[color=00a99d][h3][center]Maréngo[/center][/h3][/color] 
[hr] 

Maréngo had started to turn and tell the big oaf to stop pushing before the soldiers figured out the jig was up but the thought had no time to leave his mouth. Pyka screeched as the chaos unfolded and clung tight to his shirt as they were both tossed from the cart. The pirate tried his best to shield his new companion from the impact and earned a few bruises in the process. He lay on the cobblestone for a moment dazed and confused. It took him a moment to process the person being dragged away by the sheriff's men was the mercenary. What was her name again? Zora? Lora?... [i]Nora[/i] 

This was bad, [i]very[/i] bad. They'd already lost one of their most capable fighters and things were quickly spiraling out of control. Maréngo looked toward the wreckage of the cart and the injured mule.
[color=00a99d]"So much for that."[/color] he muttered, trying to shake off the battering gravity and momentum had conspired to give him.
Having been in more than a few battles and having an ounce of common sense, he knew being in the open was a terrible idea. Extending his hand to Pyka, the monkey leaped toward him and grabbed onto his arm as he ran for cover. He dove beind the cart wreckage and ended up next to the massive Tork just as he fired his arrow. For all that impressive strength, the party was simply out matched by sheer numbers. Turning to Y'vanna, he watched her accept the makeshift shield and smirked.
[color=00a99d]"Good thinkin' big man!"[/color]
The pirate kicked at one of the remaining wheels until it came loose and he had a very sad excuse for a shield to call his own. He surveyed the scene around them and a thought came to his head.
[color=00a99d]"I have an idea to keep the sheriff and his dogs off us for a minute but things'll get very hot very fast. You two should get a move on before that."[/color] 

Y'Vanna looked to the salty sailor with huge, widened eyes as she instantly she was aware of his intentions... he was going to try to ignite the the spoiled crate of alchemist's  fire and  Skarsat and herself were still way to close to it and were in immediate danger... and it was time to go.
[color=f7941d]"Oh, fekken hell!"[/color] she clamored, giving Skarsat's arm a hefty pull to urge his haste. [color=f7941d]"We better on with it, we gotta move now!"[/color]
She turned to the card's strewn about contents and then she saw it.. Nora's rifle, and her powder horn just a foot or so away. She made a quick attempt at grabbing Nora's rifle and horn along the way. She managed to grab the rifle but didn't have a free hand for the horn as she was clinging to her belts and scabbard. 

Skarsat's eyes widened as he saw Maréngo and listened to his idea, then the Tork turned his head towards the smoke screen now blatantly visible even from behind cover. 
[color=fff200]"Do it, but I need to get Neh'miah!"[/color]
He grabbed his improvised shield, held it before as much of his humble self as he could, and moved forward towards the dead body. He headed for the very next thing of it he could grab, then had to let go of the wheel and just tossed it behind himself for Y'Vanna to pick up somehow. Of course all of this took longer than her quick pickup of Nora's rifle, but hopefully he would manage not to be entirely incinerated. 

Maréngo grimaced at the sight of the Tork's grisly shield. That makes two fighters down before things even started which became three as he watched Solange's back disappear into the distance. Not that he blamed her, she absolutely had the right idea. With that in mind, he leaned out with pistol drawn and-- 

Smoke. Smoke fucking everywhere. 

Black, billowing clouds engulfed the street and Maréngo reflexively ducked back behind the cart for a moment, thinking the alchemist's fire had somehow combusted just by him looking at it wrong, but that couldn't be. There was no heat, no flames, just smoke thicker than any fog he'd ever seen.
[color=00a99d]"What in the Nine Hells?"[/color]
After a moment of confusion, Maréngo thought better than to look a gift horse in the mouth; especially one that might help save his life. He moved back a few paces, said a quick prayer, and pulled the trigger. There was a crack of gunfire and the cobblestones erupted in flames. Even at a distance he felt the surge of scalding heat against his face as a bonfire surged to life in the middle of the street. The poor mule braying grew still louder as it kick and struggled to move away from the flames reaching out to lick at its fur. Maréngo felt a twinge of pity for the poor thing but wasted no time in tearing down the street at full tilt, holding the cart wheel behind him with one hand and a terrified Pyka close to his chest in the other. He waved the remaining party members on as he ran past them and his call came up from deep in his chest, loud enough to be heard over even a howling gale.
[color=00a99d][i]"MOVE!!"[/i][/color]