Exiles

[Cynical Cat]

Massive jaws stretched wide to meat Metalmaw's charge and close upon him. Fire and light flared in front of the drake's eyes, causing the beast's head to recoil and the creature to step back. The goblin connected.

[Hotfoot]

The wind whisked around the others, helping to soften Fluffy's landing, to aid Metalmaw's assault, to keep Mace's blinding fires on target, but the storm was dying down as the wind rushed back to Faun. The winds swirled around him and the woman, whispering to him, a host of voices, fearful for the safety of the waifish young man.

"I just want to wake up, be back in my bed," He whimpered to the winds. "Why is this happening? I don't understand..."

Shh, hush now, sweet one, we will help.
You swore to us and we swore to you.
Soon, we will talk.
We will talk again.
Now, we need you to help

"What can I do?"

Let loose your pain.
Your anger.
Your fear.
Your sorrow.
Tell the lizard so he understands.
You know the way.

At the urging, Faun let the swirling emotions inside of him swell into his voice, and in the voice of lizards let loose a scream, little more than a shout in his state, but the winds took the sound, amplified it, and led it to the Drake's ears. To it, the roar would be nearly deafening. If it had any instinct left, or a mind, maybe it would think twice, hesitate, or even run.

At least that would be the hope, as the strain caused Faun to go limp, his arms still dangling loosely around the woman he was trying to protect. His lips let slip quiet whispers to the wind, unintelligible to any who could not understand the tongue of the air.

[SirNitram]

Metalmaw connected as the wave of sound hit. The drake had flinched, and diamond teeth ripped into dragonhide. The jugular was bitten down on, and the Redcap was drenched in that favorite colour, that of freshly spilt blood. There was a berserker roar, mostly drowned out from the wave of air and sound, but before he was swatted down, the freakish goblin had torn a large chunk from the drake and gobbled it all down.

[LadyTevar]

Fluffy rose to her feet, shaking the fuzziness out of her head. Rapid healing or not, that Hurt. Yes, she'd been healed totally by morning, whenever that would be, but that Fuckin' HURT.

Blood-scent splashed over her nose, and her head jerked to see MetalMaw had the drake by the throat. The dumb beast had left his master sprawled where he'd fallen, so Fluffy took a moment to limp over and casually bite through the Satyr's neck, just to make sure the hunter hadn't been faking.

Later, she'd be allowed a bite of the drake, after MetalMaw felt he'd eaten enough of it. Thankfully it was a big drake. Metalmaw was trying to moderate his intake. Then again, MetalMaw had taken a spear through the chest. He'd need a lot of meat to fully heal. Fluffy eyed the drake.

Yeah... MetalMaw could finish that in about half-hour...

[Cynical Cat]

As Fluffy trotted over to finish the satyr, the world began to melt away. The ground under her feet became the grass of the park and her surroundings fell apart, like a painted background suddenly subjected to a thousand knives. The world collapsed and they were back in Lincoln Park, alone except for the woman. There was no sign of the satyr or the drake except for the blood dropping from Metalmaw's jaw.

"Thank you," gasped the woman and she embraced Faun. "Thank you."

[SirNitram]

"...Dragon. Aeons since I had dragon." Metalmaw licked his lips, and frowned as the world fell away. "I was gonna save some of that." He said to the world in general. He quickly pulled out a hand mirror, looked into it, and wove a disguise over himself. A freakish goblin with a punctured chest wouldn't do, not in Earth. "Fluffy. Plastic bag." He instructed quickly as he produced the knife and tape to make the other components of the homemade cure for a sucking chest wound.

[Hotfoot]

The fatigue the gripped Faun was not only from the mental trauma he had just undergone, but he was not aware of the reasons behind that salient detail. All he knew was that his muscles ached, his head was throbbing, and the voices would not stop. As the shadow faded, so did some of the voices, allowing the others to ring more clearly in his ears. He looked up at the woman embracing him, wanting to say so much, but each word tripped over the other on the way to his lips. His moistened eyes gazing at her plaintively as his jaw remained slack and open only for ragged breath.

Slowly his gaze shifted to the others, the two covered in blood, both their own and the enemies, and his eyes widened fearfully, his body responding disjointedly to his commands to hide in this woman's arms, hide from the bloody messes that stood before him, even though the faint voices told him not to be afraid, his breathing became quick and deep as he clutched the only solid form of comfort he could manage, quickly looking to her for answers, support, protection, anything.

