Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 10)

“Uhhhh… where do you want to go?” Was she really letting a four-year-old tell her what to do? Apparently yes.

Spoiler

quote gen just gave me this gem lol Gaius much?

You don't need to follow me! You don't need to follow anybody! You got to think for yourselves!
— Brian Cohen

(Anyone interacting with Ky much?? XD)

She shrugged. "Imali's going somewhere."

(xD the entire country, collectively)
(Are they walking at this point? I also don’t know the answer to her question lol)

(Yeah they're walking
I would assume they're looking for Ada and anyone else they missed?)

(Yeah that’s fair)
(I am paranoid that you have hurt May)(or Ada)

Pratik came running up the stairs just then. He looked them over. “Safe?”

“Safe,” Ky confirmed.

“Who else have you seen?” He glanced further down the hall but no one was there. He trusted Ky’s assurances, though. So he didn’t have to personally verify it for himself. If she said people were safe, they were safe.

“Tadaaki and his family, Ivar, Lyra, Gaius. I can’t find Ada or May.”

Pratik cringed and headed for Ada’s door. Where could she have gone? Was she hurt?

Imali watched him go, then looked to Ky.

(the fact that you didn't deny it makes me even more sure that I'm right rip)

"I..." Ky sighed, looking back at her. "Do you think we should go try to find more people?"


Pratik briskly strode down the hall and rapped on Ada's door.

(*jabba the hutt laugh*)

There was still no answer.

Imali nodded, heading for the stairs.

(😭😭😭)

Pratik knocked louder. “Ada! It’s me. Pratik. Are you in here? Are you okay?”


Ky walked next to her, offering a little smile to Ua. “Are you feeling better now?”

She nodded. "Yeah. It won't happen again?"

There was still no answer.

"Probably not," Ky answered. "I can't promise that. But hopefully it's done now. I don't want it to happen again, either."


"Ada!" Pratik beat on the door so hard it shook a little. His chest felt surprisingly tight. What did that mean? Why had he gotten so attached to this pissy girl that barely tolerated his presence? He really shouldn't be this worried about the thought of something having happened to her. And yet he was. "You don't have to talk to me, but you have to answer. I need to know you're safe! Are. You. Safe?"

(*twiddle thumbs*)

Finally there was a choking gasp and cough on the other side and a small voice said, "...Pr...Pratik?"

"I thought this place couldn't move! Even the wind doesn't knock it down!"

Goddamnit! Pratik tried to open the door urgently.


"The shaking didn't knock it down," Ky pointed out. "Still standing up."

It swung open. Ada was curled on the ground bleeding from the nose, mouth and eyes. She groaned, ducking her head toward her chest.

"But will it fall over?"

Pratik's heart lurched into his throat and he ran to her side. Had something fallen on her? Was it the gods being dickwards? Did it even matter at this point? He very gently scooped her up and started towards the hallway. He needed Sera. Or, at the very least, the infirmary. He wasn't a physician by any stretch of the imagination but had been in charge of his own medical care for the better part of a decade. But there was fuck-all he could do here. "What happened?"


"Nah," Ky said, shaking her head. She was fairly sure that was true. And if it wasn't, then... well... it was dark, but... it's not like any of them would be alive to remember her lie.