Tytonidays and Nights - Group 2 [Closed]

[Reanna]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Reanna: Something wasn’t right. It started as a prickling sensation in the base of her skull, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Ever since Blake had been thrown out the night before, she’d been on edge. It wasn’t his absence, nor was it the fact that she’d spent most of her night talking strategy with Jesse. It was something… more. It had progressed through the night, and had been a blaring warning in her head the moment her eyes had opened onto the third night. Now, after yet another moment of standing around and talking, it was practically screaming at her. So, when Renee went to open the door – she knew. Before she could utter the words, the door was slammed shut. “Move!”

The command was uttered a split second before the door was splintered in half. All she could think as she the room erupted into sounds of shattering glass and gunshots was that Velveteen was going to skin them for ruining her cabin. Pulling her gun from her back, she flicked the safety off and fired two rounds into the hunter running towards her, watching as the back of his skull exploded, spraying the wall in grey matter and blood. The plan. Of course she would stick to the ******* plan – even if it did unsettle her stomach. Snatching the map off of the table, she folded it up and tucked it into her pocket before running out the door. “Come, Renee!”

Renee:Renee smirked as the room erupted into action. Her hands quickly went to her weapons. She pulled her sword for her side and her gun from her boot as she ducked down to avoid something that was flying at her. “Got it!” She shouted to the russian woman as she went to follow. As she reached where the stairs were, a man came out after her, shooting her in the side as he charged. Using her sword and her position to her advantage, she tripped the man. After he fell she shot off three bullets into his skull before she kept running. She checked behind her as she went.

Reanna: In most situations like this, people don't bother to keep track of time. Instead, they run until they are out of energy - but not her. With each step she took, she counted. The trees flew past her, branches scratching at her skin and dirt flying from beneath her combat boots. When she reached two hundred and fifty paces, she came to an abrupt halt and tilted her head, ear cocked to the sky. She could hear the fight behind her but nothing else. He had, as usual, stuck true to his words. "It is safe for now," she stated calmly as she pulled the map out of her back pocket. Turning her sharp gaze to the woman with her, she raised a brow and tipped her head to her side. "Are you well?"

Renee:As they stopped and her side was pointed out she looked down to inspect it herself “Yeah it’s throw and throw.” She used her powers that she had learned early after her turning to quickly heal herself. “All good now.” She walked up next to her to inspect the map as well. “What are we going after first. I’d like to bring back more than just one sample if we can.”

Reanna: Mystic. Of course. Shaking her head as she unfolded the map, she allowed a gloved finger to trace the path that Jesse had mentioned the night before. "We find smaller fae first. There should be one close. It should be simple and allow rest of night to fight the one Doc is watching," she muttered, her eyes narrowed in contemplation. "We will fight and I will take sample. If something happens to me, it is on you to follow through. Okay?" She let her eyes connect with the other, that cold, dead glint flashing in her pale green gaze. "First, we find fae. Corinth said there is one just few feet ahead."

Renee: “Got it.” She nodded in understanding “But nothing will happen to you.” She smirked at the woman. As she looked ahead of them she readied her sword again. “What kind of fae is it and how far?” It was always good to know what to be ready for other wises things like the cabin and the hunters could happen and now it was just the two of them. She didn’t want to half that again.

Reanna: "I do not know what kind. She says it is like a bear," she muttered, her eyes closing for a moment as she listened to the soft chime of her wraith. When she opened them again, she pointed up ahead, where a small nest of rocks rested. "Behind there," she whispered. "You go first, get it distracted with its back to me. I will join as soon as you do." Glancing to the woman, she tilted her head as she inspected her. She was strong - ready. She knew, in that moment, that she could trust her with the task. "When you feel comfortable, head in."

Renee:As she turned to the small outcrop of rocks she nodded “See you in a bit.” She headed towards the rocks, her eyes open and ready to catch movement. A wide circle was made around the area. It would be easier to have it already in the middle of the two of them at the start. It was save time and energy for both of them. As she got closer to the rocks she hunched down as she caught sight of the fae. She picked up a rock as she got closer. As she stood up she whistled at the things as she chucked the rock at it to get its attention on her. It turned towards her as the rock made contact. She held her sword up in a defensive way as she waited for it to come towards her.

