middaeg | closed ⚡

[Magical traps aren't exactly Lightning's forte, so she's doing it the old-fashioned way, shuffling up the slippery hill hauling a barricade through the mud behind her. At least they've given them some ropes to pull them along, but it does nothing to make them any lighter. They're thick and almost as tall as she is, with spikes in the bottoms to dig deep into the dirt.

Groaning under her breath as they reach the checkpoint, she drops the ropes to the ground.]

You'd think they'd have figured out how to use magic on their own.

[She'd ask for help but... you know, pride and all that. It's too bad she hasn't learned how to completely hone her magic yet, too.]

[The manual labor involved in all this is a welcome distraction to Karin, who has more than enough on her mind on the best of days, and even moreso lately. She manages to shoot her bondmate a weary but understanding smile as she drops her own ropes beside Lightning's, leaning forward to brace her hands against her knees to catch her breath. For the first time, she's grateful for the curved talons that have taken the place of her feet— they had at least helped to dig in and keep traction, which today she will gladly take over the loss of cute boots.

She may feel differently tomorrow.]

We made it this far, that's something!

[Let's find that bright side, Lightning.]

You okay over there?

[Karin herself sounds winded as she asks— the checkpoint is definitely much-needed.]

No thanks to them... Least we're getting paid for it.

[There's the Bright Side if Lightning were to ever find one.

She turns back, trudging through the mud until she reaches Karin to extend a hand out to her.]

Don't get too tired yet. We still gotta set these up... get 'em into the dirt.

[If they even can. Will these things stick even in these conditions? They might have to get creative with what few tools they were given to ensure that these barricades are secure. The last thing they want is to have them rolling down the side of the hill on a rainy day and land on someone down below.]

I'll be fine— I just need a moment.

[Really, it would have been nice if she could have flown these things here and saved them both the time and effort, but they were much too big and heavy for her to carry, so dragging it was. Fortunately, she's finding that birds are stronger than most people give them credit for, or at least harpies are.

She gives a stretch with both arms over her head to loosen up from the walk, her wings flaring behind her in the process.]

Much better.

[Lightning has a point about making them stick, however, and she adopts a thoughtful expression as she turns to survey their surroundings.]

The mud does present a challenge. I'm sure elbow grease will be enough, but maybe there's a spell we can use to firm up the ground?

[Look, she doesn't know... magic stuff.]

[Lightning stares at Karin for a moment in silence before she sputters.]

Don’t look at me.

[She doesn't know magic stuff either... As if Karin had even suggested that she do it in the first place. She's learned some magic, but it's mostly been about controlling what she does know rather than learning new spells... so it's put them in a bit of a bind.

Unless...]

You think lighting a guarded fire would work to dry it up?

[Or would they just end up burning down the entire mountainside?]

[As the witch between them, Karin had thought that she might know something, but she gives a hapless sort of smile before offering a shrug in reply.]

It would be worth a shot, I think. If I could still use the abilities I had at home, I bet fire would dry this mud right up, or at least make it a little more firm. Given how wet everything is, I don't think we would have to worry about it spreading, at least as long as we're careful.

[They probably won't be responsible for any wildfires. Probably. They're not in season right now anyway, right? Right.]

[It didn't take much convincing on Rikku's part to get Lightning outside of the city walls. More postings for Wilders training had been put up, as she'd expected, but what she didn't expect was for the younger girl to want to give it a try... especially after her previous injuries. Who is she to say no, though?

It's a good opportunity for them both to get some training in, and having it be under her supervision, Lightning can at least make sure that she doesn't get too beat up.

As they enter the deeper parts of the woods, her hand rests on her gunblade's sheath, and her eyes dart sideways, keeping still on Rikku.]

You sure about this? Stuff out here can get ugly fast.

[Rikku's shoulder isn't 100% yet, but it's healed well enough that she feels comfortable getting back into the swing of things. She figures the Wilders are doing important work out there, and it's a good opportunity to keep her fighting skills sharp.

Plus, she has one of her surrogate big sisters with her! She knows Lightning will have her back.]

Yep! I can hold my own in a fight, so don't worry about me.

[As if to emphasize her point, she rocks her weight back and forth and gives the air a few pantomimed punches.]

Thanks for coming along with me.

