“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."
“Well, you didn’t have to say it for me, but I am not going to disagree with you,” Dare said dryly, trying to disguise her surprise that Tempest had woken up. “I would have suspected me from the beginning, just saying.”
Tempest didn't respond for he didn't trust his ability to hold himself together "I-I'm sorry." was all he could get out, still not facing the girls on guard duty
“You’d better apologize. If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be infected and I’d be home by now!” Dare cried, tears starting to trace their way down her face. “I don’t understand… I did everything right. I did everything right.”
Tempest had tears running down his face too, causing the night sky to be covered with clouds, snow fluttering to the ground. He turned to Dare and looked like her was going to say something, but faltered, the words dying in his throat. His blond hair started to grey a bit at the tips as he dug through his bag, getting the rubix cube back out to busy himself with something so he could take his mind off the doubts and fears that were to come soon.
"What, you're not even gonna try? Coward," Dare growled dismissively. She turned to Rose and Ember, her hands placed firmly on her hips. "So, what are you going to do now? If you kill me, you're just as vile as Zerack. If you don't, well, obviously, I'm still a threat. Logically, you have nothing. Pick your poison."
"Just…stop…we're gonna have to work together for this to work, and you're not making any of this easy right now…actually you're the only one that is causing any conflict right now." Ember growled
Yumi smiled, grabbing Rose’s wrist and walking back to the others. “H-Hey um… is everything alright?”
Worry went on her face quickly, her smile disappearing.
"Everything's…fine. We're just having some…cultural differences." Erika grit her teeth into what she hopes was a smile, but it was anything but.
"Gods Yumi Dare isn't making this easy….look she's leaking the magic straight out of Tempest." she jerked her head over to the graying hair of Tempest, who was just staring at the mixed up cube in his hands, his face blank "Ember and I are gonna be fine…we weren't the ones to get shot by the person we thought was on our side."
“I… I knew this would happen… I… I…” Yumi growled a bit. “If she comes back, I’ll kill her with my own hands.”
What Yumi said shocked herself even, how could she even think of hurting someone? She was never this violent. Yumi clenched her katana.
“If she hurts any of you again, or comes near you I swear on my life she won’t lay a finger on you.”
Rose gently took Yumi in her arms and held her close "You won't need to do that…I know you can but you don't need to." Rose stroked her hair gently
Yumi held back tears, her voice a bit shaky yet angry. “But… she keeps using us… it’s not right… we can’t just sit here and do nothing… what if we all get killed because she’s so selfish…?”
"We won't…if she tries anything…well all she has is a changing tool that Tempest can take from her very easily if he needs to…hey…you wanna try to cheer him up with me?…We're gonna need morale up if we're gonna fend off anymore of those things…and we gotta figure out a way to put them down for good."
Dare figured that the confrontation was over, and she sat down on a log to think about her next steps. Really, she had nowhere to go. The others didn’t trust her and Zerack had sent his minions to attack her. Dare had no options if she was going to keep going like this, she knew, but she didn’t know how to apologize and move on.
Ember walked over a to a tree and climbed up the tree pretty easily, "Rose it's your turn to keep watch. I'm going to sleep." Ember called down and started to snooze in the upper branch