First Hunt

First Hunt- http://pastebin.com/mEVp6rSA
Sleepover- http://pastebin.com/P2rHT0G8
Pep Talk- http://pastebin.com/tU1TBmDx
Early Bird- http://pastebin.com/2knsggFc
Walking Tour- http://pastebin.com/25S4Bm3g
The Keep in the Park- http://pastebin.com/MNTd8tNJ

[21:59] <@Tangent> The girl in blue and grey paced back and forth down the street, hands on her hips and frowning intently. Her uniform's trim stood out in the dreary half-light that was common in the Overcity. She stopped to push the hair out of her eyes, and dropped unhappily onto the pavement, sitting on the sidewalk and looking down the street.
[21:59] <@Tangent>  Anticipation warred with nervousness inside her. What if she wasn't coming? What if she'd changed her mind? What if...
[21:59] <@Tangent>  Her head snapped up and she jumped back to her feet. Was that Alexa?
[22:04] <Jran-Kri> It was indeed. The diminutive girl jogs down the street, staff in hand and mantle fluttering behind her. The magical conduit of twisted wood wags as she waves it in greeting. She's breathing slightly heavily as she grinds to a halt beside the other girl.
[22:04] <Jran-Kri> "A-ah! There you are! S-sorry, am I late?"
[22:08] <@Tangent> "Hi, Alexa!" Amelia's mood seems to shift entirely as she beams, waving back. Her own hands are empty. "Nah, don't worry about it...Sorry I didn't say when we were supposed to meet...But yeah, you're fine. I'm glad you showed up!" And she means it.
[22:11] <Jran-Kri> "Likewise!" Alexa leans on her staff, grinning eagerly back at her. "Q-quite alright, I, ah, took a guess. Hope you haven't been waiting long."
[22:14] <@Tangent> "Nah, don't worry about it..." Amelia waves airily. "Besides, our first hunt...something like that's worth waiting for! So yeah...Do you want to get going, get something to eat...I didn't see Morgana or Aurora today, but there might be someone you know..." She trails off, clearly hoping for one of the answers. Hunting with...a friend? seems much better than trying alone.
[22:17] <Jran-Kri> Alexa stops and gives that some thought, tapping her chin with her free hand. She shifts her weight between her feet, then shakes her head.
[22:19] <Jran-Kri> "I'm not too hungry. And I don't know too many people, so that's a bit unlikely. Should probably just get going," she says, glancing down the street. A moment later, however, she jolts in place and looks back at Amelia. "Though, ah, if you're hungry, I wouldn't be opposed."
[22:21] <@Tangent> "Oh...okay. Me neither, actually..." She admits, a bit sheepishly. There's Sam, Karpinsky, the angels...and that's about it. And Alexa, of course! "Nah, that works! So...hunting, then?" She grins. "I was thinking and...well, there are lots of places we could go...I swear the city changes the streets around when you're not looking..."
[22:21] <@Tangent> "Any ideas?"
[22:23] <Jran-Kri> "That's... more than possible," Alexa agrees with an incline of the head. She scratches her head through the hat. "I don't know it too well, either way. Ah... the... angels found that strange thing in the sewers -- besides that, I've got no clue."
[22:25] <@Tangent> "Well...I guess we could just..." Amelia trails off with a nervous laugh. "Nah, it's a stupid idea..." She shakes her head
[22:26] <Jran-Kri> Alexa cocks her head, leaning in a bit closer.
[22:26] <Jran-Kri> "Oh? Come on, let's hear it," she prompts her.
[22:27] <@Tangent> "Well..." Amelia looks sheepish. "We could just...look? Like, pick a direction, and...just go there until we find something?" She mumbles, suddenly looking very interested in the pavement rather than eye contact.
[22:29] <@Tangent> "I did say it was stupid..." She adds defensively.
[22:29] <Jran-Kri> Alexa raises an eyebrow, her lip quirking into a small smirk.
[22:29] <Jran-Kri> "Tromping around the sewers isn't much better," she points out. "Who even knows what this city puts into it?"
[22:30] <Jran-Kri> She shakes her head with a shrug.
[22:30] <Jran-Kri> "I think it's not a bad idea -- at least we'll get to know some of the city, eh?"
[22:31] <@Tangent> "Yeah, I guess you're right. Time to play magical tourist?" She smirks. "Hey, if this doesn't work out, we could try and find that castle again..."
[22:34] <Jran-Kri> "Ooh, good idea!" Alexa hops in place. "Yes! I still want to know who lives in there? Maybe a vampire! Or a dragon! Or..."
