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Post by hoodwink on Feb 15, 2019 9:15:36 GMT -5
Trees rushed past the Vagabond at an alarming rate, blurring into one solid canvas of green. The older man had been swinging on the vines through the Jungle, having sense a darker presence nearby. Worried for his younger travel companion, the vagrant had soared through the Jungle, finally beginning to see the edge of the tree line. Looming above in the distance was a large tree, one so large that the very roots were able to block paths. Built into the gigantic tree was a building of sorts.
As the spirits began to surround Tori, there was a loud shattering noise above all else. Glass rained down throughout the treehouse as the large man shrouded in a steel blue jacket crashed through the window. On his back were the two gigantic dark side hands, pulling him up off the floor and keeping him suspended above the floor. Glancing around the large room, stained with time and weather, he noticed his companion's plight.
Rushing forward, the Vagabond took in the information of the scene quickly. There's no symbol on them! Despite his best efforts, the Vagabond couldn't make out any Heartless symbol on the enemies that swarmed the young girl, though this only was reason to pause briefly. Whatever they are... With a grunt, the Vagabond shot out his gloved left hand, aiming at the nearest spirit.
"Dark Fira!" Darkness began to bubble in the Vagabonds hand, forming into black and blue flames. The light that emanated from the flames were not like that of regular fire, the light was dim, cool and tinted blue. The spell hurtled from his palm through the air at an alarming speed, honing in on the nearest enemy to find its mark. The Vagabond wasn't one to wait, he was a little too impatient for such things.
Right after firing off his spell, the older man used the dark side arms on his back to push him through the air. He landed next to Tori with a light thud, crouching down next to her. While one of the large arms protruding from his back shielded the two from any possible attacks, the Vagabond noticed Tori looked unconscious. His face formed a tight grimace.
Damn it... Peering out from beneath his hood, the Vagabond looked at the sheer amount of enemies surrounding his companion and him. "Maybe it's better to run..." He would make his decision based on how useless his attacks seemed. If his Fira spell hardly left a mark on the creatures, he would try to take Tori and escape.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 15, 2019 16:16:52 GMT -5
The Spirits took quick notice of the man, and some were caught off-guard by the Dark Fira. But most of them were tossed aside when he landed right besides Tori, who remained unconscious. But, nonetheless, the amount Spirits didn't seem to decrease, and, in fact, it was as if they were growing in number by the second. It did look like running away was necessary...
A grey mist began to quickly swirl around, all of it gathering around Tori. She began to groan a bit, seemingly in a bit of pain. But in a little bit, she stood up. Her eyes slowly began to open, revealing a vivid purple iris, different from her usual deep-blue. She held her hand forward, as if controlled by someone or something, and summoned a reverse, crystal blade. Without a word, Tori envelopped her Keyblade with a grey light, and slashed away once at the Spirits, causing them to dissapear. Once they were gone, Tori dismissed her blade, and the power surrounding her quickly dispersed, and Tori fell unconscious to the ground, without a word. At the very least, the Spirits were no longer a threat, and didn't seem to come back in a while more.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 16, 2019 9:24:27 GMT -5
The Vagabond hadn't expected his spell to do nothing. Dark Fira was one of his more powerful options, typically blasting decent damage at most things. It was because of this that his face turned to one of shock when the spirits seemed to regroup so quickly. Gritting his teeth together, the Vagabond took one step forward, the large dark side arms protruding from his back swiping at any spirits that came a little too close for comfort. There's too many of them...
He still wasn't sure exactly what these beings were, as there was no Heartless symbol on them. The Vagabond decided he would have time for such pondering later. Just as he was about to grab Tori and run, the girl pulled out an impressive looking blade, slashing away at the spirits. Immediately after making the spirits disappear, the younger girl seemed unconscious. Whatever that odd sword is, it must take a lot out of her.
