His two hearts finally fell back to their normal pace. Thump-thump, thump thump...a double pounding sound that would normally be alarming for others, was very normal for him. But with the straining conditions of his telepathy, even his two hearts were being over worked. One would think that abilities of the mind only affect the brain, but in actuality, theres a complete connection throughout the entire body. Not only would his brain give out, but so would his body. Sun fanned his face with his hand, making the best effort to cool himself off as his body began relaxing, slowly regenerating the vitality he had used up when he was maintaining the mind-link with Shay. But quite honestly, the last priority on his mind was himself, it was Shay. His eyes glazed over her body as a look of worry plastered itself upon his face. His eyes were darting along her body nervously.
Oh no....it's happening again....I'm of no help...incompetent..., he thought to himself.
His eyes were glossy...watery even. Sun had a knack for doubting his abilities and capabilities, especially when he was around other capable indiviuals. He frowned briefly as his thoughts were uncertain and his heart heavy. But it wouldn't be for long. When Shay opened her eyes, so did Sun, brightly, as a stream of tears seemed to flow from his eyes almost instantaneously. "Oh Sun", Shay cried out to him. Sun was cheesing like a silly happy puppy, but before he even had time to react, Shay pulled him in, almost strangling him with her decievingly powerful arms. Sun didn't even care, he was just crying and elated, that not only was Shay awake, but that he had done something helpful. He was actually useful. And what perfect timing.
Sun tried brushing off the bit of grunge that had been on her body a la Red Waste, but it was to no avail so as long as she was hugging him. When Shay finally released her grip, she asked him how much longer, but was Sun slightly confused. It took a moment for him to realize, but eventhough the hallucinations had subsided, she was still in incredible pain. She was wincing, struggling to physically verbalize her thoughts to him because of the comparable discomfort. "Oh Shay....I'm so glad to see your okay...or at least better than you were doing...but...I'm not sure how much longer the pain is going to last....but if it hurts too much to talk....", he spoke aloud...and then paused for a moment and projected a sprite from his mind and into Shay's to continue his sentence...
"...we can always continue on like this...", his voice rang out telepathically in her head. He smiled gently, wiping the tears from his face and looking to Isam who had also come over and asked her how she was feeling. He had been silent for nearly the entire time...just watching, like a father looking over his children. He didn't do much, but Sun was lightly comforted that he came over as well.
What a breezy afternoon it was...Eliza's hair was flowing violently in all directions it seemed and she was frantically trying to contain the chaos going on on her head. She was in the garden, a small isolated section of Cypher's camp grounds that generally only she visited. It was filled with flowers galore, vibrant colours that layered the ground in this small, private area she called her own she needed to be....well....alone. Her voice carried along the wind as she vocalized a remembered melody, singing a soft tune she created for her mother after she died and left the earth....or at least...after her soul did. Her mother's body still roamed around as one of the mindless carnivorous Dead, unattached to the world on any plane other than the physical one. The decaying body remained...but... her mother no longer did.
Eliza Singing
"Spring comes...roses die...I dream of you...whisper me....a sweet lullaby....you used to sing...how many dawns and dusks...have gone by...enough to know what I found....deep sighs sadly ring out....in the universe....I lost...my way...but I remember....
The way you smile....the way you cry...just the way you are...the way you kiss me....the way you touch me....the way look into... my eyes and tell me...the way you call me....the way you surrond me....the way you breathe...when I look up to the sky..only you...just only you...now I can see the way to you...so I'll return...to....where...I...belong..."
"I remember...."
Her voice was so angelic even the songbirds would cower in shame. Her voice faded gently...slowly losing power until it came to a complete stillness. Her hair was still flying about, which she quickly tried dealing with by brushing it behind her ears, but with little success. Her eyes marbled like a sphere of clear water. She looked down...plucked a small daisy from its roots and held it curled in her hands. She made a sighing gesture, closed her eyes, and brought her cupped hands to her chest and began to pray. She wasn't sure who she was praying to, but for some reason, relinquishing her feelings and worries to an unknown Almighty Power made her feel better. At least...that's what her father did before he lost his way.
"You doing okay sis?", a stern, yet loving voice called out from behind her. She dropped the flower and almost jumped out of her skin, quickly swiveling her body around to see her brother Geoffrey, who had been watching her intently as he lazily rested his body against a nearby tree and had his arms folded. She put her hand to her chest and took a deep breath, before frowning to him coyly. She lifted herself off the ground and ran her fingers through her hair agitatedly..."Sheesh Geo...you don't have to sneak up on me like that. I was fine....as you can see...", she said to him in a snide like manner. "Who was sneaking? I've been here the whole time...just watching over you is all. Hell, you should be grateful..", he responded blantantly, smiling to her warmly afterwards.
She rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly, walking over to him and poking him in the arm with her pointer finger. She was still wearing her mother's flower shaped ring, never taking it off for anything. "Well..you know I'm grateful. It's just...I hate being underestimated and treated like the weaker sex...", she began in a somewhat serious tone. "Hell...", she continued..."You could be the one in need of protection."
Geoffrey grinned and laughed out loud..."Naturally...", he retorted teasingly, uncrossing his strong arms and wrapping them affectionately around his sister, pulling her in and resting his head on hers. "You know I'm just looking out for you...", he spoke in a low, almost whisper-like tone. Eliza wrapped her own thin arms around his waist and had her head rested against his chest. "I know, I know...", she responded simply. Geoffrey lifted his head from off hers and lightly kissed her forehead, "Good! Now lets get goin then snail! Our favorite crazed cult leader is calling for a camp gathering. All heads have gotta be accounted for. I mean...come on. How can you resist that gorgeous face of his...", he playfully said to her in a teasing manner, letting go of her body and placing the back of his palm to her forehead to check her temperature.
She quickly swiped his hand from her head and snarled at him..."Give it a rest will you? Yes....he is a bit...eccentric, but...he's likeable...I guess. Besides, he practically saved us. I merely suggest we give him a chance..", she responded kinda carelessly, shrugging her shoulders as she walked past her brother and made her way towards the meeting area. Geoffrey quickly followed suit..."Whatever...I still don't trust the guy.", he quickly retorted. "Paranoid much?", she mumbled under her breath.
A few minutes later they arrived in the nick of time, opting to stand in the back. They were relatively new to the Cypher's camp and didn't want to feel as though they were intruding. Cypher stood in front of the crowd, bold, commanding, and quite frankly...almost intimidating. When he spoke, his voice roared and carried like a fighter jet shooting acorss the sky. He was immensely charismatic, and it seemed as if he knew exactly what to say. He mentioned some things about a Jacob Powers, a Paradise Land, Revenge-esque type material. "What is he talking about?", Eliza asked her brother in a confused tone. He shrugged and let out a quick, "No clue", still keeping his eyes focused and trained on Cypher, analyzing his every movement, posture, mannerisms. Geoffrey was soaking it in like a sponge. When Geoffrey had a bad feeling about someone, it was almost impossible to shake. Eliza could see the uncertainity on her brother's face, but she turned back her attention to the handsome Cypher.
Cypher was coming to his vocal climax it seemed, causing the camp folks to roar and chant in unison with him. As the roaring continued, Cypher seemed to be content with himself. Eliza looked around at the cheering crowd, her eyes a bit glazed and befuddled. She nonchalantly clasped her hands around her back and sighed, not really sure what to make of his speech or why everyone was so elated by it. She really had no clue what he was talking about. Geoffrey on the other hand had his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes leered at Cypher's misleadingly peaceful countenance.
He wasn't impressed. And in his mind...he wasn't fooled either.