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Post by Palladium on Feb 19, 2006 18:12:31 GMT -5
Quietly, Palladium replied, looking directly into her eyes, "Then there is nothing more I can do to help you. If your choice to be weak and to submit to whatever evil is luring you away from who you are, then there is nothing I can do. It is your choice from here on out - I cannot stop you, only you can do that. But I do know this - this will pass, whatever is controlling you will pass. And when it does and you see what you have done because you made the choice to be weak, you will not be able to face yourself or me."
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Post by Demeter on Feb 19, 2006 18:18:53 GMT -5
Flora's golden eyes slowly reverted to their green color and her outfit slowly returned to normal. She sank to her knees. "I'm so sorry, Professor. I... I don't know what happened. I saw Brandon in danger and then everything went black." Her hands slowly slipped to her head. "I could feel something dark... Something whispering in my ear." She slowly started to tremble. "I'm scared... What if something like that happens again and I can't stop it?"
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Post by Palladium on Feb 19, 2006 18:26:36 GMT -5
Relieved that Flora, at least for the time being, had returned to normal, Palladium carefully approached her. Taking hold of her arms, he frowned as he observed the deep gashes from the Wendigo's claws. Placing his hands gently over the cuts, he recited a healing spell, feeling himself growing weak from the further loss of energy.
Rubbing a hand over his face, Palladium grimaced as a wave of dizzyness passed over him. He, like Cora, had lost a great deal of energy in fighting Flora and he had a feeling that any moment now he would pass out.
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Post by Demeter on Feb 19, 2006 18:31:14 GMT -5
"I'm so sorry, Professor," she whispered. "I have no idea what happened." She lowered her head, so she was looking at the ground. "I'm scared."
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Post by Palladium on Feb 19, 2006 18:39:36 GMT -5
Palladium nodded and replied tiredly, "I know, Flora. I know." Looking back over to where Cora, whose only sign of life was the almost imperceptible rise and fall of her chest, was still lying on the ground, Palladium winced.
Turning back to Flora, he said in a faint voice, "Flora, I am too weak to get up and go check on Cora so I need you to do it for me. Just make sure she's still breathing steadily - maybe see if you can get her to look at you or to speak a little bit. Can you do that for me?"
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Post by Demeter on Feb 19, 2006 18:43:55 GMT -5
Flora nodded. "Okay," she whispered quietly. She stood up slowly, trying to remember how to walk. If this was what it felt like after getting drunk - then she never wanted to take up drinking. She walked slowly over to Cora and knelt down. "Cora? Can you hear me?" she asked quietly.
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Cora
Full Member
Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Feb 19, 2006 18:54:12 GMT -5
Dimly, Cora heard a voice calling to her from a long distance away. Furrowing her brow, she shifted slightly on the ground, her vision foggy through her mostly closed eyes. As she felt herself falling back into the darkness, the voice called to her again, louder this time. Using a great deal of energy, Cora opened her eyes to see who was disturbing her peace. As she did, the darkness receded and she began to regain consciousness.
Still not being able to make out who was talking she asked, her voice hoarse and almost inaudible, "Lenwë - where is he? Is he okay?"
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Post by brandon2 on Feb 19, 2006 19:01:58 GMT -5
Brandon was also coming to by this point. "Damn did anyone catch the licence plate of that semi?" he groaned as he tried to sit up.
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Post by Demeter on Feb 19, 2006 19:34:36 GMT -5
"He's worn out but he's okay. He's behind me," Flora said quietly. She glanced over and saw Brandon coming around. "Brandon," she breathed. "Thank Demeter, he's okay."
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Post by Palladium on Feb 19, 2006 19:50:28 GMT -5
Palladium stood up shakily when he heard Cora's thin voice asking for him. Walking slowly over to where his friend was resting, Palladium then crouched down and took Cora's hands in between his own. Looking down at her with a warm smile, he asked gently, ignoring his own exhaustion, "How are you feeling?"
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Post by Demeter on Feb 19, 2006 19:54:47 GMT -5
Flora withdrew, moving away from the professor and his sweetheart. She had been right - she had no chance. She was quiet and made move to sit by the lake, and stared into its depths. She had to fight back the sick feeling she felt.
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Cora
Full Member
Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Feb 19, 2006 19:57:31 GMT -5
Giving Palladium a bright smile, Cora nodded her head slightly and replied, her voice teasing despite her weakened state, "I'm feeling very angry at you, mister - after all, did you not promise me a relaxing walk? If this is your idea of 'relaxing' then I think that you may very well have lost your marbles. I shall have to check you into an institution the moment I regain enough energy to dial a phone." Biting her lip, Cora continued in a more serious tone, "But, really, Lenwë, I'll be okay." Lifting her hand a little, she added, "See? I'm already regaining my strength - you just worry about me too much."
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Post by Palladium on Feb 19, 2006 20:02:41 GMT -5
"You gave me a real scare, Cora," Palladium replied softly. "I can't tell you how relieved I am that you are still here . . . I thought I had lost you. And if that had happened, I never would have forgiven myself. You know that, right?"
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Cora
Full Member
Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Feb 19, 2006 20:10:45 GMT -5
Cora held back tears as she listened to his loving words; when he spoke to her in that tone, she could almost convince herself that he loved her as much as she loved him. Almost. But she knew without a doubt that he wasn't with her completely - she knew that his thoughts were also with Flora. Though she knew that Lenwë loved her dearly, she did not have a doubt in her mind that he also loved Flora. And because she had pride, she refused to put her heart on the line, no matter much she wanted to, and risk knowing for sure that she would never be the one for him. She preferred, as naive and hypocritical as it might be, to have her illusions - at least when it came to her friendship with Lenwë.
Squeezing his hand, Cora nodded again and said simply, "I know." Turning her head slightly, Cora saw Flora sitting by the lake's edge. Sighing, she returned her gaze to Palladium and said quietly, "Perhaps you should go comfort her, Lenwë. I'm sure she needs it more than I do right now."
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Post by Demeter on Feb 19, 2006 20:14:21 GMT -5
Flora knew in that moment that her dreams were destroyed - and that he forgot she was right there. She stared into the water, staring at her reflection as it wavered in the water. "Foolish, foolish little girl," she whispered to her reflection.
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