Just as he believed to have found some relief, Shadows and Powerwilds began to spawn inside of the large treehouse. It seems that the Heartless had patiently been waiting for the spirits to disappear, too. At least they don't like them either... This was bad, however. His comrade was unconscious on the floor and there were many Heartless beginning to emerge. Realizing once again that fighting not be the best option here, the Vagabond couldn't help but feel a little frustrated at how the situation looked.
"Alright, kid, it's time to move." The Vagabond picked Tori up in his arms, his tall and powerful frame assisting him in lifting the teen. As his normal arms were busy, the large Darkside arms that were coming out of his back went into action. Pushing down on the ground to lift the Vagabond off his feet, he began using the arms almost as though they were legs. Ignoring the sound of many different Heartless beginning to give chase, the Vagabond catapulted him and his companion out of the treehouse, leaping into a nearby boat suspended by a pulley system that hung off on the side.
Below them was a large net floor, suspended in the air beneath the treehouse. Beneath he could see many different treetops, as the large tree the house was built into was one of the largest in the jungle. With many of the Powerwilds able to climb, jump and grab, the perch to which the boat hung from the pulley system began to groan. It seemed a few of the monkey shaped Heartless were beginning to climb towards the two.
The Lagoon was on the other side of the Jungle, the Vagabond kicking himself for not leaving the Treehouse the way he came, and thus it didn't seem like a viable option. Not wanting to stick around much longer, the Vagabond decided it would be better to take a risk. Tightening his hold on the teen in his arms, the Vagabond looked down towards the treetops below. With a single gulp and one glance back towards the Powerwild Heartless beginning to grow closer, the Vagabond leaped from the boat.
The two plummeted through the air, hurtling towards the treetops at an alarming speed. Crashing through the leaves and branches of the jungle roof, the Vagabond was grateful for the powerful large arms that protected him and his companion from any damage from the fall. The two were in a small jungle clearing, with mossy platforms and tall trees surrounding them. There were no Heartless at the moment, though the older man wasn't sure how safe this place was.
We can rest here until she wakes up... then we'll go. The Vagabond laid Tori on one of the soft mossy patches, taking a seat himself under the shade of one of the trees. It was time to rest and recuperate.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 18, 2019 14:25:56 GMT -5
It took sometime for Tori to wake up. Hours, in fact. And it was clear that, when she woke up, she was pretty disoriented. Tori also felt very weak, both physically and mentally. So much, that she actually fell on her back as she tried to sit back up. Once she finally managed to sit straight up, she shook her head a bit, trying to get her senses back in line.
"What happened...?" she asked, sleepy,. She then looked around, still disoriented, "Where... Am I?"
Tori groaned a bit more, and shook her head one final time. Something stung at the lower end of her right cheekbone, mostly a cut of sorts. Tori drew her hand forward to touch it, but as soon as she was about to, the pain was almost too much to bear, and she clicked her tongue silently, removing her hand swiftly. After a while of waiting, she touched the cut, but there was no blood... Only a faint, white glow on her fingertips. What was that...?
"Just... What happened...?" Tori asked aloud, still not recalling that the Vagabond was still there beside her.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 10:43:12 GMT -5
Settled in the jungle clearing, the Vagabond had stayed alert. Heartless appeared less often in this area, but there were no guardians here. They were not barred. Tori continued to lay unconscious among the bed of leaves the Vagabond had gathered, undisturbed during any random encounters. Though the Vagabond lacked his own strength, the power inside of him was able to shield himself and his companion from harm. He had tried to use a potion, but didn't want to risk her choking on it while asleep. Not knowing any healing magic of any kind, or any alchemical solutions, the Vagabond had to quit on the idea of healing his comrade. He was never any good at support.
