«We Could Be Legends»

[RiverStorm]

Wolfram's wounded hand fell to his scratched and bleeding thigh as a blurred shape fell to the earth's healed wound. He then realized his vision was horribly blurred, and he felt light-headed. I must be bleeding that much.
His sweatshirt was stickly with blood, but the fact didn't scare him. He felt oddly subdued. Or maybe it was just that awful calm he would feel before he utterly lost it.
His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head furiously, blood spattering the grass around him, dying green to crimson. Despite his words to River, his breath was quick and ragged and sharp. Who had fallen?
He could make out a shape, golden hair falling around her face. He realized it could only be Bleddyn. Slowly, he rose to trembling legs and partly tripped his way until he had knelt beside Bleddyn and River. The movement had sent a wave of pain through him, his chest aching painfully. "Dyn, River," he whispered, his voice sounding unnatural for him. Probably from shock. He couldn't fathom or even begin to understand what had happened to Connor. "We'll get him back. Or die trying."

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" Bleddyn’s last insistence rose into a strangled scream. She was utterly petrified because of what she couldn’t understand. She couldn't get air to cooperate enough to be utilized by her lungs. Her head was roaring as though she had the very essence of warfare within her, completely hindering her ability to form coherent thought. As she crumpled away from him into a shaking heap, an ominous tear in the rumbled grasses began to spread outward from beneath her into sinuous spider-leg cracks.

Taylor looked up at him, visibly shaking with suppressed emotion. "They're dead, Toby! They are dead! They fell into the earth!"

Toby flinched. Defeated, he slowly sat down, staring at the ground. She was right. He knew she was right, but it was a lot easier to be delusional over their survival than to accept the truth. "But maybe..." He trailed off. No. They were dead, and it would be pointless to dig them up only to bury them again. He rested his head in his hands. Everything was so messed up. So many people were dead, just because some people had powers and others didn't.

River snapped her eyes shut, her mind reeling from Taylor's words-- And how much she knew they were true. I failed them. I'm losing my family, one by one.
She uncurled her hand, the dirt slipping from it as she dragged it away from the ground, slowly resting the dust covered thing on Bleddyn's shoulder, her eyes sealed to the shaking ground. I'm sorry.
Her ears began flicking around wildly, desperate to hear something, to be able to confirm some kind of life.
But she couldn't hear anything.
Maybe it was just the shear amount of dirt covering them, or more likely, they were simply dead. "Toby," She croaked, looking at the short inhuman. "I can't hear them. If they were making noise and if anyone here could hear them down there, I could." Her face dropped once more, too terrified to keep eye contact going.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" Bleddyn’s last insistence rose into a strangled scream. She was utterly petrified because of what she couldn’t understand. She couldn't get air to cooperate enough to be utilized by her lungs. Her head was roaring as though she had the very essence of warfare within her, completely hindering her ability to form coherent thought. As she crumpled away from him into a shaking heap, an ominous tear in the rumbled grasses began to spread outward from beneath her into sinuous spider-leg cracks.

Wolfram couldn't suppress the shudder that over took his whole body.
Everything ached. His head, his chest, his body, his soul. Merely because he understood. He understood, at least partially, what she was going through. The feeling of complete desolation and rage and self-loathing and just utter pain. Grief that didn't just grab you mentally and emotionally, but physically as well, tearing you apart until it hurt to even breathe. Grief that played with you like you were nothing more then a puppet.
And he understood. Because, regardless of if it were your fault or not, grief made you feel responsible for the death of someone close to you.
He didn't dare reach out for her, though. Sometimes that was just to much, because feeling meant you were in reality, and reality meant whatever had just happened was completely real.
Under him, there was a soft tremor. It would go unnoticed to a normal human. But a shifter, a person with acute ears and with the ability to sense things others couldn't, would. Around Bleddyn, through the course grass, Wolfram could see cracks. Thin cracks spreading around her.
"Bleddyn," his voice was low, tinged with panic, as he slowly started to get to his feet. "Bleddyn, get up. Get up, now!"

