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[url=https://open.spotify.com/track/5auMzVHFr5Zfw6IbKarZ56?si=9cca12b7d9e54a99][img]https://i.ibb.co/589szLm/harperbanneri-copy.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5509391][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b20607c9b209981386dc31e435d5d56/b9ad04cd18087e02-35/s1280x1920/d68f6b634da348869c14a7e16a6880e72f65763a.pnj[/img] 
[/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=#ff7514][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Chimera’s Lair[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=#ff7514][b]Welcome Home #1.062:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Tears Before The Sun[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=#FF7514][SUP][sub][center]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/center][/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=#ff7514][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Harper [@Qia][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=2c2c2c][b][/b][/COLOR] [color=2c2c2c][I][/I][/color][/right][/SUP]
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Harper suddenly found herself enveloped in an overwhelming sense of warmth, a sensation akin to the first rays of dawn piercing through the early morning mist. The softness of a familiar voice, gentle and reassuring, acted like a soothing balm applied tenderly to her emotional wounds. It was a slow process, but with each word spoken, the healing began, mending the frayed edges of her spirit.

Tears, once relentless in their descent, continued to carve wet trails down Harper’s cheeks. Yet, as she gradually lifted her head from the cradle of her hands, she found solace in Katja’s embrace. Despite the tears that blurred her vision, rendering the world around her an impressionist’s canvas, she leaned into the comfort offered.

Her body, which had been a wall of tension—fortified by the weight of doubts and fears—began to unfurl and relax. Katja’s presence, steady and unwavering, seemed to provide a haven, a sanctuary for Harper’s current vulnerable state. One she was more than willing to hide herself in, even if it was only for a short time. 
With a quivering voice, the brunette whispered a quiet[color=#8a9a5b]“Thank you”[/color] into the other girl’s shoulder. The words were barely audible, yet they were imbued with the most sincere appreciation she could muster at that moment.

Hearing Harper's soft expression of gratitude made Katja’s lips form a soft, genuine smile. She kept the smaller brunette wrapped in her arms for a couple seconds longer, gently swaying her from left to right. [color=#FF7514]“No need to thank me, sweetie.”[/color] Finally, after a couple more seconds of silence, she gave a gentle squeeze before relaxing her embrace and leaning back slightly.

Using her index finger, Katja tilted Harper’s chin slightly upwards to get a better look at the smaller girl’s face. A soft tut was uttered by the taller blonde as she brushed some stray strands of brown hair out of the brunette’s face. She then did her best to clean Harper’s face from her tears, clearing the trails with the same finger she used to lift her head.

	[color=#FF7514]“There, that looks more like the Harper I know.”[/color] She said after she had wiped the tears off of Harper’s cheeks. Katja then fixed her bright blue eyes with the marvelously powerful hazel eyes of her teammate, making sure that she would understand the sincerity of the blonde girl.

	[color=#FF7514]“Know that I’ll always have your back, Harps.”[/color] She leaned in close again for another quick squeeze before leaning further back. [color=#FF7514]“Doesn’t matter when or where, I’m there for you.”[/color]

As Katja’s assurances washed over her, Harper felt a lightness in her chest, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. The gentle sway of their embrace, the tender touch upon her chin, and the soft clearing of her tears—all these gestures from Katja stirred a deep-seated comfort within Harper. One that she had not felt in a long time. Not since- 
	[i][color=#fb0207]We’ll always have each other. No matter what else happens[/color][/i][color=#ff0000][i]. [/i][/color]

Harper’s reaction was instinctive as she pulled back to add even more distance, a reflex born of a heart that had long before embraced solitude. Yet, an apology was quick on her lips to make up for any perceived rudeness. 

	[color=#8a9a5b]“Sorry I-”[/color] her voice broke, and she averted her eyes to the ground, blue reverting to familiar brown, what was familiar to her. All that she could allow herself to accept. [color=#8a9a5b]“Today has just been a lot.” [/color]

	[color=#FF7514]“Hey…”[/color] Katja tilted her head, trying to meet Harper’s gaze as the smaller girl looked away. [color=#FF7514]“It’s fine, silly. You have nothing to apologize for.”[/color] She spoke softly, attempting to calm the young brunette before she spiraled back into the darkness of before.

