The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

Mystery And Magik

     Florence knelt in the mud, sobs ripping from her throat, she didn't want to move or even breathe the pain she felt. There had only been a rare few times she could remember feeling like that, and they all involved losing someone very close to her. She didn't know what she would do now, how she would cope. She hadn't realised just how attached she'd become to Quentin, and even Skyrah, in their short time together.

    All of a sudden, two blurry figures emerged from the middle of the flames and she watched them through bleary eyes. She felt the wave of anger resurfacing with such ferocity, she hoped those Tomb Walkers were ready for her. She got shakily to her feet, walking stick raised, ready to take her anguish out on them. Then she'd be back for Dryele, who had apparently been knocked out cold by the blast.

    Florence began to advance on the creatures, one of them appeared to be on fire. She assumed they couldn't feel it, they were walking fine enough in spite of it. Actually, they were walking a little too fine, no clumsy gait or lolling limbs. Florence stopped where she was, lowering her walking stick and staring in disbelief when Quentin and Skyrah came into view. They were both running to her, now that they seemed to have spotted her there.

    Florence couldn't believe what she was seeing. They reached her seconds later and Florence was staring with her mouth wide open, her disbelief only growing each passing moment. Skyrah looked like some kind of spirit, she was bathed in the same glowing blue-white light that had exploded from the building moments before. Florence now realised that's what she had mistaken for flames before.

    Skyrah stopped in front of Florence, eyes wide and continuously looking around her own body.

"Wh-what happened? What is all of this?"

Quentin glanced to Skyrah, shaking his head. "I... I don't really know."

     Skyrah didn't seem to have an answer for it either.

"I... can't believe it..."

Surprisingly she didn't seem as confused by the events. She looked like she was in shock it was happening but that was the extent of her reaction. She opened her mouth as though she was about to try and explain, when Florence stopped her and spun around.

    Skyrah's light was illuminating most of the field, something she needed right now and Florence ran off without another word. 

"Mrs James, what's wrong?" Quentin called, he and Skyrah running to catch up.

"The cats... that bastard threw my cats... I don't know where they are or if they're hurt or..."

    She trailed off, barely able to think the words. Her worry increased tenfold the more she searched, her eyes scanning every inch of their surroundings. The rain still pounding down around them, the field was turning into one giant muddy puddle. Suddenly, she saw something shining nearby, reflecting Skyrah's light. She rushed toward it and as she drew closer, it became clear there were six small dots reflecting the light.

     Cats eyes. Florence knew them all too well, she flat out ran to them and hoped with everything she had that they would blink. Their little forms were laid near each other, their heads raised and quiet mews and whimpers escaped them when she fell to the ground.

    She felt only a fraction of the relief she should have felt at finding them. They hadn't gotten up to come to her, they weren't getting up at all and looked like they were struggling to raise their heads. The sounds they made, pulled more sobs from Florence that she didn't think would stop.

    Without speaking or coordinating their efforts, they each moved to pick up a cat. Florence held Nathan in her arms, trying to wipe the mud from his coat and see where he might be hurt.