I wake again to shaking. I look around, trying to gauge where i am and what's going on. The constant shaking is a bit more navigational than the sharp, random shaking the bombs did only a few days before. I slowly stand up to see Lyza trying to do the same, then I feel the floor below me begin to crumble. Trusting to instinct and forgotten knowledge, I unfurl my wings and shoot forward to catch Lyza before she fell. In doing so, I propel us through the wall and out of the house. I keep hold of her, cradling her in my arms as I hover outside the house. the entire world seems to be shaking as we watch our last place of refuge crumble to the ever shaking earth. I don't know how long we stayed there, but, due to aching muscles, I land, carefully holding Lyza as I make sure the earthquake had passed. As the dust settles and the Aftershocks are done, I set Lyza down and stare at where the two story house used to stand, now, all there is, is rubble.
Lyza grabs my arm "What about Ismira?" She asks in a scared whisper. That shakes me from my stupor and I start making my way around, looking carefully. I move toward where the kitchen used to be when I hear a barely audible cry for help.
I move toward the sound and call out "Ismira?" I hear the sound again, and find an arm sticking out from under three pieces of ceiling and roofing. With superhuman strength I throw the pieces off of her. "Ismira!" I cry out, landing on my knees beside her, I immediately begin to check her vitals.
"Morian...." Ismira Whispers, struggling
"I'm going to save you, You're going to be fine!" I frantically, finding that most of her ribs were shattered, with one lung collapsed and the other punctured. I hear a gasp behind me as Lyza walks up and realizes what's happened.
"Morian..." Ismira says once more, with a little more urgency. I look to her face and she smiles weakly, reaching up with her unbroken arm to touch my cheek, wiping the tear I didn't know had fallen. "I get to see my sister again," she says.
I take her hand and press it against my cheek, shaking my head slightly, tears threatening to fall in great abundance "I'm not going to lose you as well." I say, knowing full well that there is nothing I can do.
She smiles again, though I can see the pain wrenching with each subtle, struggling breath. "It's okay, I'll be fine. I wish I had chosen better back then, but now I see you are meant for someone else." She closes her eyes, struggling for strength, "I have always L...." With a rattling breath and a heart wrenching cry, she winces, then relaxes, her last breath leaving her body.
Tears begin falling as her hand goes limp in mine, "Ismira...?" I touch her shoulder. "Ismira!" I yell shaking her shoulder, "Wake up!" I collapse, sobbing into her lifeless body. I feel Lyza touch my shoulder, I turn and start crying into her shoulder, letting her hold me as everything came crashing down. My last refuge has left me. I cry into Lyza until there is nothing left, then i just stay there, not wanting to move anymore.
"Morian...?" she asks gently
"yeah...?" I reply in a hoarse whisper
"we need to find shelter, there has been record highs in temperature and we are in a drought, we will die as well if we don't."
I nod and start to move, stretching tight muscles, "I'm going to bury her first." I find a shovel, with a mostly intact handle and dig a hole deep enough to protect her from the weather and the animals, then I gently lay her in, arranging so she looked like she was sleeping. Then I cover her with the fresh soil, and set a stone at the head. I just stand there and stare until Lyza comes up with a water bottle. I drain the bottle and turn to her, seeing her look of concern. "I'm okay.... Just... had a lot happen the past couple days."
She nods "What do we do now?"
"We find supplies, then we find out answers" I reply
"Where will we go...?"
"I'm not sure"
