[@Sifr][@Estylwen][@Psyker Landshark]

[b][h3]CAMPUS GROUNDS, FOREST[/h3][/b]

Both attacks would strike true against the wolf, whose body crumpled into a crater in the ground. A gurgle of bile and blood cocktail fled its open maw as its body convulsed in the dirt, dull wispy eyes darting back and forth between Iraleth, Ciara and Hildegunde. In the places upon which it was struck, the veil of shadows was cut apart, revealing grey fur underneath with a fresh coat of crimson. "Mmmm... not enough to overcome a pure numbers advantage. Not like this, at least. The bloodlust was a critical flaw as well," the raspy voice would continue to echo out from the wolf.

All at once, the shadow veil coating the beast would warp and converge upon its back where Ciara had struck, revealing the full form of the wounded grey wolf that bore no recognition in its eyes. The shadows on its back rose and formed into the shape of a small impish creature made of pure, featureless darkness, its lower half seemingly rooted in place to the torso of the lifeless beast. A second later, a mouth of gleaming white teeth upon its otherwise silhouetted face became its sole defining feature, curved downwards in a scowl.

"It truly is a shame to be assaulted by a fellow sufferer," it would look towards Ciara. "And for that sufferer to unite with the worshiper of a false deity," it would then regard Iraleth with a wave of its hand.

"And another who saw, yet I have no chance of survival were I to continue to fight... hrmmm," it would finally turn towards Hildegunde, finger to chin in thought, muttering to itself in an unknowable language.

After arriving at an epiphany, it raised its tiny arms in the air with a smile on its face.

"I have been vanquished, great heroes! You may now proceed to take me to your leader, or whatever else your protocol is around here. I invoke my prisoner rights and safeties!"

[hr]

[@ERode]

[b][h3]WORLD BETWEEN DOORS[/h3][/b]

Chloe's eyes fluttered open as she registered Otis' voice. She made no efforts to move as she simply stared into whatever 'up' was in the current moment, entranced by the space she found herself in. Blood still leaked from her wounds, trailing out of her slowly, though she wasn't as bothered by it as she was previously. "Hildegunde and I... were attacked by some monstrosity in the woods, as you saw."

Turning over to face towards Otis, slowly, she continued.

"I was taking a brisk walk before the ceremony, and she took it upon herself to follow me... for whatever reason. Then we were both attacked."

Despite floating through the air and not having a concrete grasp on a solid up or down, Chloe's hands fell to her hips in annoyance, glare sharpening towards Otis. A small spiral of scarlet trailed around her as she floated through the World Between Doors, but the pain she was in could only be matched by the sheer [i]insult[/i] of accusations.

"Neither she nor I are in the center of [i]anything[/i], you understand. We were attacked by some accursed being, by a bad roll of the dice. Wrong place, wrong time. And now a threat to school safety prowls the forest attacking students, which is a far more pressing matter, you must agree."

[hr]

[@AThousandCurses]

[b][h3]CAMPUS GROUNDS, LEYLINE ATTUNEMENT ZONE[/h3][/b]

"Ah?! Alright, just uh, go off then," Emelie exclaimed in surprise at Chunji's sudden sprint. She hobbled towards the front by Raja, going her separate way for now.

When Chunji had caught up to Rio, the boy was far removed from the attunement zone, walking towards the front of the school. He half-turned on his heel towards his classmate when the distance was closed, facing Chunji with a look that immediately betrayed that something was smoldering beneath the surface. "What's so important about it? Attuning to all the school's leylines, so we can be big 'n strong like the greats? Borrowing Big Daddy Union's grand earthen powers? Pffft."

He turned away and spat, then stared back at his classmate. Removing one of his hands from his pockets, he pointed at Chunji while still half-turned towards him. "And you, all the while. The same blank, uncaring expression, yesterday and today. Teacher's pet, tryin' to make sure everyone stays in line. Rules to the letter, and not a step above or below."

His outstretched hand balled into a fist which fell to his side, turning to fully face towards Chunji now, maintaining a distance of two paces away.

"I was gonna go take care of somethin', but you piss me off, you know that? Seeing you prancing around with that same condescending look, it all just reminds me of how we never got to finish our fight the first time. Maybe if we had, you would've been taught a valuable life lesson."