[Center][b][h2][color=teal]Mora Kingsley[/color][/h2][/b] Trost Interacting with: [@jinxer] [@sheriffllama] Heading towards: [@poi] [@lordvoldemort] *** [/center] The screaming perforated her thoughts. Everywhere around them was bending until it snapped, buildings shattering across the skyline and her fellow cadets raging against the swarming titans. It burned at her, that he ever quelling fury that came with the onslaught of her people, and Mora had been almost consumed by her guilt as she soared on by when Lauren requested a moment to stop. She wanted to press her, see her delivered into skilled hands so she could return and help her teammates but instead she felt the crunch of her boots on a rooftop and the cool air sucking the warmth from where Lauren once clung to her. Blood pooled from Lauren’s mouth as bile splattered from her lips, and Mora felt herself begin to splinter beneath the turmoil that boiled within. [Color=teal][i]No, hold yourself together,[/i][/color] she mentally berated herself. She needed to stay strong, Lauren needed her and her strength if they were going to make it through this. So with a quite tight-lipped smile she padded towards her fallen friend, clinging to the shreds of strength that was quickly beginning to fray. [B]"Ra, why did you come here?"[/b] she asked. [B]"I... don't mean it like that. I thought that you were away."[/b] Law paused, opening her eyes to look at her and Mora felt her calmness slip a little more. She needed her to live, more and more Mora felt herself draw a little closer as if just her presence alone would somehow make things right. But there was pain the girl’s eyes, pain and what looked like a little sadness that Mora refused to accept. [B]"I thought that you'd be safe."[/b] she sighed, looking up at the heavy clouds above.[b] "God, I missed you though. When you were reassigned I . . . didn't know where I was anymore. It was like the ground beneath me was gone. And then . . . this."[/b] She waved towards herself as Mora watched tears gather in the corners of her eyes. [B]"Thank you, Ra. For coming back."[/b] Mora held back a tremble as the world around around them began to blur. Her own eyes stung with the prices of tears, threatening to fall as she looked over Lauren’s damaged body. [Color=teal]"Of course,”[/color] her voice betrayed her, heavy with fear that laced down her spine. [Color=teal]“I couldn’t allow you to have all the fun.”[/color] Mora let out a weak chuckle. She needed to get her back, that was her mission. Save Lauren’s life and the rest would fall into place but as they say there, Mora doubted her strength as she felt the tear drops drip down her cheeks—hot and thick. She didn’t want to cry, there would be time for that later when she knew she could let her guard down but apparently her body didn’t feel the same way as it gave a little shake. [Color=teal][i]I’m not strong enough, yet.[/i][/color] [B]"Mora, Lauren! Good to see y'all alive,"[/b] a voice startled her back to reality. [Color=teal]“Connor!”[/color] Mora cried out as he ran to them. [B]"How bad is it? HQ is completely surrounded, Refill isn't coming anytime soon."[/b] He pointed to the flare rounds, saying, [b]"We need to everyone to retreat. I'm out of gas and can't get the message everyone.”[/b] [Color=teal]"She’s bad, vomiting blood. Lauren needs to get medical attention immediately,”[/color] Mora confirmed, not bothering to hide her weakness in front of him. At least they were no longer alone, though by the sound of it there wasn’t anytime to waste. Mora rocked back onto the heels of her feet, brows knitted together as she scanned the horizon. I have to do something. She affirmed her thoughts with a quick curt nod, before looking down at her companions. Lauren needed someone and the cadets also needed help. Without a word she removed her gas canisters and handed them to Connor. [Color=teal]“They’re a little under half full, but they should hold out until you get her back to safety.”[/color] Mora gingerly stepped over Lauren, fiddling with the girl’s almost empty canisters and releasing them from her gear. [Color=teal]"She doesn’t have much left, but it’ll do what I need it to do,”[/color] Mora paused as she leveled an intense look. Into he confused dark eyes. A small, sad smile tugged at the corners of her lips before she snapped her head back in his direction.[color=teal] “Connor, I’m trusting you to get Lauren back safely. Do not fail me.” [/color] Mora carefully stepped away from her friends, snapping Lauren’s almost empty canisters into her gear. They were on a high tower, high enough to send the signal far into the greying sky. With a stony silence she picked up the flares and quickly shot one into the air. The sound hissed in her ears and as the light bloomed across her vision. Looking back at the two she handed one back to Connor as she said, [color=teal]“When you’re good bit away from here, shoot one off just in case.”[/color] As she drew in a deep breath Mora cast one last longing look at Lauren before she took a running leap off the buildings edge. Mora needed to fire the signal again but she needed to get some distance between them and her. Too close together and the signals would be a waste, she needed to warn the cadets about their need to retreat. She pulled the triggers and listened as her hooks soared from her gear, swinging her onto the next set of rooftops tiles. Her heart stammered in her chest, it didn’t matter if she made it back as long as Connor did what she asked of him. Everything would be alright. A flimsy hope that Mora poured herself into as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Her feet pummeled the shaky tiles below as she snaked her way across the crumbling buildings. Everywhere she looked was soaked in death, not just that of humans but death of a society. These were homes, playgrounds and businesses. These were people’s lives being so callously ripped from them and even if they did manage to escape with their life, they’d never be the same. [Color=teal][i]Come on,[/i][/color] she urged her feet to move faster. Mora wasn’t as quick as some of the other cadets, the ones who could fly through the air and zip down the spines of each roof. And once upon a time she didn’t think it was necessary to be quick, not when she was so strong but now she could feel it. Her heavy thudding of boot against tile. She’d be faster if she could use her gas, a crutch she had long since learned to rely on. But Lauren’s canisters were almost depleted and Mora was loathed to burn what was left without a reason. So she made her way, painfully slow, as she gripped the next flare tightly in her hand—towards the heart of the city. [Color=teal][i]I hope I’m not too late.[/i][/color]