immovablewill

[immovablewill]

At his question, Sara nods.

“I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before,” she starts, speaking much slower than she usually does, but her tone remains miraculously steady, still. “But I had previously set out to search for Largeankle on my own—a week before this guided tour began. Even then, I never noticed any abandoned town like this one. Nor have I heard news of one existing.”

Her hands continue moving as she speaks, carefully carding through debris in search of, well, anything. If Su is looking for weakness, he won’t find it in her posture—shoulders squared, spine straight, holding the same composure the general usually wears. Only the shadows under her eyes betray the exhaustion she refuses to acknowledge.

That, and the small flinch of her fingers at his mention of Leann’s condition, pausing briefly, before continuing.

“I’m thinking the same… But she doesn’t seem like any of those creatures yet. We have time. We can do something.” She sets her jaw. Hopes she doesn’t sound too desperate, as she hisses, “we have to find something we can do to help.”

A cough threatens at the back of her throat. She swallows it down. Painfully, stubbornly. Buying herself some more time, because everyone’s attention should be on Leann and not her. She’s younger, weaker, and Sara’s weathered wars. Weathered years of untended wounds on her body, her wings, her soul.

This burning pain in her chest is nothing.

But keeping Leann safe, saving her and Kallen, is everything.

i think u have couvid

[immovablewill]

Sara’s eyes scanned over the empty bar as she stepped inside, nodding for the rest to follow her in. The eeriness of the town still lingered in her chest, the feeling of unease encasing her until Boothill’s toothy smiles and loud, frustrated exclamations, his voice shattering the uncomfortable silence, just like that.

A quiet, breathy laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it.

How ridiculous. She doubted she would ever find the chance to say it, but she was grateful for him.

His loudness made the dread feel… smaller, the uncertainty less heavy. They have had their differences, yes, and she may still carry a hint of bitterness from when he had held Leann at gunpoint but right now, with death looming in every shadow, Sara couldn’t quite imagine anyone better to have at her side than this rowdy gunslinger who seemed more upset about the missing alcohol than the apocalypse around them.

“Try checking the less obvious spots,” she suggested, running a hand along the dusty counter. Truthfully, she didn’t know why she was humouring his liquor hunt when they had bigger problems—but searching the place for more useful items while they rested couldn’t hurt.

Her bow finally disappeared from her hold as she approached the bar, the relief immediate as the familiar weight lifted from her aching arm. She sank onto a stool with a quiet groan, the worn leather creaking beneath her.

“If you do find anything drinkable,” she continued, pursing her lips into a thin line, both shooting him a warning look, and taking the pause to even her tone as she felt the rising itch in her throat, “go easy. We still have much to discuss about. Like where we should go next, and who should be keeping watch tonight."

@crackshct

Zombie Apocalypse wasn't in the brochure

Revelation Park | Week 2 interim - Boothill & Sara

[immovablewill]

Leann is unwell, and it’s only becoming more apparent as their time in the town stretches on. The child has been acting different—too quiet, too distant. Not just her usual shyness, but something deeper, something hollow. It would be easy to blame it on exhaustion, on the weight of everything they’ve seen, but then there’s her cough—wet, rattling, wrong.

Sara feels the pesky itch rising from within her own chest, teeth grinding as she swallows the feeling down before it could escape, listening to the sound of approaching footsteps behind her. She quickly schooled her expression as Su came into view, spelling away any exhaustion that weighed her bones.

“Su.” Her voice is steady, but there’s a tightness to it—a forced evenness that doesn’t quite mask the strain beneath. She notices it as well, and quickly gestures to the debris around them in hopes of masking it, an uncharacteristically half-hearted motion. “I was just seeing if there was anything here we could use. We can talk while I look, if you want.”

It’s her usual excuse now—busy hands, busy eyes, anything to keep from sitting still too long, from letting the others notice the way her breath hitches when she isn’t careful. However, with Leann’s condition worsening by the hour, denial is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

@arboriter

i think u have couvid

[immovablewill]

Their experiences for this guided trip had been nothing short of a fantasy so far. The echo of the clicking now muted, the distorted creatures that had been closing in on them, vanished into thin air. The forest itself had warped, trees dissolving into skeletal weeds, the earth hardening into cracked pavement beneath their feet. And now, this—an abandoned town, frozen in decay, not a soul in sight but their own.

