don't think too much / hot girl summer day 3

[andromache s. ⚔️ [d1] sucy]

I keep my axe in one hand, ready to go, and trace the walls we pass with the other. Labyrinths aren't like mazes, I remember that from a story we were told in school once. The walls don't touch. Tracing my hand across the walls like this isn't productive the way it would be with a maze, but I'm still doing it, to keep up the illusion that we're getting somewhere. If we don't make it out of here before sunrise, we'll be cooked alive in here. And that's no fun, for us or the viewers at home. 

We need to find somewhere to rest though. Lucia took a beating today, and Nori needs to keep on top of that tear in her leg. I'm still in good shape by some miracle. Lucia and Nori took point today, something I'm never going to deny them, and that was their choice. Regardless, I want to take care of them while we have the chance to. That's why I've got my axe held tight, just in case we run back into Tide and Safina.

Back straight, eyes peeled, I lead us through the glass labyrinth so that they can focus on tending to their wounds.

vera rolls to traverse/scavenge the glass labyrinth!

[kaitlin]

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[august vance d7b [Bella]]

The two of our foes left living got lost, or, I should say, more lost. Made themselves scarce. Didn’t even care to drag the body with them; we just stepped right over her, moving on. It wasn’t a pretty sight, even being the ones who did the deed. It feels easier when I focus on the absurdity of it, rather than the morality of it. We didn’t choose this game. And watching them run from us, one death under our belt, was a bit of a confidence boost.

Vera is totally unscathed–I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t be able to hit her either–so she leads the way, hand along the wall like she’s got a plan in that pretty head of hers. My body follows as if on autopilot, turning corners one after the other. The way her hand still grips the ax-guitar is comforting; I see she’s ready to defend while we regroup.

”You can relax a little, princess,” I call ahead to her. ”Think you scared ‘em good enough already.”

I turn to Lucia, who seems to be holding it together, but still bleeding significantly. There’s no way to know we’re safe until we get out of here, set up camp again. ”Lucia, you ok? Let me carry your bag,” I offer with hands outstretched.

”Should we… drop some crumbs or something, so we know we aren’t going in circles?” I ask. As much as Vera looks like she knows what she’s doing, I have a feeling we’re all the same amount of lost.

[kaitlin]

nori scavenges glass labyrinth
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[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

"You can't mention bread, Nori. My stomach is gonna blow our cover."

Lucia's smile is warm, and patient, but her eyes are hazy. It will take her some time to process the death of Serelis, still plagued by the mental image of her severed arm lying on the dirt path. She swears: the redhead's fingers only stopped twitching when her cannon sounded. Lucia took part in the murder, all of them did. She doesn't know why she feels so strongly that she should blame herself, but she can't shake the disappointment. This all roots from her mistake. She ran into the labyrinth first, she was the one who was tricked.

Even now, she still worries that Sylvia might be in danger. She no longer understands how not to feel that everyone around her is at risk.

Someone is dead, and Lucia has never felt more agony. Two broken bones does not make for easy traveling; a few minutes of witnessing Lucia limp and wheeze is all it takes for Nori to offer to take her bag. She's grateful, of course, but a stubborn spark of pride feels wounded deep inside. All her life, she's wanted to be the strong one, the sensible girl who can always be depended on, and now she's dizzy from blood loss and seeing things.

She feels like a liability, but of course her friends do not view her so harshly. She accepts Nori's help, and she follows as Vera leads the pack. Even after all this time, after all this pain, Lucia still finds reasons to smile. Her allies are a constant source of support, always catching her where she falters. Now, and until the end, she will uphold the vow she made to them. Instead of pouting, she will do everything in her power to make sure she is the one playing hero come tomorrow.

Being the damsel does not suit her. It presses on her shoulders like a heavy stone.

She bandages the wounds she can reach as they walk, steadying her breath and allowing herself to process the hurt. The more she understands it, the less it can overwhelm her. "No more getting lost," she says offhandedly to Nori, who wonders if they're simply going in circles. She stares out a glass wall, so close to freedom and yet trapped. With each inhale, she starts to feel like herself again.

"I will never complain about the desert again."

[kaitlin]

lucia scavenges the glass labyrinth
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