[ thomas doesn't necessarily think any of this is her fault. he doesn't even know her, for one, nor does he recognize the man trapped beneath the heavy press of her foot, but all he'd intended to gain in his messy questioning was a little bit of clarity in what the hell is going on. even if it's raining, this isn't the place for a fight of any kind, and with the red dust on top of everything else, well... it sets thomas a little on edge.
there isn't time to think, though. there's no time to weigh sides, though thomas isn't really sure that much is necessary from what he's seen already. and what she says? i woke up here. it catches thomas' attention.
she's a new arrival, just like he was a while ago. confused, just like he was. scared, just like he was. he can see it in her eyes. thomas' lips part as if he's about to say something, his hands lifting at his sides almost like he means to reach out towards her, but before he can say anything, before he can extend a hand to her, the man pinned under her foot knocks her off balance.
instinct drives him forward without even thinking the moment the girl hits the ground, and while he's quick, thomas is not fast enough to keep him from getting his hands around her throat for a good, solid few seconds before he barrels into him with his shoulder, sending him tumbling off of her, and thomas with him.
the two of them roll, one over the other a few times, and by the time they stop, thomas is pinned with one arm under his back, and his other hand pressed firmly under the man's chin, shoving his head back as far as he can so at least, if he starts to throw his fists, he won't see where he's throwing them. if he can throw off his weight, then maybe he can get to the small knife (used to cut fishing line) strapped to his ankle.
thomas turns his head slightly to look at the girl, grits his teeth against the sand and the dust in his mouth, and manages just three words. ]
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there isn't time to think, though. there's no time to weigh sides, though thomas isn't really sure that much is necessary from what he's seen already. and what she says? i woke up here. it catches thomas' attention.
she's a new arrival, just like he was a while ago. confused, just like he was. scared, just like he was. he can see it in her eyes. thomas' lips part as if he's about to say something, his hands lifting at his sides almost like he means to reach out towards her, but before he can say anything, before he can extend a hand to her, the man pinned under her foot knocks her off balance.
instinct drives him forward without even thinking the moment the girl hits the ground, and while he's quick, thomas is not fast enough to keep him from getting his hands around her throat for a good, solid few seconds before he barrels into him with his shoulder, sending him tumbling off of her, and thomas with him.
the two of them roll, one over the other a few times, and by the time they stop, thomas is pinned with one arm under his back, and his other hand pressed firmly under the man's chin, shoving his head back as far as he can so at least, if he starts to throw his fists, he won't see where he's throwing them. if he can throw off his weight, then maybe he can get to the small knife (used to cut fishing line) strapped to his ankle.
thomas turns his head slightly to look at the girl, grits his teeth against the sand and the dust in his mouth, and manages just three words. ]
Run. Stay quiet.