Reanna: As the woman heeded her order without question, she settled down on one knee and watched. She had sent the woman out without a plan of retreat, but she had done it for her own safety. She wasn't entirely aware of how intelligent the creature they were dealing with was. She knew it was better if she spoke as little detail as possible, though she also knew it was asking a lot to have someone trust her silence. When she saw the rock fly through the air and the bear lunge to its feet, she straightened to stand. Raising one hand, she summoned her shadowed blade and smiled as it whipped through the air when the creature lunged for Renee.

Without wasting time, the Russian jumped over the rock barricade as the shadows connected with fae's shoulder keeping him momentarily stunned so Renee could be on the offensive. Moving as silent as the shadows themselves, the Russian quickly made her way towards the creature, though she came up short as it shook his head from side to side. Without waiting another minute, she lunged, her fingers digging deep into its fur. When she pulled, the creature reared back and tossed her onto her *** in the mud. "****," she hissed, quickly scrambling to her feet as it lunged for Renee once more.

[Renee]

---The following is a live action roleplay---

Renee:The creature comes towards her and she is able to spin out of the and slash at its legs, cutting through some of the flesh. She quickly faced the thing again as it turned back towards both of them now. “Go!” She shouted to the woman as she took off running at the beast before she braced herself to hit it, sword first.

Reanna: Dusting off her jeans, the woman shook her head to clear the ringing in her ears. When Renee's voice cut through the air, she lunged once more at the bear. This time, she curled her fingers deeper into the creature's fur, her nails digging into the skin. As it roared in rage, she took a deep breath and pulled back with enough strength that the sound of meat tearing from the bone almost overpowered the sound of his growl. When the bear threw her off this time, she hand what she needed, blood dripping own her arm. Tossing the sample into her bag, she jumped back to her feet and waved a hand. "Get ready!" Gritting her teeth as the bear swiped out, she quickly blinded the creature.

Without giving Renee another warning, she teleported her to another location in the woods while the bear stumbled around. Before it could regain its composure, she followed suit, landing at her feet and gripping her ribs. "****, that ground was hard," she muttered, glancing up at her. "You good? You were perfect out there."

Renee:As she hits the ground she rolls to her feet before standing and dusting herself off. She turned to Reanna as she spoke “I’m good.” She grinned “We work well together. Should do so more often if we can.” As she turned towards the screams of anger and pain of the bear “So that’s one down. Onto the next? We can wait a moment if you need. It looked like you hit pretty hard back there.”

Reanna: Rolling her neck, she summoned the energy needed to pull the shattered bones back together. "I am good," she whispered, her nose crinkling for a moment. "I am good soldier. I am not good at bullriding," she teased. It seemed foreign to her, to have a joking moment in the midst of chaos. Shaking her head, she glanced around and smirked as she heard her wraith's familiar melodic laugh. "She says we are close. Have you checked with Doc? If we are near the Water Fae, we should move on. Quicker the better." She was certain they could get this done before sunrise, though it was cutting it close. "We will do the same as the bear, but it will be harder. I will take a scale from the dragon. Try not to get into water too long. It is too dangerous. Do you have teleport as well?"

Renee: “I do, thankfully.” She smiled as started to concentrate on Doctor. She could see through his eyes now. The dragon was stopped for the moment for some reason. Fairly close to them. She turned back to the woman “If we are going to go we need to go soon while it’s not moving. I can get in close enough to it and summon you. If we can surprise we should be able to get in and out without anyone getting too hurt. It’s better than fighting the whole time.” She watched the woman as she spoke “Unless you have another idea. I am open to suggestions.”

Reanna: Listening to the woman for a moment, she gave a nod of her head as she smiled faintly. "It is exactly as I would have planned." Dropping her back to the ground, she pulled out a small bag and placed it in her pocket. "Go when you are ready," she whispered, her eyes closing. For some reason, the thought of this fae unnerved her. Was it the fact it was one of the stronger ones? Or the fact it had taken on the form of another mythical creature? The bear had been normal - but a dragon? It is fine, my love. As her husband's voice filtered into her mind, she grit her teeth. This was not the time for her to be haunted. Pulling a small blade from her boot, the Russian turned her gaze towards Renee and nodded. They were almost done. Almost.

