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It was a mist fall season. Outside, the trees were slowly losing their leaves, turning into a crisp orange and red. Less flowers were blooming, and plants became stale.
Though in this forest, a small bunker resides. Where we meet the "civilians." It was a busy day in the bunker; everyone was doing their part to prepare for the winter. Checking off lists, storing food. Next roster of killers they have to defeat in rounds.
Here, we align with a civilian we all know well, Caretaker.
"Hyeh... little bit of this and a little bit of that..." The medic was crouched down on one knee, wrapping a bandage around Dash's knee. "And... there! You should be all good now, Dash." Caretaker stepped up, glancing at the fast civilian.
"Thank you, dearest Caretaker." Dash got up, bowing down to thank the woman.
"Ah, no worries, Dash! Don't want any of you guys running around the place with a messed-up knee." Caretaker let out a gentle laugh, placing her hand against her spine.
Caretaker watched as Dash waved goodbye, of course 'dashing' out to the main lobby. She sighed, going back to her storage cabinets to sort things out. Though, footsteps could be heard stepping into her office.
She turned, a curiosity of who it could be now.
There, stood Carepad and Revolver.
"Yahoooo, Earth to Caretaker?" Revolver knocked on the side hinges of Caretakers door, stepping in along with Carepad.
"Ah-" Caretaker muffled, quickly getting up. "Do you two need anything?"
Carepad stepped up, "Nothing- actually. We just wanted to check up on you."
"Hmhm! We all know how busy you can be sometimes, eh?" Revolver jabbed his shoulder against the Caretaker. She gave a quiet "hmhm."
Caretaker backed up, going back to her routine of sorting through medical files and materials. "I've been doing alright, you know the usual." She sighed.
"We just want to make sure you're doing alright. I know it can be hard to heal everyone." Carepad said, arms against each other. His words in a light tone.
Revolver added, "Take a break at least! I can see things been tiring ya out."
Caretaker thought for a second, a walk would be nice. These last few days are really the last chance to get good outside time before it becomes deathly freezing. Caretaker let out a slight chuckle.
"I guess you two are right." She stepped down from her storage cabinets.
"That's the spirit!" Revolver let out a chuckle, nodding towards Carepad that they successfully got Caretaker out of their workload. "We were going to play some table tennis for a bit." Carepad said, arms gesturing so hopefully Caretaker would join them.
"Ah.. I was actually just settling for a walk. Not a long one. I just need some fresh air." The healer's eyes went to the side, shrugging.
"You sure? You know the dangers out there." Revolver stated.
"I'll be fine, as I said I'm not going on a day long trip, just a short walk around the bunker." The caretaker spoke, brushing her arms and heading out. "I'll be back, don't worry. I can take care of myself." She muttered.
Caretaker went out, Revolver and Carepad looked at each other.
"At least we got her out somewhere.." Carepad let out a soft chuckle.
"I guess so." Revolver grumbled. "She has to stop isolating herself though, not healthy." The gunslinger let out a "Hmph." Carepad looked, breathing out in agreement.
♡♡♡
Caretaker stepped out of the bunker, feeling the gentle winds. Her boots crunching on the leaves below.
Before heading out, she grabbed a med kit just as a incase. You never know what could happen out here.
She held the med kit, taking a few steps before heading onto her trail. No signs of any of the 'entities' had been spotted lately, so she would be safe.
She quickens her pace, watching the nature of her environment around her. The skies were a bright orange and pink. The sun should be setting soon.
The healer chirped, coming to a stop. Caretaker carefully sat on a rock that could hold her weight.
Ready to get back home now, Caretaker was ready to get up before she heard a crunch in the leaves. Her head lifted up, eyes gazing on what it could've been, between the trees.
She spotted... something large. Black scaley skin and white top.
Pursuer?
She was ready as hell to dash to the bunker, before she stopped, hearing whimpers.
The healer winced, this is not the time for her kindness to shine and curiosity. But of course, she took a look back. Trying to get a closer glance on what was going on.
She saw Pursuer, crutching his claws around his arm, she spotted blood dripping down onto the dirt below.
!
The pursuer stood tall, shaking. His vision stirred in blurriness as he trembled.
His claws dug into his skin. Wounds being made. Who knows why he was doing this? He just felt like he needed to. Stress was building up, and he needed a source of relief.
He dragged his claws out of the sharp, bloody trails and scratches around his arm. Seeing how the blood slowly drips before pulping into the wound.
His eyes looked around; he couldn't keep standing anymore and fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Caretaker looked at the creature and fell to the ground. She felt butterflies in her stomach. She could just leave right now and forget this mess... knowing she would meet Pursuer in a later round but... UGH! She had to take a look.
The gentle soul got up, moving closer and closer to see Pursuer flop down on the ground. Her pupils spotted the muddy blood across.
Caretaker began to breathe in and out, she knew what to do. Just like she would treat one of her teammates in battle, but she didn't know in the case of a monster... like Pursuer.
She jerked forward. Stepping down on one knee. Just calm down, treat him like any other civilian. She really shouldn't be doing this, but she doesn't like the thought of leaving one in the open... especially with those 'scars.'
