BARTIE
alone
at last
at last
Hovering at the gates of the Citadel, Bartie double-triple checked its inventory. Some small scrap of self-preservation had prevented it from packing only notebooks and field guilds, rations packed in among the pages upon pages of books. Having rarely left the warmth and safety of the Citadel proper, Bartie had rarely had cause to wear its warmest clothing. It felt awkward and unmoored in its tundra-friendly kit, bone snow goggles sitting in its hair only to slide down every thirty seconds thanks to its nervous jiggling. Everything was on the verge of being ready to go, but for now, it was forced to stand, idling, waiting, anticipating.
No one could accuse Bartie of being a cheerful person. Even now, she wasn’t even sure she was happy. Giddy, yes. Exhilarated, absolutely. But the helter skelter starting in her ribs and plummeting down her stomach wasn’t exactly joyful. The thought of going out into the tundra to finally see in person some of the lifeforms she’d studied so much from the comfort of a quiet library honestly had her feeling sick. She wanted it, yes, desperately so. But so much pressure rested on this expedition, even if, to account for her own inexperience, it was not planned to be a particularly daring or lengthy one.
Standing by the gates, she hugged herself, watching the surroundings like a hunted animal, even though she was on the cusp of escape, of finally getting out of the Citadel she’d known little more than.
1. Bartie
2. Soleil
3.
No one could accuse Bartie of being a cheerful person. Even now, she wasn’t even sure she was happy. Giddy, yes. Exhilarated, absolutely. But the helter skelter starting in her ribs and plummeting down her stomach wasn’t exactly joyful. The thought of going out into the tundra to finally see in person some of the lifeforms she’d studied so much from the comfort of a quiet library honestly had her feeling sick. She wanted it, yes, desperately so. But so much pressure rested on this expedition, even if, to account for her own inexperience, it was not planned to be a particularly daring or lengthy one.
Standing by the gates, she hugged herself, watching the surroundings like a hunted animal, even though she was on the cusp of escape, of finally getting out of the Citadel she’d known little more than.
1. Bartie
2. Soleil
3.
terribly, completely
alone
alone
