.End. -- Geisill

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Date Posted: 22:36:47 07/07/04 Wed
Author: Clive
Subject: .End.
In reply to: Briar 's message, "Stupid tags..." on 19:28:03 07/07/04 Wed

((OOC: I...musn't...cry....musn't...alternate universe...*rocks back and forth* It'll be okay...it'll be okay...))

---

Although there was pain, Clive chooses not to express it. He shudders as he is so violently moved from his fatal, crumpled position. Somehow, suddenly, there is a face looming over him and someone's hands gripping his coat like the lion's fabled jaws. Having sputtered blood earlier from the collapse of his left lung, his pale face is streaked with dirt and crimson. His eyes move silently for a moment.

Then, as if he had located a last reserve of strength, he grabs Briar roughly by the shoulder as he slumped. Clive's ungentle company with the ground had jarred the arrow close to his heart so subtly that the sharp tip was poking dangerously close to the barely beating organ. Despite this, ignoring the searing jabs the arrow brought with every trembling breath, the Drifter manages to keep Briar from collapsing on account of his wounds. Already the green-haired man wonders, however distantly, how he had managed to move so far. Briar's injuries were not hidden. Clive could see them, and knew that being alive was enough of a miracle for the youth. But to move, on his account? Was the boy mad?

Clive's well of strength is short-lived. Quietly, his grip loosens, although he does not let go. Again, the Drifter attempts to speak. The air he needed would not come. The remaining lung provided only so much, and it was barely enough to travel through his flooded airways.

"B...Briar..." The word is faint, like an old man's voice. "S-Still al...ive. Go...b...ack," he says grimacing. "S-Safe...now...g-good. Pr...oud...of you."

The yellow vest beneath his coat is already as crimson as the outer garment he wore. Slowly, Clive opens his mouth to say something more. Time would have painted that moment, if it could. But it did not capture his eyes as they began to stare, for even using that strength was well beyond him. To see when death neared.

Gradually, as if being eased into the most comfortable of resting places in the world, Clive relaxes. His clotted wounds no longer seemed real at all, but rather meaningless. His bloodied, gloved hand slips from its grip on Briar's shoulder and falls to his side. It would not move again.

At last, the Drifter, cross-gunner, traitor, renegade and father draws a final breath. His stare seems to pierce everything as the barely audible words escape his lips.

"Catherine...K-Kaitlyn..."

Clive goes limp, his weight sinking in the clutches of the youth above him. The Drifter closes his eyes, drifting into darkness. He dies.

Beyond, the raven caws impatiently from its perch on a rotted fence. It hops up and down, making a racket as death settles blindly on the cloudy hills.

---

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Replies:

Not Every Rose Has Thorns -- Sadie Rose, 14:13:17 07/08/04 Thu
� b o y s d o n ' t c r y -- Briar, 19:17:08 07/08/04 Thu
- >Wolf< -- Huttser, 22:01:59 07/08/04 Thu
  - � b o y s nbsp; d o n ' t nbsp; c r y -- Briar, 05:37:10 07/09/04 Fri
    - Not Every Rose Has Thorns -- Sadie Rose, 19:30:21 07/11/04 Sun
      - � b o y s d o n ' t c r y -- Briar, 16:29:06 07/17/04 Sat
        >Wolf< -- Huttser, 20:02:25 07/21/04 Wed
        Not Every Rose Has Thorns -- Sadie Rose, 18:37:01 07/24/04 Sat
        � boys don't cry -- Briar, 18:25:21 08/15/04 Sun
        <shinigami> -- Lily / company, 19:36:19 08/15/04 Sun
        Not Every Rose Has Thorns -- Sadie Rose, 18:50:04 10/05/04 Tue
        Break You Now -- Briar, 18:45:13 10/06/04 Wed
        e m p t y -- Kaen, 13:09:47 10/07/04 Thu
        >Wolf< -- Huttser, 18:25:00 10/14/04 Thu
        Just Bend the Pieces Till They Fit -- Briar, 19:11:41 10/14/04 Thu
        e m p t y -- Kaen, 18:45:05 11/06/04 Sat