Coming Home (Charlotte)
May 26, 2016 17:49:10 GMT -6
Post by Charlotte on May 26, 2016 17:49:10 GMT -6
A metaphorical crossroads had just been placed in front of Charlotte. In order to save her own life, she needed to run like hell and find a way to lose these damn undead beasts. But at the same time, here was Tiz, someone she never thought she’d even see again, clearly hurt and falling behind. No doubt if she did not help him, he would be overcome by the three large monsters and perish. But if she did help him, she risked not only him being killed, but her as well. But Tiz had purpose, and Charlotte couldn’t let someone be wasted like that when they had purpose to her, even if it meant sticking out her own neck. So no, she couldn’t abandon the man, even to save herself.
With that decision, a plan started to come together in her head, thinking through what resources she still had available to her in order to aid in their escape. Running a bit ahead of Tiz, she shook her head as he lamented over the Laus guards’ ability to handle these things if they went back. She ignored him, looking ahead with squinted eyes as a familiar twisted, knotty tree came into view ahead of them. Could it be? Charlotte smiled as everything she was about to do clicked into place.
“You don’t have to!” Charlotte yelled at Tiz; she ran back to him, taking his hand and starting to run forward again, almost dragging the tall, strong man along behind her. She ran them off the path to the sound of the moaning and stamping, only checking how far away the approaching monsters were for a moment. Only a stone’s throw away now; a troublesome thought, but she could use it to her advantage.
Whipping her head to look at Tiz as she dodged them through the trees, Charlotte spoke through labored breaths. “When I say, close your eyes. Trust me,” she said finitely; she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Turning back to her front, she saw the next landmark she had been looking for - five stumps in a circle. They weren’t far now, just another few seconds of running and…
“NOW!” Whether Tiz closed his eyes or not was irrelevant, as Charlotte almost simultaneously sheathed her blade and grabbed another small pouch from her belt, again throwing it near the feet of the approaching threats. She looked forward and closed her own eyes until she heard the familiar “pop,” which would light the area up in a blinding ray of light. She could only hope the things were temporarily blinded as she ran her and Tiz to the furthest of the five stumps, kicking it over to reveal that the false base had been hiding an opening wide enough for one of them to drop down into.
“I’m sorry!” Charlotte cried as she pushed the man into the opening without warning, which would drop him about 10 feet onto a bed of hay - that was if she remembered correctly. Either way, the fall wouldn’t hurt too much; unfortunately Charlotte knew her ‘abandoning’ him again would hurt him. But it truly was for the best; he was dazed, confused, and would only slow her down. Even if she couldn’t admit it to him, she’d never forgive herself if she let the man die when she could do something to save him.
As soon as Charlotte pushed him down, she pulled yet another trick from her belt and grabbed her light rune - a little thing she’d picked up from a strange old man in the Lausian magic market. Slamming it against the opening, she shouted the activation word: “Prope!” and instantly a barrier closed off the hole. That would keep Tiz safe for at least ten or so minutes, plenty of time for her to drag the monsters away. By then the beasts would have no doubt been unblinded - if that had even worked at all, which Charlotte could tell as they fixated on her. Fear was threatening to consume her, but she knew she needed to keep running. So she ran.
With that decision, a plan started to come together in her head, thinking through what resources she still had available to her in order to aid in their escape. Running a bit ahead of Tiz, she shook her head as he lamented over the Laus guards’ ability to handle these things if they went back. She ignored him, looking ahead with squinted eyes as a familiar twisted, knotty tree came into view ahead of them. Could it be? Charlotte smiled as everything she was about to do clicked into place.
“You don’t have to!” Charlotte yelled at Tiz; she ran back to him, taking his hand and starting to run forward again, almost dragging the tall, strong man along behind her. She ran them off the path to the sound of the moaning and stamping, only checking how far away the approaching monsters were for a moment. Only a stone’s throw away now; a troublesome thought, but she could use it to her advantage.
Whipping her head to look at Tiz as she dodged them through the trees, Charlotte spoke through labored breaths. “When I say, close your eyes. Trust me,” she said finitely; she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Turning back to her front, she saw the next landmark she had been looking for - five stumps in a circle. They weren’t far now, just another few seconds of running and…
“NOW!” Whether Tiz closed his eyes or not was irrelevant, as Charlotte almost simultaneously sheathed her blade and grabbed another small pouch from her belt, again throwing it near the feet of the approaching threats. She looked forward and closed her own eyes until she heard the familiar “pop,” which would light the area up in a blinding ray of light. She could only hope the things were temporarily blinded as she ran her and Tiz to the furthest of the five stumps, kicking it over to reveal that the false base had been hiding an opening wide enough for one of them to drop down into.
“I’m sorry!” Charlotte cried as she pushed the man into the opening without warning, which would drop him about 10 feet onto a bed of hay - that was if she remembered correctly. Either way, the fall wouldn’t hurt too much; unfortunately Charlotte knew her ‘abandoning’ him again would hurt him. But it truly was for the best; he was dazed, confused, and would only slow her down. Even if she couldn’t admit it to him, she’d never forgive herself if she let the man die when she could do something to save him.
As soon as Charlotte pushed him down, she pulled yet another trick from her belt and grabbed her light rune - a little thing she’d picked up from a strange old man in the Lausian magic market. Slamming it against the opening, she shouted the activation word: “Prope!” and instantly a barrier closed off the hole. That would keep Tiz safe for at least ten or so minutes, plenty of time for her to drag the monsters away. By then the beasts would have no doubt been unblinded - if that had even worked at all, which Charlotte could tell as they fixated on her. Fear was threatening to consume her, but she knew she needed to keep running. So she ran.