Thank you to @mister-writes for tagging me!
My words were wind, tug, pace, and fade.
But– the wind crashing against the cliff face. The long, sheer drop– the rocks underneath. The single step they were from the edge.
The one in his memory, that he had never really had the chance to see—not in the dark—but knew was just as long. Just as steep. Just as cruel. He did not remember reaching the rocks.
Nikora's hand was on his arm this time. The consequences– the failure– the fallout. His fingers were tight but gentle. Tijil's legs took longer than he would have liked to respond, but they did. Nikora's hand was warm and real. Tijil took a step the other—the wrong—direction, away from the ledge.
Something tugged at his hand, startled him. He looked down. His fingers were still tightly woven in Anahera's sleeve, hard enough to stretch the fabric.
"Sorry," he said, belatedly. Let go. Anahera rubbed his fingers over the wrinkles Nikora had left and eyed him resentfully.
"I wasn't going to just run off or– whatever you think I was doing." Disgruntled. "I was–"
"Look," Nikora said, at the same time. "It's just a bit crowded, and we can't see very well, and–"
"I'm not a child," Anahera said. "You're not worried about anyone else getting lost. Hold Tijil's hand or something."
Adityi had been pacing for thirty minutes. She was beginning to wear a path in the dusty rock, the shape of the circle she was making around everyone else like a herding dog. Nikora was beginning to get a headache.
It was four more minutes before she finally said, "I just can't believe he would–" and made an aborted hand gesture back at the door. "Just–"
Nikora didn't say anything. Edie continued patting Anahera's back.
Adityi stopped to send a rude gesture towards the building, spun in a half-circle, and then showed it to the ground as well. "That fucking–"
She began to pace again without finishing any of the sentences she'd started.
The cloth was old– pale and faded. Tijil took it from Edie's hands and held it up to the light. He looked confused. "Where did this come from?"
Edie's eyes were still wide. She was still breathing heavily, slightly hunched. "It was in the– at the– where the river bends, with the rocks, it was just at the side. On the bank."
"Someone else is here," Nikora said, without really planning to.
Tijil's eyes flickered to Anahera, then gave Nikora a dirty look. "Insufficient cause for paranoia."
Nikora struggled up from where he had been sitting in the sun and went over to look. It was rough, transparent in parts and thick in others. Just a torn fragment.
I totally don't remember who I've tagged in the last few games I did. I am going for @andrewbelindo, @halcionic, and @snapdragons-sunshine, but none of you have to do it, and anyone who I haven't mentioned who wants to do this- you're tagged now!
Your words are reach, gentle, ache, and alarm (yeah I don't know).
