[center][url=https://i.imgur.com/Y8OSnvr.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/OPMf9l2.png[/img][/url][/center] Mariette was startled by the sudden appearance of the crows. She instantly gauged that she did not have the firepower to shoot down a crowd of this many crows, and as such simply portalled to a new location. However, as she did that, she came to the realization that the crows could follow her, no matter where she went. This effectively meant Mariette could no longer be on the battlefield until the crows were gone. Very annoying. Mariette portalled herself into a locked basement that she knew existed for this very reason, in case someone was after her. Try as they might, the crows would need to fly through several closed doors in order to reach her here. It was dark, but she already knew all that was in here. So, to support from her current location, Mariette periodically opened portals around the Industrial District to see the situation, and sent a bolt of light at an offending Wendigo each time. She let Shane handle the crows, as she closed the portal and waited before opening another somewhere else. This meant her attacks were less frequent, but at the very least she was still helping. That’s when a voice suddenly spoke into her ear. [color=7ab6f5]‘[i]Caroline von Visceral has appeared at Penrose Bank,[/i]’[/color] a voice suddenly spoke in her ear. Mariette winced. That name meant a significant amount to her. That girl that had been the one to kill Deni all that time ago, and Justine had let it happen. Still, Justine was cleared now. While Mariette never wanted to talk to her again, there was a certain urgency to her right now. She had to act. She reached with her magic to various corners of Penrose… [@Flamelord][@Shifter_Master][@Ariamis] [color=077ae6]‘Caroline von Visceral has appeared at Penrose Bank,’[/color] Mariette spoke through three small portals, to behind and to the left of each target. One to Penny, who she figured would react responsively. One to Alicia, who she believed would react accordingly. One to Justine, who she knew to be purified. Now, they were all in the midst of battles, but she was confident her words would be on their minds. She was wary of attack from at least one of them. [color=7ab6f5]‘[i]In her presence is Connie, Gaia, Ronin and Miko.[/i]’[/color] Mariette winced, her heart lurching a bit. By now, she knew who Ronin and Miko were. And they… they were by Caroline. Thing was, if Mariette instantly acted on this knowledge, then the one watching would pick up on her desperation and the two’s cover would be blown. At the very least, Mariette opened a portal to watch from the sky above, careful to keep a lookout for crows about to assault her. If they were to assault her, tentacles would strike them and keep Mariette safe enough to close the portal. [hr] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/D8A8SOp.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/C9xGp6F.png[/img][/url][/center] Mayra basically grinned at the Wendigos trying to hold her down. She crouched, swiped with her blazing clawed foot as she blasted another Wendigo halfway across the district, and was launching herself from Wendigo to Wendigo to keep from being surrounded, when suddenly apparently two Wendigos managed to trap her between their antlers. Huh, this was new. She had a mildly curious expression as one tore her shoulder-scale off, some went for her swinging tail but frankly missed, and a couple more cut at her face and her one bit at her leg… A somewhat bad idea considering the blood that ran through Mayra’s veins was blazingly hot and far more burningly so than her relatively cool exterior. Completely unperturbed, Mayra smirked at them. The Monica chick sent out a torrent of orange flames which ignored the Wendigos but gave her the boon of Divine Fire… which Mayra had no idea of what it was but it felt good. It made her want to destroy some monsters. She chuckled at her “captors”. [color=fc6828]‘Heeeeeeeeeey, you’re doing pretty good! I appreciate the challenge!’[/color] Mayra took another breath and kicked the one that was trying to chew on her leg (and probably burn their mouth off). [color=fc6828]‘Wanna start phase two?’[/color] … And then Mayra effortlessly slipped through the antlers with Darkness magic allowing her to slip through her own shadow, showing up in the shadow of a different Wendigo and throwing a burning clawed punch to pierce through the monster’s torso. Her eyes burned with passion as she vaulted over the victim to drive her legs through the next, and then momentarily fell back to dodge further attempts at captures. Even if they did manage to hit her, she was too tough for them to easily kill. Even if they captured her, she had darkness magic to let her slip away. Even if they revived, Mayra always had more fire! So she felt! [color=fc6828]‘Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~!’[/color] Mayra brawled her way into the herd, once more keeping herself from being overwhelmed by keeping to the sides or otherwise slipping away with darkness. There was no way she was retreating and there was no way she’d be needing help. She was brawling this whole group to dust as a mass of flailing fire and darkness, kicking and slashing overhead as she weaved and struck past their blows, even as their gathering hits and cuts were making her bleed some blazingly warm sizzling yellow blood onto the pavement below…! [color=fc6828]‘Hey, girl with the huge demon above her! Don’t die, I wanna try fighting your thing later!’[/color] Mayra shouted in the midst of the brawl. She was referring to Ashlyn, but since she was basically shouting it into the mass of Wendigos who really knew. Should she run out of opponents she’d go off and try to kill-steal from the other girls present. Though, seeing how she was contending with eight of them on her own, maybe she’ll be busy for a while. [hr] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/PuUIfoy.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/7ZSpmlc.png[/img][/url][/center] Ronin and Miko found themselves helped by a blast of nightmare magic from Connie that caused the two Wendigos to get a bit crippled.. [color=DC9495]‘Thank you, Connie!’[/color] Miko called with a happy smile. as she maneuvered to take advantage. [color=55B7AA]‘You’re a hero!’[/color] Ronin followed it up with a grin, a wink and a thumbs-up. Then she noticed the one that was turning towards Connie… [color=55B7AA]‘OH NO YOU DON’T!’[/color] Ronnie called with a grin as she launched herself off a platform of reinforcement that sprung like a spring under her feet to propel her at the Wendigo so it wouldn’t attack her friend… when the Wendigo suddenly dropped into dust. [color=55B7AA]‘… Huh?’[/color] There was a new individual here, with a burning sword-staff, a familiar visage and a chilling voice… Ronin froze, a little conflicted on how she should respond. She sort-of got killed last time she interacted with this individual. But, Caroline was going up next to Connie! Ronin just had to- A sword pressed lightly at her stomach before she could dash to Connie’s rescue. Ronin looked with surprise to her right, and quickly surmised that any distress [i]she[/i] was feeling was [i]child’s play[/i] compared to what her sister was feeling. [color=DC9495]‘Don’t… move,’[/color] Miko said, her eyes of frantic determination as she held her own sword at her sister for the sole purpose of ensuring Deni did not jump in Caroline’s way again. Last time Caroline had gone for Mariette and Deni had died jumping in her way. Eli would not let it happen again. Instead, Eli had a different solution. [color=DC9495]‘Your sister is somewhere else in this city,’[/color] Miko said, turning to look kindly at Caroline, her sword still holding Ronin from leaping. [color=DC9495]‘I don’t know where she is, but any moment you aren’t looking for her is time during which she might leave. You don’t want that, do you? You should go look for her!’[/color] Miko said, smiling so supportively, disguising the inner turmoil. She just wanted Caroline to leave. As soon as possible. [color=DC9495][i]Get away from me and Deni![/i][/color]