The air changed when she walked into the hall.  MacKensie could feel it on her skin, in her breath.  The click of her heels as she gracefully moved toward them, like a metronome of death - even the chaotic ambience of battle seemed to take a back seat to her power.  MacKensie stood with the party, her breathing and adrenaline starting to wind down.  She was ready to fight, but she really didn't want to, if there was another option.  The power of the Witch was unmistakable.  It was her move.  She commanded it.

And make a move she did.  The last thing MacKensie would've expected.  She bowed her head, then stepped aside to allow them an exit. [i] What kind of crap is that?[/i] MacKensie thought, frustration added to the melting pot of emotions.  Was this a trick?  Was she laughing at them...? Like they were too weak to be worth killing?  Whatever her game was, MacKensie remained still, readying herself to counter an attack.

“Just like that, huh? Why would we trust that you would let us walk away unharmed. You haven't even introduced yourself.” MacKensie's mouth slowly opened in shock as the young swordsman sounded off.  She could blink stupidly as he took a few steps closer to the hooded lady. “Perhaps you could come here, kneel down before us and beg for forgiveness for all the carnage and innocents you and your army have killed. Maybe WE would be inclined on letting you go unharmed.”

In spite of the life and death stakes, MacKensie actually smiled, "Huh," was the quiet appraisal.  Her respect for the swordsman grew tenfold in that moment.  The incredibly tall woman with the huge sword, suddenly intervened in the exchange between the young man and the Witch.  MacKensie had already drawn her crossbow.  She wouldn't let death be the reward for his bravery.

"I say you watch your tongue," Mai interjected. "My Lady has shown you mercy, and you should respect that."

MacKensie made to furiously threaten the tall woman if she raised her sword. "Y..."

The Witch put out her hand. And that was enough to stop MacKensie dead in her tracks.  "It's all right, Mai. Let me handle this."

MacKensie lowered her weapon, the better half of her knowing her little bolts probably wouldn't even register on these women.  She watched, helplessly, the exchange between the Witch and the young man, knowing that he could die at any point.  The Witch seemed to be toying with him.  She even had MacKensie recoil and blush with her suggestive remarks.  She was toying with all of them.

David had had just about enough of this and ran over to put an end to it.  "Listen, I don't like this any more then you do. But I think it's best we take this time to run and think of a plan, ok? I don't think this will be a fight we can win." He glanced back at the others. "Let's get out of here for now. We can't win this fight. I promise you though: we're coming back."

MacKensie nodded half-heartedly to David while the witch continued to crack quips.  [i]Did Witch really want to just talk?  To us?[/i] MacKensie thought.  Whatever the reason for this; for wanting to talk, for letting them go, for being summoned to this world... it was all connected. And MacKensie was almost positive that this Witch who'd swamped the city in death, was the evil one.  But did she have some actual answers as to what the hell was going on?  [i]Where do we go from here?[/i]

Where did [i]she[/i] go from here? was the question.  She could only control her own fate.  In the end, she decided that she would go with David and the swordsman.  They seemed like good people and they needed all the same answers as her.  Perhaps they would find them if they stuck together.  Her 2nd nod was more decisive.  She hoped the man in the gambeson with the beam fingers would join them too, shooting him a friendly nod if he could see her.  Then, before she could forget, she turned for a sight of Dexter.  Demon or not, she couldn't just leave a kid to the mercy of the Witch. "Dexter, let's get out of here!" she called.

With that, she made to follow the guys out of the building.  As she passed the Witch, she dared to look at her and was wracked with fear, but she tensed all her muscles and put on her best stern face, lasting for all of 3 seconds before she averted her gaze.  This was who she'd been brought here to stop.  This titan.