"Nope," Four answered, the single word was enough to convey the various emotions coursing through his body. He wanted nothing more than to race up the wall, there was a reason he was first of his year after all, and bring them both down. They shouldn't be up there. Four struggled to contain his emotions and so, each hand gripped the opposite arm's bicep, his knuckles turning white, his gaze focused solely on the girls as the descended. If either took a tumble, Four had little concern over whether he would rush forward to catch them. Perhaps it was something he shouldn't do because they were initiates and he was a trainer but that didn't matter because they reached the ground easily enough. Four's shoulders relaxed and he let out a ragged sigh that he hadn't even realize that he had been holding. Four didn't care whether Eric noticed or not.
Four was relieved when Eric stepped forward to take over the situation, unsure of whether he would be making rational decisions at this point. He had little doubt that Grace would make it and even then, he doubted Abigail would fall but the reality had sank in and he was unnerved. So unnerved, something that he wasn't used to. As other initiates began to climb, Four would chance a glance over where the girls sat on the ground. Normally, he would have snapped at them to stand, sitting because they were tired beyond their facility could lead to certain doom. He opted to keep his mouth shut though, knowing that this had been a rough first day. If this had been Four and Eric's first day, there was no saying what would have happened.
After another three groups of initiates climbed the wall, Four cleared his throat, signaling Eric to let him take over. He stepped forward, arms still crossed. His gaze roamed over the ones that had already climbed, none of which looked like they could continue for the day. "Lunch will be served in the hall shortly. After we will return to the training room. Those that haven't climbed today, look forward to your first attempt tomorrow," his voice echoed over the rocks, ensuring that even those that stood farthest away from him would hear.
Four turned to Eric, dropping his gaze away after a moment. Eric knew him well, Four knew that. He wondered if Eric realized something was up but prayed silently that Eric wouldn't say a thing. Wouldn't question it for once in his life. Four, deciding to not say anything, turned to lead Eric toward the food hall. Taking a seat at a table in the corner once they had each received a tray, Four let out a sigh as he raised his eyes up to meet Eric's. Just as he had expected, his friend had an intense gaze fixed on him. "What?"
Abby was quiet, a hand reaching over to rub Grace's back to hopefully help her relax. "You did great up there," she spoke quietly, not wanting her friend's confidence to waiver just because she had taken a misstep. There had been a few times while up on the wall that as she tested the rock under her weight, the rock had fallen away. Abby had only tested it each time because after the first time, she had figured it was best to just stay safe. Even if the climb up and the subsequent one down took a little longer than they needed to.
When she heard her brother call out, Abby let out a small groan. She didn't want to stand and go eat for the simple fact that meant she would need to stand up and walk to the hall instead of just sitting here and letting her muscles relax. Abby reluctantly pushed herself to her feet and held out a hand to help pull Grace to hers. "Looks like you get your wish," she teased as they began to walk.
"Four kept looking over at you," Abby spoke up as they made their wall to the hall. She had told herself that it couldn't possibly be her - Four had largely ignored her and she was just going to have to settle on the fact that Four wasn't her brother any longer. It was as her father had said that night two years ago; Tobias was dead. His memory was all she had left. "I think someone might have a crush on your blonde hair and blue eyes," she said with a laugh. A genuine smile came to her lips as they entered the hall. "He's gotta be impressed by you. You're going to fit in just right here."
Four was relieved when Eric stepped forward to take over the situation, unsure of whether he would be making rational decisions at this point. He had little doubt that Grace would make it and even then, he doubted Abigail would fall but the reality had sank in and he was unnerved. So unnerved, something that he wasn't used to. As other initiates began to climb, Four would chance a glance over where the girls sat on the ground. Normally, he would have snapped at them to stand, sitting because they were tired beyond their facility could lead to certain doom. He opted to keep his mouth shut though, knowing that this had been a rough first day. If this had been Four and Eric's first day, there was no saying what would have happened.
After another three groups of initiates climbed the wall, Four cleared his throat, signaling Eric to let him take over. He stepped forward, arms still crossed. His gaze roamed over the ones that had already climbed, none of which looked like they could continue for the day. "Lunch will be served in the hall shortly. After we will return to the training room. Those that haven't climbed today, look forward to your first attempt tomorrow," his voice echoed over the rocks, ensuring that even those that stood farthest away from him would hear.
Four turned to Eric, dropping his gaze away after a moment. Eric knew him well, Four knew that. He wondered if Eric realized something was up but prayed silently that Eric wouldn't say a thing. Wouldn't question it for once in his life. Four, deciding to not say anything, turned to lead Eric toward the food hall. Taking a seat at a table in the corner once they had each received a tray, Four let out a sigh as he raised his eyes up to meet Eric's. Just as he had expected, his friend had an intense gaze fixed on him. "What?"
Abby was quiet, a hand reaching over to rub Grace's back to hopefully help her relax. "You did great up there," she spoke quietly, not wanting her friend's confidence to waiver just because she had taken a misstep. There had been a few times while up on the wall that as she tested the rock under her weight, the rock had fallen away. Abby had only tested it each time because after the first time, she had figured it was best to just stay safe. Even if the climb up and the subsequent one down took a little longer than they needed to.
When she heard her brother call out, Abby let out a small groan. She didn't want to stand and go eat for the simple fact that meant she would need to stand up and walk to the hall instead of just sitting here and letting her muscles relax. Abby reluctantly pushed herself to her feet and held out a hand to help pull Grace to hers. "Looks like you get your wish," she teased as they began to walk.
"Four kept looking over at you," Abby spoke up as they made their wall to the hall. She had told herself that it couldn't possibly be her - Four had largely ignored her and she was just going to have to settle on the fact that Four wasn't her brother any longer. It was as her father had said that night two years ago; Tobias was dead. His memory was all she had left. "I think someone might have a crush on your blonde hair and blue eyes," she said with a laugh. A genuine smile came to her lips as they entered the hall. "He's gotta be impressed by you. You're going to fit in just right here."
July 10th, 2016 at 01:04am