The gal opened up her med kit, scrounging up bandages, a bottle of water, antibiotic, and cloth. She took out the piece of cloth, dabbing it in water and applying it to the wound. The bleeding wasn't at an alarmingly fast pace, but she needed to get it off.
After moving the blood. She opened up the jar of antibiotic-based jelly. To soothe the wound. Using another cloth to put it on the wounds.
Finally, she carefully wrapped the bandages around Pursuer's arm.
As she finished the process, she felt relief. Finally, the pain of not ignoring went away. Now she could get going quickly to the bunker-
She felt the anomaly stomach go up and down. Pursuers eyes opened. Seeing a... civilian? On top of him...?
Caretaker freezes in place like a rabbit being spotted by a fox. Sweat dripped down her forehead.
Waking up from his passing out, she quickly scrounged up. Though weak to stand up. He awkwardly backed up. Letting out a hiss.
Caretaker was in a bit of a shock, was... Pursuer... scared?
The last few rounds she's seen him be in. He's acting quite odd. Maybe this explains it?
After a few moments of silence. Caretaker spoke up.
"Hey, it's okay."
Pursuer squinted his eyes. He seemed... doubtful of the Caretaker. Though went into a more comfortable position of legs against his chest.
"I uhm. Healed. Your wounds. Fo-r you. Didn't want them to get- er. Infected." The medic spoke softly. Though stuttered at times.
Pursuer stared at the Caretaker, finally opening its mouth to let out a simple statement.
"Tffuhank.. yuo." While not being the best at words. Pursuer knew how to convey simple English. His tongue sissing through his teeth.
Caretaker looks back, her eyes beading. She thought of where to go next. The monster, known for being a bloodthirsty horrid being. Just thanked her. For an act of kindness.
She sighed, crawling more closer to the Pursuer. Though still kept a good distance.
"You know how to heal wounds?"
Pursuer looked, curiosity in his eyes.
Caretaker gestured her hand up to Pursuers arm, where she put the bandages around.
"Well- in the wild. You probably don't have the 'proper' materials. But you can use. Co-bweb to wrap them around. But oh- before you do that. Make sure to clean your wound with water. To remove all the dirt and other. Musty materials that might be on there.
Caretaker gets out her bottle of water, pretending to splash it around. Then grabbed the bandages as a pretender for cobweb.
Pursuer watched in depth. When he covered himself in wounds. He always licked it clean. If he even did. But that always stinged. So, then he would just leave it stinging all day. It especially didn't help if there were multiple.
"And. That's how you do it." Caretaker looked into Pursuers eyes. Pursuer sensed warmth. He remembers when his mother gave him that look when he was a cub.
"Don't do that to yourself. It creates unnecessary wounds. There's better ways to re-furb. Your er- anger." Caretaker held his arm.
Pursuer nodded.
"Okay? Okay..." The medic spoke gently, letting go.
"Oka-y." Pursuer spoke. He got up, dusting his arms off.
"I.. got to get going." Caretaker said, looking at the sky. It was close to being fully nighttime.
She quickly got up, though walked away, still in the sight of Pursuer.
Pursuer waved a goodbye motion.
Caretaker, having another surprise. Waved goodbye back quickly. Once she got out of the creature's sight. She ran. Thankfully since she didn't go that far. The bunker was nearby; she opened the doors. Running inside.
...
Carepad busted out, scaring Caretaker. "CARETAKER?! Where have you been?" His words uttered with worry. Clinging onto Caretaker like a calf with its mother.
Revolver stepped into the picture, "We were about to announce to the whole Bunker for an emergency. You know how dangerous it gets at night?"
Caretaker, still trying to process everything. Let out muffles before finally being able to speak up- "I'm- so sorry. I just trembled out too far." Wiping her forehead.
Revolver grumbled. "Well. If you say so."
Carepad added on. "All that matters is you're here... I was panicking man!"
Caretaker nodded, she forgot how close-knit of a community the Bunker could be.
"Carepad it's alright.. I understand." She managed to get out of Carepads arms.
"Let me go to my- office and I'll be right back- hehehh..." She quickly dashed out to her place before anyone could stop her.
Revolver let out a grunt, "She's been acting really weird lately. Don't like it."
"Maybe she hasn't been feeling well, sick. Trust me I know her well! When she gets the flu she does weird things I don't really get." Carepad proposed
Caretaker stood, shutting her door behind her. Setting to the ground. Only being able to process her interaction between her and Pursuer.
Why did she... heal Pursuer? He's a monster, the one they fight in rounds. And why did he not attack her when spotting her?
And.. Why could he be scarring himself? Caretaker thought that a monster like him wouldn't be bothered in the mental aspect. But... maybe.
Caretaker lifted up her sleeve. Looking over her own scars. Even if not... doing it in a while. She still felt resentment towards herself at times. Not doing good enough.
Is that why she felt much the same for Pursuer? And, is Pursuer feeling the same way she did?
She sighed, more of this to think on for later.
She went back up and opened the door, going back to the outside.