Renee: As Reanna nods to her she nodded back. “Let’s do this.” She smirked as she spied on the dragon again before she teleported herself closer to it. She kept an eye on it as she landed. It had not seemed to notice her yet as she landed behind some trees near the bank. Quickly she climbed up and out onto one of the branches overhanging the water. If she timed this right she end up summoning Reanna right next to the thing. She lept into the air towards the thing before summoning Reanna.

Reanna: She knew she didn't have long before she felt the world shift beneath her feet. Bracing herself for the change in the air, she closed her eyes just as the magic took her over. The second her feet landed on the bank, she threw her hand out, fingers curling over a scale as the other lifted the small blade. With a quick flick of her wrist, she peeled the scale - just as the fae shifted. With the sample in hand, she tucked it into her pocket a second before the dragon turned. The change shifted her off balance, lips parting to yell for Renee - but the only sound that came was a gurgle as blood spilled from her lips.

There was no pain, not at first. There was merely shock as the dragon opened its mouth as if to swallow her hole. Looking down, she saw the claws embedded deep into her chest before her vision darkened. Croaking out a sound, the Russian fell back, a sickening pop sounding as the claw slid from her heart.

Renee: She landed in time to see the dragon attack Reanna “****!” She called out as she run at the woman. Throwing an arm out, she wrapped it around her as she moved, now both of them away. A claw rips into her thigh as she tries to get them away. She growls out in pain as she uses the last of her energy for the night to teleport them both back closer to the cabin. They land on the grounds behind it. “Jesse! Ric!” She calls out for their help as she leans over to check on Reanna.

Reanna: She couldn't open her eyes. Hell, she couldn't even twitch a finger. The pain that engulfed her was too much, too intense. Her body trembled violently as blood poured from her lips, though it was nothing compared to the gaping hole in her chest. The sample dangled from her fingers, scale glistening in the light, though it seemed so... miniscule now. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO, REANNA?! The voice in her mind exploded, rage filling the deep Russian baritone - and it was the last thing she heard as she allowed the darkness to claim her.

Reanna's Roll: Will she be able to get the sample without a critical wound? Result: Failed.

[Roderic]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Roderic> Company? I looked around, a little confused at the statement made by Renee.I didn't think Velveteen would send us some other people in the middle of a task. So it must mean something else. Before I could think about the statement and its meaning, there's an explosion of glass and there are half a dozen or so people in here. I'm sure none of us invited them in here. Jesse barks out an order, something I'm all too happy to oblige with, relieved that I have a few of my blades on me before the **** hit the fan. I instinctvely drop to the ground, in a crouch to buy a few seconds to assess how many legs there are and what's being fired, or not. There's some gunfire, but I expected more from the amount of legs present. Gun users were my intended target first. Blade users required getting up close and personal. A pair of legs run past me, and without knowing what their weapon of choice is, I punch out towards their kneecap. I connect, sending them toppling forward, as I pull out my sword from my sheath, as I come to a quick stand. I hear shots being fired, in what direction, I don't know until I see splinters of wood burst outward from the wall in front of me.


<Jesse Fforde> There is only a small thought for the state of the cabin. Velveteen and Micah had sent them out here to collect samples from the Fae, and even that could come with its risks – as far as the cabin was concerned. Yeah, maybe having it shot to **** by hunters isn’t such a great outcome, but it’ll be easily fixed. Jesse’ll offer to pay for it – to help out. He’s almost certain the others will as well – though is any of this their fault? He wants to know where the hunters had come from, but now’s not really the time. The air is permeated by the scent of blood. When he rights himself from his previous drop and roll, he sprints to the door to make sure that they get away clean; there’s a shadow out there, set to follow them – he lifts his gun and fires, only to feel a the slice of a blade across his shoulder. The shadow outside goes down. The girls are home free, and Jesse is free to throw all of his focus into their predicament. He turns to his assailant, at the same time reaching up for the door frame – he lifts his body so that his feet are free to kick out – two boots thump hard against the chest of the hunter, sending him reeling backwards, before Jesse throws himself into the fray.


<Roderic> I turn to see a hunter go flying backwards, compliments of Jesse as there's more gunfire as the hunters make their way inward and onward, as fast as they can. as hard as they can. For some reason it seems important to them to get inside the cabin. There's really nothing important in there that I can think of, but I hadn't really checked the place out from head to toe. It's not mine. Sure, there's an altar and I'm sure weapons galore in there, somewhere, but I doubt there's anything else, really. I see Jesse go into the bulk of it, and I'll be damned if he gets to have all the fun. The legs I tripped up, stand, and a sword is thrust in my direction. There's shots coming from behind me, but there's an imment threat in front of me. Better to take a few to the back than in the chest. The blade licks at my leg, grazing it, before I thrust up and downwards, intending on hacking a limb off. The guy moves, in a roll, and I miss completely. He keeps rolling, to a couch, as if using that for some space between us and a barrier. He gets the space, but the barrier is broken when I hop over the couch and land on a cushion. I swing, this time a little wildly. not caring where I hit as long as I hit, and I graze his arm and cheek. He rolls under a table, and I follow after him, kicking it away from him, then raising my blade high, slamming it down and piercing him in his gut. He howls out in pain, but he's not rolling anymore. So I connect my boot to his head, multiple times until he goes limp. "***** move." I mutter, before heading to the door of the cabin to follow after Jesse.


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse is keeping an eye on Roderic out of the corner of his eye. He’s seen the guy a couple of times in combat, but it had been nothing like this. Most of the targets they acquire for Tytonidae are single targets, and they don’t put up much of a fight. The most work they have to do consists of finding them, and navigating through mazes of traps to get to them. None of that is combat, and Jesse is somewhat curious about how Roderic will fare. In one fluid movement he’s on his feet again, sword and gun back in his hand. He’d had to sheath them in order to do the kicking, and as much as he’d like to beat these bastards bare-handed, it’s not entirely practical. Soon, Jesse finds Roderic by his side. It’s definitely better that way. He turns his back to Roderic’s back so that the two of them, together, can have a full view of the room. The blade twirls in his grasp. “What do you think, man? Think this is a challenge thrown at us by the almighty two?” he asks, without a hint of bitterness or disrespect. He sounds, for all intents and purposes, like he’s having fun. Even while he talks, he’s parrying the attack of another hunter, blade plunging into his shoulder to send him stumbling backward, making room for yet another to step into his place.


<Roderic> There's a back to mine and I crane my neck around to see that it's Jesse at my back. He asks me a question, and I give it a brief thought. It's possible. But I don't dwell on it. "If it is, we should do our best to not let them down." I say as two things happen. One, a chick with a blade comes charging at us, which probably isn't the smartest move, or is it? Because at the same time something long and metal comes rolling in our direction from someone at the door. The hunters seem to know what it is, and haul *** to get away from it. A loud bang errupts inside of the cabin, followed by a flash of light, temporaroly blinding me, as I was staring at the ******* thing, wondering what it was. I shake my head, as my vampire senses are heightened to what seems a thousand fold, hearing nothing, then everything in the room. Feet stomping, beads of sweat splatting on the wood floor, a guy screaming out orders. Both hands go to my ears as I try and block the sounds out, or at least muffle them.


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse has no idea what the **** the hunters are up to – but they seem to have their **** together. The one time he’d been surrounded by the bastards was once down in the sewers, but that was because he’d stumbled in on some impromptu meeting of theirs. They hadn’t the time to get organised, and he’d kind of had the upper hand, to begin with, which had allowed him some leeway near the end. This time? It’s the hunters who have the element of surprise, and the sudden noise and flash of light has Jesse cringing and slinking backwards, away from whatever the machine is as if getting as far away from it as possible will help with the fallout. Stars dance in his eyes and the whole room seems far too bright – like it has been inundated with sunlight, and Jesse – who has not seen sunlight for years – cannot deal. First thing’s first, whoever is controlling that machine has to be taken out. Without his senses to keep him company, Jesse does the first thing that comes to mind – he lifts his gun, and pulls the trigger. Over and over, sending bullets flying in the direction of the machine and all the moving bodies around it, still trying to keep Roderic at his back but hoping to hit a few of the fuckers in the mean time. There’s no aim or logic – he just fires with the hope of hitting something, anything, the sound of the gun exploding through the ringing in his ears but he keeps going anyway.


<Roderic> I'm disorientated. I've never been this out of it before. Everything is so bright and loud. I'm out of my element, in a big way. So big, I don't even react as I feel a sword get thrust into my left shoulder blade, not far from where my heart is. It's a good thing we don't need that, but it's one hell of a hit, had the assailant managed to strike it. The seering pain jolts me into action as I grunt and kick at whoever it was that stabbed me. I can't make anything out on them, besides the dark colors they're wearing, but I kick and use my weight to send them back and off me, slightly shoving Jesse forward. I grab the blade that's in my shoulder as I've bought myself some time and try to yank it out. Only, I can't. It's lodged in there good. So I leave it for now, as I give my head another shake, lift my sword and start swinging. If they want to think that they can take me down because I can't see, well, they'd have a hell of a time with a sword that's going in a somewhat kamakazi fashion at them.


<Jesse Fforde> For quite a while there, Jesse thinks they’re done for. This group of hunters – he doesn’t know how many there are, but they outnumber Roderic and Jesse at least five to one. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to send Renee and Reanna out the door – maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to kick Blake out of their group the night before. Maybe, in a bid to get the job done, they shouldn’t have sat around talking strategy for so long. But here they are, and there’s no changing the past. Preferring not to die – because to do so would leave Reanna and Renee open to danger were they to come back to the cabin – Jesse fights with everything that he has. Well, not everything – as tempting as it may be, he does not tap into his powers; nothing that’ll give anything away to the hunters. Just because they might have some kind of information doesn’t mean they can’t be wrong, and giving them more fodder to work with is no way out of this situation. So when Jesse stands, chest heaving as he sucks in breath that he does not need, blood seeping from wounds in his shoulder, his chest, a few missing fingers, and a gaping hole in his leg, he’s surprised that he’s even still there at all. His body is riddled with pain, but he ignores it. There are corpses all over the cabin, but there’s no more gunfire. No more slashing swords. There’s a twitch in a corner and Jesse strides over to stick his blade through the still-living hunter’s eye, snarling all the while. He’d been aware of Roderic behind him and around him – he now turns to find the guy, and to fully assess the damage.


<Roderic> I really don't know how we're going to manage this turn of events. I just keep swinging, even though I'm sore and my strength isn't what it normally is. Not with the small knife in my shoulder. But I keep on swinging, hitting whatever I can, though I'm still partially blinded from the grenade that was launched our way. I hit people. I hit objects that I know I'm going to have to replace at some point, but chalk it up as a necessary evil to get the job done and to keep us alive. When my senses start to return to normal, or as normal as can be for a vampire, I see carnage and ruin everywhere. Missing limbs, holes gaping in bodies of mush and broken items I'm not even sure I recognize what they once were. As for me, I've that knife in my shoulder, a few gashes, and a couple holes in my gut. Good thing we don't have to go anywhere public tonight. Explaining why wisps of inky darkness is coming from you isn't something I'd even attempt. I grunt, move off Jesse's back and sheath my sword. "Challenge accepted, met and demolished. How do you think the girls are managing?" I'm not sure how much time has passed, but it seems it's been a while. It makes me uncomfortable that my team and faction members are not back yet.

[Jesse Fforde]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Jesse Fforde> Jesse grunts. He checks out the windows and the door; it’s all silent and quiet outside. As soon as he is certain there’s no other danger coming their way, he flops down onto the couch. He has no idea how, but the entire time they’d been swinging their swords and shooting their guns, rolling around and generally getting their asses kicked before kicking some *** of their own, the Salamander has managed to stay gripped to his shoulder. But then, it’s no ordinary Salamander, is it? Roderic mentions the girls and Jesse reaches deep into his pocket for his phone; there are no messages. He frowns down at it before tucking the phone away again. “They’ll be fine,” he says, choosing to have faith in the two women. It can’t be too long before sunrise, and they need to get this job done. Jesse turns a sharp gaze to Roderic. “In case they don’t come back with enough – or with anything – I have an idea,” he starts. He doesn’t look at the Salamander, though he knows that it’s there. He can feel the slimy little heartbeat against his skin. “I’m not sure whether it’s going to work – there could be fire involved. I suggest we go outside. Grab one of those vials,” he says, before reaching down with another grunt to collect a discarded dagger from the floor. He stands, and begins to make his way toward the fresh air. The last thing he wants to do is inadvertently burn the cabin down, even if the place is now already a little worse for wear.


