Strangers in A Strange New Place

[Flynn Rider]

March 17th

The dull ache from his stomach was a constant reminder to Flynn Rider as he gathered blankets and passed them around to those in need of them. It was a horrible souvenir from his encounter with the savage underbelly of the Freedom Fighters; a constant warning to be wary of corruption in all places. Reaching down to a wounded soldier, all Eugene Fitzherbert could offer was a blanket and a smile; hopefully, a smile of hope, because the rogue knew that was in short supply. "Here, I'll grab more."

Standing up, a sharper pain came from his wound, strong enough to cause Flynn to stagger slightly. Cursing inwardly, Eugene pushed forward to the door, opening slightly to slip through and meet the crew of Captain Silver's incredible flying ship. In more peaceful times, he would have questioned exactly how the ship flew; Right now, he was just incredibly grateful that they were on his side. If it wasn't for Silver's ship and Flynn's quick movement, perhaps they would still be in Africa, fighting to survive.

A crew member on the ground noticed Eugene approaching and waved him down. "Mister Flynn, we've got more blankets and food for inside. Cap'n said to ask you where and who needs what." Flynn, scratching his head with an honored-but-confused look, smiled sheepishly. "Ah, he didn't need to do that. It's a good thing he did, though; we need all the help we can get. Come on." Grabbing a box full of blankets (painfully, Flynn remembered), Flynn returned to the barn with the sailor, passing out more blankets and food.

Noticing Rapunzel, he shook his head with a smile and walked over, covering her shoulders with a blanket. "I know I call you Sunshine, but you still only give off the same heat as the rest of us. Stay warm, you hear?" He patted her back reassuringly before looking back to help others.

(You're in pain, and yet you're still helping others Eugene? Heh, you're pretty stupid.)

Hey, I can't help it. You try hanging around Blondie for too long and not want to help people before yourself.

(...True.)

Rapunzel

[Kiara]

"H-he... He pushed us out of the way."

Her words had been breathed out in disbelief as members of the army surrounded them, yelling questions over her head. Bruised and bloodied but alive Kiara had pressed against her siblings, keeping Kanzi's smaller form wedged protectively between her and Kopa's larger bodies in preparation of being torn apart by vengeful soldiers.

Instead they'd been hustled aboard one of the flying craft and carefully ushered into the captain's quarters. A last glance had been spared as they leapt aboard for the blood-stained Pride Rock. Bodies laid crumpled and soaked in blood with no way to determine who laid dead and who was close to it. A surge of grief rose in Kiara's chest before she shut her eyes tight and allowed herself to be led to Captain Silver's safe haven.

'For their own safety'. Kiara had believed it. The children of a murdered father emerging unscathed while Jasper had been crushed by the boulders of their home? It was all to easy to imagine a scenario where they might have taken advantage of their escape to seek vengeance. Even if they hadn't... Jasper, the beloved leader, had died to protect them.

Kiara wondered how much hate that would earn them.

The trip had been spent in relative silence. The elder royals had taken shifts to keep watch, not trusting the strength of the door or the assurances that no one would come for them. If someone were to take it in their head to avenge Jasper's death... Well, the lions might not have been fully grown yet, but they could give any attackers a run for their hide.

Kiara herself spent much of her time swimming within the ocean of her own thoughts. Her mother had been left, alive or dead. Her pride was scattered -- some survivors had been brought aboard, but more had been left in their own blood. She and her siblings had lost everything. Jasper had, rather than face exile for his crimes, traded his life for theirs after fighting tooth and claw to protect them.

She didn't know what to think or how to feel. Staying numb seemed the safest course of action. If she let herself feel, if she let even a single emotion out... She feared she might erupt. She couldn't allow that. Not when they had Kanzi to take care of.

Kiara had taken to keeping her younger sibling close. Seeing them fall had awoken a fear she'd never known, and without Nala... Kiara tended to sit in silence and groom Kanzi carefully, always standing between them and the crowds.

Never would she allow Kanzi to fall again.

A distrustful gaze crept across the inside of the barn where Kiara and some of the other survivors had been brought. One man wove through the crowd dispersing blankets. It was as though the sight of some promised relief made the young lioness all the more aware of the chill creeping between the nailed boards. This realm was no Africa, whose breath brought life and sun to all it touched.

