The man smelled of smoke and sulfur, an unpleasant mixture that likely indicated he was a fire enchanter. His fingers had begun to dig into Morgen's collarbone, making the boy hunch his shoulders up with a grimace. Even still, those dark eyes were on Morwen. Watchful. Predatory.
Hungry.

There was only a brief flicker in his eyes as the Hunter approached to make his demands. He didn't turn. Either he still didn't consider the man might be a hunter, or he was confident enough not to be worried.

"Tell you what, Champ," He tipped his head down a bit to the left, allowing him a side-glance to the man. "Why don't you decide whether or not you really want to try and make me. And if you do, well... then we'll set--" He stopped, mid-sentence, to whisper something that sounded nonsensical. Fire suddenly licked out hungrily from between the shoddy floorboards between Johannes and Bast. The sleazy fucker had attempted to catch the hunter off-guard, attacking mid-sentence.

Rali swore colorfully and grabbed at the cowering serving girl nearby. She began to evacuate her small staff as, somehow, the fire actually started to feed hungrily on the stone wood.

Bast hauled Morgen to his feet roughly, and shoved the boy around the table, towards his sister. With both kids behind him now, He turned sharply on his heel to face Johannes, the growing wall of fire between them.

Morwen head snapped up at the chanting. "Move!" She shrieked standing up.

She stumbled back as she grabbed her brother, hugging him close. "Down, down!" She whispered harshly as she pushed him underneath the table. "We need to get out of here!" She looked to were Rali and the others were going, there was a back exit. A chance of escaping!

There was a pause. She looked back to Bast and the hunter. Bast was focused completely on the hunter, they weren't important anymore. This was her chance. A chance of revenge. For those months of torment. Morwen kissed her brother's forehead, before crawling towards the man underneath the table. Slowly, she produced the knife she stole earlier. She took a slow and steady breath. The smell of almost making her gag underneath the table. It was to familar. It brought back painful memories of the Miraculum for her.

She hesitated, holding the knife in front of her. Morwen narrowed her eyes. Revenge filled her thoughts. She quickly slashed at his ankles, with the hopes to cripple the man. She then stood up quickly, to throw the table on top of him. "Run!" She grabbed Morgen's hand and started to drag him to where Rali and the rest went.

The corner of Johannes' mouth turned down as his nostrils flared. Showy displays of magic always irritated him, but using magic to threaten people was downright disgusting. The tavern-woman's flight with her hapless barmaid and the rugrats scrambling away barely registered - he was too focused on Bast. Johannes took a single sliding half-step backwards so that the flames wouldn't touch him, but he kept as close to Bast as otherwise possible.

It came as a surprise to Johannes when the kids didn't simply scurry away. He had not expected the girl to make a move, to do something as risky as go for his ankles. Not when it meant leaving that dumbfounded-looking boy unattended and wasting precious seconds they could be using to put distance between themselves and Bast. Suspicions and curiosity rolled around in his head, but that was for later.

When the girl slashed at Bast's ankles, Johannes took advantage of this opening. Reaching to a slim leather pocket-sheaf on the side of his dark brown cargo pants, he wrapped his fingers around something. In a flash, he had it out - a long knife with a handle like a pair of brass knuckles - and he didn't hesitate for a second.

Johannes lunged forward, disregarding the flames, and slashed at Bast's throat.

All but leapt to his feet as the magical flames shot up, his heart pounding in his chest. Fire magic.. It had to be fire magic. Snatching up his bag he started to reach inside to pull out his scribing set before pausing. The crackling of the flames sent him into a pause.. While the smell of sulphur burned at his nose.

Ba-dump Ba-dump.

Ezra could hear the blood pounding away in his ears or could that be the sound of his heart pounding against his ribcage? He wondered wildly if all those nearby could hear it as well. His hand shook as he took hold of the wooden box he kept the set in, looking up in time to see Johannes slashing at the man’s throat.

Did he get him? It seemed everything moved in slow motion.. The man staggered by something.. What the hell did he miss? His gaze fell upon the fleeing kids before looking quickly back towards the Hunter and Mage. Nails pressing down against the wood as he waited with bated breath.

