We Have To Run
Kuroo gaped open mouthed in fear as the light grew brighter still. His legs shook, his knees weak, making him stagger backwards, hand reaching out for support. His searching fingers found a tree, gripping loosely, steadying himself slightly as he felt the heat grow. Kuroo chanced a glance upwards immediately regretting his action. His eyes ripped away as if burned, and honestly he didn't know if they weren't.
𝘈𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥, Kuroo cursed loudly. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥...
He didn't have time to think about the future. Right now there was only one thing to do. We need to run. We need to run NOW. Kuroo face turned to his companion, frozen in fear on the ground. Tears streaked down their face as they stared at the horror before them.
"Hey, hey! We have to go, now."
Kuroo cursed at their unresponsive state, not even a nod to show he'd been heard. It's as though they were stuck. Kuroo moved towards them, pain in all his limbs, wincing through the heat and squinting in the light. Pain. Pain. 𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣. It was almost too much.
Kuroo gripped their shoulders, shaking harshly, speaking harsher. "We are leaving." Hiss voice croaked out and he coughed on the suffocating air. Speaking was getting difficult. "Now", he managed, dragging his friend to their feet.
"Can't leave them. Save them."
Their broken voice stopped Kuroo in his tracks. He looked into his friend's desperate eyes, filled with fear and pain. Filled with terror...and hope. So much hope. Like a flame which couldn't go out. It wouldn't go out. Kuroos heart broke. They thought Kuroo could save them. That he could save them all. For a moment he floundered. Guilt coursing through him. And then it was gone. Kuroo steeled himself, injecting ice into his words, a command in his voice. He had to dowse those flames. Dregs of magic flowed to the surface of his body. 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠
"No" He said and watched as their face broke. "Whoever they were, whoever they used to be is gone. They DON'T exist anymore" He watched as they crumbled.
"But" "No" his voice cold, his heart aching.
"I- we can't save them. We can't do anything. All we can hope to do is outrun it. Maybe warn the tribes to evacuate, to run. But we can't stop it. We can't beat it. 𝑾𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎. He's gone. And now? It will destroy us all if we don't leave!"
Kuroo watched the light die in his friend's eyes. Good.
"Now run"