[Cynical Cat]

Faun felt warmth and love flow into his body. "Thank you my hero," the woman said. "Thank you." She broke the embrace and walked over to the wounded goblin. She was glowing now.

She knelt by Metalmaw. The glow got brighter. She put her hands on his chest. The red cap's flesh knitted and healed without scar. "Thank you, champion."

[SirNitram]

The bare and pink flesh, even through the illusion, shocked Metalmaw. He blinked and peered at the woman. "...Champion." He repeated simply, obviously surprised. "Well. I daresay I expected none of that. Name's Metalmaw, though this side of the mortal realm, better to call me Phil."

[LadyTevar]

Fluffy limped over and sat beside MetalMaw, watching the glowing woman with interest while absently licking the blood off her fur and jaw.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Mace walked over to the werewolf sweat pouring from every pour. "I am sorry for the burns, are you healing well?"

[Cynical Cat]

"I am Elana, once of the court of the Sun and Moon," the woman replied. "Now an exile."

[LadyTevar]

Aren't we all? Fluffy asked rhetorically, rising to her paws and shaking out the aches of her wounds. Leaving MetalMaw (who seemed pleased by the title 'champion') to deal with Elana, Fluffy trotted over to give support to the one who seemed to most need it.

Thus Faun would up with a large lupine by his side. Are you wounded, Sylph-Caller?

[SirNitram]

"Heh. Seelie; not that I'm surprised." Metalmaw adjusted the illusion a little to hide the wound that wasn't.. there anymore. "Call me Phil. Well, around here. You're in Exile central; a world called Earth. Damn fool locals don't even believe we exist, silly things. Formerly of the Twelveth Balor Legion, if you're curious."

[Hotfoot]

Elana's magic comforted Faun, and for a moment, a far off look was made companion to a fragile smile. It quickly vanished when she left, leaving him feeling better than before, but the damage done in this battle was deeper than what Elana's magic could likely mend.

Still, the magic was not without merit. His breathing slowed, his nerves steadied, and his eyes began to see what was around him. A man of fire, a glowing woman, a blood soaked...something...that was not quite human, and a wolf-thing...

A wolf thing that was coming towards him. His heart began to race, and his mind began to try and work out what was happening. The wolf...was a friend? He had seen her attack the others, at least he thought he did, the memories of what just happened were already muddled.

She would not hurt you
She is a friend, Dear Faun
These all are friends, do not fear

"Am...am I insane? Why is this happening?'

You have woken up
You slept for so long
You hid in your dreams
Alone, afraid, empty
You must still hide
But now you're not alone
You have us
And them
The rest will come in time...

Are you wounded, Sylph-Caller?

The last voice was different, not a voice on the winds, but one that did not travel through his ears. He blinked for a moment, actually at a loss at how to respond. He looked around and saw that Fluffy was near him, she must have gotten close while he was talking with the other voices. He timidly looked up at the larger being, frightened, confused, and also somewhat intrigued. He extended a hand to touch Fluffy, quickly withdrawing as he felt that she was, in fact, real. A warm breeze wafted over Fluffy with the touch, and was gone just as fast.

In a weak, tremulous voice, he responds to the voice in his head, still gazing at Fluffy as he does. "I...I'm very tired, and confused...I...how...what..." He reached out to touch Fluffy again, but stopped short, not sure if he should or not. He glanced to Elana, then to Metalmaw, then back to Fluffy. He had so many questions, trying to figure out which to ask first, or if he even wanted to know the answers. "The voices said I was dreaming...but everything now is so strange..." He paused for a moment, a plaintive look on his face as he looked up at Fluffy. "I'm not sure what happened, what's real...is everyone okay?" He reached out, his fingers coming a thin distance from the places Fluffy was burned earlier. "Are...you...okay? I think I remember...fire, it all happened so fast..."

[LadyTevar]

We beat the Bad Guy, we're back on Earth, and we'll all be fine. Fluffy answered, doggy-grinning and wagging her tail. Odd how that instantly transformed her from imposing lupine to friendly puppy. You can pet me, you know. I love scritches.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"A Pleasure Elana, I am Mascent Trivel, formerly in the employ of the Unseelie Court. Also in exile." With that, he whispered a few words that drifted over to "fluffy" and whispered directly into her mind

"Is he alright? He seems more than a bit off, we may have to explain things to him very slowly"

[Cynical Cat]

"Thank you Mascent," said Elana. "He is . . . not quite himself. I hope he gets better soon." She frowned. "I'm afraid I know nothing about this world. I was just running." She broke into tears. "Oh lords of light. All my people . . . ."