There was a scrambling sound at the closed front door. Vicious barking. Spot knew something was up, but she was helpless to aid her wards, foiled by a lack of opposable thumbs. Morgen's head turned in the direction of the familiar barking as he hid, dazed and disorientated beneath the table where Morwen left him. He had no idea what was going on anymore; it wasn't fair, why did he have to be blind?! He considered skinwalking, if only to escape this confusing hell hole, but resisted temptation.

Bast gave a snarl of agony as Morwen's knife but into the tender tendons of his foot. His leg buckled involuntarily and he hissed through clenched teeth, turning towards Morwen, only to have the table overturned against him. "Orphaned cunt!" He roared after her, his flames burning higher, brighter. It was a perfect distraction; he never saw Johannes coming.

The hunter was atop the enchanter before the latter even knew what hit him. For all his magic prowess, all his dedication to the Miraculum, He was still a erratically any other, and the flesh of his throat split in a wide, red smile courtesy of Johaness' knife.

Yet the fire did not extinguish. It began to consume erratally now, spreading rapidly, with no enchanter to keep it tempered.

Rali and her staff were waiting at the back window for the twins. It was large enough for a grown man to fit through, and she helped haul them out into the hot rain. Spot had circled to the back of the inn to greet them. She chuffed and nuzzled at both kids, tail beating back and forth vigorously.

Morwen made sure her brother got out first before climbing out the window herself. She clutched onto the bloody knife, coughing and sputtering at the smoke she inhaled when she ran. The warm rain washing off the soot and other dirt she accumulated over the past few days. Her dress clung to her now, showing off her unnaturally skinny frame. Her amber hair clutched to her shocked expression. She dropped the knife when she saw Spot, dropping to her knees and giving the dog a tight hug around her neck.

There was a range of emotions going through the young girl, and she wasn't sure which one to focus on. Bast was gone. The man that haunted her nightmares, his lecherous touch that still made her shudder in fear and flinch away from uninitiated affection. Gone. Just like that. Finally, she decided on relief. That monster was gone.

She hugged further into Spot, Morwen buried her face in the dogs dark matted fur. A shuddery breath could be heard from the young girl, trembling lightly against the larger dog. She stayed that way for several moments. Finally, she pulled away from the dog and looked to her brother. It was unclear in the rain if she was crying or not. "Morgen are...are you ok?" She rose from her crouched position and hugged her brother as well, "I'm sorry I left you like that." She said softly.

She looked behind her at the Tavern, then to the workers. "U-Um..." She shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to do next.

Johannes felt a twinge of pleasure as he felt his knife slice through Bast's throat. It was a good feeling, one that made him feel oddly powerful and alive knowing that some twisted son of a bitch was dead at his hand. The feeling was like electricity in his veins. The blood that splattered across his arm and chest was like a temporary badge of honor.

He didn't have time to dwell on it - the fire was spreading and out of control, and he was sitting inside a tinderbox. A quick tug at the strap of his backpack ensured all his belongings were still on him, and that was good enough for him. Dashing for his table, he grabbed on to Ezra and shoved him once roughly toward Rali's open window. "Move!" Either the scribe would get the hint to follow, or he'd burn. This would make for a good first test.

Johannes dashed toward the window, grabbed on to the frame, and hoisted himself out. He tucked and rolled onto the hard ground, landing with a grunt, but he scrambled to his feet right away. Despite the growing flame, he waited at the window, figuring Ezra would need a hand climbing out. A quick glance around ensured the staff and the kids were out as well.

Johannes bounced on his toes a bit as he waited for Ezra. Shit had hit the fan, and he wanted out of this outpost now. He never stuck around to see if anyone would thank him for disposing of mutants or Miraculum members; he never knew who would be thankful and who would be angry. This was especially the case when property damage happened. No doubt the tavern-keeper would be livid that her livelihood was turning to ash.

At least maybe that bad vibe would go away.

The heat and smell of the figure continued to assault his senses, rooting him in place as he casted a terrified look to the steadily spreading flames. His mind went momentarily blank until he suddenly stumbled forward with that rough shove, jarring him out of his panic.

“R-right.” Ezra stepped quickly after the hunter, desperately trying to push the thought of the fire from his mind as he climbed out after him. The window was not difficult to get through Suddenly moving to hurry past the Hunter, aiming to get as far away from the flames as possible, away from the stench, away from the heat.

