Backing Down

"Saffire!" Blackfire shouts. "Let's go!"

The pain in your stomach may hurt, but the pain of retreat is almost unbearable. You aren't sure what to do.

Transgression approaches, preparing to attack again.

*WHOOSH WHAM* Blackfire hits him with a flying tackle, and he is knocked behind you.

Blackfire helps you up, and the two of you fly away, with her supporting you as you go.

"I can't believe I lost..."

You are lying down on a bed in one of the rooms of Rabsy's building. Your shirt is off, and you have another salve pad on your stomach. You stare up at the ceiling even though Blackfire sits next to you on the bed.

"Saffire, you didn't lose," she tells you.

"I did lose!" you snap at her. Your anger is only curbed by the pain in your stomach. "I quit the fight, I left before one of us won, which makes me the loser."

"Saffire," Blackfire says calmly, "I know how hard it is to swallow a loss, trust me, I was furious when my sister won against me for the first time. But this wasn't a loss. You made a tactical retreat so that you could fight again at 100%."

You continue to stare at the ceiling.

You decide to rest as your wounds heal. You close your eyes, and fall asleep.

　

You see a black helmet. No, wait, now it is two. One breaks open to reveal the slimy, snaggle-tooth.

"GGGRAAAGHK!" it screeches at you as arms come swinging in at you.

The other helmet breaks open to reveal the blank-eyed yellow-haired humanoid.

"You LOSE!!" he roars, and his hand grabs your face! He twists, and the friction burns you!

You sit up fast, and it hurts your stomach. It will still take some time for the skin to heal.

No one else is in the room with you. You get up and walk to the bathroom.

You peel away the two salve patches, the one on your chest, and the one on you stomach. You golden-orange skin really is red-orange on those patches.

You wet a small cloth and dab the areas, wincing with each small touch.

Someone enters the bedroom, and you peer out of the bathroom doorway.

Your sister walks in with a tray of food.

"Saffire?" she calls.

"Here," you call back. You pull out two new salve patches and stick them on the raw areas.

"I got you some take-out from Worblock's," she says as she puts the tray down. "I hope you're okay with another burger and 'french fries'." She walks over to you as you stand in the bathroom doorway. "Saffire, I know you feel down about having to retreat, I do, too."

Flashfire raises her arm, and you see that she has a salve patch on her side.

"I got hurt, too, and also had to leave."

"But this has never happened to me!" you say. "I have never had to run from an enemy!"

"Well, first time for everything!" Blackfire says from the door. You didn't even know she was there. "You told me that, remember?"

Blackfire walks into the room, towards you and Flashfire.

"Saffire, you'll beat him once you've rested and your skin isn't burned. So relax and eat."