<Roderic> I haven't worked with a team a lot. Not outside this and a few other Tytonidae events and tasks. So if Jesse believes they'll be fine, I'll believe it too. He would know best. He knows Reanna, and Renee and what they're capable of. He's worked in group settings for a while, it seems. I just nod at his words, letting him know I agree with his statement, then move to get the vile as he told me to. Fire and a vile? I can't see how the two might relate, but again, I'm young in terms of vampire experiences. I head out of the cabin, following after him, and look around the outside of it. Just listening. Waiting. Expecting something more, only nothing more happens. No other surprise attacks, not even the sound of wild life. It appears we're alone to carry on with the task at hand.


<Jesse Fforde> Like every other lizard-type animal, Jesse knows that this Salamander would be able to grow its tail back. Even if it weren’t able to, it probably would – Jesse has seen the small animal do things that other fire Salamanders would not be able to do. He’d done his research, as soon as the thing had shown up – as soon as it wouldn’t go away. Online, he’d found images matching those of his Salamander – affectionately called Mandy. Commonly known as the Fire Salamander, because they liked to crawl in amongst the warmth of the logs of house fires, and generally scare the **** out of people when accidentally set on fire, hissing and spluttering and probably dying. But this one wouldn’t. This one is the epitome of fire. The manifestation of the old myth. A Salamander, who IS fire. Jesse finds a clearing and does a circle, checking for hunters. There’s no one around. He doesn’t say his plan out loud – he’s quite certain Mandy isn’t going to agree, and he doesn’t want to give the creature any reason to run off. Jesse stops. “Get ready to catch,” he says, as soon as Roderic is close enough. His body tenses – and then he reaches up to his shoulder and grabs the Salamander – the lizard is slick in his grasp, but Jesse moves quickly. With the dagger, he slices away the Salamander’s tail. There’s an almighty screech, a sound that no lizard could make; Jesse manages to toss the small tail over to Roderic and gasp the words “Get away!” before he’s doused in fire – as if his skin were covered in gasoline and someone had brought a spark too close. There’s a whoosh! and Jesse shouts, immediately dropping to the ground to try and roll the flames away.

[Dice Roll: Does Jesse get a sample from Mandy? Result: Succeeded.

<Roderic> Catch what? My attention is on Jesse completely, but I don't ask that question. I just nod my head and wait for an object to be tossed my way. He makes a quick motion with his hand and a lizard he seemed to pull from no where, though I must have missed it, because people just don't pull things out of thin air. It makes a loud noise, so loud, I'm wondering if it's going to draw attention to us and our location, but again, my question goes unanswered and even forgotten about as a tail is whipped my way and Jesse shouts at me. I take the tail and hold it like it's something precious, because it obviously is for the guy to cut it off his Salamander. I inch back and then take a large leap back as he's lit on fire. What the **** was going on? Another ambush? I'm sure I would have heard intruders approaching, so I know its not that possibility. I don't say anything. I just head back inside the cabin in a run, grab the gift Sky gave me; the all purpose weathered camoflauge blanket, run back out and toss it on Jesse in an attempt to help him smoother the flames. I will let him roll for a few seconds before I assist him, if need be, the tail still in my right hand, tight and secure.


