Crowned

Arc 3, Chapter 78: "It's going to be Okay..."

//TW\\

DRUGS
(This now falls under a similar category to Alcohol in warning frequency.)

MENTION OF OVERDOSE
(Past.)

———

The young child slept soundly... Their breathing was steady. Unlike Taco's... Hers was uneven... She fell in and out of sleep, her pain still less than tolerable. She felt comfort in the fact she could help another rest, however. She awoke with a start as someone approached... and used her wing to shove the child out of sight instinctively. People chatted as they exited the confines of the ruined cabin across the street. Her gaze narrowed... her body ached.

Trophy was the first to jog over, he looked back at the others, "We still bringin her, right?" He called taking a few steps towards Taco... Who was still groggy and disoriented.

The kid backed up, scrambling under the deck and behind a pile of snow: the grogginess knocked out of them. They glared at the others with... an indescribable emotion.

Knife stepped next to Trophy, then looked down at Taco, who was squinting due to dawn's bright nature. "Yeah... The others decided it would be for the best..." Knife huffed bitterly, "Try to keep her near the back, yeah? Fanny and Mic don't really wanna look at her." He beckoned.

Trophy groaned, "I don't wanna carry her! That's not fair! She may be small but she's heavy as shit!" Trophy berated with a clear scowl.

Knife pinched the bridge of his nose, and huffed, "Look, dude—Just drag her! Make her walk! I don't give a shit..." Knife seethed, frustrated, and peeved having just woke up.

Trophy looked down at Taco, raising a brow, "Yeah, no... She may be a monster—but I'm not. She can't walk like that man!" Trophy gestured towards her mangled form. Still a mess.

Knife groaned, "Don't think about it too much! She slaughtered an ENTIRE VILLAGE—!"

"—Two, Technically..." Fanny cut in from afar, her gaze bitter and filled with hatred. She then snapped back to talking with the others.

Knife turned his head back fromFanny to Trophy once again. "See what I mean? Just make her walk... Its not like we're making her clean the hotel." Knife spat, he then crossed his arms, and shifted his weight onto a heal.

Trophy blinked, a bit shocked at how callous he was. "A-alright then... Damn..." Trophy put his hands up slightly, and backed off towards Taco. She'd already had cold blisters on her feet. He didn't really feel comfortable with this level of inhumanity, but, he wasn't looking to get beaten. Not today thank you.

Wasn't exactly on his to-do list.

He grabbed the rope and pulled it from the post which kept the deck standing. Taco groaned, not daring to speak as Trophy looked down at her.

"Well? Come on— Don't play deaf!" He shouted, giving the rope a tug. Taco expected as much, but still didn't give her much time to prepare. She yelped, straining her raspy voice as her arms were tugged and she collapsed in an instant. She groaned in pain, her aching body refused to respond. Trophy grimaced after she'd fallen and looked back at knife with a concerned expression, "I dunno dude—look at her...!" Trophy muttered.

"She just needs some fucking encouragement..." Knife growled, yanking the rope from Trophy's hand and forcing her to her feet. She stumbled again, groggy... Knife grunted to himself and kicked her, not too hard to snap her out of it. Taco let out a yelp of pain, and her legs shook as she stood. "You're lucky you're even alive right now..." Knife reminded with a hiss.