Quickly, and now that he was safe from the flames, he covered his look of fear with one of annoyance.. Though his heart continued to try and escape his chest and the scars beneath his clothes seemed to burn as if fresh. “Huh. They have gotten rather bold out here in the Wastes haven’t they?” Steps up next to Johannes now, keeping his gaze on anything but the burning building. Catching the Hunter’s uneasiness his amber eyes flicked quickly to the tavern woman, suddenly voicing the same thoughts.

“We should go.” The young scribe kept his voice low, not only worried about the idea of an angry Tavern owner but the chance more Miraculum could be lurking nearby.

By now, most of those who called this ragtag outpost 'home' and who lived nearby were reluctantly drawing out of their dwellings to witness the inn going up in flames. Rali and her two serving girls could only stand and watch as the building fed the fire. In spite of the rain, in spite of the rocky material that made up the inn, the fire did not dwindle. Even with the man who created it dead, his corpse soon to be consumed by his own flames, it still kept its original intensity. It was only fortunate that there were no other fixtures nearby to catch as well. A couple merchant stalls would likely end up being sacrifices alongside the inn, but that would be the extent of the damage. The fire would burn hot and quick, and come morning it would be gone, leaving behind ashes in its wake.

Spot sat diligently throughout Morwen's hugging, a stalwart defender and professional accepter of hugs. She watched Morgen as his twin embraced her, crying into her shaggy fur coat. Morgen extended a tentative hand, and the large dog tipped her head up, nosing his fingertips with her wet nose to let him know where she was. The boy smiled faintly, despite the goings-on around them, and stroked her muzzle gently.
Good dog.

"I'm alright," He answered Morgen rather plainly. Really, he was. The whole thing had been disorientating more than anything else; he'd lost track of his placement, though he could deduce that they must have gone out some back window to relative safety. He was already soaked to the bone, and he shivered in spite of the humidity and warmth in the air. He wondered if they had lost their new clothes... and they still hadn't gotten anything to eat. "...Maybe kinda hungry... but... I'm alright." He offered his sister a small smile, still petting Spot. As Morwen hugged him, he stood there, stoically enduring the affection as well as Spot had. "It's okay. We're safe. We're fine." Something Bast had said bothered him, though. Hadn't the man called his sister... orphaned? "It's just..." He trailed off, paused. Was it worth worrying about now? He could have been lying. Still smiling a bit, Morgen shook his head. "Nevermind."

Morwen nodded, "We need to get back home, before..." Morwen gripped her brother's arms tightly, "We need to move."

The elder twin also heard what Bast had to say. He could of been lying, or it could've been a threat. She moved to grab her brother's hand, "We...We need to get to our home." She looked back to the tavern, feeling her heart dropped. Recruiters came in pairs. There was another out there. "We need protection. Eyes closed..."

Though the rain was heavy, and both man probably exhausted, Morwen gripped Morgen's hand tightly and moved towards them. "U-Um...T-Thank you." She said, her nerve failing a moment, "Could..um..." She looked to the ground, gripping her brother's hand tighter then before. "Could you...escort us back home. I-It's not far! At all. Just...a mile or two North-west of here. We...we have a map." She frowned, peeking a glance at the two men.

Johannes gave his scribe a slightly suspicious side-eye stare. He didn't know his assigned partner at all and had doubts the boy would be able to keep up the pace.... but he probably couldn't get away with leaving him at the outpost. The boy would probably go crying back to the Bloodhounds to complain. At least the boy was bright enough to realize they had to leave.

Before he could say anything to Ezra, those rugrats were at his knees again. Not literally at his knees, but that's how he pictured all children - especially scrawny ones found at outposts. He stared down at the girl as she spoke with a wavering voice, his light grey-blue eyes no doubt lacking any warmth if she looked up to his face. Getting thanked was rare and welcome, but the plea to escort them was met with a snorted laugh.

Looking over the girl and her companions - at least the dog looked smart - he motioned toward Morgen while still looking at Morwen. "What's wrong with him? Is he dumb, blind, or all o' the above?"

That was another thing he hated about the Wastelands. Tag-alongs and burdens.

Ezra glanced back at Johannes with a small frown, after that interaction with the Miraculum mage in the inn he was starting to wonder how in the hell the hunter had survived as long as he had. Giving a shake of his head, he lifted his hand to make sure the hairpin was still there before letting out a soft sigh of relief when he caught the brush of cool metal.

