[center][color=006400][h1]Yazju Fleetscale[/h1][/color]
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[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220929/5231f9f736370fb0dc0184fdf19b9a81.png[/img][/center]
A collab with [@POOHEAD189]
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Fujiko slowly trailed the crowds making their way toward the palace. It truly was a sight, particularly in comparison to the surrounding buildings which seemed rather plain compared to those in Karitu. She wolfed down her fried rice as she walked, her eyes scanning every direction for anything that may make her pay seem worth it to the empire, a job of little work is hardly worth the trouble. In her lookout for trouble she also kept an eye out for her Zauri friend. She knew he had a stall around here somewhere, selling his little trinkets he put so much effort in. He was actually a lot easier to find than trouble, surprising in a crowd at such an event but although there was the occasional Zauri amongst the crowd they were few and far. Between their towering height and bright scales they were easiest to spot and none other seemed to have cut off their horns- an action of Yazju’s Fujiko could not comprehend with the Honfokun belief that such an act is shameful. She attempted to catch his eye but was unsure if he’d spot her, a brown skinned Honfo was a fish in the sea unlike the Zauri at Wen Yue.

For Yazju’s part, he had just finished his lucrative dealings with some of the many delightful locals when something had happened. He didn’t know what. From where he had set his stall up, one could just see the central square where the Emperor made his debut and spoke to his citizenry in all of his splendor. Yazju was tall enough to be able to see better than most, and still he could only barely make out the pointy hat of what he assumed was the head honcho folk. It was all very exciting. Until things began to get chaotic, and he wasn’t sure if this was some strange ritual or not. He hastily packed his things, having finished for the night anyway. He had to find Fujiko! Luckily she seemed to be just around the corner… 

It was only moments before the rocket was fired followed by a parade of arrows being pelted at the crowds. Fujiko cursed as a nearby guard was shot down. She wrenched his simple wooden shield out of his lifeless hands and held it above her head. Finally, something to do. She had a battle to run to, but first she needed to find Yazju and make sure he was okay. Luckily he seemed to have just spotted her. 

[color=limegreen]”Yazju! Are you okay?”[/color] she asks hurriedly, giving him a once over for any obvious injury.

Yazju’s tail lashed, but more softly than any warning of agitation. He was excited to see his friend was safe and sound. Arrows bounced off the stones of the city grounds, and to his credit he lowered his stance to make himself a smaller target. Yazju had not been injured, but what was more important was that Fujiko had come out scott-free as well. 
“I am good, Fujiko! Better than good! I sold some of my stock!” He declared, opening his mouth in what very few could consider a smile. “I will follow your lead here, friend.”

Fujiko gave a gentle smile at his chirpy response, she wasn't sure if 'better than good' was a fitting phrase when being pelted with arrows but Yazju had a way of focusing on positives like that. [color=limegreen]"Good on you, bud, but let's save the celebrating for when we're safe,"[/color] she replies, tossing him the stolen shield as the rain of arrows ceased. Although she wasn't much more dexterous than her lizardkin friend his height alone made him a much easier target; besides, she was primarily a two-hand wielder. She once again pulls Otto Boyuja from its sheath, lowers her head slightly and mutters [color=limegreen]"May Kizunatsu protect us,"[/color] under her breath before turning to Yazju and giving him a small nod. With that, she launches herself into battle against those that had pulled out their weapons against the guards and the innocents.

The Zauri charged forward, initially guarding Fujiko’s right flank as they both waded through the crowds of fleeing people and into the melee. Men and women, and even children were dead on the ground from stray arrows or sword cuts, but the majority of them were still escaping. The rain of arrows did not touch where the two companions entered, likely so the assassins did not hit their own troops. As Fujiko cleaved with Otto Boyuja, Yazju lead with the shield his friend had given him, using his great bulk and immense strength to flatten two men and send them to the ground. He stepped on one of their heads, though more by accident than design, and cut the other down as he attempted to rise. His tail lashing, he felt something bite it from behind, and the Zauri turned to see a swordsman trying to hack at him again. He whipped his bloodied tail and slapped the man hard across the face, before turning and burying his dao into his throat.

Just as Yazju protected Fujiko’s left, she protected his right. She dexterously stepped around the fallen bodies as she slashed and hacked at the assailants. As Yazju turned to deal with a guard from behind a swordsman came running at him, sword raised. Fujiko blocks his sword with her own and slips in the man’s path as their swords connect. The clanging of swords can be heard as the pair participate in swordplay. Eventually the attacker gets a good but light hit on Fujiko’s left arm. She grits her teeth and lunges at him, skewering him in his stomach causing him to fall. She continues in her position, taking down oncoming foes until Yazju turns back toward the palace where she returns to his side. 

Yazju’s side was pierced by a spear, but it was a light wound that couldn’t completely bite through his armor. He cleaved the man’s head, unable to cut open the helm but making a terrible gash on his face that left him on the ground. Pulling the spear out, he broke it and tossed it to the ground and hisses in pain. Zauri healed easily, and the wound was shallow, and so he went right back to the fight, pushing forward like a stone rolling down hill, making way for Fujiko as he hacked and bashed with dao and shield. He had the distinct impression they needed to make it to the emperor’s men, and so that’s where he was going to go. 

Fujiko glanced back at her friend for only a moment but where his gaze was fixed had already told her where he was wanting to go. After 3 years of battling together and 2 of those spending most of their day together in travel she’d picked up a lot of his nonverbal subtle cues in battle- as he had hers, it was almost like a secret language only the pair of them were tapped into.  She gave him a nod before working back on cleaving the men in their path. She looked up at the palace ahead, wondering if they’d get there in time for their help to be needed.