George was leaning forward towards the strange girl, going on tiptoe as if it would give him a better view. He leaned forward, although refraining from touching her, or speaking. Clementine, much more shy, was instead sitting in the corner with her doll, looking at her older brother, and wondering when he would return his attention to her. It seemed that any second Goerge would topple over into Byakuren's lap, as far as he was leaning forward. However, this small disaster was averted as the sound of a large motorized vehicle filled the air, approaching fast. The soldiers, as well as everyone else, fell silent, unsure whether to hide, or to cheer. Then, with a crashing and an inhuman screech, the vehicle came to a halt, as a male death scream filled the air, an agonized final howl of pain.
The sound continued, as several of the soldiers grabbed their weapons, and went to the entrance, looking determined. However, a man with caramel-colored skin stood up, hissing for the men to get back down. "Silent! You'll lead them right to us. We can't save anyone right now, and even if we did, there would be more of us to feed than before. We can't all die to save a stranger. We don't even know who might be on that car!" The men hesitated. Another pushed forward regardless, but his comrades, put an arm on his shoulder, and he halted. The men looked at one another, unsure. There could be hundreds of beasts out there, and they'd all be running to their doom. "We should just sit this out, we have enough trouble as it is!"

"Practicing some spells, that's all..." She said, glancing over to the scene that had happened moments ago. Probably best to leave it... she thought, soon noticing the child staring at her. He had turned away to see the scene, but she might as well say hello, right? Byakuren slowly crouched down so he was near height. "Hello there. No need to be shy, I'm friendly." She said in a kind voice, spotting Clementine and signalling for her to come over.

thewizardguy said
George was leaning forward towards the strange girl, going on tiptoe as if it would give him a better view. He leaned forward, although refraining from touching her, or speaking. Clementine, much more shy, was instead sitting in the corner with her doll, looking at her older brother, and wondering when he would return his attention to her. It seemed that any second Goerge would topple over into Byakuren's lap, as far as he was leaning forward. However, this small disaster was averted as the sound of a large motorized vehicle filled the air, approaching fast. The soldiers, as well as everyone else, fell silent, unsure whether to hide, or to cheer. Then, with a crashing and an inhuman screech, the vehicle came to a halt, as a male death scream filled the air, an agonized final howl of pain.The sound continued, as several of the soldiers grabbed their weapons, and went to the entrance, looking determined. However, a man with caramel-colored skin stood up, hissing for the men to get back down. "Silent! You'll lead them right to us. We can't save anyone right now, and even if we did, there would be more of us to feed than before. We can't all die to save a stranger. We don't even know who might be on that car!" The men hesitated. Another pushed forward regardless, but his comrades, put an arm on his shoulder, and he halted. The men looked at one another, unsure. There could be hundreds of beasts out there, and they'd all be running to their doom. "We should just sit this out, we have enough trouble as it is!"

Zelos went stone-faced at this development. "Who cares if it makes life a little harder for us, we can't just leave somebody out there!" He mutters, a bit loudly. He knew that in this situation, they should leave whoever it is. They don't have much supplies as it is, but he still couldn't just sit here as someone dies out there! He slowly stands up from where he's sitting, making to go to the entrance of the cave. "It doesn't matter who it is to me, a person is a person, and I can't just sit by while someone dies, when I could help." He says, and then smirks. "Hey, maybe I'll die out there and that'd be one less mouth to feed."

The man who'd spoken out against saving the stranger turned to you. "It's fine you want to risk your own life. You want to risk everyone's? If you go out there, and there are a hundred beasts, you'll lead them all right here." The guys looks around the group, emphasizing a glance at the children, and Alice, who was still sitting in the corner. "If it was just your hide, I'd happily step aside, and hope for the best of luck. Hell, me and half the guys would be with you. But I don't care much for endangering the lives of our host, as well as his family and our wounded. You have no right to do that. Nobody does."
George turned to the strange girl, noticing that she was talking now. He heard her mention magic, and he walked over excitedly. He'd heard magic could do all kinds of awesome things, and he'd secretly dreamed of becoming a great mage someday, and saving the world. "Magic? Magic is so cool!" Clementine, for her part, walked over as well. However, she stayed behind her brother, peering curiously at the scrolls. She had little to say, speaking quietly through her older brother's gush of magic impressions and ideas. "Magic is scary."

thewizardguy said
The man who'd spoken out against saving the stranger turned to you. "It's fine you want to risk your own life. You want to risk everyone's? If you go out there, and there are a hundred beasts, you'll lead them all right here." The guys looks around the group, emphasizing a glance at the children, and Alice, who was still sitting in the corner. "If it was just your hide, I'd happily step aside, and hope for the best of luck. Hell, me and half the guys would be with you. But I don't care much for endangering the lives of our host, as well as his family and our wounded. You have no right to do that. Nobody does."

