Vee was still trying to keep up with everything that had just happened as she pulled herself up from under Rehn, letting the unconscious cat girl rest in her arms. H-how.. how was she even here?! Everything had gone so fast and now she wasn’t even sure what had happened within those last few seconds!

“And you’re not exactly a big help either…” She groaned as Rehn had not exactly been forthcoming with answers. Not that Vee blamed her friend, the girl looked just exhausted even as unconscious as she was and the large, bloody cut along her calves definitely didn’t help either. Vee winced at the slow but steady flow of blood trickling onto the ground.

Vee’s heart was still racing, the adrenaline rushing through her veins washing away the fear and terror for the moment but the way the building still crumbled around them continued to disturb her. And now there was no way for them to easily get out anymore. The crumbled stone and concrete from the ceiling now barred the exit.

Stopping herself from hyperventilating as best as she could, Vee pushed Rehn a bit further onto her shoulder as she wandered back into the central hall. Surrounding the sides was a mess of smaller shards and fragments with only some of the more massive boulders having crumbled onto the heart of the hall.

Vee sat Rehn down against one of those larger, fallen fragment and quickly ripped a piece of cloth from her jacket. As best she could, the chameleon bound it around Rehn’s bleeding cut and the cloth quickly soaked itself crimson.

“Ugh… mghu… this feels horrible…” Rehn groaned out as she fluttered back to consciousness, a grimace on her face as the pulsing pain of the cloth against her wound lanced through her head. She had just gotten free from that horrid headache and already a new affliction had to claim her, great. But her eyes stayed closed. While her mind no longer was taken up by a quarter of stacking static, it was still rather disorienting to have two views before her inner eye and right now she found it easier to just use her Third Eye to look around instead of her real ones.

“At least we’re alive…” Vee mumbled as she finished a once over of the makeshift bandage and then stood up. “Look, stay here and try to keep safe. I… I have got some kids to grab.”

She tried to smirk through the darkness though she only succeeded half-heartedly. But the soft giggle from Rehn did help her chaotic swirling thoughts to find focus.

Turning around, the chameleon weasel finally got a true look at the tragedy that had been wrought over the orphanage. The building above them had broken open as if a wedge had been driven into it, giving the view free on the darkened sky above whirling with crackling storm clouds. Powerful gales and the constant sound of static filled the air, blowing away the clouds of dust and grime that would have otherwise choked them by now. There was no more risk of any further boulders crashing down onto the heart of the ruined orphanage.

And those that had already fallen had brought more than enough misfortune. Vee’s throat tightened and she felt tears well up in her eyes as she noted the blood seeping out from some of the stones, her breath growing high pitched as she noted the limbs... Immediately she squeezed her eyes shut and looked away, focusing on something, anything else.

“Remember what Leora said… remember what she taught…” Vee whispered to herself, wrestling with her overflowing emotions to calm her breathing. “Focus. Move. Focus. Move.”

She repeated this mantra again and again under her breath. It helped only little at first but then quickly steadied her mind, helping her focus on the important thoughts. Helping her focus more and more as thought of finding Mina and Geen.

Vee opened her eyes again and gazed away from the deaths.

While blood and death was whirling through the atmosphere, there were also those that were safe. Those that helped others as they stood disoriented in the chaos. A lemur girl was flitting around the place, pulling children away from the chaos. Her fluffy tail looked frazzled as many had hugged it tight, tears, snot and blood discolouring it at spots. An elderly woman was getting her leg bandaged, half of it missing, by an older orphan as she held onto a small bundle. And there were even younger kids that had started running around, helping their friends as they cried thick tears.

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It was a sight that only gripped Vee’s heart tighter. This… did her aunt deal with this often? She doubted it. But the haunted look reflected in her eyes after certain days… she had never spoken much about what she had experienced. And now Vee wished that she hadn’t been forced to understand as much.

Swallowing heavily, Vee hurried on with her search, flitting around fallen rocks and boulders that obstructed her view.

And then she found Mina, the girl was standing somewhat to the side. Her colourful, feathery fur stood out against the grey stone even with dust dulling their vibrant hue. Without hesitation Vee raced towards her, dodging around another kid running along and a quick bandaging.

