OOC: Post reserver, taking longer then I thought. sry.

OOC: Hurry up and kill me already!

OOC: Talk about milking the death sequence 😉

OOC: *curdles*

OOC: But then again, why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free

OOC: I'm Writing it I'm writing it.. please don't hurt me

OOC: Don't worry about it. It takes me forever to write anything, too. o.o;

The shots from Kinnears weapon struck home, scattering a trail of bright blue light in their wake, but their critical accuracy did nothing to slow Envys furious advance.

The ball struck first. It slammed into the ground and shattered into a blizzard of shrapnel that rushed over the still unwavering rabbit. Some grazed past outline, others passed clean through in a trail of crimson. Others thudded into bone or thicker muscle and stuck inches out of the flesh. Shreds of Kinnears clothing were ripped away and began to flutter to the ground, only to be struck from the air by a shower of blood as Envys claws caught the hero across the chest.

With the warden off balance and blood still spraying from his torso the beast swiftly grabbed the Hares outstretched arm on the returning swipe, twisting it so violently that the crack of bone was heard clearly even by Ryn on the other side of the ally. Johnnys gun had barely begun to fall before the beast rushed forward again, shouldering him into the air with his broken arm still within its crushing grasp.

There was the gut wrenching sound of flesh being torn from bone as Envy heaved, tossed the offending limb to one side and stepped around to catch the still conscious rabbit by the head with his free hand, the huge paw eclipsing Johns face almost completely.

Breathing heavily, a fanged smile of elation stretched across Envys features at the sound of Johnnys final rasping breaths, energy rippling across the strata of his clenched arm.

< And now. They are reminded. >

There was a sound like the lid of a pressure cooker over heating, then a torrent of air that drew in dust to the tiny light that begun to form behind the helpless rabbit. Small at first the light grew in intensity, as did the now practically gale force wind that was blowing both toward and away from its ring-like epicentre.

Suddenly the light grew and shone brighter the star during a summer sunrise. People covered their eyes in shock. Ryn braced herself against the wind with, clutching the katana and trying to look at John from under her arm. The light from the now man sized halo nearly obscured his form, the rushing tempest dragging his limp body towards its rapidly twisting horizon. Yet of what she could see, the girl swore that there was an almost content smile peaking out from beneath the clamming claws.

And then it let go.

From the roar of wind that had beset the row between the warehouses emerged a terrible silence. The smell of burnt fur and roasted flesh beset the now still air and hung like some terrible decoration around the epicentre of the fight where Envy stood, the wall before him caked in thick, gloopy half congealed blood.

The beast stooped to one knee, breathing heavily as his wounds began to open slightly, seeping a dull blue haze from their edges.

Envy looked at the bloodstained wall and began to chuckle to himself, the sniggers rising rapidly through his wounded to become loud maniacal laughter. But all at once the beast stopped, glancing at the wall once again in confusion. He staggered forward reaching out towards John's remains, dark eyes wide with sudden unparalleled hatred.

<This is not right.> It snarled <This cannot be right! WHERE ARE YOU!>

The sounds of a colossal battle above had resumed once more, the sound of taunting laughter and of something being flung through plaster board walls reaching the ears of those below.

OOC: Hope it is a death worth of your character Rico.

Claw finally reached Envy, far too late to do help the rabbit who was grisly murdered before everybody.

He's distracted, jackpot! thought Claw tom himself.

Envy only briefly caught the glint of light flashing off of Claw's blades as they sunk into the side of Envy's torso.

Maybe it was seeing the rabbit die before his very eyes...

Maybe it was Envy's twisted features and maniacal laughter as he committed the terrible act...

He didn't really know when, but at some point, Kenneth's fear seemingly vanished. He didn't run. He didn't scream. He didn't shed a single tear. None of that mattered anymore. No, it was something else entirely now.

As he gazed at the crimson coloring that now stained the walls, a memory resurfaced; something he remembered Ryn telling him back home long ago...

"One day, there will be a time when you'll find a reason truly worth fighting for. Something worth protecting at all costs, even your own life..."

Kenneth closed his eyes. I think I understand now what you mean now, Ryn. Everyone's always trying to protect me, even now, and I just saw a stranger killed right in front of me.

I don't ever want to see that happen to anyone else ever again. I don't want anyone else to die for my sake, or anyone else's.

When he opened his eyes once more, the boy spotted an unfamiliar object in midst of the rubble and debris. Taking a few steps forward to investigate, he realized it was some sort of handgun. It had belonged to the rabbit; it must have been dropped or knocked out of his hands when the demon got a hold of him.

Cautiously, Kenneth reached out and grasped the firearm. It felt frigid; so cold he nearly let go.

He didn't have any idea what he was could do, and yet, he had a hunch that everything would fall into place right here and now.

No, he wouldn't call it a hunch... he knew it.

Tobias suddenly froze up, the piercing red eyes rolling into his head. It felt as if a train had suddenly hit him. But as horrifically intense as the pain was, there was something under it. Something he hadn't felt in a very long time.