The first few hours flew by, due to the random Heartless that would emerge from the jungle shadows and the gathering of fruit to eat. He was grateful for this world's plentiful supply of nourishment, bowing to each branch he plucked a fruit from. More hours continued, beginning to slow in their whirl and the Vagabond had fallen asleep in the shade without realizing it. He was jolted awake by the sounds of a light crash, the sun was still in the sky, though the shade from the treetops made him almost think it was night. Sitting upright in one quick jerk, the Vagabond was glad to see Tori awake.
He noticed that she couldn't quite keep her footing, though. Allowing her a moment to collect herself, the Vagabond reached into one of his jackets deep pockets and pulled out a glowing green bottle. Kneeling beside the girl, he offered the Potion. "Use this." He wasn't sure what to tell her. He himself had pondered over what he had witnessed in the treehouse. What were they?
The enemies that had surrounded his comrade had been hardly effected by any of his abilities. The powers that he held typically were efficient in eradicating Heartless (and other beings) and so he was truly baffled. He had never come across such a thing. What an interesting world! He was glad he had stumbled upon this Jungle. It seemed there was much more happening here than he originally thought. "You're still in the Jungle. We are in a safe enough spot, but the Heartless might come at any moment. Can you stand?" He hoped that she was alright, not typically one to have traveling companions, the Vagabond would feel awful if one of his only ones died on him.
He couldn't help but feel empathetic and worried. She reminded him faintly of a different time...
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 19, 2019 10:58:26 GMT -5
Tori shook her head, and then looked at the Vagabond, still somewhat disoriented. Seeing that he offered a Potion to her in order to restore some strength, she didn't hesitate much before grabbing it and drinking it slowly. It sure helped a bit, seeing that, slowly, her diziness was starting to fade out. But it was still there. The mental exhaustion that she couldn't relate to anything she'd done before...
"Uhh..." Tori was a bit confused at his question, but nodded, "I think so... Dunno how much I'll be able to stand up for, though... Might take me a while to actually get a grip back. Hehe..." she chuckled lightly.
Recalling the faint white trace still on her fingertips, Tori looked away. With a little thought behind it, she tucked her hood on, casting a shadow over half her face, and actually muffling the strange wound she'd been inflicted with. With that out of the way, she made a bit of effort for standing back up, and waited for her companion to do the same.
"If this place isn't as safe as that other one, then we're best moving. I know it'll be dark soon, but... We can cover a bit of distance. I think..." she stated, "Standing here at an opening we aren't sure about will give us a disatvantage. Come on."
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 11:31:59 GMT -5
He was grateful that she drank the potion, storing the empty vial back into one of his many pockets. He liked to reuse whenever possible. As Tori stood, the Vagabond noticed her wound, wondering why the Potion wouldn't heal it. He was worried. If it wouldn't heal it might be infected, poisoned, or worse. He had noticed the white liquid, curious as to exactly what this girl was bleeding out.
It seemed his traveling comrade continued to grow more complex with every day. At her urgency to continue moving, the Vagabond was forced to shake the thoughts off. There will be time for questions... later. He couldn't help but shake off the feeling of something important however, glancing behind him towards a large hollow tree that jutted out from an opening in the platforms and treetops that surrounded them.
He could sense it. Something dark was deeper in the Jungle below them, somewhere closer to the actual floor of it all. Right now the two were in a safe-ish area in the middle area of the tree lines. The Jungle trees thick branches and leaves had created these clearings and platforms above the forest floor. The Vagabond figured if the two went down the hollow tree, they would surely wind up back on the base level of this labyrinth.
Pulling his own hood up, he looked back at Tori. She did have a point. She was in no state to delve deeper into the Jungle, especially this close to night. He didn't have the strength to protect both of them. With a sigh he nodded towards the girl, glancing over his shoulder one more time. "Yeah... you're right."
He made a mental note to keep track of the way back, he would need to come back here. He was sure of it. Following the teens lead, the Vagabond made his way for the exit towards the left, leading to winding branches the two could slide down to navigate their way back. Once reaching the exit, stepping near the first long branch that sloped down across the tree tops, he glanced over at his comrade.