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Taylor watched for a moment, her gaze slowly drifting around the clearing. Lily, Ash, Indigo, Toby, Brisa, Jessi, River, Lachlan, Camilla, Bleddyn, Wolfram...they had all lost someone. Family, friends...
Because of Mapleshade.
Fire crackled and snaked from her palms, fury rising in her chest. Bcause of one, jealous and selfish human being...
Four people that were so important to this group had died.
At her hand.
With a barely audible snarl, the flames snaked from her hands, piercing the earth's scar.
But it did nothing more then burn the grass and leaves, leaving the two buried people to die.
And become nothing more then Legends.

River snapped her eyes shut, her mind reeling from Taylor's words-- And how much she knew they were true. I failed them. I'm losing my family, one by one.
She uncurled her hand, the dirt slipping from it as she dragged it away from the ground, slowly resting the dust covered thing on Bleddyn's shoulder, her eyes sealed to the shaking ground. I'm sorry.
Her ears began flicking around wildly, desperate to hear something, to be able to confirm some kind of life.
But she couldn't hear anything.
Maybe it was just the shear amount of dirt covering them, or more likely, they were simply dead. "Toby," She croaked, looking at the short inhuman. "I can't hear them. If they were making noise and if anyone here could hear them down there, I could." Her face dropped once more, too terrified to keep eye contact going.

"Forget it. You said it yourself. They're dead. Why bother trying to get them out?" Toby said glumly to Taylor. He looked at River. He didn't know what to say, so he just stood up and wandered away, mindlessly walking through the clearing. There was movement from by the car, something big and black. Before he could do anything it charged up to him. He tensed, preparing for whatever was about to happen. When the creature started to lick his hand he relaxed, thankful to see it was just Alpha. "You're okay!" He said, cracking a small smile. He hugged him, getting blood from his wound all over Alpha. "You need a bath. And a new vest. And probably therapy." Toby mumbled. "I'm so sorry buddy, I understand if you don't love me anymore. I've put you through more things than you've trained for." Alpha licked his face, his way of showing Toby he still loved him.

 

[HeavensHens88]

"Yeah, but doesn't Ash have elemental abilities of some kind?" Indigo asked. "Was she ever tested for it? It's a very rare ability, but I think she passed it on."
"I just wish we knew someone who could hear for voices... check for signs of life..." she said, slightly rapping her knuckles on the strangely lumpy ground.

Toby's eyes lit up. "Oh! Taylor! She's got some weird sort of powers, maybe she can help!" He stood up, and then dropped back down by Ash. "Right, you're still injured." He was disappointed he didn't somehow magically fix her wounds.
Toby cleaned and bandaged Ash's wounds, then quickly stood up again, a wave of dizziness crashing over him. He almost fell over, but was able to right himself before he did. He walked up to Taylor, but noticing how tired she looked he walked back to Indigo and Ash. "Never mind, she looks too tired. The last thing we need is her passing out. I'm out of ideas."

Taylor frowned at Brisa's words, her hand dropping as Toby came over. The wall of fire dropped low, but still crackled furiously. "I didn't think she did either." She murmured, and drifted over to Toby, Ash and Indigo. "What do you need me to do?"

Toby looked up at Taylor. "We were talking about a way to see if they are still alive down there. You have some cool powers, so I was wondering if any of them could be used to see if they're alive." He said.

Taylor took in a slow, long breath, and knelt down so she was beside Ash and Toby. "I don't want to say this. But I have to." She trembled slightly, staring at the earth's scar. "They're gone, you guys. They were swallowed by the earth, they're dead. You can't get them back! You can't!"

Toby's face fell. "No. No, they're not dead. We'll get them back." He stood up, taking a few steps backwards. He looked around. So much death. And people are still dying. We'll get Connor and Sherri back. Won't we?

Taylor looked up at him, visibly shaking with suppressed emotion. "They're dead, Toby! They are dead! They fell into the earth!"

"I refuse to believe that. What if they are alive? The more time we spend arguing over if they're dead or not, the more dead they're going to be!" Toby said, determined they were alive.

Taylor sighed. "Do you even know what happens to people who get buried alive?! They run out of oxygen, and they die. Toby, it's not worth it, we'll never get to them even if they are alive!"

"But we won't know if they're dead until we get them out!" Toby turned to Indigo and Ash. "Back me up here guys!"

