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Spotlight: Palm (Aftermath p6)
General | Posted 4 years ago"You said that his relief had been ill." Palm continued. "Because of his impairment, it would not be unheard of that he would not have yielded the cognitive resources to function well enough to satisfy the duty to locate auxiliary coverage. Who worked prior to him?"
Hesitation swallowed the man before he admitted, "I...I did."
Palm's eyes grew wide with surprise. This was a turn that he had not predicted, but one that only emphasized his impending conclusion.
"In a situation such as this," he said, "why was it that you could not return to your post and relieve him?"
He was a dead man, he knew this. There was no defense that he could offer. Nothing that he could say would be beneficial to his plight. "I had plans." he admitted, quietly. "I was entertaining company." he added, knowing it was undoubtedly going to be the young prince's follow up question.
There was nothing he needed to say. The dereliction of responsibility was blatantly obvious. Yet, it was only so incredibly poignant, because of the tsunami. On a regular day, it would have simply been a person not wanting to return to work, but instead wanting to visit his lover. On a regular day, this would have been a nonissue, or at least, one that was without hazardous. It was regrettable that things turned out the way that they had. It was regrettable that of all the days to strike, the ocean struck when the buffoonery of the watchtower management was at its worst.
Despite the obviousness of whom the ownership of responsibility fell, as he was in the company of a person with an extraordinarily nonsensical, selfish, cowardly disposition, Palm felt it necessary to state the obvious.
"Had you not been so eager to dismiss yourself and denote the blame to an innocent," he began, "I would have disregarded your fault as an irresponsible mistake and moved on. You could not have possibly predicted this was to happen, so there was no malice behind your negligent actions. It was an accident.
"However, that was not the case with your disdainful distribution of obligation. You knowingly shifted responsibility and fault to someone that did not warrant it. That is nothing short of reprehensible.
"...I have only one final query; exactly what is the duration of each watchman's shift?"
He was already a villain in his own eyes, so he had nothing to lose by admitting a truth that made his acts even more reckless. "Each shift,...is 12 hours."
Hesitation swallowed the man before he admitted, "I...I did."
Palm's eyes grew wide with surprise. This was a turn that he had not predicted, but one that only emphasized his impending conclusion.
"In a situation such as this," he said, "why was it that you could not return to your post and relieve him?"
He was a dead man, he knew this. There was no defense that he could offer. Nothing that he could say would be beneficial to his plight. "I had plans." he admitted, quietly. "I was entertaining company." he added, knowing it was undoubtedly going to be the young prince's follow up question.
There was nothing he needed to say. The dereliction of responsibility was blatantly obvious. Yet, it was only so incredibly poignant, because of the tsunami. On a regular day, it would have simply been a person not wanting to return to work, but instead wanting to visit his lover. On a regular day, this would have been a nonissue, or at least, one that was without hazardous. It was regrettable that things turned out the way that they had. It was regrettable that of all the days to strike, the ocean struck when the buffoonery of the watchtower management was at its worst.
Despite the obviousness of whom the ownership of responsibility fell, as he was in the company of a person with an extraordinarily nonsensical, selfish, cowardly disposition, Palm felt it necessary to state the obvious.
"Had you not been so eager to dismiss yourself and denote the blame to an innocent," he began, "I would have disregarded your fault as an irresponsible mistake and moved on. You could not have possibly predicted this was to happen, so there was no malice behind your negligent actions. It was an accident.
"However, that was not the case with your disdainful distribution of obligation. You knowingly shifted responsibility and fault to someone that did not warrant it. That is nothing short of reprehensible.
"...I have only one final query; exactly what is the duration of each watchman's shift?"
He was already a villain in his own eyes, so he had nothing to lose by admitting a truth that made his acts even more reckless. "Each shift,...is 12 hours."
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General | Posted 4 years ago"I..." the red cat said, at last, "just thought that he was off because he was pulling a double."
"'Off' meaning what, specifically?" Palm demanded to know.
The man paused again, thinking and choosing his words carefully. "I mean that he was unfocused, or tired."
"'Tired'? So you were aware of his fatigue before he began the second shift? A shift by which you tasked him to perform, knowing that he had just served the last."
It was a trap. The prince had set a trap and the supervisor had been ensnared in it, with no way out. "My...My Prince..."
"Did you attempt to contact other watchmen to see if they might be able to assist." Palm asked, ignoring the other man's groveling.
"No, it is up to each staff member to get their shifts covered." he answered. "The thought of searching for one myself, hadn't occurred to me."
"Obviously, that responsibility was never fulfilled by anyone. Whomever that was supposed to take responsibility for coverage, abandoned his, or her obligation to locate a replacement. Had it been covered, this boy would not have been forced into this appalling situation."
Once again, the supervisor said nothing, for there was nothing to be said. He could only look into the stern eyes of his young prince. Even at the age of 18, the boy carried himself with the presence of a fully realized adult. He felt like a child being scolded. It was embarrassing and demeaning and he knew that he deserved all of it.
"'Off' meaning what, specifically?" Palm demanded to know.
The man paused again, thinking and choosing his words carefully. "I mean that he was unfocused, or tired."
"'Tired'? So you were aware of his fatigue before he began the second shift? A shift by which you tasked him to perform, knowing that he had just served the last."
It was a trap. The prince had set a trap and the supervisor had been ensnared in it, with no way out. "My...My Prince..."
"Did you attempt to contact other watchmen to see if they might be able to assist." Palm asked, ignoring the other man's groveling.
"No, it is up to each staff member to get their shifts covered." he answered. "The thought of searching for one myself, hadn't occurred to me."
"Obviously, that responsibility was never fulfilled by anyone. Whomever that was supposed to take responsibility for coverage, abandoned his, or her obligation to locate a replacement. Had it been covered, this boy would not have been forced into this appalling situation."
Once again, the supervisor said nothing, for there was nothing to be said. He could only look into the stern eyes of his young prince. Even at the age of 18, the boy carried himself with the presence of a fully realized adult. He felt like a child being scolded. It was embarrassing and demeaning and he knew that he deserved all of it.
✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧Spotlight: Palm (Aftermath pt4)
General | Posted 4 years agoThe man blanched and a look of shock colored his face. "M...me?" he asked, shakily. "Whatever do you mean?"
"You are the supervisor to the lookouts. Their performance is regulated with your scrutiny, correct?" Palm said.
"Well...yes." the man hesitated to say.
"If this is so, then why do you allow underperforming workers to serve under you?"
"'Underperforming'?" he asked, confused.
"You charged this boy with repetitive sleep deprivation while at work. Surely that would constitute underperformance in a worker, no?"
"Ah...no, no. He does perform well. He is normally a good worker. Today, he must have been off."
"To say that he is off is a gross understatement." Palm agreed. "So, why was he not suspended from working today?"
"Well, I...I do not know. I did not see him today." he answered, nervously.
"Who was supposed to relieve him of his shift?"
"It was another subordinate. He was unwell, today. Ream was told to do a double shift."
"Told by whom?"
"Well, by me."
Palm narrowed his gaze. "Then you spoke to him over the phone?" he asked, his tone focused and firm. This was the puzzle's missing piece. Without a doubt, this man was the lynchpin to the series of disasters revolving around the failed alarm system.
"Yes, I did." he answered, quietly.
"So, though you did not see him, you did speak to him and were therefore able to marginally determine his capacity to perform his duties. What was your evaluation of his then present condition? Were you able to establish that he was 'off' when you spoke to him, or was his health concealed from your observation?"
There was no answer that he could offer that would shine a positive light upon him, the man realized. If he said that he had not heard Ream's fatigue when that spoke, the prince would see that as incompetence on his part. Yet, if he claimed that he had recognized the exhaustion in the boy, that admission would make him appear to be negligent and dismissive at his job. No response was a good response, all were equally devastating to his character.
He opened his mouth to reply, but fear of reprimand stole his words. It was clear that the young prince's line of questioning was leading somewhere and that end did not bode well for the man.
