We. \Just/ Breathe |pre-Ceiling| {Rashi}

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

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It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
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Heavy footsteps entered the ashen forest as the weight of two fell on each step. Storm’s eyes were trained ahead, scanning to make sure there were no hazards in his way. Occasionally, they would look at Heron to see how she was doing, but as she seemed to be asleep or at least doing relatively fine, he kept his eyes ahead. At times, he would hold on to her tightly, keeping her close to him so he would not accidentally drop her. She had done a good job holding on though as Storm felt her arms tight around his neck. How was it that they had ended up in this situation?

Thoughts on the anthem for the day before continued to mill around in his head. Seeing the face of his dead ally had hit him hard, causing him to nearly break down. But he had to use his hands for a better purpose, to help Heron. Please don’t make me lose her too. We were never close but…I don’t think I could let myself continue moving if I couldn’t save her either. He had stared at the sky, even after Ana’s face had faded away, still holding on to Heron. It was just the two of them against everyone else.

How ironic that he would start the day carrying a girl in his arms. He had often done it with his younger sisters, especially when they were tired at night, but it felt entirely different to know that the person in his arms could die at any point of time. In fact, that happened to him both days, worrying about his ally that is. They’re really trying to prove a point, aren’t they? Maybe it was a bad idea to be in an alliance. Storm stared at Heron with sad eyes. There was no point in changing time but if he could, would he have done it? Would it have made a difference? Would Ana still be alive and Heron walking?

“Heron…we’re in some forest area now. Heron, can you hear me?”

With a free hand, he smoothed her hair, his heart dying a little inside. Heron was the strong, resilient one. She was supposed to be the one who would either lead the alliance or call it off. Instead, she was the one crying in his arms as Storm could do nothing more than hold her close. Storm refused to call her weak, but he also knew that she was no longer the independent girl. And to think how he used to be slightly afraid of her. He never would have admitted it, but there were times that he was scared that he would have to fight her. Turns out they were going to have to fight on the same side anyway; there was no way Storm would ever leave her like this.

“I think we should rest here, okay?”

[Tsarashi 2.0]

Tears fell quietly from the eyes of the District twelve tribute that lost the better half of her legs, dampening the black clad shoulder she rested on. The pain had never truly gone away after she fell into the lava and it itched at her every fiber of being. Every time she shifted she feared that her wounds would reopen and she would begin to bleed, giving reason for the pain she was feeling. But her legs were charred in such a way that they didn’t bleed; they only sent signals of agonizing pain from places that weren’t even there anymore.

Perhaps it was all in her head? Perhaps she was simply imagining it. Regardless if it was real or not it still hurt like hell and Heron allowed herself to show her weakness to her ally. Heron could remember the last time she cried in front of someone vividly, because it was with Fletcher before she left to her death. But before that there was a longer gap in time, before that she hadn’t cried in the presence of another since her brother died.

She was only four at the time, but that didn’t mean her love was any less strong. Finch had always been the strong one, so therefore she rose herself up in pride to become more like him. After that she was able to endure almost everything thrown her way. Until today, that is. Now her life was literally pulled right out from under her and she couldn’t help but show that pent up weakness. Heron tightened her arms around Storm’s neck as she peeked helplessly over his shoulder at where they had been.

Storm was her life saver, if it hadn’t been for him she would most certainly not have made it this far both mentally and physically after she was wounded. He was strong in his own aspects and kind, just as her brother had been. In fact, he was quite a bit like Finch. Heron knew that she’d never be able to confide in him that she was beginning to look up to him like he was her brother. That would have been too out of place in the games. He didn’t need that burden to go along with the one that he was already carrying.

Heron listened to him as he spoke, but didn’t respond. At this point she didn’t quite trust her voice for anything. Resting would do well for the both of them. To let him know she heard him the tomboy moved one of her hands from around his neck to prop her head up with. When she was finally able to see clearly out of her tearing eyes she noticed something not far behind them.[/size]

”Berries.” She said, her voice cracking. When it finally set in how vital these small fruits could be Heron abruptly propped herself up and tapped in his shoulder urgently, pointing to the small bush that she recognized from the medical/edible plants station. They were small red berries that looked like holy berries, but tasted sweet like the flesh of an apple. She couldn’t remember its strange name, but that didn’t matter to her at the moment. The presence of food made her realize just how hungry she was. ”Storm, stop, there’s food over there!