With a shaky sigh, she lowered her bow just enough to get a better look at their surroundings.

“… I do.” Sara answered grimly.

She had hoped Boothill would confirm that this was all just her hallucination. He did have a way with words, after all, blunt and straightforward. He wasn’t the type to sugarcoat things, and if this were just in her head, he’d have been the first to say so, probably with a laugh, praising her for finally rattling loose a few screws after one too many close calls. But the way his eye darted across the crumbling buildings, coupled with the tension in his grip around his revolver, said otherwise.

The others had a similar response as well. Surprise, confusion, disbelief, even worry… Sara felt the same. Walking further into the town felt like a trap, almost. Like sooner or later, another one of these monsters, larger, stronger, would jump out from the windows when they least expect it.

“For now, we should find shelter. Get a bit of rest and decide where we should go from here.” It felt like a trap, but what other choice did they have? Some of them were clearly tired, Leann most especially, but even Sara was beginning to feel the weight of her own exhaustion, heavy on her shoulders. “Let’s clear one of the buildings and call the others in once we’re sure it’s safe. We can try and make sense of things after.”

@crackshct

Zombie Apocalypse wasn't in the brochure

Revelation Park | Week 2 interim - Boothill & Sara

[immovablewill]

As the others moved ahead, Sara gave Boothill a sharp nod—silent acknowledgement that she would remain behind to guard Leann while he pressed forward to provide reinforcement. Turning to Alhaitham, she repeated the gunslinger’s words, her bow returning into her hold. Though uncertain of his combat skills, that he had been bold enough to set out into on his own earlier told her enough.

“Stay with Leann,” she ordered with a silent hope that he would heed her request. “Keep her safe for us.”

Kujou Sara (25) rolled 8 Energy [8 energy] Kujou Sara moved 8 spaces (33) LARGEANKLE ROLL: No more can be summoned

Between her, Alhaitham and Argenti, they should have the rear well protected for now. With Argenti keeping watch behind them, Alhaitham standing close to Leann, and her advancing just a few paces ahead, bow half-drawn. As long as none of these creatures managed to catch them unaware, Sara was certain she could provide the others a little assistance should the need arise as well. Still, with the way that last Largeankle had ignored Leann entirely, they can never be too careful.

A few more gunshots echoed.

Sara’s body briefly tensed as she listened to the wounded creature’s wailing, her focus divided between the fight in front of her and her team behind.

The Largeankle Boothill had just shot staggered pathetically, ichor oozing from its opened chest. Alas, even as their enemy's cries began to grow weaker, barely able to keep itself upright, their fight would have to continue on. Ahead of them, just beyond the trees, another twisted silhouette crept into view, its steps slow and clumsy as it made its way to them.

The clicking around them had yet to stop or even lessen—just how many of these things are there?

“Everyone, more incoming!”

@crackshct / @silentintuition

Do or Die

Revelation Park | Week 2 - Boothill, Sara, & Alhaitham

[immovablewill]

“They’re Lady Kallen’s...” There was no question nor doubt in her words. Although she’d only seen them briefly, Sara could still clearly recall the way Kallen’s fingers tightly wrapped around her guns, aiming them towards the already immobile creatures during their shift together.

She crouched, gloved fingers hovering over the weapons without touching. No blood. No signs of struggle. Just abandoned, like their owner had—

No. She quickly cut the thought dead, shaking her head.

“Lady Kallen would never abandon these willingly…” She trailed off as she carefully draped her handkerchief over the pistols before lifting them for closer inspection. With a hum, she turned the weapons over, gloved fingers tracing the grips. There were no signs of forced removal, no bloodstains in the grooves. Just cold, abandoned steel. “It doesn’t seem like she was disarmed during a fight… She could have dropped these while running but…”

Offering them to Boothill, her frown deepened. “I cannot imagine Lady Kallen doing such, even during high stress.” She had, after all, faced two Largeankles on her own, and had swiftly disposed of them while Sara was away.