[Lightning doesn't need a thank you for any of this, but she responds to it with a noise. This is Serious! Business!!]

Someone's gotta have your back. Better me than anyone else.

[Is that a jab at the person who put Rikku in bed in the first place? Maybe. She still doesn't know the full story and frankly, she doesn't care to at this point. Lightning's already made up her mind on that. (For now.)

They arrive in a clearing, and the air feels tight. Tense. The silence is all but comforting, especially knowing what they're in for out here. And while she trusts that Rikku can certainly hold her own in a way that she's yet to see, instinct still kicks in and she steps in front of the girl, hand grabbing hold of her sword.]

They don't tell you what kind of training they've got. Just gotta be ready at a moment's notice. You have a weapon? Something to protect yourself with?

[Jab noted and promptly ignored! Rikku knows that Leanne didn't mean it, and that's what matters. Lightning will come around.

Rikku has no issues with letting Lightning step ahead, since her own skills are better performed with someone else holding the enemy's attention. With a grin, she pulls out a claw and slips it onto her left arm.]

Ready for battle! Bring it on!

[Serious! Business!!]

[Lightning eyes the claw Rikku equips to her arm, and is prepared to ask about what exactly it can do, but her question is promptly cut short by a rustle in the bushes. When she glances around, there are large paw prints in the snow, as well as long claw marks.

Some kind of wolf, she thinks. An infected one too, with how deep the marks seem to be.]

Stay still. Let it come to us. If we're too reckless, we give it the upper hand.

[And just like that, a low growl comes from their left. And then their right. And then behind...

Shit.]

Them. The upper hand...

[Rikku crouches slightly in response to the rustling, preparing herself to move quickly once their opponent makes itself known. When the noise spreads and it becomes clear that it's opponents that the two are up against, Rikku gives Lightning a lopsided smile.]

Maybe they're machina and I can take them apart?

[Except that machines don't growl or leave pawprints. But hey, that'd be nice.

Slowly an infected wolf steps out from the bushes in front of them, followed by one to the pair's left and two to the rear. Now moving with care, Rikku looks around and sizes them all up. This is going to be quite the fight, it seems.]

You wanna group them together and try to take them out all at once, or disable them and work on 'em one at a time?

[She's prepared for either eventuality.]

That depends.

[Lightning's voice is quiet and measured, each syllable coming more carefully than the last. She's hardly moving, trying to buy them enough time to come up with an impromptu plan by staying as still as she can. It seems to be working, because the wolves begin to circle them, sizing them up as well.]

You work better against crowds or one-on-one?

[Well, if the strategy is being left to Rikku...]

I've got some potions and stuff to stun and distract the group while we go after the one. You've got one sword and I've got one claw, so that's probably better.

[Rikku's taking this seriously, but not so much so that she can't give Lightning a grin. They've got this. She knows they do.

She pulls something small and round out of a pouch on her side.]

Flash bomb incoming in three... two... one... close your eyes!

[She throws the item down, and it releases a flash of light and a small shockwave that covers the clearing. It's enough to throw the wolves off--they yelp in pain at the unexpected assault to their senses.]

Wha—?

[Lightning is a little too slow to shut her eyes at the warning. A flash of bright light throws her off, blinding her for a moment while she hears the howls of wolves around them, echoing through the ringing in her head as if they were hundreds of yards away instead of right in front of her.

Thankfully, she's able to force herself to bounce back quickly. She has little time to try to find her bearings again, and so with a few hard blinks, Lightning stands straight and draws her sword.]

One on one it is. Give me more warning next time, will you?

[And while the wolves are still rocking their heads, Lightning is the first to rush into the fray, coming round and knocking one of the wolves away from the rest with a kick. This one first.]

Sorry!

[Yeah, maybe expecting Lightning to act on a moment's notice like that wasn't the brightest idea. At least she's able to recover quickly and rush in for an attack. Rikku would have felt awful if her attempts to stun the wolves accidentally gave them the advantage.

Rikku runs after the wolf that Lightning knocks away from the crowd, spinning as she passes it and then skidding herself to a stop on its other side a few yards away. The force of her spin allows her to connect the blades of her claw with the wolf's side with more strength than she has on her own--Rikku depends on speed and mobility to get the job done.]

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karin ⚡ wet n wild

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rikku ⚡ wilders training

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