20 Jan 2021, 23:14
Once More Unto the Breach
Gabriella was panicking. She had unintentionally made it seem like she knew about fire, and had somehow managed to get herself stuck in a rut. Tory was getting angry, and Gabriella did NOT want it to end up like last time. She would have to make something else up.
The more you lie, Gabriella, the deeper you immerse yourself in that lie, and the harder it will be to draw yourself out of it again.
Yes, thank you, Mother, thought Gabriella, remembering something her mother had said to her some time ago. Quite a wise quote, she had thought at the time, and she was thinking so again now - only in this situation, no statement could be more apt. She had pretended she knew about fire, and now she would have to pay the consequences.
What sets alight easily... what sets alight easily... Gabriella tried to think back to the Muggle survival camp, but all she could remember was oxygen, heat, fuel. The fire triangle. She looked down towards the ground, mustering up the confidence to tell Tory she didn't know, just as she caught sight of the tag on her scarf.
FLAMMABLE, it said. KEEP AWAY FROM DIRECT HEAT.
Could Gabriella really burn her scarf? And how would Tory react? Maybe, if she did something selfless, Tory might realise she wasn't so bad after all - and even though she was secretly quite enjoying being enemies with Tory, it would become a lot better if Tory felt really guilty about it. Wow, thought Gabriella. I'm getting spiteful.
"We'll have to burn my scarf," said Gabriella loudly. "That can be used as fuel. Help me collect the logs back up," she ordered, "then I'll get my scarf on there. You can light a spark again - and voila! Done." Quite pleased with herself - though trying not to show it, of course - Gabriella scooped up half the pile of logs and replaced it in their chosen location. Nice move, Gabby.
Word count so far: 1571
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
21 Jan 2021, 00:12
Once More Unto the Breach
Gabriella wanted to burn her scarf? That didn't seem like a very good idea to Tory. She could easily tell Gabriella was panicked, but burn her scarf?! Wouldn't she get in trouble? I mean, they were in normal school uniform, she couldn't just burn her Ravenclaw scarf. Or can she? Eh, I'm not taking the blame when the Porfessor yells at her. Tory thought smugly.
"Uh, ok then." She replied. The main question: How and why had Gabriella thought of this idea? Couldn't they just burn a leaf? She grabbed a few more stray logs and moved them to where Gabriella was. Suddenly, Tory found herself thinking deeply. Her mum was a very peaceful person, would she like that Tory had an 'enemy'? Would she make Tory apoligize for everything? Would she be mad at Tory for just assuming Gabrtiella's whole personailty based on one argument? Guilt now swallowing her, Tory looked at the ground.
NO! NO! NO! This is her fault. It's not your fault she's annoying. Your mother would not be mad. She said dramatically in her mind, and imediately stood up tall with her chin up. "Ok, put your scarf down now." She said, now hoping she could light another spark. If she couldn't, now that would be embarassing.
"Uh, ok then." She replied. The main question: How and why had Gabriella thought of this idea? Couldn't they just burn a leaf? She grabbed a few more stray logs and moved them to where Gabriella was. Suddenly, Tory found herself thinking deeply. Her mum was a very peaceful person, would she like that Tory had an 'enemy'? Would she make Tory apoligize for everything? Would she be mad at Tory for just assuming Gabrtiella's whole personailty based on one argument? Guilt now swallowing her, Tory looked at the ground.
NO! NO! NO! This is her fault. It's not your fault she's annoying. Your mother would not be mad. She said dramatically in her mind, and imediately stood up tall with her chin up. "Ok, put your scarf down now." She said, now hoping she could light another spark. If she couldn't, now that would be embarassing.
Word count: 1513/600
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh
21 Jan 2021, 07:57
Once More Unto the Breach
Gabriella didn't know why she was agreeing to this - her Ravenclaw scarf was part of her school uniform, after all. But there was no going back on it now, she thought, as she carefully unravelled the scarf from around her neck and laid it on the pile of rocks.
I really, really, really hope it'll work...
She stood back a few steps to admire their pile of firewood. They had a lot of logs there, a lot of logs and a random Ravenclaw scarf. Really, she had no clue how well the scarf would act as fuel. It wasn't really the done thing - to burn your clothes on the fire - but there was no real alternative. The truth was, they needed something other than wood, and, to Gabriella, her scarf was the only option.
She bent down and attempted to create another spark by rubbing two sticks against each other. She knew Tory was doing the same, but if she got there before Tory - well, she would have lit a spark and sacrificed her scarf, which would leave Tory feeling bad, she decided.
I need to stop making decisions based on making Tory feel bad, she decided. It's going to get me into serious trouble one day... and then I'll feel bad...
Word count so far: 1784
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
21 Jan 2021, 13:22
Once More Unto the Breach
The bronze and dark blue scarf now sitting on the logs, Tory grabbed two twigs and crouched. Please work, please work, please work... She prayed to nobody in her head. Then, she rubbed and scratched them together for a minute, just like she had before.
Finally, she lit a small spark. It wasn’t enough to start a whole fire, but she was determined, cold, and wanted to prove herself to Gabriella so she kept trying. She leaned close to the scarf, and rubbed, and...a spark! A big enough spark to start a fire. YES! Tory was already touching the scarf lightly, and before she could blink it went up in a small flame and she hurriedly dropped the sticks and moved backwards.