[22:34] <Jran-Kri> She coughs into her hand, stopping her rambling.
[22:34] <Jran-Kri> "Er, anyway. Yes, let's be off!"
[22:35] <@Tangent> Amelia's trying to hide her grin and failing. "Right there with ya." And with that she starts walking, glancing over her shoulder at her friend after a few steps and waiting for her to catch up.
[22:37] <Jran-Kri> Alexa scrambles to catch up with her shorter legs, but manages it after a second, walking beside Amelia with a cheerful grin.
[22:37] <Jran-Kri> "Ah yes, west. Always the way to go when looking for trouble."
[22:39] <@Tangent> Amelia slows her pace to match. "Wait, that's west? I thought it was north..." A beat. "...Um. I probably should've asked around for a map or something..." She adds sheepishly. "Oh well. At least one of us knows what she's doing..."
[22:40] <Jran-Kri> "... That was, um... actually a joke. I-I don't know if this is west," Alexa admits with an awkward snicker. "Just a joke, because where I'm from the west end is... nevermind. Um. It-it's probably north."
[22:45] <@Tangent> "I...Ah. Oops." Amelia shakes her head. "I....probably should've gotten that...How about we call it north by northwest?" She babbles, suddenly wishing her uniform had pockets...it'd help with the sudden awkwardness if she could put her hands in them.
[22:48] <Jran-Kri> "A-ah yes, that works," Alexa agrees with a sharp nod. She giggles again. "Y-yes, when we become the first to map the overcity, this region will be north-by-northwest."
[22:53] <@Tangent> Amelia laughs too. "We'll need flags and everything." She strikes a pose, all the more silly for how over the top it is. "I claim this territory in the name of um...hope and justice! Henceforth, it will be...I don't know...Ameliafoundland or something." A pause. "Okay, that was bad...Don't judge me!" She mock-grumbles. "I was never all that good at geography..."
[22:56] <Jran-Kri> Alexa giggles, much more at ease this time.
[22:57] <Jran-Kri> "Oh, no, I love it," she assures her. "Ameliafoundland has a lovely ring to it -- the only question is what the flag should be. Can hardly just use the old Union Jack. Natives would get restless."
[22:58] <@Tangent> It's nice to play the clown for a while...to talk to someone else...She's going on a hunt with someone she likes...and talking nonsense. Right now, things are looking up, for a change. "Just stick a few swords on it. Original flag, do not steal. What about your part of the map, though?" She teases.
[23:00] <Jran-Kri> Alexa laughs again, then appears to give it some serious thought.
[23:01] <@Tangent> The two pick their way down streets, past crumbling buildings of all makes and styles. The air gets drier. Colder.
[23:01] <Jran-Kri> "Hmm... I suppose if you take the northwest, I shall have to take the southwest," she decided with a firm nod. "Yes. Then we can form a nice western bloc, and have a grand old cold war with the east."
[23:02] <@Tangent> "Sounds good." Amelia seems completely oblivious to the sudden chill, debris crunching underfoot as she picks her way along.
[23:03] <Jran-Kri> Alexa shivers minutely, pulling her mantle tighter around her.
[23:03] <@Tangent> A tug, on senses neither can properly describe. A prickle like the feeling when you're alone and feel like you're being watched, when the hairs rise on the back of your neck. It's cold.
[23:04] <@Tangent> "Well, I guess we're definitely doing the exploring part right..." She looks to Alexa. "Um...you okay?"
[23:04] <@Tangent> She still seems entirely oblivious to the chill.
[23:04] <Jran-Kri> "A-ha, speak of the devil... Feels like someone just walked over my grave, all of a sudden," she notes, glancing over her shoulder. "D-do you feel that, too?"
[23:06] <@Tangent> Amelia frowns, blinking rapidly. "I...Actually, yeah...I think I do..." She swallows, cheer vanishing. "Do you think it's...well...magic?" This is what you wanted to do, right?
[23:06] <@Tangent> All of a sudden, she's remembering the phantom sensation of teeth sinking into her throat, all over again.
[23:09] <Jran-Kri> "Well, ah... that's probably the most likely thing, here," she tries to smile again, but comes out tight and grimace-like. The crystal ball at the end of her staff glows red, though no specific spell materializes. "The only question is, what kind of magic?"
[23:12] <@Tangent> "...At least it means we're on the right track." She nods, as much for herself as for Alexa. She reaches across her belt with her right hand, and when she pulls her arm back, she's holding a silver-bladed hilted cavalry sword. "Dunno...Let's find out." She looks to Alexa again. She doesn't look too happy either...
