[h2][center]Geralt of Rivia[/center][/h2]
[center]The Maw [/center]
[center]Lvl 7 (52/70) +10 Encounter XP -> Lvl 7 (64/70) [/center]
[center]Word Count: 788 words[/center]

Geralt cursed as he noticed Mirage's descent to the ground, figuring that he'd also be joining the fellow turned toddler in the layer of discarded junk that covered the floor of this room like a layer of water in a flooded cavern. It was somewhat odd that this entire section seemed to consist only of brown boots, but all things considered it was hardly worth thinking on. What mattered was that he and Mirage got to safety, and quickly before whatever it was that called this sea of debris its home attacked. He didn't shrug off Mirage's helping hand as he might otherwise normally have, since they were both hardly in their best shape right now, and he could use whatever help he got. 

The two trudged for dear life through the footwear, barely making progress due to their pursuer's erratic movements rippling through their surroundings like it truly was water they were wading through. Geralt cursed yet again under his breath, annoyed at himself for going along with that insane plan, but also annoyed that he hadn't come up with anything better. Systematic approaches to dangerous situations was supposed to be his forte, and he'd failed to come up with anything better than 'jump around and try not to die'. Sure, it had worked until that last pile of junk, but 'until' didn't [i]quite[/i] cut it when the penalty for not having a proper working plan meant death. 

Thankfully, help came in the form of Nadia calling out for and reaching to grab Mirage's streamer, which he gladly threw to the feline girl. Mirage held an arm back for Geralt to take hold of, while those who had already made it helped pull the two up. Once they were safe, Geralt sighed and shook his head. "Thanks. That...went much worse than we'd hoped." If that wasn't an understatement, then that word clearly didn't mean anything. 

Geralt hadn't quite missed Bongo Bongo being shredded up a bit by a giant flying fan blade, but he'd been a bit too preoccupied to comment on it, and he certainly wasn't going to do so now that they were almost home free and it was [i]right behind them about to kill them all.[/i]

Quickly making it to safety thanks to Nadia's fan boost, Geralt turned to make sure the others made it up as they had done for him, putting him in perfect position to grab hold of Nadia's arms as she used her fan in what was a rather creative way. Helping to haul her over the edge, Geralt ushered the two onwards with the others, waiting at the opening of the vent with his pilfered scissors in hand. 

He turned to the other person who had stayed behind, the Cadet, a true hunter like himself, and nodded. Adjusting his grip on his 'weapon' to hold it like a shortsword, Cadet holding his pole like a javelin, the two watched as Bongo Bongo floated up, his baleful red eye shining brightly on them. 

And the hunter became the hunted as both weapons thrust forward, stabbing into the eye with ease. Bongo Bongo recoiled, scissors left inside its eye, and fell to the ground below them, bouncing off the couch and dissipating into shadows once more. Geralt wasn't going to wait around any longer to make sure it was permanent this time, however. "Let's go." He said simply, turning and hurrying after the others. 

________________________________________________________________________

After who-knows how long spent navigating through dark, cramped vents, Geralt found himself in a poorly-lit room with the other Seekers, and he breathed a sigh of relief, even as a wave of lethargy washed over him. Hunger and thirst came with it, and he had trouble suppressing the painful feelings like he normally would have. Whether that was something his body had simply learned to do or was the mutations, Geralt actually wasn't quite sure. Witchers were hardly alone in being able to last a few days without food if it was absolutely necessary. "I vaguely remember that as well, Kamek." Geralt agreed on the point about the food being cursed or tainted in some way. "Hell of a trap, honestly."

Ignoring the light rumbling of his belly, Geralt took note of the sound of water coming from the other side of the doorway that the light was slipping past. What exactly that [i]meant[/i], he wasn't quite sure, but it didn't sound good. Still, as Mirage and Kamek agreed, they were all alive, and that was a win. "We survived once. We just...have to do it again. And then again. And probably a fourth time. Maybe a fifth." 

He still wasn't great at pep talks. At least that much hadn't changed about him.