BANG!

A loud gunshot out of nowhere, sending a number of birds to the sky in a flurry of wings and panicked cries. Sara’s head snapped toward the sound, her body already shifting into a defensive stance, readily covering Leann before she could even properly find its source.

Then—she blinked, wide-eyed, watching with lips slightly parted in surprise as one of the scholars cackled madly before their grotesque enemy, his laughter echoing through the trees.

Kujou Sara (21) rolled 4 Energy [4 energy] Kujou Sara moved 4 spaces (25) LARGEANKLE ROLL: 3, nothing happens

Do or Die

Revelation Park | Week 2 - Boothill, Sara, & Alhaitham

[immovablewill]

Kallen should have more confidence in herself.

Sara watches with quiet amusement as her companion focuses intently on the onions, carefully copying the motions she had just been taught. With the way her eyebrows furrow and her lips sometimes purse into thin lines, Sara might think Kallen’s trying to diffuse a bomb or a trap instead.

Another, much quieter chuckle, head nodding. “All at once is fine.” She leans in to observe the simmering vegetables, humming in approval. They seem to be coming along nicely… She can already smell the sweetness of the onions blending well with the carrots and potatoes. Hopefully, everyone will like today’s meal.

Turning to fetch the filtered water, she continues her instruction: “They’re ready when they soften but still hold their shape.” The dipper makes a soft clink as she hands it to Kallen. “But for curry, there’s another tell. We add water first, about two inches above the ingredients, shortly after the vegetables. Add in the meat and then...” She produces the wrapped roux blocks, the familiar crinkle of paper bringing a hint of home to this foreign campsite.

“Here we are—the magic ingredient.” She places the roux blocks into the broth. “Keep stirring as they melt. We can’t let them settle at the bottom, or else they’ll burn.” And as she speaks, she shows Kallen that same wide, steady circles from before with her left hand, before gently she adjusting Kallen’s grip, guiding her wrist into a gentle folding motion instead. “Like this as well. It helps everything combine evenly.”

Taking a step back, she reaches for the lid. “Once this fully incorporates, the hard part’s done. The vegetables will finish cooking as the broth thickens. Now, we need only cover it and let the flavours marry, peeking in occasionally to give it a gentle stir.” Satisfied, Sara nods once more, a hint of something light and warm in her usually even tone.

“Wonderful job, Lady Kallen.”

⋆✦₊‧ — THE MISUSES OF FIRE.

Sara & Kallen. — Revelation 2025 : Park, Mess Hall.

[immovablewill]

With her bow up and arrow drawn taut against the string, Sara stayed motionless. The tension made her arms tremble a little, but she refused to her weapon nonetheless, eyes darting quickly between Leann’s tiny, quivering body and the Largeankle, searching for any indication that the creature might turn back toward them. Only when the creature disappeared back into the trees, away from sight, away from Leann, did she slightly relax, bow and arrow still in hand.

It had walked away from Leann. Ignored her completely.

Why did it simply move away. when she was so close? When she surely must have caught its attention with her screams? Why was it headed to the camp instead? Was that all that these things were interested of, rather than them?

Either way, she was glad, her voice a whisper, still, as she gestured and called for their remaining party to come to her—to hurry past her, if they could. It would be best if she remained somewhere near the rear, just in case something like this happened again. The guilt of having left Leann behind still gnawed at her heart, a heavy weight that made each breath feel too shallow. A mistake. One that could have ended in blood and horror. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

Kujou Sara (21) rolled 3 Energy Kujou Sara forfeited all energy. (21) LARGEANKLE ROLL: 9, nothing happens

@crackshct / @silentintuition

Do or Die

Revelation Park | Week 2 - Boothill, Sara, & Alhaitham

[immovablewill]

“Let me know if you find anything, Boothill. As for the others... I have a first-aid kit if anyone needs it.” Rifling through her fanny pack, she carded through the items, fingers brushing against antiseptic wipes and bandages—good, she had brought it with her, just as she thought. Leann’s scraped knees still needed proper tending, now that she thought of it.