[23:14] <@Tangent> "Hey, we're doing this together, remember? If there's a monster doing this, we'll curbstomp it flat." She says, shaking off a twinge of dobt.
[23:14] <@Tangent> *doubt
[23:14] <Jran-Kri> "A-ha. Right, this, uh-- this is what we're herefor," she recalls, nodding to herself. She casts more backwards glances, but keeps marching forward. Amelia's encouragement has a bit of a positive effect on her.
[23:15] <Jran-Kri> "R-right. There are two of us, after all. If it's *a* monster, we've got the numbers."
[23:16] <@Tangent> Amelia bites her lip, but walks alongside Alexa. She takes a step forward. "Right. I mean...what else could it be..." She shakes her head. "You can do this, Alexa. Really. Believe in yourself." The words are trite, and she knows it...but she tries to sound like she means it. Alexa's probably better with her magic than she is anyway.
[23:18] <@Tangent> The wind brushes over them, tugging at outfits and blowing deterius across the empty streets. Smashed and empty windows watch the pair like hollow eye sockets.
[23:19] <@Tangent> Amelia scowls, straightening. It's a bit odd, but she's not feeling the chill. Instead, her tension and anticipation are...bubbling if anything. Like a flickering flame.
[23:20] <Jran-Kri> Alexa clamps a hand down on her wide hat to keep it planted on her head, nodding again.
[23:20] <Jran-Kri> "Even if I don't -- well, that's why we're here together, right? If I fall, you'll catch me."
[23:23] <@Tangent> "...Yeah. That's right..." She looks over to her partner, and remembers to smile reassuringly. It's what she needs to hear. Catch her? She's not even sure she could catch herself... "I will." She adds, feeling a sharp, unexpected prickle of shame at misleading her.
[23:24] <@Tangent> Is that still the wind blowing through empty buildings...or a moaning?
[23:26] <Jran-Kri> "E-exactly," she says. Her grip on her staff is white-knuckled, now, and the tip is lowered like a rifle. She perks at the sound of the wind.
[23:26] <Jran-Kri> "... Do you hear that?"
[23:26] <@Tangent> Amelia swallows. "Hey...Do you...Yeah." She raises her sword up, holding it out in front of her in wht's probably an awful stance but right now she doesn't care.
[23:27] <@Tangent> "I...Is it zombies?" She blurts, aware of the absurdity of the question. "Are...are zombies a thing?" She's come toa  stop.
[23:28] <@Tangent> *to a
[23:28] <Jran-Kri> "... I have no idea," Alexa is forced to admit, swallowing. "I really, really hope not..."
[23:30] <@Tangent> "Okay..." Amelia mumbles. Deep breath. There's ice on the walls now. "Showtime..." She hesitates. "Are you...do you want to do this?" She asks Alexa hesitantly. "We could...just...we could just go..." She says, the words bitter on her tongue. "If..."
[23:31] <@Tangent> Even thinking about it feels wrong. If she doesn't fight monsters, what was the point of all this? What's the point of her?
[23:32] <@Tangent> More than that...her magic's bubbling inside her, almost eager. She wants to use it, to let that fire out to burn what needs to burn.
[23:32] <Jran-Kri> Alexa hesitates, and for a solid moment it seems like she's genuinely considering it. Then she shakes her head, squaring her shoulders resolutely.
[23:33] <Jran-Kri> "No. I-I'm not... Alright, I am scared," she says slowly, trying to hide the chattering of our teeth. "B-but this i-is what... what we're here for, right?"
[23:36] <@Tangent> "Right!" Amelia nods fiercely. "Now let's go beat this thing!" She blinks, finally noticing how bad it is for Alexa. "You're freezing." She reaches out, blue flames flickering to life in her fingertips as she touches the other girl's arm. An aura flickers to life around Alexa, warming without burning. "Sorry...still figuring this stuff out...is that better?"
[23:38] <@Tangent> *i-is
[23:38] <Jran-Kri> Alexa looks mildly embarrassed to have been unable to conceal it, but nonetheless smiles at the warmth that spreads in her.
[23:38] <Jran-Kri> "... Ah, right. Flames. Was wondering why you weren't... you know," she shakes her head. "A-anyway. By your lead."
