To Chase a Dream ⇾ Aloy

two: a ghostly white brother and an annoying task

A glare full of judgement and resentment is sent Lorea's way. One she's used to, but still anger rises up inside her belly. She sets her jaw and her muscles tense up. With a scowl she continues to stomp her way up the mountain. The nerve of some people.

As soon as she sees the state her parents are in, she once again is left angry and disappointed. Her mother lies knocked out on the floor, ungraciously snoring. While her father mumbles something under his breath, head dropped on his arm still clutching an empty mug in his hand. The last of many she can assume.

She releases a frustrated sigh and with a frown couches down beside her mother. "Mother, wake up!" She shouts at her, but it doesn't seem to help, so Lorea moves on to the next tactic. She lightly slaps her in the face. The older Nora stirs slightly before dropping back in her hazed slumber. Lorea rakes her hand through her hair and merely stares. She takes a moment to take a deep calming breath.

She doesn't see the fellow Nora approaching her from behind. "You look like you need a hand," the blonde states, a kind smile on her face.

The explorer jumps up and twists around, coming face to face with Talara. Despite the dark bags underneath her eyes and the many strands of her pale blonde hair escaping her braid, the young woman still manages to make Lorea's heart beat just a bit faster.

The teenager clears her throat and stands, coming face to face with the blonde. "That would be nice, thank you." She smiles, red dusting her cheeks. She tells herself it's because she's embarrassed about her parents, even though them being like this is nothing new.

She wakes her father and although he's disoriented and unsteady on his feet he can walk. Lorea orders him to go home with a strained smile on her face. Now for her mother. Both Lorea and Talara lift an arm on their shoulders and with their strength combined they heave the unconscious woman of the ground. She's dragged through the streets like a dead weight, unresponsive and unaware.

People glance at them, but with the respected Talara around they don't give the explorer any nasty glares. That little fact makes her roll her eyes. Sometimes she wonders why she's still here.

They arrive at Lorea's house where her father is being dragged inside by Flek. A small puddle of vomit stains the ground in front of their house. The sour smell hits Lorea full on and she flinches. Flek hurries over and takes Talara's place.

"Thank you," Lorea calls over her shoulder while she and Flek brace themselves to get their mother through the door opening.

The blonde smiles. "You're welcome, may All Mother watch over you."

It takes a bit of struggling to get her through the door with Lorea tripping over her mother's feet and Flek suddenly having to carry both their weights. With a bang she hits her head against the doorpost, she groans and cradles her head.

"Lorea, hurry," he huffs urgently, his muscles straining and protesting.

The teen manages to get herself back up and slings their mother's arm back over her shoulder. "Sorry," she mutters as they unceremoniously drop her in a bed with less care than they should. They're too annoyed to think about that though.

Lorea slumps down on one side of the room while Flek does the same on the other side. She rakes her hand through her hair and sighs. "I wish they would change," she mutters under her breath. Her hand drops back into her lap and that's when she notices the stream of warm liquid trickling down her face. The very same that stains her fingertips red.

Flek looks up at her words and is startled by the blood. "Lorea, you're bleeding," he says, his hands trembling while all the color drains from his face.

The explorer springs up and scoffs. "Really? I hadn't noticed," she answers, her tone flat. Her hands rummage through her bag as she searches for a piece of cloth. Soon she finds one and presses it against her bleeding head.

She turns back to her brother, leaning her back against the wall. Flek is frozen on the spot his face still a ghostly white. She raises her eyebrows at the sight. "Don't tell me you are the one who needs medical attention."

Her brother gulps and shakes his head. "No I will be fine," he exhales a trembling breath. "Just make sure to get that blood out of here."

Lorea smirks at her distressed brother. All that because of a little blood. "Okay, I will," she walks over to the door. "Don't faint while I'm gone," with a playful wink and knowing that he'll be fine eventually she takes off to the healers.

On her way she spots a very interesting person on the other side of the street. An idea pops up into her head and with a polite smile she goes over to the Nora in question. "Varl," she calls out when she's near enough.

The male looks up at the sound of his voice and smile lights up his face. "Lorea, how are you?" he asks but his smile falls when he sees the blood. "Never mind that, you are going to the Healers I hope. Do you want me to accompany you?"

"No, I will be fine, but someone might need your help."

He gives her a confused look, clearly not getting it yet.

She sighs. "Does a certain Nora who's not great with blood, ring any bells?"

His muscles tense ready to run as fast as he can. "Oh no, Flek is the worst with blood," he gives her a quick look before taking off. "Be safe!" He calls over his shoulder.

Lorea continues her way smiling. Flek is either going to love or hate her when she gets back. She's just glad to see someone beside herself care about him.

~

It doesn't take too long before Lorea is back to their house, with a healing salve sticking her bangs to her forehead and a frown on her face. She hates going to the Healers. All their questions and the constant amount of attention. She would much rather do it herself.

As soon as she walks away though her frown melts away and a smile takes its place. Varl and Flek are fast asleep holding each other as if they're afraid one of them might disappear. Flek's hair sticks up in the oddest angles, much like her owns does when she takes her hand through it. They seem peaceful and content, something she's glad that he has found.

She quietly tiptoes around them and grabs her bag. With one glance back, she's back outside taking off to her own safe place or something close to it.

The explorer is outside the fence in no time and immediately her shoulders relaxes as she takes in a deep breath. How she loves it out here. She spares the loud and stuffy settlement one last nasty look before walking away.

With ease and directions of Orby she makes quick work of going from Mother's Heart to her cave. The orb and the girl chat on the way. She fills him in on the recent happenings, since he doesn't experience much from inside her bag. It does make her feel guilty, but he understands that nothing good will come of him being outside her bag. It's such a big risk that she even takes him into Mother's Heart at all.

They arrive in the clearing and Lorea makes quick work of the climb. Now that she's not freezing and it's still light out, it proves to be a lot easier. Still she's breathing heavy at the end and sweat rolls down her back.

Inside she throws her bag to one side and fetches some firewood from the other. Soon a warm fire is burning and she grabs her last project which has, to her own disappointment, nothing to do with the Old Ones or the machines. Instead she takes out a needle and thread and starts to sew. Since her mother isn't capable she took it upon herself to make Flek's lantern. She hopes he will appreciate the effort, since her sewing isn't the best or the neatest. The Proving will be soon and she would rather be at the mercy of the Metal Devil, than leave Flek embarrassed and disappointed at the Blessing ceremony.