With lowered head Kiara slipped from the corner she'd claimed as their own. Great care was kept not to brush against anyone in the path between her and Flynn. "Excuse me. Do you have any to spare for my siblings and I?"

[Dhall]

“Mister Rider.”

Since their departure, Dhall had actually come to learn the name of their local rogue, and gained a healthy amount of appreciation for the man in the process. Turns out, when push came to shove, he could be trusted to do great things. While he seemed adamant in helping, she herself had taken up a similar mantle. While she knew nothing about mending flesh, she knew how to do two important things: She knew how to weave bandage cloth, and to be a source of heat.

“I believe it was recommended that you rest. You’re injured, and you’ll only upset the wound like that. There are a number of us still in good shape, we can take care of this.”

The tone Dhall spoke in was a wild change from how she’d addressed him back before the trial. Her voice was smooth here. Gentle, but firm. She’s grateful that he’s helping out, but she doesn’t want anyone else keeling over...

Molten gaze shifts gently as the little lioness approaches, asking for a blanket to share with her sibling.

“Your sibling, that’s our little skydiver, correct? How are they doing? Any injuries?”

[The Gourmand]

The Gourmand seemed almost immune to shock. He had to be when war was his life. What helped with that was having something to keep his mind occupied; the Gourmand had a list of tasks almost as soon as he’d brought himself and his reptilian acquaintance aboard.

First, he needed to fix the containment cell. This was done right on the deck of the ship. The beast could waste no time, for the longer that powerful magic was allowed to seep into his body, the weaker he would become. This even came at the cost of his own health as, after a couple hours, the effects began setting in: horrible, mind-clouding migraines: muscle weakness so severe it felt as if the flesh itself tore whenever he stirred. He was very clearly in a great amount of pain, but he coldly refused any help until he repaired the leak. Luckily, it was only minor damage. When he’d forced his pod into gear, a single bolt broke free and ricocheted all over the inside of his pod, causing damage everywhere it went. The Gourmand repaired the gash in the containment cell with a heated crystal blade, welding the leak closed within a few hours.

That fixed, he would not be exposed to further radiation, but damage had already been done. It needed to run its course. He spent the following eighteen hours attempting to sleep. It was the best thing he could do.

When he felt able enough to, he went about his second task: the lioness that brought harm to his friend -- or rather, their body. On his way out, he caught a glimpse of the enemy and he was not about to leave before he collected. The Gourmand sniped the wretch in the back of the head. He would be surprised if she even knew what hit her: one second running, the next blackness. After, he tied the body behind the backrest of his pod and took it along. No one stopped him. Now that he’d recovered at least partially, he set about creating his trophy. The Gourmand placed himself at the ship’s stern, at least having the courtesy to somewhat stay out of sight as he made himself a cape out of the lion’s pelt. Not long after that was done, they made landfall.

Now, the sea beast lay propped up against a wooden wall in the barn. He was out of his pod; he had yet to repair any components other than the pearl chamber. It was cold here, but he was at least relatively used to it -- it was cold deep in the ocean trenches after all. The Gourmand now wore his fur cape, with impromptu shoulder pads made of cranium and mandible respectively. It didn’t help much to keep warm, but he wore it for symbolic purposes: a warning to any who may try to harm him or his allies. Residual pain still plagued his body and his breath was slow and controlled. Even still, the Gourmand had his tasks. His third task was now well underway. He held in one hand a small crystal carving tool and in the other hand, something even smaller… it looked like an itty bitty hatchet, not even as long has his palm. He whittled away at the glowing blue that made up the bladed end.

The Gourmand was as stoney as ever, even while immobile, weakened and out of his pod. Though, something seemed to cause this demeanor to warble.

Crested head slowly lifted and red eyes blinked before focusing forward and in the direction of the forge queen’s back. The Gourmand had made a dive for Kanzi when they were pushed off the edge. Mention of them made him pause in his work. It was clear he had at least the smallest iota of caring for them.

[Kopa]

Kopa still hasn't taken it all in. What had happened? His mind whirled and wandered, still shocked and dazed all at the same time. Then anger proceeded to replace his shock. He got to his paws, angry at the fact that his mother had been crazy, and angry at everyone for how things became the way they were. He attempted to ignore Kiara, looking around to see where he was. A barn, it seemed.

