[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/JPaWe7r.png[/img] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjY2LmFiOWIzNy5XbUZ5YVc1aElFRnNMVTVoWkdWeS4w/italianno.regular.webp[/img] [hr] [b]Interacting with:[/b] Yalen [@pantothenic], Hugo & Jocasta [@Force and Fury], Ysilla [@Pirouette], Ayla [@Ti], Kaspar [@Wolfieh] [b]Location:[/b] Hugo's Study [hr][/center] [color=C78A2C]”Zarina.”[/color] The one with such a namesake spoke up, louder and a more dominating tone than the persona Jocasta tried to emulate, essentially cutting her off. But it was just that, an immediate and brief correction that didn’t even earn the Virangish girl’s gaze as she’d take a sip from her favourite beverage right after. It would only be after Hugo’s elaboration on priorities that her golden hues geared themselves toward the chair-bound tethered, [color=C78A2C]”Sure, I’ll hear them out. But I’m also getting rid of the threats even if they whine about it. Just so we all know where I stand.”[/color] she announced as she pushed her chair back and got up just as the others did. Zarina took the time to refill her own cup and prepare another while the others were hopping into the portal into the familiar night of Torragon. She was actually the last to go in, for she had something to add in her exchange with the Paradigm which she would start with a snap of her fingers, [color=C78A2C]”Ah yes.”[/color] her digits were not finger-gunning upwards, and slowly pointed toward the bearded mage, [color=C78A2C]”When we’re done, how do we get back? I’d hate to make the boat trip again.”[/color] she grinned confidently while awaiting Hugo’s reply. With her question answered, she left the final cup of coffee on a surface near Hugo, [color=C78A2C]”See ya’.”[/color] with that, she hopped into the rift and joined her comrades. [hr][b]Location:[/b] The Deserts of Torragon [hr] The sand was cold, the breeze even cooler. The desert was such a merciless teacher, no real respite for those that dared to tread her hateful lands. But all those familiar with the dunes of Torragon knew the frigid nights were far more bearable than the scorching daylight, and Zarina was certainly glad to feel the cool, rainless air. She takes in a deep breath, finding her happy place among the dry soil her ancestors once marched upon as warriors, as merchants and even as nobles once. It was her element, now if only she had Riesco … Her brief moment of stretching, arms opened wide and eyes closed while her cloak waved to the wind’s rhythm, was interrupted by Jocasta’s warning and Yalen’s clear change in demeanour when the rabid beasts had taken notice of their arrival. Zarina’s eyes didn’t open just yet, this was a nice and soothing moment. But as the vibrations in the sand reached her own sensitivities, she’d turn her head to prompt a crack from her neck and slowly open her golden gaze to the dying twilight before her. [color=C78A2C]”Agreed.”[/color] She responds dryly to her sister’s remark while taking a step forward and essentially crossing the invisible line her colleagues weren’t keen on violating, many opting to stand their ground instead. And then another step was taken with her body leaning forward a little. Her metal jug was carefully levitating by her, as well as her recently filled cup, and she realised it by the third step which prompted a pause. There was no way she’d compromise it, so she’d carefully guide it over to a stony surface near Jocasta. The beasts were drawing very near, and Ayla was preparing her counter-attack. When the little lion’s melody came to be and set the rhythm of the upcoming dance, Zarina drew her black, piercing-friendly Shamshir in one, fluid movement with her left hand, making it clear to even those who didn’t pick up on it yet that she intended on bringing the fight to the Halassa. [center][color=C78A2C]”Dibs on the big one.”[/color] [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNeeLFL55_0[/youtube][/center] A wide, toothy grin took shape onto the young, Virangish mobster as she commenced her jog toward the maelstrom of rabid breast flesh coming right at them. Ayla was limiting them and coated them with different paint each. In turn, Zarina could more safely feast on the energy the pack was emitting by charging in so violently. And just as they would get a bit too close, she lept in the air, propelling herself as to get behind the group, and more specifically the conspicuously big one with a unique pattern on its shell, the odd sixth among the five colours used. A basic use of Kinetic magic, one she had a more intimate attunement to, so it came to no surprise she’d have no trouble manoeuvring and correctly if she over or under-shot. First thing’s first, the alpha had to be stopped. She did so by hurling her blade at its tail while she was still above it. And no, her aim wasn’t perfect, which merely scraped the creature’s appendage instead. But it was enough to get its attention, especially when her landing would come with an amplification of her impact’s sound, the same way she emphasised her footsteps during dances. Naturally, the shelled beast would not take kindly to its tail being messed with and confront a potential flanker. Zarina took this chance to observe how it moved, how awkward it was for it to orient itself toward a small target and its general speed when it couldn’t just bullrush. By then she would use basic Magnetic magic to attract her blade back to her left hand and keep it outstretched to her side to make her appear a tad wider. She intended to strafe the creature, keep on its blind spot now that its sight was compromised, and her echoing, calculated footsteps added to the disorientation that Ayla was already providing for the group. Like a Matador in a Corrida, she kept calm. It was to be expected from one used to dealing with animals. She was very much teetering close to that vicious beak, but continued to strafe to the side, circling the beast, and if it charged, it had a perfectly good shell to hop on and revisit that tail she had previously cut. One could mistake this for toying with the beast, but it was clear she intended to either find a quick opening for a swift and merciful Coup de Grace, or to tire the beast out. The former was more likely, given the nature of the Halassa’s condition. It would attempt to bite, and it would attempt to swipe. Both terribly impractical when facing a lithe and agile predator who specialises in movement. All of which gave her even more means to zip faster around the beast while keeping close. There would be a bit of prodding, mostly to the shell to see just how tough it was but also keep the creature’s attention on her.