"Will you need help? Or can you slide?" The question wasn't a jab, he knew the girl was doing what she could to even stay on her feet. He would assist her if she needed.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 19, 2019 12:23:22 GMT -5
Tori let out a sigh, and looked around. Hearing his reply, it made the look-around a bit more urgent. As he mentioned the sugestion for help, she simply shrugged it off. If she needed to slide, Tori would probably have an easier time than walking. Just letting gravity take care of it was enough...
"I'll be fine" she said, calmly, "For now, we gotta find a way towards a safer place. If I need help, then... I'll let you know. For now, I'm fine. Though... Thanks for the concern..." she muttered.
Tori looked at him, still with a couple doubts of her own regarding his identity, his reasons... And his true nature. Those dark arms were bugging her quite a bit, but she couldn't just ask about them. Maybe... The opportunity would show itself later. For now, it was best to keep quiet, and focus on what was important. Safety.
"Where to now? I'll follow."
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 12:41:32 GMT -5
The Vagabond nodded at Tori after she reassured him that she was good to go. When asking about the destination, the Vagabond pointed towards the hollow tree in the middle of the clearing. "That's our end game. Down there." The Vagabond kept his eyes fixed on the opening of the hollow trunk for another moment before flashing their gaze back to her. "But we aren't really in the best spot for that now." His voice betrayed the slight disappointment in his tone.
He pointed a finger towards the large branch that began to snake through the jungle. "For now we should find somewhere the Heartless can't reach us." There was something bugging him still, though he wasn't quite sure what it was at the moment. Something seemed... off with the jungle. There were less birds chirping then usual... less rustling in the leaves.
"We should go." Without another word, the Vagabond leaped from the mossy platform the two were on and landed on the large branch. He began to slide forward on the branch, balancing on it a little shakily as his body swayed from side to side. Following the winding path, he slide across the treetops of the jungle.
The sight was beautiful. The entire jungle sprawled before his eyes from far below as he raced along the tops of tall winding trees. He gave a glance over his shoulder to make sure Tori wasn't falling over, ready to help if necessary. Once we are in a better spot, I'll ask her... He couldn't smell the dark scent any more. They were gaining distance.
The long branch the two would use to slide across the Jungle would spit them out in the middle of a clearing surrounded by tall and thin tropical trees. In the center of this clearing was a large flagpole, with no flag on the top, surrounded by a large mountain of luggage. Suitcases of every size and shape were piled up high, bound tightly with leather straps and padlocks. Near the suitcases was a pitched tent with a faint light on the inside. He could see no shadows or signs of life from within other than the faint warm glow.
The Vagabond had never entered this area of the jungle before. He couldn't help but feel a little wary. He waited for his comrade in the clearing, staying alert for any signs of enemies.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 19, 2019 15:24:06 GMT -5
Tori nodded and followed, not really bothered by where they were headed. So long as it was a safe spot to spend the night, it'd be fine. She followed him along the long branch, without much difficulty aside her constant diziness. It was starting to get annoying, but there was nothing to be done. If the Potion didn't help fix that, probably nothing would...
At the end of the road, Tori jumped, and then rolled on the ground as she landed, avoiding any further damage to herself. She raised her head, also noticing how... crowded the place was. Suitcases on top of suitcases, and boxes on top of boxes... It sure looked like someone -on something- was in need of quite a lot of things... But there was one certainty. That meant that there were others aside them. And they were probably from that world.
"This is... Awfully crowded with cargo..." Tori mentioned, "I've never seen so many boxes aside from Raids... And that's usually a pair or more, not like... A mountain" she added, looking at the Vagabond, "Wonder who neds so much stuff?"
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 17:02:41 GMT -5
He took a few steps forward, walking around the gigantic mountain of luggage while observing it. He didn't recognize the briefcases design, nor did he see any name tags of any kind. Whoever must have moved this must be strong. He couldn't imagine the amount of time it must have took to move this enormous surplus of items. Though tempted to poke around the contents, he didn't want to offend anyone that may reside in the clearing, and thus decided against it.