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

Something that sounded like soft muttering caused Storm to look at his ally again. Had she said something to him? Or was it just to herself? Storm decided to continue scanning for a good place to lower Heron, somewhere more comfortable than the rocks that he had earlier relied on to support her while he helped fix her up. His eyes spotted nothing, but he was sure he would find a place soon enough; if he just took away the rather bad conditions of the trees, they actually would have been relatively proper to use.

A tapping on his shoulder made him look at Heron again. What could have possibly have been so urgent that she would trying to get his attention? He looked at her quizzically until he finally had the right mind to see what it was she was pointing towards. His eyes followed the finger until he too saw the berries that were on the bush. He didn’t have to be told twice to stop in his tracks and carry Heron over to the bush. He had taken the edible plants station, but seeing as Heron was the one who spotted the bush, he only saw it fit that she had the honors of taking some of the berries.

He gently put Heron on the ground, within reaching distance of the berries. “You gather enough to survive for the next few days. Don’t be afraid to eat.” Just as Storm was about to listen to his own words, he noticed that something wasn’t quite right about the berries. Not even giving Heron the chance to touch the berries, he slapped her hand away, forgetting the fact that she was in a good deal of pain already. “Don’t eat that! It’s not edible…”

Storm stared at the berries, trying to figure out if they were even okay to handle. Deciding he would rather not risk it, he looked at Heron with sad eyes. “I’m sorry, Heron. We’ll just have to find some food elsewhere. I promise you we will get you food.” It broke his heart that he couldn’t even provide a basic necessity, something he was always able to do. Back home, if his sisters needed food, he would find a way to give it to them, especially the younger two. If they needed a certain tool, he would search every nook and cranny in the house and end up using different supplies to make one. He had become so accustomed to being the provider that when the moment that he could not provide came, he felt like he failed his ally.

“Should we try to find some water? It’s not as substantial but…after the past few days, I think we might need it.”


((OOC: It's short and not gradient-ed. Also, I just saw that there are no edible plants in the ashen forest...>.> Hence why I had Storm slap Heron's hand.))

[Tsarashi 2.0]

With her hand cradled to her chest, stinging from the sharp contact, Heron looked at Storm with wide, confused eyes. How could he keep them from food when it was only two feet in front of them? What was going through his mind head that made him stop her!? Was he trying to kill them both? Heron scowled at him before turning to glare at the bush that had started this mess. That’s when she froze, her eyes growing with shock.

The berries were not the delicious ones she had thought they were. Hell, they weren’t even red! If she had eaten even a few of those offending orange fruits then she would have quickly grown ill before finally expiring from the poison. Heron choked back an exasperated sob. Was she really in such a state that she had almost killed them both? What if Storm hadn’t taken that station? Then what? Heron only hoped that this delusion was only due to her immense hunger and that once they found food she would no longer be a liability to their alliance.

“I’m sorry.” She finally said quietly, looking down so that her long bangs covered her eyes which were once again brimming with tears. At least those annoying bangs now had a purpose. She was glad that she stopped her stylist from cutting them, even though they were always getting in her face. It was only morning and yet the day felt as if it were dragging on too long.

Pressing her palms to the ground Heron pivoted her body towards her pack which she had dropped when he set her down. Moving was slow and felt awkward, but somehow she would manage it. But it would take a while before she would be able to actually get around somewhere on her own. Alone she was completely helpless and she hated that she was practically forcing herself upon him, but she didn’t have many other choices at the moment. The only other option would be Storm leaving her alone where she would probably die alone. Heron’s wet eyes hardened pitifully at her pack, taking advantage of it inanimateness.

Death was not one of her options at this point.

From the pack the tomboy acquired her water jug and shook it to make sure that it was still full. After the commotion with the lava she had almost forgotten that she filled it before the battle with Soren. Or was it after the battle? She couldn’t recall, the events happened so quickly that they were jumbled in her mind, the only thing in the right order being Ana’s death and the loss of her own legs. “I have this still.” She spoke, but the words were still nearly silent from her dry throat and emotional state. “You grabbed those tablet-things, right?”

[[ooc- I know, I was hoping to have a post like this. I’m glad you caught it though because I forgot to forewarn you about that.]]

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

{-Temp Filler-}

-Storm says "Yes" and pulls out tablets.
-Has used one tablet and purified water.
-Alliance now has one jug of purified water
-Drinks from jug
-Offers tablet to Heron
-Storm suggests they move along.
-Waits for Heron's response.


((I hate doing this. >.<"))