Taylor let out a frustrating snarl, and suddenly a bush nearby burst into flame, her eyes flashing white for second. "You need to start thinking logically, people! They. Are. Dead."

"These people are friends and family to us. I won't do nothing if there is a chance they could be alive. I will get them back with or without your help." Toby said, glaring up at her.

"There isn't a chance, Toby!" Taylor shot to her feet, no longer trying to suppress her emotions. Silent tears stained her face, causing her emerald eyes to go glassy. "If there was a chance, I'd tell you. Oh, for God's sake, I'd do anything to make sure no one else died, but there is no way they are alive."

As Toby dressed her wounds, Ash faded in and out of diffident consciousness. It was a few minutes before she could sit up and, even then, her vision of the world around her was a warped, sliding view. She took one look at the blood-soaked knife that Toby had removed from her shoulder and vomited the little contents of her stomach. She brought her left hand up in a vain attempt to clean her face and shied away from the surprising white blur that was her bandage. "So...Connor...he's..." When she went to finish her sentence, she doubled over painfully to heave again, but nothing came up.

 

[Thing2]

Taylor frowned at Brisa's words, her hand dropping as Toby came over. The wall of fire dropped low, but still crackled furiously. "I didn't think she did either." She murmured, and drifted over to Toby, Ash and Indigo. "What do you need me to do?"

Toby looked up at Taylor. "We were talking about a way to see if they are still alive down there. You have some cool powers, so I was wondering if any of them could be used to see if they're alive." He said.

Taylor took in a slow, long breath, and knelt down so she was beside Ash and Toby. "I don't want to say this. But I have to." She trembled slightly, staring at the earth's scar. "They're gone, you guys. They were swallowed by the earth, they're dead. You can't get them back! You can't!"

Toby's face fell. "No. No, they're not dead. We'll get them back." He stood up, taking a few steps backwards. He looked around. So much death. And people are still dying. We'll get Connor and Sherri back. Won't we?

Taylor looked up at him, visibly shaking with suppressed emotion. "They're dead, Toby! They are dead! They fell into the earth!"

"I refuse to believe that. What if they are alive? The more time we spend arguing over if they're dead or not, the more dead they're going to be!" Toby said, determined they were alive.

Taylor sighed. "Do you even know what happens to people who get buried alive?! They run out of oxygen, and they die. Toby, it's not worth it, we'll never get to them even if they are alive!"

"But we won't know if they're dead until we get them out!" Toby turned to Indigo and Ash. "Back me up here guys!"

Taylor let out a frustrating snarl, and suddenly a bush nearby burst into flame, her eyes flashing white for second. "You need to start thinking logically, people! They. Are. Dead."

"These people are friends and family to us. I won't do nothing if there is a chance they could be alive. I will get them back with or without your help." Toby said, glaring up at her.

Connor was dying.
In truth, he’d been dying all day.
He was certain of it now. All of his fruitless struggles to move had proved to him that he had no feeling below his waist- his back had been broken and he was paralyzed. He likely could’ve lived with that alone, but there was this strengthening weakness that came not from what oppressed him outwardly, but within. He wasn’t completely aware that he was slowly succumbing to widespread internal bleeding, but he knew.

So it was only now did he really come to terms with his fate. Perhaps it was the soil clogging his throat and nose. Maybe it was the utter torture of breathing that betrayed the broken ribs. Though his body was relatively free in the earthen pocket he’d come to rest in, his neck was pinned upward at a horrible angle. The stale air his nose raggedly drew in came with more and more solid particles every time.

This wasn’t surviving.

He’d miss getting to see his little girl walk across a school stage to receive the scroll of paper that was the prize of relentless, eighteen-year pursuit. He regretted that his guidance wouldn’t be there to fight for her way through through the trials of oppressive early adulthood. His arms wouldn’t be able to pull her close when she hit another dangerous low in her belief of herself. He wouldn’t be there to fight off the unqualified suitors and begrudgingly come to an understanding with the only one worthy.

But she’d be able to do it all without him.