<Jesse Fforde> Mandy disappears. It’s almost as if the creature were fire itself, and is now the flames crawling over Jesse’s skin. Although Jesse had before questioned the creature’s existence, and had ascertained, with the help of others, that it was in fact a Fae that seemed to like him and want to stick around, it had never given him any answers. Whatever he might ask about the Fae, the creature would never respond. In fact, in never spoke much at all, except for one-word hisses that Jesse wasn’t sure anyone else could hear. It was just… there. Never causing any harm except to others who might seek to harm Jesse. Protecting Jesse, in a way, and so he was confident that it meant him no harm. Maybe he should be a bit more sentimental about the creature; maybe he shouldn’t have tried to cut its tail off. But it’s done, now. Maybe it won’t ever come back. Maybe it will forgive Jesse. Fae are supposed to be fickle, aren’t they? Maybe there’ll be no grudge. Jesse doesn’t want to think about any of that, now – searing agony engulfs him as his skin crisps and his clothes flake, but the fire doesn’t last long. With the rolling, and Roderic’s assistance, it’s soon out, with nothing left but the lingering scent of burnt clothes and flesh. Jesse has no time to explain, before he can hear Renee’s shriek – the girls have returned, and it doesn’t sound good. He grunts, and moves to stand, to stumble in the direction of the shouting. He has no care for himself – he needs only to make sure the others are okay.


<Roderic> Charred flesh has a distinct smell to it. It's strong, bitter, and gags you. I cough at the smell of Jesse's burnt skin, only because it's the first time I've smelled that since being a vampire and it's a million times worse than I remember. "I can give you some blood." I offer. Between his injuries from the hunters and now this, he's got to be in tough shape. I offer before I hear one of the women screaming. What about, I don't know, but I never thought either one of them to be the screaming kind. Unless a situation is that bad and that's the only warranted reaction. "Hold on that thought." It wasn't like I didn't want to help Jesse, but it might be smart to wait and see just how bad the other two fared. "Come on." I head off to their direction, tail being put in the vial, the cap being secured and stuffed in my pant pocket as we head out to see what we're going to be dealing with.


<Jesse Fforde> What they discover, when they get there, is a conscious Renee and an unconscious Reanna. If Jesse could smell anything beyond his own burnt flesh, he’d be able to smell Reanna’s blood – there’s a gaping hole in her chest where no gaping hole should be. Jesse swears under his breath and collapses down beside the woman; her body is still there, so she’s not dead at least. She’s just unconscious – which is exactly what Jesse wants to be. He glances up – the sun’s going to make an appearance, and soon. They must have been preoccupied with the hunters longer than he had bargained for, and in the end, their collective state isn’t as bad as it should be. Not really. He’s almost proud of how they’ve survived. “We need to get inside,” he says. But then he thinks better of it. What if the hunters come looking for their friends and find a bunch of corpses and sleeping vampires at the same time? He shakes his head. “The Eyrie. Tomes – do you all have one?” he asks. He doesn’t ask about the samples just yet. Their collective safety is more important to him, in that moment, than the samples they might have collected.


<Roderic> I don't ask what happened. I know what happened. Not precise details, but I know. The fae are a rotten son-of-a ***** and when they strike, they strike fast and hard. I wanted to see their demise on a lot of levels. Out of any race of beings, the fae were the ones to get rid of first and foremost if we have the chance. They seem almost invincible. Jesse says we need to get inside, and I nod in agreement. With the sun coming up, and the fact that we're almost all injured to a severe degree, it makes sense. When he mentions the Eyrie and a tome, I shake my head. "I've got a place. In the flats." I suggest, before bending down to hoist Reanna up. She's dead weight, but I wasn't going to leave the task to Jesse because he's injured and burned, and I wasn't sure if Renee could pull it off. If she could have, I'm sure she would have already. I struggle, as she is dead weight and I'm also nursing a deep wound to my shoulder. "I can summon anyone there, if need be."


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse stands and offers his shoulder for Reanna's dead weight. He pulls his tome from one of his pockets - amazed it's still there, if only just. The pocket itself is severely damaged and his clothes are having trouble staying on. Bits of burnt material flake away, though at least the leather belt of his jeans is staying in place. He holds out the same hand for the vial that Roderic had placed the tail inside of. "I can get Reanna back to the Eyrie. Renee - you should go back to Larch. Ric, to your flat. We can meet up tomorrow night, early. We'll get whatever samples we have to Micah and Velveteen," he says, already preparing to read the incantation from the tome - to get the **** out of there before the sun comes up and incinerates him some more.


