nine :: I fucking hate cats

[i_got_this]

[The journal's flipped open in a hurry, pages crumpling at the edges as the owner grips it tightly with shaking hands. For a few moment there's just a series of noises, vaguely human groans and grunts.]

[After a moment, there's shuffling, and then large, shaky handwriting;]

Agent South Dakota
Status: red
Location: NW grounds
SEND HELP

Comments

[dontpatr0nizeme]

What happened, South? I'll be on my way ASAP.

[i_got_this]

[She moans again, in fear and frustration. She's accutely aware of the distinct lack of tongue, a gaping area in her mouth and she finds it hard to swallow, the oppressing realization wrapping around her lunges and making it hard to breathe. Shock is keeping her rooted to the spot and her writing's still unsteady, but she scratches in an answer;]

C
A
T

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Son of a bitch. Take it easy, South. Stay calm. I will be out there.

What did it take?

[i_got_this]

[Calm is about the last thing South is at the moment, and she's not likely to get there anytime soon. She's terrified it'll come back, terrified to move, reliving the experience every time she closes her eyes or tries to speak or lick her lips. She snaps when Wash asks, emitting a sort of throaty shriek and scrathing the page with fury.]

WHAT DO YOU THINK ASSHOLE

South

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Understood. I wasn't trying to be rude, South. Calm down. We're team. We'll take care of you.

On my way.

Re: South

[i_got_this]

[A small whine escapes her, for the moment glad she'd decided to take Carolina's offer to rejoin the team instead of trying to stick it out on her own. Obviously that wouldn't have bode well, if tonight is any indication.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Carolina and York coming? If they get there first, I'll go search for that thing. I've got weapons ready.

[i_got_this]

YES

SHOOT IT DEAD.

[She wanted revenge but she sure as hell wasn't getting near it again herself if she could help it.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I'll see what I can do. Too many victims already.

[i_got_this]

[A dot appears on the page as she sets the pen to paper, but changes her mind on writing anything. She wanted to focus on getting out of here, wasn't sure she wanted to talk about why she was out here in the first place.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I'll come check on you when I'm done patrolling for it.

South --> Action?

[youfallback]

On my way, South.

[And that's all Carolina needs to say as she all but sprints out to the Castle grounds, wishing for the first time in months that she still had her speed enhancement. Still, it's not long before she's nearing the Northwest quadrant and starts shouting South's name, trying to find the other woman.] South? South!

Action

[i_got_this]

[God, she never thought she'd be excited to hear Carolina. She calls out as much as she can, a throaty sort of scream. She's kneeling on the ground, helmet and journal scattered about her, and wearing an expression of abject terror washed with relieve at the sight of the teal-ish (aqua? light-ish blue?) armor.]

forever Action!

[youfallback]

[Carolina's following the sound of that scream, no matter how unnerving it is (especially considering South isn't calling her a bitch or anything like that). Soon enough, she happens upon South's position and takes a quick glance around to make sure she's not about to run into an ambush before kneeling down by South's side.]

Let's get you out of here. [Because she's not seeing any bleeding and South seems to be sitting up fine enough, so there's a very large possibility that there's not a spinal injury.] I've got a secure room in my quarters.

[encryptedlock]

[And of course York's not far behind Carolina. Mustn't make a joke about "cat got your tongue".

The gurgling noises she's making give him some uncomfortable Maine flashbacks, but York runs some scans on the scene.]

Not seeing it nearby at the moment. You want to go to the clinic or one of our rooms? [Carolina does have a guest bedroom set up for emergencies, and this counts as one.]

[i_got_this]

[She looks about when he says it's not nearby, she knew from experience that didnt' mean it couldn't just show up in an instant. Working through that fear, it's a moment before she registers that he's kept talking, but finally she realizes he's asked her a question. She can't help but try to vocalize, the immediate reaction to a question to try and answer, but she changes it to a disgruntled puff of air because words are not happening right now.]

ROOM

[She flips the journal around to show York and Carolina the words, still harboring the Freelancer's tried and true dislike of medics. Oddly enough, and perhaps part of the reason she was still as freaked out as she was, was that there was no wound. There was no ragged flesh, and she wasn't bleeding out. She was just inexplicably sans tongue. She shivered each time she realized it anew, which this soon after the attack, was often.]

[encryptedlock]

All right. Get your helmet back on. I'll take the rear to keep watch.

[Carolina has point, as usual. What they need to do is get her back now, and hopefully grab a keypad so she can type a little faster.

...And possibly some whiskey to try to calm her nerves.]

[i_got_this]

[She nods, tucking her journal into an armor compartment and reaching for her helmet with a shaking hand.]

[God she'd been so stupid thinking she could try and take it on herself.]

[It's a moment before she's unsteadily up on her feet, locking her helmet in place. Every sound from the forest now is causing her to panic, and the helmet does little to hide her erratic movements each time she catches the rustle and creak of a squirrel or some bird taking flight.]

[encryptedlock]

[York stays alert the entire time, moving carefully and deliberately to show South he has her back. At one of her stumbles, he speaks quietly.]

We got you, South. Just try to focus. We'll be back at the castle soon.

And maybe get you a keyboard until we can fix this. Writing out by hand is a pain in the ass, huh?

[youfallback]

[Carolina's not long in returning to South, having taken a few moments to investigate a noise or two in the trees (and knowing South would be more than fine with York). She double-checks her own back before heading back to South's side.]

Didn't see anything. [She glances over at York.] I'll take point on the way back.

[i_got_this]

[South's grateful for their presence, for once, giving them as much of an agreeing grumble as she could. She wanted to be away from here, wanted to distract herself from the horrifying images that keep replying in her head.]

[However, the farther she gets from the site of the attack, the more at ease she feels. She's not going to be entirely settled, but she does stop trembling eventually.]

[encryptedlock]

[Good. Nobody's any good when they're freaking out, and it isn't too long before they're coming around to the castle entrance. This cat...whatever it is, it doesn't seem to like large groups. The more they stick together, the better off they'll be.]

Almost there. We'll get you in, get you settled, and probably a shot of something. We need to figure out what this thing is and how to fight it before it hits anyone else.

[youfallback]

[Carolina's concentrating on keeping their path clear as she moves up the front stairs, trusting York to have both of their backs as she pushes the doors open and definitely glad that South seems to be calming slightly. It might make communicating easier if she is.]

Lobby's clear, head for the tower. [And she moves into the lobby with her usual, efficient steps.]

[i_got_this]

[She's quiet, lips drawn in a tight line and her brow wrinkled as she follows. Now that they're on familiar ground, she's stopped watching her surroundings, twitching at shadows, and focuses on Carolina's feet to direct her.]

[encryptedlock]

Clear.

[York will keep alert of course, keeping a strict two paces between South and himself. Of course, it happens to be an uneventful trip upstairs, and he locks the door securely behind them once they;re in Carolina's suite.]

I'll check the bedrooms if you two want to stay here?