"You are the supervisor to the lookouts. Their performance is regulated with your scrutiny, correct?" Palm said.
"Well...yes." the man hesitated to say.
"If this is so, then why do you allow underperforming workers to serve under you?"
"'Underperforming'?" he asked, confused.
"You charged this boy with repetitive sleep deprivation while at work. Surely that would constitute underperformance in a worker, no?"
"Ah...no, no. He does perform well. He is normally a good worker. Today, he must have been off."
"To say that he is off is a gross understatement." Palm agreed. "So, why was he not suspended from working today?"
"Well, I...I do not know. I did not see him today." he answered, nervously.
"Who was supposed to relieve him of his shift?"
"It was another subordinate. He was unwell, today. Ream was told to do a double shift."
"Told by whom?"
"Well, by me."
Palm narrowed his gaze. "Then you spoke to him over the phone?" he asked, his tone focused and firm. This was the puzzle's missing piece. Without a doubt, this man was the lynchpin to the series of disasters revolving around the failed alarm system.
"Yes, I did." he answered, quietly.
"So, though you did not see him, you did speak to him and were therefore able to marginally determine his capacity to perform his duties. What was your evaluation of his then present condition? Were you able to establish that he was 'off' when you spoke to him, or was his health concealed from your observation?"
There was no answer that he could offer that would shine a positive light upon him, the man realized. If he said that he had not heard Ream's fatigue when that spoke, the prince would see that as incompetence on his part. Yet, if he claimed that he had recognized the exhaustion in the boy, that admission would make him appear to be negligent and dismissive at his job. No response was a good response, all were equally devastating to his character.
He opened his mouth to reply, but fear of reprimand stole his words. It was clear that the young prince's line of questioning was leading somewhere and that end did not bode well for the man.
✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧Spotlight: Palm (Aftermath pt3)
General | Posted 4 years agoPalm could hear loud, thudding steps ascending the ladder. He turned and waited for the arrival of the man who shouted out someone's, presumably the weary watchman's, name. The boy heard the bellowing of the approaching individual and seemingly went into a panic. Palm glanced at him, but reserved his comment.
"REAM!" a middle aged, red-coated, man wailed, as he appeared atop the watch tower. "Ah! Prince Palm." he exclaimed, as his eyes saw the image of the youngest royal. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone decidedly more placid than before.
Palm regarded the man, briefly, then answered. "I am investigating the circumstances that led to this disaster."
"I see." he replied, an unusual tone to his voice when he uttered the pair of words. "Well, that kid is Ream, one of my underlings. He was at the watch at the time everything happened." he said, turning to the boy. "You were sleeping on the job again, weren't you?" he snapped.
"Interesting." thought Palm.
Ream looked over at his manager and merely stared, nervously. The man bristled, then continued to berate his young worker.
"How could you do this? How could you let this happen? This is a disaster, a tragedy and it's all your fault!"
He turned to Palm and spoke pleasantly saying, "There is no need to fret, My Prince, I will see to the boy's discipline."
"Given the circumstances, your leadership is somewhat dubious." Palm replied, dryly. "It would seem that before this boy's chastising, it would be pertinent to evaluate his supervision. For presently, as it is, yours is the biggest role that has yet to be divulged."
"REAM!" a middle aged, red-coated, man wailed, as he appeared atop the watch tower. "Ah! Prince Palm." he exclaimed, as his eyes saw the image of the youngest royal. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone decidedly more placid than before.
Palm regarded the man, briefly, then answered. "I am investigating the circumstances that led to this disaster."
"I see." he replied, an unusual tone to his voice when he uttered the pair of words. "Well, that kid is Ream, one of my underlings. He was at the watch at the time everything happened." he said, turning to the boy. "You were sleeping on the job again, weren't you?" he snapped.
"Interesting." thought Palm.
Ream looked over at his manager and merely stared, nervously. The man bristled, then continued to berate his young worker.
"How could you do this? How could you let this happen? This is a disaster, a tragedy and it's all your fault!"
He turned to Palm and spoke pleasantly saying, "There is no need to fret, My Prince, I will see to the boy's discipline."
"Given the circumstances, your leadership is somewhat dubious." Palm replied, dryly. "It would seem that before this boy's chastising, it would be pertinent to evaluate his supervision. For presently, as it is, yours is the biggest role that has yet to be divulged."
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General | Posted 4 years ago"Exhausted?" the man asked. "But, how can you tell?"
"There is sagging beneath his eyes and his shaking isn't just from what has happened to the city." Palm replied, turning his attention back to the boy. "He is only vaguely aware of our presence. It would appear that his body and perhaps his mind have been pushed beyond his limit. This shaking is the body's reaction to exorbitant stress. It is no wonder he was unable to stay awake.
"What I do not know, is why is it that he is so extremely tired. Moreover, if he is visibly unwell, why was he permitted to work? There is a missing piece to this puzzle, of which I have yet to determine."
The youngest prince continued to study the tower watchman, quizzically. After a while, he reached out his hand and placed it atop the boy's head. The youth flinched, but reacted no more beyond that. Palm placed his other hand on his cheek and gently turned his face toward him. Their eyes met, the prince's steady gaze to the boy's vulnerable, wavering eyes.
"REAM!" a voice yelled.
"There is sagging beneath his eyes and his shaking isn't just from what has happened to the city." Palm replied, turning his attention back to the boy. "He is only vaguely aware of our presence. It would appear that his body and perhaps his mind have been pushed beyond his limit. This shaking is the body's reaction to exorbitant stress. It is no wonder he was unable to stay awake.
"What I do not know, is why is it that he is so extremely tired. Moreover, if he is visibly unwell, why was he permitted to work? There is a missing piece to this puzzle, of which I have yet to determine."
The youngest prince continued to study the tower watchman, quizzically. After a while, he reached out his hand and placed it atop the boy's head. The youth flinched, but reacted no more beyond that. Palm placed his other hand on his cheek and gently turned his face toward him. Their eyes met, the prince's steady gaze to the boy's vulnerable, wavering eyes.
"REAM!" a voice yelled.
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General | Posted 4 years ago*author's note: there was a mistake in a previous post with regard to ages. Boomer is 17, Sweetheart is 16. Alder, Arjuna and Palm are 18.*
When Palm entered town, he immediately began his task. He needed to figure out what had happened and the circumstances that led to this catastrophe. To do that, he needed to head to the watchtower. He hurried over to the lookout and ascended the stairs leading to the viewing platform. There, he found the messenger that had been dispatched from the palace to sound the alarm and the person who had failed to do his job.
"He's just a boy," Palm thought, upon looking at the tower watchman, "even younger than I am."
Indeed, the grey striped tabby youth was younger than the princes by two years. The boy huddled in a corner like a baby in the womb, with a look of abject horror and guilt etched upon his face, as he gripped his head between his furiously shaking hands. His damp, blue eyes were wide as he stared at the wooden planks beneath him.
Palm studied the young watchman for a moment, his keen mind processing various things, all at once. He cleared the distance between himself and his junior and knelt before him. He continued to study him, then turned to the palace messenger.
"Has he spoken to you?" he asked.
"No, My Prince." the man answered.
"Did you wake him, or was he like this when you arrived?"
"Ah, no, he was sleeping." he answered, surprised at the question. "How...how did you know he had sleeping?"
"It's written on his face." he answered, nonchalantly. "It is not at all surprising, however, seeing as how he is inexplicably exhausted."
When Palm entered town, he immediately began his task. He needed to figure out what had happened and the circumstances that led to this catastrophe. To do that, he needed to head to the watchtower. He hurried over to the lookout and ascended the stairs leading to the viewing platform. There, he found the messenger that had been dispatched from the palace to sound the alarm and the person who had failed to do his job.
"He's just a boy," Palm thought, upon looking at the tower watchman, "even younger than I am."
Indeed, the grey striped tabby youth was younger than the princes by two years. The boy huddled in a corner like a baby in the womb, with a look of abject horror and guilt etched upon his face, as he gripped his head between his furiously shaking hands. His damp, blue eyes were wide as he stared at the wooden planks beneath him.
