to be more than trembling

Lena

The sparking and sizzling atmosphere amidst the horizon was something breathtaking, and if there weren’t half a dozen other things suddenly buzzing through their minds, Lena would’ve been mesmerized by the presence of the storms. Otherworldly and enigmatic, havens and havoc collected in schisms –

But then there was Vox, and anything pleasant seemed to vanish as the words sunk in.

All she needed to hear was the Tower falling, once more, for her entire form to go straight in their little booth in the back – dropping her fork unpleasantly against the plate. Visions of the past, of her sister’s corpse, of the rubble and ruin, of decimated landscapes…

Of the threat booming in their ears.

“Not again,” she managed to stifle back, teeth biting at her lip until she felt the urgency to curl into herself – because they’d tried so hard and she’d wanted nothing more than to –

She didn’t look up at him, not now when the tears and memories were beginning to claw. “Should we head back because –.”

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Zavien

Things had been going great. The food was delicious, the stormy weather outside was enlightening, and the company was perfect. He couldn't have asked for a better way to spend their anniversary, and Zavien found himself smiling through it all, letting the world fade away to just them in their little corner booth. 

But it was suddenly like the tranquil Tower of his mind was falling with the revelation of Vox's words intruding into his mind, leaving panic and dread pooling in his stomach to fester and sour the food that still sat there. The laughter that had felt so light and hopeful cracked and broke apart in a gasp, the smile on his face falling as assuredly as the bricks that had scattered the streets of Stormbreak - their home. Every cell in his body was so silent that it screamed, frozen in fear and commanding him to act all in the same second. 

Lena's voice broke through the mental chaos, his body so rigid that he had to remind himself that they weren't there, that the threat was miles away, that he couldn't actually hear people screaming or smell the smoke in the air. Sol whined, tucking himself against Zavien's leg in support of the reality of their situation. They weren't close enough to do anything, and the threat was clear enough that he didn't know what they could do without inciting their wrath. 

Regret painted his emotions, wondering if it had been selfish for them to leave at all. 

He inhaled long and slow, stabilizing in the uncertainty and turmoil as he set aside his fork and looked to Lena, ready to plan their next course of action. Then he saw the look on her face. The pale panic that gripped her. The haunted anguish in her eyes. It took him a moment to finally understand her words, to recall that Lena's sister had died in the previous attack on the Tower. 

His priorities shifted, a concerned partner as much as a soldier focused on his wounded comrade in front of him instead of the battle echoing in the distance. Zavien reached forward, taking her hand in his like a lifeline, willing to be the anchor in the coming storm. "Lena, breathe." The green in his eyes was pleading and insistent. Squeezing his hold, he kept his voice soft but strong with reassurance - for her and him both. "We don't know how bad it is yet." They needed to stay calm, even when it felt like the world was falling out from under them.

Be like a solid tower
whose brave height remains unmoved by all the winds that blow.

Lena

They’d truly hung on to Stormbreak for a long time, through it all. She reminded herself of this, as memories and moments flashed through her. They’d been strong and determined and stalwart over and over again –

And really, in the deep corners of her haunted mind, she wondered if it had mattered.

She could hear and see and feel Zavien, her fingers reflexing and naturally closing around his, tightening, trying to find a way to steady herself rather than rise to panic or bile searing through her throat. She didn’t want to make a scene, not when everyone else was murmuring as the sounds of Vox blasted through their minds.

So she nodded, because they didn’t know but it was enough to hear the doldrums blasting away and for her sister to be found amidst the rubble, while the world marched on and war labored in intensity. Why was Caido always the root, the route? “I know, I just-,” wanted to flee and run like all the prey animals in her blood. Wanted to tuck herself away and hide for another few seconds while the worst clawed in her mind. Wanted to fly towards their home and make sure everything was fine.

She wanted to apologize but she wasn’t sure what for. The regret was on her lips though, regardless, biting away as her teeth segmented there, reminding her to stay balanced and poised and not crack away. “I think – we head back to the inn, and then maybe find Koa? And go home?”

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Zavien

A lightning strike outside was poorly timed, starting a headache that began blooming in his mind from all the coming stress and unknown probabilities. It felt like getting somewhere quiet and away from the hum of people might help him silence the anxieties, but he knew that wouldn't come until their safety was assured along with everyone else in Stormbreak - until the Family was gone. 

Nodding his head, Zavien tried not to crush Lena's hand in his. "Let's head back to the inn and see if we can get word of the current situation." Whether that came from Koa or some other source, they needed information. He knew she wasn't the kind to step aside, especially when the Celestine was at risk, but he couldn't watch her put herself at risk. But depending on what they found, he didn't know if returning was an option, and he wouldn't promise her that he'd agree with putting her life on the line for the animals. So, he left it open for discussion as he said gently, "Then we can talk about going home." Or what their alternative may be. 

Food long forgotten and serving as nothing more than a nauseant, Zavien paid the bill and stood, never releasing his hand from Lena's, like she might have been in the Tower if he wasn't holding her now. "Come on. There's no time to waste." He tried not to look too scared, but the smile he gave her was more regretful than reassuring. Their mini vacation was over with incredible fanfare, all butterflies having been burnt to a crisp by the acid in his stomach.

Be like a solid tower
whose brave height remains unmoved by all the winds that blow.

Your leg, ahh! It’s caught in a bear trap some quicksand moss! Quickly you sink in up to your knee as what you had thought to be just a patch of dry moss begins to slowly devour you. If you aren’t freed in about 30 minutes, you’ll lose the leg.

You’ve encountered Quicksand Moss! It should be fairly easy to escape from, though you might experience lingering pain or swelling in your leg.

Quicksand Moss - Quicksand moss has the appearance of dead moss, although in reality, this brown colour is due to it consuming animals instead of sunlight. It grows anywhere a regular moss or lichen would, but grabs any creature foolish enough to come near and quickly digests them.

Lena

“Okay,” she said, numb all over again, accepting of movement and motion and something to stick to, rather than wringing her hands together and bowing her head over the trepidation. What about the people? Or the Celestine? Had Dahlia’s fit of rage extended even further? And then what –

Inns. Going home. No time wasted. Lifting from her seat, with as much poise as she could muster, she paid for their bill with as much apologies and regret afforded past blundering and blubbering. And even the guilt started to sink in – because why had she thought it’d be fine, to be away, just for a second, a snippet. And wrong – to even dare and dream about such things. Maybe one day she’d forgive herself – but for now, her blood ran cold as they made their way into the storm.

[FIN]

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance