Faith and a will go a long way.

My name is Da Qiao, and I hope we can all get along. //multiship/oc friendly/any rp/crossover welcome/friendly-friendly

Brown eyes drifted downward to his arms— covered. Well, he’d have quite the tan line, wouldn’t he? Though he could tell from the skin of his fingers that she meant the burn on his flesh. 

"Ahah- yeah. I guess I did get a lot darker, huh?" 

It was an attempt to be light-hearted, though the archer found little to be happy for, save fort he fact that he was alive. “If you want to help out, you could certainly do us a favor by showing support.” He walked over, settling a hand gently on her shoulder. She’d often displayed her skills on the battlefield; who was he to treat her with disrespect? 

"Ah! My Lady," Ran’s fingers curled around the wood before pushing him down, falling several feet before landing with a hunch, legs bending to spring him back up in reply. "There’s no need to call me that, Lady Daqiao. However, i’m surprised to see you here. You came to help…?"

                                       Did this mean it was over? 

He hadn’t heard any news since the arrival of that soldier, the message stating that Lord Cao Pi had drawn his troops away from the city of Jiangling was… amazing. They’d not even heard them moving away, but the tunneling and barrage of arrows had, indeed, stopped. 

A city that had once held bustling people and smiling faces, reduced to roaring fires and soaring debris in a matter of months. He didn’t remember how many people they’d lost to disease alone, but Ran was confident that it was up there in the thousands. 

He’d been here a year. An entire year without contact to those outside of the city. It felt disorienting to be able to open the city gates without fear, to be able to glance over each of his men with trust again. To breathe fresh air without a shield hovering above him in protection from projectiles. 

He’d been scared when Zhang He had cut off is supply routes. When food had been taken and their medical supplies ripped away. But what could they do? It was far too dangerous to just leave the city in broad daylight. They’d managed to destroy two enemy camps under Xiahou Shang and steal what provisions they could, but it had hardly been enough. 

But now here he sat, legs dangling over the side of one of their garrisons as he listened to the chirping in the breeze. The damage to outside areas hadn’t been too bad, from what he could see. A few issues from fire, but nothing that wouldn’t grow back within a few years. 

It was surreal, at first. Just walking around and looking at the relieved and astonished faces of his officers. Those whom were recovering from illness and those whom were so ecstatic to receive nourishment that they had tears pouring from their eyes. 

He was pleased that they were able to draw water safely, that the fishermen could return to their daily lives. But Ran was also very sad that they’d had to get involved in the first place. 

               To protect the blue skies and how they caressed the world. 

                  To continue to live off of the river of sulfuric tint. 

 To live in the place they’d all come to love and call home… and protect it from those who’d wished to do it harm. 

But even in that regard, the pounding of shields and clashing of swords and spears rang out in his mind. The spurting of blood that spat across others with each stab-wound was fresh in his mind, his hands still curled tightly around the hilted-handle of his bow. 

                                           It just didn’t feel real. 

He had yet to actually care for his own needs, his mind focused more on settling itself and caring for his men. They had fought so hard, many had begun to lose hope… and even then he’d lost a few, good soldiers. They’d lost faith in him, just as he’d almost lost faith in himself. But how could he simply surrender? There was hope— a light at the end of the tunnel— and they’d found it. 

His stomach’s rumbling didn’t even bother him anymore, eyes focused on the ground far below while he enjoyed the light, Summer’s breeze. It had likely gotten too hot for the likes of the Northerner’s in their campaign, he thought, and inwardly laughed at such a thing. It was amazing to him that such a broken and emaciated man could find humor in such things anymore. But starvation was the least of his problems. 

                                For now… he would just sit 

But she had been told it was alright now. Cao Pi had pulled back. People were beginning to continue--or at least, try to--their former patterns. Knowing that, it made her feel a bit better about not being able to do anything in the first place.

She stopped in front of the opened gates, exhaling. There wasn't much she could say to the man, when she did meet him, but there wasn't much telling her not to visit.

The young woman took a deep breath. "Master Zhu Ran?"

Includes

Battle intro:

Victory:

Defeat:

Assist:

Taunt:

Reacting to Taunt:

Tie: