03-29-2020, 02:36 PM
Sterling stalked ahead of them, but didn’t stray too far from the bubble of light at their backs (which was the strangest thing, but way down on the list for today). The flood of pitch darkness chilled Raffe’s bones, and he was aware of his ears straining against every odd sound, carving monsters out of nothing. Though Nox wouldn't have warned if there wasn’t a reason to warn. Shit. His pulse was ramping up again. He was glad of the palm in his, but he did wish Sterling would stick a little closer, and opened his mouth to call after her when Nox beat him to it.
Then he heard an animal noise; the yip of a dog, and for the briefest moment relief surged on the crest of adrenaline -- for a rational explanation. But it was short lived. Raffe’s skin prickled with fear. “Nova?” he repeated. He half started forward, but suddenly the dark glittered with eyes, and he realised the weird humming was coming from it. He was torn with being sensible and the desire to help; he knew what the dog meant to Nox. What were those things?
He was on the verge of something stupid when Nox’s hand dropped and Sterling pummeled into them. Nox shoved her behind, and she clung to him.
She was terrified. Raffe bent, put his hand on her arm, casting worried glances at the shifting mass of darkness ahead. “He needs to be able to move, Sterling,” he said in the same soothing tones he’d always used on the younger kids in the orphanage. “Here, can you look after this for me? It’s important.” He prised gently at where her arms gripped, to give her possession of the plant. A job to focus on. “Give me your other hand. We’ll stick together, okay. You want know how I got this scar? It was protecting friends, so I won’t leave you, but stand with me, okay? In case we need to move quickly.” His heart was racing, throat dry as he spoke quietly and quickly, not caring how much she really absorbed as long as it distracted her enough to get her up. Sweat beaded his brow. It felt like the walls were pressing in on his skull.
Then he heard an animal noise; the yip of a dog, and for the briefest moment relief surged on the crest of adrenaline -- for a rational explanation. But it was short lived. Raffe’s skin prickled with fear. “Nova?” he repeated. He half started forward, but suddenly the dark glittered with eyes, and he realised the weird humming was coming from it. He was torn with being sensible and the desire to help; he knew what the dog meant to Nox. What were those things?
He was on the verge of something stupid when Nox’s hand dropped and Sterling pummeled into them. Nox shoved her behind, and she clung to him.
She was terrified. Raffe bent, put his hand on her arm, casting worried glances at the shifting mass of darkness ahead. “He needs to be able to move, Sterling,” he said in the same soothing tones he’d always used on the younger kids in the orphanage. “Here, can you look after this for me? It’s important.” He prised gently at where her arms gripped, to give her possession of the plant. A job to focus on. “Give me your other hand. We’ll stick together, okay. You want know how I got this scar? It was protecting friends, so I won’t leave you, but stand with me, okay? In case we need to move quickly.” His heart was racing, throat dry as he spoke quietly and quickly, not caring how much she really absorbed as long as it distracted her enough to get her up. Sweat beaded his brow. It felt like the walls were pressing in on his skull.