[Hotfoot]

Faun blinked as Fluffy changed so easily from one form to another, even through just a simple change in manner. He smiled briefly as he ran his hand over her fur, petting her gently. Strange that he could take comfort in such a thing, considering what had just happened, but somehow it felt right. "Thank you."

His gaze absently turned Elana while his wisps of fingers played over Fluffy's fur. The tactile sensation was diving home the reality of this situation far more than anything else.

Until Elana started to cry.

Something within him stirred, more than the usual empathy he would normally feel, and the air around them became soft and still as he stood on legs that should have been far too unstable to walk on their own. "My Lady Elana," he said with a slowly resolving tone. "everyone, we..." his voice wavered, a touch of fear setting in, "...we should get out of here. My apartment's not far. It's....it's not much, but..." He took a few steps towards Elana, his face clearly pained as he looked at her. "It's better than here." Here, this place marred by the memories of blood and death and horror, of madness and nonsense. Here in the open, watchable, unhidden. So much was unhidden, so much that should have remained lost. So much that still was.

He felt once again like a puppet, led by an invisible set of hands dangling from above, the air spirits around him sliding over to Elana and whispering into her ears words of support and shared sorrow. His gait was unsteady and weakened, his naturally flowing movements chopped and stuttered. The hour was late, and while the wind had done much of the work, their powers did have a price on those that asked for much. Still, he stood, trying to appear resolute for the faltering lady, even though he himself was just shy of curling into a ball and rocking himself to sleep.

[Cynical Cat]

She took Faun's hand. "Thank you noble sir."

[SirNitram]

And thus Metalmaw was now just back to part of the scenery. He sighed as he tucked his weaponry away and cast about, in case they'd caught attention. "Yes, well, noble deeds, courageous heroism, finest bullshit of the Seelie Courts... Whatever. Let's get moving. There's powerful people who want this lady and I have to figure out if I'm going to get paid today or not."

[LadyTevar]

Dammit... She was just really starting to enjoy the scritches, too. With a canine sigh she rose and walked over to the Mage, looking up at him with narrowed eyes. You burned me. That hurt. Although, even as he watched the burnt places were slowly healing, like a film rolling backwards in slow motion. You now owe me.

Metalmaw then mentioned the Contract. Hellfires, Boss! Do you really think the Prince of Coins will pay enough for Combat Duty on this one? Cheaparse bastard didn't even tell us she was being chased by Hunters!

[Hotfoot]

The touch was confusing, the reality of the sensation mingling with the unreal aspects of the woman and the situation he had found himself in. "You're welcome..." He nodded to the others and started leading the way back to his apartment.

It wouldn't take long to get there, not with the shortcuts he was taking. Every once in a while, he would slip into talking to himself in that strange language that sounded more like subtle breathing than words.

The wind, meanwhile, was busy, watching for any that would follow the group, making sure that no unwanted listeners heard the conversations held near Faun, and of course, playing joyfully around their long awaited friend's return.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Dammit... She was just really starting to enjoy the scritches, too. With a canine sigh she rose and walked over to the Mage, looking up at him with narrowed eyes. You burned me. That hurt. Although, even as he watched the burnt places were slowly healing, like a film rolling backwards in slow motion. You now owe me.

Metalmaw then mentioned the Contract. Hellfires, Boss! Do you really think the Prince of Coins will pay enough for Combat Duty on this one? Cheaparse bastard didn't even tell us she was being chased by Hunters!

The mage mentally projected back

Without me, you and Metalmaw would be dead. If you insist, we can burn that bridge after I cross it.

[LadyTevar]

The mage mentally projected back
Without me, you and Metalmaw would be dead. If you insist, we can burn that bridge after I cross it.

That can be arranged. Was all the werewolf privately sent back, following Faun and Elana down the street. She was wary ... with the Walls Between ripping open and shut so rapidly, there was a good chance others had felt it and were on their way to see what was going on. Elana was *their* prize, and she did not want to have to fight off anyone else tonight.