Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 10

"That's good to hear," Luke replied. "Being here is a very welcome change from the wandering lifestyle I used to live. These last couple months have been... amazing."

Kira blushed, biting her lip in embarrassment. "Th-That's good to hear...I'm glad y-you're happy here." Amazing? She didn't know how living with her could be that great.

"I'm glad about a whole bunch of things," Luke replied contentedly, laying back under their vine shelter.

Kira smiled, though she stiffened slightly as the quiet patter of rain started over the shelter.

"Relax," Luke reassured her with a soft smile, withdrawing into the back of the shelter. "I have complete faith in your abilities. They've got us this far."

Kira nodded unsurely, though she still glanced upwards a bit nervously. She didn't want the rain to hurt Luke.

"C'mon, you know how much trouble you've saved me in the past few months. Hell, if our house can keep out rain we're asleep, it'll be a-okay when you're awake," Luke told her. He didn't like seeing Kira worried.

Paul just chuckled. "Hand me the gun and I'll load you some more bullets," he said, "You'll get even better as it goes. That particular gun has no recoil anyways."

"A-Alright...I just don't want you to get hurt because I made a stupid mistake..." Kira responded, biting her lip.

---

Heidi handed Paul the gun, eager to get rid of the weapon.

Paul soon had loaded another five bullets and handed it back to Heidi. "There, five bullets," he said, "Lets see how well you aim."

"I appreciate that," Luke replied, smiling softly and resting his case.

"Alright..." Heidi muttered uneasily, taking the gun and slowly aiming it, taking a few minutes of silence, before pulling the trigger.

---

Kira moved back next to Luke, sitting against the wall of the shelter and hugging her knees.

another puff of white, though it seemed lower. "Remember, bullets are effected by gravity too," Paul reminded her.

"Right," Heidi grunted, raising her aim before firing again.

"So you know the way you can feel the forest and the rain is good for the forest?" Luke piped up curiously.

This one seemed to land a little to the right, though it was high up.

"Yeah..." Kira nodded, looking over at Luke curiously, not sure what he was getting at.

---

"Goddammit," Heidi grunted, lowering her aim slightly and to the left and firing.

"So do you only feel negative effects or does the rain making the forest feel good make you feel good too?" Luke asked, confusing himself a bit.

"I guess it makes me feel better... Like when it gets too dry, I feel kind of dizzy, but then I feel better when it rains. Too much rain and I start vomiting," Kira frowned, having never really thought too much about it before.

"Most of the forest is just because I can't control my Flow that well, and when I don't focus plants just kind of grow everywhere. Remember what happened with my Flow in the t-tournement? It's like that, kind of."

The bullet seemed to strike closer to the center, a large puff of powder showing up.

"Oh right. That's pretty cool for a negative effect though," Luke pointed out. Better than burning down towns.

"Do I win?" Heidi asked Paul, not looking away, afraid that if she did, something would screw up.

---

"Depends on what kind of plant it is... A town overflowing with poison ivy isn't exactly...good," Kira laughed nervously.

"No, you have two more bullets in the loader," Paul said, "empty them and then we'll check the target."

"Fair point," Luke conceded. "Still, better poison ivy than flames."

Kira sighed, hugging Luke. "I believe in you. Your Flow's better, you're not going to burn anything that's not on purpose."

---

Heidi sighed, taking a few more minutes to aim and fire the remaining two shots.