[23:41] <@Tangent> "...Sorry. I didn't..." Amelia stammers, then nods. "Okay. Let's do this!" She stomps one boot down for emphasis, more to pump herself up than anything. Stalling won't help. She looks to Alexa, as much for reassurance as to reassure her. "Hey, what'd you want to celebrate with when we're done? Cake again?" She asks, only half-jokingly. She has her blade angled to one side now as she takes a step forward then another.
[23:44] <Jran-Kri> "Cake sounds fantastic," Alexa grins earnestly again. Shifting her stance into an attempt at a poised, ready one, she shuffles forward, eyes peeled ahead of them.
[23:45] <@Tangent> The moaning's louder as they come closer to what looks like a warehouse. It's too loud to be a zombie...or even a crowd.
[23:45] <Jran-Kri> Alexa frowns at the warehouse, tilting her head to raise an ear.
[23:47] <Jran-Kri> "... That's... awfully loud," she notes, swallowing. She lowers her voice. "Let's hope it can't hear us over itself."
[23:47] <@Tangent> "...Okay..." Amelia's bouncing from foot to foot, passing her sword from hand to hand. Her nervousness is translating into what seems like...a skittishness. "...Well, at least we know it's a monster..." She nods anyway at Alexa's suggestion, looking to her then creeping forwards a few steps.
[23:48] <@Tangent> She'd feel silly if things weren't so serious. Snowflakes are falling from thin air.
[23:48] <@Tangent> The wind's tugging one way, blowing out...then back in? Sucking, almost.
[23:49] <@Tangent> The warehouse's in poor shape. Windows blown out. And...that's a door, just lying in the middle of the street, surrounded by...bricks?
[23:49] <@Tangent> Half the front's just gone.
[23:49] <@Tangent> It's not a warehouse anymore- it's a cave.
[23:50] <@Tangent> And that wasn't wind. It's breathing. In and out. In and out.
[23:50] <@Tangent> The moaning's stopped.
[23:52] <Jran-Kri> Alexa stops short at the sound -- or, rather, the absence of sound. She stares at the mangled front of the warehouse, stock still, not even breathing, for a good couple seconds. Then she takes a slow, careful step back. When she speaks, her voice is barely above a mutter.
[23:52] <Jran-Kri> "... O-oh God did we wake it up?"
[23:53] <@Tangent> Amelia's breathing fast, eyes darting as she takes in the scene. "I...I'm not...sure..."
[23:53] <@Tangent> There's a muffled snort. A wet, liquid noise. Something moves in the gloom inside.
[23:54] <@Tangent> Then a howl.
[23:55] <@Tangent> What lopes into view is almost twice as tall as an adult man. There's something almost ape-ish about its appearance, the way it lopes forward on misshapen legs and on long, spindly arms...but its matted fur and tooth-filled snout are those of a wild beast.
[23:55] <@Tangent> But its eyes? It's long, almost delicate fingers? Those are very much, horrifyingly human.
[23:56] <@Tangent> A thick glob of saliva slips from its jaws as it turns its head to take in the pair...and then the Wendingo charges.
[00:00] <@Tangent> "...ohno." Amelia's frozen.
[00:00] <Jran-Kri> "...ourfatherinHeavenhallowedbethynamethykingdom..." Alexa starts feverishly praying the moment the creature comes into view. She freezes, her knees locking up and her gaze rapt in horror. Her breath catches in her throat. She looks ready to collapse until it charges. Then she screams and conjures a large red barrier before it -- one she clearly doesn't have much confidence in, because she's already backing up.
[00:02] <@Tangent> The barrier getting-loudly- torn to shreds is all the warning Amelia needs. She's shaking and stumbling away, holding her sword up more like a ward than a weapon...All her dreams, all that resolve...It's vanished at the sight of that thing. Stupid stupid stupid you're going to die and Alexa's going to die and it's your fault your idea
[00:03] <@Tangent> The Wendigo looks at them with hollow, hungry eyes. A noise that might have been a chuckle...or a snarl...if it hadn't been so very, very hungry.
[00:05] <@Tangent> "r-ru...w-we..." Before Amelia can finish the sentence, the Wendigo's already on them, lashing out with clawed fingers.
[00:05] <@Tangent> *blindly lashing out
[00:06] <@Tangent> It smelled of rot and dead things. Unclean. Like a body left to dry out in a slaughterhouse.
[00:08] <Jran-Kri> "thywillbedoneonearthasitisin-- AH!" The rest of it trails off into a scream. The crystal ball shines like a bright red firework, conjuring a chain of barriers between them and the creature -- all she can think to do, besides run. The bright red circles take on vague, half-formed shapes -- circles, doors, gates, shields, the first things to spring to mind. She scrambles backwards past Amelia. "RUN!"