"So we just leave whoevers out there to die?" Zelos asks, then he grins. "And only a hundred? I could take on way more than that!" It's hard to tell if he's kidding or not.

CreedTheChimera said
"So we just leave whoevers out there to die?" Zelos asks, then he grins. "And only a hundred? I could take on way more than that!" It's hard to tell if he's kidding or not.

The man shoots Zelos a glare. "Fuck you. I don't like joking about a person dying outside our door, while I'm forced to sit here and do nothing. But it's all we can do, got it? I'm not going to have the deaths of those children on my conscience."

thewizardguy said
The man shoots Zelos a glare. "Fuck you. I don't like joking about a person dying outside our door, while I'm forced to sit here and do nothing. But it's all we can do, got it? I'm not going to have the deaths of those children on my conscience."

"Well at least let me look to see the situation out there. I won't do anything stupid unless you consent, I promise." Zelos says.

CreedTheChimera said
"Well at least let me to see the situation out there. I won't do anything stupid unless you consent, I promise." Zelos says.

"Go. And try not to get seen." The man moved aside, nervously. As you move up, you can smell the fresh air, wiping away the stench of sweat, barf, and blood that had already soaked the cave. Only when it was gone did you notice you were having trouble breathing. However, your relief at being able to breathe without gagging is short-lived. In the sand lies a posh hovercraft, undoubtedly from the Enclave. A many-armed demon was wrestling with a figure dressed in a black suit, with tubes running through his skin. Obviously one of the famous enclave bioweapons, and the stories are confirmed as the small man picks up the demon, easily two times larger than a car, and throws it into a nearby sand dune. However, a red humanoid demon with a long, black sword jumps forward, stabbing the weapon in the chest as you watch. The bioweapon has many such wounds already, and it's obvious it won't be able to hold out much longer. A hand sticks out from the broken window of the hovercraft, barely visible. Somebody is still inside. On the floor nearby lies the body of a man, twisted and mutilated, every bone in his body methodically misset, almost as an artpiece.

thewizardguy said
"Go. And try not to get seen." The man moved aside, nervously. As you move up, you can smell the fresh air, wiping away the stench of sweat, barf, and blood that had already soaked the cave. Only when it was gone did you notice you were having trouble breathing. However, your relief at being able to breathe without gagging is short-lived. In the sand lies a posh hovercraft, undoubtedly from the Enclave. A many-armed demon was wrestling with a figure dressed in a black suit, with tubes running through his skin. Obviously one of the famous enclave bioweapons, and the stories are confirmed as the small man picks up the demon, easily two times larger than a car, and throws it into a nearby sand dune. However, a red humanoid demon with a long, black sword jumps forward, stabbing the weapon in the chest as you watch. The bioweapon has many such wounds already, and it's obvious it won't be able to hold out much longer. A hand sticks out from the broken window of the hovercraft, barely visible. Somebody is still inside. On the floor nearby lies the body of a man, twisted and mutilated, every bone in his body methodically misset, almost as an artpiece.

Zelos stays hidden and looks around to see how many demons and such are nearby.

CreedTheChimera said
Zelos stays hidden and looks around to see how many demons and such are nearby.

You don't see any apart from the two that are fighting the bioweapon. However, if the bioweapon is getting beaten, you're not sure what you can do. These many-armed beast strikes out with quick punches, which even the bioweapon can't block, each hit cracking bone. The beast has no eyes or head, instead having a massive gaping mouth in the centre of it's chest.

thewizardguy said
You don't see any apart from the two that are fighting the bioweapon. However, if the bioweapon is getting beaten, you're not sure what you can do. These many-armed beast strikes out with quick punches, which even the bioweapon can't block, each hit cracking bone. The beast has no eyes or head, instead having a massive gaping mouth in the centre of it's chest.

Zelos walks back into the cave. "There's only two of them, and an Enclave bioweapon, but he's getting beaten pretty badly. There seems to be more people inside the hovercraft out there." he says, relaying what he'd seen.

Nara watched them silently, listening closely with her advanced hearing. More bioweapons.....great.

Konin and Ronin left Byakuren silently and went back over to their sister. "What are you doing, sis?" they asked in unison.

Nara slapped her hands over both of their mouths. "Shut up, I'm trying to listen......." she growled.

The twins glanced at each other and then looked back at their sister.

Nara's ears were angled towards the conversation, a concentrated look on her face.

"Haha, some spellls are used to fight, some are used to make others happy. I'm more peaceful than most, so I have some nice spells stocked up. Like making colourful butterflies appear, for those who are a bit scared of the fighting spells." She explained. Byakuren had took a liking to these children already. "Have to admit, it's quite hard learning them though..." she said.