He was breaking the promise he’d made to Ash when they were barely more than kids and terribly uncertain of how they were going to find their way in the world without family or funds. No longer would he be there to defeat the remanent terrors from their own ghastly adolescence that came for her in the night. There wouldn’t be any more off-key, radio-accompanied midnight duets atop the most remote hill they could find. His bottomless stomach wouldn’t be there to receive the dubiously edible products of her kitchen concoctions. Now she would be forever taking her jogs alone.

But she’d be able to do it all without him.

He knew it was going to be okay. They’d both be able to go on without him. They were the strongest women he knew.

And then he had a sudden thought of Wolfram. Now that his own ideas were the only ones he had to contend with, he was suddenly certain that Bleddyn was going to have to start dealing in the messy world of negotiably mutual feelings a whole lot sooner.
And he was surprised to realize that he was okay with the negligible potential of Wolfram becoming something more for his daughter. Because, among all of the self-loathing, doubt, and ineptitude that the young man was comprised of, Connor had seen something he’d seen before.
He already knows he’d die for anything of them.
He’d die for her. Just like I was. Just like I would.
And am.

All of that realized with finality, he was put at even greater peace.

Through all of the pressure that was interminably collapsing his innards into themselves, he was able to recognize that, somehow, he’d been approached by much stabler survivors. He curled his muzzle into a grateful smile for the gift of magically generated oxygen, but his breathing had already been far too compromised for it to aid him. For a moment, his eyes fluttered, fighting against his stubborn will to force them open, then they flickered shut entirely for the last time.

He was suddenly overcome with pride for Ash and Bleddyn. His fantastic, amazing, and completely undeserved partner who had pulled, walked with, and run ahead of him through the way better half of his life. Their brilliant girl who’d overcome so much against the worst kind of negativity- her own.

For his last movement, Connor chose to smile again. Hey, Tom, I’ve got so much to tell you, man.

With anticipation for whatever waited beyond this horrible plane, he let himself go.

(NOOO!!!!)

"There isn't a chance, Toby!" Taylor shot to her feet, no longer trying to suppress her emotions. Silent tears stained her face, causing her emerald eyes to go glassy. "If there was a chance, I'd tell you. Oh, for God's sake, I'd do anything to make sure no one else died, but there is no way they are alive."

Toby flinched. Defeated, he slowly sat down, staring at the ground. She was right. He knew she was right, but it was a lot easier to be delusional over their survival than to accept the truth. "But maybe..." He trailed off. No. They were dead, and it would be pointless to dig them up only to bury them again. He rested his head in his hands. Everything was so messed up. So many people were dead, just because some people had powers and others didn't.

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" Bleddyn’s last insistence rose into a strangled scream. She was utterly petrified because of what she couldn’t understand. She couldn't get air to cooperate enough to be utilized by her lungs. Her head was roaring as though she had the very essence of warfare within her, completely hindering her ability to form coherent thought. As she crumpled away from him into a shaking heap, an ominous tear in the rumbled grasses began to spread outward from beneath her into sinuous spider-leg cracks.

Taylor watched for a moment, her gaze slowly drifting around the clearing. Lily, Ash, Indigo, Toby, Brisa, Jessi, River, Lachlan, Camilla, Bleddyn, Wolfram...they had all lost someone. Family, friends...
Because of Mapleshade.
Fire crackled and snaked from her palms, fury rising in her chest. Bcause of one, jealous and selfish human being...
Four people that were so important to this group had died.
At her hand.
With a barely audible snarl, the flames snaked from her hands, piercing the earth's scar.
But it did nothing more then burn the grass and leaves, leaving the two buried people to die.
And become nothing more then Legends.

River snapped her eyes shut, her mind reeling from Taylor's words-- And how much she knew they were true. I failed them. I'm losing my family, one by one.
She uncurled her hand, the dirt slipping from it as she dragged it away from the ground, slowly resting the dust covered thing on Bleddyn's shoulder, her eyes sealed to the shaking ground. I'm sorry.
Her ears began flicking around wildly, desperate to hear something, to be able to confirm some kind of life.
But she couldn't hear anything.
Maybe it was just the shear amount of dirt covering them, or more likely, they were simply dead. "Toby," She croaked, looking at the short inhuman. "I can't hear them. If they were making noise and if anyone here could hear them down there, I could." Her face dropped once more, too terrified to keep eye contact going.