[00:09] <@Tangent> Amelia's frozen for a moment longer...staring in horror, revulsion, and loathing...but Alexa snaps her out of it. Run. Right. She rushes after Alexa. Behind them, the creature's viciously tearing through barrier after barrier...
[00:11] <@Tangent> "ohgodohgodnopenopenope..." she pants, tears streaking her eyes as she flees with Alexa. "imsorryimsorry..." A sound like a glass window shattering heralds the last barrier to break.
[00:18] <Jran-Kri> "deliverusfromevilforthineisthekingdooooh nonono," Alexa, realizing that her barriers are slowing her down more than the monster, dims her staff and turns to book it at fully sprint in the other direction, back the way she came -- only to discover that Amelia's earlier comment was a grim sort of foreshadowing. The street they came down is no far in another direction -- and Alexa is running towards a cul-de-sac of other d
[00:19] <Jran-Kri> She turns again, trying desperately to throw a slightly more substantial barrier up behind them, straining from the effort amidst a blend of curses and prayers.
[00:21] <@Tangent> "HOW?" Amelia stares incredulously at the dead end. The very, very dead end. She spins around. The Wendigo's there already, tearing away the barrier. She glances to Alexa. "I-i'msorry..." She repeats again, meaninglessly. They're going to die here. Her legs won't listen to her.
[00:23] <Jran-Kri> Alexa grinds to a halt, twisting the butt of her staff into the ground as the ball's glow intensifies. Her magic redoubles, trying to maintain the barricade of light.
[00:23] <Jran-Kri> "W-w-we're n-not g-going to die," she says, sounding utterly unconvinced with herself. "We're not, we're not, we can... we can..."
[00:24] <@Tangent> Even with magic, she's a failure. A stupid failure that wasn't just useless, she's just gotten someone else killed too because she wanted to matter.
[00:25] <@Tangent> Amelia takes a faltering, blind step forwards, even as the Wendigo keeps at it. She feels numb. "Maybe, if..." This counts as doing something that matters, right? Even if it's just making sure her mistake doesn't hurt Alexa too...
[00:27] <@Tangent> "I-if I keep it b-busy...you..." She can't even finish the thought. Even at the end, she's a coward.
[00:28] <Jran-Kri> "A-A-Amelia!" Alexa gasps, her boot scraping against the ground like she's physically pushing against some massive force. She shakes her head emphatically. "N-n-no! D-don't even... I-I'm not going anywhere!"
[00:28] <@Tangent> Maybe it's just easier to let it kill her. It might not even stick, if that crazy story that woman said was true. "T-then..." She starts, not even sure what to say. She doesn't argue the point, feeling shameful relief that Alexa'd refused.
[00:28] <Jran-Kri> A moment later, she realizes Amelia never even said that. That was just her, preempting her own fear, and desperate desire to run.
[00:31] <Jran-Kri> "W-w-wait, I-I-I h-have a-an i-idea!" She says. She doesn't look too inclined to share, but a particularly rough blow on it makes her reconsider. "I-if y-you can d-distract it, m-maybe I can get behind it and--" She doesn't finish her thought. Without any fanfare, the glow from her staff abruptly vanishes -- along with the barrier it projected. For a split second, she stares in shock. Then she starts screaming.
[00:32] <@Tangent> The Wedingo stops. It tilts its head, almost like a curious puppy. Then it laughs. Again. There's no mistaking it this times. It laughs, almost lazily loping forwards with claws outreached.
[00:34] <@Tangent> "Alexa!" Amelia screams. Something inside her snaps. She's not even sure what. Alexa screaming. Dying in a dead end. It laughing at her- at Amelia. Whatever it is, the fear, anger...shame...loathing- it all /burns/. So she lets it out.
[00:36] <@Tangent> A blue flare surrounding a silver blade. A wild, sweeping slash that meets the Wedingo's claw and turns it aside...and gets a pained snarl from the beast as flesh and bone crackle and char. Amelia's not even sure what she's doing, just that she wants this thing to BURN. A slash, a swipe...and then it rakes her across the chest. Amelia crumples.
[00:38] <@Tangent> *another slash, another swipe...
