"So where do you come from?" Jade's question rolled down her spine. Mora let her eyes settle to the soft ground below her, rocking back onto her heels. What was she going to tell the girl? That she came from Krolva? The town didn't exactly have the best reputation. It's also probably why she didn't recognize any of her fellow cadets. A stray ribbon of hair escaped from its hold, twisting in the gentle breeze and tickling her cheek. She scraped it beneath her fingertips and attempted to tuck it away.
Maybe Jade noticed her hesitation or maybe she was just impatient. Either way Mora let out a soft sigh if relief as the smaller girl motioned for them to walk together. Movement was a welcome distraction from her growing discomfort. "No where special really. I doubt you've even heard of it," she began to explain while the two begun to pick their way across the field. Mora noticed her companion's stride falter midstep; those lavender eye's growing round while her mouth fell softly a gap. "No way," Jade whispered.
"Huh," Mora question, her brows knitting together in confusion. The petite girl's dark head turned to face away from her, scanning across the field. Mora looked out over in the direction Jade was faced but saw nothing unusual. Was she missing something? "Are you okay?" Her voice was laden with confusion and worry. But as she looked down at the smile that graced Jade's upward tilted face Mora found herself even more confused.
"Oh, Mora, would you like to meet someone?"
Meet someone? Her eyes traveled around the many faces around them. Who? Where? She felt her confusion rise another level as Jade sprung into high spirited waves and cheers towards another girl. "Lauren! Come on, Mora," she said, a delicate hand reaching back to grasp hers with a surprisingly solid tug. Mora lurched forward a half step before the girl quickly released her ans sprang forward. She trailed behind eyeing the pair of girls she bounded towards; one was a rather tall blonde girl whose long hair was put up in a much neater fashion than Mora was able to accomplish. The other being the smaller brunette, her face flushed a soft pink from being sent out on a punishment run earlier.
Mora couldn't stifle a grin while she watched Jade practically leap into the brunette's arms. That one must be Lauren then. She picked up her pace and closed the distance between them as Jade apologized with a, "“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize . . ." Her face burning bright with embaressment once again.
She lifted her right hand and rested it on the nape of her neck, the other planting firmly on her hip. "Ah, so you're Lauren. Jade's spoken highly of you." It was a lie of course. Mora didn't know any of these girls from atom but she wanted to help ease past Jade's obvious discomfort. "I'm Mora by the way. And who might you be?" She cocked her head to the side and locked eyes with the blonde, flashing her best grin at her. @wolverbells @jinxer @MsMorningstar
Tsk. The thought rolled around in her head like her eyes in her skull. Tomorrow, really? The build up. The belting of steam and vigor pissed away at what boiled down to a basic punishment parade. Speak out of place and you'll be, blah, blah, blah. This was not what she had in mind her first real day. She expected drills. Sweat. Tears. That old familar ache of her muscles pulsating after a particularly grueling workout. Instead all around her was the hissing relief of her shaken comrades. The faint echo of nervous laughter while the tension dispelled from the air.
Well she supposed it wasn't that way for everyone. Her eyes flickered over to the small group whose heels now dug into the damp earth. Should she? No, I shouldn't. The thought was as sour as her mood. Technically, Maurer hadn't forbidden anyone from joining the punishment crew on their run. But while her instincts pushed her to join the team her head planted her feet firmly in the ground. She had to listen. That was something her father had stressed the moment she opened her mouth about joining. She would need to learn to listen. Even if listening meant having to wait another day.
Mora let her eyes slide away, scanning over the training field idly. Already people had begun to pair off; friends from the same district enlisting together. She recognized a few familiar faces from home. But none close enough that she would call a friend. No, Mora never really sought out to make those. Everyone was just competition in the end. A needless drive to push herself beyond them. Her fingertips pressed into the sides of her thighs. A subtle pressure to stop her head from spiraling into the mess that was the ache that missed her family. Focus.
Something hard knocked her out of her thoughts, just a slight nump that send her body tettering momentarily. Mora shifted her head to glimpse over what looked to be slightly frayed raven Down, her brain direcred her before her eyes followed suit, looking into the surprised face of a smaller girl. The girl's lavender eyes mirrored her own surprise before quickly shifting to embarrassment. “I am so, so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention…”
Mora could feel the corner of her lip begin to peak in a small half smile. "It's fi--"
"Wow! You’re so pretty." The smaller girl cut her off with a bright voice. Mora watched her face light up with a tinge of pink blooming across her cheeks, letting her own eyes drift off to focus on something off in the distance. Pretty? She felt her face burn with embaressment at the word. "Oh, I’m sorry for that too.” The girl's voice rattled her nerves and anxiety. Her laugh breathy and awkward. "“I’m Jade. This whole thing is a bit awkward.”
