Whitefish River [bwp] numb all through, i can still feel you
420 Posts
Ooc — Jitterwater
Offline
#1
Read Only 
He had been doing a hasty patrol when the rumbling began and his attention swiftly diverted from the exterior of the claim to the interior, seeking out any bodies that might be in need of help. The ground was so unstable with its quaking that Firefly couldn't keep himself level; he crept between trees that shuddered, ducking as branches came loose or entire stalks of old growth rose up and tilted as the dirt gave way beneath. The only sound was the cacophony of pounding and grating as the earth shifted. It deafened the beat of his heart, crashing and crunching so loudly around him that Firefly felt his ears pop and then — then there was a dreaded silence; some kind of dog-whistle quality to the sound he did catch which picked up intensity by the second.

As Firefly came around a bend in the trees he saw one of the caves collapse and froze on the spot, staring at the billowing brown smoke and dust that was forced out in the process; he thought he'd seen a person standing there for a split second, but couldn't be sure. He was running towards the caved-in segment next, feeling the earth beneath his paws more than hearing the sound of his steps; he was shouting too, calling out for anyone who may be injured, but he couldn't hear himself.

For a second he thought about digging; he thought about doing the right thing, unearthing whatever body might have survived, but a part of his mind said, don't waste your time. How was he to know if what he saw was real? What if he had imagined the person in the burrow? It could've been one of the kids — and his gut twisted at the thought of their poor young life cut short — but again his concience failed him, and he heard the internalized logic ring out clearer than anything else in his panic: It was nothing. It isn't safe here. It isn't safe anywhere — You need to go!

And so he turned, side-stepping awkwardly as the quaking earth redoubled efforts to try and waylay him, and took off running.