiful sunset was seen in the horizon, pink and purple light gracing the clear sky as the sun slowly sank in. It was such a contrast to what they had just experienced, Jeremy had totally forgotten that it's just dusk in the 'outside' world. Holding the jar with the eye now contained within, he took one last look of it before slipping it inside a black velvet bag. This one would be kept in the darkest recesses of Kyou's vault forever.
Those who were still in the eye's spell would soon break out from their torment, much to everyone's relief. But he still had one thing to do. Pulling out the flare gun from his pockets, he checked to make sure he had the correct flare in it, and shot a red flare into the sky. Loading another red flare into the gun, he fired it as well. This was the signal to request for a helicopter, as he arranged with the pilot from the search and rescue beforehand. At this point, Jeremy thought everyone wouldn't mind being rescued instead of braving the forest back to the village. Very few are still capable of that feat, and certainly... not Kyou.
Jeremy solemnly knelt down beside the man, putting a hand on the other's boney ones, his heart wrenching from the feeling. "I had already called for help, it should be here soon." Jeremy said, mostly to reassure Kyou, but he wasn't sure if the man would be able to hear. "I... I don't think it would be a good idea to move him until help arrive, right?" He turned around now, asking anyone within earshot. Storm grey eyes welled up with tears as he spoke.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:10 am
((Anya --> Cesc))
It was a peculiar sensation that ran through her when the eye was finally captured. Like water in a stopped up sink, the excruciating pain suddenly drained from every fiber of her being until there was nothing but numbness left. Her jaw unclenched - releasing Cesc - but instead of rising from the ashes like a phoenix the spider queen instead slumped heavily against her companion as exhaustion finally hit like a ton of bricks.
She did not sleep yet, even though she closed her eyes. That action in itself was brief; her eyes opening wide after a few moments on a raspy gasp that sent a shudder through her body and made it start shaking. The realization of her actions was cold, so cold, and it came flooding back to her right then and there with no consideration to her wants or desires after all her suffering.
Anastacia remembered everything.
The arrow piercing her, the chase and her pursuit, her teammates calling for her, the things she had done and wanted to do, the hunger she had felt at the thought of doing things to her quarry and more...
Her head angled against the Stag's shoulder, Anastacia stared outward at the newly dusk-lit jungle but at nothing in particular - her vision tunneled and fuzzy around the edges. Horror was etched into all six of her eyes and it was leaking out into the new shadows and lines in her otherwise sharply featured face.
What have I done? She was shivering as though chilly. Her arms hung limply at her sides, her wings similarly positioned in the dirt behind her. She found she couldn't move although she desperately wanted to run. She wanted to scream again but nothing except a wet wheezing sound came out. Soreness and acute pain began to creep back into her joints then spread out over every muscle she had like a web. She wanted to cry, to break down entirely into a new and raw emotions that weighed her down heavily, but nothing came out. Oh god, what have I done?
Anastacia was against Cesc - kept aloft by his hold; aware of his lips against her temple, his voice in her ears, and his hand in her hair - but she could have been on the face of the moon with how alone she felt. She knew what she had done, like she were watching a movie being replayed over and over in her head, and she knew that she had become what she had stigmatized and found to be among the most deplorable of all. Worse still - and her heart hammered in her breast as the bile worked its way up into the back of her throat - she had liked every moment of it.
I'm a monster.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:47 am
Melisande twisted away from Trox, his grip leaving a smudge in Cesc's grime over her shoulder. The Sigel was pale. Every negative word was like a knife to the Muse, the opposite of the positive attention she fed on. They weren't just belittling her, they were condemning her.
She kept herself straight, somehow, and angled to face them both. Her wing was indeed bent oddly, and she was covered in dirt from where Anita had held her down. Her shoulder was pink from Trox's strong grip. Pasha was shaking, and her eyes were bright and livid.
"You overstep." It sounded like a curse. "Do not touch me, and do not lecture me. I am not yours. Go help those that wish to be helped." Their cruel words still filled her, and she took one last look at the both of them. She deeply hoped Trox would never find himself caring for one of her brethren, and though she didn't say as much, her expression said so clearly. To talk to someone as they had, to grab someone as they had...
Pasha turned to Eiry, half expecting to be tackled again once she wasn't looking. The green Sigel was between her and Kyou, arms thrown wide like a child playing a schoolyard game. She started forward, worn so low she could barely float, and faced him squarely. Despite the frustration that filled her, Melisande wasn't a violent person. She drew up as close, tired mind trying to find a solution, as everything collapsed behind him.
