(open)HARD IS TRYING TO REBUILD YOURSELF...

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...piece by piece, with no instruction book,
and no clue as to where all the important bits are supposed to go.”
― Nick Hornby

Erratic drumming echoed in her ears, which felt to be almost earsplitting. The scent of the rabbit was getting stronger and thicker as her legs stretched out at full length. Only inches away was a small rabbit but they were border lining Carna territory. When ever she hunted everything was pushed out of her mind, keeping her focused on the target. Her window was closing as she lurched forward as soon as it switched directions, avoiding her clamping jaws by a mere inch. She slowed, dropping her nose the to ground, searching for a new victim. If she had continued to pursue of that particular rabbit Lana would most definitely have made it into unfamiliar territory and she really wasn't in the mood for that now.

Instead of continuing her hunt, Lana shifted and sank down on the hard ground between the Switchstone Express and the neighboring territory. Her white leather jacket that she had on the night she was brought here was wrapped tightly around her. Though she was hot and sticky, Lana cooled down quickly thanks to the cold weather. Everything was so new here that she had not taken time to take in her new surroundings. She drew her knees up to her chest to rest her chin and recalled all that she remembered after being so careless that night. Though she was almost sure that she was alone, it wasn't enough to keep her safe. How was she going to rebuild herself here if she never had anything built before?

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Time had stopped existing in a straight path for the young woman. It was something that she considered alive; time was a constantly twisting and growing being that expanded in all directions. She liked to think that it branched off and created alternate universes, a universe perhaps in which she was not stuck in a dome under constant surveillance and woke up surprised to still be alive. Time was no longer measured by the second hand on a clock, instead Denver was forced to look for it in the world around her. She couldn't remember anymore how long it had been since she was dumped into this strange world. It had been enough time to heal Monica's wounds from the nasty run in with the Virus, and it had been enough time for the calluses on Denver's hands to heal and scar.

Denver chewed at the inside of her cheek as she tried to count the days, or maybe months, that had passed since she had woken up within the Menagerie, but no number could be calculated. She hadn't bothered keeping track of time, but when she woke up that morning, she had found it hard to remember the life she had had before. It had slightly terrified Denver that she could no longer recall what certain foods had tasted like, or what the sound of her father's laugh had sounded like. It wasn't her fault. The stress of survival and keeping up with her fellow Ring members had pushed away the time that Denver could use to reflect on her past. She couldn't even think about the future, she had only had the time to think about the present.

It had done the blonde some good, to only invest in the present. Her anxiety didn't swarm about her head with strength since she didn't have time to dwell on the future. However, she suspected that if the chance did arise, the familiar panic would freeze her body with renewed vigor. She could handle it better though, without the medication even, with help from Monica. Denver sought comfort in this thought as she picked her way across Fallen territory. She usually didn't walk about without company, but Denver had been putting herself to more challenges lately.

Looking up she spotted an unfamiliar Ring member sitting down. Denver's brow furrowed as she debated on whether or not she should go and say hello. More than likely the stranger was new and feeling out of sorts in their new 'home'. After a moment she decided that it would be in her best interest to go and make friendly talk with the stranger.

"Um, hello. You don't look very familiar." Came the blonde's voice as she approached the other girl. "I'm Denver." She introduced herself, feeling only slightly anxious to speak to the stranger.