Wolfram couldn't suppress the shudder that over took his whole body.
Everything ached. His head, his chest, his body, his soul. Merely because he understood. He understood, at least partially, what she was going through. The feeling of complete desolation and rage and self-loathing and just utter pain. Grief that didn't just grab you mentally and emotionally, but physically as well, tearing you apart until it hurt to even breathe. Grief that played with you like you were nothing more then a puppet.
And he understood. Because, regardless of if it were your fault or not, grief made you feel responsible for the death of someone close to you.
He didn't dare reach out for her, though. Sometimes that was just to much, because feeling meant you were in reality, and reality meant whatever had just happened was completely real.
Under him, there was a soft tremor. It would go unnoticed to a normal human. But a shifter, a person with acute ears and with the ability to sense things others couldn't, would. Around Bleddyn, through the course grass, Wolfram could see cracks. Thin cracks spreading around her.
"Bleddyn," his voice was low, tinged with panic, as he slowly started to get to his feet. "Bleddyn, get up. Get up, now!"

"Forget it. You said it yourself. They're dead. Why bother trying to get them out?" Toby said glumly to Taylor. He looked at River. He didn't know what to say, so he just stood up and wandered away, mindlessly walking through the clearing. There was movement from by the car, something big and black. Before he could do anything it charged up to him. He tensed, preparing for whatever was about to happen. When the creature started to lick his hand he relaxed, thankful to see it was just Alpha. "You're okay!" He said, cracking a small smile. He hugged him, getting blood from his wound all over Alpha. "You need a bath. And a new vest. And probably therapy." Toby mumbled. "I'm so sorry buddy, I understand if you don't love me anymore. I've put you through more things than you've trained for." Alpha licked his face, his way of showing Toby he still loved him.

As Toby dressed her wounds, Ash faded in and out of diffident consciousness. It was a few minutes before she could sit up and, even then, her vision of the world around her was a warped, sliding view. She took one look at the blood-soaked knife that Toby had removed from her shoulder and vomited the little contents of her stomach. She brought her left hand up in a vain attempt to clean her face and shied away from the surprising white blur that was her bandage. "So...Connor...he's..." When she went to finish her sentence, she doubled over painfully to heave again, but nothing came up.

Brisa headed away from the bickering group, unable to handle people for a second. She absentmindedly switched to heat vision and stared down at the scar in the earth, looking at the cold ground. What is that? She wondered, noticing a minute spot of warmth deep down. It moved over to another one, and then she moved and saw three more. Flicking to her X-ray vision, she saw people down there, moving. Barely, and weakly, but there was movement. As she was about to call out to the group the ground began to rumble again, and cracks began to form beneath Bleddyn’s crumpled form.

 

[Amer]

Toby's eyes lit up. "Oh! Taylor! She's got some weird sort of powers, maybe she can help!" He stood up, and then dropped back down by Ash. "Right, you're still injured." He was disappointed he didn't somehow magically fix her wounds.
Toby cleaned and bandaged Ash's wounds, then quickly stood up again, a wave of dizziness crashing over him. He almost fell over, but was able to right himself before he did. He walked up to Taylor, but noticing how tired she looked he walked back to Indigo and Ash. "Never mind, she looks too tired. The last thing we need is her passing out. I'm out of ideas."

Taylor frowned at Brisa's words, her hand dropping as Toby came over. The wall of fire dropped low, but still crackled furiously. "I didn't think she did either." She murmured, and drifted over to Toby, Ash and Indigo. "What do you need me to do?"

"But we won't know if they're dead until we get them out!" Toby turned to Indigo and Ash. "Back me up here guys!"

Connor was dying.
In truth, he’d been dying all day.
He was certain of it now. All of his fruitless struggles to move had proved to him that he had no feeling below his waist- his back had been broken and he was paralyzed. He likely could’ve lived with that alone, but there was this strengthening weakness that came not from what oppressed him outwardly, but within. He wasn’t completely aware that he was slowly succumbing to widespread internal bleeding, but he knew.

