"I'm never going into the forest again," had been the first thing he (rather calmly) had said after the world had disappeared beneath his feet. He had been lying on his side at that point, thrown down like a no longer interesting toy, rubble and ruin around him, his remark likely lost in the noise of his fellow earth-prisoners finding out how broken they were. Rory had figured out rather fast that he was just bruised and a bit battered (and shaken), but not everyone was so lucky.
Out of politeness he had kept away from Delah and the Fae contingent trapped with them, realizing instead that Jigano had a broken arm, Amalia was about as fine as he, and Are was .. not having the best day in his life. At least he was alive, and he seemed stable (ish), but there wasn't a whole lot they could do about it.
So he had spent his time in landslide jail alternating between trying to find a way out and just sitting next to Jigano.
But once it became clear that their pleas were heard and—the earth opened up again—Rory dashed to his feet, an animal torn between standing his ground or fleeing, only there was no way to go. If the trembling cavern chose to collapse on them...
Fear was fast and flighty and in his chest. He fought to slow his breathing again, seeing the familiar faces against the sudden and bright light—Deimos, Phoebe, Remi, Wessex... He wanted to bolt to the day beyond, into the free air, but he was acutely aware of Jigano, of Delah, of Are, and for a moment he was a rock and the world the ocean spilling around him—
But one thing quickly became obvious: they had to get out now. He didn't understand it, but he saw it, Remi collapsing...
"We have to get out now," he said, echoing Phoebe, though he wasn't sure for whose benefit he spoke. Uncomfortable and afraid he drifted after Jigano, towards the Fae. "Do any of you need support?" he asked uncertainly.
Out of politeness he had kept away from Delah and the Fae contingent trapped with them, realizing instead that Jigano had a broken arm, Amalia was about as fine as he, and Are was .. not having the best day in his life. At least he was alive, and he seemed stable (ish), but there wasn't a whole lot they could do about it.
So he had spent his time in landslide jail alternating between trying to find a way out and just sitting next to Jigano.
But once it became clear that their pleas were heard and—the earth opened up again—Rory dashed to his feet, an animal torn between standing his ground or fleeing, only there was no way to go. If the trembling cavern chose to collapse on them...
Fear was fast and flighty and in his chest. He fought to slow his breathing again, seeing the familiar faces against the sudden and bright light—Deimos, Phoebe, Remi, Wessex... He wanted to bolt to the day beyond, into the free air, but he was acutely aware of Jigano, of Delah, of Are, and for a moment he was a rock and the world the ocean spilling around him—
But one thing quickly became obvious: they had to get out now. He didn't understand it, but he saw it, Remi collapsing...
"We have to get out now," he said, echoing Phoebe, though he wasn't sure for whose benefit he spoke. Uncomfortable and afraid he drifted after Jigano, towards the Fae. "Do any of you need support?" he asked uncertainly.