Turning towards the exit of the town he gave pause when the two kids that Johannes had saved approached, lifting a brow at the girl’s request. They weren’t mercenaries, why the hell did this girl assume that they would be leading them anywhere? A faint frown pulled at his lips as he looked towards Johannes, awaiting his response to her request.

The scribe let out a rather audible sigh as the question turned on the girl’s brother, his own attention turned to scanning the crowd around them. Unease prodded at Ezra’s mind and the dark-haired youth found himself watching for anyone paying a little too much attention to their small gathering. The need to leave the outpost was steadily starting to build and he looked quickly towards Johannes and the twins.

“Let's go. We can discuss his issues on the way if you are planning’ on leading them. Cause if you are, sitting with em here in the middle of a burning down outpost probably ain’t the best way kick off your escort mission.”

With as often as Morgen skinwalked into her, the bond between boy and dog was something stronger than the already unshakable bond between a dog and their master. She had been fearful the first time he had seen through her eyes, but then, so had he. Over the course of nearly two years, it seemed as if sometimes they could communicate on a different wavelength; she could feel his emotions, and he hers... and right now, she was getting the impression that her boy was not very fond of this tall man who smelled of blood. The dog's lips peeled back and she gave a low, throaty growl in his direction.

Morgen frowned and gave Spot a reassuring pet along her head. No, Morgen did not like this man, and he wished Morwen hadn't approached them. He didn't feel much safer being around this alleged hunter, and would have rather taken their chances on their own.

He didn't look at Johannes, following his sister's instruction... somewhat. While his eyes weren't closed, they were downcast, averted. The hunter or his scribe would need to be eye-to-eye with him to see the telltale marks of magic anyhow.

"Blind, sir. Not stupid. Know what is dumb, though? Walking up and talkin' to an obvious ill-intent fire enchanter instead of catching him off-guard, and letting him get the drop on you instead, risking the lives of everyone around, and causin' a whole building to burn to the ground. You'd be dead if it weren't for my sister. Or at least, extra crispy."

Morwen stiffened when she heard Morgen speak. Despite his blindness, the elder twin still gave him a mean side-eye. Idiot! She could feel Morgen's distaste for the pair as well, but they had to survive. If Bast's partner found them they had no chance of survival! The enemy of the enemy is a friend, right? It would be for half a day, tops. They weren't go far out.

There was a tight squeeze on Morgen's hand. The 'Shut the fuck up' squeeze. "N-No! It, it wasn't r-really obvious. Could of been an outlaw. And my brother gives to much credit. I just...I uh...w-wanted to help. Um." She rubs her arm, "P-Please just. It's a half a days walk. We'll pay. There's just....there could be another out there. We don't want to take the risk." She frowns, eyes tearing up again.

Morgen would know this act. The poor twin act. Normally used on the nicer folks, it was to seem as pitiful as possible to get help. It worked most of the time, the times they don't Morwen would so plan B. She didn't want to do plan B today. "W-We just want to go home." She rubbed her eyes free of her tears.

Ignoring the dog, Johannes glowered at Morgen. For a moment he considered smacking the child, but decided against it. He didn't have time to discipline children, especially orphans.

"We're leavin'." He said, glancing to Ezra before returning his attention to the girl. "You two can follow if you want to head the same direction. You cause problems, we part ways, got it?"

Johannes didn't allow time for any of them to answer. Patting his side once to reassure himself that his pistol was still in place, he turned on his heel and marched quickly for the nearest gate out of the outpost. He didn't give the inn or its owner a second look.

Pulling his hood up over his platinum blonde hair and tucking his ponytail in place, he kept his eyes up and alert. He scanned every direction around him for threats of whatever kind, walking quickly with long strides. Those children had pissed him off and he was hoping for a quick opportunity to dump them somewhere. What did those snot-nosed brats expect, him to just stab a random stranger in an inn? No, that would never work. He had to force the Miraculum to show its hand before striking. Otherwise he was just another bandit.

Ezra stared at Morgen for a long moment. “Wonder what would have happened had he not stepped in?” His tone was cold as he spoke, looking between the two of them as he turned on his heel to follow after Johannes. To be honest he didn’t give half a shit that the kid was insulting the hunter but fucking still, even Ezra knew not to snap at the hand you were begging scraps from.

