05-21-2019, 10:28 AM
[font=trebuchet ms]He was able to focus in enough to start counting, much to her relief. Sometimes when she ended up in that sort of place, the world outside of her own head wouldn't register properly. She had to rely on her own methods to resurface, or just wait until she eventually washed up on shore. Still, when others could help, it was usually easier to return to normalcy that way.
Internally, Straw counted along with him. Each count seemed to simultaneously last an eternity and flash by in an instant. His breathing was growing steadier, bit by bit, thankfully- though counting worked for her, she couldn't be sure it would work for everyone.
For a brief moment, her thoughts wandered.
She was alone, and that was probably for the better. Hastened breaths entered and exited through gritted teeth as Straw stared down at the floor, head leaning against the cave wall, paws gripping at the stone below. It was far too late to stop her spiraling thoughts.
Why was she like this? It wasn't worth flipping out over something so small. They could find more food- there was plenty on the surface. Besides, she had no right to feel sorry for herself. If she were a real grown-up, she would have stayed and accepted responsibility, with a straight face, just like Quince would have if she ever made a mistake this colossal.
She heard a voice, but didn't turn to look at its source. Were they here to yell at her? The voice gave a firm command, something that didn't make sense. What good would that do?
The command was repeated: "count aloud to twenty."
She counted slowly, her voice unsteady. After reaching ten, she cautiously turned her head to look at Quince. Quince didn't seem angry, her eyes concerned. Was that just a facade? Quince wasn't a very good liar, but Straw couldn't think of a good reason why she wasn't angry. Shutting her eyes, she continued counting. Quince had to have a reason for this, at least. "...Twenty," she said finally, reopening her eyes.
Quince offered her a small smile. "We were able to save some of the stock," she reassured the red panda, twitching her ears.
"Besides. You couldn't have known that rock was load-bearing."
As Stark reached twenty, Straw reached up a paw to adjust her mask. The sudden arrival of Killua nearly made her jump, but Stark seemed relieved to see him- again, it would seem. Regardless, they both seemed okay for now. Straw watched the two silently, her tail twitching.
Internally, Straw counted along with him. Each count seemed to simultaneously last an eternity and flash by in an instant. His breathing was growing steadier, bit by bit, thankfully- though counting worked for her, she couldn't be sure it would work for everyone.
For a brief moment, her thoughts wandered.
She was alone, and that was probably for the better. Hastened breaths entered and exited through gritted teeth as Straw stared down at the floor, head leaning against the cave wall, paws gripping at the stone below. It was far too late to stop her spiraling thoughts.
Why was she like this? It wasn't worth flipping out over something so small. They could find more food- there was plenty on the surface. Besides, she had no right to feel sorry for herself. If she were a real grown-up, she would have stayed and accepted responsibility, with a straight face, just like Quince would have if she ever made a mistake this colossal.
She heard a voice, but didn't turn to look at its source. Were they here to yell at her? The voice gave a firm command, something that didn't make sense. What good would that do?
The command was repeated: "count aloud to twenty."
She counted slowly, her voice unsteady. After reaching ten, she cautiously turned her head to look at Quince. Quince didn't seem angry, her eyes concerned. Was that just a facade? Quince wasn't a very good liar, but Straw couldn't think of a good reason why she wasn't angry. Shutting her eyes, she continued counting. Quince had to have a reason for this, at least. "...Twenty," she said finally, reopening her eyes.
Quince offered her a small smile. "We were able to save some of the stock," she reassured the red panda, twitching her ears.
"Besides. You couldn't have known that rock was load-bearing."
As Stark reached twenty, Straw reached up a paw to adjust her mask. The sudden arrival of Killua nearly made her jump, but Stark seemed relieved to see him- again, it would seem. Regardless, they both seemed okay for now. Straw watched the two silently, her tail twitching.
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