Palm studied the young watchman for a moment, his keen mind processing various things, all at once. He cleared the distance between himself and his junior and knelt before him. He continued to study him, then turned to the palace messenger.
"Has he spoken to you?" he asked.
"No, My Prince." the man answered.
"Did you wake him, or was he like this when you arrived?"
"Ah, no, he was sleeping." he answered, surprised at the question. "How...how did you know he had sleeping?"
"It's written on his face." he answered, nonchalantly. "It is not at all surprising, however, seeing as how he is inexplicably exhausted."
✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧Spotlight: Aftermath p3
General | Posted 4 years agoAt the Palace of Calico, the three princes, Alder, Arjuna and Palm, as well as the emperor, Artemis and the empress, Avalon were making ready to depart for the town. The disaster relief effort would be spearheaded by the royals and they were anxious to leave and assess the damage and the welfare of their people.
It was Alder, the future Emperor of Calico, that directed the rescue endeavour. He instructed the palace's medical facility to be on standby to serve as an overflow hospital. What people could not be treated at the main hospital, would be transferred there for treatment.
Knowing that many of the citizens would have been displaced from their houses...those that still had homes to return to...were going to need places to stay and rest for a while. Houses would need repair, or rebuilding and the inhabitants would need a place to retire to come nightfall. It was going to take time, far more than just a few hours, to fix what had been destroyed. As the palace had a great number of auxiliary rooms that could house one or more families in the meantime, he instructed the palace staff to ready the rooms to receive potential occupants.
Palm was the one that noticed the receding sea and sounded the alarm that had not been sounded. His awareness saved countless lives. Palm was also the scientific-minded member of the family. His outstanding logic and problem solving capability made him the ideal person to investigate what had gone wrong and why. He needed to identify the problem, alleviate it and reconstruct it, if necessary. Alder had complete confidence in his brother and knew that he was up to the task.
Arjuna was a regular visitor among the townsfolk. He had a childhood friend that he visited often and spent a lot of time in the city. As such, the people were familiar with him and felt comfortable in his presence. Likewise, Avalon was born and raised a commoner. She had a unique insight into the minds and hearts of the people that only a person of the people would have.
Due to their familiarity, Alder gave them the task of comforting and consoling the villagers, as well as reuniting separated family members that had gotten lost in the turmoil. In addition, it would be up to them to figure out their needs. They would arrange the housing and feeding of the townsfolk and prioritize them in order of who had the most urgent needs.
Artemis was responsible for convening with the elected leaders to sort out the fiduciary requirements of the town. Rebuilding was going to be expensive and Artemis needed to figure out a way to budget expenses, as well as acquiring the resources to carryout the reconstruction. Ranchers, farmers woodcutters, and others were going to have to be contacted and supplies and resources negotiated. It was up to the emperor to sort it out.
As for himself, Alder tasked himself with the most difficult task of going to the hospital and to the mortician to determine what assistance they would need. He also left it up to himself to help retrieve the lifeless bodies from the immediate area and make agreements for search and retrieval in areas beyond. What's more, he was to aide in identifying the dead and notifying any living relatives that had that survived the calamity. He knew that this was going to be an especially painful duty and felt it only right that he give himself the hardest task and spare his family that remorseful hardship.
It was Alder, the future Emperor of Calico, that directed the rescue endeavour. He instructed the palace's medical facility to be on standby to serve as an overflow hospital. What people could not be treated at the main hospital, would be transferred there for treatment.
Knowing that many of the citizens would have been displaced from their houses...those that still had homes to return to...were going to need places to stay and rest for a while. Houses would need repair, or rebuilding and the inhabitants would need a place to retire to come nightfall. It was going to take time, far more than just a few hours, to fix what had been destroyed. As the palace had a great number of auxiliary rooms that could house one or more families in the meantime, he instructed the palace staff to ready the rooms to receive potential occupants.
Palm was the one that noticed the receding sea and sounded the alarm that had not been sounded. His awareness saved countless lives. Palm was also the scientific-minded member of the family. His outstanding logic and problem solving capability made him the ideal person to investigate what had gone wrong and why. He needed to identify the problem, alleviate it and reconstruct it, if necessary. Alder had complete confidence in his brother and knew that he was up to the task.
Arjuna was a regular visitor among the townsfolk. He had a childhood friend that he visited often and spent a lot of time in the city. As such, the people were familiar with him and felt comfortable in his presence. Likewise, Avalon was born and raised a commoner. She had a unique insight into the minds and hearts of the people that only a person of the people would have.
Due to their familiarity, Alder gave them the task of comforting and consoling the villagers, as well as reuniting separated family members that had gotten lost in the turmoil. In addition, it would be up to them to figure out their needs. They would arrange the housing and feeding of the townsfolk and prioritize them in order of who had the most urgent needs.
Artemis was responsible for convening with the elected leaders to sort out the fiduciary requirements of the town. Rebuilding was going to be expensive and Artemis needed to figure out a way to budget expenses, as well as acquiring the resources to carryout the reconstruction. Ranchers, farmers woodcutters, and others were going to have to be contacted and supplies and resources negotiated. It was up to the emperor to sort it out.
As for himself, Alder tasked himself with the most difficult task of going to the hospital and to the mortician to determine what assistance they would need. He also left it up to himself to help retrieve the lifeless bodies from the immediate area and make agreements for search and retrieval in areas beyond. What's more, he was to aide in identifying the dead and notifying any living relatives that had that survived the calamity. He knew that this was going to be an especially painful duty and felt it only right that he give himself the hardest task and spare his family that remorseful hardship.
✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧Spotlight: Aftermath pt2
General | Posted 4 years agoIn his noble effort to save his mother and brother, Boomer sustained tremendous injuries. Broken bones, a punctured lung and assorted bruises were just a few of the injuries his beaten body sustained. He lay unconscious, but alive in his hospital room. Doctors and nurses routinely checked in on the boy to ensure his recovery was progressing.
Beside him, Keemeome slept on a soft, down cot, while Malki slept curled up against her. The pair were largely uninjured, thanks to Boomer, yet uninjured though they were, they were exhausted and slept heavily in the safety of sturdy hospital walls.
In a different unit, Sweetheart also slept, soundly. Her dislocated, tattered arm was successfully reconnected to her shoulder and the torn flesh between them was stitched together. It would be quite a while before she would be able to regain mobility in the sorely damaged limb.
Her other more minor injuries were tended to with skillful hands, however, the greatest damage to her body, was the dangerously abundant loss of blood. The golden queen had required two transfusions of blood to keep her alive. But, even with the transfusions, her body had been pushed beyond its limit while with a severe reduction of blood flowing through it. The havoc it wreaked within her was devastating. Had she arrived at the hospital minutes later than she did, she would certainly not have survived. But, she made it in time to save herself, as well as her tiny sister.
Alive, thanks to her sister's valiant efforts, Amber slept in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care infirmary. Water had invaded her lungs and the doctors had to work diligently to remove it. Luckily, the fluid in her lungs was able to be removed, but the trauma they sustained was significant. Doctors had to hook the infant up to breathing apparatuses to assist her respiration and relive the kitten of the burden of breathing on her own.
Like her sister, the infant was stable, but her body suffered internally. It would be a while before she would be a healthy baby, ready to leave the infirmary and moved to the nursery.
Bellen looked through the glass window of his daughter's infirmary unit. It was surreal to him, that just a day earlier, he was holding his baby girl in his arms, smiling at how adorable she was. Now, he looked at her through cold glass, unable to touch her, let alone cradle her, as she struggled and fought to stay alive. He was relieved that she had moved beyond the danger zone, but she was still vulnerable and frail. A ragged sigh escaped him as he gave his child one last look before wheeling himself away.
