[center][img]https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/yq9c365gew4.jpg[/img][/center][hr][center][color=B300B3][b]#B300B3[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/be8aada3f828.webp][color=9b9b9b][b]training outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]location[/b][/color][/center][hr]
Veronica was thankful for Sofia’s encouragement when she’d returned to where they were sitting and had given her a warm smile before she’d all but collapsed. And even though she’d responded a little back to Iliana when the girl had magically appeared with medicine to ease her pain, she was still exhausted and too out of breath to join in much of the conversation that followed. 

[color=86a8ad]"Thank you everyone. I know training sucks, but I appreciate the drive and determination, especially from those who struggled. I know none of you give a shit what I have to say and want to get out of here, so I’m just gonna cut the bullshit."[/color] 

Veronica pushed herself back up into a sitting position on the bench as she listened to their new leader as he ran through their times. She’d known she had been slower than the others in her group, but she’d finished the course and was proud of herself for having done that at least. Even so, hearing that she was so far behind everyone else’s time was disheartening. 

[color=86a8ad]"Anyone who finished in under fifteen minutes is excused for the rest of the day."[/color] Veronica heard the first part and felt her brows furrow as she thought what that meant for the rest of them, but she got her answer barely a moment later. [color=86a8ad]"For everyone that remains, you will run the course a second time."[/color] She felt as if her stomach had fallen out, as her breath quickened as she teetered on the edge of a panic attack at the thought of having to make another run at the course [color=86a8ad]"You won’t be timed, so you can complete it at your leisure. It isn’t about speed, but practice, learning, and muscle memory. Powers are still prohibited, but you’re welcome to help each other."[/color] 

She just sat there, barely listening to the last part of River’s speech, just shaking her head slowly and muttering “oh no” under her breath and fighting back tears of absolute exhaustion and frustration. [color=9966cc]”It is a rough course, but you made it!”[/color] The words from Sofia still echoed inside her head, and while they were still encouraging, they rang a little hollow in hindsight now that River had given out such harsh punishment for those who’d fallen behind in time. Though as bad as she felt for herself, she knew it was likely hitting the others who’d failed as well, and she looked around the arena, glancing first at her brother, whom she felt the most sorry for, as he should have been much higher up if it wasn’t for his missing arm.  

There was a look of dejected exhaustion shared by all of those required to make another attempt, though as each of them fought through that initial reaction, it seemed as if they became partially revitalised by the sheer grim determination not to give their new leader the satisfaction of watching them fail.  

[color=9966cc]”It looks like you have to go again, Veronica... ”[/color] She could hear the sorriness in her friend's voice, and she was glad her friend didn’t have to do it again, but the company would have been nice.

[color=9966cc]"Veronica, if it is okay with you, I think I will stay until you are one with your second course."[/color] Sofia then turned to Leo, [color=9966cc]"what about you Leo? Are you going to stay?"”[/color] 

[color=cd5c5c]"Hmmm, probably not, and I think I am going to go soon.”[/color] Though it did dampen her spirits a little that he was just leaving them, Veronica could hardly blame her new acquaintance, especially since he’d clearly aced the course without any issues. And it wasn’t as if there was any reason he should stay to offer her support, so she was getting upset in her head for no reason. Even so, it was just another thing running around her head that she didn’t need, and her heightened emotional state from the exhaustion and daunting task ahead wasn’t helping. 

[color=cd5c5c]”So how do you all feel about River so far?”[/color] Leo had asked of them while he was gathering up his gear and making ready to leave the arena. 

[color=B300B3]”Thank you so much, Sofia,”[/color] she smiled and nodded in acceptance towards the other girl. [color=B300B3]”It does mean a lot to have the support because that course may be the death of me after a second time. Still better than falling through a tree though...”[/color] She gave Sofia a half-hearted grin, but as she unsteadily got to her feet, every muscle screamed out in protest to the point that she could feel herself crumbling, and she hadn’t even started the course over again. 

[color=808000]”Too early to tell for me, but he does mean everything he said, so that's in his favor, that he hasn't lied yet. One of my abilities is to detect lies.”[/color] 

As she listened to Heath’s comment on their new leader, it brought forth a mildly maniacal giggle before she wearily added her own views. [color=B300B3]”Clearly, he’s a ruthless tyrant who wants us broken...”[/color] she looked round at each of them before grimacing as if to show she didn’t mean what she’d said. [color=B300B3]”He seems to be trying his best, and camp is supposed to help us survive who or what we are.”[/color]  

Heath picked that moment to chime in with what he believed was support for his sister, but instead only served to incense her given her reaction as a chill wind whipped around the group before sharply falling off. 