The rabbit's exterior fell, a crumpled heap before his injured foe. He seemed to ooze dark energy, as if all the ambient energy the creature had called on was pouring back out of the rabbit's fallen form.

~~~

"Keep up, Keedis." The fox stated in irritation, the boy was renowned for his ability to piddle in any given situation. Yet another thing Rico insisted was from his maternal side.

The boy didn't seem to be playing though. He was standing as stoically has a small child could. Staring blankly at the city with innocent blue eyes.

"Keedis Underwood, move your feet... NOW." The fox barked commandingly. As was the only way to penetrate the human's oblivious nature.

The human looked over at his father and raise an almost invisible red eyebrow, "Kay." His word barely leaving his lips before he took off at amazing speed back toward the town.

The fox cursed and gave chase, but even with his larger size his weakened state left him unable to make the child's sheer energy. Forcing him to stay at pursuit distance instead of overtaking the boy's increasing stride.

A rather dull vacation to some backwater planet in the middle of gods-only-know just got a whole lot more interesting. It had just been another boring stop on his journey with no destination, arriving there by hitching an uncomfortable ride on a large, star-jumping cargo freighter. The only luggage he carried with him were the clothes on his back, the money he had earned through the occasional odd job and some lucky gambling, and a pair of firearms. The weapons had been confiscated by port authorities.

Gee, those would have been helpful right now, huh?

Things had been calm as usual until all hell was let loose, the military started evacuating the confused and scared civilians while trying to deal with whatever was causing all the trouble, jets started flying overhead, and some little starship joined the party and started hovering over the city. In short, everything became a chaotic mess. He couldn't resist.

While everyone had been trying to get away from ground zero, he had gone against the current. Oh sure, the military had tried to herd him out with the rest, but he was too slick and sneaky for them. One of them had gotten beat senseless with their own rifle for the attempt, and their sidearm was "volunteered" to the renegade feline. The day that a bunch of army guys were a match for Sabin Dahkfer, Coolest Cat in the Universe, was the day that he retired.

The orange tabby cat was swiftly running down the city streets, his bare, digigrade feet pattering against the pavement as he reached into his old leather jacket to touch the pistol he had stuffed within his armpit holster for those just-in-case sort of situations when some human kid randomly came running around the corner of a building and slammed into him before either of them could stop.

Green eyes widened, and the tomcat exhaled explosively as the combined energy of the impact knocked the wind out of him. The pair of aviator sunglasses that had been dangling from his jacket collar clattered to the ground, and Sabin had to reposition his footing to make sure he hadn't fallen on his denim-clad rear.

"Oof! Damn, kid, what's the hurry?", he asked in a slightly irritated but smooth voice, glancing at the living projectile that had interrupted his jaunt into unknown danger.

The human rubbed his head and tried to glance off the pain but to no avail. He look at his hands, they were scratched up a trickle of blood oozing from the small scrape. He felt his brain lose control, all he could think about was this idiot plowing into him when all these bad things were happening. Who did he think he was? Why the hell was he here? Why the hell was this stranger hurting him? It hurt, the more he though about it the more it hurt. Soon the pain was excruciating, his mind went blank.

"****"

A word like that from a boy that small and disarming was shocking to say the least. More shocking was his physical reaction. He didn't even acknowledge the cat. He didn't even stand. He crawled to an alcove and hugged his knees, starting blankly at the ground.

Sabin reached down to pluck his sunglasses off the pavement, but he paused before continuing on his way towards the sounds of shouting and fighting. The human boy's little curse didn't surprise him much, considering he was thinking the same thought, but the following reaction struck the feline as odd. He didn't think the boy had been hurt that badly.

The tabby cat tilted his head slightly to the side in curiousity, his tail tip twitching behind him. Many people had called him a flippant, selfish jerk before, but even he had his soft spots. Knocking down a child and ignoring him was a little low, even for him, so he crouched down to make sure the kid didn't need help.

"Hey, are you alright?", the cat asked the boy, "Just a little accident. No hard feelings, right?"

The boy didn't look at him. He seemed to be almost catatonic. He didn't look injured, he didn't even look like he was pain, he just looked... mad.

The kind of expression Sabin was seeing was one he had encountered before on soldiers whose minds just couldn't take it anymore. The child was in shock. He sure knew that running into the little guy wouldn't do that. Either the boy just had some serious mental hangups, or the situation slightly further into the city was worse than the cat thought.

A rare frown came to the feline's face. He was tempted to simply leave the kid where he was and continue on his merry way, but what morals the tabby had rebelled against that idea. Leaving a child in the middle of a potential warzone hardly seemed liked the good guy thing to do, but he didn't want to escort the child out and miss the action.

What to do, what to do?

Watching the boy's face, a few old memories came back to Sabin of a young, orange kitten struggling to make it on his own on some far away city street...

"Hey, kid, I'm here to check out what's causing all the trouble around here. Know anything that can help?", he asked. Soon after, a confident grin split the feline's face, and in an easygoing tone he added, "Want to come along?"

"No." The word was more a whisper. Still no reaction.

"He'll be fine." Another, more adult, voice announced behind him. "He's just trying to get attention from you. Don't let him get his way or he's never going to grow up."

The fox strode onto the scene, he was obviously trying hard not to look like he was exhausted from running but the heaving of his chest defied his stoic mannerisms.

"Maybe I'd give him what he wanted if I knew what it was", Sabin replied casually as he stood up and spun to face the newcomer to this unexpected situation. The cat's green eyes swept over the fox's form...and then swept again, curiously examining the one that had approached him. Nothing about the fox seemed all that special, but a little feeling in Sabin's gut told him he was more than what he seemed. He tended to trust those feelings.

"It's a liiiiitle bit of an odd time to do some attention seeking, know what I mean?", the cat asked, tilting his head in the direction of some wreckage and burning jet fuel. His sensitive ears swiveled towards the renewed sound of distant shouting.

"Maybe you know what's going on around here."

The fox didn't seem phased, "Keedis, get up. Now."

The order even made Sabin's ears stand on edge. The boy did as he was told and stood up.

