[color=ed145b]CORRINE DOOLAK[/color] - the fight

She tried very hard to hide her disappointment in Steve.  Corrine hadn't exactly fully expected he'd just immediately take her side, but she'd be lying to herself if she didn't internally admit she'd hoped he'd have supported at least something she'd presented to the group.

How any of them thought it was a good idea to push her into a gunfight was beyond her.  And they called her idea of claiming Brotherhood status crazy...

[i]Fucking mainlanders.[/i]

She suddenly felt very lonely.

Someone was directing her to take a position.  Her stiff and cold joints reminded her of her mortality, somehow, and she merely nodded.  Corrine crouched behind a hollowed out log and watched as James drew his weapon to fire on the one leading them, petting the gulper.  His aim and shot was true, and in a flash, the woman was struck down, her headdress shattered, revealing a face all too known to Corrine.

"[i]NO![/i]" she shrieked.

Gunshots erupted from their various positions.  Corrine tried to swallow her emotions, but they were too great.  This wasn't like confronting wildlife or a crazed trapper.  Someone she'd known for years, cultivated a friendly, almost familial relationship with before she disappeared, was just killed before her very eyes.  She hadn't realized she'd straightened, causing one of the cultists to notice her.

"THIS IS THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, SURRENDER NOW OR BE FIRED UPON."

"Murderers!" cried the cultist, staring at Corrine.  He lunged.  Instinct took over her, for once, and she stepped into the fray, brandishing her trusty spear.  The blades left a nasty gash on the cultist, wounding him.  She watched as the gulper dashed behind the lifeless body of Avery.

Corrine swallowed.  Everything around her seemed meaningless.  If she couldn't save Avery, what was the point of saving the town?  It had barely hung on without her leadership.  God only knew that Longfellow was drinking himself to death, and almost everyone else was packing up to leave.

Despair overtook her.  Another cultist drove themselves towards her, but she dodged the attack, electing instead to kneel next to Avery's body, dropping her spear onto the ground next to her.  The gulper leapt into the fray, leaving Corrine alone with the body.  She looked down and turned Avery's face towards herself.

It appeared as though there were metallic and plastic components mixed in with the blood and bones of her skull.  Corrine blinked back tears and shook her head, quickly assuming the fog was making her see strange things.  "God dammit!" she cried, taking two fistfuls of Avery's frock and shaking the body.  "God dammit, Avery, why?!  WHY?!!  What the hell were ya thinkin'?  The town -- the island -- needed you!  We all needed you!"

Nothing made sense.  Months of creeping, worsening fog, plus all the events of the past day, finally caught up to her.  Fear, exhaustion, confusion, you name it -- it took hold in Corrine, just then, and she started to cry.  She crumpled herself over Avery's body, giving in to heaving sobs, completely oblivious to the rest of the fighting around her.