Joshua Ustrina
Josh fumbled his way to the surface, spitting water out quickly as he sent water splashing outwards. He groaned as his head filled with the familiar buzzing sound that he got each time his powers were taken from him by the water. His head felt heavy, and his ears felt thick as though beeswax had been stuffed in them. Josh looked around, and everything was a blur of colour. The light of the fire he had summoned reflected from the surface of the stream, and the screams of the burned men filled the air so that the birds of the copse fled into the sky.He turned, and headed in the direction that he hoped the opposite bank was. Water soaked his jeans and made them tight on his legs, filling his shoes so that they felt like weights pulling him down. It was a struggle to get to the other side, but when he did, he collapsed onto the muddy ground in the same manner that a starving man might approach a feast.
His head fell back, and he began to shiver. He could feel his clothes starting to stick to his skin, which began to shiver uncontrollably as the cold set in and smothered his powers. Joshua felt the sudden need to pull his clothing off and toss it away for holding the moisture that was so torturous to him, but he couldn’t quite find the energy to do so. Just the thought of moving seemed too much. The fire on the opposite bank roared effortlessly, feeding from the trees and bushes, and Josh found himself watching it almost as though he was in a trance.
”I’m...here. Don’t ever do that again”
The sound of a friendly voice brought Joshua back to life and he coughed once more, turning aside to splutter water to the ground. ”I don’t intend to,” He muttered hoarsely, before sitting up and running his hands through his hair. They came back wetter than before and he grimaced. ”Damn, I hate the water,” Josh muttered, rubbing his face. He glanced up at the fire and then back at Lotus before making a facial expression that was a mixture of discomfort and joy at their escape.
Josh looked around at their surroundings, and sighed. He was exhausted, and now he was still and his body was cold, he was suddenly aware of the aches and pains his troubles had cost him. His chest ached from his fall, and he was sure he had a few bruises. His legs felt as though he’d been tied down and they’d been tugged on by furious imps. His lungs felt fit to burst, and with each touch of the breeze, he felt the hairs on his skin stand to attention. Worst of all was the lack of power. He had no willpower now to go anywhere.
”We probably shouldn’t stay long. They’ll see the fire...are you okay?”
His head fell back, and he began to shiver. He could feel his clothes starting to stick to his skin, which began to shiver uncontrollably as the cold set in and smothered his powers. Joshua felt the sudden need to pull his clothing off and toss it away for holding the moisture that was so torturous to him, but he couldn’t quite find the energy to do so. Just the thought of moving seemed too much. The fire on the opposite bank roared effortlessly, feeding from the trees and bushes, and Josh found himself watching it almost as though he was in a trance.
”I’m...here. Don’t ever do that again”
The sound of a friendly voice brought Joshua back to life and he coughed once more, turning aside to splutter water to the ground. ”I don’t intend to,” He muttered hoarsely, before sitting up and running his hands through his hair. They came back wetter than before and he grimaced. ”Damn, I hate the water,” Josh muttered, rubbing his face. He glanced up at the fire and then back at Lotus before making a facial expression that was a mixture of discomfort and joy at their escape.
Josh looked around at their surroundings, and sighed. He was exhausted, and now he was still and his body was cold, he was suddenly aware of the aches and pains his troubles had cost him. His chest ached from his fall, and he was sure he had a few bruises. His legs felt as though he’d been tied down and they’d been tugged on by furious imps. His lungs felt fit to burst, and with each touch of the breeze, he felt the hairs on his skin stand to attention. Worst of all was the lack of power. He had no willpower now to go anywhere.
”We probably shouldn’t stay long. They’ll see the fire...are you okay?”