[center][h1]Trost - HQ[/h1]
[@HecateProxy][@Poi][@Wolverbells][@SheriffLlama][@LordVoldemort][@Solace][@LetMeDoStuff][@FrostedCaramel]
[h2][color=8882be]Fleur Seymour[/color][/h2][/center]

[color=Gray]The cadets moved like waves washing up onto the beach, moving towards the slowly growing group nearest the lift with a few losing their courage as time went and dropping back towards the injured and the terrified.  More stayed than left and soon a group of nervous but determined looking cadets stood near the lift, a few of the bravest with the greatest bravado stood on the edge, staring down into the murky darkness where the shifting shadows of Titans danced in the light cast by oil lamps around the edges of the room.  Most had looks of resignation on their faces, expecting death but knowing that at least this way they could fight against it, resist the inevitable and let some of their fellows survive through their efforts even if their own struggle ended prematurely.

Fleur watched them from atop the crate she sat on, legs folded underneath her, having hung around near Gregory while the other cadets searched for friends or loves ones amongst the survivors.  They were the only two to have made it back alive from their squad, she had no idea what had happened to their squad leader but she knew the other pair had been blindsided by Titans coming from behind.  The situation being unsalvageable she had grabbed Greg and dragged him from the battlefield while he cried about leaving the already dead to die.  Not that she was cold or indifferent, it cut her deeply that there was nothing that they could do but, unlike Greg, she was not so soft-hearted that she would throw her life away for those beyond help.

She checked on him out of the corner of her eye and, sure enough, he was casting glances towards a cadet lying on the ground, blood on her shirt and trousers, while a pair of girls gathered around her.  Mora was looking over Lauren's injuries and spoke to Jade before turning back to her friend, stroking her cheek.  With a sigh, Fleur nudged the fidgeting Greg with her elbow resulting in the young lad jumping as if he had been caught prying.  He spun around and glared at her, his cheeks red with embarrassment.

[color=a36209]"What [i]are[/i] you doing?"[/color] He hissed furiously before staring at her in shock as she laughed; it was the most alien sound in that hall, jarring harshly against the sombre atmosphere but there was enough noise for her breach of the peace to go unnoticed.

[color=8882be]"Just making you snap out of it.  Come on, we need to go join them."[/color] She vaulted off the box, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him over towards the group preparing to enter the chamber below, speaking over his protestations. [color=8882be]"I know you feel like you owe her but she's got help, more than you can give anyway.  Best thing you can do is clear a path.  Look, I'll even help you.  Now you owe me as well so stop whining and we'll call it even, yeah?"[/color] She yanked him to a stop, the cadets around them checking their gear for the final time before heading into the breach.

[color=8882be]"See you on the other side, Greg."[/color] She grinned, whipping out her blades and stepping onto the lift with the other cadets before they began to descend into the darkness.  Her partner sighed, joining her reluctantly on the platform just before it lowered but did not draw his weapons; he had completely run out of gas on the way in so he'd be running to the tanks to fill up canisters.  As the lift shuddered and began to lower there were audible swallows all around them and the air was tense, no one spoke as they entered the chamber.  Titans surrounded them, some lounging on the floor while others just stood, unmoving.  Most were roaming the hall aimlessly, endlessly searching for their next prey without knowing that they had already exhausted their immediate supply.  

Now, a feast had arrived and they soon took notice, the cadets sprinting from the platform towards the tanks.  For the first few seconds they were free, some even making it to the wall and fiddling with canisters on their hips to start refilling before the closest Titans moved towards them, ceasing their random movements and focusing on the humans caught helplessly on the ground.

Fleur had run with the others to the wall, hoping to refill her nearly empty canisters before being forced to fight and had just managed to get some extra gas into them before the first Titans were in range.  Cursing the lack of time to properly fill up she shot her hooks into the ceiling a few feet in front of the Titan and pulled herself up, flashing past its eyes to gain its attention. She began to lure it away from the tanks, hoping another of the cadets assigned to keeping the Titans off the new refilling teams would spot the opportunity she had opened up before any of the farther away Titans came for her.

Their suicide mission had begun.[/color]

[hr]

[h2][centre][color=7ea7d8]Lauren Jones[/color][/centre][/h2]

[color=Gray]When had she lain on the floor?  She could not remember whether she had chosen to do so or whether her strength had just run out and she had finally collapsed.  In any case, the pain was becoming numbing and the weights pressing down on her wakefulness were getting heavier and heavier.  Dimly, her mind recognised the first signs of going into shock - her body finally unable to maintain normal functions and shutting down bit by bit to try and retain its core functions.

Then Mora appeared above her and she smiled, despite the dread and fear in her friend's eyes.

[color=7ea7d8][i]Ah, it'll be okay now.  Ra'll take care of it all.[/i][/color]

She tried to speak but it was hard to summon the energy to move her lips properly, they felt alien and resistant to her commands.  Mora saw her trying and cut her off and set about putting into practice what Lauren had taught her, checking the state of the patient and coming up with the best possible solution with what resources she had to hand.  As always, she wondered at Mora's ability to keep going under so much pressure, to carry on when she was clearly struggling with her own feelings.

Warmth touched her cheek and she stirred, realising her eyes had been closing, and saw Mora staring down at her.  She slid her eyes sideways and saw the bloodstained hand caressing her cheek, understood the warmth that was Mora's touch and felt some stubborn core inside her stir, raging against the darkness that encroached on the edges of her vision; that slurred her thoughts and stole her strength.  With significant effort she reached up and gripped Mora's arm.  She knew it was weak despite all the strength she tried to put into it, not even able to squeeze gently such was the paucity of power left in her muscles.

[color=7ea7d8]"Hey you."[/color] She smiled weakly, feeling tears well up in her eyes at the expression on Mora's face.  How had she let this happen, that she would make her friend worry so, again? [color=7ea7d8]"What's that look on your face for?"[/color]  She coughed, turning her head and spitting out a glob of blood to the side, breathing freely afterwards. [color=7ea7d8]"Why so worried?  I'm not.  Not while you're here."[/color] Her smile spread into a grin as a thought occurred to her and she laughed before the pain flared in her chest and it turned into a cough.

[color=7ea7d8]"Schulz was such a prick but... he got at least one thing right."[/color]  Her hand moved to Mora's cheek, holding it in a hand stained with her own blood but she was tired to notice or care. [color=7ea7d8]"You always were a hero.  And you'll always be that way to me.  So I know I'll be fine."[/color][/color]