Into The Forest

[inheritance]

WHO: All volunteers
WHERE: The forest
WHEN: April 6th, late morning
WHAT: Attempting to map out the area and finding much more than they bargained for.
WARNINGS: Violence

"There is absolutely no wildlife.
There are no mutant animals to be found.
The birds are silent. There are no bugs.
It's as if everything is watching, and holding its breath, and waiting."

Comments

[worlds]

[It's not enough. It's not enough—it'll never be enough, for a moment?

Ouni's breathing is heavy for a moment, before he picks himself up and starts stalking forward. When he speaks, his voice is tight.]

Stay there moping forever, if you want.

[He won't. He won't stay idle, won't be complacent, won't—]

[theshowsover]

[He's right, Akira knows he's right. He can't just stay here on the ground, he's useless here on the ground, but suddenly getting up feels insurmountable. The lump is back in his throat and he feels an ache in his chest, one that he can't seem to banish.

He forces his eyes back to Dextera's face, and that helps, even if he looks as stricken as Akira does. His limbs feel heavy and his breaths are shaky as he forces himself up to his feet, turning to face Ouni instead.

He means to do something, to help, but instead all that comes out of him is:]

You don't even know if that will help!

[His voice full of more despair than he's ever wanted to show to the world.]

[passio]

[ everything feels squeezed too tightly in his chest under the painful weight of his guilt. they’re fighting... they’re falling apart because of these mirrors, aren’t they? and dextera can’t make himself stop looking at the trees, even as he tries to stop akira, because he sees his own face, his own hands reaching out to him and that’s all he’s ever wanted, really.

if he could give this place to his reflection, he would. ]

Hh—

[ it’s as high as it is a pained sound, like the rusty hinges of a door blown open by a squall. he’s able to sit up, but nothing feels right to him. nothing but looking at the mirror, which hurts just as much as it helps. the tears are blurring his vision, and he can’t make himself stand. ]

Don’t.

[ it’s not a word so much as it is sound with enough breath behind it to be intelligible, almost, but it rasps at his throat and burns his tongue and he thinks he maybe shouldn’t do that again. ]

[worlds]

[He glances back at them, something blazing his eyes, only reinforced by the markings that adorn his skin.]

Not like anything else is! If you don't like it, then leave!

[He's not going to stop. This is all he has—this anger is all that keeps him going.]

[theshowsover]

[Unfortunately, Akira doesn't really hear, or at least register, that Dextera tried to say something. He's too overcome with grief, and each shattering mirror only seems to pierce his heart further. His reflection folds into itself in the mirror, trying to hide away from the world, before bursting under the attacks from Ouni.]

We can't leave... what if we're stuck here...?

[It comes out as more of a resigned statement than a question. Akira starts to feel tears track down his cheeks, and can't make a move to stop Ouni's rampage.]