The darkness retreated. The Eye vanished. Jeremy had done it.
Shock thrilled through her, and Pasha twisted to see if Laz was looking. "It's done. It's done!! Lazarus!" The hope in Melisande's voice was like the first flower of spring, a tiny spot of color in a frozen field. She brushed past the other Sigel, finally making her way to Jeremy and Kyou.
I...I don't think it would be a good idea to move him...
She swallowed against the lump in her throat, both at Jeremy's words and at the sight of the Doctor. She would have never recognized him, the white hair, the brittle limbs. Only the wince of fading nightmares across his face and the faint rise and fall of his chest gave her hope. She shrugged with one shoulder at Jeremy, biting her lip at the lance of pain the gesture caused. Pasha wasn't a medic, as much as everyone else insisted she try to be.
"I don't know, but...why isn't he waking up?" The Sigel settled to the ground beside the men, leaving room for the others that gathered, and gazed at Kyou's face. His eyes were still moving behind the thin lids. She'd come this far. How could she possibly help?
"Morning Star lights the way;
Restless dream all done;
Shadows gone, break of day..."
She barely breathed the old hymn, meaning it just for the Doctor. Zul had told her once that she could be someone else's star, and help guide them home. The idea gave her hope.
"Life has just begun.
Every tear wiped away,
Pain and sickness gone;
Wide awake there with me!
Peace now on and on~"
The sweet words comforted her, even if the Doctor could not hear them. Pasha closed one hand around the ring she wore, and settled her other hand on Jeremy's shoulder. She didn't know him, but there was love and pain in his face. That was enough for her.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:51 am
(( Anita -- Trox, Melisande, Eiry --> Med Station
Cruz -- Med Station with Iorek, Zeke, Anya, Cesc, LuLu, and Sevilin, and Duncan, Ronan, Rivener in a corner ))
The brittle snap and bend of Melisande's feathers, if they could be called such, made Anita gasp. Her attention whipped back to the muse, eyes suddenly wide with fear and apology. Had she hurt her or did Pasha hurt herself in her struggling? She shook her head, not sure what else to do. She didn't want to keep her pinned if she was hurt, she didn't want to hurt her at all, but everyone was being so reckless. Her chest heaved at the sigel's statement of envy, brows knitting with confusion over her wild eyes, and then she thrashed, shouted.
Anita leaned back, grip weakening just as Eiry flew onto the scene. She needed his words, his sudden sturdiness, to remind her that she wasn't somehow being intentionally cruel. Never in a million years would she say something with the intent of being hurtful, not to anyone, but she knew she was being harsh. She nearly let go, loosening up one of Melisande's sides -- the one with her injured wing -- just as Trox rounded over and asserted the same. He was far more rough about it than she was, or at least she thought, and through his talk to Melisande she let out a weak choke, hanging her head again. The man peeled her back, pulled her away, and she made a small sound of protest but didn't fight the movement. Melisande was free and she took full advantage of it. Anita's head shook more vigorously as she watched the sigel approach further, only able to mutter weak apologies to her as she continued on her single minded mission. She was still going and Trox was going to stop her -- or he would have if Eiry weren't in the way. His apology and explanation caused another short choke. At Trox's question of Jeremy's identity, Anita just let out a rough sniffle and gestured vaguely toward the old man as he prepared the strange circle, one hand still holding his and clinging with surprising strength.
It was pointless trying to reason with her. Anita'd tried so hard, thought she was being logical, but nothing she said stuck. Nothing they said stuck. She was too weak to stop a raevan she'd initially figured far too demure to try and sacrifice herself but she didn't understand what she was really sacrificing herself for. Yes, Dr. Kyou was in danger, they were all there to help him, but it was Jeremy's job. If the doctor survived this, how would he feel knowing all of his creations were injured trying to save him? How would he feel if Melisande died for him?
He didn't understand. He didn't know Cesc had just soothed her, returned her calm mind. He didn't know if the stag had brought her end or she merely succumbed to her injuries but, in his fragile mind, Anastacia had just died before him. Died in pain. In fear. Died before he could give her a proper apology. All he could do was wail but he was too weak for the sound to carry far. His claws dug into the earth. Cruz was too dazed to notice Xiu pulling LuLu over, she was so quiet compared to Anya's previous screams, and he completely tuned the new voice out. He was too tired to fight when Iorek picked him up after checking on Zeke, his hands gripping the gragoyle's shoulders as tears streamed and coated his face but he could barely even sob. The croc was so out of breath, his ribs felt like they were going to collapse in on his lungs. His heart ached, breaking for everyone here who had to endure so much.
