Fight or Flight

[Ricia]

"Come on Kat." Sage said turning away from the group and actually heading to one of the holes in the roof. She tugged on one of the vines to test it's stability before starting the climb up to the roof of the building and through the hole. She knew the moment they tried to open the door... it will fall and break and make very loud noises. She will climb out of the building with zero noise.


Rhea mostly stood where she was. What happened to not splitting up?! She thought.


I think we should split up. We don't need them, Kai just said they need us. Lets just leave. Roen answered her in her mind.


No! If they need us.. then we will stay with them. Rhea was sure, that was exactly what she was going to do.


The door was broken and Shania would have to push it open to actually look outside. Some of the windows were not completely covered, but for the most part, visibility was hard to get from inside the building.


When Sage got outside, she turned and reached down to help Kat up as well before taking a quick look around. "Dragon girl was right... it's a broken over grown town..." Sage started to count the buildings. "There is only like... 6 houses." A few of them didn't look stable anymore, which meant they should avoid going in there.

 

[InsaneTruth]

Shania stood back and kicked the door the force of her kick shattered the stone making it crumble it was loud but not as loud as pushing it over. "well... lets see if the dragon priestess was right," she used that term because she was not sure what a dragon core was.


KAt followed Sage "she's loud," he commented about Shania.


"Not as loud as I could be," Shanai sent a glare at the elf boy.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz shook his head


"If anything dangerous enough to worry us is here, it's going to find us eventually. Might as well find out and deal with it immediately."


The red-haired man followed Shania out of the building and looked around


"This place doesn't look like it's seen a soul in decades."


Estenheim looked around the building for cups, bowls, any sort of container that could hold water without leaking really


"So we have water and heat covered. Shelter is at least tolerable for the time being. Thus we must make sure that we can eat without resorting to cannibalism. That would be lovely."

 

[Ricia]

"Cannibalism is when humans eat humans. It is what Rhea says.... therefore it is alright if I eat you. I am higher on the food chain then you." Roen pointed out to Estenheim. "B-b-but he's not really going to eat you! I promise." Rhea said, turning quickly to assure Estenheim he was in no danger. "Can I help?" She offered.


Sage humphed when Kat lingered around with Sanz and Shania and went off on her own, since she had been waiting to help Kat climb up. Sage continued to walk across the roof looking out into the area. To Sage... the woods around them looked more like a jungle. Which she knew Kat would be really surprised to see. The jungle was nothing like a forest... "Kind of pretty..." Sage said softly.

 

[InsaneTruth]

"Wow... it is pretty," Kat said looking out at the jungle "is it a forest?" he asked Sage.


Shania did not stray far from the others she kept all of them close enough to keep track of. She was sure splitting was bad. "Cannibalism... never had to resort to it," she said and shrugged "I'm poisonous so don't try,"


"So cold," Kat laughed hearing Shania

 

[Ixidor92]

Estenheim let out a nervous laugh at Roen's comment. He ran a hand through his hair again, seemingly to try and diffuse the statement


"I suppose there would be worse ways to go than being eaten by a dragon. But I prefer living so . . ."


He made a gesture with his hand as he continued to work


"You are certainly welcome to help miss Rhea. Is is Miss isn't it?"


Sanz started to trudge his way around the building, running a hand along the mass of vines, moss, and other plant life that had overgrown the area. Wherever that little twerp had dropped them, it didn't look like they would be finding another soul.

 

[Ricia]

"Mmn. No. It's called a jungle. I've never seen one in person..." Sage looked around before peaking down at the red haired on the ground. What was his name again? Oh well, later. "It's going to be more hot and humid.. but there will be plenty of shade. Where I come from... rainforest were known for their like, diseases..... we should go climb one of those high trees over there." Sage suggested, pointing at one of the tree's around the edge of the ruins.


"Ah.. I've never at a human either..." Rhea murmured watching Shania seem to stand by the door. "And... yes, miss. Not married. You may just call me Rhea... I was em... Doctor in training." Rhea walked further into the broken building to try and asses the supplies that they could find. She would find pottery bowels to add to what ever Estenheim found. There was not a lot of food.