Looking over at Tori, the Vagabond gave a light chuckle at her question. Putting his hands on his hips, he lifted a hand up to his brows and gazed up the mountain of suitcases once more. "Whoever they are, they must have enough supplies to stock a whole village..." He couldn't think of how anyone could even use this many things in their lifetime.
Suddenly, the shadows among the Jungle floor began to move and flicker. Heartless began to emerge from the darkness, forming into Shadows and Powerwilds and the occasional Yellow Ballade. The Vagabond grimaced, not wanting to have to battle with his partner in their current state. Looking around the clearing, he remembered the pitched tent towards the edge of the clearing, quickly pointing towards it and shouting to Tori: "This way! Quick!"
Cupping his hands together, the Vagabond closed his eyes and harnessed the darkness within him, conjuring black and blue flames that burst into life in the palm of his left hand. Holding up the large dark fireball, the Vagabond shouted his spell into existence as he hurled it towards the nearest Heartless. "Dark Fira!" The fireball exploded on impact, scattering most of the smaller enemies, creating a path to the tent for the two to run through.
The Vagabond waved his hand towards the path, motioning to Tori. It seemed he wanted her to go first, due to her dizziness and current state. "Go! I'll cover you!"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 19, 2019 17:53:32 GMT -5
Tori jumped in shock at the sight of Heartless, and was about to draw her sword, when she saw the man pointing at a clearing, where a tent stood up. Not only that, but something told her that, maybe, she wouldn't be able to hold her ground for more than five seconds before collapsing once more. With that in mind, she nodded and followed his guidance.
"Inside the tent, right?!" she asked, looking for a clear answer.
As she did, she was left open. A couple Shadows and Powerwilds noticed her opening, and lunged to attack. Tori noticed that, clicked her tongue, and held her hand forward. A faint cold mist drew a circle shortly before an ice spike shot out from the earth, freezing the enemies in front of her. However, Tori quickly staggered, and let out a pained groan. She looked tired, just by using one Blizzaja spell... She herself thought it weird. Before, Tori excelled in magic, almost rarely getting exhausted when using it. So why...?
"Wha... Why can't I...?" Tori asked, tired, "Why is magic... Harder to use now...?!"
She glanced at her partner, waiting for him to act.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 22:17:25 GMT -5
It had happened suddenly, as it often does. Bounding forward in a blur of dark motion the Heartless had cornered his comrade, though luckily she was able to overpower them despite her state. The spell was powerful but appeared to take its toll in a harsh manner, as suddenly there was a cry of pain. Something's wrong with her magic...? It wasn't a good sign. Gritting his teeth, the Vagabond quickly ran towards his ally. With a rush of dark energy, the man was suddenly stampeding through the clearing, the large Darkside arms suspending him above the ground and acting as legs.
With the large arms and hands acting as his feet, he was able to cover much more ground than usual. "It's okay! I'm sure whatever's going on to your magic isn't permanent." In a moment he had hurtled towards the ring of Heartless surrounding Tori, breaking through with one of the gigantic fists. As some of them began to scatter he landed on the ground at Tori's side, the massive dark hands shielding them from above. "For now we should head for the tent!" There was a sudden flash of light as bolts of lightning struck the ground surrounding the two.
Shielded from above due to the size of the appendages jutting out of his shoulder blades, the Vagabond was struck but was able to absorb most of the blow for the two. Peering through the slits of the talons on the hands above him the Vagabond groaned and let out a curse. "I hate wizards." Able to use powerful magic as well as levitate and teleport, the Wizard Heartless were a formidable foe. He had fought a few back on Radiant Garden and learned from those battles, but they were difficult nonetheless.