A light gasp left his throat as Iorek's lips met his brow, subtle warmth spreading to his skin at the point of contact. His rune reacted to the simple kiss, the food. He was so hungry but he didn't have the energy to eat. Cruz whined as he was set upright beside Zeke, arms going limp. Iorek's words were lost on him, the sound of his voice getting through but not the meaning. Once he was released he cried pitifully, dirt covered hands wiping at his face, running through his hair. His ponytail was loose and a mess, hanging over one shoulder with the white ribbon a bit splotchy. He wasn't even as dirty as the others, let alone injured. He'd met no physical harm but his heart and mind were crumbling under the weight of everyone else's collective torment.
The blanket jostled him lightly and he gave a subdued yelp, not expecting it. His eyes opened then and he did a brief head count; his fingers clutched Zeke's arm, whether he was passed out or not, while his eyes roamed over the scene. Several fallen forms, three raevans around them limp, curled, or wailing. Cruz's brows knit as he looked upon Rivener, wanting to reach out to him, cradle him as Cesc cradled Anya, but he didn't have the strength. Duncan had tended to Ronan and was looking out toward the scene which pulled Cruz's attention outward as well. The white sigel from before was with a long haired and fiery one, Melisande was no longer pinned to the ground and Trox made his way over to Anita -- oh, Anita. He could tell at this distance she was crying. What happened?! And Eiry! Eiry was there! He whined the name of his guardian and the minty sigel, desiring their presences near him rather than them both being so distant. His arms fell limp as another wave of tears set in.
Then everything stopped. There were strange sounds and movement but they dared not look at the pillar of darkness looming behind them. It was sucked away, thanks to Jeremy's efforts, and suddenly there was light. Dusk descending on them was disorienting, it'd felt like it had been past midnight thanks to the encompassing shadows.
Anita hissed, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes were sore and puffy, her pale face flushed while her lips and brow trembled with the effort to maintain her expression. She refused to move while Trox didn't, while Meli was still close by, while Eiry-- She turned, locking wild and reddened eyes with the wisps. He'd blocked their vision of the thing, he'd protected them, and he tried to protect the muse too even if his attempt was as hard headed as her own. While one hand still clung tight to Trox's, the other reached out, beckoning for Eiry's approach. Her eyes and face pleaded as she fended off more tears, difficult to stop now that they'd overflowed. She wanted to thank him, hug him, keep him safe.
Both she and Cruz flinched at Jeremy firing the flares but she immediately sighed in relief. There was no need to stop Melisande's approach anymore, she wanted to help in her own way and it was safe for her to do so now. Anita tugged Trox's hand weakly, back in the direction of the med station -- a simple gesture that they should all head over there. They'd done their jobs. They needed to take care of the others.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 12:57 pm
(( Ronan --> Cruz, Duncan, mentions of others ))
Ronan felt the eye begin to draw him in, breath hitching in panic and the pounding in his head becoming nearly unbearable. No no no...! His mind began to spiral at what might happen to him, thinking back to all the things it had put them through so far and skittering away at what could happen to him now.
And then in an instant, the pressure was gone. Ronan gasped and hunched over from the suddenly release from the eye, pain in his head diminishing and tears streaming down his face as he continued to gasp. He knew with utter certainty that he had just escaped a terrible fate and the selkie shuddered at what could have happened.
Calming his panicked breathing and wiping the tears off of his face Ronan finally was able to take stock of everything around him. It was horrible. Eiry and Cesc, while still intact were both in terrible shape. A weeping Cruz was was brought to the medical station by Iorek and set down by Zeke. Rivener was on the ground near him Anita and another man were walking back over to the med station. There were many other humans and raevans he did not know, but no matter what being in bad shape seemed to be universal. And the good doctor... Ronan had to force himself to look away. They had found the doctor, conquered the beast, but at what cost? And had they been too late?