Roen didn't really help, he mostly just stood in the middle of the building eyeing the front door.


"The door is destroyed... we might best friend a new barricade." Rhea suggested, "Also, may I call you Esten?"

 

[InsaneTruth]

Shania looked up "I sugest we all come to the ground and stay in a more uniform group," Shania said lucky for her deseaes were hard pressed to infect her due to her poison blood. Though when she got sick... she got deathly ill. She looked to Rhea then the door. "You are right... a new baracade would not be unwelcome."


Kat smirked and went to the roof ignoring Shania to go sit with Sage. "Climb the tree?" he asked he saw everything just fine from the roof.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz looked over at Shania, she seemed to be the one who was trying to take charge of the group. Out of everyone present, he would prefer either himself or her personally. He shook his head and started to look for anything that might be useful as a barricade


"We could probably rip down one of these trees if we had to."


Estenheim had a quick 'aha' as he found a metal jug. It was a tad rusted, but it would do the job.


"You may call me Esten if you wish. Though you'd be the first to do so."


He gave a light chuckle at the woman and set the jug in the center of the room.

 

[Ricia]

From were Sage was standing, she could see a slick form wonder between the buildings, slowly approching them. The creature itself looks like a panther, it was as big as a long boat, as tall as a horse. Its body was sleek, and it fur was long. Its muzzle was long and stretched, sporting a very strong and large row of teeth. Its ears and tail were almost excessively long and looked like flowed with its actions. Surprisingly the creature only had three claws, two in the front and one in the back.


"Oh look, I think I see a giant cat headed this way... we should proububly tell people..." Sage said rubbing her chin lightly.


Rhea smiled lightly and followed Estenheim around the room a bit to find things that may or may not be helpful. "All of this is... really old... kinda broken. I don't know if we can really use it.."

 

[InsaneTruth]

"We are being stalked," Shnaia announces as she heard a heartbeat and quiet footsteps. She was not sure what or if there was more then one but she was sure there was something.


"Yep its a big kitty," Kat said.


"Anyone with no fighting skills should go to the roof," Shnaia said drawing one of the swords from her side the blade was like liquid metal and silver.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz narrowed his eyes and peered through the undergrowth. There was definitely something in there, moving almost like a snake


"That doesn't look like any cat I've ever seen."


Sanz let the strength of the earth pour into his body, and the usual heaviness followed, he was ready for combat.


Estenheim noted the commotion outside and peered through one of the windows. The glass had long since shattered, leaving an open hole in the wall.


"Well, whatever's out there doesn't look friendly, so I think I'll stay in here for now."

 

[Ricia]

"Come on... let's get out of sight and try and take it from behind." Sage told Kat before turning to start climbing down the back of the building. "You.. will be able to kill it if we have to.. right? If you can't.. you should go inside." Sage told him, a little sternly too. She didn't want him to get hurt mentality. Not so soon. Not that she wanted him to get hurt at all.


Rhea listened to everyone else seemingly perk up to the danger, Rhea walking to Estenheim's side to peer from the window as well.


"Stay here Rhea, I'll chase it off." Roen assured her. He took several long strides outside, passing Sanz in the process. That was when he dropped his human form and took on a much larder form. He stood about as tall as the building they were in, his head peaking over it just lightly. His scales were bright red on his back and a light cream on his under belly. He had four long black clawed legs and and thick tail. On his back was a large leather saddle and on his front was an iron plate meant to protect his hearts and underbelly. He had two black horns that were thickly pointed forward, following his snout. The right horn was broken, midway from his face, the other pointed to a sharp tip.


"Come out." Roen growled deeply.


"I more want you to get out...." The words sounded more like a long hiss of disagreement. The cat creature slinked from between a few of the buildings, large yellow eyes looked over them. Roen was taller then it by several feet, but it was much longer then him. It looked like it was made to be fast.


