[center]
[h1]Lost Cause[/h1]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/ytozL8X.png[/img]	[img]http://i.imgur.com/55cuDim.jpg[/img]

[h2][color=palevioletred]Zoe[/color] | [color=662d91]Kusari[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝕎𝕖𝕕: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕   / /   𝕃𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖   / /  ~𝟘𝟝𝟚𝟝[/color][hr][/center]

It hadn't taken long for the battlefield to descend into chaos. The approaching creatures appeared intimidating to say the least, though that seemingly excited her more than causing any worry. For better or worse, a good fight was never something she'd shy away from - though they didn't appear particularly human, which was disappointing. From her position, taking cover within the trees, Zoe was fairly confident she could get a decent attack off if she just--

Her eyes widened as a wave of heat washed over her, fire lighting up the trees. Darting backwards and away from the vegetation, she found herself out in the open once more. Which was a far more vulnerable position, and basically screwed over her chances of killing anyone here without being completely murdered. Despite that, staying hidden in the plant life really wasn't an option anymore - even with the rain cooling things down slightly, she couldn't handle that kind of heat for long. A glance upwards confirmed Chris was responsible, and that it was one of her own teammates was irritating. Not like she could take it out on him even if he [i]wasn't[/i] flying. Slightly singed, the expression on her face was anything but happy as she tried to prioritise.

[color=palevioletred][i]Shadow creature's handled.[/i][/color] Or maybe not, but getting in between that fight's participants was just asking to get reduced to a smear on the ground. She didn't even know if she'd be able to do anything about it if she tried. [color=palevioletred][i]Trees are burning - Chris can probably finish them off.[/i][/color]

Which left one more point of interest. The wall.

Or more specifically, the hole that Hazel had left behind. While touching it wouldn't be a good idea, Zoe was fairly confident she could make it through that part unscathed. The problem with that one was they had no idea who, or what, was waiting on the other side. But if they wanted to reach the boat, there wasn't much choice in the matter. Someone would have to go through. She glanced back at the others who'd made their way outside. 

Whoever went through first was gonna take a hell of a hit. And if it wasn't her, it could be one of them.

[color=palevioletred][i]They don't deserve that.[/i][/color]

A twisted, self-loathing sort of resolve. She smiled, out of place as it was with her thoughts. Or maybe it was incredibly appropriate - who could say? Clenching then unclenching a fist at her side, she relaxed. This was... fine, right? It just made sense for someone to go, and she kinda deserved what was coming to her.

But it'd mean nothing if they didn't heed whatever warning she could provide. Glancing toward the others, Zoe spoke quickly.

[color=palevioletred]"I'm going through the wall. Have to find out what we're up against so you guys can plan."[/color] 'You guys'. Because despite her casual tone, her entirely out-of-place grin, on some level Zoe knew this wasn't likely to end well. [color=palevioletred]"Don't follow me, alright?"[/color] As she finished speaking, she turned to look at the wall, confident she could sprint through fast enough to reach the gap without a problem.

Kusari raised an arm to her face as Chris burned the area in front of them. It looked like his form had changed once again, but she didn't linger on the thought. The attack was a bit too danger close, but at least it should be effective against the trees. Her ears perked as she heard Zoe announce her brilliant plan. That was sarcasm of course, her plan was literally suicide. [color=662d91]"Like hell you're going over there alone!"[/color] Kusari yelled at her like a child running in a grocery store. Hazel had likely given them a way past the wall, but that didn't mean Zoe could just charge in. [color=662d91]"We need to take care of that thing first, or we won't have a way out of here."[/color] She said, pointing towards the shadowy monster of a man.

[color=palevioletred]"We also need to get to the boat, or we [i]still[/i] won't have a way out of here, unless you think the Amigos are here to give us a ride."[/color] Zoe didn't take kindly to being yelled at, especially in this kind of situation, and her voice was sharp. [color=palevioletred]"Besides, even if I get it in range, there's every chance I won't be able to affect that thing."[/color] She wouldn't if the last shadow creature she'd encountered was anything to go by, anyway.

Whatever the reasoning, debating this felt like a waste of time. Shaking her head, Zoe turned back to watching for a gap in the fighting, pointedly ignoring Kusari.

Kusari grit her teeth and fought off the desire to say something she really meant to Zoe. [color=662d91]"What happened to you being the one that's only good at killing things? All of a sudden you're our scout? If anyone should be the first through there it should be me. I can move more quickly than you and I'll be fine if I'm attacked."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Can't kill 'em from this side of the wall, and you're able to die too."[/color] The more logical side of her knew Kusari was right, but that had gone out of the window as soon as they'd started losing people. After spending so long with only trees to hurt... damn it, she [i]wanted[/i] this, sick as it was. As she kept speaking, her tone grew harsher; her dangerous expression maybe all-too-familiar to the Arbiter. [color=palevioletred]"Better me than one of you."[/color]

Kusari narrowed her eyes at Zoe. She couldn't be this stupid, she [i]had[/i] to know what she was doing. [color=662d91]"Stop it. You don't get to do that."[/color] Kusari nearly growled, trying to contain her temper. [color=662d91]"You can't pretend to be a tough bitch then act like a suicidal crybaby. You're going to help us here, and then we are going to that boat. Together. Do you understand me?"[/color] Kusari's tone made it clear that she'd stop Zoe if she had to.

Zoe practically spat her next words, anger flaring rather than being calmed. [color=palevioletred]"Fuck you. I don't know what you think you're talking about, but it's bullshit. I'm no crybaby, and I'm not suicidal - what I [i]am[/i] is someone who can handle this, same way I've had to handle everything else so far."[/color] And yet the words had very clearly struck a nerve somewhere along the line. [color=palevioletred]"So how about I go fight, and you can stay here while you shove your plan up your ass."[/color]

Kusari's crimson eyes glared at Zoe. For a moment she was silent, then she spoke. [color=662d91]"You really are a lost cause, aren't you?"[/color] She said with nonchalant venom. Her gaze went to the hole in the wall. [color=662d91]"If that's the way you'll be, then fine. I'll just take that option away from you. If you try going for that wall, I'll beat you there. I'm not going to let you do it, so get the idea out of your head."[/color] 

Zoe met Kusari's glare with one of her own. A lost cause, huh? [color=palevioletred]"You don't have to tell me that."[/color] It stung slightly but she was glad to see that the other girl had finally caught on. It was... more familiar than having to deal with sympathy, really. Painful truth over comforting fiction. [color=palevioletred]"And we both know what I could do to you if you tried. You really want to take that risk?"[/color] To her credit Zoe at least managed to sound determined, but it didn't hide the way her fists clenched anxiously at her side, or how she failed to maintain her stare.

Kusari let out a scoff and spread out her arms. [color=662d91]"Do whatever you want Zoe. I'm not repeating myself, I mean what I say, and no amount of bravado is going to change anything."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Don't taunt me."[/color] Zoe practically snarled at Kusari - for a moment, she appeared almost ready to lunge, but a sharp bite to her cheek was enough to keep her focused. Ally. Kusari was an [b]ally[/b]. [color=palevioletred]"It's bad enough without being fucking [i]provoked[/i]."[/color]

[color=662d91]"Yeah yeah cry more. This conversation is over."[/color] Kusari dismissed Zoe's response and turned her attention to the raging fires in front of them. She wasn't going to sit here and argue until a dammed tree came and attacked her. Speaking of which, it appeared that what trees were destroyed were soon replaced with even more. She didn't think the trees were the actual mage, they had to be summons. Whoever was creating them had to be on the other side, as well as whoever created the wall. Kusari bit her lip in frustration. She didn't know what to do. She could try to beat the Amigos to the ferry, but then Zoe would end up getting herself killed. She hung her head, thinking about what options they had. She blinked as she noticed the wet grass at her feet. She glanced back to Zoe, then to the hoard of trees. 

[color=662d91]"Hey fire crotch, I've got something you can do besides getting yourself murdered. You can use your ability on those trees, right? What about the grass? Spread it out to all of them, maybe even that demonic looking motherfucker."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Can you go [i]one[/i] argument without bringing my crotch into it? Fine."[/color] That Kusari's idea made sense only served to annoy Zoe more. Of course she could use the surface - it was just a matter of trying not to affect her classmates. Forty-five metres. There wasn't the time for precision, so she just reached out as far as she could in every direction, the rot at a near standstill on the grass. Maintaining that effect wasn't too difficult in itself - and she was confident she could keep herself from attacking anyone that wasn't an enemy. 

Kusari, however, barefoot as she was, would soon see the suspect black veins spreading across her flesh. A conscious decision. [color=palevioletred]"In case they don't touch the grass, hit them and I'll go from there."[/color] Zoe was unapologetic as she turned her attention to the fight, accelerating the rot towards the advancing trees.

Kusari hopped as if she were skipping across a bed of coals as Zoe's toxic magic worked it's way into her feet. She was tempted to complain, but it would be pointless. She just needed to be useful right now. Her allies were struggling with the shadow monster, she could jump in as well, but the trees needed to be dealt with as well lest they have even more to contend with. digging her claws into the ground she sprinted forward, moving much faster than she could on just one superhuman leg. The only problem was her bulky arms. Swinging them like normal didn't feel right. Before the part of her brain that gave a damn how she looked could chime in, Kusari had leaned forward and began using her arms to help her run. A girl in a bloody school uniform with red steel claws running like a beast, just what the hell was her life?

She pounced towards the base of one of the Ent like monsters, slashing at it with her right hand claws. She kept moving as fast as she could, sprinting away and then closing in again for another attack, effectively using hit and run tactics.

As the assault began, Zoe's eyes lit up, anger forgotten. The grass, and Kusari's body for that matter, provided more than enough of a conduit for her to start spreading her deadly virus into the trees. Still, there were only so many things she could do at once, and trying to keep track of the entire battlefield was making it difficult to maintain the different parts of her power. Deciding to leave the shadow-creature to the others, she was able to focus on starting her attack in earnest - the rot on the trees dramatically accelerating as she did. Unless they had some trick up their sleeves, she doubted the trees would reach her in time to do damage.

The way Zoe saw it, it was just a question of how long they'd keep on coming.