Welcome to Gaia! ::

Unable to withstand the cold night weather much longer, Acrucis stood up and stretched her arms above her head. Gold bangle bracelets broke the silence as they pinged against each other at her elbows and once again at her wrists when she lowered her arms back down to her sides. She knew she was pushing her luck going out on patrol as frequently as she had been. Her powered outfit offered little resistance from the chilly weather, which if she wasn't careful, would eventually get her sick, and knowing her parents would land her in the hospital with a visit to Dr Jacobs.

A rather aggressive shiver ran up her spine which brought with it an onslaught of mental what-if conversations which mostly involved being scolded by her doctor, who was also a squire - Shangri-La, for going out on patrol alone. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her senshi phone just to get an idea how long she had been out. 45 minutes her face took on a bit of a somber expression. She didn't like the thought of abandoning her patrol so early but she also didn't think she could last much longer.

With another flick of her wrist she de-summoned her phone and took off roof hopping towards home all the while keeping her senses aware to any signatures that she may pass along the way. It wasn't much more than fifteen blocks away from where she had been that she sensed a familiar aura. Familiar as in someone who was order not as in someone she had met before. The power behind the signature did not feel as strong as Maia or Ganymede but it did feel stronger than her own, much akin to Shangri-La possibly.

Foregoing the notion of going home and curling up in bed with her electric blanket she changed her trajectory to find out whom the power signature belonged to and at the very least to make sure they were okay.

The closer she got the more excited she became. So far every encounter, no matter the side they were on, seemed to have gone quite well and ended on a fairly pleasant note. Which left her with very little reason to doubt that this time would go any different.

Spotting the senshi just up ahead, Acrucis leaped off the pitched roof and landed quite effortlessly on the pavement below. With a smile on her face, she jogged forward closing the distance between them only slowing when she got close enough to notice the red stains over his otherwise white and blue uniform. Coming to an abrupt stop she stared at the senshi she had been pursuing, eyebrows knitted in concern as her mind attempted to process what had happened to him. It was then that she noticed that they weren't alone, there was a student from her soon-to-be-new-school sitting on the ground, propped up against the lamppost soaked in an amount of blood that rivaled the senshi next to him.

From the distance she was at she couldn't make out many visible wounds on the student aside from the ones on his head and knuckles evidence that he had been a fight, but with whom? What concerned her more was the stains on his jeans and shirt both of which lacked any damage from taring which made her wonder if the blood on his clothes was his or did they belong to someone else?

Unable to fully process what she was seeing her breathing became shallow as panic began to build up inside. Was she too late? please lord don't let me be late. She stared at the student for what felt like minutes before turning her gaze back upon the senshi "Is he..." she tried to continue, the lump in her throat made it hard to speak, her eyes instead shifted between the two in front of her. Acrucis took a few hesitant steps forward , her eyes watchful for any movement, the rise of his chest, a twitch of a finger, anything. "Is he..." she tried again. dead...? her mind finished the question.

It felt like her breath had been forcefully pulled from her lungs, as she stood there paralyzed. Her heart fell like a lead weight to the pit of her stomach when the senshi beside her confirmed that the student was indeed dead. Most of what he said past that declaration fell on deaf ears only bits and pieces of key words lingered...

I'm too late, I shouldn't have sat around so long. I... I could have helped him. Wether or not her abilities could have actually been a pivital point in saving the students life was unknown. But knowing she could have helped, even a little had she left just a little bit sooner, was eating her up inside.

It was the pained sound the senshi had made that drew her attention away from the boy and out of her dazed stupor. Her eyes drifted down his crouched form till she saw what she assumed to be the reason for his sound of discomfrot. Now that she was close enough to see, it was apparent that he too supported wounds and that the blood stained uniform was not just from the other boy but rather a mix of both their injuries. Her eyes remained on his side as he struggled to stand up and took a few steps towards her to close the distance between them.

When he'd asked if she'd be alright her eyes fell back to the student then back to his injured side 'No... Maybe?' she thought unsure of herself at the moment "I don't know..." she finally admitted, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I awoke shortly after the eclipse... before the shade queen showed up at the lake."