Vee called out to her, emotions overtaking her, and in that moment Venus Yubilia Zepehn found herself unable to keep the anger and frustration any further in check as they bubbled up from within. What had Mina and Geen been thinking?! Running into the collapsing building?! Words poured out only to trail off as the young parrot girl didn’t react at all, her face numb and blank. Body limp as Vee shook her shoulders forcefully.

A stone laid before her. A large one. Blood seeping out below. With a hand… a familiar hand peeking out from beneath.

“…” There was nothing Vee could say as guilt hammered into her. There was nothing she could even think to say as Mina continued to stare blankly at the spot where Geen had stood what felt like only moments before. She didn’t react to anything, not even as Vee hugged her tight under hot tears, not a single sound even escaped as she let herself be gently carried away. Within her mind the young girl found herself only thinking: She had failed. Failed yet again. Only this time it was all her fault.

Cradling Mina in her arms, Vee hummed softly as she slowly wandered through the ruins.

———

“Come here…” Graam spoke as he pulled Jak and Myra up from where they laid sprawled out on the ground. He winced lightly as even this little exertion was enough to make his muscles burn like a thousand suns. Yeah, that’s what he got for overclocking them this much after balking on training for so long. “You two jumped right into this mess without a second thought, huh?”

“…y-yeah.” Jak just nodded after both he and Myra stumbled awkwardly to their feet. Before the white hot rage had pushed away his attention. Now… now he still wasn’t fully able to trust his own memories that his teacher in haggling had just thrown with and lightning against the teleporting witch.

“She moved so fast…” Myra groaned, grimacing lightly as she dusted herself off. Eyes grew wide and she quickly checked up on her gear only to breath a sigh of relief when she found that nothing seriously broken. Then she turned back to Graam and cocked her head curiously to the side. “Uhm, but who are you…?”

“Heh, name’s Graam. Been looking for the two of you since this morning.” Graam smirked lightly for a moment before failing back to a pained grimace as he slumped forwards. Guilty. Uncertainty. Resignation. Anger. A multitude of emotions shone within his eyes. “Sorry… I-I… I wish I could have done more…”

His gaze wandered across the broken ruins of the orphanage and beyond. Sections of the neighbouring building had broken as well by now, revealing shattered rooms where some were still trying to rescue as much as they could from them in time

Jak blinked startled as he latched onto Graam’s first few few words immediately,

“Wait, why were you looking for us? How did you even know about Myra?” Confusion and light suspicious apparent in his gaze.

“Good questions, but not ones I can answer here. Elende Elm, I’m feeling chewed up…” Graam grimaced, rolling his shoulders which cracked audibly. He turned turned to look at Myra with a small grin as her gaze had turned suspicious as well. “But I can tell ya, little gal, your old man Holomew had only good things to tell about you.”

The bunny cat gasped, eyes growing wide as she nearly jumped at Graam.

“You know my gramps?!” But even before she had finished her question she remembered her gramps mentioning a shark like him. Even with the chaos surrounding them she couldn’t help but grin widely.

“Hehe, yep.” Graam chuckled. “Not exactly the tightest of friends but we’ve been drinking buddies quite a few times. Now, let’s get out of here… I… I don’t really want to stay around here long enough for the Guards to show up.” Guilt, shame and frustration mixed within his look as he stepped forwards.

“No. Not yet.” Jak stated hard, rooted where he stood. “We have to find the others first and then get Jenny back.”

“Oh, yeah! Absolutely!” Myra rapidly bopped her head up and down in agreement. There was no way they could just leave now!

Graam opened his mouth to object but then quickly closed it again and shook his head. He had seen that look of determination enough times on his own face, any arguments would just be a waste of time right now.

“Then we better move quickly.” The shark agreed, gazing up at the sky as the storm clouds began to disperse without his Arc to hold their shape. Only a single drop fell down on his hand at first but soon a warm rain showered down upon the ruins and the rest of the city, covering up the tears that streamed down the faces of many as the sky wept along with them.