#thesmugglersrun

[saltyspitfire]

“That is one mad bug.”

Starling felt bad for the bee, but could not restrain an amused smile. It was on its back, wings buzzing away as it attempted to right itself, and instead only scooted around in circles, legs squirming and grasping for something to grab onto. She approached carefully, and then gave it a nudge with the toe of her boot to help flip it over. It was in the air almost immediately, but nearly crashed into the side of the cabin again, before flying off.

“Nah, not mad. Just knocked itself silly,” she paused, snickering, “Big ‘ol bumblers don’t have much sense, and even less in the way of grace.”

[saltyspitfire]

(Lydia) ❝ I believe if I can see it and I can touch it, then it’s real. That’s what I believe. ❞

Starling had not liked the look of the place from the beginning, but as the delved deeper into the mine the sounds and rumblings grew louder and more frequent, doing very little to sooth her fears.

“That’s fair,” Starling conceded, keeping her voice as low as possible, “And probably the right way of thinking more of the time. But there’s something...wrong here. There’s more than just raiders and ferals creeping in the dark.”

Footsteps echoed behind them, and she turned quickly to shine a light down the passageway. Part of her hoped to see Matthew and Grant catching up with them, but instead there was only darkness.

Shaking her head, Starling started back the way they’d come, “We gotta go back. Something here is...I don’t know...I’m not going any further, c’mon.”

[saltyspitfire]

Snow Buddies [Emil - Holly]

thesmugglersrun

“You sure about that?” Emil asked, raising a brow as he looked down at the woman as she laid on the ground. A breeze cut through the air, causing a chill to reach his skin. Giving a shrug, he squatted down, easing himself onto the ground near the woman into a sitting position. He dusted off the ground and then laid down a foot or two away from her - close enough that anyone who happened upon them might assume they were, for whatever reason, star-gazing together, but far enough apart that she had ample personal space - adjusting his positioning so he was staring up at the sky.

Holly glared at him in response, though with her bruised face and slightly swollen eye, it was hardly intimidating. She laid there, willing her head to stop throbbing -- and trying to ignore the cold which was starting to get really uncomfortable -- only vaguely aware of his movements beside her, and when he said no more, she assumed he had simply left. It was a few minutes before she realized that he had not left at all, and was instead laying on the ground just a couple feet away.

“What the hell are you doin’?” she looked at him, scowling, “It’s fuckin’ cold.”

[saltyspitfire]

“We’d move faster if you’d keep your eyes on the road and off my ass.”

Holly gave a short laugh, and rolled her eyes. Part of her thought that she ought to introduce him to Gage sometimes, no doubt they'd be two peas in a pod. Although, she was not too sure that she could deal with that much cockiness without knocking their heads together.

“You put yourself up front, Bucko,” she replied, giving his shoulder a friendly shove, “How ‘bout you worry less ‘bout where my eyes are, and more on pickin’ up the pace, huh? I’d like to get back to the settlement before nightfall.”

[saltyspitfire]

“I’m not gonna hurt you, I promise.”

Walking alone had not been the best idea, but Holly was really starting to hate the Dugout.

She'd done well, only getting winded and dizzy one she reached the gardens. Leaning against a fence post by the mutfruit trees, she tried to catch her breath, and after a few minutes, started walking again. She only made it a few feet before slipping on a patch of ice. Before she could grab onto anything, she was on the ground, head thumping against the ground, only worsening the headache she’d already had.

Dazed, Holly lay still, staring up at the grey sky, feeling the cold leech up into her body. It was not until she felt someone take her arm that she moved, flinching away from the touch. With clumsy, awkward movements Holly tried to move away from the stranger. Her brows furrowed as she tried to process what he was saying. She waved a hand at him.

“I’m fine,” she spoke in a hoarse whisper, “Don’t need no help.”

[saltyspitfire]

“You need anything, you just holler.”

Holly looked at him, and blinked slowly. He had been kind, and she knew that he meant well, but honestly the thought of hollering made her throat hurt. She gave a nod, “I don’t believe I could holler if I was on fire right now, but alright.”

[saltyspitfire]

(Lydia) “Do you trust him?”

Holly glanced at the man in question — Asher — and frowned. Much as she hated to admit it, he was not so bad as she’d first thought him to be.

“These days I do,” she confessed, “He’s weird as shit, and he pisses me off something’ fierce, but I don’t worry about him doin’ harm or nothin’.”

[saltyspitfire]

(Leo) “I can be quiet.”

“Oh, that so?” Starling snorted, “I reckon you got as much chance of being quiet as a Blue Jay.”