Though not paralyzed, Bellen was wheelchair-bound. His legs were functional, but too weak to carry him any moderate distance. Instead, he relied on a wheelchair to transport him from place to place and the place he was making his way to, was the ICU ward where his firstborn child rested. The doctors had explained her condition to him, as well as telling him how she had attained her injuries. He was always proud of his children, but the pride he felt for his beloved daughter filled his heart near to bursting. She was an amazingly devoted sister, so much that she sacrificed her body to rescue Amber.
He did not know where Amber's twin, Flora, was and thought it unusual that the two were apart, as they were always together. It was strange though not unheard of. Regardless, he would surely find out once Sweetheart regained consciousness. Now, though, he just wanted to be at her side, silently cheering her on.
He wheeled himself next to her bed and looked at her, lovingly. He placed his hand on her cheek and gently caressed it. "I am so proud of you." he whispered. "You saved your sister. Amber is alive because of you. You sacrificed so much to keep her safe. You are a wonderful big sister and I couldn't be prouder." he said, leaning over to kiss her brow.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you. I'm sorry that you had to go through this on your own. Forgive your feeble father." he said, kissing her brow, once more. "Get some sleep, my heart. Rest well and heal. I will keep an eye on your sister, so do not worry about her. You just rest. You have done more than enough, so leave the rest to me."
Beside him, Keemeome slept on a soft, down cot, while Malki slept curled up against her. The pair were largely uninjured, thanks to Boomer, yet uninjured though they were, they were exhausted and slept heavily in the safety of sturdy hospital walls.
In a different unit, Sweetheart also slept, soundly. Her dislocated, tattered arm was successfully reconnected to her shoulder and the torn flesh between them was stitched together. It would be quite a while before she would be able to regain mobility in the sorely damaged limb.
Her other more minor injuries were tended to with skillful hands, however, the greatest damage to her body, was the dangerously abundant loss of blood. The golden queen had required two transfusions of blood to keep her alive. But, even with the transfusions, her body had been pushed beyond its limit while with a severe reduction of blood flowing through it. The havoc it wreaked within her was devastating. Had she arrived at the hospital minutes later than she did, she would certainly not have survived. But, she made it in time to save herself, as well as her tiny sister.
Alive, thanks to her sister's valiant efforts, Amber slept in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care infirmary. Water had invaded her lungs and the doctors had to work diligently to remove it. Luckily, the fluid in her lungs was able to be removed, but the trauma they sustained was significant. Doctors had to hook the infant up to breathing apparatuses to assist her respiration and relive the kitten of the burden of breathing on her own.
Like her sister, the infant was stable, but her body suffered internally. It would be a while before she would be a healthy baby, ready to leave the infirmary and moved to the nursery.
Bellen looked through the glass window of his daughter's infirmary unit. It was surreal to him, that just a day earlier, he was holding his baby girl in his arms, smiling at how adorable she was. Now, he looked at her through cold glass, unable to touch her, let alone cradle her, as she struggled and fought to stay alive. He was relieved that she had moved beyond the danger zone, but she was still vulnerable and frail. A ragged sigh escaped him as he gave his child one last look before wheeling himself away.
Though not paralyzed, Bellen was wheelchair-bound. His legs were functional, but too weak to carry him any moderate distance. Instead, he relied on a wheelchair to transport him from place to place and the place he was making his way to, was the ICU ward where his firstborn child rested. The doctors had explained her condition to him, as well as telling him how she had attained her injuries. He was always proud of his children, but the pride he felt for his beloved daughter filled his heart near to bursting. She was an amazingly devoted sister, so much that she sacrificed her body to rescue Amber.
He did not know where Amber's twin, Flora, was and thought it unusual that the two were apart, as they were always together. It was strange though not unheard of. Regardless, he would surely find out once Sweetheart regained consciousness. Now, though, he just wanted to be at her side, silently cheering her on.
He wheeled himself next to her bed and looked at her, lovingly. He placed his hand on her cheek and gently caressed it. "I am so proud of you." he whispered. "You saved your sister. Amber is alive because of you. You sacrificed so much to keep her safe. You are a wonderful big sister and I couldn't be prouder." he said, leaning over to kiss her brow.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you. I'm sorry that you had to go through this on your own. Forgive your feeble father." he said, kissing her brow, once more. "Get some sleep, my heart. Rest well and heal. I will keep an eye on your sister, so do not worry about her. You just rest. You have done more than enough, so leave the rest to me."
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe flood waters had finally receded and the danger was over. However, the tragedy that was its arrival had left incredible devastation and despair in its wake. The townsfolk emerged from their shelters and other places of safety to survey the damage that the disaster had imposed on their modest city. Parents covered the eyes of their children, as the sight was too much for the youngest members of their families to behold.
Debris and wreckage was strewn about everywhere mournful eyes could see. Broken, dilapidated homes covered the once pristine city streets. Timber, bamboo shafts, clay and other materials used to build houses of the villagers, were all that feline feet stepped upon. But, it was not the remnants of destroyed homes that made parents censor the sight of their children. ...it was the remains of people, friends, neighbors, family and others that urged despairing adults to usher their children back to their shelters.
Bodies broken and disfigured by the sea's torrent littered the town. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, no one was spared, be they young or old. Babies clutched tightly in their mothers' arms, fathers holding firmly to their children's hands, lovers wrapped in the tenacious embrace they shared and many more made up the array of victims. So many lost, so many gone, so many never to smile again in the light of day.
It was by the grace and charity of the Great Spirit that Boomer, his mother, Keemeome and his youngest brother, Malki, were not counted among the departed. Likewise, Sweetheart, her precious sister, Amber and her father, Bellen were also spared from the watery hand of death. Both families were recovering at the Calico City hospital.
Debris and wreckage was strewn about everywhere mournful eyes could see. Broken, dilapidated homes covered the once pristine city streets. Timber, bamboo shafts, clay and other materials used to build houses of the villagers, were all that feline feet stepped upon. But, it was not the remnants of destroyed homes that made parents censor the sight of their children. ...it was the remains of people, friends, neighbors, family and others that urged despairing adults to usher their children back to their shelters.
Bodies broken and disfigured by the sea's torrent littered the town. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, no one was spared, be they young or old. Babies clutched tightly in their mothers' arms, fathers holding firmly to their children's hands, lovers wrapped in the tenacious embrace they shared and many more made up the array of victims. So many lost, so many gone, so many never to smile again in the light of day.
It was by the grace and charity of the Great Spirit that Boomer, his mother, Keemeome and his youngest brother, Malki, were not counted among the departed. Likewise, Sweetheart, her precious sister, Amber and her father, Bellen were also spared from the watery hand of death. Both families were recovering at the Calico City hospital.
✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧Spotlight: Sweetheart (Great Flood pt16)
General | Posted 4 years ago"Help me, please!" Sweetheart shouted, as she dashed into the medical facility.
"By the Great Spirit!" a nurse gasped, as she heard Sweetheart's cry and saw her injuries. She hurried to her and upon seeing the gravity of her lacerations and mutilations, the nurse realized that from afar, she had greatly underestimated the damage. The savagery that was the eldest sister's ragged, nearly decapitated arm was a severe wound that was well beyond her ability to diagnose. "DOCTOR!" she called, "CRITICAL! PATIENT BLEED OUT!"
"No, no!" Sweetheart protested, as medical staff pulled her from the water. "Forget about me! My sister! Please, help my sister!" she begged, pushing the infant toward the nurse.
Without hesitation, the nurse accepted the kitten and quickly assessed her condition. "PEDIATRIC RESUSCITATION!" she shouted.
As if by magic, a barrage of doctors and nurses appeared and surrounded the nurse. While the physicians urgently attended the child, an additional triage team worked to secure Sweetheart to a stretcher.
"No!" she cried, struggling against the nurses working to get her onto the bed. "Please, my sister!"
"Miss, we are doing everything we can for your sister, but we need to get you to surgery." a doctor said. "You are losing too much blood. It's a miracle that you are still alive, now, let alone conscious and resisting our help."
Gently, the doctor took her hand in his and gave it a warm squeeze. "Be calm. It's obvious that you both have gone through many hardships, so I know that me asking you to be still is asking a lot. But, even so, you must calm down and let us help you.