"The city guard believed it was necessary to destroy their own town. After that some strange creatures attacked what was left. It's no longer safe here, although my son seems to think running headlong into this deathtrap is a good idea."

Just as the fox finished his short explanation Sabin felt a small mass push by him. He knew what it was even before he heard the youthful voice mutter, "It is," as the boy shoved by him and further into the town.

Idiot city guard + weird monsters. Check. Sabin didn't have any idea what kind of monsters they were talking about, but they must have been awfully scary if the military thought it best to bomb their own civilian population in order to take them out. He liked bang-bangs just as much as the next male, but going straight to carpet bombing seemed just a tad overkill. Didn't those guys ever hear of sniper teams?

Asides from that, the feline's ears also poked up in surprise upon hearing the fox refer to himself as the human's father. Sabin just didn't see it. Either the boy was adopted, or there was some freaky genetic splicing going on. He wasn't aware that natural breeding could happen between such different species...although, he'd never been curious enough to try.

Sabin's thoughts were interrupted by the boy, Keedis, taking off running again. Without a moment's hesitation, the feline ran after him. Unlike the tired out fox, the tabby cat had no trouble reaching and matching the young human's speed. In fact, if anything, it looked like the feline was holding back so he didn't outright pass the child up. He casually jogged alongside the fleeing human.

"NOW we're on the same page!", the cat said enthusiastically, "Still, facing a bunch of monsters might be out of your league. Tell ya what, I'll stick around and help out, eh?"

Smirking, the feline stuck a hand out to the side, offering the fleeing child his hand. "You can call me Sabin."

"Fool! I'm growing tired of flicking you off like the insect you are!" rasped Envy as he dislodged Claw from his torso with a wave of his hand.

As Claw's long claws were pulled out of Envy's side, long streams of what could only be described as black blood cloaked in gaseous shadow energy briefly erupted from Envy before the darkness that enshrouded the grand demon congealed around the wounds.

This time Claw was prepared for the sudden change in gravity, and managed to land easily on the side of a building. It looked odd seeing Claw standing upright on the vertical edge of a building. Gravity was suddenly re-envoked and Claw found himself flipping around to land with his feet on the street.

The bladed terror looked down the street he had been thrown in to and looking far down the lane, he could barely make out what looked like a human and an orange cat in he distance.

Envy grinned widely, but there was weakness in his features, fatigue. The wounds Claw had inflicted did not close as the previous one's had, and now that claw stared down his foe, he could swear that the best's ambiance was changing. Dull hue's of green seemed to be moving through the beast's normally sharp aura, and for a brief moment, claw could swear he saw hints of fur turning beneath the turbid darkness.

What surprised him most, however, was the shot that rang out a moment later.

For a moment the world stood still, Claw staring intently at the bullet track that now sat right in the middle of one of those patches of green light. With a glintch of pierced flesh, black blood spewed forth from the small hole in the beasts chest. Not light, but oily, path staining blood.

Envy placed a hand top of his wound, the secretion of green either from its edges spreading rapidly across his chest. With a gasp like someone whod just been plunged into frigid water, the coat of blue intangible darkness that enveloped Envy snapped away. The green hue remained but the shady armour had been stripped back. Envy was revealed.

Though slightly shorter then his previous form, many would have preferred him that way. At least then his features would have still been hidden. Now he was revealed in all his glory, terrifying with an unyielding look of pure hatred permanently chiselled on his bestial features. Fangs that had looked no more corporeal then a dark corner of an unlit room now glistened vividly with spittle, his claws long black claws still dripping with blood were now adjoined to a slender, muscle bound body covered in light fur. A beast still to be true. But that was not interested claw. He was stearing at Envys face. Right into his slit pupiled green eyes.

A beasts eyes, for sure. But more then that; They were the eyes of a Mortal.

Time seemed to catch up with the scene. Envy roared in anger, and whiled around to see Kenneth pointing the pistol at his chest.

INSULENT BRAT! The creature screamed Look what you have done!

The beasts threw back its maned head and let forth a roar of frustration. Fuming with rage and obviously feeling the weight of the gun wound, Envy turned back to claw and drew back his arms.

Fine, then maybe we do this the old fashioned way.

With a sizzle of energy Envys outstretched arm began to glow. A bright white broadsword extended from the palm and formed into a brilliantly glowing blade.

With unprecedented speed and screaming an unearthly battle cry, Envy lunged at the bladed terror.

--

The flaming entity watched from his recovering stance as his opponent, who until now had been matching his every blow with ease, began to wither under the pressure of some unseen force.

At Envys distant cry, however, the blades dwindled in his grasp and the creature leapt away from the fallen rabbit.

< This was fun I must say, but it appears our time is up. Maybe I will make you beautiful another time. >

In a bound, Ira leapt into the roofing space and in a blink was gone from sight, leaving the confounded rabbit alone in the burning building with his personal daemons.

--

The fires had spread widely, and now were catching at the back of the warehouse beyond which the battle was being waged against Envy.

Big, tough-looking wolf dude at twelve o'clock. Sabin could see the guy, roughed up from some battle, up ahead down the street. Past him, it was hard to make out what was going on, but it looked like a fight. This had to be the source of the mass destruction, and the cocky tabby cat couldn't resist joining in. Lacking any clue to the wolf's identity, Sabin mentally labeled him "Badass Dude #1".

The feline drew his hand back from Keedis. Whatever was going on, it looked like some people needed help, and he wasn't going to do them any good by lagging behind and taking his sweet time. "Hey kid, pick up the pace and see what you can do to help those folks. I gots me a monster to tangle with!", he told the human boy.

Then he started really running, jetting ahead on his digigrade feet. No doubt about it; the cat was very fast and was putting that talent of his to it's full use, pulling ahead of Keedis and putting a fair amount of distance between them. Drawing closer to the scene of the battle, the tomcat could make out a partially trashed building missing a wall with jet fuel fires nearby where the fight was taking place, and Sabin could make out the monster that had been mentioned. Whatever it was, it was big, vaguely canine, and it looked like was made of black and purple smoke/fire. And it was big. Really big. That wasn't something that the tabby had encountered before, but he mentally shrugged off any doubts he was having. After all, the bigger they are...