Katja waited for a moment before she spoke again, hoping the silence would have a soothing effect on the younger girl. When she finally broke the quiet, she did so with the same soft voice. [color=#FF7514]“Come on, let’s make our way over to the dorms and get into our PT gear.”[/color] She said before getting back up, casting a shadow over the smaller brunette.

Extending her hand to help Harper get back to her feet, a chuckle emanated from the blonde giant. [color=#FF7514]“Or do you want to be carried?”[/color] Katja said to her as she flashed a grin.

	[i][color=#8a9a5b]But I will have something to apologize for if things go badly later. [/color][/i]Harper kept this trepidation locked away, however, hidden beneath a veneer of momentary calm, for fear of what Katja might think. To her, Katja was more than just a friend; she was her sun, a source of light and life in a world that could often be cold and unforgiving, especially now that she no longer had the protection provided by her long-held desires. 

Despite the storm of anxious thoughts, Harper accepted Katja’s help, standing tall once more. She snorted and rolled her eyes in response to the other’s lighthearted proposition. 

	[color=#8a9a5b]“As appealing as that sounds, I think that’s a hard pass. Besides, I’d rather spare you the back pain,”[/color] she replied with a hint of sarcasm. 

Katja let out a boisterous laugh at that statement. [color=#FF7514]“Good one! But I’m willing to bet I’ve had meals that weigh more than you do!”[/color] A hearty chuckle escaped her grin as she gave a pat on the smaller girl’s shoulder. Not hard enough to hurt though, she wouldn’t dare.

Her chuckle slowly died out, ending in a soft sigh. The corners of Katja’s lips slowly fell as her wide grin turned into a more serious line. [color=#FF7514]“In all seriousness though, how are you holding up Harps?”[/color] She spoke in an earnest tone while making sure to lock her blue eyes with Harper’s, so as to communicate her sincerity. [color=#FF7514]“Promise me you’ll come to me when you need anything. And I do mean [i]anything[/i]!”[/color] 

Katja wrapped one arm around the shorter girl’s shoulder before leaning in closer with her head. A soft smile tugged on her lips again. [color=#FF7514] “All you need to do is ask and I’ll come running. Through walls if need be!”[/color] Again, a hearty chuckle would emanate from the tall blonde. But despite the levity in her voice, her eyes showed that she meant every word.

Harper felt the weight of Katja’s words settle in her heart, a comforting pressure that both soothed and overwhelmed. She did feel touched by the genuine concern, the unconditional offer of support that was so characteristic of Katja. But there was a ‘but’ that lingered on the tip of her tongue, a shadow that crept into the edges of her gratitude that she could not ignore. 

	[color=#8a9a5b]“Thanks, Kat,”[/color] she replied, her voice tinged with as much warmth as she could summon. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt the sunny girl’s feelings with any perceived rejection of her offer. [color=#8a9a5b]“I’m doing okay for right now. Just gotta take things one day at a time, you know?”[/color] Her words were accompanied by a nod and a smile, a silent language of appreciation that she hoped would convey more than words ever could.

Internally was a different story entirely. She was struggling to suppress the urge to just come clean because logically Katja would be an invaluable asset when she gave the idea some thought. She’d always been the glue of the team and always looked out for everyone. A safety net. But Harper would not dare to further consider placing yet another friend in danger. She could not, would not, let her own selfish needs endanger another person. Especially this one. 

So Harper stood there, a smile on her lips but a tempest in her soul, grateful for the sanctuary Katja offered but fiercely determined to protect her from the storm that had always rained over her life. 

	[color=#8a9a5b]“Race ya to the Minotaur after? I promise I’ll go easy on you,”[/color] the brunette challenged instead, her eyes now gleaming with a competitive spark she hoped, based on past observation, would be hard to resist.  


Katja’s eyes lingered on Harper for just a moment. Something about her didn’t quite seem right to the blonde girl, like she was holding something back. But that was just a feeling. Harper said she was doing better, so that was enough for Katja to drop the matter.

Her face visibly lit up at the suggestion of a friendly competition. [color=#FF7514]“You’re on, Harps!”[/color] Katja practically yelled to the smaller girl, grinning from ear to ear. 

	[color=#FF7514]“Just don’t pull a sour face when you lose!”[/color] 


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