[color=4a766e]"I don't think so. I may have done terribly on this course, but I don't need a babysitter. If I need help, I'll ask for it. Best of luck Veronica.”[/color] Veronica was a little awed by Iliana’s quite literal cold response to Heath’s offer. 

[color=B300B3]”Good Luck, Iliana, see you at the finish line.”[/color] She called out after her friend, feeling a little embarrassed for the siblings, though more so by Heath’s slightly overbearingly helpful nature. She knew her friend's brother meant well, but she also knew that it was a little smothering, and at the moment, there was a lot of tension and heightened emotions. 

[color=B300B3]”Thanks Heath, I appreciate the offer, but,”[/color] she paused for a moment, her eyes darting to Iliana as she confidently strode away before continuing [color=B300B3]”um. You don’t need to apologise, for Iliana, she just needs to do this on her own, I think, like without any help. Especially from her brother...”[/color] 

Veronica gave him a sympathetic shrug, knowing he was only trying to help but knowing it hadn’t. She walked down towards the arena floor, her voice lifting softly into song as she broke out into a verse from [i]Les Misérables[/i] with the final line perking her up as she steeled herself for the course ahead of her. [color=B300B3]”Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise.”[/color] 

Her head turned suddenly at the sound of the whistle, which was followed by River giving them another option to running the course. [color=86a8ad]"If you don’t wish to run the course a second time, I’ll also accept 30 push ups."[/color] Veronica could feel herself sagging in relief, letting go of a breath she hadn’t fully realised she’d been holding. Her body was burning and aching even with Iliana’s ointment. Everything was still blurring with pain, so the mere thought of having to run the course again was making her just wish she could give up and collapse onto the floor. So, while the push-ups wouldn’t be that much better, it was a definite improvement, and the option existing at all helped to keep her moving out from the stands over to the middle of the arena.  

She could see that Wes was already well into his set, and while River was meant to be watching their renewed attempts, his focus had been distracted by another of the new arrivals who was actively talking with him. 

[color=B300B3]”Wes has got this and he’s an arm short, you can do this ‘ronica.”[/color] The last part of her sentence changed into a more drawn-out and lyrical note, which brought a smile to her lips as she continued to hum the rest of the tune that she’d brought to mind. She lay down and steadied her breathing before doing the best push-ups she could manage, though they took her far longer than they had her brother, who had already gotten up and left before she was even halfway done. By the time she’d finished the full thirty, it was all she could do to simply lie on her side and keep breathing as the sweat poured down her face. 

[hr][center][color=808080][b]Interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color] Leo, Sofia,[@Theyra] Heath, and Iliana [@Pristine1281][color=2e2c2c]...........[/color] [b]Mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color] River, and Wes[color=2e2c2c]...........[/color] [b]Collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color] Mjolnir [/color][/center][hr]

[center][img]https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/yd5cebzjrn4.jpg[/img][/center][hr][center][color=024B30][b]#024B30[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url= https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5c58c220ed3e.jpg][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]Arena -> Cabin[/b][/color][/center][hr] 
[color=86a8ad]"Thank you everyone. I know training sucks, but I appreciate the drive and determination, especially from those who struggled. I know none of you give a shit what I have to say and want to get out of here, so I’m just gonna cut the bullshit."[/color]  

She looked up and over at River when he started talking, but after the last line, she scoffed a little and muttered that he was [color=024B30]"waffling too much fer that.”[/color]. Even so, she was curious to see what a few of their times were. 

Fiona let out a snort as she listened to her brother placing effectively joint fifth above the rest of the camp; clearly, he was far more capable than she’d assumed. She’d known her own time wasn’t too bad either, if not quite as good, so while it still rankled to be middle group, this kind of course was not something she was used to. Either way, she couldn’t help smiling when she heard Nelly’s time, chuckling to herself, hearing her friend had just got in ahead of her; something to work on to make sure she wasn’t behind the daughter of Hermes next time. 

As the list got longer in timings, with Anissa’s name being called out and only Blair’s remaining from their little group, Fiona was feeling a little uneasy for her brother’s sister. She knew herself that she’d not paid enough attention to how everyone else had done on their course, and she’d likely feel her mother's wrath for that mistake eventually, but what she had seen of Blair’s attempt was uncomfortable to the degree of it being rough on the other girl. She was glad to see that another of the new arrivals had camp that helped her afterwards, as it looked as if the daughter of Athena likely would be in far worse state otherwise. So, when the time was finally announced, it felt like another blow against her after her arduous attempt at the course.  