Jacque grimaced when a single man ran out of the cave to assist whomever was outside. "Moron's gonna get himself killed running out there alone." He muttered whilst shaking his head. Jacque was sure that Zelos wouldn't be coming back, however surprisingly the man returned with news of what was going on outside, "A bioweapon? Well i'll be damned, the people on the Enclave actually remembered to send down something that can actually be useful when going on the offensive. Even if it is currently getting its shit pushed in, its still better than what we've got now.". Jacque received more than a few dirty looks from the huddled soldiers, most of whom were human, however Jacque couldn't care less, after all what good was a man with a rifle if he didn't have enough bullets -or in some cases, the proper training- to kill his foe?
The elemental looked down to his companion and pointed to the ground, "Stay put." he ordered flatly. Brutus whined as Jacque began to make his way through the crowd and towards the exit, but didn't move an inch as per his owner's order. Once he'd breached the edge of the crowd Jacque whistled and jerked his thumb towards the entrance to the cave, "I'm going to help our new comrade since he'll no use to us dead. If any of you still have a pair you're welcome to join me.". Jacque wasn't expecting many people to offer their services, however if at the very least one of them came, it would make taking down the demon marginally easier. Jacque was even willing to take a human with him despite his lack of belief in their combat skills, at the very least then they could give him an opening to attack by aggravating the demon with gunfire.

Zelos breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks. Maybe they'll be more inclined to help with two votes already. And if not, I bet the two of us can take 'em!" Zelos says with a smile, and thought Jacque can tell he is a human, he also seems to be made up of much tougher stuff than the soldiers.

The man stepped in front of the water elemental, his face blank. "You want to just march out there? You motherfucking spirits. I guess you don't even care you're endangering women and children. They're just human, after all." This notion was met with an unhappy grumble from the other soldiers, many of whom were still armed. "You think you can just stroll out there and kill two demons where a bioweapon is failing? You heard the man. If the Enclave Bioweapons can't kill these things, we don't stand a chance. I had the pleasure of seeing Shiri at work once. Mechanical bitch ripped apart two hundred of the things, fought better than a hundred well-stocked men and came back with hardly a scratch." The men were still unsure, but their open dissent towards the thought of a water spirit sacrificing children was driving them to stay.

"And it's better to just squat here until we run out of food and starve?!" Zelos shoots back at the soldier. "If we can beat those demons and get on that damn hovercraft maybe we can get somewhere!"

One of the other soldiers, a heavyset man with a thick brow, speaks up. "Fuck that. There'll be other chances. If we have to, we can go back to the battlefield, there are plenty of demons and monsters that don't go bad easy. The God of Death pretty much sterilises an area with it's presence, I heard." A couple of other soldiers grunt in agreement, while another suggests a rumor he heard that the God of Death actually causes everything near him to rot. Unsurprisingly, there wasn't much concrete data on the Old Gods, and what little of it there was was hidden in rumors and superstition.
"We have to go out there." Johnathan finally spoke up, nodding both to Zelos and to Jacque. "I invited you men here, risking my family and children. It is a risk which is justified, I believe. However, I can ask none of you to fight if you don't wish to. I don't believe I can be of much use myself, having never fired a gun in my life, but if I find a weapon, I'll do what I can." The soldier's grumblingly acknowledged this, as they stepped aside, leaving the path clear. It was now completely up to Zelos and Jacque whether or not to proceed outside.

"Well." Zelos says, walking up to the entrance. "Better than being forced to not go." He then walks back outside, stopping out if sight to wait for anyone else.

Jacque glared down at the man who had stood in his way and snorted, however just before he could get a chance to spit something back, Johnathan spoke up, quickly quelling Jacque's rising anger and replacing it with a tinge of shame for how he'd spoken of everyone in the room, to include the one who'd risked his own life to offer him shelter. The elemental sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose, "No Johnathan, I can't let you do that. You've done more than enough as is, just- ugh, look, i'm not asking for women or children to help, its playing a dangerous game with the future of you humans and honestly it doesn't sit right with me. Perhaps I should narrow down my request a bit..." Jacque tapped his foot on the ground as he thought, then snapped his fingers, "Got it. I need someone, an adult male preferably, who has a rifle and the skills to use it functionally. If one of you DOES meet that criteria, you could find a vantage point, possibly on top of the cave, and take a few pot shots at the demon out there. If that bioweapon is still alive, then between me, it, and um...", Jacque trailed off as he gestured to Zelos, not really knowing the man's name, "...the beast should be worn down a bit more. If someone starting shooting, it might inflict additional damage AND leave its defenses lowered long enough for one of us to possibly kill it.". Jacque let his idea hang in the air for a few seconds before turning and nodding to Zelos, time wasn't on the bioweapon outside's side, nor was it on Jacque's, if one of the humans decided to go through with it, they'd have to make their way out and find a spot to shoot on their own, "Just think about it people." he said before walking towards the mouth of the cave. Jacque would never verbally admit it, but he desperately hoped that if any one went out to shoot, it wouldn't be Johnathan.