[00:42] <Jran-Kri> Alexa wasn't sure what had happened. She had always assumed that when her magic was overtaxed, it would -- well she wasn't sure what it would do, but she thought it wouldn't just pop like a bubble. She stands, paralyzed with fear, as Amelia meets the beast head-on. She stops screaming, and almost dares to hope that Amelia will come out on top until she falls. Alexa screams again, in fear, horror -- and rage. Before she c
[00:42] <Jran-Kri> focuses, and prays. A small burst of light of light tears out of the staff and strikes the Wendigo in the face. Not nearly strong enough to hurt, but just enough to distract it.
[00:45] <@Tangent> The monster's starting to lean over Amelia, jaws open, when the bolt hits it in the snout. It snarls, looking around. Its claws and reverse-joined legs are splattered with deep, rich blood. Amelia's blood. It sniffs the air, eying Alexa.
[00:47] <Jran-Kri> Alexa is hyperventilating, but the short gasps abruptly stop when the creature lays it's eyes on her. She can't run and abandon Alexa. She can't heal her with the creature right there. She has only one plan: she calls out to the creature.
[00:48] <Jran-Kri> "H-hey! O-o-over here!" She barks, fear cracking in her voice. The crystal ball begins glowing again, more intensely than ever before. She begins chanting under her breath, backing away. She's only ever done this once before, and she's not even sure it'll do the trick, but it's the only thing left.
[00:49] <@Tangent> Amelia can't breathe. All she can see is that monster, and the agony of having her ribcage sliced open. It's not even cold... This is it. Better than just being eaten, a bit...She mostly just wishes she'd actually done something. Kept it busy the way Alexa'd asked her to. And it's that thought and Alexa's terrified yell that makes her struggle to move. She can't die like this...not someone useless that's gotten Alexa killed too. She has to do more.
[00:50] <@Tangent> And then it just steps on her. She'd have screamed, but her ribcage was currently breaking.
[00:52] <@Tangent> She's bled a lot. All over the ground. On the Wendigo. Its claws. Its feet. Even splattered on its matted fur. Her magic's fire, and that fire's inside her. And that included her blood.
[00:54] <@Tangent> Her blood catches fire, unnatural blue flames blazing away wherever its spread. The Wendigo is suddenly ablaze, filthy fur quickly catching the flames and spreading it further. Distracted, it howls madly, stumbling around and clawing at its own unclean flesh...and only spreading the flames.
[00:54] <Jran-Kri> Alexa screams, her concentration faltering at the sight of the creature's sadism on full display. Distantly, she realizes that this is a demonstration of intelligence -- an animal wouldn't indulge in this. More consciously, her fear and anger war in her chest, and she trembles, trying to remember the spell when the creature spontaneously combusts.
[00:55] <@Tangent> It's in agony, blinded, and very, very distracted...but incredibly, it's still alive even as pieces of it burns away. It takes one, shaky step closer.
[00:58] <Jran-Kri> She stares, mouth agape -- she's sure that it's going to flee until it steps towards her. She raises her staff again, the glow intensifying. The last part of the chant comes to her -- the light seems to compress into a single, eye-piercingly bright point in the centre of the ball. She angles it toward the beast.
[00:58] <Jran-Kri> "Claíomh solais!"
[00:59] <@Tangent> Amelia lies there, shaking. Even as flames gently lick away at her wounds and her body knits itself back together, all she can do is shake as the pain slowly fades. She can't do anything. She's useless. It's going to kill Alexa, and all she's doing is lie there. And then there's a flash. Blinding. Beautiful.
[00:59] <Jran-Kri> With that, the focused burst of magical energy spews forth in a shaft of light, like a red sword, and strikes the creature in the chest.
[01:01] <@Tangent> The Wendigo ends silently. It doesn't die, so much as...cease, blowing away in a cloud of foul dust and bone fragments that crumble as well an instant later. All that's left is scraps of cloth, a few yellowed animal teeth...and bone dust. Something metallic glimmers in the pile.
[01:04] <Jran-Kri> Alexa is astonished. Even with the fire raking its flesh, she didn't think she could kill the thing -- but then it's gone. She doesn't linger long on it; with a cry, she rushes toward Amelia, skidding to a halt as she kneels beside her, staff hovering over her.
[01:05] <Jran-Kri> "Oh God, oh God, oh God -- it-it's a-alright, I-I c-can h-heal, I can f-fix this..."
[01:07] <@Tangent> Amelia's lying there. There's no blood. The only external sign she'd been injured at all are the massive, sweeping tears in her uniform...and the way she's shaking like a hooked fish. There's a soft, muffled noise. She's crying. "imsorryimsorryimsorry..." Worthless. Liar. You couldn't even DIE right.