Though her thoughts were jumbled a little when she heard River only mentioning Baxter’s absence, whoever he was, though during her glances around the arena had failed to see the irksome barkeep from the night before, so he was as likely a face to the name as any she could summon. No, her main concern was the omission of Duke from the roster entirely, to the point where she almost missed what River said after he finished with their times. 

[color=86a8ad]"Anyone who finished in under fifteen minutes is excused for the rest of the day."[/color] Fiona stood, thankful to be free and moved to start making her way down from the stands during the brief pause. [color=86a8ad]"For everyone that remains, you will run the course a second time."[/color] She was already a couple of steps down towards the arena floor when she registered what the caveat of their freedom was, causing her to turn back towards Lochlan, Blair and Anissa. [color=86a8ad]"You won’t be timed, so you can complete it at your leisure. It isn’t about speed, but practice, learning, and muscle memory. Powers are still prohibited, but you’re welcome to help each other."[/color] 

Fiona let out a sharp whistle. [color=024B30]"Christ, that’s shite for yer Blair.”[/color] She shrugged apologetically in the other girl's direction, unsure what, if anything more, she could really say since she was clearly pissed off at their new leader. [color=024B30]”See you’s after.”[/color] She gave the three a two-fingered salute with her middle and index fingers before turning and jogging out of the arena. 

[hr]
She knew she should have said more to them or maybe stayed through Blair’s second attempt, or checked in with Nelly, wherever she’d gotten to, but she only really had one thing she needed to do right now. And that was to find out where Duke was and why he wasn’t there for training. Her steps quickened once she’d made it back into the open air of the camp, and it wasn’t long before her pace had already broken out into a run.  

It was only once she’d gotten up to a fair speed that she realised that might not have been the best plan given the mix of freshly falling snow, ice and slurry from the mix of temperatures over the past day. And then it didn’t become an issue till she reached Duke’s Cabin, which was almost comical in that she half-grabbed, half-crashed into the supports outside as she skidded to a halt. Which caused her to grumble a little as she stretched her arms to ease some of the tension from the jolt. 

Then she saw the note that was pinned to the door of the cabin. 

[center][b][color=851f1f]“Something is happening in my true home. I have to go. Don't know when or if I'll be back. Look after camp. Stay vigilant”[/color][/b][/center] 

[color=024B30]"No.”[/color] She whispered softly to herself, her head shaking ever so slightly as she read it again. [color=024B30]"No. No.”[/color] And again, and again, her hand reaching up to trace the words on the note. [color=024B30]"No. No, you—You haven’t.”[/color] She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the soft sting of wet tears at their corners in the chilled air. Her fingers clenched suddenly around the note, crushing it as she swore [color=024B30]"feck, no. No!”[/color] 

She moved to hammer on the door, hoping that she’s not too late and he’s still here, wishing that if she brays loud enough, he’ll hear her. Except as her fist connects for the first knock on the door, it swings open, and the surge of energy from her anger and sorrow carries her across the threshold and tumbling into an empty room; far different from when she last stood inside. The cabin is soulless and untouched as if no one had ever set foot in it since it was built. 

[color=024B30]"You cowardly bastard.”[/color] She shouted at the plain wooden walls, while her eyes darted around the room, looking either for signs of life or even anything she could break or smash in her frustration. But there was nothing; no furniture, no decoration, nothing to show that Duke had ever existed, let alone been one of her only friends. 

Letting out a cry of anguish, she just crumpled and slumped down against one of the walls, not caring about the pain of the hard floor, instead using it to dull the ache inside of her. 

[color=024B30]"You just left me here...”[/color]  

She knew she was being selfish and stupid and that she had no claim on Duke save that he was her friend and she had few enough that she could hardly afford to lose any. But there she stayed, alone in the dimly lit darkness of an abandoned cabin with her arms wrapped around her as she cried over her loss all the same. 

[hr][center][color=808080][b]Interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color] Blair [@Mjolnir], Lochlan [@Sir Sparky], and Anissa[@Qia][color=2e2c2c]...........[/color] 
[b]Mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color]Nelly [@Pristine1281] and Duke [@Sir Sparky][color=2e2c2c]...........[/color] [b]Collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color] None [/color][/center][hr]