Free (Closed.)

[The Skarzs]

OOC: Actually, I was editing it while you posted. Whatevs.

BIC: An old hedgehog stepped forward and introduced himself as Ingle.
"I'm 'fraid Druner died a few seasons ago, but Umsha's still 'round. Tell me, who sent ye, son?"
"An old hermit by the name of Lumian."
"He's still alive, is he? Well, I'll have ye meet Umsha, so you can tell that mouse that two of his friends are not yet gone to the Dark Forest."
Garth spent around three hours in Noonvale, but he felt drawn back to Arya, and left as soon as he could without being rude.

OOC: Cursed WiFi! It's having trouble connecting.

[Cornflower MM]

Arya hadn't gone far down the tunnel when she heard something falling on the door. She stopp[ed, shocked. The tunnel was a dead end - And the door opened upwards. Sure, the tunnel had air holes, fresh food and water, but that wouldn't last forever. Curling up into a sort of ball, she hoped Garth would come back soon.

[The Skarzs]

Garth went steadily forward, following the map backwards to where he started. It would still take a few days to get back, and he hoped Arya would be in better shape than he had left her.

OOC: Time skip? You could do it and tell how Arya is faring.

[Cornflower MM]

OOC: Okay. Three days later, eh?

BIC: It had been three days since Arya had gotten trapped, and six since Garth had left. The squirrelmaid had about one more day's supply of food and water, and three out of ten air holes had gotten blocked. She couldn't reach them, either. So, she was now busying herself trying to make a chair of some sorts to reach the blocked holes.

[The Skarzs]

Garth was nearly at the hut. Despite tree-hopping and hard walking, it had still taken three days to get back. Now, on the last bit of his journey, he remembered a song, and started singing it in a low voice.

How long, how far, are you today?
Seasons and trials, have driven away,
All we were, all we could be.
Not what we did want.
Now gone, and vanquished, is our love.
No one can put back, what we have lost.
In my heart, I wish to have
And I still long for thee.
Broken, and wasted, and still far away.
Great is the wound that plagues me each day.
Will you wait, to find me come,
Some day back, to you. . .

The squirrel stopped suddenly; where was the hut? It was right here, he thought. Right where that pile of burnt wood. . .
"Arya!" he cried out, dropping his pack and sprinting toward the ruined hut. He dug around in the debris, finding something soft. "No, no no no no!" he whispered. But. . . it was the charred corpse of Lumian. Either he had died in the fire, or was tossed onto it. Carrying the sad bundle away from the scene, he hurried back, calling "Arya!" as he dug hopelessly around.

[Cornflower MM]

Arya heard him and started screaming, "Over here!"

[The Skarzs]

Garth almost sobbed with relief when he heard Arya's muffled voice, and he cried out hoarsely. "Where? Yell again so I can fin you!"

[Cornflower MM]

"HERE DOWN HERE!" She screamed, banging on the door again.Up above, a bigger pile of wood shuddered a little bit.

[The Skarzs]

Garth tore the wood away, regardless of splinters and cuts. He uncovered a slightly-charred hatch, and lifted it open. "Arya!"

[Cornflower MM]

"Garth! Oh, get me out! Please." Arya said happily, squinting since she'd been trapped in a dark-ish tunnel for three days.

[The Skarzs]

Garth took Arya by the paws and hauled her out, being careful not to have her injured leg hurt.

[Cornflower MM]

"Thank you." Arya whispered, leaning a little on Garth's chest.

[The Skarzs]

Garth looked out over the pile that was once the little hut as he held Arya. Not a week ago it was full and fine. Now. . .
"Lumian's dead," he said hoarsely. "I would ask if you're alright, but. . ."

[Cornflower MM]

"I was trapped down there for three days." Arya said, blinking away tears.

[The Skarzs]

"I'm. . .  I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have gone. I should have stayed here when you really needed my help. . ." He wanted to comfort Arya, tell her it was alright now. But Lumian was dead, she was still hurt, and there was nothing he could have done about it.