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Hugbell stood there watching as everyone seemed exhausted, on the verge of giving up. She'd been one of the very few who didn't offer her power, when she had nothing to give.

However the princess stood there and looked around, the sadness in the camp overwhelming and even stifling to the princess of comfort who'd waited as long as she could and no longer she sighed and took in a breath. Pulling forth a small crystal she looked at it before looking around again and calling forth a magical attack. Watching as stuffed animals began to spring up around them, and offer their comfort and healing to those left.

When she was finished, surely having startled some if not most. The Princess looked around for the voice that spoke. Nodding agreement, "We need to stop fighting amongst ourselves and devise a plan - a solid plan. Can we do that?" She looked around, for anyone. "If we keep running and fighting against each other. . . We won't win. I've seen it surely you have too."

Though as she spoke she smiled, "I believe in us. I offer my comfort, my hope. Please, let us figure this out together." She was looking for Ida, Charliko, the other princesses and royal knights that were their allies.



----

Niflhel was holding Snowball in his arms, the cat was sound asleep. Though the knight hadn't seen Hver yet and was worried, had he lost her too? Who else was gone that he knew, cared about? He dared not to look around the field. Though a stuffed animal suddenly appeared at his feet and startled him. Dragging him back to hear the words being spoken by others. One he wasn't sure where, the other seemed to be from the princess who'd offered the stuffed animals.

He gave a small shiver, it was hard to tell if it was from feeling cold and numb or what but the Knight couldn't keep his eyes upon the crowd he was more worried about the cat in his arms. Though he slowly reached over to pick up the stuffed animal that appeared before him. A small polar bear, which seemed, almost to warm him a little as he held it in his hand, finally pulling it into his lap with the cat who nuzzled into the toy purring softly.

They lost the ******** camp and in the hubbub and chaos Emily didn't see where her father went, but she didn't know if her sibling or cousins or Uncle Tom escaped the chaos either.

She'd done what her father said to do if a raid happened. She ran. All she had was her trusty companion, her uncle's wooden spoon from baking before it happened, and aside wiping it off she was in a particularly sour mood, watching others mill about. Find safety, get there, and stay alive. That was it and she'd done that. Planned to as well. Still, she was particularly cross and leaned on a tree as others went by, tapping her hand with the wooden spoon as she watched. Everyone lost plenty, but she wasn't happy.

The powered forces were doing a spectacular job of ******** up their damned jobs and Emily was less than pleased with many, if not all of them, and her blue eyes flashed with fury as she kept her mouth shut, watching.

All Erin learned was that the camp was taken and Erin was out her apartment as quickly as possible with a backpack and a harnessed bun in arms as she went to locate the survivors. Although Erin didn't know what to expect, she knew to be soft and kind, and there may be children - thus the bunny in her arms to soothe the youngest and anyone who may feel some comfort from a loving, soft animal. She brought blankets in her bag - and one or two bags of trail mix and a gallon of water. Although she didn't know if Delilah was there or alright, Erin had no trepidations approaching the harried survivors and withdrawing her first blanket to offer around, coupled with ffering children to pet the nice bunny.

It didn't matter who they were. They were refugees. And they needed help.

Hugbell smiled at Seireitei as she nodded moving closer to the woman. "Yes we are all united in our cause, we always have been. But sadly our disagreeing over how to do things has caused a problem." She looked around, "Thus we need to set aside our differences and come to a common ground with a plan. I know this is easier said than done. I've seen everyone since I was a child, and when it was really important we all did band together, we all stopped trying to come up with the best plan and agreed. Now is another one of those times."

She made sure to try and speak where everyone could hear her. Though she paused when Seir asked about a kitchen and lowered her voice back to normal. "Ida would likely know. I'm not sure we have any supplies or anything for food though. We may have to try and send out a small hunting party." The teenager looked a little worried as she glanced around the camp.

Jada was shaking from the effort she was exerting to stay within the protection of Scylla. She should have powered down and gone home, but she was covered in ash and soot, and blood- most of it her own. She had no safe way in and out that would protect her from questions. Keeping her civilian identity safe was going to be a lot harder this time around.

She shuddered, shaking her head silently. She had henshined up again, and she regretted the choice already. The attack- the fighting. Jada had decided she would fight, and her words had been so pretty... And now it was time to stick to them. Fighting wasn't all about the violence. It was about the healing, and the aftermath, and the mourning. Then getting back up to stand your ground again.

