»»------(Chapter 4)------»»

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   Darkness. I shot up, heart racing as I grasped around. I could feel the hands clawing at my throat, tighter and tighter and tighter until I couldn't breathe. I tried to pull them away, hands shaking as I dug my nails into the hands but it only hurt me. I tried to call out but I couldn't hear myself, ears thick with cotton. I kept calling and screaming and shouting.
   Suddenly, I feel thick arms wrap around me; I struggle. I claw at the arms and the hands around my throat disappear as I start to cry, trembling heavily in the arms as a light humming rummbles against my back. The darkness fades as the feeling of death breathing down my neck slips away; I fall back into the warm set of a body, my back curving into their chest as I tremble in their grip. The humming grows softer, tugging the cotton from my ears as my sobs die down.
   The thick, dark cloak over my senses is gone as Hunk finally reaches the end of the song, his chin resting on the top of my head as I stretch out my curled up body, growing calmer as Hunk starts the song again, his thick voice ringing out this time.
   I give a shakey sob, rubbing the tears from my cheeks as I smile at the ground. The campfire crackles before my eyes now, the warmth biting at my feet as I lay them too close. A few moments later, the song came to a close again, and I'm fully calm, curled up in Hunk's arms.
   The murmurs of Pidge to Allura brush over my senses but I ignore them, letting myself melt into the comfort of his arms as the panic subsides.
   A hand on my leg sends me jumping instinctively, Hunk's arms holding me tighter as Allura comes into my line of sight. Pidge stands a ways behind her, a water bottle held in their pale hands.
   "Hey, Lance..." Allura smiles softly, holding out a hand for me. Slipping my hand into hers, she helps me slip out of Hunk's embrace and sit before her, my legs pressed to my chest as she holds my gaze.
   Hunk and Pidge watch with soft gazes, and a rustling behind me tells that Shiro is back from keeping watch. I turn to look towards him, to see his expression- but Allura stops me- she rests a hand on my shoulder to call my attention back towards her, another soft, loving smile gracing her features.
   "Lance, I have something for you, alright? It's just a small capsule-" She held out her hand, opening the closed fist to reveal a small, grain-like pill, the fire reflecting off the clear capsule that the powder was held in.
   "A pill?" Pidge kneeled next to Allura, eyeing the small content of her hand with slight suspicion.
   "Close: St. John's wort. It helps with depression and anxiety- and hopefully, panics." She gives a softer smile, letting me take the pill. "Sadly, I'm not entirely sure it will help that much. I would perform a ritual or spell for you, but I don't have much in the means of materials." She stood up after a moment, Pidge handing me the water bottle before sitting next to Hunk.
   I waited a few moments before taking the pill in my mouth, downing half the waterbottle to chase the bitter taste that coated my throat. Hunk laughed as I gagged slightly, his eyes filled with warmth as I returned to snuggle up to him and Pidge.
   "C'mon, Lance- we gotta head out in a few hours, get some rest." And I did just that.

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