"You love your sister very much, but, your love for her is something she will never know, if you lose your life right now. I promise that we will do everything within our power to get your sister back. So, you must trust us, because right now, that is the greatest help you can offer to her."
She looked up at the man who was quietly speaking to her, then over to the team working on her sister. She could not see her sibling through the blockade of medical staff, but when she returned her gaze to the doctor with the quiet voice, she knew that he was right. Deftly, she nodded her head and felt the doctor gently squeeze her hand, once more.
No longer struggling against her diligent benefactors, Sweetheart was quickly lifted onto a stretcher.
"Clear a way to operation room C." the doctor was saying to a nurse.
"Right away, Doctor Tahir." the nurse replied. Obediently, she hurried to carryout her orders, while the doctor continued moving his staff to prep.
"We need to stabilize her and get her to surgery immediately. She will need a transfusion. Obtain her blood type and get two units."
She could hear the doctors speaking, the sounds they made sounding alien to her, as she continued to look in the direction of her sister. She still could not see...or hear her, but as she looked on, her eyelids became heavy. The blood loss was finally pushing passed the adrenaline that had previously fueled her body into motion. She felt weak and tired, but yet, no pain, only a full bodied numbness.
A nurse turned her head away from viewing where her sister was and placed a breathing mask over her face.
"You're going to feel very sleepy." the nurse said, sweetly.
She was already feeling sleepy. She blinked, slowly and stared at the white tiles that made up the ceiling. "Mommy..." she thought, wishing that her mother was with her now. "Daddy..." she thought.
It was then that she remembered her father was already at the hospital. Somewhere within these alabaster walls, her father was here. She was not alone. She was not a solitary victim in this healing home. Her father, the man that picked her up when she cried, that sang to her when she was sad, the man who made all the bad things go away, was here. Somewhere, he was here.
Feeling a twinge of comfort knowing he was here with her, she stopped fighting the tranquil hand of slumber and slipped into a deep, peaceful, sleep. But, had she been able to stay awake just a bit longer, she would have had an additional assurance of her lack of solitude and familial togetherness, for if she had stayed awake just a moment longer, she would have been overjoyed to hear...
...the sound of a baby's cry.
"By the Great Spirit!" a nurse gasped, as she heard Sweetheart's cry and saw her injuries. She hurried to her and upon seeing the gravity of her lacerations and mutilations, the nurse realized that from afar, she had greatly underestimated the damage. The savagery that was the eldest sister's ragged, nearly decapitated arm was a severe wound that was well beyond her ability to diagnose. "DOCTOR!" she called, "CRITICAL! PATIENT BLEED OUT!"
"No, no!" Sweetheart protested, as medical staff pulled her from the water. "Forget about me! My sister! Please, help my sister!" she begged, pushing the infant toward the nurse.
Without hesitation, the nurse accepted the kitten and quickly assessed her condition. "PEDIATRIC RESUSCITATION!" she shouted.
As if by magic, a barrage of doctors and nurses appeared and surrounded the nurse. While the physicians urgently attended the child, an additional triage team worked to secure Sweetheart to a stretcher.
"No!" she cried, struggling against the nurses working to get her onto the bed. "Please, my sister!"
"Miss, we are doing everything we can for your sister, but we need to get you to surgery." a doctor said. "You are losing too much blood. It's a miracle that you are still alive, now, let alone conscious and resisting our help."
Gently, the doctor took her hand in his and gave it a warm squeeze. "Be calm. It's obvious that you both have gone through many hardships, so I know that me asking you to be still is asking a lot. But, even so, you must calm down and let us help you.
"You love your sister very much, but, your love for her is something she will never know, if you lose your life right now. I promise that we will do everything within our power to get your sister back. So, you must trust us, because right now, that is the greatest help you can offer to her."
She looked up at the man who was quietly speaking to her, then over to the team working on her sister. She could not see her sibling through the blockade of medical staff, but when she returned her gaze to the doctor with the quiet voice, she knew that he was right. Deftly, she nodded her head and felt the doctor gently squeeze her hand, once more.
No longer struggling against her diligent benefactors, Sweetheart was quickly lifted onto a stretcher.
"Clear a way to operation room C." the doctor was saying to a nurse.
"Right away, Doctor Tahir." the nurse replied. Obediently, she hurried to carryout her orders, while the doctor continued moving his staff to prep.
"We need to stabilize her and get her to surgery immediately. She will need a transfusion. Obtain her blood type and get two units."
She could hear the doctors speaking, the sounds they made sounding alien to her, as she continued to look in the direction of her sister. She still could not see...or hear her, but as she looked on, her eyelids became heavy. The blood loss was finally pushing passed the adrenaline that had previously fueled her body into motion. She felt weak and tired, but yet, no pain, only a full bodied numbness.
A nurse turned her head away from viewing where her sister was and placed a breathing mask over her face.
"You're going to feel very sleepy." the nurse said, sweetly.
She was already feeling sleepy. She blinked, slowly and stared at the white tiles that made up the ceiling. "Mommy..." she thought, wishing that her mother was with her now. "Daddy..." she thought.
It was then that she remembered her father was already at the hospital. Somewhere within these alabaster walls, her father was here. She was not alone. She was not a solitary victim in this healing home. Her father, the man that picked her up when she cried, that sang to her when she was sad, the man who made all the bad things go away, was here. Somewhere, he was here.
Feeling a twinge of comfort knowing he was here with her, she stopped fighting the tranquil hand of slumber and slipped into a deep, peaceful, sleep. But, had she been able to stay awake just a bit longer, she would have had an additional assurance of her lack of solitude and familial togetherness, for if she had stayed awake just a moment longer, she would have been overjoyed to hear...
...the sound of a baby's cry.
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe flow of the water stopped so abruptly, that Sweetheart nearly fell over forward.
"...it...stopped moving." she whispered. "It stopped moving."
It was unusual, if not impossible, but indeed the water that flooded Calico City had come to a complete standstill. Like a normal wave, the wave of a tsunami ebbed and flowed, moving forward onto a beach shore, then backward to return to the sea. Even during the directional transition, when the water changed its course, it did not come to a full halt, it merely slowed down. Now, however, it was glassy, calm and at rest, like the serene waters of a quiet pond.
Whatever divine charitable spirit had bestowed upon her its blessing, Sweetheart genuinely did not care which it was. Grateful for the torrential respite, the golden queen rushed forward, running straight to the entrance of the hospital.
On either side of the hospital entryway, dividing barrier walls kept the water from venturing anywhere into the hospital, except where it was directed. The stream of water was guided through the building on a straight path leading from the front entrance, out to the other end of the building. Periodically within the canal, bollards were erected to catch debris and, more importantly, people that were fortunate enough to find themselves in the safe haven of healing. Doctors and nurses stood near the canal walls, catching people that happened by, dragging them out of the hazardous river and into the safety of the dry side of the hospital.
Sadly, in addition to the living, the hospital workers also had to retrieve the dead, as their bodies were flushed through the water along with debris that traveled alongside of them. A precious few of the people that were retrieved were able to be revived and life was returned to the lifeless. Yet, tragically, despite their tireless dedication and effort, far more of the souls that were torn from their bodies, remained separated with painful finality.
"...it...stopped moving." she whispered. "It stopped moving."
It was unusual, if not impossible, but indeed the water that flooded Calico City had come to a complete standstill. Like a normal wave, the wave of a tsunami ebbed and flowed, moving forward onto a beach shore, then backward to return to the sea. Even during the directional transition, when the water changed its course, it did not come to a full halt, it merely slowed down. Now, however, it was glassy, calm and at rest, like the serene waters of a quiet pond.
Whatever divine charitable spirit had bestowed upon her its blessing, Sweetheart genuinely did not care which it was. Grateful for the torrential respite, the golden queen rushed forward, running straight to the entrance of the hospital.