Up till now the worst injury she'd seen was a rather bad burn from the Shade Queen's heat attack and Ganymede's injured ankle with the blood stained boot. Both of which pale in comparison to the two in front of her. The student was gone, that's what the senshi had said, but he, he was still here and though her heart ached horribly for the one she couldn't save, she still had the ability to help the one in front of her. Normally she asked before she used her renew on anyone, but she didn't feel like explaining about her sphere or what she could do, instead she brought her hands up on a prayer like motion and whispered her attack "Prayer of renew" then extended her hands outward, her palms just inches away from the other senshi's side as another tear rolled down her cheek.

Having just cast her attack, Acrucis withdrew her hands as if she'd been burned when he shied away from her. She knew she should have asked his permission, he had nothing to fear from her attacks, but he had no way of knowing that.

In the past it had normally taken a few seconds for her attack to fully take effect and mend minor injuries, but the wound he supported, the one she was attempting to heal, looked anything but minor. "Healing" she interrupted, her voice cracked a little "It's a heal" she paused swallowing the lump in her throat. "I...I don't know how well it will work" she admitted.

'Please, please work Though he no doubt supported other injuries her eyes remained focused on the worst visible one.

Acrucis shook her head "It's okay..." her voice quivered slightly though she tried really hard to stop crying. "I should have asked first." she reached up and attempted to dry her tear stained face.

She wanted to ask him what happened but knew this was neither the time nor place; not that she could find the words to ask anyway. Instead she watched as he looked over his wounds, or tried to at least. A part of her was hopeful that her renew was stronger than she thought, that he would say that his wound was completely healed, but he didn't.

Not at all satisfied with effectiveness of her renew, or lack there of, her eyes glanced back behind the senshi to the boy. Fresh tears began to p***k the corner of her eyes Shang, I don't know what to do Taking in a deep breath she looked back up at the blond, deep blue eyes locked onto golden orange eyes. Determined to not let him end up like the other boy she asked "Let me try again? Please?"

His eyes were kind, his gestures gentle, the sound of his voice both soothing and comforting. How... how are you able to be so compassionate after all you've been through? I should be the one comforting you...

Thraen's efforts to calm her down didn't go without reward. Though one more tear that was precariously held at bay just a moment ago did slide down her cheek, she did manage a weak smile, but a smile none the less. "I can use my renew two more times before feeling tired." In all honesty she was tired as it was though it wasn't from using her magic. Her current level of exhaustion stemmed from how late it was combined with the cold weather and emotional strain this evening brought with it.

"I'll try one more time while we're here" If this attempt failed to reduce the severity of his wound then she would try again... and again. Though she knew nothing of the details of what transpired before she arrived, what she did know is that he didn't deserve this, none of it. She knew the limits of her renew only reached the physical realm. It did not have the ability to heal the open wounds of the heart brought on by loss or mental scars from witnessing something horrible. Which is why she would push herself as far as possible to mend what she could, for him. Though anything past this next attempt, she would have to take him up on his offer and go somewhere else.

Like before Acrucis brought her hands up in a prayer like motion her eyes moved down from his to his side once again "Prayer of renew" she said with a bit more determination than before. A part of her hoped that by saying her attack with more conviction that maybe, just maybe, it would be more effective. As she stood there, arms stretched outward toward Thraen, palms hovering just inches away from his side, she spoke softly "My name is Acrucis," she paused for a moment "I'm the senshi of prayer." she continued "Ever since awakening I've been determined to help people especially after all the damage caused by the clones and their queen. I just..." she stopped what she was saying mid sentence when the soft yellow glow that had encompassed her hands, as well as Thraen, ceased glowing.

She looked back up at his face with an expecting yet slightly tired expression on her face "Did it work? Does it feel any better?" she inquired in a quiet non-demanding voice.

Acrucis exhaled the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. It felt like a ten-ton weight had been lifted off her shoulders leaving her with an almost dizzying sense of weightlessness when Thraen explained to her that his injury was actually a bit better. Closing her eyes for a brief moment she offered up simple thank you, a small gift of gratitude for the strength she needed to try again, to at the bare minimum stop the bleeding.

The expression on her face softened a bit, worry from seconds ago replaced by a tired smile as she reached out to hold the seemingly delicate passiflora pin while he wrapped the baldric around himself.