The remaining few Heartless on the Jungle floor began to regroup around the two visitors, a small ring of four Shadows and three Powerwilds. It wasn't the worst odds... Well, it wouldn't be if it weren't for the f@#^ing wizard. He was next to Tori still, shielding the two from the Heartless' view while trying to think of the best plan.
That's it! An idea struck him.
"I can throw you! Towards the tent, I mean!" He was excited. He knew it might not be the best of plans, but it was certainly better than being pinned against the pile of luggage by the Heartless. Waiting for her response, the Vagabond lashed one of the large Darkside arms protruding from his back towards the nearest Heartless. It slammed against two of the Shadows in front, destroying both on impact. A small opening was all he needed. With the room to breathe he could boost Tori through the air with the large Heartless arms.
He reached one of his normal hands out towards Tori. "You ready?"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 20, 2019 9:12:58 GMT -5
Tori managed to recollect herself as the man protected her from the remaining Heartless. The diziness came back head-on, and Tori began to stagger a bit once more. As she heard his idea to throw her towards the tent, she flinched. Especially after seeing his excitement all over his face. It didn't look like the best of plans, especially with Tori in such a state. But... There wasn't much of an option, was there?
"I..." Tori was at a loss for words, "I dunno! You're about to toss me towards a freaking tent! I can still run, y'know!" she yelled, "I don't need you tossing me around like some sort of-!"
Her voice was interrupted by a thunderbolt from one of the Heartless, causing her to cover her head a bit, seeing that she couldn't defend herself. After noticing that, Tori froze in place, vulnerable. For the first time in years, she felt vulnerable, unable to act and fight back. She began to feel powerless, as if all of her hard work and training was for naught at that point.
"It can't be... I'm... I can't..." Tori looked shocked, lost in her own private words, "All this time... Fighting for my life... And yet I can't... Do that anymore...?"
She looked at the man, who kept protecting her as she reached for a decision. It was now or never. She had to take a decision now.
"...We gotta get there together" she stated, firmly, "If you're not coming with me, then... I'm not letting you toss me towards the tent! We're doing this together, you hear?!"
Tori drew her sword as means to block. She made a mental note to not use any magic during her fight, but she would help in getting him out as well as herself. That, she was firmly keen on.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 20, 2019 10:52:10 GMT -5
The Heartless raged on as the two were cornered near the gigantic pile of luggage in the middle of the clearing. Though there were fewer Heartless now, Tori still seemed to be in a state where it was taking all of her focus not to topple over right then and there. The Vagabond's smile wavered slightly as the girl showed hesitancy towards his idea, though he wasn't offended. Hearing that she wouldn't leave him behind, the Vagabond couldn't help but feel the faintest warmth in his dark heart as he punched back a nearby Powerwilds with his large dark side arms.
Hm... it seems I've picked more of a team player than I thought! The Vagabond was pleasantly surprised. To think, the two would go from threatening each others lives and health to protecting each others backs, refusing to leave the other behind. It was all very optimistic. The man began thinking rapidly for any ideas as the two large Heartless arms protruding from his back sheltered the two from any nearby attacks. It was a lot to keep track of, but due to the appendages size it wasn't the hardest work.
"Okay, together then!" The Vagabond's face suddenly lit up, as though an idea had struck his mind and planted itself firmly in there. His dull green eyes fell upon the tent on the other end of the clearing. The faint light emanated from it as the sun began to set above them. The sky transformed from a clear blue to a pastel orange and pink. They seem to be a bit more animated than usual... It was peculiar, how the Heartless, though weak, were pushing against them so hard in this clearing specifically. He hadn't seen many gather together and strike as a single unit on this world, wondering what made this area so special.
With a shout the Vagabond released the shield the arms were forming above them, allowing them to spread out for their full span. The arms were massive. They reached through the sky and grabbed the Wizard that flew around the flagpole, threatening them by hurling fireballs and lightning bolts. With a grunt, the Vagabond gripped his fist tightly and the Darkside arm followed suit. Crushing the Heartless in its merciless grip, the Darkside arm flexed and the creature was no more. With the other hand he had swept aside many of the Shadows and Powerwilds, though they were simply brushed out of the way, not destroyed.
