[hider=Race against Time][b]Bunanigans[/b] [img]http://i.imgur.com/wv6nkSY.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/T07Xw1w.png[/img] Hawthorne Manor "Go, everyone!" Feet pounded across the sodden, muddy ground as Moira charged after Don. She felt as though she was hurting right through to her bones, although something like that wasn't going to stop her. Nor was how cold her shoulder and the adjoining arm now felt, dispite the warm weight of her partner lying on it. Speaking of, he desperately tried to push himself up a little to minimise the pain. It was one thing to ignore her own injuries, it was another to ignore his too! Especially when his shirt and trousers were ripped up to such a degree that he could feel her metal armour digging into bruised and cut bare skin in places. However, dispite Estelle's words, he was still physically very weak. His struggling didn't get him anywhere. So all he could do from his position is look back just before they reentered the manor. To the girl they all had followed dispite her wishes to get here. Could they actually do this? With how the night had gone so far, he wouldn't be suprised if they came across yet another setback up there. It was one of those nights. Nonetheless they had to do their best, as little as it may be at this point in time. This was their chance, and Estelle had put her faith in them. It was now or never. And in their state... staying here would hinder Estelle rather than help. Just... just stay safe. Moira nearly lost her footing as she stepped - or rather stomped into the manor itself, her wet, muddy boots sliding across the highly polished floor. She managed to just about save herself though, wasting no time in continueing her brisk, sort of half-run. She couldn't really handle anything more than that, no matter how much she tried to push herself. She didn't really have any clue where her destination was either, so she just continued to follow Don. Wait. Was that really a good idea? Syed was thinking along the same lines, his eyes unsteadily fixing on the signs wherever he saw them. They had no time to take any wrong turns after all. He felt he had to do something to help, although since Selan was with Don there probably wasn't any need for him to do so. Moira sucked the air through her teeth, grumbling something which was pretty much incomprehensible. How many stairs were there?! Stairs should be illegal... this many of them, anyway. Her pace slowed, and she started coughing and stumbling as she went. Nope. Nope she had it, she was fine. She was fine. Carry on. Keep going. She was Moira fuckin' Dennis! She was the juggernaut, bitch! Her nostrils flared as she lowered her head and kept on pushing, her pupils constricting even further than normal. Syed moaned in pain, his breath catching in his throat. He was still trying to absorb as much of her plodding gait as he could into his arms rather than his chest, with somewhat variable success. "Sorry..." he murmured quietly. She didn't reply, glowering up ahead. Fuck this day, night, whatever. Fuck this manor. Fuck the family. Fuck them all. They were gonna pay for messing with the Pride. --- [b]Taerinn[/b] [img]http://i.imgur.com/VQL4rMN.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/q5PjiIP.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/H5KaVNz.png[/img] The Pride burst through the manor doors, into the northwestern corridor. Don was doing most of the work by pulling Selan along, but she squeezed his hand to let him know whenever he made an incorrect turn. By the expression on his face, he was more determined and serious than usual, ignoring the numerous injuries on his body. They were all determined. The decisions leading up to this moment, they were intent on making it all count for something. Miraculously, through part effort and part pure luck, they had survived this far. They would defeat Lucifer, no matter what it took. Lisette stumbled along, supported by the much smaller Trixie. Lucifer had not succeeded in completely draining her of her stamina; even though it was difficult to keep up, she was already feeling much better than she did when Estelle first saved her. Like Trent, she would be fine soon enough. Kapi clung onto her shoulder, sniffing her constantly to make sure she was alright. Those who had keys clutched them in their hands. They were almost there! --- [b]Fox of Spades[/b] [img]http://i.imgur.com/9iZrspN.png[/img] Vandrell: Hawthorne Manor The dust settled and both Lisette and Estelle became visible through the haze. They were alright and he watched as the giant magical woman continued to pound away at Lucifer. She was amazing – no, they were all amazing. However, it didn’t last and soon the woman began to vanish. Was the beating she had given Lucifer enough? Lucien could only hope it was…they couldn’t handle much more of this and he was hitting his limits as well. Several thoughts swirled in his head, creating an incoherent mess. A part of him understood the gravity of the situation, but a part of him really wanted smoked ham, bird seeds and maybe even hay… He shook his head right and left, focusing instead on Estelle. Trixie ran over to tackle her into a hug and the reunion made him smile. “EVERYONE! I’M SORRY!!!” The summoner’s eyes widened at the scene. “You’re my friends, and I don’t… I can’t... I can't be without you! I can't!… We have a mission! And I can’t… I don’t want to complete it without all of you besides me!!” So this was what guilders were made of? Trust, strength, loyalty, teamwork… friendship. They just couldn’t fail… not now – not ever. Yes, they were going to work together and stop Abraxis. Lucien nodded in agreement at Estelle’s speech and clung to the words she spoke. He had chosen to follow her as well, and this time he decided to stop playing a coward and go through with his decisions. Lucifer laughed, but this time he didn’t feel like running away and saving his own skin. After Weir and the event in the mansion, he couldn’t just turn back. “I need you to stop the ritual! There’s not much time left! We need to use eight keys to close the gate or Abraxis is going to come through!! Go! Everyone! Please!” Lucien held onto his key tight and when Moira told them to go he wasted no time. As soon as he pushed himself into a sprint he felt a burning sensation spread across his side and broke into a hacking cough. He slowed down, wincing as he tried to keep a consistent jog. “I can’t believe we’re going to kill a demon lord,” he wheezed eventually breaking into another coughing fit. “I never really signed up for any of this,” he rambled, a broad Cheshire like smile spreading across his face. “I bet neither of you did either, yeah?” Despite his out of place rambling the determination in his eyes were clear. He’d follow this rag tag group even if it killed him. Hell, it would probably be the death of him, but for some reason Lucien couldn’t help but chuckle. --- [b]Rexcalibur[/b] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Na1JGZp.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/yO2NSRJ.png[/img] "Lissa? Lissa, you're okay, right?" Trixie hobbled along, assisting Lisette. Luckily for her the archer was fairly light-weighted; although it slowed the smaller down by quite a lot, movement wasn't at all impossible. After all, the duo was still ahead of Amy, who had stopped to hunch over the handrails midway through the second flight but fought to continue onwards regardless. Then again, Amy was the last to ascend. Hearing this, Trixie halted to allow Amy to catch up for a moment before the latter paused a second time. The prankster's feet continued to shift around, as if treading to keep herself moving. Waring down now was simply not an option. But Amy - her gasps were fraught with throaty coughs. "Amy? Ames? You okay? Please don't throw up. Umm, you can- I can get one of the other guys to help you. I'll get Mister or, or, what's his name- Lucy - I'll get them to come down and--" Don't. Amy's flick of the wrist said it all. Trixie sealed her lips shut in a frown, but gave the woman an affirmative nod as she handed over her key. Trixie then looked to Lisette - "You're still okay, right?" - and the duo continued onwards. With another cough, Amy followed suit as well, dragging her fingers along the handrails as she pressed on. Trixie's sneakers continued to squeak their way up the third flight of stairs, having been drenched from darting about the wet grasses outside. Her footing was stable enough to keep from slipping - which Lisette surely appreciated as well. Almost there, almost there, almost there.[/hider]