So it was only now did he really come to terms with his fate. Perhaps it was the soil clogging his throat and nose. Maybe it was the utter torture of breathing that betrayed the broken ribs. Though his body was relatively free in the earthen pocket he’d come to rest in, his neck was pinned upward at a horrible angle. The stale air his nose raggedly drew in came with more and more solid particles every time.

This wasn’t surviving.

He’d miss getting to see his little girl walk across a school stage to receive the scroll of paper that was the prize of relentless, eighteen-year pursuit. He regretted that his guidance wouldn’t be there to fight for her way through through the trials of oppressive early adulthood. His arms wouldn’t be able to pull her close when she hit another dangerous low in her belief of herself. He wouldn’t be there to fight off the unqualified suitors and begrudgingly come to an understanding with the only one worthy.

But she’d be able to do it all without him.

He was breaking the promise he’d made to Ash when they were barely more than kids and terribly uncertain of how they were going to find their way in the world without family or funds. No longer would he be there to defeat the remanent terrors from their own ghastly adolescence that came for her in the night. There wouldn’t be any more off-key, radio-accompanied midnight duets atop the most remote hill they could find. His bottomless stomach wouldn’t be there to receive the dubiously edible products of her kitchen concoctions. Now she would be forever taking her jogs alone.

But she’d be able to do it all without him.

He knew it was going to be okay. They’d both be able to go on without him. They were the strongest women he knew.

And then he had a sudden thought of Wolfram. Now that his own ideas were the only ones he had to contend with, he was suddenly certain that Bleddyn was going to have to start dealing in the messy world of negotiably mutual feelings a whole lot sooner.
And he was surprised to realize that he was okay with the negligible potential of Wolfram becoming something more for his daughter. Because, among all of the self-loathing, doubt, and ineptitude that the young man was comprised of, Connor had seen something he’d seen before.
He already knows he’d die for anything of them.
He’d die for her. Just like I was. Just like I would.
And am.

All of that realized with finality, he was put at even greater peace.

Through all of the pressure that was interminably collapsing his innards into themselves, he was able to recognize that, somehow, he’d been approached by much stabler survivors. He curled his muzzle into a grateful smile for the gift of magically generated oxygen, but his breathing had already been far too compromised for it to aid him. For a moment, his eyes fluttered, fighting against his stubborn will to force them open, then they flickered shut entirely for the last time.

He was suddenly overcome with pride for Ash and Bleddyn. His fantastic, amazing, and completely undeserved partner who had pulled, walked with, and run ahead of him through the way better half of his life. Their brilliant girl who’d overcome so much against the worst kind of negativity- her own.

For his last movement, Connor chose to smile again. Hey, Tom, I’ve got so much to tell you, man.

With anticipation for whatever waited beyond this horrible plane, he let himself go.

The pixie felt the soft black muzzle. Sherri watched. Hours. Minutes. Seconds. It didn't matter when you only had a few left. The pixie closed her long-lashed eyelids. "He's dead," she said, she looked away, but not before Sherri could see tears forming. "I'm sorry."
Sherri rubbed up against the pixies begrimed yellow blouse. 'It's not your fault.'
The pixie's glowing ball disappeared into a puff of dust. Oh. That must be pixie dust, Sherri realised. She began to feel lightheaded. No oxygen. As the ginger cat swayed, the pixie turned and steadied her.
The pixie blinked her reddened eyes and covered Sherri's muzzle. "Hold your breath..." she instructed.
Sherri did so, even though it seemed pointless to delay the inevitable, her death. Still, I don't want to die.
She couldn't understand why the pixie couldn't make another orb. She probably ran out. She was waiting, after all, just long enough. For Liam. Liam. He didn't come. She said he would. Maybe he's dead. Maybe he thinks she is. Maybe he isn't trying.
This angered her.
The other kids may not be dead, but at least they're probably trying!
Sherri was answered by a crack in the ceiling. Not enough for anything. She could call for help, but that would mean to use up the oxygen she was holding in her tiny cat lungs.
The pixie seemed to be in a meditative state. Maybe saving her oxygen and energy, or preparing her speech as she entered another world. But there is hope yet! Sherri's mind screamed.
Sherri headbutted her, and the entranced pixie looked up. Light. Just a crack. Not enough. Not enough for air or escape.
But the silent, nameless pixie reached up and touched it, eyes still closed.
Sherri tried to focus, but spots were forming in her vision. If it had been anyone but the glowing golden pixie reaching up, Sherri wouldn't have been able to see her at all.
The pixie's delicate fingers glowed as she pressed them into the crumbling ceiling. Suddenly, a beam of yellow light shot straight up and through, a blinding flare, a distress call. Help! We're alive! Stop stalling!
Then the pixie slumped, energy depleted. She would die in minutes. They'd better get here soon.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

(NOOO!!!!)















