#obsjihye

@obsjihye

[...]

He spoke one more time, and Ji Hye just had to laugh…it was something about the familiarity of being trapped with someone else who wasn’t entirely human; it didn’t make the situation any less dire, but the news was a nice distraction. Although he was a stranger, and his magical nature should have worried her much more, Ji Hye knew that could deal with this situation on her own or she could deal with it in the company of someone who wanted to escape as much as she did. 

Ji Hye didn’t loosen the grip on her bag, but she turned towards the voice and nodded her acknowledgement of his presence, “Nam Ji Hye, ‘born’ a witch…I’d say it was nice to meet you, but these are pretty unfavorable circumstances.” One hand motioned to the area around her, and then latched onto her bag one more time…the bag was like a safety blanket; a reminder of control. “I was looking for flowers.”

She didn’t want to ask about the thing in particular that he was chasing, and she was sure he wouldn’t want to tell, so Ji Hye swept that one detail under the rug and tried to think of anything else. Her breathing was a little calmer now that she wasn’t alone, and her mind had busied itself with the newfound distraction ― “You said you could see in the dark?”

The situation was far from favorable but with a calm mind and steady nerves, Cris hoped the two might find some way out. Preferably before nightfall, as this part of the forest might not be the safest at night. Then again, being in a collapsed cave, safe was a distant concept all together.

“Agreed.” At least she wasn’t being too negative about the situation, since frantic was something to definitely avoid at a time like this. Staying calm was key. “These are pretty shitty circumstances Nam Jihye, but we’re going to make it out somehow.”

Moving a bit closer, slowly in order to not provoke or scare the girl in any way, he crouched down to inspect the rubble behind her. Apart of him wondered if the collapse was done on purpose, and not an act of nature. He wondered if trapping them here was intentional and if a witch could cause something like this. “I can.” He finally replied, turning his gaze towards her. She was a human, and blind in the darkness, so he wondered how the two would even be able to manage down here. “I don’t have a flashlight, as poking through caves wasn’t really on my to-do list today but…” His sentence trailed off once he remembered the lighter. It was old and used and confiscated by an employee who was trying to get over his smoking addiction, but it was something.

@obsjihye

[...]

Ji Hye fell backwards, arms covering her head and stepped back into the cave. She winced at a dulled pain in the palm of her hands ― probably from rocks on the ground ―   and upon feeling the odd sensation Ji tried to shine her flashlight on the source. And she would have if the thin torch was still in her hand.

When had she lost her grip on the small light?

The pace of her breathing quickened in the slightest, and she felt her heartbeat follow suit. The last thing she wanted was to be trapped in a cave, alone and in the dark…such unexpected disasters left Ji Hye reeling, stuck at the mercy of the elements of her craft’s alignment. The irony was a cosmic brutal thing…one that left a sour taste on her tongue and a pit in her stomach. For a moment, she just sat there, clutching onto her bag as she tried ― and failed ― to clear her mind of it’s racing thoughts.

It took him a few seconds to regain composure. Thanks to his feline vision, the man wasn't completely in the dark here. But that didn't take away from the fact that he was still trapped inside. Feeling around in his pockets, another series of curses left his lips once he realized his phone was no where to be found. It was possible he had lost it on his way to the forest somehow. Chasing a stuffed animal that was no where in sight at the moment. And it was also possible it was crushed somewhere under the rubble. "I just upgraded too." Cris muttered, bending down at the base of the rocks for a quick look. If his phone was still intact, maybe he could get a signal for help. If not, then the man would have to be a bit more creative in getting himself out this bad situation.

After a few seconds bent down, a loud thumping caught his ear. It was followed by quick breathing, leading him to believe someone else was down here too. Most would be concerned being trapped in a dark cave with a stranger, especially with all the things that had been happening in the city lately. But this person, whoever they were, was scared. And if there anything he could do, he was definitely going to help them.

Walking deeper into the cave, Cris followed her frantic breaths until he came onto another clearing. It seemed this too was a collapsed entrance, dark as the rest of the cave with a lone figure sitting curled up in the middle. She had a small form with long hair and had been clutching onto her bag, out of what he assumed was fear. The werelion figured she might not be able to see, human in race but smelled of herbs and flowers just like a witch usually did. "Looks like we both got stuck in here." He finally spoke, staying far as if to appear less of a threat. "I'm not going to hurt you, but I can see in the dark and you look scared."

@obsjihye

The man woke up in a daze, head and limbs slightly aching from the hard fall. It was pitch black, but due to his night vision he could see the rocks that surrounded him. They were jagged with a few pebbles still crumbling above him. The air was cold and in the distance he could hear running water, but nothing more. After maneuvering forward, he managed to move one large rock that seemed to open up into a larger crevice. Cris could stand upright now. And the seriousness of the situation finally set in.

He had been running after a strange lion plushie within the forest. At first he spotted it on the corner, thinking a child must have dropped it somehow. But after walking a few more blocks, the doll seemed to be moving with him. After a while Cris started to feel a bit offended by the form, wondering if it was taunting somehow. But another part just wanted to catch it. It was his feline instincts apparently. “There can only be one.” Cris muttered breaking off into a sprint with the doll dissapearing once in a while towards the forest.