Giving a brief thank you to Duncan for his earlier care he shuffled over to the young crocodile raevan and gave Cruz's shoulder a squeeze, offering comfort but unable to find the words to say in this moment.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:19 pm
((LuLu --> Sevilin --> End ))
The chasm of darkness surrounding her seemed never ending. LuLu felt chilled to the core as though she had been falling in the frigid air for hours. All hope seemed to be lost until...
"LuLu."
Her ears twitched upon hearing a soft, croaky voice she recognized as Sevilin's. The girl shifted closer to the call. Her palms broke away from her body to reach for the sound.
"LuLu."
He sounded so close. The rabbit's pulse picked up into a rapid drone. Her limbs thrashed a bit more frantically in that direction as she guided herself towards his voice. She was practically there!
LuLu jolted upright in Sevilin's arms with a start. Both of her hands grabbed onto either side of his face. Her trimmed nails dimpled his soft skin from the pressure of her grip.
Breathing still seemed like a challenge and hers came out in erratic puffs, but eventually leveled out into a slow hum. She could hear the relieved cheers and sighs from everyone around her. LuLu craned her head around to inspect the cliff. To her astonishment, the monster was gone!
It was over.
Finally overcome with the signal to relax, the vice she hand on the fairy's face loosened as did every other muscle in her body. It all hit her at once and she felt boneless on the ground.
Even her lips had fallen into a lazy smile by the time she returned her gaze to Sevvie. One of her hands shifted to tangle into his messy blue locks. Their blunt tips scraped through the dirt and grime he had collected over the days. She even noticed the small patch missing from the back of his scalp.
LuLu was incapable of drawing the fine muscles of her face into anything remotely demonstrating her concern. However, it still lurked underneath the surface of her loose facade. It was obvious everyone had been through a lot and both of them would have plenty to share once they had plenty of r and r.
Sevilin moved to push LuLu away, but the rabbit refused to let him go. He might have been offish due to their lack cleanliness. On the other hand, LuLu could care less. She was in real need of a hug. Sevilin's prissy attitude could be damned. The sigel grumbled while pulling him in closer, "Shut up." She melded against him while her face fell into the crook of his neck.
She stayed still and quiet until she finally mumbled around the collar of his shirt, "Where the hell is We'rika. I am ready to go home."
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:26 pm
((Cesc --> Anya, mentions of others))
The light of dusk filtered through the blackness, hovering over Cesc like gentle hands, feeding his sick-dim rune just slightly, like the first meal after breaking a fast. Instantly, his aura of calm strengthened, pulled just away from his skin. The feel of it, the glow of the light, opened the stag's eyes. He was dimly aware of a distant, ethereal voice.
He lifted his head but did not otherwise move, seeing Melisande with her hand on Jeremy's shoulder, and he felt an ache of relief in his chest. She was dirty -- his fault -- and her wings were ruffled, but her back seemed straight and her voice was clear, and that was enough. His eyes trailed, seeing Eiry and Rivener and humans he did not know, Basil and Lazarus and Xiu and Iorek and Zeke and the rest. Alive. Battered, but alive.
Cesc realized with something of a shock that he was alive, too. He had to be. There was no way anything dead would feel so tired.
What a mess they were. For all their powers. The green-haired frei over to the side was weeping so heavily, weeping as though his heart would break. One of the humans, too, was crying. Probably more. But the ache, the chaotic din of pain and grief and loss was subsiding all around him, leaving only echoes in his skull.
No, no. It was well. It was all well enough.
Iorek looked himself again.
Zeke was down for the count. But not writhing in pain. Or screaming. Or vomiting and crying simultaneously. And he'd gotten medical attention, from the look of it.
Lulu, the rabbit girl, was in Sevilin's arms.
Xiu was taking care of Lazarus.
The eye was gone.
And Anya...
... she was still under his power but she was no longer in the throes of pain, Cesc was sure of that. She hung there in his arms and did not push him aside as he'd expected, but let out a wet gasp and remained silent. He did not move from her. As though he was meant to prop her, to keep her steady. He loosened her arms to give her the option to push him away with any slight pressure, but his cheek remained against her temple, his warmth and calm enveloping her. Until she wanted him away. Until she regained the strength to maintain her cool, collected distance, as she always did.
-
In the helicopter, Cesc was certain he would sleep. He was certain he would pass out almost instantly, but his brain was wired and his eyes stung, and every time he nodded off he would wake with a start. All he wanted was to be clean and safe, and to see the others the same way. But every time he closed his eyes he thought of Anya, or Rivener, or the white-haired shell of a man they'd strapped to a gurney and taken out first. That charming man at the garden party.