The rest of the logs slowly lit. Overtaken by excitement, Tory forgot Gabriella was her enemy and stood on her tiptoes and swung her arms around her. Then realizing what she did, Tory immediately backed away. Your not supposed to hug your enemy, idiot. She scolded herself. ”Er, sorry about that I’m just happy-“ She began, but awkwardly went closer to the fire instead.
Oh, she’s going to be soooo mad. WHY DID YOU HUG HER THAT’S LIKE RULE NUMBER ONE FOR HAVING AN ENEMY. DON’T HUG THEM. Tory continued to yell at herself. At least the fire was nice, and it warmed up her icy fingers and toes.
Finally, she lit a small spark. It wasn’t enough to start a whole fire, but she was determined, cold, and wanted to prove herself to Gabriella so she kept trying. She leaned close to the scarf, and rubbed, and...a spark! A big enough spark to start a fire. YES! Tory was already touching the scarf lightly, and before she could blink it went up in a small flame and she hurriedly dropped the sticks and moved backwards.
The rest of the logs slowly lit. Overtaken by excitement, Tory forgot Gabriella was her enemy and stood on her tiptoes and swung her arms around her. Then realizing what she did, Tory immediately backed away. Your not supposed to hug your enemy, idiot. She scolded herself. ”Er, sorry about that I’m just happy-“ She began, but awkwardly went closer to the fire instead.
Oh, she’s going to be soooo mad. WHY DID YOU HUG HER THAT’S LIKE RULE NUMBER ONE FOR HAVING AN ENEMY. DON’T HUG THEM. Tory continued to yell at herself. At least the fire was nice, and it warmed up her icy fingers and toes.
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh
21 Jan 2021, 14:53
Once More Unto the Breach
Gabriella was stunned. Had Tory really just hugged her? Shocked, Tory drew away. "Sorry about that, I'm just happy," she muttered.
"Happy?" Gabriella exclaimed. "Happy? You might be happy, but you don't just randomly hug a person because you're happy..."
The fire crackled and blazed. They really had done the errand! Secretly, Gabriella wished she could hug someone too, but having just mocked Tory for doing it herself, Gabriella could hardly hug her back. Plus, that's not what you do to your enemies. You don't hug them.
Gabriella really wanted to let her excitement show, but she was determined to keep the higher ground over Tory, and she was doing that pretty well so far. "It's a pretty good fire, though," she said nonchalantly. "Good enough to warm ourselves up after a blizzard like that..." She glanced over at Tory to see how she would react, making sure to put an expression on her face that clearly said you're really weird and I'd rather do this with anyone else but you. "I kind of wish I had my scarf, though, but you know. Some sacrifices gotta be made..."
Gabriella, what are you doing? she asked herself. Are you really trying to get validation from this jerk? And are you really trying to do that by making snide comments? Quickly, she drew her eyes away. "Got any marshmallows?"
Word count so far: 2011
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
21 Jan 2021, 15:40
Once More Unto the Breach
"Happy?" Gabriella exclaimed afterwards. "Happy? You might be happy, but you don't just randomly hug a person because you're happy..."
"Oh, shut up." Tory snapped. Gabriella continued. "It's a pretty good fire, though," she said. "Good enough to warm ourselves up after a blizzard like that..." An emotionless statue again, Tory nodded. "I kind of wish I had my scarf, though, but you know. Some sacrifices gotta be made..."
A sudden surge of anger washed over Tory. She finally realized who Gabriella was, and what she was trying to do. "Oh, be quiet. I can see right through you, Gabriella Haworth. Don't think your fooling anybody. You think your so brave and strong, but your not. Its just a little show, and your a rubbish actor!" She spat hastily, having to catch her breath.
"Oh, and yes, quite the sacrifice..." She finished, still an emotionless statue. She knew she couldn't one up Gabriella. She knew that it was nearly impossible to feel brave or courageous in front of a pale giraffe like Gabriella. Tory wouldn't deny it. Those were the facts. But she could at least try. The fire let out a puff of smoke, and Tory coughed irritably. It had been a long day.
"Oh, shut up." Tory snapped. Gabriella continued. "It's a pretty good fire, though," she said. "Good enough to warm ourselves up after a blizzard like that..." An emotionless statue again, Tory nodded. "I kind of wish I had my scarf, though, but you know. Some sacrifices gotta be made..."
A sudden surge of anger washed over Tory. She finally realized who Gabriella was, and what she was trying to do. "Oh, be quiet. I can see right through you, Gabriella Haworth. Don't think your fooling anybody. You think your so brave and strong, but your not. Its just a little show, and your a rubbish actor!" She spat hastily, having to catch her breath.
"Oh, and yes, quite the sacrifice..." She finished, still an emotionless statue. She knew she couldn't one up Gabriella. She knew that it was nearly impossible to feel brave or courageous in front of a pale giraffe like Gabriella. Tory wouldn't deny it. Those were the facts. But she could at least try. The fire let out a puff of smoke, and Tory coughed irritably. It had been a long day.
“We didn’t know were making memories, we just thought we were having fun.”
~Winnie The Pooh