02-21-2016, 08:33 PM
Belle pulled the knot tighter around her arm with her teeth. The sleeve of her jacket was an unfortunate sacrifice, but one that had to be made. With some chagrin, she hoped that there weren't too many other cannibals lurking in the forest - she kind of liked her shirt, even if it was stained with blood, and she would rather not have to start taking pieces out of it, too.
She chuckled. Right. That was assuming she even made it that far. It seemed like every few hours someone else was lining up to take their pound of flesh. It wasn't even the injuries themselves that were the problem - it was the blood. She felt lightheaded, unsteady. She stumbled over tree roots and had to take breaks often. More than once she suggested to the two that they take the shield and go, that she could survive on her own - she was just slowing them down.
It didn't take. Mickey and Protoman were, as she had put it before, real OG heroes. They weren't about to let her go off on her own, especially after what had just happened. She would just have to find a way to keep going.
Easy words when you were sitting at home watching cartoons. Battered and bloody, her stomach twisting in knots, sweating in grimy clothes several days old and trapped in a bloodsport with immortals, it was harder to cling to that determination.
Her eyes flicked to the two boys ahead of her, and her grip on the shield firmed. Harder, but not impossible. The wear of the Omniverse had affected all of them, but it didn't have to be the end of heroes. They had showed her that. And Hell, she had lasted this long, hadn't she? It meant she wasn't completely powerless - not anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore the twisting in her belly. Her body demanded meat, but there didn't seem to be much to hunt, and given their complete lack of experience with camping, she kind of doubted if they would even be able to clean any kills they found.
Instead, she turned her thoughts inward. It took a while to remember how it felt - she still had trouble summoning it at will - but eventually, it came. A sensation akin to warmth spread through her body, a feeling that was still so new, yet had always been with her, just lurking out of sight. It had taken her almost dying to find it the first time - now, she needed it again.
As tired as she was, the spiritual energy within her burned as bright as ever. It was laced into her body, every fiber, every cell tingling with it, inextricably bound. She willed it to move, and as it did, it took the rest of her body with it.
Yuki had told her one day she would be able to harmonize the two sides of herself, that controlling the power would be as natural as breathing. Belle wondered if that was true as she repeatedly lost her fledgling grip upon it. Still, while the feeling of hunger uncomfortably remained, her steps regained some of their firmness as they made their way slowly through the undergrowth. The Warlock was all that remained... She just had to make it that far, and she wouldn't have to die.
And if she could follow through on her promise, Mickey and Proto wouldn't have to kill anybody.
~+~+~+~
The morning of the fourth day dawned as chilly as the rest. At least the three of them had gotten better at assembling camp - no fire this time, but the lean-to they had thrown together was much sturdier than the previous ones. Sturdy enough, at least, to keep the wind out.
They were just going over their plans for the day, wondering what more they could scrounge for food, Belle trying to ignore the mouse's constant fretting over her condition, when the voice of the Warlock bellowed overhead. As threatening as he tried to sound, it was clear from his tone that he was not pleased with the recent turn of events.
The island was almost completely gone, now. In the distance she heard a familiar rumble, a growl of deep thunder. Another piece of the island was preparing to disintegrate. As more and more of it fell away, it would draw all the remaining Primes inward. Towards them.
Settling their plans, the other two stood. Belle stuffed a handful of berries in her mouth before following suit, using the shield briefly as a crutch.
Go time.
She chuckled. Right. That was assuming she even made it that far. It seemed like every few hours someone else was lining up to take their pound of flesh. It wasn't even the injuries themselves that were the problem - it was the blood. She felt lightheaded, unsteady. She stumbled over tree roots and had to take breaks often. More than once she suggested to the two that they take the shield and go, that she could survive on her own - she was just slowing them down.
It didn't take. Mickey and Protoman were, as she had put it before, real OG heroes. They weren't about to let her go off on her own, especially after what had just happened. She would just have to find a way to keep going.
Easy words when you were sitting at home watching cartoons. Battered and bloody, her stomach twisting in knots, sweating in grimy clothes several days old and trapped in a bloodsport with immortals, it was harder to cling to that determination.
Her eyes flicked to the two boys ahead of her, and her grip on the shield firmed. Harder, but not impossible. The wear of the Omniverse had affected all of them, but it didn't have to be the end of heroes. They had showed her that. And Hell, she had lasted this long, hadn't she? It meant she wasn't completely powerless - not anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore the twisting in her belly. Her body demanded meat, but there didn't seem to be much to hunt, and given their complete lack of experience with camping, she kind of doubted if they would even be able to clean any kills they found.
Instead, she turned her thoughts inward. It took a while to remember how it felt - she still had trouble summoning it at will - but eventually, it came. A sensation akin to warmth spread through her body, a feeling that was still so new, yet had always been with her, just lurking out of sight. It had taken her almost dying to find it the first time - now, she needed it again.
As tired as she was, the spiritual energy within her burned as bright as ever. It was laced into her body, every fiber, every cell tingling with it, inextricably bound. She willed it to move, and as it did, it took the rest of her body with it.
Yuki had told her one day she would be able to harmonize the two sides of herself, that controlling the power would be as natural as breathing. Belle wondered if that was true as she repeatedly lost her fledgling grip upon it. Still, while the feeling of hunger uncomfortably remained, her steps regained some of their firmness as they made their way slowly through the undergrowth. The Warlock was all that remained... She just had to make it that far, and she wouldn't have to die.
And if she could follow through on her promise, Mickey and Proto wouldn't have to kill anybody.
~+~+~+~
The morning of the fourth day dawned as chilly as the rest. At least the three of them had gotten better at assembling camp - no fire this time, but the lean-to they had thrown together was much sturdier than the previous ones. Sturdy enough, at least, to keep the wind out.
They were just going over their plans for the day, wondering what more they could scrounge for food, Belle trying to ignore the mouse's constant fretting over her condition, when the voice of the Warlock bellowed overhead. As threatening as he tried to sound, it was clear from his tone that he was not pleased with the recent turn of events.
The island was almost completely gone, now. In the distance she heard a familiar rumble, a growl of deep thunder. Another piece of the island was preparing to disintegrate. As more and more of it fell away, it would draw all the remaining Primes inward. Towards them.
Settling their plans, the other two stood. Belle stuffed a handful of berries in her mouth before following suit, using the shield briefly as a crutch.
Go time.
Uh oh. Those boys got me all tingly...
![[Image: ezgif-1-a370e630e1.gif]](https://s7.postimg.cc/elmiaogd7/ezgif-1-a370e630e1.gif)
I must calm it.
I must calm it.