Jade, Mora made a mental note, her eyes sliding back to lock on with hers for a swollen moment. The name was nice and very fitting for the girl. Mora quickly broke eye contact once again, digging the toe of her shoe into the dirt below. Jade was pretty in a delicate way Mora wasn't prepared for. And the bluster of her nervousness only deepened the burn she could feel creeping toward her ears. "Nah, don't worry about it. I wasn't paying attention myself." Mora brushed off the apology, hoping to dispel the girl's worries while masking her own thrumming heartbeat. She jutted out a hand toward Jade, giving her best cocky grin. "I'm Mora, it's nice to meetcha." @wolverbells
Should it be this hot? The morning sun rolled across the fog streaked sky. It was just chill enough that the huff her breath clung to the dewy air. But the heat that beamed down from the bitter sun was enough to form little beads of sweat upon her brow; matting the small flyaway hairs that refused her early morning attempt to neatly comb them back into their ponytail prison. Or maybe it was the thick material of her uniform that chafed with every small movement, trapping in the excess heat pluming off her skin.
Regardless of the matter, Mora could feel the adrenaline pump through her veins. A turbulent mixture of what she assumed was nerves and thrill. This was it. This was her crew. The cadets all lined up, faces graven with fear and anxiety while they awaited their first real day. She couldn’t resist the urge to lightly bounce on balls of her feet. Her muscles screamed at her to flex, move, anything to rid the building energy that sparked between them. Though as the Head instructors voice pierced the morning veil around, Mora felt part of her reach a calm as her body moved to snap to attention.
One by one, he traipsed down the line. His words a booming cloud of brimstone that was meant to provoke. This was something she recognized from time with her brothers. It would push them, bring out the fires in them that would help forge the soldiers they had yet to become. And the corners of her lips pulled into a small smile with every taunt that fell from his mouth. The air practically shivered from her fellow unit members, their voices a steady chorus of practical answers that echoed with unease while they answered to his abuse.
It was beginning to fell like ages was passing. Her eyes straining against the harsh brightness of the blue sky, watching some bird mar it’s uniform beauty as it soared. She just wanted to move on. Past the bluffs, the gruffness of the instructor’s voice and onto what she came here to do; train. But then some boy caught her attention. His voice clean, collected as it barked back. Mora dared a slight turn of her head, resting her eyes against he who dared to speak up and against Maurer. Plucky, she thought with an emboldened smile splitting her lips. He was entirely stupid but she liked his willing defiance. He was exactly what Maurer was looking for. That unkempt fire that would bite back.
Maurer's face barely even registered the bite of the boy’s words. Calm, smooth, and as equally sour as it was when he first stepped into view. It wasn’t his first round with a spirited cadet, no doubt. And Mora would easily bet it wouldn’t be his last while she watched as he coolly berated the boy, making him point out five of their unit. That wasn’t going to earn him any favors in the future. She could imagine the flick of pointed rage and sneers that would follow. Though there was a small part of her that was disappointed at not being signaled out herself. A three hour run? In this sweltering heat? Awful, really it was. But the idea of pushing herself instead of being stuck standing at attention for God knows how long? Blessed. She rocked back and forth to shake off the notion. Right now she needed to be calm, collected, and force her smile back down to a hard line. She needed to show that she had what it meant to be a disciplined soldier.
Mora was simplicity at her finest, at least when in came to terms of fashion. Her style choices leaned towards plain shirts and pants, both falling a bit too loose on her wiry frame. Though her wild-fire hair and mischievous emerald eyes brought more than enough color to her persona. If not then the thick scar that puckered from her tawny skin, down her left eye sparked many a conversation. Not that the girl's mouth wouldn’t do so on its own.
Unlike her older brothers, Mora favored her mother in terms of stature. She was slim with lean muscle hidden behind the puppy-fat of youth. Her height was stunted—as she would put it—at a modest 167 cm. Though it was her father’s spirit that embodied the teen. His reckless and curious nature was now her own down to her core. Leaving her with little scars marred between sprinkled freckles and rough to the touch calloused and worn hands.
A beloved daughter.
Blessed be the mother who bares her first daughter, for it is a bond not easily broken.
Or at least that is how it’s supposed to go. Mora was often plagued by guilt-addled tongues reminding her of the pure joy her mother experienced after finally having a girl after six wild and unruly boys. Though much to her mother’s despair, and probably others, the youth was more interested in following the large footprints of her elder brothers than her mother’s smaller ones.
She thrived on the familial competitive nature that bonded her brothers. Mora would pester and push until she went through them all one-by-one in any challenge her spirited mind could think of. And should she fail? Then she would keep reissuing the fight until she won. Though parts of her suspected a handful of her wins were given to her just to get her to shut up.
And while she was the spirit carbon copy of her old man, Mora did happen to find some common threads in which to bond with her mother. In fact she was quite fond of learning to stitch and sew; a favored hobby of her mother's. Side by side she would help mend and repair torn clothes from a rough day of work and play. And the day she tumbled off the old rickety tower and split the skin on her face she was thrilled to learn that the skill-set helped in medicinal uses as well. As her mother quickly, and painfully, stitched her back together.
