Yumi looked up, noticing tears starting to fall from her sudden anxiety attack. Yumi shook as she stood up, still looking afraid.
“A hug would be nice… I’m just… I’m not used to people getting harmed around me… it’s mostly me who gets hurt… “
He pulled the upset Yumi into the hug "Well I'm the one that takes this stuff so my friends don't have to as much…it's just what I do." he assured her "Deep breaths…it's alright I'm gonna be sticking around for at least a least a couple of more years…I'm only joking. Dare and I are pretty tough cookies and she's gonna get home and you're gonna get to move into your new home…I promise you this."
“Yeah, it’s all gonna be okay. Everything will turn out exactly as it should, I promise,” Dare said carefully, lightly patting Yumi on the back. “And don’t be scared if we get hurt. We’re all going to work together to make sure everyone ends up back where they belong. Okay?” She gave a kind little smile, quite satisfied with the way she had danced around the truth. Only a little bit more of that and she would be home.
"Yep Dare is right." he mouthed a 'thank you' to her for offering Yumi some encouragement. "Now you guys have been up for a long while…go get some sleep and I'll take the first watch." he offered with a smile as he sticks close to the fire after letting Yumi go
Ace took another step forward toward Alice "Then let us see your skills then warrior of Palore." she challenged
"I wouldn't want Madam Alice to tire over such an unworthy opponent such as your self. It would be a real shame." Ember interrupted, aiming another arrow at Ace this time. It was a hint of it'd be best to get back to Alice
Erika smirked. "I wouldn't want to disappoint, now would I? If it's a duel you want, it's a duel you'll get." Erika gripped her bat, twirling it a few times before looking back up. Skimming her eyes over Ace, she started to have regrets.
What did I get myself into?
"Oh my fuckin' god she has a deathwish." Ember muttered, but stepped back and made a 'Go ahead' motion
Ace smiled and leveled her spear to Erika "I'm excited to see what fighting style I have the pleasure of fighting against."
(As much as I want Erika to win and do cool stuff, you have my permission to kill/punish her if you deem it so–I saw a silly opportunity and I took it!)
"As am I, Ms. Ace." Externally, Erika looked fine. Internally, however, Erika was freaking out. How could she have been so dumb? She can pretend to play the part, not actually play the part!
I'm going to just have to do this.
Readying her bat, Erika knew she had to be reactive–she had barely any chance of succeeding if Ace didn't attack first, else her cover would most likely be blown.
Ace rushed forward with a sideways sweep of her spear with a little grin, aiming for the neck of the girl, but the strike lowered to her collar bone area
Erika sucked in a breath, gritting her teeth before swinging her bat to the side of Ace's head. How desperately she wanted to crumble, but she knew that if she were to surrender, instant death would follow. Ace didn't look like the type of person to show mercy. Neither would she–her life was on the line.
Ember still held her bow in her hands, ready in case it went south, which she knew it would. Ace stumbled back a bit before spitting some ink-blood up and jabbing at Erika's torso, leaving little lacerations as if jus teasing
Erika let out a high-pitched shriek, clutching her wounds with her left hand. She let out a primal yell and swung her metallic bat recklessly, stumbling to barely stay on her feet.
(well yes Erika would very much die but…Ember is there)
Ace dodged the swing with ease and swung the handle of her spear at Erika's temple then kicked her square in the stomach
Coughing up blood, Erika stands with difficulty, using her bat as a crutch. Her eyes flickered with rage, even as weak as she was. She walks to Ace.
"Fine. You win, I lose. I'll die, oh well. If you expect me to surrender," Erika spit blood at Ace as her voice lacked the confidence she previously had, "You're right. I'm no warrior. I'm not anyone–I'm but a girl who pretends to be people I'm not. And," Erika smirks, "I won't give you the satisfaction of killing me. Isn't it your master who does the 'hunting'? I doubt you could assemble this all by yourself."
Ace's face twisted into a smile as she "Oh…how disappointing…I'm glad that there is other…more challenging prey around." Ace grabbed Erika's shirt collar and flung her a couple of yards to her left, vine like strugctures starting to wrap around her body "Stay there and I'll finish you off, for master said anyone I found is mine to hunt." Then she turns to Ember who keeps a calm expression "Oh you already know I'm the fucking real deal." Ember threatened the shadow.
johnny was tired running through the woods. he eventually stopped, and saw this battle between a person he never saw and another one of the shadows. I….need to… johnny fell to the ground. he was careful not to make any noise. he passes out in exhaustion. his location was well hidden, by a hollow bush and thick grass.