On either side of the hospital entryway, dividing barrier walls kept the water from venturing anywhere into the hospital, except where it was directed. The stream of water was guided through the building on a straight path leading from the front entrance, out to the other end of the building. Periodically within the canal, bollards were erected to catch debris and, more importantly, people that were fortunate enough to find themselves in the safe haven of healing. Doctors and nurses stood near the canal walls, catching people that happened by, dragging them out of the hazardous river and into the safety of the dry side of the hospital.
Sadly, in addition to the living, the hospital workers also had to retrieve the dead, as their bodies were flushed through the water along with debris that traveled alongside of them. A precious few of the people that were retrieved were able to be revived and life was returned to the lifeless. Yet, tragically, despite their tireless dedication and effort, far more of the souls that were torn from their bodies, remained separated with painful finality.
✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧Spotlight: Sweetheart (Great Flood pt14)
General | Posted 4 years ago"No..." Sweetheart whispered. "No..." she whispered, again, looking ahead at how far from the entrance was from where she stood. On a regular day, the distance wasn't that great. However, on this day, it was as though the divide was endless.
"...no." she said. "...no. ...not this one." she said, yet unlike the whispers she breathed moments before, this was not a silent prayer. This was a declaration.
Slowly, she began to walk, again. "I won't let you take her." she vowed, with determination and conviction, as she forcefully increased her pace. Her immobile arm dragged across the wall, painting the concrete red with her furious blood.
"You will NOT take her." she hissed, her desperation displaced by a rising anger.
Once again, she forced her body onward, increasing her pace with each step. The flesh of her exposed limb began to tear apart from arm. If she felt the pain, she gave no indication that she had, as she plowed forward through the cool, raging water. The only pain she felt, was anguish over her sister, stolen by the sea.
"YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER!" she screamed.
All at once, as though hearing and understanding the eldest sister's command, the wave that came from the distant sea and had invaded the shores of Calico City, decimating its people...
...stopped.
"...no." she said. "...no. ...not this one." she said, yet unlike the whispers she breathed moments before, this was not a silent prayer. This was a declaration.
Slowly, she began to walk, again. "I won't let you take her." she vowed, with determination and conviction, as she forcefully increased her pace. Her immobile arm dragged across the wall, painting the concrete red with her furious blood.
"You will NOT take her." she hissed, her desperation displaced by a rising anger.
Once again, she forced her body onward, increasing her pace with each step. The flesh of her exposed limb began to tear apart from arm. If she felt the pain, she gave no indication that she had, as she plowed forward through the cool, raging water. The only pain she felt, was anguish over her sister, stolen by the sea.
"YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER!" she screamed.
All at once, as though hearing and understanding the eldest sister's command, the wave that came from the distant sea and had invaded the shores of Calico City, decimating its people...
...stopped.
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General | Posted 4 years agoSweetheart lurched along the wall, far more numb than she was when she first crashed into the hospital wall. She no longer heard the roaring of the sea that was all around her. She could only hear a constant replay of her own voice, crying her sister's name.
Flora.
Her beloved sister had only entered this world less than a month before...and now, she was tragically removed from it. Her life had barely begun, before it was already over. Sweetheart's eyes were swollen from the endless flow of tears that cascaded from them. Her chest still burned from her earlier trauma, but now it was joined by a pain that was far greater. The other foregone aches her body had been assailed with, had seemingly abandoned their brutality against her, at least for the moment.
She had successfully crawled beyond the halfway mark of the unmovable wall and had stopped being pulled away from the hospital entrance and was finally being drawn to it. Rescue was in sight.
"...wait." she murmured, looking down at her surviving sister. Through all of the calamitous events she had just endured moments before, she hadn't noticed that the sunny gold kitten that she held tightly in her arm...
...had gone silent.
Flora.
Her beloved sister had only entered this world less than a month before...and now, she was tragically removed from it. Her life had barely begun, before it was already over. Sweetheart's eyes were swollen from the endless flow of tears that cascaded from them. Her chest still burned from her earlier trauma, but now it was joined by a pain that was far greater. The other foregone aches her body had been assailed with, had seemingly abandoned their brutality against her, at least for the moment.
She had successfully crawled beyond the halfway mark of the unmovable wall and had stopped being pulled away from the hospital entrance and was finally being drawn to it. Rescue was in sight.
"...wait." she murmured, looking down at her surviving sister. Through all of the calamitous events she had just endured moments before, she hadn't noticed that the sunny gold kitten that she held tightly in her arm...
...had gone silent.
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General | Posted 4 years agoTime stopped as Sweetheart stared in disbelief at the nothingness that was once a secure binding keeping her beloved sister safely on her back. She turned and looked over her shoulder, praying that somehow her sister was still there, but saw only her own golden hair swaying in the violent currents of water.
"This cannot be..." Sweetheart whispered, as she returned her unbelieving gaze forward. Her eyes were wide with shock and devastation. "This cannot be... A nightmare...this a nightmare. Wake up, Sweetheart, wake up. Wake up... Wake up... Wake up... WAKE UP!" she screamed.
Slowly, she turned and looked over her shoulder once more, but the scene remained unchanged. Only the clear, blue water and the golden tendrils of her hair floating upon it made up the canvas of her sight. Sweetheart stared at the empty painting of tragedy before her, her gaze blank and glassy. This was unreal. Surely this was unreal. But, as she continued to stare at the rebellious sea and no longer felt the warmth of her sister clinging to her, only the cold chill of the waves beating upon her back, Sweetheart was forced to face the painful reality before her. Her infant sister, the kitten she tried so hard to protect, the little one whose life had only just begun...was gone.
Warm, stinging tears poured from her eyes as the vice of anguish clamped down on her heart. The misery that swelled within her, the tragedy that was the loss of her sister, the agony of it all...there were no words to echo the feelings of remorse. The only word that came to mind was the only word that was the sum of her aching. It bubbled up within her, gathered in her throat and was expelled in a loud, mournful wail as she cried,
"FLORA!!"
"This cannot be..." Sweetheart whispered, as she returned her unbelieving gaze forward. Her eyes were wide with shock and devastation. "This cannot be... A nightmare...this a nightmare. Wake up, Sweetheart, wake up. Wake up... Wake up... Wake up... WAKE UP!" she screamed.
Slowly, she turned and looked over her shoulder once more, but the scene remained unchanged. Only the clear, blue water and the golden tendrils of her hair floating upon it made up the canvas of her sight. Sweetheart stared at the empty painting of tragedy before her, her gaze blank and glassy. This was unreal. Surely this was unreal. But, as she continued to stare at the rebellious sea and no longer felt the warmth of her sister clinging to her, only the cold chill of the waves beating upon her back, Sweetheart was forced to face the painful reality before her. Her infant sister, the kitten she tried so hard to protect, the little one whose life had only just begun...was gone.
Warm, stinging tears poured from her eyes as the vice of anguish clamped down on her heart. The misery that swelled within her, the tragedy that was the loss of her sister, the agony of it all...there were no words to echo the feelings of remorse. The only word that came to mind was the only word that was the sum of her aching. It bubbled up within her, gathered in her throat and was expelled in a loud, mournful wail as she cried,
"FLORA!!"
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe water once again covered the heads of the sisters, though this time, with more force than before. Sweetheart was swept off her feet and forced under. With the meager strength of her legs pushing her up and with the aid of the concrete walls of the hospital to brace her, Sweetheart was able to climb out of the water.
Though out of the water, a great amount of water filled her mouth, so much that she could not force it out quickly enough and salty sea water ran down her throat. Sweetheart desperately attempted to suppress her gag reflex, but the water that she ingested threatened to enter her trachea and she could not prevent her body's natural safeguard against choking and began to cough, violently.
Sweetheart was no longer holding onto the fabric via her teeth and she knew that she needed to regain her hold. But, she could not stop coughing. Water had made its way into her lungs and her body protested the intrusion, angrily. Her chest burned and she started to vomit. She was choking.
She looked down at the knot as it slowly resumed its separation. She reached down and grasped the fabric once more, then immediately released it as she resumed forcefully coughing and gagging. She looked down and was relieved to see the tie was still intact. She started to reach for the harness, but her lungs halted her as she continued attempting to expel the invasive salty water.
