forum I summon thee @Young-Dusty

Started May 08, 2019 by @amber_is_in_a_loop

tune

(k sure
How's work going?)

Jessie thoughtfully chewed on her lip. “I’ve never been to one, but I’ve been taught and seen the pictures. It’s somewhere warm and humid, with tall trees and animals and huge plants everywhere…”
Charlotte silently listened to their conversation, awed by how quickly Jessie had recovered from the rescue. “She’s gone through too much. She’s become numb to it, it seems like,” Charlotte whispered, thinking out loud.

Rick glanced over at Charlotte with slight surprise. "Really? Where I'm from, we would've said she's just young, and can still bounce back from stuff. That's what our aunts 'n uncles always praised us for, years ago when we came home from jobs that went wrong." He eyed Jessie, frowning uncertainly. "It never occurred to me that we might have been so laid-back because we were already bombed out, emotionally speakin'. But you know your kid best, I s'pose."

"I'd never thought of that, to be fair. But I remember the first time she got hurt still now and… And I can't believe she grew strong enough to still be unbroken. That isn't a bad thing, of course. She still hopes for the future. I'm just not sure of how much more it'll take for the bitterness to set in."

Rick smiled comfortingly. "Well, why don't we do our best to give her the kind of future she can believe in? Starting by gettin' rid of Axel and finding the other kids. Then maybe Jessie won't have to get bitter at all. How does that sound?"

(Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that! Dangit, I wish I wasn't working today so we could talk…..take good care of yourself, okay fam? I hope you feel better soon hugs)

(thank you :') I'm definitely trying)

Rick smiled comfortingly. "Well, why don't we do our best to give her the kind of future she can believe in? Starting by gettin' rid of Axel and finding the other kids. Then maybe Jessie won't have to get bitter at all. How does that sound?"

She nodded, keeping the rest of her expression calm.
"Sounds like plan to me," she told him.

(I'm glad to hear it ^^)
All at once, Slash's nose twitched and he broke off his conversation with Jessie to stare at the way ahead with a frown. "Hey," he called to Charlotte and Rick. "There's a Deorn territory up ahead. We should probably walk around it unless we want a fight."
Rick paused and shaded his eyes. "Which way should we go, then?"
Slash trotted up to take the lead. "This way. C'mon."

(Oof sorry life’s got me good)
Charlotte let Rick ahead, falling back slightly to walk alongside Jessie. “You’re adjusting?”

(aw man lots of hugs)
Rick glanced back to make sure they were still following, then focused on the trail ahead. He figured the two of them badly needed some time alone.

Jessie quietly took Charlotte’s hand, nodding. “The boy is good company. It’s weird. He calms me.”
Charlotte smiled inwardly, squeezing Jessie’s hand. “I’m glad something is. I was scared they’d broken you,” she told the girl, breath hitching.
“Oh,” Jessie breathed, before putting on an indignant expression and jokingly pushing away from Charlotte. “I’m stronger than them,” she said fiercely. No matter her petite frame and short stature- the iron in her voice led to believe nothing but that it was true.

Slash loped ahead, shifting into animal form so he could keep his nose to the ground. Once in a while he paused to let the others catch up, then kept going, taking them in a wide arc along some invisible border only he could detect.

Jessie was walking strong, not seeming to tire at all. She hadn’t said much for a while, and the group walked in silence together, keeping a collective eye out for danger.

After a while, Slash stopped and lifted his head to stare at the sky. A hawk was circling overhead, watching them intently. It was hard to tell, but it almost seemed as if there was faint smoke trailing from its wings. It called out keenly, and Slash growled.
"That's the Deorn," he called to the others. "Let's keep moving before it flies any lower."

They collectively nodded and carefully walked on, standing close together in their knit group.
Every so often Charlotte glanced up towards it, keeping an eye out. "I haven't seen so many wild Deorns in decades," she breathed.

"Well, this is definitely Deorn country," Rick commented. "I'll bet this won't be our last run-in with one out here. Lucky we have such a friendly one as our guide, huh?"
Slash snorted, eyeing the hawk balefully. "I'm not friendly, I'm fierce and dangerous."

Jessie snorted, shaking her head. "None of us believe you, in case you couldn't tell."
Charlotte smiled, glancing over at Rick.

Rick shared her smile, happy to see that the younger two were getting along so well.
"It's true," Slash huffed, sliding down the slope of a particularly steep hill. "Guess what….one time, I ran into a bear, and it attacked me, but I wasn't scared and I hit it right back! And after a while I won the fight! You shoulda seen it running away like a baby. I've been in lots of fights like that, and I've always won." He grinned at Jessie. "I'll bet you've never fought a bear."

« You’re right, I’ve never fought a bear. I’ve only fought 3 full grown Deorns simultaneously? » she said casually.

Slash sputtered. "What? I don't believe you! There's no way!"

Jessie smugly crosses her arms. « Did too. »
Up ahead, Charlotte waved a hand to confirm, distractedly talking to Rick about what the projects she used to do had been like.