Having created an opening, the Vagabond used his normal arms to grab onto Tori, his large Darkside arms pushing both of them up into the air, suspended above the ground. "Thanks, for not leaving me behind." The Vagabond meant it, he looked down at the teenager with a look of approval and respect. "But you're in no fit state to fight these guys, either."
The arms acted as large stilts for the two as they began to propel them to the tent. It wasn't the distance that the Vagabond was worried about, but the Heartless that were beginning to recuperate and come after them yet again. As he barreled forward, bringing Tori with him, the Vagabond plummeted towards the Tent, crashing through the main doors into it.
Inside the tent was warm, with a lush red rug over the ground and a large device propped up on a tripod in the middle of the room. There were a few more briefcases and luggage inside of the tent, though no people. A single lantern burned on a nearby table, next to a small leather-bound journal. The Vagabond lifted himself off the ground with a grunt, rubbing the back of his head. He looked over at his companion. "You alright?"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 20, 2019 11:25:02 GMT -5
Tori blocked a couple of attacks, trying to not fall back behind. She kept pushing the Heartless back, with all of the strength she could muster. Once she was grabbed by the man, Tori flinched, and almost let go of her sword. It was with a bit of luck that she didn't let go of it.
"A-Aah!" Tori shouted as she was grabbed by the man, "Ahh- Warn before you grab someone out of the blue, sheesh!"
Her cries were ignored as the man lept high into the sky with those dark arms of his, and then barreled into the tent without any sort of warning. She closed her eyes as they crashed inside, completely out of instinct, and didn't open them back until he asked about her wellbeing.
"I..." Tori babbled a bit, "I'm fine... Thanks" she looked down, a bit uneasy, "Are you okay, though? Doesn't look like the roll here made you any good..." she added, a bit jokingly.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 20, 2019 11:55:26 GMT -5
Somehow the tent was safe. The Vagabond wasn't sure how he had known this would be the case, it was more like intuition than actual knowledge. He had seen the glow of light and chased it, much like a moth does to a flame. He was sitting on the floor of the tent, cushioned by the rug. Sweat was beaded on his brow and his breathing was a little ragged. He had used a lot of the Darkness today. It took its toll.
Looking up at his comrade he smiled, though his voice still a little shaky. "I'll be alright... after I rest..." It seemed it took most of his energy just to talk at the moment. He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. I'm still so weak... Catching his breath a bit, the man stood up, dusting himself off. "Sorry about that... I just felt myself losing steam too fast." He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed. "Just what's going on?"
The question wasn't aimed directly at Tori, more of a rhetorical one the Vagabond seemed to be asking the world around him. Scratching his head a bit, he began to rummage through the other various items scattered among the tent. "Whatever it was that attacked you earlier seems to have done a number. You said your magic wasn't working, yeah?" This time he looked over at Tori, a hint of concern in his tone. "I doubt it's permanent, but the fact that there are still effects from the attack you took earlier this morning is concerning..."
His voice trailed off as his fingers brushed over the leather notebook on the table. It seemed worn and frequently used, the bounding straps not even secured or fastened around the binding. His dull eyes found his comrade once more, attempting not to get sidetracked. "Do you know what those things were? The things that got you earlier?" He couldn't resist, his eyes finding their way back to the small book. He lifted it slowly in his hands, tracing a finger over the binding. "They definitely weren't Heartless..."
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 20, 2019 12:47:50 GMT -5
Tori nodded after he reassured her that he'd recover his step after taking a break. In fact, she appreciated that being said. She also looked like she could use some rest...
