Welcome to Gaia! ::

Apsalar smiled and shook her head. "No," she said simply. "Not as...weird. As...us." She hadn't intended for Smoke to think she meant they should show themselves as Chimerae - they just had to be normal people. Normal people made a fuss when other normal people - ones they knew - went missing, didn't they? That was the impression she had gotten.

No, she didn't want them all to be thought of as the Chimerae for this time in the outside world - that was the kind of secret she'd rather take to her grave. The grave they were likely to end up in very shortly, she thought ruefully; they couldn't escape Yani for long. They might have more help this time, but running and hiding wouldn't make it any better than it had been for those who had escaped before.

If they didn't try another tack, they were going to get caught again. Sent back into the cages.

Apsalar was not going to see that happen. Her idea might not be the only way to go, but there had to be some way that didn't involve running for the rest of their lives.

She started when Red came running up. A little smile crossed her face. It was nice to see the other two back.

Her eyes lifted to the sky. Now if only John would return...

See it, startled
Afternoon I had to ask
Or dare I, ever know
Tell us we are dEmENteD
Watch as attention span
Hold, so fast
Then goes up in s m o k e

I don't think you're nervous enough.
It happened to show its own face
Search for the s o u l l e s s ends
Now put him to rest.

You won't find me curling up
A place that should make sEnSE
Well, excuse me for this better judgment
Night is so worth waiting for

Hiccadu lifted her head from where she lay on the floor, her eyes clearing as TAIS lifted her hold from her fleshy counterpart and allowed the creature to stand on all fours, tail swinging lazily.

"Yes, Master Yani?" Hiccadu replied obediently, wanting to stand straight with her head held high but her mechanical counterpart keeping her chin lowered. "What is it?"

A BLINDING scare so cauterizing
Arms out pointing, sit and stare
At this proof, this LiVInG pRooF
This proof, this living proof

I don't think you're nervous enough.
It happened to show its own face
Search for the s o u l l e s s ends
Now put him to rest.

Culprits, shudder
Apparitions left in time
If we're honest... sight unknown
Crowing. Frozen. Bedroom.
Awoke up certain
Lays a tomb, her tree holds it
Unbeknownst, still sending cHiLLs

Put him to rest...
Highland's Apparition ~ Chevelle

((bumps. What's this doing on the fifth page guys?))

Apsalar let out a little sound of relief when John finally rejoined them. She glanced at Tobart and was silent while John spoke. It seemed that their leader - because, yes, that was what he was - had yet to accept Smoke.

She was sorry for that.

Her eyes tracked the group, one after another, and when John had finished his sentence, she gave a slow nod. "Panther was. Ours," she said softly, hesitating over the words. "One...us."

They couldn't give her vengeance, at least not yet. Maybe someday.

But they could grieve for her, and she knew that John at least would have to - she had seen the sparkle of the tears. Grieving wasn't for the dead, anyway. It was for the living. They had to send Panther off properly.

She looked up at John, and had only one question.

"Where?"

((OOC: D8 Where is everyone?))

Apsalar struggled briefly with the belt that held her in place. Finally discovering how to get out of it, she slid out of the vehicle and looked back at the others for a moment. They would come, she was sure. She hoped so, at any rate - their fear, the need to fly, couldn't be much worse than hers. But they had to say goodbye to Panther. They had to.

There was a second when her gaze lingered on Smoke. He was taking his life in his hands, too, giving them the time.

So they would have to make it count, that was all.

Turning to John, she nodded. She, at least, was ready to go. They had to say their farewell, but they couldn't linger.

"Yes," she clarified, quietly.

((I'm sorry, just been away is all.))

Yani nodded, more satisfied than he had been. "Then by all means..." he gestured towards the entrance. He needed to speak with TAIS after Hiccadu was gone. Perhaps the computer would be able to alter what the scientists had done to counteract her wounds. Hiccadu would need some physical evidence that she hadn't just been released. That evidence would need to last until she reached the group, at least.

- - - - - - - - - -

John nodded and led the others into the woods after a brief glance and nod at Smoke, who looked almost completely at ease with his cigarette. The last thing John saw before disappearing past the treeline was the tell-tale orange glow at the end of the rod.

He led the way quickly, but stealthily, leaning his shovels against a trunk and taking to the air just above the trees' heights in order to make his way accurately towards the clearing. In moments they had arrived, Panther's body resting against the base of a trunk. John blinked once, then, without hedging around the action, began to dig into the soft earth. The wet grass and little resistance in the soil was evidence that it had rained earlier. Though it was nighttime, John could see there were still a few rain clouds overhead that blocked out the stars. He had only seen them a few times before, when he was far away from a city, under the open sky once darkness fell.

It occurred to him that Panther would never see them, and he began tearing up at the realization. The shovel grew blurrier in the faded light, until he was neither able to distinguish it from the ground. He stopped shoveling, shoulders wracked with sobs, leaning like a broken doll against his shovel. It was all too much.

((OOC: School is evil. Ded Silent is ded. Also, going to take the liberty of assuming the other Chimerae came with, since they all seem disinclined to respond - if that's not cool, let me know.))

Apsalar followed him as best she could without the ability to scoot above the treetops. While she had wings, they were trapped under the hoodie - and wouldn't have carried her even if they weren't.

Once they arrived, she saw Panther's body lying against the tree trunk. Her mouth trembled slightly.

Panther. She'd never hurt anyone. She'd never even tried.

Why should it have been her that had had to die?

Something was missing, she thought, looking at the pathetic little corpse that lay against the trunk. They needed something to give her more...dignity. More respect.

She turned away and went to the opposite end of the copse. There had been something there, some little flashes of white. Little white flowers. Pure. Sweet. Like the little girl they were burying.

Operating on instinct, she took a handful of the white flowers, picking each one carefully.

Upon turning around, she realized that John was crying. Her face softened a little, and she made her way back to him, looking around at the others. Their shared grief seemed to hang in the air.

She touched his shoulder, holding the flowers in her other hand. "Will help," she said softly. "Not alone. John."

Panther had been loved by all of them. He didn't have to face it all alone.