Smirking as he neared Badass Dude 1, the feline cheerfully said, "Hi! Bye!", as he passed him by without pausing for breath. Close to the battle now, Sabin could make out the sight of several people fighting for their lives against the beast and at least one poor sap that had lost that battle. Well, now it was time to tip the odds more in the civvies' favor.

It occured to him that he didn't really know what the story was, who was involved, or what any of it was really about. Still, he had a feeling that the big shadowy guy that was talking trash was the baddie. Call it a hunch. What was he doing? Did it make the slightest shred of sense? Not really, but that was just the norm for Sabin Dahkfer. As much trouble as he ran into without trying, one would think he'd stop looking for it, but he just kept at it.

Sabin morbidly thought that the blood on the floor was going to make the maneuver he planned easier.

The cat reached into his jacket to retrieve the army guy's pistol, holding it ready in one hand as he paused briefly to scoop up a piece of heavy rebar. He kept running straight at the terrorizing demon, a feral grin grin on his face.

Once in range, the orange cat called out, "Yo! Allow me to introduce myself!"

It did what he wanted to do: draw the monster's attention to himself. It looked like the folks who had gotten dragged into the fight had already done some damage to thing. It was time to poke a few more holes in it.

Bringing the rebar up to his shoulder, Sabin hurled the metal shaft like a javelin, aiming it at the demon's head. As the metal spike took flight, the feline sprinted forward, racing it to it's target. Feeling the blood-slicked ground beneath his feet, Sabin leapt.

The feline let gravity hatch him and drag him down under a swing of the creature's fist and landed on his back, the momentum and speed carrying him further, skidding across the concrete. A crazed grin on his face, Sabin raised his pistol and opened fire, pumping 9mm rounds into the demon's chest, belly, and groin. He kept going, skidding between the large monster's legs as the metal spike impacted with it. Sabin finished off the gun's magazine by emptying the remaining rounds into his opponent's back.

There was a moment of silence as the feline skidded to a halt some yards from the beast. Sabin didnt even realise something was wrong until the two divided halves of the makeshift spear squeezed into the ground on either side of him.

Envy had stopped in his tracks, the sword razed high in the cats direction as though frozen at the end of a swing, a small glowing bucker shield on its left arm baring the signs of the bullet impacts.

The cat at first felt interested, noting that at least two of the shots had at least gotten through and penetrated while the beast still seemed otherwise intact.

At least it was going to be an interesting fight.

Then he noticed the hot line spreading across his chest, like an invisible whip of silk had just reminded him of something he may have overlooked. Glancing down, Sabin watched through the slice in his clothing as a shallow bright red gash formed on his chest where the sword had met its mark. As blood quickly began to pool and soak into the surrounding cloth, the feline finally looked back on those few moments as he passed under the beast, the flash of scarcely noticeable light standing there as a vivid testament to the beasts successful counter attack.

Hed barely even seen it move. It was a wonder he was still breathing.

Envy scowled, eyes still fixated on Claw and not even glancing at the feline that had just attacked him.

And after that rude interruption. He pivoted the blade of the sword to a right angle Where were we?

OOC: In the world of darkness, Heros die first.
- Going to bed, smegging tired.-

The battle that raged was the center of attention. However another event was taking place. The fox had arrived, standing over the fallen Lapoid. Rico knelt and looked at the crimson stained features of the rabbit.

"Given your body for this? Are they worth this much to you?" He pulled John's form up to his knee with an almost regretful look on his face. "It's been over a millennium since we first discovered this place, old friend. Though our paths diverged we still held the same goals and slowly, slowly, through your actions and the memories I have now, I'm beginning to see why you so ardently protect them even when they would destroy you. To lose someone, mortality, it is easy to see why they act as they do." The fox put a hand over the rabbit's face and closed his lifeless eyes, gently laying his broken body back to the ground and standing up, the looks of uncertainty on his face was something he'd not felt since the last time he was these, people.

"I'm sure tan'maslak has found a worthy host. If you will excuse me." The fox turned and walked toward the battle, drawing his sword. He held it up, as if studying the battle with it's edge under the scene was somehow more intriguing.

*CLANG*

The sound of metal on asphalt echoed through the street as the fighting subsided and Envy and Claw once again squared off. The sound momentarily diverted their attention.

"It seems this coward has you on the ropes. Not like you at all, Claw." The fox glared at Envy and walked closer, scraping his weapon on the ground as he advanced.

Claw stood ready, no doubt he'd improved. But so had he, the Warden were no longer a mystery to him. He'd found some time through the years to understand their culture. And understand he did. Very few existed then, even fewer now. Storm Warden were the most dangerous of that old culture, impossible to predict and able to mask their true feelings as a matter of nature. Adapt to anyone, gain trust in anyone, attack from the places noone could imagine and side with people so randomly it was impossible to accurately predict their allegiance.

If he wanted to attack Envy, this was a foolish way to do it. Was he after them? If he was why didn't he just attack from the rear while he'd been fighting Envy? Maybe he wanted to destroy them all. But why? Who was he working for? Maybe he was attempting to take them without hurting the children, Claw knew the fox had always despised those that involved kids in battles. His mind raced, attempting to predict the unpredictable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are you doing here. Did the mighty White Tail lose to one of these... beings?" A shadowy form mocked through glowing red eyes.

"It was necessary. It is not time interfere." A form of crackling blue energy stated bluntly.

There was nothing, blackness. The two beings seemed composed of solely energy.

"However, I've watched you torment him long enough. We are not parasites and I refuse to allow you to act as one. Leave, return home." The electical form demanded.

"...

So, your non-interference commandment only applies when it's convenient?"

"Your presence here gives me every right to interfere. You forced this one to take you. I'm simply going to remove you at his request."

"You think it will be that easy?"

That last thought passing electrical impulses crackled between the two forms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oy git back 'ere! Tobes said to run!" Craig's voice echoed into the battle scarred warehouse.

The rabbit's body lay still.

"Tobias!"

"Tobe!"

The two voices were different but called the same name. Their origin's met over their fallen guardian. Both Keedis and Henry frantically trying to bring him to consciousness.

