After The Fall

State of Unrest

Minx sits in the recliner, staring out the window with a vacant expression as she twists the wedding rings around her finger in silence. Pitch black outside, and nothing but a few small candles sitting on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. Cry and Ohm are both asleep on the couches, the others all sleeping upstairs.

It's been a few quiet months and, thanks to the supply runs they made before rescuing Cry, they haven't had any need for more supplies recently. Three months have passed, and winter is almost here. They'll need to make another run soon if they want to survive the harsh weather that's coming.

Minx sighs, watching as the moon peaks out from behind the clouds, bathing the room in pale light. Within the treeline, she can see a few figures moving in the dark. A constant reminder that the world isn't the same as it once was. She continues twisting the rings on her finger for a moment before taking them off.

She pulls her backpack into her lap and searches through it as quietly as possible. After a few minutes, she pulls a tangled chain from within. Setting the bag back by her feet, and the rings back on her finger, she works at untangling the chain. Once finally done, she takes off her wedding rings once more and slips then onto the chain before latching the necklace around her neck.

She tucks the necklace under collar and looks out the window again. Yet another quiet night, but it doesn't make her feel any less on edge. The wind howls outside and the full moon shines brilliant pale light, illuminating the living room. Minx looks over at her sleeping friends and she sighs softly, wishing she could sleep so easily.

Even with how quiet things have been, and the sense of normalcy everyone had had in the past few months, it's what has been making Minx so on edge. She's afraid to let herself relax, afraid that the moment she let's her guard down everything will crumble around her. She may not allow herself to feel safe, but she's promised to do whatever she can to make sure her friends do.

If she has to suffer a few sleepless nights and paranoia to ensure her friends can be at ease, so be it. This group is all she has left, and she can't afford to let her mind hold onto the past. She needs to be the one to stay adjusted and ready for whatever horrible thing might come for them next.

She has to stay alert no matter what in order to protect those left that mean something to her. She knows they'd do the same for her, but she doesn't want them to feel like they have to. She's taken charge of this group, so it's her job to keep them all safe and together.

At least, that's how she sees it. She yawns, pushing herself to stand. She walks over to Cry and shakes him lightly, "Wake up, it's your turn to take watch."

Cry wakes up, yawning. He sits up, looking around, trying to get his bearings. He looks at Minx for a moment, then nods, standing. He salutes her as he walks past, "Watchman Cry is on the job, go get your beauty sleep, girl."

Minx chuckles softly and takes Cry's place on the couch. Cry sits in the recliner, glancing out the window. Minx closes her eyes, falling asleep rather quickly. Sunlight wakes her in the morning.

She opens her eyes as Ohm approaches her, "Hey, Breakfast is almost ready, Entoan told me to wake you and the others upstairs."

Minx nods, yawning as she sits up. Ohm smiles and heads over and up the stairs, yelling out, "Rise and shine up there!"

Cry chuckles from the kitchen, where he's setting the table as Entoan is finishing up the cooking. Minx gets up and walks into the kitchen, "How did the rest of the night shift go?"

"Uneventful as ever," Cry states, giving a pleased smile, "Honestly, I'm glad for it. It's been a good breather."

Minx smiles softly, "Good then."

This is exactly her point. Her friends relish in the peace and quiet, while she, seemingly alone, keeps the guard up for the group. She's okay with this, protecting their sense of peace is what she relishes in. Entoan smiles back at them, "Yeah, maybe even the military will finally have this under control soon enough."

"You think so?" Cry turns to look back at Entoan.

Entoan shrugs, "I don't know, I hope so."

He sighs, turning back to the food he's cooking, "I just want this to be over soon. It's been quiet, and we've feigned normalcy, but I'm still scared."

He stares out across the yard and the treeline, a haunted look in his eyes, "I'm just tired of feeling like that."

Cry sighs, "We all are. We just have to keep working through it, day by day. That's all we can really do for now."

Minx crosses her arms, "I honestly don't think any help is coming. We'll just have to help ourselves now."

Entoan shrugs again, obviously bothered by something. He sighs and turns back to his friends as he moves the food over to the table, a smile once again across his lips, "Well, I for one like to keep hope that we're not alone in this."

Cry smiles at this and helps Entoan make plates for their group's breakfast. Minx smiles as well, but she isn't buying it. She could see the look Entoan was trying to hide. She knows, because this look is one she herself hides from her friends, just as he does. But if pretending to be alright makes Entoan feel better, she won't call him on it.

Of course she'd lie if one of them asked her about her own far away looks. Her friends deserve to keep their happiness, even if it's only for a short while, she'll fight for it. How she sees it, if she gives up on preserving their happiness, she gives up on happiness all together.