He slumped and put his head in his hands. A bath. Stitches. Disinfectant. A bed. He needed so many things. He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. To cry. He wanted to cry. To release something. To see Vivi and Shepard and Grandmother and Grumps. But there were still too many hours from where he was to home, and he still saw gold whenever he shut his eyes.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:50 pm
(( Duncan -> Mentions of Ronan, Cruz; announcing everyone; towards Troxel, Anita ))
Duncan watched powerlessly as chaos whirled around him-- he had never seen so many Raevans at once, not since the summer party last year, and it was devastating to see how broken everyone was in the presence of the eye. He glanced between Ronan and the other situations around them, but what could he do, if not get in everyone's way?
His heart lightened at the sight of Jeremy pressing forward. He noticd that Eirdirsceol was right in front of the eye, now, and that the injured Raevans that were at the height of their bewilderment and pain just moments go were being pried away from their places by the others. He glanced at Anita and the other Sigel-- Anita was injured-- and Duncan's eyes widened.
Before the man could say or do anything, though, Jeremy had successfully captured the Eye from its place, and the black sky overhead filled with stark dawn. He winced at the sight and covered his eyes with his arm-- he'd forgotten what time of day it was. Upon acclimating to the light, however, he glanced back at Ronan-- the man was alright, his attentions elsewhere-- and stood up. There was a moment of relative peace.
"While we wait, everyone that's able, please gather your medical supplies-- we're running short. Those that are bleeding or severely injured, stay where you are, so we can get you stable before the helicopter arrives," though he projected his voice was loudly as he could, he was unsure of how many people it would reach.
Nevertheless, it gave him more time to study who was injured, and who was not-- some were suffering from considerable blood loss, and others were clearly mentally distraught. His attentions were affixed to Anita and Troxel, though, both of whom he noticed were now lacking the company of the blonde Sigel. He walked over to the two and saw the blood trailing from Anita's hand, then glanced at Troxel, nodding respectfully.
"Come on over and we can patch you two up," Duncan gestured over to the assigned medical station, then grimaced and looked over at Cruz in particular, "Cruz may want to see you."
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 2:21 pm
[[ Rivener >> Melisande, Mention to many ]]
The Scorpion hadn't even realized he'd been moved. Stuck in the constantly looping nightmare of watching Zul die, of dropping his core and seeing it shatter, of Eiry stabbing Zul and killing him, of Zul melting away right before Riv, the poor Sigel had no concept of reality anymore. He wailed until his throat was raw, screaming and holding himself together like it was all he could do anymore, his wings hanging like two dead things on his back. They dragged along and flopped as he writhed and rolled, sometimes pricking at his own skin though Riv didn't notice.
It wasn't until the Eye was taken into the fel essence bottle that Rivener's mind began calming, though he was still far from easy. The nightmare ended, but only in its worse form. A nightmare remained here, in reality. Eiry's confession of betrayal, the deepest betrayal. Zul's core, shattered on the ground, Eiry's doing. Pasha's voice, her demand that he take care of the source of all this, a demand he hadn't been able to meet. Had she suffered for his weakness, the way everyone else had? Sobbing still, shaking, barely able to move himself from the wrecking emotional strain he'd been put under, Rivener raised himself up as much as he could, ruby eyes searching.
Cruz was nearby, as were Cesc and Anya and Reks, and over there, Lulu and Sev and Xiu and Lazarus, and a handful of humans, guardians and strangers alike, even a few Raevans Riv had never met in person. But beyond them all, where the Eye had been, stood Eiry and-...
"Melisande," Riv hiccuped, frowning in relief and concern. She was alive, but one of her wings was crooked. She was dirty from a tussle on the ground, maybe, and smeared with blood Riv hoped belonged to others, her hair was askew, but she'd never looked so beautiful. Desperate to ensure himself that his failures hadn't cost him another person dear to his heart, because she might well be all he had left now that Zul was gone, Riv struggled and stumbled to an upright position, wobbled up to the cliff's edge and scooped up the Muse in a tight hug, eyes clenching shut in grief and sobbing into her hair. He hoped she would let him, and not find him creepy. He couldn't help himself.
