AlphaBlueWolf
Moonchaser
Mateo watched the tiger shrink to be seven feet tall, which was still taller than the average height for an adult male. Even if Mateo was tall for a teenager, he couldn't help still being intimidated by the cat, even though he towered over them less now that he was smaller. He started to walk past Mateo, who took a step back in response, feeling small and helpless compared to the deity, who would likely kill him if he ever transformed in the city. And Mateo even thought he might kill him regardless of if he transformed or not.
But Halazzi stopped in front of him. In fact, everything did, but in a different way. He couldn't feel Cora's body expand as he breathed while sitting on his shoulder. He looked at the cat worriedly to see that he was fine. He looked around and saw a similarity between Cora's fate and everyone else. They were all still, Mateo the only one who could move. As well as Halazzi, who still had lightning zipping from his pelt.
He turned back to the tiger as he heard his voice, but Halazzi's mouth didn't move. The deity said he knew who Mateo was, knew that he was a Cabrera. He said he would have words with him and his kin, which Mateo didn't quite understand. Did that mean that more Cabrera's resided in the city, or did the tiger just want to tell them off for how they lost control and rampaged? Or was it just a fancy, deity way of saying he wanted to talk to Mateo? He guessed the latter, considering he told him to meet him at the base of the mountain when this was all done.
The Solqueador Mountain, who's name came from the Spanish words Bloquedor Solar, meaning sun block. Luminosans judged time based on the mountain, knowing that it was afternoon when the mountain blocked the sun. It wouldn't block it for some time now, meaning it was early. But even though Luminosa had warmer climates, the mountain was still white with snow. The first one, The Beast of Luminosa, always went up there. He wondered if the cold and snow appeared comforting or depressing to him. Did it make him long for the home he could never return to, lest he be slain? Had that been the reason why he'd been to the city, when he transformed for his final time? Those thoughts made him sad for him, a boy who'd only been a little older than himself, who'd had his normal life ripped away from him. Those of the Cabrera curse knew they weren't alone, but he'd been the first, and it must've been lonely to have no one understand you. Everyone thinking you're a monster. And no one even remembering your name, not even your relatives who inherited the curse from you. Mateo thought the Solqueador Mountain held a lot of sadness that no one ever knew about.
Suddenly, he could hear and feel Cora's breathing form on his shoulder. He looked around as Halazzi resumed his pace, everyone seeming to have life breathed into them once more. Mateo himself looked a little jumpy, putting a hand to his head and shaking it out.
Afterwards, the tiger's attention shifted towards the guard's question. He leaped up towards the arch, declaring that they were to be allowed into the city limits, as the gates were open in his words. They were outsiders, Halazzi said, but they had potential to become something more. Allies, the deity suggested. But why would a deity of Luminosa want a Cabrera as an ally? It didn't make sense to him, which was why he dreaded that conversation.
Halazzi looked towards Valero and Hunter, giving a nod, and then turned his knowing eyes towards Mateo. He just gave a quick glance, reminding him of the things he'd spoken. Or thought maybe. The words had seemed to stream directly into his head, which was pretty disorienting.
Well, they knew where they were headed next, after the guards left them. The Solqueador Moutain, which no citizens were allowed near, let alone outsiders. This would be fun.
Finch only processed that Speedy had spoken as he plunged two swords into the back of Nikki's opponent. Tina wasn't the enemy. That's what the guy had croaked out on his last breath. If Tina wasn't the enemy, then why was she trying to kill people? Again, Finch's moral code went on actions, and the only thing Tina and these guys wanted to accomplish was mass murder. Murder of two guard members and one civilian vigilante up here, then one civilian girl down there. Not to mention their targets being the captain of the guard and the leader of Ironshire himself. None of them had done anything to warrant such action from Tina and her goons and, even if they had, it wasn't this group's place to do something like this. They were criminals, and Finch aimed to stop their plan. Capture Tina if they could, so they could interrogate her on what her plan here was.
He released his hold as Joker went in for a flying kick, plunging the swords in so much that only the hilt now stuck out, the actual blade no longer visible. The guy stumbled forward, which gave Nikki the opening to cut his head clean off. The spray of blood that came sullied the ground in a streak of crimson, as the head rolled off to the side. Finch tore his gaze from the sight to go retrieve the swords sticking into the now dead body's back. To his dismay, both blades were covered in blood. He followed Nikki's lead, wiping it off both before sheathing them at his sides. He'd want to give both a more thorough cleaning when all of this was over.
