[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1G9aah6.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/ZaQGoxd.png[/img] [sub][@Surtr].[@FernStone][/sub][/center] [b][code]Courtbridge, Prince Ed-Field_[/code][/b][hr][hr] After a rather lengthy trip on Wendy's scooter, the two girls made it to the mall. Part of Wendy wished that she could abandon this lame scooter for a motorcycle - or an actual car, for that matter - but that was neither here nor there. She gestured for Rori to come along... the Orchestra mall was considered to be one of the most scenic and atmospheric places in all Baybridge... only for the Founding Family to ruin all of that. When Wendy stepped inside, she looked around for a moment, and frowned a little. There were so many closed stores, and other signs of general depression... it was just sad. She cleared her throat, when she glanced inside her satchel. Fortunately, she had a backup plan. She grabbed her camera, and then looked at Rori. "Well, Rori, before we get to work..." Wendy spun her camera around in her hands. "I have plenty of money on me... do you want to go shopping?" "Sure, sounds good to me," Rori smiled, glancing around the mall. It had been a long time since they'd been shopping anywhere like this in Baybridge - and things had certainly changed. "I actually need some art supplies, though I can pay for those... oh and there's some books that came out recently I was interested in! Really, I haven't gotten a chance to go out shopping in ages so this is great." With their main method of getting around being changing into a bird shopping was a bit difficult. "No, no, Rori, it's on [i]me[/i]," Wendy said as they walked to the store, side by side. It reminded Wendy of a simpler time... a better one. And she could trust Rori as well as she could trust Rowan, or Kumiko. "So, uh, there was something I wanted to talk to you about... and would you listen to my little problem?" "Okay, okay, if you insist," Rori shrugged - no point in arguing, and they weren't going to turn down the kind offer. They weren't exactly financially stable at the moment. "Sure, I can definitely do that - go ahead and talk away, I'm all ears." "It's... about Rowan," Wendy came to a stop as she turned towards Rori, and awkwardly shifted that camera of hers around in her hands. Feet were shuffling from left to right as she avoided eye contact with Rori as she looked away. "Ever since he helped me... I've been seeing him a little differently..." She was about to tell Rori how she really felt, but then she changed her mind. "... He... gave me so much, and I don't know how to repay him." "Oh, huh," Rori rubbed the back of their head as they thought about what Wendy had said. "You're both really close, right? I doubt he expects you to repay him." They smiled thoughtfully, tilting their head to look up at the ceiling before saying anymore. "How do you see Rowan differently?" "I..." Wendy held her tongue for a moment, before she finally decided to give it a chance. "... I like him. Ever since he helped me, I've been seeing him differently and all..." She closed her mouth, because she realized she was rambling a bit. "But, at the same time, I feel something that can't exist, something..." She trailed off. "Something?" Rori prompted her, before continuing to talk anyway (they [i]were[/i] the master of rambling). "I'm sure it's something that can exist. I don't know Rowan well, but I know you and, well, you're very likeable. Not that I have experience with this stuff." Yup, now Rori was definitely rambling too. Playing with the feathers at their wrists, and not quite meeting Wendy's gaze, they decided to just get to their point. "Have you tried talking to him? I guess that's a stupid question. I can understand not wanting to... but you should!" "I haven't... but, I don't want to ruin what we have..." Wendy said with complete sincerity. "I'm not sure if I'm the kind of person he... y'know, wants to be with. And... I never had a boyfriend before..." As Wendy's love - up until now - was books. Literature. "And I'm not sure how I would handle this...." Wendy answered, though, she looked around for a moment. But, her line of thought was broken when she saw a man staring directly at her. And it wasn't a regular stare, it was a stare of contempt. Like his eyes were going right through the bookworm. Wendy raised an eyebrow as the person turned away, and continued to browse. She found it weird, but then her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it. Rowan. The boy that was on her mind for awhile now. [b][code]Watch your back, someone tried to follow me.[/code][/b] Wendy quickly shot a look at the man - only to see that he was gone. Something wasn't right here. "Rori," Wendy started off, before she just showed the text to her. Quickly reading the text, Rori blinked before responding in a whisper. "Then we should leave... right? I'm sure we can sneak out. Well, you can at least." Rori was a bit more obvious. Though Wendy was more experienced in these things anyway. "It might be safer were there's more people..." Yeah, leaving was a good idea right now. Since if they were being tailed, they needed to regroup and figure out just [i]who[/i] is after them. Maybe someone after Sean Rosier's research? She quickly pulled out her phone, and typed a text - at first to Rowan, but she directed it towards her entire group. [b][code]Guys, there's something we need to discuss, head over to 4 Goldfield Rd, Silver Hills.[/code][/b] Wendy nodded her head, but then turned to Rori. "Don't worry," Wendy said as she grabbed Rori's wrist very lightly as she pulled her. "I can keep you safe, remember..." She raised a finger up into the air, and it turned into paper. Separating itself into several different sheets, before reforming. She lead her bird friend out the store... she hated that a nice day of catching up with an old friend of hers turned into a situation, but it was something they really needed to address soon as possible. Ignoring it would be a terrible decision. But... the very moment that Wendy stepped out, the mall was in anarchy. A wave of monsters had appeared out of nowhere. Horrific, and bloody, the monsters attacked all in sight. Wendy's heart raced, one of them, a monster with a horrifically malformed body and arm that looked more like a hammer. It raised it's arm up into the air, and brought it down. Wendy grabbed onto Rori tightly, and they both exploded into a cloud of paper as the biological weapon hit the ground with enough force to crush the tiles... and it made Wendy glad that she moved when she did. The paper went off to the side, and the pair suddenly turned back into flesh. Accidentally landing on their sides, as Wendy looked back. Rori didn't even have time to react to anything, glad that Wendy had turned them both to paper and gotten them out of the way. Landing on their side, and twisted the wings out of the way so they didn't get damaged, Rori stared wide eyed at the monster. Well, there were multiple. Without Wendy they would have been screwed; Rori doubted they could avoid them alone. Maybe as a bird. "What is that?" They were already pushing themselves to their feet as they spoke. "We should get out of here, shouldn't we?" "Y-yeah!" Wendy said as she hopped up to her feet, and began running. This was a fight for RAVEN, and only them. She grabbed Rori's wrist and broke off into a sprint... But, what the hell happened? Monsters don't just fall from the sky. [hr][center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/1WvlyjC.png [/img] [img] http://i.imgur.com/Nv2XG2N.png[/img][/center] [b][code]Courtbridge, Prince Ed-Field_[/code][/b][hr][hr] "Mummy, I want to get a new collar for Chi!" Thanh excitedly pointed to the small pet store in Orchestra Mall. Why Kei had chosen here of all places Lihn didn't understand. If he was getting her to pay for everything he may as well choose something more up scale. "We got her a new collar a few weeks ago," Lihn replied, trying not to sound too exasperated. Had she been that demanding as a child. "But Chi says she doesn't like it. So she needs a new one! Ask her!" The young girl was speaking a bit too loud while indicating to her dog. It was drawing some strange looks from nearby people. "We'll get her a new one then," Lihn quickly tried to placate her daughter, giving in and ushering over to the store. Thanh was quick enough to run in and start look at their wares. "She's quite determined when she sets her mind to something," Kei commented, amused. "Oh, I know," Lihn sighed softly before wincing and rubbing her head. Her head was beginning to hurt as a distant, but strong, anger pierced through the other emotions she had dulled her sensing of. "Are you okay?" Kei now looked concerned - Lihn was surprised he'd even noticed. A few years ago he wouldn't have. "Just a bit of a headache, I'll be fine." Though the feeling was familiar... And that didn't make her comfortable. "You mind going and seeing if Thanh has chosen? If this gets any worse I may have to head home." "Sure thing, boss," Kei gave a mock salute and walked into the house. Lihn turned her gaze to look at the other shoppers walking by. If she focused she could guess what they were doing by their emotions; the nervousness of those buying for a loved one, the excitement of a child getting a new game. It helped to take her mind off the gradually increasing pounding of her head. The anger was beginning to thrum inside of her and with it an undertone of constricting fear. It almost outshine the pain. Then she saw the people people running. Shit. "Kei!" Lihn stepped into the shop, barely focusing on her brother where he stood buying a few items for Thanh. "Grab Thanh, we need to get out of here." Though clearly not sure what was happening, Kei grabbed Thanh's hand and pulled her out of the shop. Chi trotted obediently after them, her lead practically unnecessary. "What's happening?" "That," Lihn managed to point a shaking finger to the first monster in sight before leaning heavily against a wall. The anger had been unbearable when it was just one nevermind this many. It was overwhelming. And so many people were scared, her head practically threatening to explode with the emotions. She could feel as this fear surfaced in her brother and daughter and it didn't make things better. "What the-" Kei just about stopped himself from swearing. "Yes, we have to leave." Lihn just nodded, pushing herself off the wall and trying to walk towards the entrance. Another stab of pain, and anger, cause her to stumble. "Mummy, what's happening," Thanh looked at Lihn with wide, scared, eyes as she stopped. "It will be fine, Thanh, as long as you get outside," Lihn managed to respond in a strained voice, trying to push down her fear slightly and turning to Kei. "Get Thanh out of here - I'll just slow you down... And I've dealt with this before." "Are you sure?" Kei warily eyed behind them and the monsters that were approaching, but thankfully still a distance away. Just in case he pulled a large bottle of water he'd been carrying around - it gave him something go freeze and control. "I'll be fine," Lihn nodded, forcing herself up. She'd struggle to walk to the entrance quickly but she could at least try to force down the anger of any monsters that approached her. It would take a lot of that for her to pass out, anyway. "I'm coming back after I get Thanh out," Kei promised with a frown, holding the young girls hand tightly. "Come on Thanh." Lihn sighed slightly as Kei pulled her daughter away. At least Thanh would be safe. Now, getting herself out without dying. Trying to ignore just how much her head hurt Lihn began to concentrate on forcing out a calming aura around her - in the hopes she could reduce the anger of any monster that came near her.