Kujou Sara (18) rolled 3 Energy [3 energy] Kujou Sara moved 3 spaces (21) LARGEANKLE ROLL: 9, nothing happens

She zipped the pack shut just as Alhaitham moved past her, his warning about spores lingering earning a frown on her lips.

“Let’s hope it isn’t airborne, then.” The words barely left her lips as her eyes tracked past Alhaitham's retreating form, past Anaxagoras’ shoulders, past Su’s disappearing silhouette—to nothing but an empty space beside all of them.

A cold realization prickled down her spine.

Where was Leann?

Her head snapped towards Boothill to ask when a terrified scream echoed around them.

“LEANN—!” How stupid of her to have strayed too far ahead of the young guide.

Her pulse hammered against her ribs as the grotesque figure walked from the bushes behind Leann—too close, far too close to be safe. Its milky eyes seemed to have locked onto Leann for a moment, the clicking noise around them intensifying, mocking and taunting and teasing and—

And then, by some miracle, its head lolled away, as if confused. It didn’t seem interested in Leann. At least, not yet... Swallowing thickly, she forced her voice into a sharp whisper:

“Leann, don’t move—” then, to Argenti, she hissed, “Get her out of there if you can!”

@crackshct / @silentintuition

Do or Die

Revelation Park | Week 2 - Boothill, Sara, & Alhaitham

[immovablewill]

“Nothing of note, beyond the usual sediment that filtered out.” And of that, Sara was certain.

If the water had carried whatever corrupted these people, she would have already joined them and turned as well. She had drunk that filtered water the moment it had been cleansed on their first day at the camp, and had also drunk water filtered directly from the rivers, long before this tour, when she had endeavoured to search for Largeankle on her own in response to the posters.

The woods had been very normal then, come to think of it. No clicking, no odd winding of the trees… How curious that nothing had happened to Sara at all when that should have been the very same week that the camping leader disappeared. Maybe location had something to do with it? She was far from this side of the forest back then, after all.

Her gaze tracked the current below them, briefly joining Boothill in watching it. Nothing surfaced. No telltale sores, no unnatural shapes. Just water and stone. Still, his concern wasn’t unfounded. The creatures seemed to be more wary of them now, after all, if not more bold. They could be hiding in the waters now, or perhaps slowly contaminating it.

Based on the winding path Leann’s drawn map suggested, they would have to cross this river a few more times. There would be no bridges to use next, only rocks. They will have to be careful, if they wish to avoid touching the water…

Kujou Sara (10) rolled 8 Energy [8 energy] Kujou Sara moved 8 spaces (18) LARGEANKLE ROLL: 8, nothing happens

“Does anyone have any open wounds? It doesn’t hurt to be overly cautious. Let’s properly dress them before crossing the river once more.”

@crackshct / @currentlyoffwork

Do or Die

Revelation Park | Week 2 - Boothill, Sara, & Alhaitham

[immovablewill]

Sara had to gnaw at the inside of her cheek to keep her protests from spilling out as Boothill pressed on, the coppery taste of blood slowly spreading from where her teeth broke skin. She’d wanted to shut him down immediately, to take Leann away from this horror and let her calm down first before asking any further—but the terrible truth was, Boothill wasn’t wrong. They were bound to come across another one of these abominations, and chances were, they would be another one of the missing staff and campers Leann once knew.

She felt the moment Leann gathered her courage in the way the girl’s breathing hitched, then steadied. Sara’s grip loosened just slightly—not pushing, not stopping, just a silent I’m here as the trembling words came.

“Just a week ago…” And from this same site at that… Her eyes finally met Boothill’s over Leann’s head, the implications hanging heavy between them. If what Leann said was the truth, then whatever this was, it spread quickly. And they may very well be very close to its source.

She adjusted her hold on Leann, one hand coming up to pat the girl’s back. A quiet “good job, you were brave” for answering Boothill’s question when she did not have to. And an “I’m sorry” for having failed her. For forcing her to wipe her tears away and grow up too soon. For the weight they’d forced onto those small shoulders... when she should have been worrying about campfire songs and which ghost stories to share instead.

