[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/217175409903534080/310915267373039616/coollogo_com-32460972.png[/img][/center] [center]---[/center] [b]Time: The Next Day - Morning After LHU Attack Location: Berenice’s Nest, Carver (Outside of Lost Haven)[/b] The dawn crept up over the horizon and with it Charlie’s bleary eyes cracked open, pinpricks of chest pain roused her from a deep sleep. It took several moments of quiet then recollection for the young alchemist to finally wake up, shaking the lingering effects of medicine. She dug a heel into her eye rubbing away the grit. She sorely turned her head to the side to see water and some more medicine waiting for her on the nightstand. She gulped down the non-drowsy painkillers. The sounds of early morning training came floating through the house, automatically her feet kicked out from the blankets. She dressed slowly, stretching what muscles she could without strain. Charlie drifted through the hallway, morning light tracing up the walls. She found Nathaniel in the kitchen watering his herbal garden. He said a chipper good morning passing her a fresh cup of coffee. “How’d you sleep?” He asked, humming away. “[color=honeydew]Like a log.[/color]” She replied stirring in some sugar and a little cream, sitting at the table with a grunt. “[color=honeydew]Mom outside with Harry?[/color]” He nodded, “They just finished warmups, what’s up kiddo?” “[color=honeydew]Need to check in on Berry, so I was gonna ask Mom to come with me to meet her.[/color]” Nathaniel looked concerned dropping some bread in the toaster, slicing up some fruit, the paring knife gliding through the apple, “Are you sure she can’t wait another day?” Charlie sipped her coffee and shook her head, “[color=honeydew]I was planning to go yesterday and well, that obviously didn’t happen.[/color]” She snorted then sipped again, sighing with relief. She caught her Grandpa’s worry with a smirk, the swelling on her lip had turned into a yellow-green bruise while her black eye had turned a deep purple. “[color=honeydew]Relax Gramps, I’m asking mom to come with me, I won’t be lone wolfing it.[/color]” He nodded passing a plate of buttered toast and fruit in front of her. “Well, don’t push yourself.” Charlie flapped her free hand at him, “[color=honeydew]Yeah I know. Thanks for breakfast.[/color]” She scarfed down the best she could with one free hand, leaving her arm in the sling. Shortly after she finished eating she found her sister and mom, she convinced her mom to come with her back to Carver to meet Berry. While her body ached to spend the day in bed in a medicated haze, Charlie was quite frankly scared to have time to dwell on yesterday. Understandably it’s all the news and radio could talk about, but she really wanted some distance from it. The week she was having had no room for normal at this rate. It took little to convince her mother to help her, Jules was curious to meet Berry herself. Harry reiterated how much she wanted a feather. They drove together to Carver, the pair of alchemists brought their staves regardless of anticipating to be among friends. Charlie was in a pair of shorts, the heat of the day already apparent before noon. A loose t-shirt easy to slip in and out of. She had promised Berry she’d be back in some form, to check in on them and she fully intended to keep that promise. They drove without the radio on, Jules asked about Berry and what to expect. Jules mentioned her own experience in the strange, having dealt with her own supernatural creatures and being pulled into witch’s business, herself. It gave her worldview a shake every time. “[color=honeydew]You’ll like her.[/color]” Charlie said easing out of the passenger side after Jules parked into the hiker’s lot. “[color=honeydew]Despite being, like, a conglomeration of nightmarefuel she’s [i]good[/i]. After thinking about it the past couple of days now, I want to make sure that’s not ruined for her.[/color]” Jules nodded gesturing for her to lead the way, Charlie hiked on a fraction of the pace she usually set. They rested a handful of times, letting Charlie have small breaks. Her ribs forcing her to go slow. When they arrived to the clearing, she looked up to the sky shielding her eyes against the sun. Jules gave a good look around as well, “Is... that supposed to be the ‘nest’?” She pointed. Charlie squinted, there hadn’t really been walls to speak of when she was here last but it was significantly [i]less[/i], that could be seen from a distance. “[color=honeydew]Something’s not right.