[centre][h2][color=7ea7d8]Lauren Jones[/color][/h2]
Interacting with Mora [@HecateProxy] and Jade [@wolverbells][/centre]

[color=Gray]Immersed in her success and attempting to encourage the fierce but small flame of pride burning in her chest, Lauren didn't hear Mora creeping up behind her and almost cried out as the girl's strong arms wrapped around her in an iron grip.  She struggled at first, kicking bursts of powdery snow up into the air but unable to break free from the other girl, until she heard her voice and stopped almost immediately.  The pain and the worry were naked in Mora's voice and she could feel slight tremors in her friend's body, pressed up against hers, as she struggled to control her emotions.

For a moment they stayed that way until Mora let her go and she took a step forwards before turning around, eyeing her friend in concern.  The thought that her actions could be misread in such a way hadn't even crossed her mind for a second and the realisation that what she had shared with the other girl, the burdens she had piled upon her, hit home truly for her.  This wasn't about her sharing her fears, her self-loathing and seeking help just so that she could better fight her own battles; it was about working through them together with Mora who shared some of those troubles too.

There was silence between them, Mora about to start speaking and then thinking better of it, Lauren unwilling to interrupt her friend and unsure of what she could say that hadn't already been said.  In the end, Mora drew her back into an embrace, head resting on her shoulder and arms wrapped around her. 

[color=teal]"I need you with me, you dummy."[/color]

Lauren drew Mora closer to her, tightening their embrace and laying a hand on the back of her friend's head, stroking her hair but unsure of how to respond.  What did this mean?  Was it an answer to her feelings?  It was too vague, she decided, to be taken at face value.  Mora was never one to beat around the bush and would tell her flat out how she felt rather than drop hints in hope of starting up a conversation through which she could reveal any attraction between them.  Still, the sentiment thrilled her and she smiled, indulging in the potential behind those words even if it ended up being a mere illusion.

[color=7ea7d8]"I'm not going anywhere, Ra.  Least of all away from you."[/color]  Reluctantly she pulled free of their embrace, not wanting to attract too much attention from any early rising cadets or observant veterans and put Mora in an awkward position.  Gesturing at the cliff behind them she sighed.  [color=7ea7d8]"I'm sorry, Ra.  I didn't think how... it might seem.  I was getting rid of it.  The last bottle. The one I gave you."[/color] Her pride was returning and she couldn't help but grin, growing more animated and dancing on the balls of her feet.  [color=7ea7d8]"I threw it off - no idea where it is now and I don't care!  Sure, it was hard and for a moment I wanted to go find it but it's gone!  Maybe I'm not free yet but it's a start."[/color]

In her excitement she grabbed Mora's hands, pumping her arms up and down with her face close to her friend's but she was unconscious to any awkwardness it might cause, too caught up in her own excitement was she.  [color=7ea7d8]"I could be strong 'cause of you, Ra!  You helped, just by listening. Oh, I don't know how I can explain how much it meant, for you to not judge me.  I feel like... like before, y'know.  And stronger!"[/color]

She laughed, swinging her friend round with her and then pointing towards the main cabin.  [color=7ea7d8]"We should get some food, I forgot we didn't eat.  Sort of my fault, that.  Sorry.  Let's go now though, while no one else is up."[/color] Nothing worried her right then, the exhilaration of victory over herself overriding her fatigue from lack of sleep, and she pulled Mora away from the cliff with her, a wide grin spread across her face.

Spotting a familiar, small, figure walking away from the cabins she veered on an intercept course.  She was worried that they, she, had been ignoring Jade too much recently, so consumed with her own troubles was she.  Vowing not to leave any of her friends by the wayside any longer, she swooped in and grabbed Jade's hand, ignoring the smaller girl's protestations.  [color=7ea7d8]"Come on, we're getting something to eat, Jade!"[/color] She laughed again, pulling the two girls towards the main cabin with an exuberance she hadn't shown dwelt within her at any time during the last two years[/color]

[center][h1]Snowy Mountain - Slippery Slope Down[/h1]

[@LordVoldemort][@Solace][@FrostedCaramel][@LetMeDoStuff][@Ambra][@Aquanthe][@QT][@SheriffLlama][/center]

[color=gray]Some of the cadets were up but most were still within their cabins, either deep in an alcohol fuelled sleep or else suffering its morning aftereffects.  Whatever their reason for staying in bed, they soon regretted it as the veteran soldiers pushed their way into the cabins, roaring at the cadets.[/color]

"Sleep time's over - get your asses to the mess hall!  You have five minutes!" [color=Gray]They tossed any particularly sleepy looking cadets from their bunks to wake them up fully, standing and watching over the young would-be soldiers as they hurriedly pulled on winter coats and boots and then shuffled from their cabins, bowed under the hard, watchful gazes of the veterans.

Inside the Mess Hall, Sano and Jay soon found their fight broken up as a soldier easily stepped between them, backhanding each of them across the face and sending them reeling to the floor with the surprising force of the simple blow.  With nothing said to them, they were dragged to different tables and sat down forcefully with a plate of food pushed in front of them, regardless of whether they had eaten already or not.  Soon after other cadets filtered into the cabin in various states of wakefulness but were pushed and organised by the veterans until they were all sitting with steaming food and drinks of tea before them.[/color]

"You have thirty minutes to eat and prep.  Assemble in the square with your packs and be ready to go immediately - you will be leaving as one group overseen by us.  Your mission is to make it the bottom of the hill, find any sign of those who never made it here last night, and avoid any unforeseen dangers."  [color=gray]One of the older veterans, for Schulz was apparently absent from the camp, stalked between the tables and yelled the orders out at them as the cadets ate, stopping occasionally either for emphasis or to keep those around him alert.[/color]  "At times you may enter battle without proper intel so you will value you it more when you know the dangers before you which extend beyond the presence of Titans!  Yesterday the cold and visibility was your enemy - today it will be heat and avalanche! Conditions are perfect after last night's snow fall for any small thing to trigger one so be on the alert.  You will get further instructions upon assembly!"

[color=Gray]Within the thirty minutes the cadets stood uneasily in the square between the cabins.  The previous night they had sat around drinking and laughing with the veterans but now they were surrounded by cold and professional soldiers who had no time for disobedience or weakness.  They had watched ever aspect of the cadets' preparations, escorting them to cabins and watching over them so that no time was wasted in getting their gear together.  A lot of them looked unwell, still suffering from the night before or struggling with a rushed breakfast, but they were there and stood firmly at attention as the apparent commander of the small camp stood at the front and barked out his instructions.[/color]

"You will head down the mountain with a guide at the front to take you the quickest and safest route down.  After that there will be one guide for every dozen of you.  Stay together as one group but should anything happen you report to your nearest guide and follow their instructions to the letter."  [color=Gray]He was striding between the ranks of cadets now, glaring around at them all as he continued.[/color]  "On your way down you will notice stop points ringed with wooden stakes.  These are safe areas, zones designate to be the least likely affected in the event of an avalanche. [i]This is not definite.[/i]  Follow the instruction of those guiding you and, should you find yourself separate from them, use your own sense and instincts.  Do not stop and do not walk across any areas destabilised by an avalanche."

[color=Gray]He walked back to the front and faced the cadets, staring them down for a while before turning to nod at the experience guide nearest him who turned and began to walk towards the entrance to the camp.  Orders were called and the cadets began to file after him, two or three abreast, guides taking up positions at regular intervals with the sun beating down dangerously hard. It's bright rays no longer illuminated a beautiful vista but instead cast doubt and danger upon the mountain face.[/color]