// You'll never be alone — Even when your world explodes //
Deimos surely was accustomed to making Evie weak int he knees, but Iskra felt the same power, of a sort, as that command to halt swept through the weary woodcutter like a baby's first breath. Relief tingled up and down his aching muscles, and Iskra paused, leaning over his shovel handle for a moment to catch his breath. He stretched and leaned down to help gather and move the tools into their storage area for the night. Dirt had smeared in various places across his face, and at some point he gave up on not feeling its grit roll between his teeth. A shower had never seemed more inviting.
Joining the crowd unfolding the tarp, Iskra smiled at Elizabeth as she ended up beside him in the shuffle of workers. Iskra helped wave and snap the tarp into an even sheet, feeling for a brief moment like they were back in kindergarten and they were going to race under a multicolored parachute at some secret command from a teacher. With the tarp smoothed and in place, Iskra helped hold it for the fasteners, squinting over the dying sun as he watched Elizabeth work and stop near him. At her comment, he brightened, eyes widening as he exhaled a laugh. "I know!" he hissed conspiratorally in response. "I once helped him and Hotaru with the prison. Terrifying, the both of them. I love it." Iskra was grateful in many ways for the Warden, but that did not keep him from being an imposing figure. He did not command respect, he weilded it.
Grunting as he rose, Iskra patted his leg, Goose bounding over from some rock he'd been sniffing. "Night!" he waved at them both as he and his dog headed back home, tired, but content.
- - - -
As morning greeted him the next day, Iskra laid sprawled in bed for a while, too sore to bounce up. This was not an uncommon occurrence, and eventually the woodcutter rolled his way to the floor and worked through sets of exercises and lumbering motions. Afgter a few pops and some perfect groans, he dressed and headed back out, his fuzzy shadow weaving on his heels. They made their way to the pastry table again, but Goose was impatient today and didn't wait for Iskra's torn bits, choosing to swipe his own whole one. "GOOSE!" Iskra reprimanded, giving chase for several strides as the dog bounced away, retalitory barks, muffled with bread, answering back.
Iskra helps straighten and hold the tarp for fastening. He and Goose return and Goose steals a pastry :(
Joining the crowd unfolding the tarp, Iskra smiled at Elizabeth as she ended up beside him in the shuffle of workers. Iskra helped wave and snap the tarp into an even sheet, feeling for a brief moment like they were back in kindergarten and they were going to race under a multicolored parachute at some secret command from a teacher. With the tarp smoothed and in place, Iskra helped hold it for the fasteners, squinting over the dying sun as he watched Elizabeth work and stop near him. At her comment, he brightened, eyes widening as he exhaled a laugh. "I know!" he hissed conspiratorally in response. "I once helped him and Hotaru with the prison. Terrifying, the both of them. I love it." Iskra was grateful in many ways for the Warden, but that did not keep him from being an imposing figure. He did not command respect, he weilded it.
Grunting as he rose, Iskra patted his leg, Goose bounding over from some rock he'd been sniffing. "Night!" he waved at them both as he and his dog headed back home, tired, but content.
- - - -
As morning greeted him the next day, Iskra laid sprawled in bed for a while, too sore to bounce up. This was not an uncommon occurrence, and eventually the woodcutter rolled his way to the floor and worked through sets of exercises and lumbering motions. Afgter a few pops and some perfect groans, he dressed and headed back out, his fuzzy shadow weaving on his heels. They made their way to the pastry table again, but Goose was impatient today and didn't wait for Iskra's torn bits, choosing to swipe his own whole one. "GOOSE!" Iskra reprimanded, giving chase for several strides as the dog bounced away, retalitory barks, muffled with bread, answering back.
Iskra helps straighten and hold the tarp for fastening. He and Goose return and Goose steals a pastry :(
ISKRA
// 'Cause after all the smoke clears — I will be right here //
