Post by kajeayn on Jun 10, 2019 13:07:01 GMT -6
= J O E L =
"When troubles want to find me, I ain't hard to find.”
WC: 395 | Post 1
He staggered, numb, heavy hooves clomping noisily onto packed earth. Leaves rustled under him, the silvery roots of the walls that bled down onto the floor, disappearing into the dirt serving to trip him as he walked unsteadily. His torn sides heaved, and he thought longingly of his bed- barely a scrap of straw and fabric on the ground, but sounded like a blessing to him now- that was waiting down another flight of stairs, past a tunnel leading deeper into the earth. Lanterns cast flickering shadows on the ground, and he couldn’t lift his eyes past his hooves, watching the shadows dance and play over the gleam of hidden roots, picking his feet carefully over them to avoid another stumble.
So, that last raid could have gone better. Injuries happened. He definitely had his fair share of them. This routine was just new to the Fort- he knew the drill back at the Bunker well. Patch self well enough on the road, ignore lecture by other soldiers if one is given, drag self home to sleep worst of it off, ignore lecture from Flick and anyone else who wanted to chime in. It had been easier, in the beginning, to dodge the questions and looks- he was new, he was still getting his fighting legs under him, he just needed time.
He’d been given time, and he was still coming home banged up like a rookie.
Today’s injuries were, admittedly, a little worse than usual. Blood lost had left him cold and barely on his hooves, the world dark at the edges. He favored his back right leg, limping as he stepped carefully, barely aware of the small drops of red he left behind him, the bandage around his upper hind leg blooming crimson and spreading. Gashes in his sides had been left uncovered, some still weeping slowly.
He faltered over another of the damn roots, and cursed under his breath as his hind leg gave up the ghost, buckling under him and taking the other with it. He grunted, forelegs bracing to try and keep himself mostly upright, head lowering as his eyes pinched shut, teeth grit as he focused on trying to bring his legs back under him. His suddenly, inexplicably heavy body dipped towards the ground, ignoring his valiant efforts to rise, forelegs trembling as they bore his weight.
“Aw hell.”
So, that last raid could have gone better. Injuries happened. He definitely had his fair share of them. This routine was just new to the Fort- he knew the drill back at the Bunker well. Patch self well enough on the road, ignore lecture by other soldiers if one is given, drag self home to sleep worst of it off, ignore lecture from Flick and anyone else who wanted to chime in. It had been easier, in the beginning, to dodge the questions and looks- he was new, he was still getting his fighting legs under him, he just needed time.
He’d been given time, and he was still coming home banged up like a rookie.
Today’s injuries were, admittedly, a little worse than usual. Blood lost had left him cold and barely on his hooves, the world dark at the edges. He favored his back right leg, limping as he stepped carefully, barely aware of the small drops of red he left behind him, the bandage around his upper hind leg blooming crimson and spreading. Gashes in his sides had been left uncovered, some still weeping slowly.
He faltered over another of the damn roots, and cursed under his breath as his hind leg gave up the ghost, buckling under him and taking the other with it. He grunted, forelegs bracing to try and keep himself mostly upright, head lowering as his eyes pinched shut, teeth grit as he focused on trying to bring his legs back under him. His suddenly, inexplicably heavy body dipped towards the ground, ignoring his valiant efforts to rise, forelegs trembling as they bore his weight.
“Aw hell.”
...