The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Blue

[voidtreckermods]

So Far

It's been a hard few days of cajoling the citizens of the Shining City into and through the catacombs. Many still talk about returning to the comforts of the city, scoffing at the idea of danger. But slowly, as they get further away from the city, more and more of them break out of the illusion. Though some remain lost in the illusion still, the majority are clear-minded by Kazoo 9.

Their mission changes from hurrying stubborn people along to comforting them as the truth dawns on them. The atmosphere becomes more desperate, more angry. More driven.

A plan is offered by the citizens: there is a cavern marked on their maps that opens up to the surface. It can be used as a base whilst any that feel able can go out to join the fight against the demons.

New Allies

Not long after breaking camp on the ninth day of the month of Kazoo they reach the cavern. However, it is clear straight away that something is wrong. The cavern is dark with no exits to be seen, and the Voidtreckers will quickly learn they are not alone. There's a small camp in the cavern, all humans, and after a tense moment they will welcome the citizens and their escorts.

Their story is simple: they were outside the city fighting when they got overwhelmed; they took shelter in the cavern but a gate opened nearby on the surface and caused a cave in. None of the scouts they had sent through the tunnels to the city have returned. Their food is running out and they were on the verge of heading to the city regardless of what they might find there when the Voidtreckers arrived.

Breaking Free

The cave-in is a large one, several metres thick at its weakest and blocking the exit to the outside completely. Those trapped here have made some progress but it's going to take a lot of hands, and potentially some magical help, to clear the blockages.

If they can clear it though, it will mean those who can fight, both citizen and Voidtrecker can begin to head back towards the city to fight, without having to re-enter the range of the illusionary Shining City.

The cavern makes a good staging point, and a secure place for those who cannot fight. Even with the blockage clear it is easy to defend, and holds the same sanctified protections as the tunnels themselves.

Comments

[comefadeaway]

He nodded and kept it up, moving that one next.

"If you point, I'll see what you mean." He said, a suggestion so he'd understand Quatre with potentially missing what he was saying exactly. He couldn't look at rocks and people at the same time.

[gundamofthedesert]

"Of course." Given that Quatre wasn't aware of he was hard of hearing, it was certainly a possibility. Of course, if he had known, Quatre would have tried harder to make sure he saw what he was saying. Even so, he was more than willing to accommodate.

After moving his next rock, Quatre paused a moment to survey the next group that was best to move then he pointed to show Yoite the rocks.

[comefadeaway]

Yoite smiles and nods, and moves to collect the rock.

Three more rocks in and he's doubled over, stopping for a moment to cough into his hands with a hideous sounding intake of breath between coughs.

No, he couldn't falter, he needed to be helpful and protect his friends.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre glanced over as Yoite began to cough like that. He put the rock he had just picked up back down where he had gotten it and jumped down from his perch, coming over to put his hand on Yoite's shoulder.

"Are you okay? Do you need to take a break?"

[comefadeaway]

He looked up when Quatre touched his shoulder, still stifling the remains of a cough.

"I...I want to help." He insisted a bit, but he was looking a little bit pale.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre nodded his head. "Take a few moments. Then we can continue again. Do you need some water? I think I have some."

[comefadeaway]

"I...yes please." Yoite said with a little nod. He could use the water, admitedly, because he was already coughing again, a surefire sign he was overexerting himself.

[gundamofthedesert]

"Of course." Quatre dug through the bag he had brought with him and produced a bottle of water, offering it to Yoite.

[comefadeaway]

"Thank you." Yoite said with a relieved sigh and he sipped at it gingerly.

"I'm sorry, I...wish I was stronger."

[gundamofthedesert]

"It's okay," Quatre said with a smile. "Everyone is strong in their own way. I'm certainly not as physically strong as some of the others."

[comefadeaway]

"Do you really think so?" Yoite asked, looking at Quatre with a curious head tilt. "I...my physical condition used to be much better."

[gundamofthedesert]

"Yeah, I think so. Everyone is strong in some way. It doesn't have to be physical strength. It's alright. It happens."

[comefadeaway]

"I'm not really sure what other things I can do." Yoite admitted with a bit of a frown, like he was worried about it.

[gundamofthedesert]

"Intelligence? Investigation? Artistic abilities? Just a few that I can think of off the top of my head. Granted being an artist doesn't help right this moment."

[comefadeaway]

"I don't really know much about those...but, um, I can make origami shapes." Yoite said with a small smile.

He was actually very proud of that.

[gundamofthedesert]

"That's good. You'll have to show me that sometime. I wouldn't know where to begin."

See? Something Yoite could do that Quatre couldn't. Not that it helped in this situation, but being a violinist didn't help either.

[comefadeaway]

"Okay!" He said, brightning up a little bit.

"I can do that. I can show you like Soldat showed me."

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre smiled. "Great. Once the mission is over, we can do that. I'm definitely interested to see."