Brisa headed away from the bickering group, unable to handle people for a second. She absentmindedly switched to heat vision and stared down at the scar in the earth, looking at the cold ground. What is that? She wondered, noticing a minute spot of warmth deep down. It moved over to another one, and then she moved and saw three more. Flicking to her X-ray vision, she saw people down there, moving. Barely, and weakly, but there was movement. As she was about to call out to the group the ground began to rumble again, and cracks began to form beneath Bleddyn’s crumpled form.

The pixie felt the soft black muzzle. Sherri watched. Hours. Minutes. Seconds. It didn't matter when you only had a few left. The pixie closed her long-lashed eyelids. "He's dead," she said, she looked away, but not before Sherri could see tears forming. "I'm sorry."
Sherri rubbed up against the pixies begrimed yellow blouse. 'It's not your fault.'
The pixie's glowing ball disappeared into a puff of dust. Oh. That must be pixie dust, Sherri realised. She began to feel lightheaded. No oxygen. As the ginger cat swayed, the pixie turned and steadied her.
The pixie blinked her reddened eyes and covered Sherri's muzzle. "Hold your breath..." she instructed.
Sherri did so, even though it seemed pointless to delay the inevitable, her death. Still, I don't want to die.
She couldn't understand why the pixie couldn't make another orb. She probably ran out. She was waiting, after all, just long enough. For Liam. Liam. He didn't come. She said he would. Maybe he's dead. Maybe he thinks she is. Maybe he isn't trying.
This angered her.
The other kids may not be dead, but at least they're probably trying!
Sherri was answered by a crack in the ceiling. Not enough for anything. She could call for help, but that would mean to use up the oxygen she was holding in her tiny cat lungs.
The pixie seemed to be in a meditative state. Maybe saving her oxygen and energy, or preparing her speech as she entered another world. But there is hope yet! Sherri's mind screamed.
Sherri headbutted her, and the entranced pixie looked up. Light. Just a crack. Not enough. Not enough for air or escape.
But the silent, nameless pixie reached up and touched it, eyes still closed.
Sherri tried to focus, but spots were forming in her vision. If it had been anyone but the glowing golden pixie reaching up, Sherri wouldn't have been able to see her at all.
The pixie's delicate fingers glowed as she pressed them into the crumbling ceiling. Suddenly, a beam of yellow light shot straight up and through, a blinding flare, a distress call. Help! We're alive! Stop stalling!
Then the pixie slumped, energy depleted. She would die in minutes. They'd better get here soon.

Toby stood up and stumbled next to Brisa, swaying slightly. "That- bright-" He facepalmed. Idiot. He took a deep breath, hoping he could actually speak prober English this time. "They-they're under there. They're alive. Out. We need to get them out." Satisfied with being somewhat understandable, he turned to Indigo, Taylor, and Ash. "They're still alive. I knew it!" He said, eyes glowing exitedly.

 

[Amer]

Toby stood up and stumbled next to Brisa, swaying slightly. "That- bright-" He facepalmed. Idiot. He took a deep breath, hoping he could actually speak prober English this time. "They-they're under there. They're alive. Out. We need to get them out." Satisfied with being somewhat understandable, he turned to Indigo, Taylor, and Ash. "They're still alive. I knew it!" He said, eyes glowing exitedly.

Indigo squinted against the glare before sharing in Toby's enthusiasm. "They're in there! But how do we..." She looked around, at each and every inhuman standing around them. "Is there anyone here who can save them?"

