Even In The Grave, All Is Not Lost

This Too Won't Last

The next morning, Luna somehow managed to convince her to vacate the lab for another walk.

Well, not somehow.

She actually hadn't had to do all that much convincing.

One hopeful smile directed Raven's way and she was a goner, almost tripping over herself in her rush to ensure that smile didn't falter.

It was becoming increasingly clear that Luna had far too much power over her.

Far too much.

She comforted herself with the thought that she was only doing this because, as Luna had pointed out, the exercise would be good for her brain, energize it enough to spark some new thoughts - hopefully ones that would be enough to save them - but she knew that wasn't the reason.

Knew it as her chest squeezed with the widening of Luna's smile, the way her pulse jumped when she grasped onto Raven's hand, leading her out of the lab.

She was way too touchy.

Yet Raven didn't hate it.

She traced the wrapping of the bracelet around her wrist, watching as Luna inspected various plants on their way, plucking a few here and there and dumping them into the satchel she'd brought along.

It was a quiet walk but the silence was far from frustrating. Rather, it gave Raven room to breathe, to think, without the cacophony of thoughts that had been crowding her head for weeks now.

Her ever-present headache welcomed the reprieve.

"What are you collecting?" she asked.

Luna didn't look up from the leaf she'd been examining for several moments. "A bit of everything. I left all my herbs back on the oil rig and you never know when something might come in handy." Apparently deciding that the leaf failed muster - or else wasn't what she was looking for - she let it go.

"What do you use them for?"

Luna's lips quirked as she spared her a glance. "A bit of everything."

Rolling her eyes, Raven drew closer, peering at the flower Luna had now moved on to inspecting. "What does that one do?"

"It's an emetic. In case you happen to swallow poison." She plucked several of the flowers free. "Trust me, it comes in handy."

Raven raised a brow. "Swallow poison often, do you?"

Luna smiled secretly. "You'd be surprised."

Well, Raven would much rather hold off on said surprise than find out exactly what she meant by that.

They walked in silence for a few more minutes, Raven trying not to think about all the work she was leaving back at the lab. Granted, there wasn't any actual work, not since the barrel plan had been blown, but struggling to come up with a new plan still made her feel useful. Like she was at least doing something and not just standing back and waiting for the world to end.

Though, Murphy didn't seem to be having all too much trouble with that.

She spared a few surreptitious glances over her shoulder, back at the direction they'd come.

Luna didn't miss it. "The lab will still be there in an hour or two. And so will your rocket."

Raven huffed, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Well, it's not like we have many hours to waste."

"You're right. We don't. But taking a break every now and again will only help you achieve what you want. We're not made to work constantly. We burn out."