“We need to warn the others. If these transformations are happening this quickly, this close to camp...” She didn’t finish the thought, but the glance she shot toward where Kallen’s tent spoke enough—that every passing minute might be changing their companion into something unrecognizable. That, if they waste time any more than they already have, then it might already be too late by the time they find her.

@revelation-park / @crackshct

No One Left Behind

Revelation Park | Interim - Boothill & Leann

[immovablewill]

Before they set out, Sara knelt by the cold ashes of the fire pit, pressing a folded note between two stones where it wouldn’t be missed. The gesture was foolish, perhaps. Wishful thinking at best. But she did it anyway.

“Kallen— If you find this, don’t follow. Return to the city. We’re searching for you, but if you’re reading this, then we’ve already missed each other. Go back. Stay safe. If everything goes well, I am sure we will see each other again. —Kujou Sara.”

She didn’t linger after. The others were waiting, and idling about was a luxury none of them could afford. Not when the clock was ticking, and not when the clicks only continued to haunt them.

The note would be Sara’s own secret. A prayer carefully tucked for a friend to find. One she would do anything for, to be fulfilled. Forests were greedy things, she knew. They swallowed light, sound, people—rarely spitting anything back out whole. But, if by some miracle Kallen did manage to return to camp on her own, if she found the note and did as told then Sara would gladly accept that their search would then be for nothing. She would much rather an empty effort than a corpse.

“Leann, one moment.”

Her voice was the second to cut through the silence that had settled heavily between the party during the first minutes of trek, hand coming to rest lightly on the young guide’s shoulder when she finally noticed something, the touch firm but not unkind, halting her mid-step.

“Listen to me,” kneeling, Sara carefully brushed away the stubborn blades of grass still clinging to Leann’s knees, only standing back up once she was sure she’d patted all the dirt and grass away—a hand held out for the other to take, so they could walk side by side, even if just for a moment. “No matter what happens, you must stay away from danger, do you understand?”

Kujou Sara (START) rolled 10 Energy [10 energy] Kujou Sara moved 10 spaces (10) LARGEANKLE ROLL: 5, nothing happens

And just a moment it was.

As they approached the bridge, Sara’s grip on Leann’s hand loosened. Eventually falling away entirely with a “Stay with the others” as she moved ahead of Boothill, pace quick but silent. One hand raised in a sharp command for everyone to halt while she confirmed the noise she thought she’d heard. Head turning left, then right. Quietly scanning through the shadows between the trees, searching for a source.

Nothing.

Only the relentless click-click-click of the forest, taunting them incessantly. Sara exhaled through her teeth, a soundless release of tension, and finally nodded for the rest to keep moving.

@currentlyoffwork / @crackshct

Do or Die

Revelation Park | Week 2 - Boothill, Sara, & Alhaitham

[immovablewill]

He was right. Perhaps she shouldn’t have thanked him after all. Perhaps she shouldn’t have even considered that maybe, just maybe there would be a small chance of this tension between them to disappear. Sara’s glare could have cut steel as it snapped toward Boothill, her lips already parting in protest. The suggestion alone had appalled her—but watching Leann step forward on her own accord, watching the colour drain from the girl’s face the moment she recognized what was left of the man she had once known…

Her stomach twisted.

The moment Leann’s legs gave way, Sara finally moved to crouch in front of her, using herself, once again, to shield the child from such a terrible sight, hands gently cupping the girl’s tear-streaked face.

“Shh. Hey, look at me Leann. Just me.” She whispered, thumbs brushing those tears away even as more followed, hot and fast. Without another word, she took Leann into her arms, lifting her against her chest, one hand cradling the back of the girl’s head, guiding her into the crook of her shoulder—away from the horror behind them.

“She has seen Enough, Boothill.” The hiss came out than she’d intended, lathered with all the anger Sara hadn’t meant to let slip. For all of her frustrations, she couldn’t deny that Boothill’s callous approach had yielded answers, after all. Lead them to an undeniable proof that these abominations were indeed once people, that the disappearances and horrors stalking them were undeniably linked, that, perhaps, it might be tied to—

—she set her jaw, shutting the thought away before it could take root.

