Honoka moved away, and Apple knew that even if this helped, it would suck very much in the moments in which she worried for her companion. Apricot, for his part as precious brother, tried to comfort her -- but it only settled so much in her heart. She couldn't help but feel the brunt of that fear in its entirety, to hold it and use it to survive, as she'd had to for so long. For as much as it was a weakness it could also help her find strength, fear was undoubtedly a useful tool for survival; but living like this forever, each breath bated and every step light, it was torture.
She was weak, she was a coward, despite her brother's soothing words. She couldn't unthink it, couldn't turn and look away from the way she felt when it demanded to be seen.
Still... there was a glimmer of hope, in thinking perhaps she would still heal with more time. With support. Patience. She'd never had much of that, but faith.... well, that was something she'd always had in spades. Perhaps she could grasp it still, hold it close and tell herself things would turn out okay if she kept trying.
It had to.
Apple just gave a bit of a sigh, but nodded, burying her cheek against his shoulder with a soft murmur of
Nothing happened.
No gasp of terror, no scream for help. No surprises. The ice-eyed woman turned her head back to look at them, claiming it'd been empty for moons. Relief bubbled in Apple's gut, and she readily urged Apricot forward to meet their brave protector. She moved forward, hesitance softening her steps, but poked her own visage into the cave.
Empty. Devoid of smells. Long. Apparently not just a cave, but a tunnel.
Curiosity pulled at Apple's heart. The flicker of warmth in her chest seemed rousing, and the golden Dusk couldn't help but wonder, but be summoned forward by the machinations of the mind that'd just been torturing her about coming in at all.
She took another step forward, ears on a flicker, and slowly started down the tunnel.
She could do this.
A deep, wavering breath shook from her lungs as Apple straightened her back.
She was weak, she was a coward, despite her brother's soothing words. She couldn't unthink it, couldn't turn and look away from the way she felt when it demanded to be seen.
Still... there was a glimmer of hope, in thinking perhaps she would still heal with more time. With support. Patience. She'd never had much of that, but faith.... well, that was something she'd always had in spades. Perhaps she could grasp it still, hold it close and tell herself things would turn out okay if she kept trying.
It had to.
Apple just gave a bit of a sigh, but nodded, burying her cheek against his shoulder with a soft murmur of
I love youand nuzzling him as she watched Honoka enter the yawning pit of death.
Nothing happened.
No gasp of terror, no scream for help. No surprises. The ice-eyed woman turned her head back to look at them, claiming it'd been empty for moons. Relief bubbled in Apple's gut, and she readily urged Apricot forward to meet their brave protector. She moved forward, hesitance softening her steps, but poked her own visage into the cave.
Empty. Devoid of smells. Long. Apparently not just a cave, but a tunnel.
Thank you, Honoka,she hummed with a wave of her tail.
Curiosity pulled at Apple's heart. The flicker of warmth in her chest seemed rousing, and the golden Dusk couldn't help but wonder, but be summoned forward by the machinations of the mind that'd just been torturing her about coming in at all.
She took another step forward, ears on a flicker, and slowly started down the tunnel.
She could do this.
A deep, wavering breath shook from her lungs as Apple straightened her back.
Speaking: English - German
