post-snek recoveries

[neonleon]

[You know?

That weird temple wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst. Not by far now that he's back in this dimension. He floats a bit aimlessly, body broken, shell cracked and falling apart, some bones and insides shattered. His head aches in a way that he can't think.

All he can really do is hope Prime doesn't find him immediately right now. The light off his ring catches his eye and he looks at it, not fully registering that it's lit up.

A promise.]

Comments

[neonleon]

...Of course. I'd help with anything you asked, Hunts.

[He gives one more little wave to the shade as they leave, into the late afternoon sun.]

You're gonna be okay?

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter takes a moment just to breathe and enjoy the sunlight. That more than anything energizes his tree body. ]

Yeah. I'll be fine. It's ... not any worse than anything that happened at the temple.

[neonleon]

...No, I guess not. [This just felt more... personal. He rests a hand on Hunter's shoulder for a second, giving it a squeeze.]

Can't help worry some.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter leans into that. ]

I just - I - they lost so much. They lost everything. Ori and I are the only ones who made it out, and Ori is ...

[ A special case. Very special. ]

They shouldn't have even had a horrible monster eating them today. Who knows how many of them were eaten without me there to help.

[neonleon]

I agree.

[He tugs Hunter a little closer while they walk, feeling that anxiety starting in Hunter.]

You couldn't have known, and there's nothing you can do about what's already done. We'll come back and work on helping the ones left there. All right?

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter nods, but his shoulders are limp. ]

I should have known. Just like I should have known about your arm.

[neonleon]

But you couldn't have. You couldn't have been there before you existed or while you were somewhere else.

[pyrighteous]

That - that doesn't matter! There were hints! I thought was weird that some of the bones moved but - I didn't - I didn't really think it through -

[ Hunter's starting to tear up. ]

[neonleon]

[Leo watches him while they walk, worry and concern in his eyes. Hunter is so distraught - and he can get it. If GramGram had left remains, he'd feel similarly protective of them. (But she didn't, none of his family or ancestors did, and now he can't even feel them-)]

That may be, but the thing is gone now. That monster's gone and destroyed and nothing can get the other ones.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter forces himself to nod. Scraping at his face with his hand. ]

I hope not. I hope there isn't anything else.

[neonleon]

We'll come back tomorrow and we can check to make sure. I didn't see anything else in that lab, but we'll check all the other corners we can find tomorrow. All right?

[pyrighteous]

... All right. Tomorrow.

[neonleon]

[He nods at that.]

Tomorrow. For now, let's uh. Go back and get cleaned up. Some rest?

[pyrighteous]

… I could use some rest. Yeah.

[neonleon]

Good because so could I, so let's go do that.

[He is so worried for you, Hunter, please just let him take care of you.]

[pyrighteous]

[ He will okay!! For now he falls silent, sticking close until they get to the teleportation glyph, and resuming his grip on Leo's hand even as they only have the short walk through the forest to Dell's place. The books seem to weigh more and more the longer he goes. ]

[neonleon]

[Leo keeps walking easily with him, hand rubbing where he c an reach of Hunter's back around the bag of books before sliding down his arm to hold Hunter's hand when Hunter starts to grip at the glyph. Getting the door open for them at Dell's only means letting go of his hand for a moment but he nudges Hunter inside with a little trill. Worry.]

C'mon. We both could probably use a scrub, huh?

[pyrighteous]

[ Thanks Leo. Hunter grips his hand gently as lowers his duffel bag to the floor. He nods a bit, trying to chirp back I'm okay, but ...

It comes out watery as he starts to cry. ]

[neonleon]

[Oh...

He moves the bag out of their way and tugs Hunter in close. Just holds him for now, clicking gently.]

It's okay, I got you. Let it out.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter clings to Leo then and just bawls for a second. ]

Sorry - sorry -

[neonleon]

It's okay- It's all right. [He is more than happy to let Hunter cling and bawl, rubbing his back and nosing at his hair gently.]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[pyrighteous]

Neither did they!

[neonleon]

No, no they didn't. You're right.

But we're gonna help them out tomorrow.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter sniffles at that. ]

R-right. We'll keep going back. Until they're all safe.

[neonleon]

Exactly. We'll work together to get them safe and at peace. And we can probably figure out some kind of seal to keep anything from getting in like that.