forum Hunter and The Hunted (closed but stalkers are welcome)

Started January 23, 2020 by @Hybrid-Is-tired

tune

"Okay, but the Puppy Bowl is awesome and cute and you cannot deny that. I need him as an uncle! He sounds pretty cool in my book!" Erika laughed. "Can't believe I'm laughing when all of this is going on…" She shrugged, sighing.

“It’s psychologically beneficial to distract yourself from the situation. You’re allowed to try and find light in the dark,” Dare said offhandedly. “Just… look for the best and try to hold onto it.”

"Even if it seems impossible…" Erika mumbled. "I still don't know why I pose a threat to some guy who's probably ten times as powerful–if not, more–than I am. I'm too much of a merciful person to do any harm."

"Well…if we don't understand yet either but I'm sure he has a reason to." Ember told Erika as she secured another bow string on her bow.

“Zerack has a reason for everything…” Dare muttered, irritated. “I wish he bothered to tell us, though.”

Erika sighed. "So, do you have any plans for after school? From what you've told me, I can only assume being a lawyer or detective, but, then again, I don't want to assume."

"I don't really have any plans for after school, and to be honest I never really thought that far," Dare explained. "Detective would be good, I suppose. I already have some practice with it, after all."

Erika nodded, understanding. "Hm. You have any good friends back at home?" God, I miss my family… Can't imagine how she feels.

"No, not really… I don't really have any friends," Dare said simply, fiddling with the strings of her sweatshirt. "How about you? Got any friends?"

Ember looked between the two again and sighed, pulling out her vial of silver liquid and puts a drop in her water canteen, putting the vial away and took a sip from her water bottle.

"Well, one, but we're not as close as we were before. I need to talk to her at some point." Erika rubbed the back of her neck. "What is it, Ember? Seeing as we have little to do, I'd rather socialize than do nothing." Her comment, she realized, was meaner than she'd intended it to be. "Sorry."

"Nothin' just….I don't like being away from home either…I just…can't relate to you guys…I can't have a normal life…" Ember didn't look at the two of them. "…after this…after we get you guys home it's just more Haven work."

"Oh, jeez. I'm sorry. I…didn't know." Erika sobered up quickly.

"It's alright just…enjoy yourselves when you get home…I maybe used to this shit but I know you guys aren't." Ember shrugged

Dare nodded slowly. “I understand. You have responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relax. It’s proven that small breaks help people complete work more effectively.”

Ember nodded "I get, I do but…I dunno I just don't understand how Tempest can keep so happy most the time….I mean he has just as much if not more responsibility than I do…relaxation has become a luxury that we don't get a lot of."

Dare winced again at the mention of Tempest, and then made up her mind. Wasn’t it a detective’s job to bring the truth to light, no matter the consequence? Lying didn’t suit her, no matter how much she wanted it to. “Listen, Ember… I haven’t exactly been forward with you. The truth is, until a few hours ago, I was voluntarily infected and determined to kill your brother in exchange for going home. And, well… I almost did.”

Ember sighed and closed her eyes fer a good minute or two "And yet he's actively tried to keep that from me." her eyes snapped open and her hand tightened on her bow "You could have said nothing and I would not have known…you're feeling guilt…"

“Guilt isn’t exactly right. Guilt about shooting him… not quite. Guilt about hiding it is more accurate,” Dare said truthfully, wringing her hands. “Then, I thought it was my best chance of making it home, but now, I’m not so sure.”

"I maybe hurt knowing my brother came to harm…but I can assure you the least painful thing you did to him was shoot him…you treated him like a bargaining chip…like an object." her voice was calm but her hands steamed in the chilly air

“I did, yes. That is true,” Dare replied calmly, aware of the heat emanating from Ember’s hands. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, or even to understand why I did it. But I know that what I did wasn’t right by conventional standards and I can assure you that it won’t happen again.”

"I know it won't…it won't even come close to it." this wasn't a warning or threat. It was a fact. "He still cares about you…he set that new hoodie where you were sleeping so you don't have to wear the bloody ripped one."

“That’s very kind of him,” Dare replied. “It’s a shame I’m unable to reciprocate. I want to be the good guy, I do, but… I just want to live, and I don’t care how I do it.’

"What would your uncle say about your actions? At least you still have him…Tempest is the only family I have Dare." Ember's voice clearly had some strained rage in it at this point

“You don’t get to put words in my uncle’s mouth,” Dare said angrily. “He would want me to get home. Plain and simple. I’m sorry about your parents but I actually wanna live. I really don’t care what you think of that.”

Tempest lay awake at this point and wished he could go back to sleep for he didn't want to hear this…nor did he want to admit the conflicted confused emotions he felt. Before Dare had shot him he kinda had grown attached to the normal girl…after though…he still felt pain well after his physical one subsided. He closed his eyes and tried to get some shuteye even if it was in vain.

Ember on the other hand was livid and stuck her hands in the snow to keep from bursting into flame "You think we wanna die? Do you really think so?"

"Tempest…he tired to let go when he hear the reason Dare did what she did Ember…he tired to let go for her." Rose turned her attention to Dare "He was willing to let himself die. He tried to fight the healing spell I was trying to do that's why it was so hard to keep him alive…did you know that Dare?"

“Right now, it kind of seems so, with the kind of stupid choices you people are making,” Dare retorted, taking a step forwards. “And so what? That was his choice. I’m simply trying to do what’s going to get me home! It’s nothing against any of you personally. I would have done the same thing if Tempest and I were actually friends!” she exclaimed fiercely.

"Just sit down and shut up before I go back on my promise." Rose told Dare, though her voice cracked a little clearly more hurt than angry. "and you might need to tell him you're not really friends…I don't think he understands that."

Tempest sure did understood now, and curled up tighter within himself

“I’m not going to shut up,” Dare snarled. “And how dumb do you have to be to think someone you’ve known for less than a day is your friend? Tempest needs to grow up,” she hissed.

"Someone that can't help it…someone like Tempest…" Rose started

"…Is just a dumbass." Tempest finished "an idiot that can't look at simple facts…who is stupid enough to get emotional with this job…someone that should know better."