22. Return [Voice/Action]

[corrinesbell]

[It’s hard to notice at first, with how muffled it is: the sound of short, sharp breaths. It’s a steady sound, one that seems more like background noise, like static, than anything unusual. Only after several minutes of this does the noise change; following a soft thump, it gets louder]

D-Damn it…

[Slowly, she rises again, not even bothering to brush off this new layer of snow. She walks with one arm tight around her ribs, and the other one against her side, numb fingers holding onto the book. She wants to throw it – she would throw it, given the strength, if it wasn’t the only thing that could let people find her. She holds no illusions about getting back to the village herself, this time. It’s too far…like this.]

But…the snow…it’s…

[Another soft thump. This time, though, she isn’t getting up.]

I…I’m…it’s c-cold. …S-Sorry…but at l-least...

[[ooc: Ah, it seems to be Monday. On this side of the line, anyway. Sheena’s been kicking to get out this whole time, and the inside of my head was starting to break, so she’s back.]]

Comments

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[Lloyd opens the door for them as they finally get to the house]

...Dad, how are you supposed to set a broken wing?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[lets himself in and frowns at that question]

Let's work on warming her up first.

[because he'd rather not tell Lloyd that resetting a wing would take a lot of pain yet]

[corrinesbell]

[registers some kind of problem with that answer]

's that bad, huh?

[looks right up at him for as long as she can before closing her eyes again]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[goes to try and make himself useful by getting some blankets and then putting more wood on the fire]

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[doesn't even bother answering that, and he waits until Lloyd has a good spot ready in front of the fire before he sets Sheena down there]

Once you warm up, we'll bring you to the clinic.

[and this is the point where he'll sit in one of the chairs and rest his head in his hands since he kind of overdid it with his healing powers]

[corrinesbell]

[can't hold herself up - she's exhausted, and shivering hard now - so she curls up on her side, still holding her ribs with one hand]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[Lloyd is still concerned about Sheena but he can't help but glance over at Kratos, surprised by how tired he looks, since it's Kratos and Lloyd could count the number of times he'd seen him displaying exhaustion on one hand.]

...You okay, Dad?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[does his best to try and compose himself after he realizes that Lloyd notices his weariness, though he still keeps his head down]

...I'll be alright. I simply find myself forgetting about the limits of my power.

[glances up at Lloyd]

Worry about Sheena. Keep talking to her, figure out where else she's injured, and try to make sure that she's warming up.

[corrinesbell]

[almost asleep again, but she's shivering too much to really pass out. Hearing Kratos say her name, she forces her eyes open again, but all she sees is a bright orange blur. It's too bright, so she shuts them.]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[Lloyd isn't convinced by Kratos, but he kneels down beside Sheena]

Sheena... Is anything else broken besides your wing?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[though he keeps his head down and his eyes closed to recover, he's still listening attentively, figuring that Lloyd may just forget about it later when he needs to talk to Lute about her injuries]

[corrinesbell]

I think...a-a couple ribs, at...at least.

[one hand rises to touch the side of her head] A-And they...had to hit me...t-to...mm... [to capture her, since she escaped them in the house. She just doesn't want to say it]

I...'m sorry, Lloyd.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

Don't apologize.

[it's kind of an automatic reaction when somebody says that by now...]

You did everything you could.

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

And you managed to escape. Something that no one has ever done.

[corrinesbell]

I...did, didn't I? ...Heh...b-bet they hated it...

[warm enough that she's falling asleep]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[Lloyd looks over at Kratos again]

...Should we let her sleep for a while before taking her to the clinic?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[lifts his head to give Sheena a quick glance]

She seems to be out of danger. I think it'll be safe to let her sleep.

[corrinesbell]

[she's out, so...whatever you guys want to do from here, I'm game?]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[And Lloyd goes over to sit beside Kratos after he sees Sheena's out cold, not convinced still]

...You sure you're okay, Dad?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[he's got his head in his hands again and isn't bothering to lift it up this time]

...I told you I'd be alright.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[He wants to tell Kratos not to use so much magic, but it was helping Sheena so he can't, really...]

Don't... overdo things, okay? It wouldn't be good if you got sick.

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[he's honestly feeling really dizzy right now, which is why he's keeping his head down, yet he still manages to look up at Lloyd]

I haven't been sick in a very long time, Lloyd. And it is as I said. I simply forget about my limits at times.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

If you haven't been sick recently that just means it's even worse if you are getting sick.

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

...I only overdid it a little. I doubt I'd fall ill from that.

[and he goes back to trying to will the dizziness away]

Besides, you have Sheena to worry about. I won't allow myself to be added onto your list.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[Somehow, he's reassured by that ♥]

...Okay, Dad. Just make sure you get some rest.