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+--- Thread: Dragoncrest Cliffs I had to learn how to fight for myself (/showthread.php?tid=51522)
I had to learn how to fight for myself - Redbird - June 15, 2022
There is no cool way to write a guttural scream.
Indra ran down the cliffside to where the path opened up to mossbloom. Her steps were more like raucous drum beats against the earth, mirroring the racing tempo of her pulse. She tore across the open spaces and stumbled around trees, almost catching her step on roots; at one point or another, sliding on a patch of reeds she hadn't spotted in time, and stumbling.
GRRRAA!The girl bellowed at the nearest tree; rising to her feet again, thrashing one direction and then another. Indra panted through a frown and kicked a clod of grass she'd somehow gouged from the earth, and then lunged for some of the reeds beside her and tore at them.
RAAAH!
After a few minutes of frustrated brawling among the foliage, she stopped and sagged to her haunches. The emotions that had fueled her through her latest episode had worn away and left her feeling raw for all her emptiness, and tired.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Meerkat - June 16, 2022
Not long after dropping off some food near @Chacal’s den, Meerkat wandered back toward the rendezvous site to check on her children. Maybe she would take one of them with her on another foray to collect some gifts for the four new additions.
A terrible scream wrenched her out of her thoughts. Meerkat blinked and sprinted toward Mossbloom as a second cry tore through the air. Was one of her kids in trouble? Never mind that the voice didn’t sound like any of theirs. The noises had already tripped her maternal panic.
She found a young stranger sitting not far from the landmark tree, chest heaving. Meerkat vaguely recognized her by scent and sight. Despite the lack of familiarity, she rushed toward her, slowing a little as she approached and giving the yearling an assessing look. She didn’t smell any blood, didn’t see any wounds.
Are you alright?she asked, heart still pounding in her chest.
Was this Indra? Meerkat knew a little about the young woman who’d come to them not so long ago. From what she’d heard, Indra could probably use some counseling. Guilt curled in Meerkat’s stomach. She hadn’t had time to reach out to the girl on account of her pups, though hopefully she could remedy that right now.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Redbird - June 16, 2022
Within moments of her outburst there was the sound of someone rushing over the grass. Indra was particularly vigilant for signs of company. Meerkat was not known to Indra despite how long the girl had been harbored by this place; she held an untamed look for a split-second as if her fight-or-flight would engage.
I'm — I don't,she was breathing rapidly enough to skew her words with hesitation marks.
Don't look at me!Unfortunately she couldn't help the immature crack of her voice in that instant.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Meerkat - June 16, 2022
Her head reared back, then Meerkat gently averted her gaze. She didn’t move the rest of her body and kept Indra in her peripheral vision, trying to assess the situation out of the corner of her eye. She was breathing hard. She had been screaming. Perhaps she was having a panic attack of some sort, in which case Meerkat was a little bit out of her depth.
But she wanted to help, if Indra was open to that, so she said to the tree in the distance,
My name’s Meerkat. Is there anything I can do?
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Redbird - June 16, 2022
No! I don't know; it doesn't matter!
Indra punched the ground a few times for good measure, but was not satisfied with the feeling of the grass crunching beneath her paws. She stood up and began to pace but she didn't go far in either direction, as she couldn't decide what to do. In this moment she thought less and felt more, which was overwhelming.
There was a — a stupid man, up on the hill. Watching me, like a creep!Being watched wasn't the problem. Indra felt an intense guilt for how she'd reacted to the old man's presence and didn't know what to do about it. She couldn't even explain it properly.
It's stupid. Just leave me alone.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Meerkat - June 16, 2022
The girl ranted and Meerkat stayed mum, watching Indra as she paced in and out of her visual field. She was definitely worked up about something, but what? She tensed when Indra mentioned some man watching her. Meerkat’s head turned sharply, looking toward the nearest hillock, lips parted, even as the yearling finished with, “It’s stupid. Just leave me alone.”
For a beat, Meerkat still said nothing. She squinted at the hill again, but saw no one. Gingerly, she glanced over at Indra, wondering about the man and whether he might’ve done something untoward. Something had happened, to put the young girl in a tizzy like this.
If you really want me to leave you alone, I will. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, see if you needed anything. Because if you did, I’d be happy to help. It’s Indra, right?
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Redbird - June 16, 2022
She stopped her pacing when she heard her name and reacted with immediate suspicion. Her posture partially deflated; her tail finding its place against her legs where it hung limply, while the rest of her was rigid as her anxiety spiked.
After a moment her eyes pulled away from the woman.
I'm fine.There was still an edge to her voice but Indra wasn't tearing up the greenery any longer, or punching the ground, and her voice was more level. She stared down at her muddy paws and looked very much like a small child lost in the wilderness rather than the teenager that she was.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Meerkat - June 16, 2022
Nothing about Indra looked fine, especially when Meerkat noticed her staring at the ground and took the opportunity to look at her more directly once more. She looked lost, which of course tugged at the mother’s heartstrings, but she would honor Indra’s boundaries.
Okay. If you change your mind or need anything, my family’s staying at Corsair Beach,Meerkat said, motioning toward the nearby rendezvous site. She paused before thinking to add,
We have games. And snacks.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Redbird - June 16, 2022
Meerkat's invitation was kind, which made it something that Indra could not trust without further scrutiny. She glanced in the direction of the rendezvous site quickly, which could've indicated curiosity or excitement, but she also didn't want to appear too eager.
A frown slipped across her face.
Mh.. maybe, I dunno.There was that itch in her feet again imploring her to move, so she began to stalk away from the sapphire, as well as all the damage Indra had left in her wake. Dirt clods, clumps of grass with exposed roots, and the like.
RE: I had to learn how to fight for myself - Meerkat - June 16, 2022
Okay,Meerkat said as Indra made a noncommittal reply and began to drift away,
it’s totally up to you, but the invitation is open.She almost said something like “take care” but bit her tongue against letting slip what would only land as a platitude.
Maybe after giving it some thought, she could think of some way to help Indra. In the meantime, she still wanted to check on her children. Her heartbeat had calmed down considerably but the whole situation had put her on edge. Seeing that Ray, Fish and Mercy were perfectly fine would settle her rattled nerves.