[lone]

Originally Posted by Clover

Skipper splayed her legs slightly, alleviated the pressure from her back and sides, putting it onto her aching paws. She thought one leg was maybe fractured, but that didn't matter. "No!" she growled sharply, snarling at him a bit, grateful for his help but unwilling to show it. "They will see me as weak; they see me as weak, they kill me. And, if you hadn't noticed, being killed isn't the best of circumstances," she hissed, green eyes blazing, flames of fury licking her throat; she couldn't be seen as anything less than strong, couldn't be taken care of for petty injury. "I... I can make it from here," she muttered, softer, but just as cold.

Slowly, she began to move away from his warmth and support, shaky legs tentatively leading her away. One paw moved, and then other, each step so deliberate and slow it made her seem like an invalid, even more so than when she had been relying on Gavin. A couple more steps, and her leg, inevitably, twisted. She let out a sharp cry, swaying dangerously, before finally sitting down, although agony ripped through her ruined, broken, and bruised side.

Skipper's verdant eyes shut, and her ears pressed tightly against her head, the fur tickling the sensitive skin on the inside. Unexpectedly, she began to cry, sobs that racked her body and only made her injury worse. She was weak; she couldn't do it. Desperately, she looked over towards Gavin, biting her lip, looking childish and defeated. "Please... I can't make it any farther."

Her growl had startled him, making the tom flinch; green hues staring shocked from against his sandy colored fur. It was more of a dust color, really... or perhaps the inner part of a tree. Light, and the friendly expression on his face made it impossible to view him as anything but light hearted, light colored, light - or good - natured, and just all around the almost ideal cat. Except for his tendency to trust. Which was, perhaps, Gavin's greatest flaw.
　
"Not all cats here are like that. I didn't kill you-- and I wasn't planning to, either." The firm way in which he spoke those words sounded like a father talking to a rebellious teenager. Firmness was not the tom's strongest point, and even he was surprised by the certain ring that his voice held... a ring that it hadn't in quite some time. When she moved away it hurt a little... everything that he centered around was based off of trust, care and love - and that made it feel like she held none of those things for him.
　
So yeah, it stung just a little. But in the next moment she was asking for help. He'd almost sprung fowards to catch her when her leg had twisted; but he hadn't. A least she hadn't fallen. But the crying was too much for him. "I'll... I'll help you... d-don't cry..." It was always awkward when he had to figure out what to say before he was able to gather his thoughts. In doing what needed to be done, he could be firm. This was just sense. This wasn't trying to order her around. He could do this, he could put his paw down. "You're going to see a Healer. Now."
　
The command came so unnaturally to him that even Gavin was surprised by it, but he held his ground firmly - with a command that was not to be ignored. Except for the slight waver of uncertainty showing in his green hues.