This broke his heart worse than anything else. Zul would never get to know what it feels like to hold her. And Rivener would never get to hold Zul again. His Flower was gone. he begged, voice halting. "Please, Pasha." The roar of a helicopter might drown out his voice but he held her and refused to move to the rescue vehicle until he knew he wasn't going to watch her die too.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 4:00 pm
((Melisande >> Rivener, Kyou))
She was so caught up in her worry for the Doctor, still breathing the last lines of the hymn, that Pasha didn't even realize Rivener was close until he scooped her up in a hug. For one moment, the Muse went rigid, pain lancing through her alongside the memory of being so roughly handled by humans. The jolt faded as soon as it had come, and she pushed deeper into Rivener's arms.
"As okay as ever." He couldn't see her face, but that old twist of humor was in her words. She smiled fleetingly, face pressed against his neck. Riv had seen her at her worst, time and time again...and some wounds never fully healed. He would learn that, now, and sadness for him washed over her anew. She tightened the embrace, ignoring her broken wing, the bruises on her back, and the cuts on his shoulders. There were no words for what he going through, Melisande knew, but she would try anyway.
"Rivener? Don't...don't give up." It seemed like a silly, dramatic thing to say, but the Muse was speaking from her own darkest memories.
Why are you so ready to die?
Because life without love isn't life.
She pulled back just enough to see the other Sigel's face. Her own face was smudged, tear streaked and drawn, and every single flower had fallen from her hair. Only a few petals remained, tangled in her curls which hung limp over her lean and dirty shoulders. Pasha could see the pain in his face, and knew it would be a very long time before he even learned to hide it, much less push it down.
"Kyou will recover. Maybe he can help you...find what you lost." She still didn't know how the Scorpion had been hurt so badly, hidden in the jungle as they all had been, but she didn't blame him for screaming for the Demon. Melisande had the same revelation. Zul had protected them all from Roux, and if he had been here, perhaps he could have spared Rivener this pain as well.
It was a long shot, but it was a hope Melisande herself had pursued. She'd gone to the lab once to seek anything that was left of Zavier, any chance that the Doctor could put him back together. She'd left with only a ring, but this wasn't her story.
Pasha leaned in to speak privately to Rivener over the noise of the approaching helicopter. She could see the others waiting to board..Cesc, with his back to her. She'd hurt him, but there was time to reconcile later. "And...thank you for trying. No one else..." She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't know what to say. Instead, she left the hint of a kiss on his cheek and pulled back. He had stood beside her, when no one else in the world had. She wouldn't forget that.
"You should go!" She had to raise her voice to be heard over the helicopter, her hair suddenly whipping violently against her face as it lowered. They were both wrecked, but the Muse wanted to stay with Kyou. He hadn't opened his eyes, and Rivener needed time to grieve. She squeezed his hand once, hard, as a promise. She'd be there, when he was ready to see her again.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 5:03 pm
[[ Rivener >> Melisande and then OUT ]]
Rivener was so glad to hear her say she was alright, and he was beginning to be able to detect that faint, almost unnoticeable lilt in her voice that denoted humor. He gave a strangled chuckle and held on tight, grateful that she herself held him tighter. Her other words, the soft request that he not give up, threatened to have him wailing all over again, the pain etching a deep groove onto his brow. He clenched his jaw to hold the sobs down, and when they pulled apart, her eyes meeting his, Riv felt his insides ache and twist. Black-clawed fingers came up to pluck a few stray petals from her hair, tucking a curl behind her ear.
But when she told him perhaps Kyou could help, Riv could only curl up a lip in wry heartbreak, his eyes softening. She was looking out for him. She didn't know that the last piece of Zul he'd had left was gone. What Riv had lost was gone forever, and there was no getting it back. "Maybe," he agreed, though his voice was barren of hope.
The helicopter approached and they leaned close again. She thanked him and he bowed his head in shame. He'd tried, but failed. In a matter of life and death like this, or in everything as far as Rivener was concerned, if you didn't succeed there was no point in trying at all. He'd failed. But if she found some value in that, then he would take whatever comfort he could from it. He flicked his eyes up to her after that ghost of a kiss, squeezed her hand with a tearful smile of regret, nodding. "Be safe," he said in return, then let go of her hand.
Onto the helicopter Rivener climbed, huddling into a corner away from everyone. Though he was surrounded by injured friends, many of which he wanted to help, Rivener couldn't do anything. Not now. Not when the grief for Zul was laid bare, fresh, a bleeding wound. Not when Rivener could barely will himself to move. He huddled and hung his head down until they made it back to the village.
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