As she thought about the number of innocents who had been... No. She wouldn't. She would look forward. Scylla sighed, sinking down into a safe place on the ground, joining the others gathering around. Stuffed animals seemed to be joining them as well, and she eyed it dubiously. Still, a little stuffed squidtopus was just what she needed, maybe.

Couldn't hurt.

She held her tongue, and listened to what everyone was going to say. She was tired, and her voice was going to be small to the majority of survivors.

Right now, she missed the Blood Moon more than she ever had. The comfort of a family, and one strong leader. And more than ever she regretted not stepping in to help bring them together. Still, that was almost a decade past, and now was more than a court. It wasn't a handful in trouble.

Overall, Megrez felt hollow.

She had accomplished her objective. She had put an end to corrupt Penthesilea (though Thraen had done the most decisive work), the last of her turned friends that she knew the fate of and could do anything about, and had given her a proper sendoff. What else could she do now? The camp was lost, supplies were lost, lives were lost. To say that the blow to Order had been devastating was an understatement. Though there had been survivors and they had been able to gather again, was there even anything left to pick up? Could blood be pulled from Order's apparent gravestone?

The emptiness pervading her heart smothered everything else. She was without any further plans or ideas. There was a deep void inside her that would most likely never be filled again. She did have one remaining purpose that prevented her from going back to the burning camp and offering herself to whatever force would take her: she was still alive, and she could fight, and she would do so. However, when her end came, she would not resist it. She was done and finished, wracked by a black grief that clung to her like... tar. "I will do whatever I'm needed to do," she said flatly. I will become a tool. Point me, and I will shoot.

A glance towards the ground revealed something fluffy in her peripheral vision. Closer inspection revealed a round, bird-like stuffed animal about a foot away from her. It resembled one of the Squishables she loved to collect back when she had a collection of stuffed animals, and the sight brought the tiniest of wan smiles to her face. She picked it up, held it close, nestled one hand in its soft fluff. Her vision blurred with hot tears, and she began to sing, softly and in a vacillating tone. Singing to herself had been a coping mechanism that she had carried with her since she could remember; not even the tragic years had crushed her love of song out of her. The concerts she had put on for the camp were a testament to that.

"For though the storms are over and past,
Though the thunder's rage is quieted at last
Well this nightmare's laid me down in the rags here to mourn,
Here to mourn.
The night has left us crippled with grief
As we strive to keep alive our belief,
But a loss so great, it clouds all our hopes for the dawn."

It was an odd choice, singing the bridge of the song instead of the more recognizable choruses, but it was the first part of the song that had come to mind. If she was not interrupted and did not find anything worthwhile to say, she would probably run through several loops of the song before tiring out.

Upon feeling a touch on her arm, Chariklo glanced down and smiled when she saw who it was. It appeared that not all of her friends had been stolen from her.

Wrapping her arm around Failyn's shoulders, she gave the young woman an affectionate squeeze.

"Fai, they knew where to find us. I'm not willing to take that chance with Safe House. Don't ask me to sacrifice you too."

That last was said in an undertone meant only for Fai's own ears. Then, in a carrying voice, she addressed those assembled and hoped for the best.

"Some of us still are able to wander the city as civilians. We know the Negaverse delights in broadcasting their percieved victories across the city. We can send a small group to gather information and report back. From there we can try to strike back. And I promise you all, I'm happy to to some striking back."

The escape had been accomplished, but not without a great price.

So many... so many left behind.

Sitting with her back to a tree, facing away from the gathering, Ida listened as the others spoke of what to do now and found it hard to rouse herself to join in. Dark lashes lay against her cheeks and she flinched when Chariklo spoke, her head dropping to hang between her shoulders. It was her fault the hospital hadn't been evacuated... it had been her choice not to give the rumors enough credence to move the hospital as the other princess had urged her to do. The young woman hugged her knees closer to her chest as she rested her forehead on them, her chest tight with pain but her eyes dry as bone.

So many had died that did not need to. I could have saved them, if I'd been stronger, wiser. It's my fault they had to sacrifice themselves for us.

God, she was so tired... dirty, ragged and exhausted from fight and flight and a desperate use of her princess power to get the wounded on their feet, heart-sick for the lost and so very, very alone...

I don't think I can do this... I'm sorry, Hver. I know you're depending on me, but I'm not strong enough. I can't do this alone...

She had never been good alone and she had the scars to prove it.