Kopa snarled out of nowhere and sunk his claws into the dirt to keep them from hurting or killing somebody. He looked around to see if Afua was around and to speak with him. He looked around and called out, "Afua?" He didn't care if they spared him or not. His friends and family were a lot more important than any of that. He was also sad. He had lost his home and his mother in a sense.

[Afua]

The past day or so was a blur to the blonde maned lion. Orange colored eyes were currently closed as he rested in a large pile of hay and straw mixture. Bandages covered a few of the wounds made by his aunt but other then the emotional trauma he was fine.

“Afua?”

Eyes finally open a tiny bit of the drugs still effecting him.

“Over here, Kopa” he called out softly to the prince, chin resting on his forepaws. Afua wasn’t use to this strange cold weather for now the barn sheltered him but he knew it couldn’t fit everyone

[Kopa]

Kopa's ears perked and he saw Afua. He walked over to him and sat down. He at first didn't say a word and was silent. Then he spoke. "Hey, crazy few days, huh?" he joked, well, tried to at least. He wanted to cheer him up. His anger and rage from before quelled itself.

His blue eyes still held anger, however, but it was pretty well hidden.

[John Silver]

The large shape of the ursid moves down the gang plank of his ship, another of just many given to him via parliament and the queen herself. A crate full of blankets and other items was held in his arms as he moves around the barn passing them out before he moves near Flynn and Dhall.

“She’s right ye know, it will do you no good if you hurt or tire yourself out again” he smiles warmly at a passing solider thanking him for the blanket. “Let me handle it from here lad” Silver’s two toned eyes move back to Eugene.

[Flynn Rider]

Both Dhall and Silver go unnoticed by Eugene as he bows down and offers most of the blankets on his arm. "Here. These will keep you all warm until we get more fires and homes built." Resting them on her back, he smiled; again, trying to spread hope and some semblance of happiness. Trying to bring something back from before this whole mess. "Keep your spirits up, you hear? It's not like we have the temperature rising to help."

Turning to face both forge queen and space captain, Eugene could do nothing but simply shrug. "You're right, Captain, Your Highness. People are dead, and I'm still alive. I feel ungrateful if I didn't use every chance I had to help others." His smile was wistful, and his sigh was heavier than normal. "I mean, you try spending more than a few weeks with Rapunzel and NOT want to save every lost animal or give all the orphans a home, even in your darkest hour."

That's her greatest gift, huh? Give a simple orphan rogue a home, and now you're trying to pay it forward. 

Eugene felt a sharp pain in his stomach again. They were right; his wound was agitated because he felt a need to work and push himself. Logic and reason were practically shouting at him to just give up and let time heal his wounds.

But it was the determination of the remaining Freedom Fighters that propelled him forward. It felt like a disservice to the people who lived to simply stop and rest.

"I'll cut you two a deal, alright? I'll take it easier for the next few days, but I won't stop helping out. I'll just... y'know, take it easier. I just can't force myself to stop."

[Kiara]

In Kiara's perfect world she wouldn't have to respond to anyone. She could simply dip her head and walk away without answering any questions, comments, or greetings. However, deposed or not she was still of royal blood. There were certain social niceties that had to be observed.

It wasn't like she'd been born in a barn, even if they now resided in one.

Kiara stepped up closer to the man as he held out the blankets, making it easier on the pair for them to be laid across her back. Though the blankets weren't the softest of materials the pile was nice and thick. They'd do well to keep the chill from eating too badly at her siblings' thinner hides. "Thank you sir. We'll try."

Kiara's gaze seemed empty of any emotion aside from exhausted wariness as it rose to meet the molten gaze of the great fire-serpant... Humanoid. She'd overheard the names of these ones after disembarking, they being some of the few that seemed able to command what was left of the meager army. With a pelt of cracked rock sealed together by magma this could only be the one they called Dhall.

Kiara's blink was a slow one as the heat emanating from the creature curled before her sifted through the air, allowing her a brief moment of respite from shivering. "Their name is Kanzi. They are..." Saying that Kanzi was doing alright didn't seem like the right thing to say. None of them were alright. But Kiara sincerely doubted that anyone outside her family would care about the lion cubs' emotional states, or the pain they felt in their hearts. They were all probably lucky that they hadn't been torn apart during the riot, or executed afterwards.

"They are unhurt. Thank you for asking."