forum Elements RP! (Closed)

Started December 11, 2018 by Deleted user

tune

Zol started forwards, leaning heavily on his staff, his arms trembling. "Lead the way." he told Frost.

Keeping her hand in his, Citra looped Zol's arm around her shoulders, giving him extra support. "I can help." She said, still speaking quietly. She looked from Piper to Frost, nodding to signify that they were ready. Exhaustion, clouded her vision, but she remained upright by shear force of will.

Frost looked at them concerned, but shifted and led the way up the river. It was about 10 minutes before they saw the sheltering cavern, Frost sped up and checked inside, "All clear" she told the others before flopping to her belly.

Zol cursed himself. I should be the one for others to lean on! Not the other way around!

Citra carefully, but firmly, sat Zol down on a ledge within the cavern. Giving him a look at that said 'if you don't rest I will make you rest', she squeezed his hand before letting go. She got busy setting up a large fire for them, the only excuse she could think of to hide her shaking hands. When she was done, she moved to sit beside the boy again, shoving her hands deep into her lap, and staring dully at the blackflame before her.

Zol leaned on her slightly. "I know what you feel."

Frost kept on tending the fire, digging into the packs so she coulds serve up a meal.

"I don't know how I feel." She responded, voice missing its usual lit. Another shudder passed through her and she unconsciously scooted a bit closer to him.

"You killed." he shuddered. "It feels like a stain on your soul."

Tell me about it thought Frost, overhearing his words..

Citra covered her mouth with her shaking hands, eyes welling with tears. She was going to vomit. "Two men…" She whispered desperately. "I–I killed…two men." Her entire body was shaking now. Citra felt ice cool despite Zol's warmth next to her, numb to her very core. "I'm evil." She hissed, nails biting into her skin hard enough to draw blood. It mixed with the blood of the men she was still wearing on her clothes.

"You did it to survive. And so others would survive." He grabbed her hand. "You are not evil. The ones that forced you to choose between killing and letting others die bear the responsibility."

Again he's right thought Frost as she dumped some chopped veggies in a pot.

Citra had a white knuckled grip on Zol's hand as she looked up into his eyes. The tears still lingered, but did not fall. "I'm not evil?" She asked him, baffled. Her people looked at murder as the highest offence. Murderers were immediately jailed and left to die, the stain on their souls, one that could never be wiped away. Only true evil doers committed murder. She just had, twice, how was what he said true?

Zol realized her vision would be severely confused by her harsh treatment. "No. Killing is a great evil. But you were forced to." He looked deeply into her eyes. "And all wrongs can be forgiven."

"Zol is right" said Frost quietly from the entrance of the small cavern, "Killing, no matter the form or reason is always wrong. But sometimes you are forced to weigh two wrongs. If you had let those two hunters live they could have gone on to take many more lives, and cause others to take lives in response. Killing those two yourself saved those lives, and prevented others from being scarred by split blood. It may have been wrong to kill, but it quite possibly could have been more wrong to let them live."

Zol looked troubled but nodded. "Peace is always the best alternative. But sometimes it is foolish to hope for."

Piper had crumbled the minute they had gotten to the cave, exhaustion taking its toll. She barely heard their words, catching just bits and pieces. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw the Ice closing around her foot, trapping her there. A saying her people used to quote on the regular came to her mind.

The Water heals and understands,

The Ice does not forgive.

Frost went back into the cave after awhile to tend to the stew she was making. Another 10 min of stirring she softly called out that she had dinner ready as she carefully ladled out the soup into some bowls.

Citra was still looking deep into Zol's eyes as she listened to Frost's words. Finally, finally her tears began to fall. She shuddered as sobs wracked her body. Sorrow mixed with heavy relief coursed through her, her anxiety cresting and waning as the tears fell. She leaned heavily into Zol, head resting on his shoulder. She wasn't evil, they assured her. Soothed that pain upon her heart. As her pent up emotions released, she slowly slowly began to relax.

Without thinking Zol put an arm around her. "You are a good person Citra. And one day you can prove that to everyone."

Making a sound that resembled a mumbled 'thank you', Citra sank gratefully into the embrace. Her tears still fell, as they would for some time, but her heart felt strangely lighter.

Piper took a bowl of soup with shaky hands, and began to sip, not caring that it was too hot. All she wanted to be right now was warm.

Frost took her own bowl, and began sipping it, like Piper she didn't care that it was burning hot, all she knew was the the heat would burn away the last of the tang of blood.

Zol untangled himself and brought back two bowls of soup, offering one to Citra.

Citra took the bowl gently, her hands still shaking a bit. She stared at it for a moment before bringing it to her lips for a tiny sip.