When he looked back at her, and asked her about her magic and what had happened earlier that day, Tori looked away, a bit flustered. She didn't want to talk about it... But, at the same time, info for info. A fair trade from both sides. So long as she could answer his questions, maybe she would get some answers from him. It was worth the shot.
"Those... Things? You mean you saw the Spirits?" Tori asked, "Well... Of course they're not Heartless -they're completely different species. I only know that they're not from the light, or from the darkness... And I also know that, unlike Heartless, they're not people. But... That's about it. I know of someone who knows more than me, but... I don't know where they are. Sorry..."
Tori took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. She was definitely carrying a lot of stress, and she knew it. Yet, despite that, she knew how to keep her calm and continue onwards.
"I... They've been on my track for a while. The Spirits, I mean. But... I never knew why" Tori explained, "Not only that, but... How to put this...?" she thought some time before talking again, "They're always around me, or so it looks like it... It's almost as if I'm a target to them, but... I never knew why. Again, if only she was around, maybe we'd get some more answers, but... She's not. And I don't know where she is" Tori looked back down, but quickly remembered something, "I-I'm talking about my teacher. Aomi Sakura. She... She helped me train, and I helped her back with her research about the Spirits. She... She was looking for answers in regards to why they were targetting me, and she also investigated a couple other things, but... We're not at Sakura Island, and... I definitely don't know where she could be, either..."
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 20, 2019 17:16:30 GMT -5
So, they aren't Heartless, but spirits...?
The Vagabond still stood by one of the tent walls, his hands on the small leather book. He listened to Tori's explanation about the Spirits, her teacher and her homeland. Before this moment he had never encountered anything like these 'spirits', nor had he seen anything on the other worlds that could falter someone's connection to magic. It seemed that the 'spirits' were not from this world, but had traveled here in search of her. He pocketed the leather-bound book, making a mental note to scan through it later.
Pulling one of the nearby suitcases from its resting position near the tent wall, he moved it into the center to make a seat of sorts. Sitting down with a heavy thud, the Vagabond took in what they knew. The spirits had shown no sign of weakness to his attacks when they had encountered them at the Treehouse. Normal attacks wouldn't work on them. Getting hit by them seemed to have lasting effects, considering Tori's inability to use magic at the moment. I wonder how long that will last... There was too much up in the air. The Vagabond didn't like it.
He rested his elbows on his knees, holding up his head in a manor that betrayed his exhaustion. He was grateful for the respite of the tent, without it he was sure they would have been goners. "Are they weak to anything?" The Vagabond had raised his gaze back to his comrade, not a single twinkle or spark in his eye. "None of my attacks had seemed to do much... and a single hit from them seems to take a toll..." He couldn't help but frown, they were matched poorly against such an enemy. "We need a countermeasure of some kind, especially if they are tracking you."
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 20, 2019 18:10:29 GMT -5
Tori kept looking down as he wrote everything down in his notebook. She let out a faint chuckle. Just like any other Stalker, he was gathering as much info as he could. That act was very familiar to her, and it was somewhat amusing to see. As he made a seat with the many suitcases there were, Tori let out a sigh, and kept sitting down on the floor, taking the time to restore her energy.
"Well... Weak to anything, huh?" Tori asked aloud, "From what I know, normal weapons don't work... Magic can be of some use, but... Only if it's strong enough, guessing from the fact that... You did have trouble with them..." she explained, "And... I don't think that they themselves deal too much damage... I think that... What's happening to me... Is because of something else. Or, rather... Someone."
Tori lowered her view, and loked at her gloved hand, opening it and closing it every so often. She looked thoughtful, and, inside her head, a bunch of things were swirling around, confusing her even more. Not to mention the fact that they were, indeed, after her. And that meant that the man besides her was also in possible danger.
"I mean... Countermeasures..." Tori said aloud, looking away, "I just... Don't wanna use 'em... I don't feel like I can control myself when I do... Can I... Ask something now?" Tori looked at the man, sternly, "When you found me... Did something happen?"
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