[/color]” Charlie said picking up her pace with grunt. When they finally approached Berry’s nest, it became alarmingly clear that a fight had broken out here. Charlie crouched picking up shiny bullet casings, seeing the claw marks on what remained of the walls, unknown amount of gore piled on the far otherside. Treasures were missing from their lines, the nest was cold and dry. Panic gripped Charlie, “[color=honeydew][i]What the fuck happened![/i][/color]” Jules calmly reminded her, “Call the phone, Char. I’m not seeing any bodies... just some rotting flesh.” Jules picked her way over to it lifting her shirt to cover her nose, it rank of death, “It doesn’t look good but I think she escaped whatever was here.” “[color=honeydew]Goddamnit.[/color]” She cursed again, pulling her cellphone from her back pocket. The button tone blipping through the address book. “[color=honeydew]Fuck me.[/color]” She waited impatiently for the line to ring, her grip on the phone tight when it finally answered with a squawk and a faint hello? Charlie sighed with relief. [sub]"C'mere Berry, you're holding it upside down."[/sub] “Hello? Charlie?” Carrie’s familiar voice spoke again. “Hey girl!” “[color=honeydew]Carrie! Is Berr-[/color]” She heard Berry’s voice audible in the background calling for Car-Lee, a symphony of animal voices followed and soon Charlie was smiling. “One sec, Char. It’s a zoo in here this morning!” Charlie turned smiling at her mom, her cheeks touched with red. Jules smiled too. “[color=honeydew]Isn’t it always though?[/color]” She laughed. “Yeah! Guys! Please shh!” Carrie called and the noise quieted. “Anyway, yes. Berry is here, and she is okay. What about you? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you for a few days, I even started a little care package.” Charlie had gotten a text from Carrie yesterday, Carrie had guessed of her involvement at the school then checked in. Charlie managed a reply but hadn’t actually spoken with her friend. “[color=honeydew]Good, that’s good. I’m at her nest right now and I freaked out. Something attacked the cliffside, there’s bullet casings, rotting flesh, [i]huge[/i] claw marks. It’s a fucking mess, I assumed the worst.[/color]” “She’s alright-” “[color=honeydew]I’ll be right there, my mom is with me so we’ll be there sooner than usual.[/color]” Charlie said turning on her heel and beckoning her mom. “That’s not necessary!” Charlie stopped, sharing a look of confusion with her mom. “[color=honeydew]What do you mean?[/color]” Carrie breathed then said, “I can handle this side of things, Char. I mean it. You’ve got more than enough on your plate.” Charlie rolled her eyes, “[color=honeydew]Please, I can help-[/color]” “Don’t push yourself!” She snapped, then said quietly, “Charlie you were [i]just[/i] in a school shooting yesterday, you can’t go running between Berry and Maddi. Hell, what are you even doing out of the house right now?” A pause hung between the two, “...They both need our help and both are important. You are one person and so am I. I’ll take care of Berry for now, but you need to see to Maddi.” Charlie about to reply then her brow furrowed, the facts obvious now, “[color=honeydew]You don’t need to remind me. But... I- thanks Carrie. I just-[/color]” “It’s okay, Char. I’m so relieved to hear your voice, come visit when you can. But don’t worry about us here. Okay?” Carrie asked, warm and so sincere. Charlie felt a wave of emotion hit her in the chest. Charlie was nodding then, sniffed, “[color=honeydew]Okay, I will. Tell Berry I said hi, keep me posted.[/color]” “Of course, please [i]please[/i] be careful.” “[color=honeydew]I promise.[/color]” Charlie ended the call wiping her arm over her eyes, she took a deep a breath as she could in. Jules came up beside her, patting her good shoulder. Without hesitation she asked, “Where are we heading?” “[color=honeydew]Shadow of the Moon, I need to see Madalena.[/color]” Charlie replied, her eyes clear of tears.