Kenneth maintained his ground as he watched Envy transform. Although his eyes showed no trace of fear, the pistol in his shaking hands gave away the child's nervousness.

The child's ears twitched at hearing the scraping noise. Turning to see the fox approach, his whole body stiffened further.

"Ken!"

It was Ryn who had spoken this time; he hadn't noticed her running towards him. It felt as though a ton of weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Ken, are you all right?" she asked once she reached him, kneeling down to his eye level.

"Yeah, sis." His eyes looked over at the fox once more. "There... there's something I gotta do first."

Ryn looked puzzled as Kenneth turned and headed towards Rico, carefully carrying the holding the pistol in one hand.

"Gyah!", Sabin exclaimed in a mixture of pain and irritation, looking down at the gash across his chest. It seemed that the big beastie was faster than he looked. It took some considerable reflexes to take the feline by surprise. In fact, how the heck did that thing deflect two attacks coming from completely different angles? Sabin decided that now wasn't the best time to think too hard about it. Point was, his neat little plan ended with him on his ass, one of his favorite shirts ripped, him needing stitches, and his jacket dirty with some other dude's blood.

Oh well. It could have been worse.

Painfully, the orange tabby rolled over and got to his feet, fire shooting across his chest wound. Back on his feet, he swiftly assessed the situation. It seemed that Badass #1 was getting ready to clash with Beastie again while the fox guy he ran into earlier, whom he quickly labeled as Badass #2, was also getting ready to join the fray. Beastie had turned his back to the feline, which not only was an enormous insult to the tabby, but a tactical error.

Sabin wondered how the creature would do against attacks from two entirely different directions. He just hoped the other two canines had the stuff.

The cat drew back his arm and tossed his empty pistol at the creature's back. "Hey!", he shouted, leaning down to pick up the two pieces of rebar, "I'm not finished with you, pal!"

OOC: Sorry I've been absent for so long, I'm not really good at writing my own stuff and when my last IC command was "run away from the danger" I didn't really know what else I could do.

IC: It was turning out to be a long day for the ever young Bayfield. All this insanity starting, people he thought to be dead being alive and now he was charged with a little kid to protect who didn't quite want to be protected.

Somehow he'd lost the damned kid who was insisting on returning to the danger zone, as if he could even make the slightest bit of difference by putting himself in the line of fire and distracting the people who care for him.

"Oy git back 'ere! Tobes said to run!" he called out from inside the warehouse.

"Tobias!"

"Tobe!"

The squirrel finally caught up and found Henry and Keedis trying to revive Toby.

"No..." he breathed, rushing to them "not again..."

OOC: I'll make a bigger effort to keep involved now...

OOC: Just for clarity's sake, since I haven't actually made this known, Claw isn't any particular breed of animal; he more or less just resembles a really furry brown humanoid with big red pupiless eyes. Sorry to mention this so late in the game!

IC:

"'Bout time you showed up, Rico," growled Claw impatiently.

With a bestial roar of his own Claw prepared all ten of his extended claws.

"Old-fashioned way... that sounds more like it," growled Claw.

Envy was fast, but Claw was a psionic and could read the mad beast's movements. He blocked Envy's broadsword with one set of claws while he spun around and took a swipe at the exposed demon's midsection. His claws clashed hard against Envy's buckler.

Envy quickly recovered and stabbed rapidly at Claw. Drawing upon psionic energies, Claw leaned from side to side, just barely avoiding the lethal point of Envy's broadsword. It was quickly evident that Envy was faster but as far as brute strength went, Claw had the upper hand.

Claw suddenly ducked forward, grabbing Envy's wrist that held the sword and jerked it forward. Envy quickly brought his shield around to slam Claw's face, but this was what Claw had expected. With a flat open hand he stopped Envy's buckler and shoved it hard into Envy's face. Unable to escape Claw's iron grip, Envy found himself being pummeled with his own buckler-clad forearm as Claw shoved it into his face over and over.

Envy snarled as, with lightning ferocity, snapped kicked Claw in the side of the gut. Claw loosened his grip, giving Envy the opportunity to pull away. With a quick roundhouse, Envy's foot crashed into Claw's jaw. Claw staggered backwards a few feet.

After slowly righting himself, Claw wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Giving no pause for witty comebacks or snappy one-liners, he charged Envy.

Parry after parry, thrust after thrust the two opponents kept their pace with one another. Claw with the weight of Psionic power behind him and multiple blades, Envy with the frightening speed of darkness. Envy held his ground barely, but even he knew that there were now too many opponents for him to engage. Claw had felt out his adversary and now even he knew that the beast was still holding back, keeping that edge in reserve just in case one of the others took advantage of an opening. One lucky shot would be all it would take in his dis-armoured state.

Envys relief, there for, was more then visible in his eyes when an explosion of glass and mortar from the building above gave him opportunity for escape.

As the airborne figure arched overhead the trail of dust following it began to descend, debris raining down on the scene from the broken window above. Somewhere in the distance there was the sound of a body hitting the ground hard.

Spluttering and searching for his target, Claw stabbed wildly at the figure before him, only to see it vanish in a blink of an eye. As the sound of falling glass brazened his ears, razor sharp instincts drew his gaze upward, and there it was, hanging momentarily in mid air with a mocking expression on its features.

< Its getting rather too crowded around here. Perhaps next time my bony fodder. >

With a veracious roar Claw pushed off with his right foot and took off from the ground with every ounce of bloodlust he could muster, blades razed to kill the second he was within range. But centimetres from his goal, Envy smirked and vanished, moving once again with the speed that had brought his pack so quickly to the city bounds.

He was gone.

And with him, the spell over the city seemed ease. The shadows retreated and the light mid day star once again graced the faces of the combatants.

Maybe it was over? At least for now.

--

Somewhere further down the street, Niki opened her eyes.

Everything hurt.

She could taste blood in her mouth. And everything seemed to be going so well.

Her arm had taken the brunt of the punishment, acting as her buckler in the frey. Had she run earler she woudn't be in this mess, but she had assumed her speed gave her the edge. A bad call to say the least. After that dark amour dropped it was like a switch had been flicked.

She'd lost count of the number of walls she'd been thrown through.

The h.u.d over her right eye confirmed as much. Warning signs of the damage she had sustained were flashing up all over the place. It was a wonder the implants were still operational after this much trauma.

