[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BjtZNtv.png[/img][/center]
[color=ed1c24]Location[/color]: Underground complex, Lab area, Stritzel's Estate, Western Kindeance.
[hr]

At the sibilant whisper of Widernia's words in her ears, Veronica had to admit, the suggestions was not one she hadn't considered. She could have moved much faster were she not burdened like this. Even so... was it really so much trouble to save a life if she had the ability? What was a bit of temporary pain in the face of an immortal soul? [color=ed1c24]"His fate will be the same as ours,"[/color] she bit out equally quietly, resisting the urge to grind her teeth as the persistent smell of still fresh blood wafting around her. Now that they were out of the immediate lab area, the powerful scent of chemicals and smoke wasn't fully concealing it as greatly, and her thirst all but [i]swooned[/i] at the temptation. [color=ed1c24]"But [i]please[/i], do continue to tempt me to relinquish my oath. I don't such things lightly, but they are by no means ironclad in the face of [i]necessity[/i]."[/color] The redheaded mage's words were certainly doing her no favors, but despite the vampire's thinly veiled threat, a [i]deal was a deal[/i]. She would keep Widernia alive by hook or crook and ensure she faced the justice of the land for her crimes.

And then Cedar's bellowed words echoed off the tunnel walls and reached her ears, accompanied by the distant comprehension of the words of the rest of the team, causing Veronica to skid to a stop, eyes wide, before her expression swiftly transformed into an ugly thing of fury. After all this effort, [i]again[/i], those [i]motherfucking bears[/i] were going to do something completely-! [i]And Varya was [b]helping[/b] him-![/i]

[color=ed1c24]"[i]Damnation[/i]!"[/color]

Her oath to Widernia warred with her priorities, both personal and that of the mission, as she released the unconscious guard to let him slump bodily to the floor in the middle of the hallway. The impulse to drop Widernia as well was far from small, but her promise stayed her hand. In the absolute worst case, having Widernia on-hand would be better than not.

Turning on her heel, she sprinted back the way she'd come. The dull ache of her legs was less irritating than the slight uptick of her hunger, as even more of her precious blood reserves went into repairing the micro-fractures. The urge to use her strength explosively to cover the return distance was not small either, but again, she resisted, wary of not having the option at a more critical moment, to say nothing of her hunger rising further. Instead, teeth clenched tightly, she ran back as fast as she could while burdened, hoping she wasn't about to be too late to avert something truly catastrophic. Yet, even as the entrance of the barracks swept back into sight, she could already hear the crash of what must have been Bartholmew hitting the floor, hear his warning that Cedar was free to throw his life away.

[color=ed1c24][i]And we were so close too![/i][/color]