[i]'I can smell it!'[/i] Rasha is in a tizzy. All wee he's been racing about, morning noon and night, trying to track down a faint scent that seems to keep disappearing on him. It's faint, and somehow feels not exactly negative, but it's definitely unusual and out of place. It took him days to realize that it always disappeared from one of two general areas, and now that he's caught the scent again he doesn't even bother to follow it. Instead he races to the area it normally vanishes and tucks himself up into a corner to watch over the hallway leading out on to the plains behind the palace. His little whiskers twitch and tremble every so often, but other than that, every part of his body is completely still.

[i]'If I can just find out who or what this is, I'll be able to figure out if it's a waste of my time to chase down or not. If I can get a good look, maybe I can confirm whether or not I'm on the right track and if so, where to go from here. . . .'[/i] His thought still as a figure comes into view. It's wearing a thick cloak with the hood pulled up, but the little troublemaker's nose is sharp. The disguise can't hide the smell of disinfectant, gauze, alcohol, not to mention blood and other bodily fluids. He stares hard at the figure, trying to distinguish anything that would give it away, but other than having what looks to be a really wide head he can't see anything of the underlaying figure. [i]'Shorter than me, that's for sure, but I can't even tell if they're fat or thin. . . .'[/i]

Suppressing a sigh he watches it vanish from view, counts to five, then leaps the fifteen feet to the floor, landing softly in his slick shoes, his feline body transforming half way down. The being is gone. Out the back door and through a portal. He felt it, but he could not risk following. Little dream that he is, he wouldn't last a minute riding the coat tails of a much more powerful being. Taking one last, long whiff he rotates his head this way and that, bitting his lip. “Female. . .Minion. . . .” he murmurs softly, looking towards his guardian's room. He knows Lord Enasi will want to know, has been itching, to know [b]anything[/b], for day now. “But, Harper said. . .And Crios, he'd. . .Crios!” Transforming he races through the halls. If he can just get Crios out of their lord's room, he can talk to the doctor about smelling what's obviously someone in his department vanishing off into the human realm on a daily basis.

[i]'If I can do that, maybe he and I can discuss what to tell Lord Enasi, and. . . .And. . . .'[/i] His thought trail off as he approaches the door. The lord is up, and he's approaching the door. He can feel it. And Inui's with him. [i]'Oh, no, I wasn't fast enough! Lord Enasi's doing something reckless, I have to do something! I have to stop him, he needs to stay put! Crios would not approve, is he in there? Maybe he and I can. . . .'[/i] Skidding to a halt outside the room, his shoes squeaking on the tile underfoot, he takes a few breaths before throwing the door open and throwing his arms around his lord.

~*~*~*~*~

The battle rages back and forth across the park grounds, neither side able to get the upper hand, and Rue begins to notice that the dust and tossing leaves are beginning to cloud the area. [i]'Oh no! If they can't see, or I can't see in, someone might escape!'[/i] Fretting, he darts back and forth, his hands held up in front of his lips. He only stops when he notices the dust his wings blowing away, keeping the area directly around him clear. Without thinking he begins circling the battlefield. Moving faster and faster the wind around the combatants begins to shift and more, throwing the nightmare minions off kilter, while the dream minions – who are far more used to Rue's presence and the effects of his buzzing – begin to take the upper hand. He can see Harper giving him the thumbs up with one of his furry humanimal paws.

Nodding to himself he watches as Kaila is the first to really recover, but before anyone else can get used to the buzzing and the wind Rue breaks the sound barrier and there is a resounding boom. The sound echoes off the buildings and all around the area human voices can be heard. Rue breaks to a stop, his eyes wide in terror. The dream minions and Kaila's team take down the opposing nightmare minions swiftly, the vines unaffected by the sound and providing Kaila and Harper the opening they needed to deliver blows hard enough to knock out those still standing. The two pause after taking down the last of them - Kaila taking a tight hold of his brother who looks ready to eat the fallen after spotting a cut on Kaila's brow – and together they assess the situation.

Finn lay cradles in his sister's arms, wounded but clearly still breathing. Lan and Ran look rather battered and bruised, and other than looking furious and covered in others' blood, Jentou looks completely unharmed. Rue of course is completely alright, but Harper follows his gaze and nearly jumps out of his fur as he sees humans approaching from all angles. Looking at the fallen minions he barks out orders quickly. “Lan, Ran, Kaila, grab those three over there, I'll take these two. Rue, you stay on Starla and help her as needed. We need to get away from here. Kaila, lead the way!” He looks to his counterpart, almost expecting him – or his brother at least – to object to having orders barked at his equal. Instead they simply nod and Jentou even helps hoist the indicated minion on to his brother's shoulder.

The people don't seem to be able to see them clearly yet, most looking around confusedly and looking past those gathered, but a few definitely are locking on to at least vague shapes and Harper makes haste to Starla's side. He takes only a few moments to whisper softly to her. “We need to go now Starla. I know you're strong. You can do this. Pick him up, it's time to go.” She looks up at her general, tears shimmering unfallen in her eyes, and with a faint nod she finds her strength. Rue hovers next to her, hoisting Finn up as she stands to make it easier on her before drifting around behind her to be at the ready should she stumble or if Finn wakes and sends he tumbling toward the ground.