Once she regained her ability to breathe somewhat normally, she looked at the fabric of the harness that was bound together.
...but saw nothing.
Though out of the water, a great amount of water filled her mouth, so much that she could not force it out quickly enough and salty sea water ran down her throat. Sweetheart desperately attempted to suppress her gag reflex, but the water that she ingested threatened to enter her trachea and she could not prevent her body's natural safeguard against choking and began to cough, violently.
Sweetheart was no longer holding onto the fabric via her teeth and she knew that she needed to regain her hold. But, she could not stop coughing. Water had made its way into her lungs and her body protested the intrusion, angrily. Her chest burned and she started to vomit. She was choking.
She looked down at the knot as it slowly resumed its separation. She reached down and grasped the fabric once more, then immediately released it as she resumed forcefully coughing and gagging. She looked down and was relieved to see the tie was still intact. She started to reach for the harness, but her lungs halted her as she continued attempting to expel the invasive salty water.
Once she regained her ability to breathe somewhat normally, she looked at the fabric of the harness that was bound together.
...but saw nothing.
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General | Posted 4 years agoWatching the knot rapidly unfurl, Sweetheart was gripped with a desperate fear. With no other way she could think of to save her sister, the golden queen lunged her head forward and grabbed remnants of the knot between her teeth, biting down as hard as she could.
It worked. Success. For the moment, it was enough. It was holding. Now she had to keep moving forward.
The water splashed and sprayed against the impenetrable wall and the trio of sisters that lurched across it. Over and over, the wave surged, covering Sweetheart's head before retreating. The young lass had to suppress the urge to cough as water flowed passed her teeth while she clamped down on the harness' fabric. She could not spit the water out, so she slowly pressed it back out passed her shining white fangs. She knew that she could not open her mouth, for if she did, there would be nothing she could to stop her sister from being lost to the sea.
Thankfully, she could still hear her infant siblings crying. Whenever the sisters resurfaced after being submerged under water, she immediately listened for their irritable wailing. Each time, she was relieved to hear them cough for a bit, before resuming their cries of discontent.
They were still with her. They were still holding on.
...then, another surge crashed against them.
It worked. Success. For the moment, it was enough. It was holding. Now she had to keep moving forward.
The water splashed and sprayed against the impenetrable wall and the trio of sisters that lurched across it. Over and over, the wave surged, covering Sweetheart's head before retreating. The young lass had to suppress the urge to cough as water flowed passed her teeth while she clamped down on the harness' fabric. She could not spit the water out, so she slowly pressed it back out passed her shining white fangs. She knew that she could not open her mouth, for if she did, there would be nothing she could to stop her sister from being lost to the sea.
Thankfully, she could still hear her infant siblings crying. Whenever the sisters resurfaced after being submerged under water, she immediately listened for their irritable wailing. Each time, she was relieved to hear them cough for a bit, before resuming their cries of discontent.
They were still with her. They were still holding on.
...then, another surge crashed against them.
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General | Posted 4 years agoSweetheart gasped. Her eyes grew wide with distress and terror at the sight of the unraveling knot that tied her sister's harness securely to her back.
"No...no...no!" she breathed.
Frantically, she looked around, desperately trying to find a way to stop the fabric from coming undone. Amidst a tumultuous tsunami, awash in the rushing waters of the salty sea, the only thing within reach were the walls of the hospital. Yet, even if there was something usable within range, Sweetheart had only one usable arm with which to grasp it. But, that one functioning arm was already sheltering one of her infant sisters. Her other sister was on her back, slowly losing the security of the position.
She looked down at the unwinding piece of tied fabric and knew that she had no viable options. She could either release the sister she held with her operative arm and save the one at her back, or she could do nothing and continue to hold her sister in her arm. As it was, any decision that she made would be at the expense of the life of the discarded sibling. Of course, that was no option. But, what could she do? What could she use to prevent her sister from being swept away? Was there no hope? Was there nothing she could do?
"No...no...no!" she breathed.
Frantically, she looked around, desperately trying to find a way to stop the fabric from coming undone. Amidst a tumultuous tsunami, awash in the rushing waters of the salty sea, the only thing within reach were the walls of the hospital. Yet, even if there was something usable within range, Sweetheart had only one usable arm with which to grasp it. But, that one functioning arm was already sheltering one of her infant sisters. Her other sister was on her back, slowly losing the security of the position.
She looked down at the unwinding piece of tied fabric and knew that she had no viable options. She could either release the sister she held with her operative arm and save the one at her back, or she could do nothing and continue to hold her sister in her arm. As it was, any decision that she made would be at the expense of the life of the discarded sibling. Of course, that was no option. But, what could she do? What could she use to prevent her sister from being swept away? Was there no hope? Was there nothing she could do?
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General | Posted 4 years agoSweetheart gripped her younger sister that she tenaciously held with her one good arm, as tightly as she could, then started to inch forward. She shimmied herself onward, slowly wriggling her body across the wall and relying on her legs to do most of the work. Though her legs were badly injured, she did still maintain the use of them, albeit painfully.
Little by little, the golden queen crawled across the wall. The more she moved, the greater the aches and pains in her broken body felt. She had to stop, every few inches, to catch her breath and recover from her internal agony. When before, she shook from fear, now her body shook from the torment her body felt as it was trying to keep itself whole. The only thing that kept her from giving in to her suffering and allowing the sea to swallow her and digest her life, was the precious life she held by way of her infant sisters. They were the force driving her onward.
...it was for that reason, that sheer horror poured into her when she realized the knot that was securing the harness nestling her tiny sister upon her back...
...was unraveling.
Little by little, the golden queen crawled across the wall. The more she moved, the greater the aches and pains in her broken body felt. She had to stop, every few inches, to catch her breath and recover from her internal agony. When before, she shook from fear, now her body shook from the torment her body felt as it was trying to keep itself whole. The only thing that kept her from giving in to her suffering and allowing the sea to swallow her and digest her life, was the precious life she held by way of her infant sisters. They were the force driving her onward.
...it was for that reason, that sheer horror poured into her when she realized the knot that was securing the harness nestling her tiny sister upon her back...
...was unraveling.
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe scream that left Sweetheart's breast was deafening. Her shoulder crashed into the wall with such force that not only did it dislocate, it tore through her flesh and skin, its pearly bone protruding outside of her body. Even amidst the churn of the sea, she could see her own blood draining out of her.
Her left arm was useless. She could no longer feel it and she certainly could not move it. Her head ached and throbbed. If not for the abundant amount of hair that crowned her head and cushioned the impact to her skull when she hit the wall, she surely would have been unconscious, tumbling beneath the powerful current streaming all around her. She was thankful for her modest vanity. It proved to be a blessing and in her predicament, she needed every blessing she could get.
Pushing through the various areas of pain that stabbed her throughout her feminine form, Sweetheart focused on the imperative task at hand. Though she had stopped traveling down stream, the wave was actively pulling her away from the hospital entrance. She had not moved beyond the center of the wall to the point where the current stopped pulling her out and the diverting columns pulled her in. She had to move. If she was going to get to safety, she could not stay where she was. But, with two sisters and only one arm, that was easier said than done.
Her left arm was useless. She could no longer feel it and she certainly could not move it. Her head ached and throbbed. If not for the abundant amount of hair that crowned her head and cushioned the impact to her skull when she hit the wall, she surely would have been unconscious, tumbling beneath the powerful current streaming all around her. She was thankful for her modest vanity. It proved to be a blessing and in her predicament, she needed every blessing she could get.
Pushing through the various areas of pain that stabbed her throughout her feminine form, Sweetheart focused on the imperative task at hand. Though she had stopped traveling down stream, the wave was actively pulling her away from the hospital entrance. She had not moved beyond the center of the wall to the point where the current stopped pulling her out and the diverting columns pulled her in. She had to move. If she was going to get to safety, she could not stay where she was. But, with two sisters and only one arm, that was easier said than done.