Boothill may have yielded them some truths, but the cost of that now sat trembling in her arms, quiet sobs muffled against her shoulder. Leann was coming undone, and Sara could feel her own composure fraying the more she listened. Pulling her closer, Sara turned for the camp, but not before a final pause.

“I know your intentions aren’t cruel—I know you only want to find Lady Kallen as much as the rest of us. But next time,” Her gaze flicked to Boothill, though beneath all the anger in her glare, beneath the fury thrumming through her veins, her voice now only hinted at one thing—disappointment. “Think before you ask a child to identify the dead. I am sure Lady Kallen would tell you the same.”

@crackshct / @revelation-park

No One Left Behind

Revelation Park | Interim - Boothill & Leann

[immovablewill]

Sara watches as the following chaos began to unfold before her; letting out a oh at the bouncing meat. A quiet umm as she pointed at the smoking spoon, and a few blinks at her companion’s increasingly frantic movements. For a moment, Sara merely stands still, too stunned to react.

Then—a soft, breathy laugh, hand coming up to hide the small smile on her lips, already feeling a dash of guilt for the rude display. She’d mentioned not being used to this, but it’s becoming more apparent, now, that Lady Kallen might not know how to cook.

How amusing, to hear her curse so openly.

“My apologies, I’m still learning how to be a proper instructor myself. I should have properly demonstrated to you first.” Moving to the drawer next to them, she brings out another wooden spoon and washes it, her voice carrying neither frustration nor judgement, only quiet amusement. “Here, let’s lower the heat.”

Standing beside the other, she turns the knob to low, taking over briefly to salvage what she can, humming out approvingly as she inspects the meat. Despite the worry on Kallen’s face, she hadn’t done too bad, all things considered. “These should be alright,” she assures Kallen, scraping the pan once she’d taken the rest of the meat out and set them aside—at least, for those that had yet to turn into mush. “We’ll just have to add these ones later than the rest and trim off the burnt edges. You’ve done well for your first time, Lady Kallen.”

Handing over the new spoon, she guides Kallen to the waiting onions now. “Add these in first.” And as the onions sizzle gently upon falling inside, she demonstrates the proper stirring motion, wide, even circles, just like so—hand briefly resting atop the other’s to properly guide her before stepping back, letting her do the rest. “Wait until they turn translucent. Then the other vegetables can go in. Don’t worry, there’s no exact timing needed, so just trust your eyes and heart.”

⋆✦₊‧ — THE MISUSES OF FIRE.

Sara & Kallen. — Revelation 2025 : Park, Mess Hall.

[immovablewill]

A slow, quiet sigh of relief left her as well as the tension slowly left her shoulders, the electro at her arrowhead dissipating into the air as she lowered her bow at last.

The moment her weapon was no longer trained on Boothill, she turned slightly, her wing brushing against Leann’s back in silent reassurance, hand resting on the girl’s shoulder to give it a gentle squeeze—quietly letting her know that she was alright now. That there was no need to worry. That Sara would protect her, whenever needed. Leann was not silly for her rambling but brave, for standing firmly, still, despite what she had just experienced. Despite what they all know they will experience from here forth.

And to Boothill, she mumbled, borrowing his choice of words from before, “Thank you, partner.”

The trust between them might never be the same again—not after he’d pointed a gun at a child. Not after he had carelessly shot at the sky just to gather everyone’s attention. But she was willing to try. For Kallen. For everyone else back at the camp. For the terrible, undeniable truth that for as long as they remained in these cursed woods, they were all each other had left.

The implications of Boothill and Leann’s words settled all too coldly in her veins, keeping her muscles stiff with worry and vigilance. If these grotesque things… whatever they truly were, were drawn to them, if these weren't just random encounters but something more deliberate, and if they’d really grown bold enough to stalk them even under broad daylight...

Her grip tightened briefly on her bow before she turned sharply toward camp, motioning for the others to follow with a quick jerk of her chin. Every second counted now.