"It can talk... It can be reasoned with." Rhea said suddenly. She turned from the window and started to make a run outside to join Roen.

 

[InsaneTruth]

Kat looked at Sage "I can if i absolutly have to," he told her though he'd much rather hug and cuddle it to death he knew thats not what Sage had in mind.


Shania was battle ready Roen transforming had her bristling up like a wild dog and the cat talking set her more on edge. "Tell us the way out then? we aren't here because we want to be," she hissed. Shania was about to the end of her civility. Kai and his games never amused her.

 

[Ixidor92]

Estenheim's hand immediately went around Rhea's upper arm, halting her in her tracks.


"Whoa there! I wouldn't go out there right now if I were you. Trust me negotiation only happens when both parties involved are of similar power. Now I'm no expert on foreign wildlife, but that thing looks like it could tear a man in half as easy as it breathes."


Sanz gave a bit of a start when Roen transformed right next to him. Not much intimidated him anymore . . . but a giant red-scaled lizard popping up out of basically nowhere next to you wasn't something you saw everyday. His eyes narrowed at the cat-snake slithering around. Its tone caused the hair on the back of his neck to stiffen with a chill. He let out a short breath. Play the tough guy, lay on the intimidation. There's a dragon right next to you, how hard can it be?


"It doesn't look like your exactly in a bargaining position . . . whatever you are."

 

[Ricia]

"But.. we should avoid a fight." Rhea insisted turning to look at him, though she didn't really fight against Estenheim. Her hand did come around his fingers, gently trying to release his grasp. She turned again to look out the window.


Sage chuckled a bit, "Okay Kat." Sage said before hopping down to ground level. "Let's disappear between the buildings and sneak up on it." She said, making her plan just a bit more clear before starting her slow creep into the building. Though it never occurred to here that there could be more then one.


When the creature came out from between the buildings, they could see it had 6 legs, a pair in between it's long body. It's sleek fur was bristled up, it was mostly looking at Roen, but it's eyes took a moment to travel to Sanz and Shania. A painful moment passed by and it choose to completely ignore Sanz's threat, but it did answer Shania's question, mostly. "I don't care where or how you get out, I just want you out. Out of my territory." The creature didn't seem entirely concerned about being outnumbered.

 

[InsaneTruth]

Shania growled at the second cat the sound was feral. "Look here you will not threaten me cat," she bristled up and her power gave a spft beat releasing a short wave from her body before she got it under control. Her power would feel wrong or even dark to any with magical skills. Though not alot escaped so it was hard to gauge how powerful it was. "We will leave, as soon as we are safe to all move," she said she was not sure how many but where there are two there are normally more even if its a bunch of kittens. "Elf... Sage," Shania looked to the roof. "ah shit," they were missing.


KAt followed Sage close to her silent as shadows. He spun his dagger in his hand almost playfully. Through and through this elf was an assassin.

 

[Ixidor92]

"Avoiding a fight I understand, but the whole point of avoiding a fight is to prevent anyone from getting killed."


Estenheim tightened his grip and pulled them both back from the window a bit


"I recommend you leave this to the highly armored and scary-looking dragon out there, who is in a much better position to talk than we are."


Sanz dug one of his heels into the ground, bracing himself. The air was so thick with tension it felt like he could reach out and touch it. And it was ready to snap at any minute


"And if we don't leave? You're going to jump in and try to kill us? That doesn't look like it would go well for you right now does it?"

 

[Ricia]

"GET OUT!" It sounded like a mix between a scream and hiss.


"The highly armored lizard's name is Roen.. and Roen is my partner. I can't stay in here.." Rhea insisted to Estenheim, she started to pull against him at this point.


Roen hissed as well but that transformed soon to a very loud roar, flame started to come from his mouth, though he didn't quite spit fire at it yet. Sanz was right, which would most likely be the reason it's not attacked yet, despite it's aggressiveness.