Worse still, she wasnt even out of the woods yet.

Even though the creatures last assault had thrown her a considerable distance, she would have to start running soon if she was going to keep it that way.

And yet, her body wouldnt move.

It was all she could do just to lay there and keep on breathing.

But she had to move.

It would be coming after her soon.

She had to get out while there was still distance between her and the beast.

She had to...

--

< Where has metal girl gone too? >

The slimy voice oozed out from the large hole where once the window had been. Avarice leaned out of it, hues not unlike that of swampy water clinging to his sharpened form.

< I wonder if she enjoyed our little game, heh heh hehh. Eh? >

Something within the building caught his attention. He turned back and slithered away.

< Ahh its yous, good hunting I presume? Envy has retreated, but the metal girl is dead, sos we can kill them together now. Heh Heh He- >

There was a brilliant flash of blue light and the sound of flesh being carved from bone. The gargling scream from the creature striking everyone as though a thousand needles of ice had been sunk into their bodies.

< What Are You DOING! > Shrieked the unseen beast, another flash of light coming in reply followed by another streak of agony.

They could see him again now, the hunched creature with two grate blue blades protruding from his chest and shoulder.

< What dIFeraNCeE WILL TIcE MaKE!! WHTT dO You WAntS FFrom THIS!! >

This time they all heard the reply, a soft silky voice that ran across their skin like ribbons of the finest material, binding them in place.

< Redemption >

Avarice sawed through the air above the party, carried by the immense force behind the light that had just been released by his unseen attacker. The beasts face was almost entirely consumed by the pain from his pierced hart, and before he even hit the ground his body burst in to black flames.

Claw backed away a step as the creature fell at his feat, ashes pealing away from its already disintegrating body.

For a brief moment he thought hed seen the figure that had attacked the foul beast, but now it was gone like a shadow exposed to the daylight that now radiated the crumbled ground beneath his feat.

OOC: In any good story, the first skermish is never the last. I'm just setting up the skittles for a bigger plot ball.

Claw dropped his battle stance and scratched the back of his head.

"What the Hell..." he growled.

"I can't be certain." Rico growled lowly, sword still grinding into the pavement. "There is someone here that could have stopped this with a single move."

The fox sneered and put up his weapon, he didn't seem relieved they'd been 'saved', in fact he seemed, angry. Then he noticed Kenneth, still moving towards him.

The anger in the fox's eyes seemed to fade for a moment. His body loosened and his voice seemed, weak. "You intend to use that?" He asked meekly, referring to the weapon in the boy's paw.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*fzzzt*

An impulse of lighter energy flash within the darker being. It seemed to flinch, just long enough for a surge of blue electricity to envelope it.

A rock fell to what should have been ground, though none existed. The rock how ever was real, behind the forms of energy stood a small yellow rabbit, a defiant look on his face.

You... again. Curse you Under-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A massive wave of inky purple energy suddenly cascaded from the rabbit's fallen form. Craig saw the ragdoll outline of the boy he'd been charge with carrying flail through the air and hit the weaken wall of the warehouse, breaking it and sending debris plus one small child scattering into the now quiet scene of Claw's rather anticlimactic battle with the strange creatures.

Craig lurched in front of a solid concrete support with the last of his agile strength. The wave hit, it wasn't just the impact of the shockwave. It wasn't just his lungs having and air forced from them or his head smashed and held to the support. The wave felt like... evil. Thoughts invaded his mind, horrible thoughts, thoughts that tamed any murder and violation he'd ever knew existed. Yet though the horrific imagery it seemed to stimulate every pleasure center in his brain. It was almost FORCING him to enjoy the images it funneled into his subconscious and conscious mind. Thousands of images worth thousands of thousands of words, words he was forced to enjoy, all bathed in filth and atrocity sandblasted his morality, ego, and beliefs. And in a moment that seemed like a year, it was gone. The images and pleasure gone. Taken away, ripped away, despite the disgusting things he felt and saw, he'd never felt so satisfied and content. And now it was gone.

The building was close to collapse, that last blast of force weakening any remaining support. Tobias was still immobile, the human boy, Keedis, hadn't moved. An impossibility? Maybe, but he didn't seemed moved or phased by the immense wave of energy that had hit him. The boy was sitting, staring blankly at the rabbit.

"You intend to use that?"

The kitten stopped in his tracks. Just a few feet separated him from Rico.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he placed the weapon on the ground in front of him and looked back at the fox.

"I... thought I should give it to someone else," Kenneth stated plainly. "I've got no use for it. I think you know the person who owned it."

As he spoke, the reality of the gruesome murder he had witnessed caught up with him; he was powerless to stop the tears now flowing from his eyes.

"H-he saved my life... And he got killed for it." The child's shoulders shook as he began to sob. "That monster... nearly tore 'im apart... and... and..."

"Kenneth, I'm sorry." Ryn's voice gracefully drifted to his ears as he attempted to dry his tears with one arm. The feline was already standing right behind him; he hadn't seen her approach. "If only I'd gotten there sooner..."

He looked up to her briefly before shifting his gaze to the pistol he'd placed on the ground. Unconsciously, both hands curled into fists.

Just take it already. I told you I've got no use for it. I'm just a kid, dammit.

< And yet, your aim was true. >

Kenneth froze, the silky voice binding his feat to the ground as the world around him seemed to slow.

< A shot fired from one's hart is a dificult act indeed, especialy for one so young. Yet you acomplished it without a moments hesitation.>

The boy tried to look around but found that he couldn't move, or rather, he didn't need too. The voice, though resinating as though it were right by his ear, was clearly within his own mind. Silent to the outside world.

< My master's time draws near. He knows of my betrayal and would banish me in a single breath but for his captivity. Envy dose not forget prey that slips between his grasp, he will retern.>

The voice drew back, as though it were now towering and yet embracing him as a blanket.

< Weild me as your blade. Raze me in defiance of fate and I will not falter to any foe. I will be you sheild against those who would harm you, and the power to protect those you love. All you need do, is give me your answer. Yes, or no.>

"Age is no excuse for the inability to fight. You sound like a man I once knew. Claiming to protect the weak, all along coddling them." The fox's ears twitched, sensing it again, something hiding between their two worlds. The coward that allowed Kinnear's death. He felt his fur stand up.

"Pick up that weapon and learn to use it. Else you're no better than the cowards that would bomb their own people to kill one intruder." He kept speaking, though his mind was searching, listening, every facet of his Kydane bloodline scanning for what it was he was feeling.

It was at this point that the events beside them caught up. The warehouse not three or four yards away's outer wall exploded sending debris raining down on them. In the midst of it a small body, Henry's, fell with the mass of concrete and rebar.

Claw looked quizzically at Kenneth. Something wasn't right here. It reminded him of when Evalc had used CjTails and Nate Fox, it was like trying to bring that dark entity that lurked in the corner of your eye into focus but watching it dance just out of view no matter how fast you turned your head.

"It's not healthy to stand next to a collapsing building," muttered Claw.

That's when he saw Henry's body come flailing down with another wall of the warehouse.

"We need to get out of here. With those... things... gone, no doubt this place'll be covered with Evolian troops again," growled Claw as he walked over to Ryn and placed his hand on the hilt of the katana.

For a moment Ryn felt the sensation of being drained, sucked dry, as the katana was taken away from her.

"W-what... that sword...," stuttered Ryn.

"Don't worry about it, kid. You don't want to know," growled Claw.

Claw turned back to Rico, "If you're done slaughtering military personnel, maybe you'd help me pick up all these dazed and confused bodies laying around before something really big explodes."

Claw easily hefted Tobias over his shoulder.

The strange energy burst that radiated from the building for a moment didn't seem to effect the others. The theory would have been that it was too dispersed by that distance, much like an odor is less noticeable as you retreat further from it's release point.

The debris didn't seem to bother Rico. In fact he didn't even move to help the bruised and bloodied halfbreed that had just fallen from the sky. The boy's leg was pinned under a piece of concrete as if to prevent his escape if he were conscious after the blast.

A second look from a closer course revealed Rico was catatonic, he stood frozen with a look of debilitating fear on his face. His poise shattered, the tough stoic fox was gone, the look of fear was something that you would have expected from the Kydane when he was much younger. It was as if his worst nightmare had just appeared to him in living form.

The human boy diligently followed Claw, the blank look on his face unyielding.

Feeling slightly lightheaded, Ryn stared at her hand, curling and uncurling her fingers as though she couldn't quite get used to them not grasping onto a weapon.

Turning to her brother, she opened her mouth to speak, but the boy spoke first.

"Ryn... I wanna be left alone."

"Are you... sure about it?" She was apprehensive; Kenneth never acted this way before.

"I said, I wanna be left alone." It was more forceful this time, making Ryn feel even more uneasy.

Although she truly didn't want to, she turned her back to him, checking to see if the other boy was alright as she lifted him from the ground.

Kenneth's mind was a storm of thougths and emotions he didn't know how to sort out. He wasn't used to it... he didn't know what to do.

OOC: I know I said I was going to mod is little as humanly possible. But can you guys trim the one on one grandeur enough to let Sabin in?

Rico's not supposed to be in, that's fine. But please let the other players participate a little here. I counted about two completely ignored posts up there of Froggy's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IC:

"You shouldn't listen to them."

Ken heard it, but it could have been another voice in his mind.

"I don't listen to the voices anymore. Uncle told me they were bad."

Again, it wasn't the voice from before. It wasn't the enigmatic and omnipotent smooth tone, it was... childish.

"Are your voices bad too? Most of mine are. Some are good though. Hey. Can you hear me? I heard you. Hey. Listen!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rico fell to his knees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His eyes were open. Ryn was in awe the boy could still be awake after that. He hadn't cried out in pain or anything when she lifted him up, he was sure to have broken limbs or at least some badly sprained ones, yet he didn't make any noise.

The eyes fell to slits as tears fell. The half breed youth seemed to be oblivious to his savior's presence. His mouth opened a little.

Ryn shivered a little, she wasn't used to people like this. How could the blood stop if he had no fur? It just ran down his smooth skin and dripped to the ground, or her arms.

"I... didn't know." A quiet whisper left the youth's mouth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Keedis continued his vigil on Tobias, however his wide blue eyes had another target. He had a thumb between his teeth looking blankly at Kenneth from afar.

"Hey, you gonna stand there, or are you gonna grab a lump of fur?" growled Claw irritably at Sabin.

Sabin was too busy picking at the slash marks across his chest when Claw's gruff voice snapped him back into reality.

HA! Thats right! You better run!, the orange tabby cat cried out triumphantly at the space that Envy had recently vacated, Next time, Im going to seriously mess you up! The feline smirked as he dropped the two broken pieces of rebar to the ground, although his tail twitched in an agitated way behind him; he didnt like it when an enemy got away from him like that.

Sabins tail paused, and the cat glanced around him at the devastation and the wounded in the uncomfortable silence that followed. He suddenly was acutely aware of the fact that he was surrounded by shell-shocked strangers that had barely noticed his arrival. That struck him as a little rude, but understandable, given the circumstances. That was when his thoughts were interrupted by the big, sword-slinging.whatever that he had passed up earlier. Keep your pants on, dude, the feline quipped dismissively over his shoulder at Claw as he walked towards the kitten and the fox that he had spoken with briefly.

Hey, if you wont take that, I will, he said cheerfully to Kenneth, scooping up the pistol the boy had dropped and examining it briefly. The fox had dropped to his knees and was looking like he saw a ghost, but since Sabin was on a roll, he either didnt notice or care a whole lot.

But he figured pointing the gun in Ricos face might snap him out of it.

I dont think you know the rules of the Blame Game, pal, the tabby told him casually, Its real simple. If I were to pull this trigger and blow your brains out the back of your fool head, it wouldnt be the kids fault for not helping you, it wouldnt be the fault of these other poor folks for being too roughed up to do anything, and it sure wouldnt be your fault for being a damn idiot and comparing some scared kid to some military jerks who dont know the meaning of overkill. It would be all me, baby.

Sabin grinned at the fox, spun the pistol around his finger like an old western gunslinger, and stuffed the weapon under his belt.

He felt a tingling sensation on his waist, within moments it became a burning sensation.