“Let us talk while walking,” she said, her voice low but urgent as she began moving. Much like before, the forest’s unnatural silence made her skin crawl. Even the usual sounds of birds and insects had vanished, leaving only that terrible, mocking clicking. Like cicadas on a hot summer day, except they only seemed to lurk closer and closer to them, all the while remaining out of sight.

“You say you have been here many times before, Leann. Had there been rumours about these clickings back then? And the photography challenge poster in the city—the one about Largeankle. It mentioned disappearances as well. When did people first start vanishing?”

@crackshct / @revelation-park

No One Left Behind

Revelation Park | Interim - Boothill & Leann

[immovablewill]

“Half first,” Sara confirms, watching as Kallen adjusts the plate with growing steadiness. When the meat lands perfectly in the pot, she gives an approving hum. “Good. Space them evenly—that ensures proper browning.”

She moves to stand beside Kallen, close enough to guide but not so much so that she might be intruding. With one of the wooden spoons provided in the mess hall, she nudges a few pieces into better positions to show the other how before offering it to her as well. “Stir them occasionally. We want colour them but not char.”

It’s quite niceーthis. Teaching another how to cook, watching confusion turn into a small hint of surprise as they continue. Sara had only signed up for this guided tour somewhat on a whim, but she’s glad she’s done so, having met some nice people. Having made a few friends, even.

“The vegetables come after the meat is browned. Once you think they are all evenly coloured, you can remove them from the pot and place the onion next. Brown that as well, then add the remaining vegetables. Look,” nodding at the pot, she peers inside as well. “The meat’s oil is coming out as we brown it. That’s what we’re using to add flavour to the vegetables as we sauté them.”

⋆✦₊‧ — THE MISUSES OF FIRE.

Sara & Kallen. — Revelation 2025 : Park, Mess Hall.

[immovablewill]

Sara’s arrow didn’t waver. Not even as the electro arcing from its tip crawled along Boothill's metal arm, not even as his finger hovered over the trigger. She knew, with cold certainty, that in this standoff, his bullet would find its mark first. Of course his bullets would win.

But she was just as certain of this—that even if his shot tore through her first, her arrow would still find its mark, her will finishing what she wouldn’t be able to in the form of lightning. It didn’t matter if she was faster. It didn’t matter if she fell. All that mattered was that if he fired, he wouldn’t walk away unscathed, and if that was what it took to keep Leann safe, then Sara would welcome any wound. Even death.

Her first instinct was to cover Leann from Boothill once more, to keep her out of sight so he wouldn’t dare aim his gun at the child again, but she could hear the shaky resolve in their guide's voice, could see how despite the fear, she’d still look up to meet Boothill’s eyes.

How cruel was this world, that a child had to learn to stand tall before a drawn gun? That the innocence they had all witnessed together on the first day had to harden into resolve just to survive the people who were supposed to protect her? Leann shouldn’t have to bargain for her safety with promises of working harder, shouldn’t have to measure her worth against the adults who’d failed her. Who’d failed each other.

She gritted her teeth in quiet anger.

“We do this as Leann said,” Sara repeated, her voice cutting through the charged air. The power of her vision flared in time with her pulse, casting bright purple light across the damp ground between them and along their limbs, ready to devour both of them if need be. “Everyone. Together.”

All the while, the forest seemed to only rejoice, the ever-present clicking rejoicing, as if the creatures lurking in the shadows were counting until one of them finally made the first move.

Sara tried to pay it no mind. Instead, she grieved—not for herself, but for the trust shattered between them, for the friendship that might not survive this night, for the terrible necessity of pointing her weapon at someone who, until this moment, had fought by her side.

“We work together, Boothill, not against.” She continued, voice softer now, but no less firm, carrying a hint of plea—for him to agree. For him to rethink. “We only have each other. We cannot let these things win and divide us if we want to find Kallen.” The arrow remained drawn, her aim steady even after Boothill had eased his finger from the trigger.

His bullet would always find its mark first. Nevertheless, she would see this through to whatever end it brought.

@crackshct / @revelation-park

No One Left Behind

Revelation Park | Interim - Boothill & Leann