Sage heard the roar, which helped her orientate herself with the group through the crumbling buildings. "Oh.. possible that they already started." Sage said, "Might need to pick up the pace." Though as they were walking, something caught Kat's eye. Little mewing babies

 

[InsaneTruth]

"Gods curst!" Shania growled she had been trying to talk and these two idiots were as violent as the cats. Sure she growled a bit but hell she was only growling because she wasn't gonna stand down. Roen begining to threaten with fire was not what she expected.


"Sage Kittens!" Kat said happily and a bit loud for an assassin his quiet was broken by pure kitten attraction.

 

[Ixidor92]

"Make us."


Sanz spoke the statement without raising his voice or betraying any emotion. His eyes spoke volumes. He wasn't going to let anyone or anything tell him what to do.


Estenheim tilted his head quizzically


"Well let me ask you this: does your partner need you to go running out where there is a giant lord-knows-what which is definitely not friendly?"

 

[Ricia]

Rhea made a complicated face of being upset and concerned, "Roen is going to loose his temper." She told Estenheim, but to be honest.. he was right. Roen didn't need her out there. That didn't mean she didn't feel like she could try and make a difference.


"Oh.. kittens. We can use this to our advantage." Of course she would have to assure Kat that the kittens would not be harmed. Unless she had to harm them. "Grab one. Let's black mail the mother." Sage said with a chuckle, "I'll let you hold and pet it while we buy some times to get out. I'm not sure why we don't just leave in the first place--" Sage almost finished her sentence when there was a loud crash and fire from the direction they came.


Roen had enough and shot a spit of fire at the creature, mostly when Sanz told him to make them leave. Those were fighting words to the dragon. It was obvious they were not going to leave, so he will have to fight for them to stay.


It dodged without even blinking, the building behind it was immediately torn down by the blast of fire. However nothing seemed flammable as it was mostly stone. The creature charged-- past Roen and actually straight for Sanz.

 

[InsaneTruth]

Shania shielded herself "STOP IN THE GODS NAMES! I don't even care what god or gods you follow you don't attack first you dumbshit that's how wars start. You," she pointed at Sanz "Shut the hell up and let the people talk who know a few things about territory war, how do you know they aren't biding time? or protecting a home? Sit down and pipe down!" She was so trying not to snap but gods this was frustrating "and you dragon what if you caught the building on fire the girl and the squishy water sprite are in there! now close your maw and let me handle this! where the hell are the assassins?" She looked to make sure she wasn't going to get attacked by the cats glancing at them both and making sure she knew where they were and the angles. An attacks been made any chance of peace or talk became much more slim.


"I'll hug it!" Kat said picking up a cute black kitten "aren't you precious I won't let nobody hurt you no I won't kitty kitty," he pet the feline creature.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz put up his arms to intercept the creature flying at him, and then the collision happened. The difference in mass was undeniable as the two flew over the ground and collided through a stone building. The dust started to clear and it looked like the attack had been unstoppable. Then a voice seething with anger leaked through the creature's mouth


"What's the matter kitty? Can't get a good taste?"


The cat-snake recoiled with a something like a scream along with the sound of flesh colliding with a hard surface. Sanz hadn't been hurt at all by the impact or the teeth that collided with his arms.


"I barely felt that."


Estenheim visibly flinched at the sound of a fireball outside.


"Um . . . I think you may be a little late on that particularly happening sweetheart."

 

[Ricia]

The kitten seem barely that old, it's eyes were still closed and mewed loudly being picked up. "Come on." Sage told Kat, "We need to hurry... judging by the loudness, the fighting started. We'll just black mail it... then I guess if you really want to keep it you can... but you have to take care of it... It'll be a good replacement for Smores..." Sage turned and started to run towards the commotion.


The fireball was suddenly followed by Sanz and the creature crashing through the building, a huge portion of it started to crumble. Rhea grabbed Estenheim's hand, "We need to get out of the building before it full collapses on us!


"Rhea!" Roen watched it from both her own and his eyes. He saw Sanz emerge unfazed, so he deiced that he would concentrate on pulling Rhea out of the building rather then the cat.


The creature hissed at Sanz again before trying to slash at him with it's claws, teeth obviously not working.