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General | Posted 4 years agoBoomer opened his mouth as though to scream in pain, but instead of a painful cry, there was a painful wheeze and mouthful of blood spewed out of him. Very nearly every part of him hurt and the few parts of him that did not hurt had gone numb. Breathing had become a laborious endeavor. Oxygen was not getting into him at a steady flow and the Red Hawk was starting to lose consciousness.
Keemeome was shouting something to him, but he knew not what. He could not tell if he was still holding onto her, but he prayed that he was. He continued to hear the sound of his mother's voice, but he could not make out the words. As his conciousness steadily declined, his sight began to fail him. He tried to sort out his surroundings, he tried to ensure that he was still holding his mother and being her anchor, he tried to maintain consciousness, but as steadily as his sight fled him, so to did his ability to stay awake.
Keemeome was shouting something to him, but he knew not what. He could not tell if he was still holding onto her, but he prayed that he was. He continued to hear the sound of his mother's voice, but he could not make out the words. As his conciousness steadily declined, his sight began to fail him. He tried to sort out his surroundings, he tried to ensure that he was still holding his mother and being her anchor, he tried to maintain consciousness, but as steadily as his sight fled him, so to did his ability to stay awake.
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe hospital continued to rush toward her. She knew that the only way that she was going to stop, was by colliding into the hospital wall. But, with one sister in her arms and the other on her back, the only option left to her, was to shoulder the force of the impact at her side.
"After I hit, I need to crawl along the wall to the entrance." Sweetheart reasoned. "So, I need to hit the wall facing the door. My left side, then. I'll hit the wall with my left side."
Though she was thankful that her dominant arm was her right, she still was afraid of the pain she about to endure. A concrete wall. She was flying at breakneck speed toward a concrete wall. The collision was going to be painful, surely excruciatingly so. But, there was no choice.
Tears stung her eyes and trailed down her cheeks, mixing with the salty water that swirled around her. She was scared. Her body trembled with fear. But, to save herself and her precious sisters, there was no choice. She closed her eyes, whispered a prayer to the Great Spirit and let the water carry her to the hospital where it slammed her mercilessly against its unforgiving stone wall.
"After I hit, I need to crawl along the wall to the entrance." Sweetheart reasoned. "So, I need to hit the wall facing the door. My left side, then. I'll hit the wall with my left side."
Though she was thankful that her dominant arm was her right, she still was afraid of the pain she about to endure. A concrete wall. She was flying at breakneck speed toward a concrete wall. The collision was going to be painful, surely excruciatingly so. But, there was no choice.
Tears stung her eyes and trailed down her cheeks, mixing with the salty water that swirled around her. She was scared. Her body trembled with fear. But, to save herself and her precious sisters, there was no choice. She closed her eyes, whispered a prayer to the Great Spirit and let the water carry her to the hospital where it slammed her mercilessly against its unforgiving stone wall.
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe stables were in sight and approaching fast. His mother and baby brother needed him and his father was counting on him. He could not fail them all. He could not squander the incredible trust that they had placed in him. He would see his family to safety, no matter what. Even if he did not make it out of this alive, Boomer would make sure that his mother and his brother would.
He had to.
"There!" he thought to himself, as he spied a pillar ahead of him, directly in his path. "That's the one. I can't miss. This is our only chance. Mama. Malki. I'll protect you both."
That was the final thought that ran through his mind as he measured the remaining distance between them and the wooden beam. When he was close enough and was certain they would not go off course, the young tom pivoted and turned so that his family, safely in his arms, were at his front and his back was facing the pillar. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for imminent impact and with the full force of the wave, the brave young lad crashed into the wooden stilt.
He had to.
"There!" he thought to himself, as he spied a pillar ahead of him, directly in his path. "That's the one. I can't miss. This is our only chance. Mama. Malki. I'll protect you both."
That was the final thought that ran through his mind as he measured the remaining distance between them and the wooden beam. When he was close enough and was certain they would not go off course, the young tom pivoted and turned so that his family, safely in his arms, were at his front and his back was facing the pillar. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for imminent impact and with the full force of the wave, the brave young lad crashed into the wooden stilt.
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General | Posted 4 years agoSomehow, Sweetheart found herself speeding down mainstreet. But, though she could see the palm trees flying by her, she could not reach any of them.
Unlike Boomer who towered above the other villagers, Sweetheart was not so altitude gifted. Over and over, she was pulled under, but miraculously, over and over, she was able to reach the surface. Even more miraculously, she continued to hear the cries of her sisters.
"Keep crying, you two!" she said. "Just keep letting me know that you're still with me! Oh!" she gasped, as she saw the direction the water was taking her lead straight to...
"The hospital!" she thought, with hope. "The hospital walls withstand flood waters and they have diverting columns that lead water through the building and out the other end. There are bollards to catch debris and people, if they can just funnel to it. ...I have to..." she swore.
...though, just like her Red Hawk lover, before she could reach salvation, she was going to have to endure the pain of collision.
Unlike Boomer who towered above the other villagers, Sweetheart was not so altitude gifted. Over and over, she was pulled under, but miraculously, over and over, she was able to reach the surface. Even more miraculously, she continued to hear the cries of her sisters.
"Keep crying, you two!" she said. "Just keep letting me know that you're still with me! Oh!" she gasped, as she saw the direction the water was taking her lead straight to...
"The hospital!" she thought, with hope. "The hospital walls withstand flood waters and they have diverting columns that lead water through the building and out the other end. There are bollards to catch debris and people, if they can just funnel to it. ...I have to..." she swore.
...though, just like her Red Hawk lover, before she could reach salvation, she was going to have to endure the pain of collision.
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe current dragged the trio of a mother and her two sons across the center of town. Though the wave was powerful, it was fairly shallow, at least to a Red Hawk male. Even at just 18 years of age, Boomer already stood taller than any of the men in the city, save for his father. If he could find his feet...
"AH!" Boomer gasped, as he broke the surface of the water. He heard his mother gasp and sputter as he held her above the rapids. The voice he did not hear, was that of his brother.
"He's alive." he said to himself. "He has to be." he thought, as he tried to figure out where they had drifted to. He noticed several landmarks that told him where he was. They were headed straight toward the livery.
"The stables...the stables are elevated." he realized. "If I can steer us toward them, I can get us out of the water. I just need to...try...to reach them..." he decided.
Of course, he also knew that at the speed they were traveling, the only way to stop, was to slam into one of the stilted pillars. Still, if there was no other way...
"AH!" Boomer gasped, as he broke the surface of the water. He heard his mother gasp and sputter as he held her above the rapids. The voice he did not hear, was that of his brother.
"He's alive." he said to himself. "He has to be." he thought, as he tried to figure out where they had drifted to. He noticed several landmarks that told him where he was. They were headed straight toward the livery.
"The stables...the stables are elevated." he realized. "If I can steer us toward them, I can get us out of the water. I just need to...try...to reach them..." he decided.
Of course, he also knew that at the speed they were traveling, the only way to stop, was to slam into one of the stilted pillars. Still, if there was no other way...
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General | Posted 4 years agoThe great wave swallowed Sweetheart and her sisters with remarkable speed. Her mind had not had enough time to process what had happened. One moment she was running on her feet, the next, her feet were above her as she tumbled beneath the ocean's waves.
By some miracle of chance, Sweetheart was able to climb to the surface and breach through it. She hacked and coughed and gasped for the air blessedly around her. Her sisters cried and wailed their displeasure of being at the mercy of the sea. Yet, even so, it was a delightful sound for Sweetheart to hear. If her sisters were crying, she knew at least, that they were alive.
...for as long as she could keep them so.
By some miracle of chance, Sweetheart was able to climb to the surface and breach through it. She hacked and coughed and gasped for the air blessedly around her. Her sisters cried and wailed their displeasure of being at the mercy of the sea. Yet, even so, it was a delightful sound for Sweetheart to hear. If her sisters were crying, she knew at least, that they were alive.
...for as long as she could keep them so.
