[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4DgO1VH.png[/img]
[color=FFC6C6]Word Count: 1471 (+3 exp)
[u]Level[/u]: [b]5[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 32/50
[b]Location[/b]: Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon Northwest: Obelisk Temple[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color]●[color=gray]●●●[/color]
[color=2E2C2C]D34C25[/color][/center]In a way it was fortunate that all the other combatants were engaged, so that Primrose could devote her full attention to keeping Earthquake at bay without worrying about anyone else attacking while her focus was occupied. At this distance, the chain sickle Earthquake threw was easy enough to see coming, even with it's speed. She could see how he was moving his arm, and the path of the chain, so before the sharp end reached her she would evade, knowing it was possible. A step to the left, to the right, back. Ducking when he swung high, jumping when he went low. Deliberate movement of her feet and concentration painted on her face. A sharp eye might notice that the dancer was slowly setting up, doing what she did best, but Earthquake was more interested in flinging his weapon around, thinking he had Primrose pinned down and that it was only a matter of time before he sliced her.

"Heh heh, that's it! C'mon, dance!" The massive man cackled, swinging his arm in a wide horizontal arc and watching the chain he held fly along the path, dragging the sickle behind it. With one final step Primrose moved out of the way of it's path and completed her [i]Panther Dance[/i], feeling the benefit spread through her limbs. That weapon was fast, but now she was even faster - more than enough to deal with her oversized opponent.

[color=D34C25]"If that's what you want then watch closely,"[/color] she said, and with a twirling flourish she had another spell swirling in her hand, [color=D34C25]"I'll give you a show."[/color]

With newfound speed she hurled the coiled dark magic at Earthquake, who realized a moment too late that he should probably be the one evading now. The [i]Moonlight Waltz[/i] struck him head on and he reeled backwards - but with a stubborn stomp of his foot he righted himself, grimacing. 

[i]"You—"[/i] he was swiftly interrupted by another blast of magic. Roaring with indignation Earthquake swung his sickle back and forth, but the dancer shimmied out of the way much more easily than she had been moments before. The lilt of Primrose's laughter as she danced around the blade and cast her spells irritated the man more and more, until he was wildly swinging both ends of the chain.

"Rrrraaaghh!" The clattering of metal resounded through the cavern, adding to the chaotic cacophony already going on. The sickle carved gouges in the stone floor, followed by the weight on the chain's other end smashing pieces out of it. With double the reckless movements Primrose kept an eye on her footwork, the pace of her casting slowed to compensate - and though she was beginning to tire she was doing well, not a wound to show.

Until suddenly her left arm was wrenched down hard. She felt her shoulder pull painfully and the spell dissipated in her palm. She looked down to see the chain looped around her wrist, with the weight resting on the ground below it. Here eyes followed along the length of the chain until she met Earthquake's own eyes. He seemed just as surprised as Primrose was to see she'd been caught. A menacing smile began spreading on Earthquake's face soon enough though.

"Gotcha now, geheheh! C'mere!" He kept a tight hold on the chain and with both hands yanked it violently, dragging Primrose towards him. With his strength it was all to easy to haul the dancer, and she found herself flying towards him too quickly for her to think up a plan. The closer she got the wider Earthquake's smile grew. He opened his arms to welcome her with a bone crushing hold, and in a mild panic Primrose reached instinctively to the thing she'd always relied on.

The dagger glinted briefly, just long enough for Earthquake to recognize that there was a weapon in the dancer's hand before the momentum of being pulled in sank the short blade into the bandit's gut. He yowled in pain, pawing at Primrose but she was already free, standing a few paces back she slashed at his arms until he retreated. The two were standing only a few feet from each other, glaring. Unfortunately for Primrose it seemed that despite the punishment Earthquake had taken so far, he still had more to give.

"Yer just full of tricks ain't ya?" he growled out, to which Primrose couldn't help but smirk and reply, [color=D34C25]"A lady must have her secrets..."[/color]

"Well I got a few secrets of my own!"

Earthquake inhaled so deeply that he threw his head back before slinging it forward again, a shower of flame spewing from his mouth. If it weren't for her speed boost, Primrose would not have countered in time. She summoned her pyromancy, and fighting fire with fire she used the Flame Fan to blow his attack away. Afterwards she was left singed and completely caught off guard when Earthquake himself appeared in front of her, rushing through the last of the flames. His own speed was far greater than the dancer expected from a man his size, and he crashed into her belly first despite the open wound. She went flying, landing on her back against the stone. The rattle of a chain warned her that pain was soon to follow, and though she scrambled to stand the weighted end of Earthquake's weapon came in to knock her back down. Her dagger flew from her hand as she was thrown to the ground again. With a laugh the bandit raised his arm and brought the weight down again and again, battering Primrose until she was still and bruised, but breathing. 

He sauntered over to where her weapon had fallen, picking the dagger up and turning it over in his hand. "Nice piece of work here, might fetch a pretty penny. 'R maybe I keep it as a souvenir, eh?"

He laughed, taunting Primrose, but when he looked over to where he left her she was gone. "What?!" He stomped over to the area, but there was nothing but a bit of the dancer's blood on the stone. Gripping his chain sickle tightly Earthquake whipped his head from side to side, trying to spot the dancer in red but not finding her among the other battles going on. Sweating, he called out, "ran off to hide, did ya?!"  

[color=D34C25]"Hey, eyes up here."[/color] 

Earthquake's gaze shot up toward the ceiling, where Primrose floated thanks to the magic of her scarf. The fabric glowed while in use, but it was hardly noticeable when compared to the great fireball the dancer held above her head. Her whole body pulsed with light as she expended a battle point, making the Fire Orb swell with even more power. Wisely, Earthquake judged that taking the full brunt of this spell would not be a smart idea. He backpedaled, intending to retreat, but Primrose threw the orb down at him. The impact torched his body and exploded, and Earthquake fell to the ground with a great crash. 

Still he wasn't quite done. Terribly injured the ninja stubbornly pushed himself onto his elbows, blinking rapidly to clear the bleariness from his eyes. Directly above him, Primrose stopped her flight and fell right onto his stomach, knocking the air out of Earthquake with a sound much like a deflating balloon. He glared at her, opening his mouth to spout some nonsense no doubt. Instead he was silenced when Primrose brought her leg up and stamped her foot down hard on his face, effectively knocking his lights out.

[color=D34C25]"Hope you enjoyed the show,"[/color] she sighed through gritted teeth, and hopped down off of the man's stomach. She wobbled slightly before taking a moment to compose herself, and was quick to pluck her family's heirloom from Earthquake's hand. A sweep with her eyes over the battlefield gave her a brief, if incomplete look into how the others were faring. She also saw some new combatants that definitely hadn't been present beforehand. Finally, she looked back to where Poppi and Tora had been fighting, and found only those two there. She made her way over, noting the softly glowing spirits of the Resistance members. 

[color=D34C25]"Are you both alright?"[/color] she asked quietly, unsure if she should be treading on their moment of down time. [color=D34C25]"If needed, I think I can use my dance to spread Warmth healing to everyone, but it may take the last of my magic."[/color]

She'd used quite a lot in dealing with Earthquake, while having to sit back, focus on supporting dances and recharge was something she wouldn't necessarily be opposed to, the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the battle at hand made her wary to take any of her cards off the table. But if the duo would be alright for now then the three of them could jump back in where they were needed and assess from there.