[01:11] <Jran-Kri> Alexa is once again left briefly dumbstruck, finding no wounds to heal. Confusion gives way quickly to relief, which is then overridden by shock. She drops her staff, letting it roll away, and hesitates -- then she scoops up the other girl in a hug.
[01:12] <Jran-Kri> "Shhh, shh, it-it's okay," she assures her softly. Her voice breaks -- the sight of tears, and the sharp decline in her adrenaline, shake her. "It's fine. Y-you're fine. I'm f-fine. It-it's okay..."
[01:13] <@Tangent> Amelia shakes in the hug, clinging to Alexa...all reluctance or standoffishness forgotten. She's not even in a state for coherent thought, just a mess of self-disgust, fear, and relief. "I-I-Y-you..." She stammers.
[01:13] <@Tangent> "C-couldn't even...imsorry..."
[01:14] <@Tangent> She sobs.
[01:17] <Jran-Kri> "Shh. You... you... I thought..." She takes a deep breath, and exhales with a shudder that can be heard and felt. Her shoulders rack as she sobs with her. "I thought y-you had d-died for me."
[01:19] <@Tangent> "I-I'm not brave enough for that...My fault...I-I was stupid..."
[01:19] <@Tangent> It's out in the open. She can't unsay it.
[01:21] <Jran-Kri> "... No. No, don't..." Alexa shakes her head, squeezing Amelia tighter. "You... you attacked that thing, I-I saw it. Y-you went t-toward it -- I just wanted to r-run away."
[01:27] <@Tangent> Amelia just closes her eyes. She trembles, slowly recovering some semblance of control. "Y-you were right...I...I don't...Don't know anything....and y-you could have...died..." She wants to believe it won't stick, that magic can fix it, but...dead is dead. And even if it isn't...she'd have gotten hurt because of her.
[01:28] <@Tangent> She opens her eyes again, looking into Alexa's eyes. "You...you killed it. So...you...you did good, okay?" Not eloquent but she can't do any better right now.
[01:28] <@Tangent> She's drained in ways she didn't even know were possible. An ache beyond the physical. Is this what it's like to be out of magic?
[01:31] <Jran-Kri> Alexa shakes her head forcefully, looking back at her, her blue eyes practically gushing.
[01:32] <Jran-Kri> "D-don't say that," she says -- it comes out like a high-pitched whine. "I-I c-couldn't have d-done it without you -- a-and w-we're f-fine, a-aren't we? I-it a-all worked out..."
[01:34] <@Tangent> Amelia can't meet her eyes for long. She feels hollow. It's what she wanted- to matter, so why does it feel wrong? Alexa doesn't blame her, even after...She doesn't reply, only hugs her again. To hell with dignity.
[01:37] <@Tangent> "Y-yeah...It worked out." She lets out a rattling, shaky breath. She's still not used to the idea of her magic doing that...
[01:37] <@Tangent> "You...you're okay, right?"
[01:37] <Jran-Kri> Alexa's grip on her tightens again, as she tries and fails to stop her tears. She sniffles, nodding.
[01:38] <Jran-Kri> "Y-yeah. I-I'm fine," she loosens her grip and brings her head back, looking down at Amelia's chest. "A-are you? C-can you walk?"
[01:43] <@Tangent> "Sorry..." she says quietly. "For making you worry...I...Yeah, I...I should be...okay. Don't worry about me, okay?" The fabric's torn in a pair of ragged claw-lines just under her slight bust. The rips stretch across her uniform. The braids were torn apart, and one of the buttons is gone. "I...Yeah, I...I'm fine. Really." She repeats, wincing.
[01:43] <@Tangent>  She doesn't like detransforming...but with the state her uniform's in, she'll have no choice sooner or later. Probably sooner.
[01:47] <Jran-Kri> "Stop... stop apologizing," Alexa admonishes her, though not with much force behind it. "It-it's f-fine. I... I thought... n-nevermind. I-if you say s-so. W-we sh-should probably g-get out of here."
[01:48] <@Tangent> Aren't you forgetting something?
[01:48] <@Tangent> Wouldn't it be a pity not to get your reward after a fight like that?
[01:50] <@Tangent> "Sorr...Okay." Amelia nods, stumbling up to her feet. A glance at the pile of bones and rags...and she cringes.
[01:51] <Jran-Kri> Alexa slackens her grip on Amelia as she rises, slowly letting her go and rising to her feet. She turns with Amelia, grimacing at what's left of the Wendigo -- and then recalls the flash of metal. She stumbles towards the remains, rifling through them, half sure she just imagined it.