Nikki asked if they'd taken care of the other two, in a very plain, commander like voice as if she hadn't just chopped off a guy's head. Finch wasn't quite used to the composure part of the job, the formality. If it'd been him and his dad, he would've bumped his fists into the air and started shouting about how they did it. He had to fight to push the little kid in him down.
He looked towards Joker, then back to Nikki. "Yeah, we took care of them." He said, putting an arm around Joker's neck and giving him a nod. He looked back towards where Tina and Serana were having their fight. "C'mon. We have to help Serana."
Finch took a running start and propelled himself into the air. His cape billowed out with the bird insignia, as he maneuvered himself over the fight. He took out his bow, aiming a shot right towards Tina, before shooting down fast towards the ground. He landed in front of Serana, blocking the oncoming move from Tina. He looked back towards Serana and smiled, feeling relief flood into him that she hadn't gotten too hurt. "Looks like we finished up those guys with time to spare." He remarked, then turned back to Tina. "I wouldn't count on those three coming back to help you. You're finished, so just cut your losses and come with us. If you tell us everything about this plot, then maybe your sentence will become shorter than it currently is."
Valero nodded, though now it all fell to him. Finding out more about this knight and being able to spot him if he ever came close to the city. He wished Halazzi would've given him more insight about this guy, so that his job would become easier. Though, he could probe the outsiders on the knight if he really needed them, if Hunter couldn't give them much that is. The boy had seen the knight after all.
Halazzi jumped up to the arch with a stream of electricity, announcing that the outsiders would be let in. He saw in them the potential to be allies, which Valero disagreed with. They were just outsiders to him, after all. Halazzi nodded towards the guards, then disappeared off to who knows where. Valero got up from his bow, and the rest of the guard followed. He fixed the group with narrowed eyes. But it's not like he could go against the wishes of the deity, even if religion wasn't usually his forte.
The buzzing in Hunter's head came to a stop the farther away Halazzi got. It was something about the deity's sudden appearance that had gotten him like that. He hadn't gotten a headache when he'd arrived at the scene. Only when Halazzi came about. It was strange. He looked towards Valero, then followed his gaze to the group. Oh, right. Guard duty first. He could wonder about the tiger later.
The tall kid who looked to be around his age had been staring off, watching Halazzi leave. Maybe they were both fascinated by seeing the deity. Or maybe he'd had a similar experience to Hunter, considering he looked super disoriented. Maybe Hunter could ask him about it.
"Come along, then." Valero grumbled, then led the way into the city.
Hunter slowed his pace, so he'd be back with Mateo. "Do you like gods and deities?" He asked.
"Uh, what?" Mateo said, confused as to why Hunter was asking.
"Oh, well, you just sort of seemed amazed by Halazzi."
Amazed isn't how Mateo would put it. "Uh, I guess?" He quickly scrambled for an answer. "I've just never seen one before. A deity, I mean."
"Oh, right. I guess that'd be exciting for anyone really." Hunter said, feeling a little awkward and stupid. The teen had only been amazed because he'd never seen a deity before. He likely hadn't had the same headache. "So, why are you in town?"
"Uh..." Mateo said, trying to find his footing on the lie. He'd never been quite good at lying, well lying on the spot. He'd told Skyla and Mika that he was a spirit to protect Cora. He wondered if Skyla still thought he was a spirit, or if she'd realized at some point that he was human. Did she think he was a spirit with a curse? Or maybe turned into a spirit from the curse? He probably shouldn't have let that lie go on. "Th-The festival. Yeah, we've been on the road for so long, and just thought it would be nice to y'know, get a chance to relax."
Ok, not bad. Mateo seemed to be getting better at the whole lying thing. Maybe because he was around two adults that could lie way better than him.
Hunter gave a little chuckle. "Oh, it'll be hard for you to relax here."
"W-why's that?" Mateo asked, afraid they'd already found out he was a Cabrera.
"No one relaxes at festival time." He said simply. "There's a bunch of activities for you to do. Dancing, and making lanterns, and watching the different performances. It'll be a real treat if it's your first time. And-"
He was cut off by a cough from Valero. He gave a wave to Mateo and then went back over to Valero. "Halazzi has vouched for you." Valero started. "But that doesn't mean you have been cleared of my suspicions. You will be allowed into the city, but we will be watching you. Don't slip up. If you do, I won't be so cordial. [Welcome to Luminosa.]" He finished in Spanish, with a sly grin and a gesture to the city.