Fire and Fury [Spectres vs Mutts Day 3]

Bandaging a hand without a thumb for assistance is incredibly difficult, but it's manageable. Even pressing the fabric to it sends jolts of electricity up her arm. Holding the tears back isn't easy, yet she wants the strength to show that she's not weak. Just thinking of her brothers makes her stronger. It gives her the motivation to keep going. They've all lost so much, but they fought with all their strength -

Harbinger lost a leg, and he's alive.

It's just a thumb.

Some relief flows through her the moment it's covered and sterile, yet it throbs with the beat of a frantic heart making the pain even worse. She's never been good at hiding what's on her mind, and trying to find a distraction isn't easy. A heavy sigh leaves her chest as she slumps down against a wall. It's not the best place to rest, but it offers shelter, and at the moment that's all she needs.

It doesn't take long for the career to join her, and part of her wonders why he cares so much. Asari already knows to keep an eye on him because of his career status, but why does he stick around? Having a friend in a time like this is important, yet friendship isn't going to keep her alive. At the end of the day, all she has is herself. Back home she has a family that's wanting her to survive. Harbinger is sitting in the Capitol willing her home, but she doesn't think she's capable of staying alive.

Yet she doesn't try running him off, and she doesn't try making conversation. Maybe he's lonely too. She doesn't know, but whatever the case, Asari knows to stay prepared always.

Three faces light up the sky as the anthem plays, and in a way, her heart shatters. Knowing they died, knowing families are mourning, knowing that someone is broken isn't an easy weight to carry; however, it isn't hers to carry. Someone will carry the weight of twenty-three souls for all eternity, and now isn't the time to start.

A rumble in her stomach brings her to the present. Food is important, and maybe just sampling the candy will help. It'll never compare to the bakeries back home, but at least it'll offer some warmth. A large grin spreads from ear to ear while she pulls the jar from the bag. It's all hers. She found it, but it looks like she's not alone, and who doesn't love candy?

For the first time, Ubbe speaks up asking for some candy, and in return offers some bread. The selfish part of her wants to keep it all for herself, but she can't have that here. He's so much stronger than her, and putting him at a disadvantage means suffering as well, and while saying no is tempting, Asari finally offers him some.

It's so sweet, and tastes so amazing, and with the bread they're sharing, this is everything she needs. Just having someone there sitting beside her and knowing she isn't alone comforts the dying soul.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, she falls asleep, and she only wakes when Ubbe nudges her. It takes a moment to figure out what's happening. He's running towards something.

A frantic heart leaps into her throat as she grabs her lantern trying to see more of what's going on. In seconds she's on her feet, gripping the pitchfork in one hand, and she's running after him.

Darkness surrounds her, and she has no clue what time of day it is, or how long she was asleep. A bitter chill fills the air, but that's the least of her worries right now. These strange creatures are flying about.

What are those?

She doesn't even get a chance to ask because bigger things are at hand. Taking a deep breath, the young girl tries calming her nerves to the best of her ability.

Sometimes a career is strong, but in the midst of a chaotic storm, having a calm by one's side can make all the difference.

And that's what she is.

It's such an eerie feeling standing around with a lantern in one hand and a pitchfork in the other hand watching these creatures fly around. It's impossible to know what they're for, but the biggest fear of all is standing front of a dog thinking it's being served dinner, but first it has to catch its prey and kill it.

Even back home, Asari never went near anything that could potentially harm her. The only exception was as a young child climbing the trees for the harvest, but it wasn't anything compared to the natural predators roaming the earth. These things aren't natural. They're created for one purpose, but somewhere inside they must have feelings and emotions. It's hard to believe that they're simply robotic creations.

Despite it snapping at her, she feels bad for it. Killing it is the only way to set it free because it's been called on for one task. At least it's not a human being, but that'll have to change eventually, right?

Ubbe attacks it, and it's hard to stand and watch the creature go through the pain. Yet it causes pain to those around. Look what it did to him. Blood gushes from a huge gash on the back of his head. It tried killing him, and it's trying to kill her.

It's hungry.

It wants food, and Asari wants to offer it some squash. Maybe it'll make it go away, or maybe it'll make it angrier.

Taking a breath and turning from the fight, she finds herself wondering what would happen if she just stood here and didn't move another muscle. Placing herself in the mind of the career not too far away, she'd murder someone who did that.

Why must this happen?

Taking another breath, she turns trying to clear her mind of each and every emotion roaming freely with ease. This thing has to die.

It's blocking the only escape route, and she wants to get through.

A loud, bloodcurdling scream erupts from her lips. Sometimes not paying attention can become a downfall and nearly make a person wind up in the most dangerous of situations, and it's no different here. This thing, it's hungry. It's trying to eat her, and all she wants is to run away and find a place to escape. Blood gushes down the side of her face, and tears instantly spring from her eyes. This place is torture. It's designed for criminals, and Asari knows deep inside she isn't one of them. Bringing her hand to the side of her head, she curls in on herself trying to block out the pain.

Harbinger, help me. I need you.

A trail of tears and blood make a path as she runs from the giant beast, but it falls shortly after. If the career wants to follow he can because right now Asari wants to be alone so she can have some time to talk to her brother because she needs him now more than ever.