The true story here was a fate to discover; the true story here was too simple to see...

[thatsortofaman]

As the sun starts to rise, a handful of people emerge from the trees, heading for the barracks gate. It's not another attack - for one thing, the group's a bit small and ragged-looking for that. For another, as they get closer to the gate those inside the barracks may recognize them, all friends or acquaintances who quietly went missing before the

Comments

anyone dogpile idk

[paterelohim]

Chuck has taken to stalking near the gates recently, ever since Dante came back from apparently the dead and rekindled his paranoia about the disappearances. Paranoia, and anger building slowly like the rising and falling of mountains. So he heard the Doctor pounding on the gates, saw that Flynn guy letting them in, and all but bolted for the group.

Gabriel wasn't with them.

He got the Doctor cornered first, since he was the obvious mover here, and generally gave off a vibe of competence. "Hey, you're back? Is everyone here okay? What took you?"

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor blinks at the man for a second or two, eyebrows raised, and then snorts a little.

"We're back?" he echoes, a vague and incredulous annoyance flickering in his expression. "So you noticed, then. Nice of you to come looking, thank you for that." Apparently he hasn't noticed all the blood and dead animals around the barracks, or at least doesn't consider it relevant to why people might not have come looking for any of them. Really, if they let a little siege stop them, they just weren't trying hard enough...

"Yes, everyone here is basically okay, though I can't say the same for the people still out there. How long've we been gone, anyway? Time doesn't always work the same in different parts of the Wood..."

[paterelohim]

"A few weeks," Chuck says simply, letting the man be pissy if he needs to. It's pretty understandable. "But, uh, I think that's only some of you? It's been kind of sporadic and weird. You weren't gone from the records in our communicator things, but it was impossible to track you."

He kicks the ground moodily. "Then the barracks were surrounded and basically laid siege by about eight hundred giant monsters for days on end." Chuck looks around behind the Doctor, looking over the others who're still filtering into the camp. Some part of him keeps hoping Gabriel will be with them, that he'll wander in looking dirty and pissed-off, complaining too loudly about sand in his shoes and the terrible housekeeping staff in the Dark Woods. "Goldie said the Dark Woods are awake."

[thatsortofaman]

"Well, she was right," the Doctor mutters. While Chuck's scanning the faces of the people who just returned, the Doctor's watching those coming out of the cabins, frowning slightly to himself. Who he's looking for - and whether he's looking to talk to or avoid them - is anyone's guess.

After a moment, he shakes his head, gaze swinging back to the man in front of him. "If they're not here, they're still trapped out there in the Dark Woods. Whoever you're looking for, I mean." He pauses for another second or two, and then adds, "Sorry."

He sounds more like he just thinks it's something he ought to say than something he actually means.

[paterelohim]

It sounds insincere, but Chuck doesn't mind. He looks like he's about to freak out, like there's a small edge of panic rising, right before his face shutters closed and his expression darkens. Chuck doesn't usually do stoic, but everything unto its season.

"It's fine." It isn't fine, but that's not the point. Chuck will make a point of seeking out Will later, to see that he at least got back okay. "I don't think I've ever introduced myself, by the way. Chuck Shurley."