<Roderic> I'm hesitant to leave Reanna with Jesse. They're both injured the worst out of all of us here. What if something happened on the way to the Eyrie to one or both of them? I don't know how a tome works, precisely, but what if something did happen? I hand over the vial first; willing to give that up before I give her over to him. A vial is easier to transport and will be on him. "You sure?" I ask him, as I slowly let my hold on her go, testing his strength. When he has her, I step back and look at Renee. "You did good." I assure her, even if I don't know if she had a sample or not. I don't wait, as I've got a ways to run and a river to cross before the sun rises and I'm not sure I'll make it there. If push comes to shove, I'll head to the nearest sewer and crash there. At least I'd be safe from the sun. I take off, in a hobble run, even though I'm hesitant. I don't believe for a second anyone would betray their faction mate.

[Jesse Fforde]

Confident that Renee has heard, and will get home to Larch Court safe – Jesse makes sure to give her a once over to ascertain that she is fine – he takes Reanna’s weight and, only after both Roderic and Renee have disappeared, does he begin the chant that’ll take both he and Reanna back to the Eyrie. For a few blissful seconds he can feel nothing. There’s no pain, no blistering burn of heat upon his skin. How could he ever have wanted to throw himself into a fire? Did he not remember how ******* infuriatingly agonising a burn can be?

With a gasp and a grunt he collapses on the wooden floor of the Eyrie, in the hall where the tome inevitably drops them. He narrows his eyes toward the portal at the other end – the one that would take them to the elevator. The elevator that would take them up, back to their huts or wherever else. But he just doesn’t have the strength nor the energy, to move both his very injured and crispified body as well as Reanna’s dead weight. And so he settles them both on the floor, gently leaning Reanna up against the wall so that, inevitably, her head is laying upon his shoulder.

By some miracle, he still has his phone in his pocket. The corners of the phone’s case are a bit seared and blackened, and the view is a bit wonky, but otherwise the heat of the fire hasn’t harmed the device as much as it could. The fire had only lasted a couple of seconds before Jesse had put it out. With a wheeze of a sigh and using only one hand – given that the other is missing three fingers, he snorts a laugh and sends Micah and Velveteen the same text:

”group 2 signing in. r and i at eyrie. at least 1 sample in hand will ask r when she wakes about others.”

The text is severely lacking in his usual worded grace, but it’s the best he can manage with his one hand. He nudges at Reanna with his elbow, leaning over her to see if she will wake up. Sure, he could be a bit more coddling, but she’ll heal, and she’s not dead. He groans as he leans forward, chin falling against his chest – he lays one hand on Reanna’s thigh – not to be suss. But just to fill her up on a few pints of blood. She should wake up, even if just for a couple of minutes. Curiosity has the better of Jesse.

Either way, fail or succeed, they’re back. And they tried.

[Reanna]

For a while, she felt nothing.

There was no pain, no doubt, no heartache. In that blissful moment in time, she was free.

It didn't last.

When she felt her body become jostled, a hiss of pained air left her lips. Her eyes fluttered, lashes lifting just enough to ascertain her position. First, all she saw was a burnt shirt. Slowly lifting her head as far as she could, she found the body attached. Jesse. He was alive. The relief she felt about that was shocking, and her head fell back against his shoulder. She could hardly keep herself awake. The pain was too intense. Where he was burned, she was impaled. The gaping hole in her chest still bled freely, and didn't have enough magic inside of her to heal it. All of her energy, all of her strength - it was gone.

She was useless.

Her fingers twitched, touching the blood soaked shirt that stuck to her like a second skin. God, there was so much blood. She could taste it, smell it, feel it. It was everywhere. The agonizing pain would have brought her to her knees, had she not already been on her ***. Knowing she had to finish, knowing they were all depending on her, the Russian reached inside of her jacket pocket to pull out the pack she'd been carrying around. Inside were the two samples, which fell carelessly into her lap as she lost the use of her fingers. Groaning weakly, she noticed the edges of her vision begin to dim again. She didn't have enough time. She could only hope that Jesse had told them where to find them. They had completed their mission, they had gone against all odds and managed to finish.

Three samples.
The hunters dead without a problem.
They had succeeded.
It was all she needed as darkness fell down on her once again.

"Micah...."

--- END OF TEAM TWO.---