[It feels easier to breathe once he's outside. The purring helps soothe him, and soon his sharp breaths even out to something more mellow, more controlled. Fear isn't driving him anymore. He can actually think now.]
...thank you.
[A quiet murmur to the cat who helped calm him down. Cats really are the best.
When he lifts his head up, he sees those chalk drawings on the wall. They're right there, close enough to touch. Reminding him of happier times. They celebrated a birthday together, didn't they? And they made a cake all on their own.
One red, two blue, and one orange...
But there's only one of the four out there right now. The rest are still facing that nightmare. They couldn't escape when he did, they need help.
His gaze settles on the dancing orange scribble, a thought forming in his mind.]
Amber...
[Atsushi lets go of Charles, letting the cat go where he pleases. Down to the ground, up to his shoulder, wherever. And once Charles has settled, Atsushi will stand up and face that open door again. It takes a couple seconds and a few shaky steps, but once again he's at the threshold, standing just barely outside that door.
It's scary, and it might not work. But he has to try. He can't leave them to get lost.
So he takes one final step in, just barely stepping past the doorway and stopping once he's on the other side. Then he holds up one of his hands palm-up, like he's cupping a bit of water in it. Then, he focuses on his hand and pulls on his magic, letting it spark to life. He doesn't focus on any set form, though: instead he's just trying to draw on his amber magic, forcing as much of that warmth into the space above his hand as he can. If it takes a form, then great. But it's the magic itself that matters more than the object right now.
Warmth. Comfort. Coziness. Safety. Follow his magic.]
Guys, this way!
[It's less of a shout and more him urgently speaking, trying to drag them towards him. By voice or by warmth, he wants them to find their way.
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...thank you.
[A quiet murmur to the cat who helped calm him down. Cats really are the best.
When he lifts his head up, he sees those chalk drawings on the wall. They're right there, close enough to touch. Reminding him of happier times. They celebrated a birthday together, didn't they? And they made a cake all on their own.
One red, two blue, and one orange...
But there's only one of the four out there right now. The rest are still facing that nightmare. They couldn't escape when he did, they need help.
His gaze settles on the dancing orange scribble, a thought forming in his mind.]
Amber...
[Atsushi lets go of Charles, letting the cat go where he pleases. Down to the ground, up to his shoulder, wherever. And once Charles has settled, Atsushi will stand up and face that open door again. It takes a couple seconds and a few shaky steps, but once again he's at the threshold, standing just barely outside that door.
It's scary, and it might not work. But he has to try. He can't leave them to get lost.
So he takes one final step in, just barely stepping past the doorway and stopping once he's on the other side. Then he holds up one of his hands palm-up, like he's cupping a bit of water in it. Then, he focuses on his hand and pulls on his magic, letting it spark to life. He doesn't focus on any set form, though: instead he's just trying to draw on his amber magic, forcing as much of that warmth into the space above his hand as he can. If it takes a form, then great. But it's the magic itself that matters more than the object right now.
Warmth. Comfort. Coziness. Safety. Follow his magic.]
Guys, this way!
[It's less of a shout and more him urgently speaking, trying to drag them towards him. By voice or by warmth, he wants them to find their way.
Come back to him, before it's too late.]