Though she had lived in Destiny City for most of her life, aside for the past two years, she couldn't really recall having visited DCU before, but she was at least aware of the general location of the campus. Regardless of the distance she had known before he even asked that she'd accompany him at the very least to make sure he was going to be okay and didn't pass out somewhere along the way from blood loss and or exhaustion. "It's ok, I don't have anywhere else to be. I was actually heading home early when I sensed your power signature." she admitted. As much as she wanted to talk to someone about what happened tonight Acrucis knew it would have to wait. She'd already failed to make it in time to save the student, knowledge that wouldn't soon be forgotten. Which is why she absolutely refused to leave Thraen until she knew he was safe.

Lightly tracing her fingers over the passiflora petals she smiled at his offer to give her a piggyback. 'Even in his current condition he's still compasionate towards others. It's people like him that make all the difference in a world locked in war and chaos.' Had her renew been more effective and completely healed his wound she may have accepted, but as it was she had no desire to injure him further, instead she respectfully declined "Maybe next time. I think for now it's best that I walk. Plus if need be you can use me as a crutch if you start to get light headed."

Once Thraen had the makeshift bandage ready, Acrucis carefully slid two fingers behind the piece of fabric as means to prevent accidentally poking him with the pin. With surprisingly steady hands she pushed the needle through the fabric, securely fastening the flower to his side. Satisfied that it wasn't going to come undone she removed her hand and looked up at him with a questioning looking asking "Is that ok?"

'He's joking right?' Acrucis searched his eyes for some sort of a hint that he wasn't seriously considering running. Despite the need to get to somewhere safe, a place where he can lay down and she could use her renew for one final time she shook her head and firmly replied "No..." She paused taking in a deep breath, it was not her intent to come off sounding like she was scolding him. This being the first time they had met, as well as her being both tired and freezing, she was having a difficult time trying to discern if he actually meant his suggestion. With a softer voice she continued "No running." her features relaxed a bit, "I feel like that will do you more harm than anything. Don't worry, I won't leave you. We'll make it there, okay? Together."

Though she had offered to be his crutch she still found his touch startling when he put his arm around her shoulders. Up till this point there had been no physical contact between the two of them, the closest being when he had his hands cupped, hovering a hairs breath around her own. There was comfort to be had with the weight of his arm. Right now as much as she was his support, he was her anchor. Acrucis brought one arm around him resting her hand on his upper back instead of his side, and with her other hand she reached up to take a hold of his hand that was draped over her shoulder.

Acrucis fell in step with him, walking side by side in the direction of his safe house. "I live ten... maybe twelve minutes away" she'd never really timed herself before to know for sure. When Thraen mentioned that there was a General about, the first image that came to mind was the one she met the day after she awoke, Benitoite. "No, I'm not a part of a team at the moment. Though... Shangri-La was very adamant about how I should never go out alone, I just... don't have any way to contact him nor have I met many people I felt I could ask to patrol with me."

Before they got too far away Acrucis gave Thraen's hand a gentle squeeze. Coming to a stop she turned around for a brief moment, sad eyes rested on the boy that was propped against the lamp post, cloaked in a soft yellow light. Closing her eyes she offered up a final prayer for the fallen senshi, a student that had went to her school, someone she would never get the chance to know. Heavenly Father, I pray that you receive his soul with open arms so that Your light may shine upon him forever. I ask that you please send someone to watch over and protect his body until the proper authorities are able to find him so he is not lost among the missing. Lord I pray that you please be with his family and friends as they grieve the loss of their loved. In Yours son Jesus' name I pray' "Amen."

It took a few seconds for her to find the strength to turn around, it felt wrong to leave him sitting there for someone else to find. Right now her priority was Thraen, making sure he got to the safe house, and attempting to mend him one more time.

The young senshi of prayer struggled to hold her tears at bay all the while subconsciously holding onto Thraen's hand a bit tighter than she would have otherwise meant to. Despite the warmth generated from being as close as they were to each other, a rather harsh shiver ran up Acrucis spine, This wasn't how tonight was suppose to go she thought to herself. She walked a few blocks in silence breaking the silence she spoke up, "Who did this? What... what did he look like?