Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"I just...can't stand...to see...people get...hurt..." Katie replies weakly.

 

I settle down in an armchair, getting comfortable.

 

"And yet you can stand to see yourself hurt? This is some ridiculous mentality, you know that. You could actually get people hurt by being hurt yourself."

 

"I only...want to help...even if...it causes me...pain..." Katie manages to say, "I need...to protect...my friends..."

"Katie, it's alright. We can protect ourselves; you should try not to put yourself in positions where you can get hurt." Artemis says calmly.

Katie looks like she's on the verge of consciousness. The vines covering her wound are red and bloody, and some of them are still taking out rock fragments.

 

"Ugh, why am I here trying to scold you anyways? If you need to protect your friends, then you can probably do it without killing yourself. After all, if you kill yourself trying to protect them, who will protect them afterwards?"

 

"I...don't......" Katie falls unconscious.

Artemis sighs, "She's not dead. She should be alright, thank goodness none of her organs were damaged." Artemis says, laying Katie down and focusing on her healing.

Katie looks peaceful; albeit strange from her fish tail replacing her legs, wrapped in vines.

 

"Well, looks like I won that argument. Heh."

 

"You won it by default, because she fell unconscious from blood loss." Artemis says, glaring at the communication flower.

 

"Sometimes I don't understand you people and your urge to one-up each other."
I suddenly say.

 

"My favorite."

"Can't explain it either."

 

"So you're against Katie now too? Even though she's done nothing wrong to you?" Artemis asks, annoyed.

 

"I believe you're missing the point."

 

"Katie cares for us, and would risk her life to save one of us," Artemis says, "As much as I think she should tone it down, she only means well."

 

"Yes, I know that. You're still missing the point."

 

Artemis turns away and focuses on healing Katie.

"Winning by default isn't truly winning." Artemis mutters.

 

"And the point is...?"

 

"No honor in that, but it can truly show who has the stronger will and resolve."

________________________________

"Winning by default it great."

 

"Because striking down a weakened enemy, who you didn't weaken yourself, shows that you're clearly better." Artemis says. She turns and raises her hand, and the communication flower wilts and dies.

 

"That is not my definition of default. My definition is winning either by doing nothing, or by holding firm and kepping resolve, allowing the enemy to weaken itself." echoes a newly sprouted flower.

 

Artemis just ignores you, focusing on healing Katie.

New vines sprout and replace the old ones. The wound seems to have healed a bit, but hasn't stopped bleeding.