Despite it all though Mora was never able to shake her need for something more. Something bigger than her quaint little town. More thrilling than who could reach the downtown well faster. And taller than the cobbled stone buildings and houses that her fingers and toes had grasped while she scampered up and over their sides. And all of that inspiration, yearning, and fire ended up turning her eyes and setting her heart on the one thing that actually made her mother cry, the military.
Mora was simplicity at her finest, at least when in came to terms of fashion. Her style choices leaned towards plain shirts and pants, both falling a bit too loose on her wiry frame. Though her wild-fire hair and mischievous emerald eyes brought more than enough color to her persona. If not then the thick scar that puckered from her tawny skin, down her left eye sparked many a conversation. Not that the girl's mouth wouldn’t do so on its own.
Unlike her older brothers, Mora favored her mother in terms of stature. She was slim with lean muscle hidden behind the puppy-fat of youth. Her height was stunted—as she would put it—at a modest 167 cm. Though it was her father’s spirit that embodied the teen. His reckless and curious nature was now her own down to her core. Leaving her with little scars marred between sprinkled freckles and rough to the touch calloused and worn hands.
A beloved daughter.
Blessed be the mother who bares her first daughter, for it is a bond not easily broken.
Or at least that is how it’s supposed to go. Mora was often plagued by guilt-addled tongues reminding her of the pure joy her mother experienced after finally having a girl after six wild and unruly boys. Though much to her mother’s despair, and probably others, the youth was more interested in following the large footprints of her elder brothers than her mother’s smaller ones.
She thrived on the familial competitive nature that bonded her brothers. Mora would pester and push until she went through them all one-by-one in any challenge her spirited mind could think of. And should she fail? Then she would keep reissuing the fight until she won. Though parts of her suspected a handful of her wins were given to her just to get her to shut up.
And while she was the spirit carbon copy of her old man, Mora did happen to find some common threads in which to bond with her mother. In fact she was quite fond of learning to stitch and sew; a favored hobby of her mother's. Side by side she would help mend and repair torn clothes from a rough day of work and play. And the day she tumbled off the old rickety tower and split the skin on her face she was thrilled to learn that the skill-set helped in medicinal uses as well. As her mother quickly, and painfully, stitched her back together.
Despite it all though Mora was never able to shake her need for something more. Something bigger than her quaint little town. More thrilling than who could reach the downtown well faster. And taller than the cobbled stone buildings and houses that her fingers and toes had grasped while she scampered up and over their sides. And all of that inspiration, yearning, and fire ended up turning her eyes and setting her heart on the one thing that actually made her mother cry, the military.
And just like that the situation bled from mild confusion to a raucous panic as the once toppled man began to shout. The arrival of the new woman had only served to heighten the anxiety that dwelled in the pit of his stomach. Each person seemed to be as lost and confused as the last, and the lack of information was starting to gnaw at him.
The fair-haired woman, or Wendy as she had introduced herself as, started in on a pretty detailed tangent recalling her recent scuffle. It was bewildering, to say the least, to listen to her talk. And had it not been for his own recent run-in with strange men and strange facilities, he would have written her off as some common lunatic. Lord knows he’s seen enough of them pandering on the corners—talking about superheroes and the shadow movement’s of their government.
But no, as much as his brain wanted to purge the idea something was going on here. Though he still clung to the shredding hole that it was still all a very simple mistake. Elijah didn’t know about the others but for him he didn’t belong there. His place was back in his workshop and soon he would be home—that is if he could find someone of authority to talk too.
More people.
The hallway was starting to feel crowded and Elijah folded his arms across his chest while he studied the two new additions. Just how many people are here? The thought was worrisome. Could it be all the missing people were here? Could there be something to this? His doubt was carving little holes in his logic, giving him cause to start shifting nervously on the balls of his feet.
He listened carefully to the man who approached them. The English accent throwing Elijah off kilter. Since he clearly wasn’t American, did that mean they were outside of the U.S or maybe this incident was happening outside of the states? He felt his face crease with pain as a stress headache arched through his temples while his brain attempted to make heads or tails of the situation.
As the man’s reassurance tapered off he offered his arm as support to the injured woman and with grace she accepted the support, leaning into him. She quickly introduced herself as Amelia, a young woman a handful of years his junior. As she suggested they head to the cafeteria his stomach made a rather impressively loud gurgle. A sheepish grin tugged at his lips before he let out a soft laugh. ”I think my stomach agrees with the young woman.”
He let his arms fall to his side and strode over towards the still panicked looking man, placing his hand on his shoulder and looking him square in the eyes. ”Let’s go see what they have to offer, and maybe we can find someone there who will have a better explanation.”