Dancing in Circles // [Laide One Shots - Day 2]

Dandy sat curled up in the glass canoe even though it was sitting on land. It had rolled to one side, unable to sit up properly without water holding it up. The girl was curled inside it, hiding from the hot sun and the other shoe that was bound to fall on her head to join its sister. Her head still throbbed from impact earlier, but she dared not complain about it. Not with Aline sitting not so far away and dealing with a lot more pain.

She skimmed her fingers over her markings again. Dandy didn't think she was going to like the henna as much as she did. Letting Addy doodle on her had been the best decision she had made so far. She liked feeling the raised ridges, and following the swirling movements. Dandy liked the meaning in all the curls, and to the ones that didn't have any she gave some.

This smudged line was for home and the black dust that coated everything. This circle reminded her of Gregor's watchful eyes. These two swirls next to each other made her think of Ash and Magnolia. The girl hoped her siblings were safe at home. Unfolding herself from the canoe, Dandy stepped into the open letting the cameras, and by extension her family, take a good look at her.

Addy had wandered off but Dandy could still hear her voice. She walked towards it, slipping through some brush to find the strange girl holding a furry little bear in her arms- her shoulders smeared with white bird shit.

"Is this, uh, is this one of your ceremonies?" she asked, hesitantly. She wasn't quite sure where to look, after all there was a lot to look at.


[Dandy takes medicinal plants from Addy and eats them]
[Dandy fills water jug with purified water from the hot springs]
[Drinks]
[Refills jug]

Adelaide turned to Dandy, both the bear creature and the girl staring at her blankly. Like Dandy was supposed to know what was going on. Which she did not.

Addy laughed it off, but from her words Dandy took that this little furry thing was their new pet. The boy to complete their party Adelaide kept talking about. Dandy didn't believe they need a boy, female victors won without help from males all the time. Something about balance, Addy said. The stars, the universe- the usual answers.

The creature's claws dug into the pale flesh of Adelaide's arm, drawing a red streak downwards. Dandy opened her mouth to speak but Addy hushed her, eyes wild as a bird swooped close by. Addy reached for it, trying to grab the bird right out of the sky but missed.

Dandy took a slow step forward, her hands outstretched trying to reign in her ally.

"Addy, you're bleeding," she said. Dandy carefully picked up the large fuzzy koala and planted him on his bottom a few feet away. He didn't seem to care much where he was placed and closed his eyes to take a small nap. "And you've got poop on your back."