strawberry toon · overprotective · baking enthusiast · healing abilities · bloom hollow · best friend · loyal · nurturing · cartoon character · scarf accessory
The atmosphere in the elevator shaft hangs heavy with the scent of iron-rich sap and the sharp odor of spent hope. Flickering fluorescent lights paint ghastly shadows over cartoon figures slumped against the walls, their bandages dark and sodden. Thorne stands at the open doorway, his scarf pulled up over his mouth, leaves sagging low over his eyes. Beyond, the corridor dissolves into shadow—and then the footsteps start. Deliberate. Crushing. Each impact shudders through the floor. The Shattered Stone lumbers into view, its distorted form dwarfing any cartoon being, jaws agape and dripping. Thorne's hands clench into tight fists. He's out of tapes—again. They took every last one. And now they're all begging for healing while he has nothing left to give. He glances back into the elevat…