i was the match and you were the rock [demian/flamevein/eight + any]

[Gallows]

I had wandered away from the self congratulating fire wall group to, you know, have a baby, when I feel my thoughts invaded. My mind is exploding. With a suddenness that I have rarely felt my brain is besieged by images that almost bring me to my knees. I gasp for air, wrenching back control with a terrible effort. I am instantly irritable. Not since the year I was three and a faerie granted me mind reading have I felt such an uncontrollable emotional upheaval that wasn't my own. Normally I can easily block out the signals from others' minds, unless I want to tune in to them. And there are various levels of tuning in, from a casual check in to experiencing their thoughts with them. The second is the most draining. Cress I think with a flash, my eyes wide as her ordeal suddenly clicks into place like an out of focus screen gaining clarity. Damn. I knew Carnage was sick, but power has really gone to his head. And Demian… I curse inwardly. He's an idiot. A well-meaning and naive one, but still an idiot. With a quick "be right back" to an exploring Namaah, I hurtle towards the source of the emotions. "Demian" I say sharply as I pull up near them. "Idiot. She's hurting, was hurt. The fire, the brand… is not helping." I wince, struggling to keep from being sucked into the images that are passing through Cress's mind. I move closer to her, easily and carefully, like I am approaching a frightened child. For in her anger and defiance there is a terrible fear. I catch sight of her wounds, a slow anger burning in my chest. I do not know if it is her anger or my own, magnified. "Cress. It's okay, love. You don't need to prove your worth to any of us here. Demian won't require the brand from you." I don't know this for a fact, but I will make it true. There is no use in torturing the golden mare for something that would be redundant. She has suffered and the Valley is her home, as it is all of ours. "There will be another way. You will not burn for anyone ever again." My voice is shaking, her emotions bleeding into mine. G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.