CHULANE
Can you hear it echoing?
Take my hand
Take my hand
He was ignorant of the true depth of the Sword's grief, unaware that more things had occurred when Amalia had returned home with the news. So swept up in just that news, Chulane couldn't fathom being told anything more, anything else that would alter his rapidly changing outlook on Caido. Deimos and Amalia had seemed so right, whenever Kia spoke of them, one name was hardly ever mentioned without the other soon following.
So when the Sword spoke of her asking for space, Chulane felt his stomach drop, felt the world shift beneath him again, as he stumbled a step in surprise. He looked to the monolith of a man, looked and saw, understood more, and wanted to do something but--
But what could he do when they were approaching the steps of Kiada's house, hoping to find Auni alive, hoping to be able to look after him. What could he do, when Deimos went forth and pushed the door open, as if she would be there waiting for him, with a smirk on her lips and a wink fluttering along her eyelids. "We'll talk more, later," he promised softly as the doorway opened, as his focus was pulled away, as he wished he was stronger, more able to carry the hurts and concerns of those he considered his friends (but he was hurting too much himself in this moment).
He stepped through the threshold, heart aching as he looked at the scene that could've been so normal, if it weren't for the notable absence of life within.
"Shit," the word was whispered as Chulane took stock of the room, as he was almost overwhelmed again by the normalness of it, but also the stillness of it all. He took a steadying breath, and then he saw -
Before the fireplace that had long since burned out (the Grounds wasn't Halo after all, fire wasn't a necessity for life here), there was the pile of blankets, made in Halo and stuffed full of soft ningo feathers - the luxere's favourite spot. And upon it, was a very still luxere. Chuy motioned quickly, crossing the room in long, rushed strides, coming to a sliding kneel beside him, hands outstretched to touch, to feel, to discern whether life still beat in the beast's chest.
"Auni," his voice was louder than he thought he was capable of right now - but he was Chuy the Vet in this moment, taking charge, doing what he did best (if he couldn't save Kia's life, he could at least save Auni's). "Fuck," under his breath, the expletive rolled off his tongue with practised ease.
Then, a motion, a breath, a hint of a bleat from the luxere. "Yes! Auni!" His hand was roving through the creature's fur, feeling the warmth of life, feeling the heartbeat, the breathing. He looked to Deimos, his tone sure, sharp, directive: "Water." From his pocket, he fetched an ever-present treat, ready to proffer to the luxere, but the mystical deerling would need water first.
So when the Sword spoke of her asking for space, Chulane felt his stomach drop, felt the world shift beneath him again, as he stumbled a step in surprise. He looked to the monolith of a man, looked and saw, understood more, and wanted to do something but--
But what could he do when they were approaching the steps of Kiada's house, hoping to find Auni alive, hoping to be able to look after him. What could he do, when Deimos went forth and pushed the door open, as if she would be there waiting for him, with a smirk on her lips and a wink fluttering along her eyelids. "We'll talk more, later," he promised softly as the doorway opened, as his focus was pulled away, as he wished he was stronger, more able to carry the hurts and concerns of those he considered his friends (but he was hurting too much himself in this moment).
He stepped through the threshold, heart aching as he looked at the scene that could've been so normal, if it weren't for the notable absence of life within.
"Shit," the word was whispered as Chulane took stock of the room, as he was almost overwhelmed again by the normalness of it, but also the stillness of it all. He took a steadying breath, and then he saw -
Before the fireplace that had long since burned out (the Grounds wasn't Halo after all, fire wasn't a necessity for life here), there was the pile of blankets, made in Halo and stuffed full of soft ningo feathers - the luxere's favourite spot. And upon it, was a very still luxere. Chuy motioned quickly, crossing the room in long, rushed strides, coming to a sliding kneel beside him, hands outstretched to touch, to feel, to discern whether life still beat in the beast's chest.
"Auni," his voice was louder than he thought he was capable of right now - but he was Chuy the Vet in this moment, taking charge, doing what he did best (if he couldn't save Kia's life, he could at least save Auni's). "Fuck," under his breath, the expletive rolled off his tongue with practised ease.
Then, a motion, a breath, a hint of a bleat from the luxere. "Yes! Auni!" His hand was roving through the creature's fur, feeling the warmth of life, feeling the heartbeat, the breathing. He looked to Deimos, his tone sure, sharp, directive: "Water." From his pocket, he fetched an ever-present treat, ready to proffer to the luxere, but the mystical deerling would need water first.
All the stars we steal from the nightsky
Will never be enough
Will never be enough