Sabin sniffed the air, "Say so you smell something co-HOLY CRAP IT'S ME!" The screeched out realizing the gun was burning his fur and would be singing flesh in mere seconds. The cat snatched the gun and flung it like a rotten fish with two fingers.

The fox's eyes stiffened again, he deliberately got his feet and brushed himself off. "I'll thank you not to speak of things you don't understand. Unless you want your garments to be the next items to... cook."

"Didn't know what?" Ryn questioned.

Henry kept silent, however; she gave up on trying on trying to ask him. In fact, she felt a little lost. Her violet eyes were on her brother, still off by himself staring at the ground.

---

"I... don't know..." The boy seemed to be speaking to himself as his head slowly rose until Sabin and Rico were in his sights.

Ken's blue and green eyes briefly scanned the area around him, and his left ear twitching as thought he were looking around for someone. He still didn't seem to notice the fox or the tabby.

Instead, he found what he thought to be the source of the second voice, a short distance away in the form of Keedis.

"...but I'm afraid of it."

< Listen to them, child. Do not cast their opions to the wayside. They can sence me while in this form even if they are unaware of it, and they worry for you. >

The voice hovered near by, observing the others as though merely joining in on the already present conversation.

< Listen and know that this is your own disision. You may chose to run and hide or to fight of your own provercation, neither of these acts will stop Envy or any of the brothern. My gift though may give you an ankerage in the storm to come. With that said, I will not lie to you, the power I offer dose not come without burdain or consiquences. >

The voice shifted again, < Once the bond is forged it cannot be undone. I will be forever your silent companion, until the day I am slain. >

< But I have seen too many like you swept aside like dolls before my masters wrath. Without this, I will soon be cast back by his call, and never again will I have the chance to rise against his will. >

Kenneth could see it now, two saphire blue eyes hovering in the dark resesses of his minds eye, kind but percing all in the same breath.

< Listen to them, and then ask yourself truely, what do you want? >

---

Servo's strained and twiched in her arm. Nural blockers cut off most of the pain of her injuries, but it was all a vain struggle. She had been vertualy snuffed out even before the trip though the window, now all that was holding her together were frail reperatory motivaters and life suport sytems that refused to let her die.

"I think need.." She moaned near silently to noone but herself ".. a mechanic."

"I wouldn't go pointing that at strangers, especially strangers that used to be old comrades of mine," growled Claw menacingly at Sabin.

In the distance, sirens could be heard. In a few moments, fire-fighters, policemen, rescue workers, wreckers, and all manner of reconstruction mechanoids would be swarming over this sector. Evolia was perhaps one of the most technologically advanced planets in this part of the solar system, this desolate wasteland of collapsing skyscrapers and trapped survivors wouldn't stay that way for long.

"Sounds like the authority is on it's way. Unless anyone wants to find themselves on the receiving end of a rough interrogation, I suggest you follow me. I know a few safe places in the next sector," growled Claw.

What do I want? The question stood out most in the youngster's mind. He gazed at the sky, clear and serene, unlike the storm that still raged on the inside.

He thought of home... where it used to be, the one he and Ryn had been forced to leave because of the war at what seemed like an eternity.

He thought of the things he had seen today... the death, the destruction...

Darkness...

Crimson blood...

The bodies of demons and soldiers alike that had littered the streets...

He also thought of the gray rabbit, the stranger whose name he will never know. Who'd been killed by Envy...

Envy... the demon who tried to wipe him from existance...

"I want..."

He thought of his only family, his sister, Ryn, who had raised him herself, protected him, and nurtured him, as well, if not better than any real mother ever would. The one he dared to drive away...

I want to fight... I don't wanna run anymore...

Ken snapped back into reality as the sound of sirens was heard. Just over the horizon, flashing red lights could be seen.

Cautiously, he looked at the fox and tabby one last time before trotting off to Ryn.

"You okay now?" she asked, looking from him to Rico and back again.

"I think so..."

"You can always talk to me if something's bothering you, alright, Ken?"

He looked up, finally noticing the hybrid boy she was carrying in her arms. "Yeah... I guess."

I hope you can still hear me...
I'll do it. But before you start anything, tell me who you are first. I want to know, so that you won't be a stranger to me anymore.

"That would be best." Rico said, still glaring at Sabin. "I'll remain here, they'll be looking for a scapegoat no doubt. I'm sure the evolians won't admit to attacking their own people without due cause. They're undoubtedly be after me so you'd have an easier time escaping the city."

Keedis eyed Rico warily, as if he wanted to do something but feared scolding.

< The name my master bestowed me was superbia. It meens little to me. My true name, the one that came before my masters call...>

The presence vanished from sight and mind. To all it was as if the final shadows had been pushed asside. Even those who had not been aware of it felt as though the last edge of doubt or the feeling that they were being watched had melted in an instant.

Yet as Kenneth listened the wind seemed to carry an ever so faint voice to his ears, his real ears, not just the side of his mind.

< ..Cyan.. >

"Rico..." trailed Claw suspiciously, "The Evolian's headed this way... they won't be military. There's no need to-"

Rico raised his hand to silence Claw, he already knew the rest of the sentence. A bandwagon of innocents were headed they're way, and Claw had no desire to see them torn apart by Rico's terrifying power.

Claw cleared his throat and nodded, Rico didn't need a lecture.

"Let's get going," growled Claw.

Clutching his burnt hand, Sabin was making faces at the canine and his gruff ally behind their backs, swiftly resuming his normal appearance when Claw looked back in his direction. His sensitive ears twitched and rotated towards their brief exchange, and the tabby cat felt somethingodd. Like a little pinch in his gut, something about the way the fox guy, Rico, sounded and moved didnt quite match with what he was saying.

Felines had a good sense about such things. Maybe it was the way Rico volunteered to stay behind in such a noble, heroic sacrifice sort of way in a situation in which it would be more logical to simply avoid all attention. Maybe it had to do with the fact that domineering daddy was telling his son to go with the wounded, as well. Maybe it was the way the other guy, the one constantly in hiss, spit, snarl mode, simply backed down with barely a fight.

Whatever the reason, the famously lethal curiosity was grabbed.

Yeah, if he wants to get himself killed, hes welcome to it. Lets follow Mr. Grumpy out of here, Sabin spoke in his casually insolent tone, although had anyone really paid attention to him, they might have noticed him intentionally lagging behind.