Ace rushed Ember rushed upon Ember, stabbing at her not in a teasing manner like for Erika but quickly and with much force put behind it, for she was going for the kill knowing that Ember was an actual threat. Ember sidestepped the stab and grabbed Ace's arm, striking upward into her elbow, an audible crack heard. She Pulled out of Ember's grasp and gave Ember a quick slash across her torso, causing her to cry out and flames to spark across her palms.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Erika shrieks, tugging at the vines that held her. God, why was I so stupid? I should've just backed off… why am I even here if I can't do anything? Coming up with a plan, Erika got a grip of her bat, which was just a foot away from her.
"Hey! Ace-b—! Lay off my friend!" Erika was making an attempt to pry the vines loose with her bat. She might surrender easily, but it was an entirely different story if other people–whether ally or friend–were involved.
Ace gave Ember a crack across the face and turned to Erika with a grin and Ember stumbles back, slinging her bow from her shoulder and notching an arrow. "Erika just sh-" Ember was interrupted by Ace "And why should I even consider that?"
"Yep Dare is right." he mouthed a 'thank you' to her for offering Yumi some encouragement. "Now you guys have been up for a long while…go get some sleep and I'll take the first watch." he offered with a smile as he sticks close to the fire after letting Yumi go
(Oh my god I’m so sorry I’ve been working hard and trying to be a better person while also dealing with extreme self doubts.)
“I don’t need sleep, I usually sleep four a couple hours and I’m good. Since I’m always up building stuff and training my body…” Yumi said, her face seemed normal and woken up. Yumi looked at the fire, all the fear left her body, she walked up to the fire and sat near it, close enough to warm herself up. “I’ll try to sleep, and I’ll take a round. I guess the other one when someone else watches I’ll try making something to help us out.”
"Because I'm an easy kill. Because Ember shouldn't have to protect someone who's naïve and ignorant, who can't provide anything for the betterment of herself or the person. Because stubborn, selfless people like me actually care for other people–do you even care about yourself? Or even your 'master'?" Erika broke through a few of the vines. "Because," she grunted, tugging, "I'm not you, and even I know that you're being used by your master, like a toy. Like a puppet."
"Why you little bit-" her sentence is cut off by and arrow to the back of her head. The arrow gave a tiny little beep and Ace's head suddenly had a pretty good chunk missing from a controlled explosion. Ember growled to the body on the ground "Don't you ever dare touch her again." She let out a cough and the wound on her side stopped bleeding crimson blood but started to leak the ink like blood Ace bleed "Oh that's not good."
(It's alright @Mood-Swings-Xcnx4 hope your feeling better about yourself cause you rock^^)
"Well…maybe you should take first watch them…I'm kinda beat." Tempest yawned "I trust you Yumi." he muttered as he put his bag by the fire and used it as a pillow
"I-" Erika was about to object, saying that she could've handled it, but…she would be very wrong. "Thanks," she said, grimly. "You didn't have to do that, you know. What's wrong?" Erika could very obviously see that something was wrong, but she didn't know what that meant in this–was it a world?–place.
( @Mood-Swings-Xcnx4 you’re awesome friend! You got this my dude :) )
“Definitely. You can take first watch,” Dare said, faking a yawn. She leaned up against one of the fire-warmed stones and took off her sweatshirt to use as a blanket, hiding the gun under the folds in the fabric. If she was able to distract Yumi or lure her off, this might be the time to act.
Yumi smiled a bit, her body shaking some what. “I-I can do that…”
Yumi’s expression changed instantly as she pulled her materials out and started to build something, her sketchbook beside her, a new katana add on for her mech, maybe having some ice like particles to complement her fire like katana. She started steadily building the base of it, at first it was wonky but it started to look like a katana, just not that strong. Yumi looked extremely focused, her eyes locked onto her project and sketch, making sure it was as clean as possible.
"Yeah don't even try to bullshit me." Ember growled a bit as she lifted her hoodie and tank top a small amount to reveal the claw mark that Ace had left. "I gotta wash this out…come on." she told Erika as she pulled it back down.
Tempest assured Yumi that she would do fine as he then slips to sleep, still in his human form.