 

[Thing2]

The pixie felt the soft black muzzle. Sherri watched. Hours. Minutes. Seconds. It didn't matter when you only had a few left. The pixie closed her long-lashed eyelids. "He's dead," she said, she looked away, but not before Sherri could see tears forming. "I'm sorry."
Sherri rubbed up against the pixies begrimed yellow blouse. 'It's not your fault.'
The pixie's glowing ball disappeared into a puff of dust. Oh. That must be pixie dust, Sherri realised. She began to feel lightheaded. No oxygen. As the ginger cat swayed, the pixie turned and steadied her.
The pixie blinked her reddened eyes and covered Sherri's muzzle. "Hold your breath..." she instructed.
Sherri did so, even though it seemed pointless to delay the inevitable, her death. Still, I don't want to die.
She couldn't understand why the pixie couldn't make another orb. She probably ran out. She was waiting, after all, just long enough. For Liam. Liam. He didn't come. She said he would. Maybe he's dead. Maybe he thinks she is. Maybe he isn't trying.
This angered her.
The other kids may not be dead, but at least they're probably trying!
Sherri was answered by a crack in the ceiling. Not enough for anything. She could call for help, but that would mean to use up the oxygen she was holding in her tiny cat lungs.
The pixie seemed to be in a meditative state. Maybe saving her oxygen and energy, or preparing her speech as she entered another world. But there is hope yet! Sherri's mind screamed.
Sherri headbutted her, and the entranced pixie looked up. Light. Just a crack. Not enough. Not enough for air or escape.
But the silent, nameless pixie reached up and touched it, eyes still closed.
Sherri tried to focus, but spots were forming in her vision. If it had been anyone but the glowing golden pixie reaching up, Sherri wouldn't have been able to see her at all.
The pixie's delicate fingers glowed as she pressed them into the crumbling ceiling. Suddenly, a beam of yellow light shot straight up and through, a blinding flare, a distress call. Help! We're alive! Stop stalling!
Then the pixie slumped, energy depleted. She would die in minutes. They'd better get here soon.

Toby stood up and stumbled next to Brisa, swaying slightly. "That- bright-" He facepalmed. Idiot. He took a deep breath, hoping he could actually speak prober English this time. "They-they're under there. They're alive. Out. We need to get them out." Satisfied with being somewhat understandable, he turned to Indigo, Taylor, and Ash. "They're still alive. I knew it!" He said, eyes glowing exitedly.

Indigo squinted against the glare before sharing in Toby's enthusiasm. "They're in there! But how do we..." She looked around, at each and every inhuman standing around them. "Is there anyone here who can save them?"

Brisa nodded excitedly, staring down into the earth. “I can see them through the ground!” She exclaimed, giving a hop of joy that broke her concentration, and she looked back up at the non-skeletal version of the group. “We need to get them air.” She knelt down and shouted down the crack. “Can anyone hear me?”

 

[HeavensHens88]

Wolfram couldn't suppress the shudder that over took his whole body.
Everything ached. His head, his chest, his body, his soul. Merely because he understood. He understood, at least partially, what she was going through. The feeling of complete desolation and rage and self-loathing and just utter pain. Grief that didn't just grab you mentally and emotionally, but physically as well, tearing you apart until it hurt to even breathe. Grief that played with you like you were nothing more then a puppet.
And he understood. Because, regardless of if it were your fault or not, grief made you feel responsible for the death of someone close to you.
He didn't dare reach out for her, though. Sometimes that was just to much, because feeling meant you were in reality, and reality meant whatever had just happened was completely real.
Under him, there was a soft tremor. It would go unnoticed to a normal human. But a shifter, a person with acute ears and with the ability to sense things others couldn't, would. Around Bleddyn, through the course grass, Wolfram could see cracks. Thin cracks spreading around her.
"Bleddyn," his voice was low, tinged with panic, as he slowly started to get to his feet. "Bleddyn, get up. Get up, now!"

Bleddyn really didn't want to move. Further, she probably couldn't.
This time, she knew what was coming.
In fact, she anticipated becoming the next casualty of herself.
Surely that would be appropriate vengeance for taking her the lives of her father and all the others jarringly absent.
The accumulative pressure from before nearly achieving its full dictatorial control once again, she faced Wolfram silently as the racing cracks met up and merged with the fresh scars. "You'd better run," she said simply just before the telltale rumbling rose to herald the ground's repeated cleaving.