Talcott stumbled a little on the small rocks of Leide. Instantly Iris reach out to grab his arm, settling his balance. He gave her a nod and a quiet timid 'thank you' before his eyes went to her hand still on his bicep. Around the knuckles, on the brass, and her fingers he could see the red spots of blood that is slowly darkening. She let's go and they continue in their trek.
He takes a look at her face, now hardened and serious, decorating her face is a large bruise on her left cheek, a cut lip, a cut on her nose and a small cut on her eyebrow. "I can hold Astrum for a while." Talcott says holding his hands out. Iris gives him a look over. She stops, both pausing in their tracks, she nods handing him over. As Talcott held the prince Iris stretched her arms. They've been walking for a while now and she doesn't know if they are any closer to their destination.
They continue walking, Iris keeps a hand on the backpack Talcott wore. It contains their food and water, what's left of it anyway. By the time they got out of the wall it was to late, and Astrum needed a changing. She parked where the others are. People set up tents and fire places. They stayed close to the car. Iris took care of Astrum until he feel asleep for the night. Talcott fell asleep next, Iris felt sleepy to but checked the doors on the car are all locked. She fell asleep. It was a little uncomfortable but that's to be expected when sleeping in a car with a baby who cried at the crack of dawn. Iris fed him and got hers and Talcott breakfast ready. After drinking their water she grabs the prince and pops the trunk open. She saw two large black backpacks, she opened one of them to see it's fill with the essentials: toothbrushes and paste, water, some food, basic natural clothes, med kid and some survival tools. After closing that she checked the other to see it's filled with the same thing.
As she took one of the backpacks and closing the trunk someone called Astrums name. Extremely cautious she turns around hiding Astrum to see it's a little girl smiling as she point to Astrum. Iris blinked because recognized the child. Then a woman stood behind her looking at Astrum shocked. The woman's eyes then turn up to look into Iris' eyes. After a second the hint of recognition flashed through the woman's expression. She came up to Iris respectful and kind. Then Iris realized where she's seen them from, Prom's pregnancy pictures. The woman was very kind to them both. Iris felt very relaxed around the family. Even got an encouraging talking to by the woman. Right when Iris started feeling more confident, they get attacked. Talcott and Iris ran with Astrum as Mrs. Cruz and her husband defended them. Of course there was more so she finally had to fight, a little. Many were not okay with a teen girl with a pre-teen and baby getting harassed. Some people stepped up. She ran with Talcott back to the car, hiding. They couldn't hide forever in the car, Jared had said Insomnia may not let them back in until a week. They had to find a space to hide, maybe somewhere away from the camp that has been set up.
With that she came up with another idea. She drove off before any can see but her driving off more than likely caught attention. She drove as far as the car can go before running out of gas. She checked her phone for any news, maybe a text from her father but nothing so she checked the map to see how far they are. She saw they weren't far and was about to call when a truck stopped. The person who stopped may have been genuinely trying to help but after Iris turned down the request of help many times but still insistanted Iris got suspicious. Sure they could have been truly worried but Iris didn't trust them for a second. She kept Talcott inside the car with Astrum. They got impatient and got out the car. Iris really had to fight this time. By herself.
She gave a nice front punch to the guy who reeled back in shock. Then he got his own fists ready. He was close to getting a hit but Iris got a good right hook and uppercut having him fell down. The second one out of the truck was worse. She knew what she was doing, got a couple scratched and bruises from her but Iris won with a suplex, followed by an elbow slam to her stomach. The third person out the car was a beast. He was the hardest. He scared her the most, something in his eye or maybe the lack of something made him scary. Either way it took a while to get him down. She got him with good punches but he was good at taking them. And when she thought she got him he stood up. So when she got him down again she made sure he stayed down by punching his face over and over again. She's never had to do something so crude before but while she punched his face until it was almost unrecognizable it felt like she was in a daze. She lost herself, but it wasn't completely bad.
She siphoned their gas and they drove a couple more miles forward until they ran out of gas again. This time they got packed. After locking the doors they walked.
Have been for what seemed like forever. Iris and Talcott switching carrying Astrum. Having to pause when the baby got hungry or needed a diaper change.
A horn honking frightened them even as it came from the direction they are facing, heading towards them. A large pick up drunk stops in front of them. On the side read Hammerhead and Iris smiled. That's where they were heading. But she shouldn't be completely trusting, she needs to see who's at the wheel. The truck stops in front of them. The window lowers after a second.
"Hey sweetheart, ya'll lost? Need a ride somewhere?" A pretty blonde woman with an accent ask concerned and obviously worried. Iris mind flashed back to the others. This was different, the woman truly cared. Iris took a closer look at the blonde looking very worried, a little surprised by her face.
"Cindy!" Iris shouts the woman's name, Talcott and Cindy stare stunned by the outburst for different reasons.
"That's me, how'd ya know?" the blonde wonders. Iris nods, then pushes her companion to the door, urging him to get in.
"Prompto and my brother Gladio send me pictures of when they were here." Iris says getting in the truck after Talcott. Cindy's eyes lighten up at Proms name being mentioned.
"Your Gladio lil' sister? He didn't mention it but I didn't spend much time with the giant man. I do know Prompto. Want me to drop ya'll off somewhere?" she asks changing the stick of the car. Smile on her face.
"We were heading to Hammerhead for safety from the city." Iris says. Cindy nods, her smile fading yeah she heard about it.
"Alright, I have to pick a car up but then we'll be on our way. Sounds good?" she turns to Iris who nods. Cindy quickly takes note of the baby but doesn't mention it as she focus on the road.