[01:52] <@Tangent> "I-Y-yeah...they have coins...I think..." Amelia blurts, stumbling after her friend. "It...doesn't really make much sense."
[01:53] <@Tangent> Sure enough, two bronze coins glint invitingly near what looks like a tooth...but what's really eye-catching is the black coin. It's pure, clean metal. Almost obsidian with a sheen like polished silver.
[01:54] <@Tangent> Magic can do anything you want.
[01:55] <@Tangent> You'll never need to be hungry again if you want.
[01:56] <@Tangent> "Wow...I've never seen one like that before..." Amelia's wide-eyed, distracted from her thoughts of just moments past.
[01:57] <Jran-Kri> Alexa stops short at the sight of the black coin, gasping. She stares at it, biting down on her lip. When Amelia speaks, she almost jumps out of her skin.
[01:57] <@Tangent> "You okay?" Amelia blinks, almost reluctantly looking to Alexa.
[01:58] <Jran-Kri> "... Y-yeah. N-neither have I," she lies. With a jerky motion, she scoops up the two bronze coins, offering one to Amelia. "A-ah, b-but neverm-mind it. Y-you c-certainly d-deserve at least one of these."
[02:00] <@Tangent> Why not the Black Coin? a traitorous voice asks inside her...and is promptly silenced under a surge of self-disgust. Alexa SAVED her, and it was her fault in the first place. She should choose. "I...I guess so, even if you did the work..." She forces herself to look away. "Thanks."
[02:01] <Jran-Kri> "I-I-I'm f-f-fine," she shakes her head, pocketing the bronze coin. "I-I'm j-just a b-bit shaken, is all. Ah... my p-pleasure. I c-couldn't have done it without you."
[02:04] <Jran-Kri> She looks back down at the black coin. Her fingers scrape it, and she could swear she felt a surge of power... She looks up at Amelia.
[02:05] <Jran-Kri> "Now, ah... what to do a-about this?" She asks, with an unnatural quirk of the lip.
[02:06] <@Tangent> She shakes her head. "This one's your win. You killed that thing..." She looks at the coin. It's very shiny. "I guess it's worth more...Kinda shiny, actually. Magic's weird." She shrugs. "Um...do you want it?"
[02:06] <@Tangent> That voice is back. Hoping she'll say no.
[02:14] <Jran-Kri> Alexa tenses up. All of what Amelia said was true, wasn't it? She landed the killing blow. It was hers by right. And the other girl, her self-proclaimed new best friend, had spoken at length of its powers. She gulps. Her fingers close around it.
[02:14] <Jran-Kri> "... I-It was a team effort," she insisted. Yet she rises with the coin in hand. "B-but I-I mean, i-if y-you don't m-mind..."
[02:17] <@Tangent> "Not at all!" she lies. Her gaze darts to Alexa's hand before she wrenches it away, a look of disgust flashing across her features. She shakes her head. "You earned it. More, really. I mean...you killed a...werewolf? Giant? I don't even know...but it's dead now, thanks to you." She gives her a thumbs up, and a slightly strained smile. "Congratulations!"
[02:20] <Jran-Kri> "I- I mean it, I-I couldn't have done it w-without you," she insists, even as her shoulders slacken in relief. She pockets the black coin, feeling it jingle beside its much less powerful fellow. "Whatever it was -- and I-I'm sure there's someone who knows, should look into that -- w-we brought it down together."
[02:22] <@Tangent> "Yeah. Together." Her smile becomes more sincere. "Come on, let's get out of here...I'll buy the cake today, okay?"
[02:22] <@Tangent> It's warmer now. More normal. The ice melts and trickles away.
[02:25] <Jran-Kri> Alexa hesitates. She digs deeper into the pocket the two coins disappeared into. After a brief count with her fingers, she shakes her head.
[02:26] <Jran-Kri> "No, no, y-you bought last time. I'll pick it up," she smiles, overcome by the sudden urge to make up for her greed. But it wasn't greed -- she deserved it. No, she was making up for Amelia's injuries. Yes, that was it.
[02:28] <@Tangent> The coin's almost warm against her fingers. Must be body heat.
[02:29] <@Tangent> "Ah, alright, I guess that's fair...But...Ha! We won!" Amelia laughs, as though it's finally sunk in. And as the two of them chatter and walk off together, a few faint whisps of black smoke drift up from the ashes behind them.
[02:30] <Jran-Kri> "H-ha. Yeah. Not bad for our first time, eh?" She laughs with her, drying her tears, and walks with her.