“Gotcha.” Was stated simply as he stepped after the hooded man towards the outpost exit, pulling up the scarf around his neck to cover his head, hiding away his dark hair and the pin that decorated it.

Stepping quickly up next Johannes he lowered his voice to speak to him. “Here is my question. Was it me, or did that Miraculum agent seem to step right over to them?” Amber eyes narrowed slightly. “Maybe I am over thinking things… They do tend to target younger kids from what I was told at the academy.” Sighs and waves his hand dismissively before continuing to follow the hunter, glancing over his shoulder at the twins briefly.

“In any case what’s done is done and that is one less Miraculum shithead to deal with.” Simply shrugs his shoulders as his gaze stayed forward, tugging up a portion of the scarf to cover his nose and mouth, showing he was done with speaking for the time.

He was still mad, still bitter, but said nothing more, even after both hunter and scribe snapped at him. He knew even his sister was irritated by his remark, but he was stubbornly not sorry. It was true, anyhow; let 'em be mad.

His hand was still linked with Morwen's, though part of him wanted to pull away from her. He was sick of the pitiful act, like they couldn't do anything for themselves. He didn't want to go with this stupid hunter, who'd probably gut them if he ever found out what they were. It was stupid.

Even still, He didn't pull away from his sister. He glowered at the ground sightlessly and bit his tongue to avoid snapping out some other smartass remark. Dropping his hand away from Spot, He allowed Morwen to lead the way, even if he didn't agree with He decision.

There was another squeeze to Morgen's hand. She brings him close, whispering to him now. "It's just one more day, even half. They're heading in the right direction. We'll be fine." She gives him a side hug. "We'll be fine." She repeated.

The rain dissolved into a drizzle as the group left the inn. The embers of the inn glowing dimly behind them. Morwen moved closer to her brother, taking a slow breath. They were so close, but, the orphan comment still haunted her. She turned to her brother, "I..." She frowns looking away, "Nevermind." She rubbed her face.

She looked up to the two again, "Um...where...where are you two heading?" She asked, generally curious about the two.

Johannes made no movement to indicate he was listening to Ezra, or that he even heard the scribe talk. However, he did respond in a low murmur the next time he peered off in Ezra's direction, trying to speak too quietly for Morgen and Morwen to hear: "He stepped over quick. Too quick. Keep your eyes on the kids. Don't let them catch you off-guard. Only observe for now."

It was suspicious to Johannes the way that damn mage made a beeline for two dirty Wasteland rats. Orphans, he called them - how much did that agent actually know about the children and their family? Was that true, or a bluff? But more importantly - why did he know anything at all? It was no secret the Miraculum had recruiters; that's why the Bloodhounds sent him out here to begin with.

In theory he could just chalk this encounter up as a success, put another notch on the stock of his gun, and move along.... but these damn kids! Were they accomplices and mages themselves? Really just Wasteland rats? He couldn't risk leaving any loose ends unattended.

Johannes looked over at Morwen when she inquired about their travel plans. "North. For now." He didn't slow his pace or offer any more information yet. He would have to somehow butter them up a little bit. He hated small talk and socializing enough as it was, but with children? What did children even talk about? He'd have to think of something to say eventually...

"What's the dog's name?" He glanced over at the girl again, then at the dog. Even when growling, Johannes still preferred the company of the dog over the children.

This was going to be a hell of a long trip.

Amber eyes shifted in Johannes’ direction as he spoke, nodding towards him to indicate he was listening. Silently he mused over the situation in his head, recounting the details up until the fire. “Mm. It does make you wonder.” The words did not seem too hampered by the cloth, thin as it was.

Ezra’s gaze remained forward as they walked yet his attention was focused on the hunter as he crossed his arms over his chest. His brow was drawn in a furrow as he continued to consider their current predicament, though a thought did cross his mind, “What if they are mages?” Tosses Johannes a side glance with this soft muttered question before shifting his gaze back forward.

What did they do if they were casters? Kill them? Ditch em? Damned if he knew. Giving a shake of his head Ezra instead focused on their job, drawing in a soft breath as he looked down towards the pack that hung at his hip. If today was any indication it seemed he would be getting in a lot of practice with his sigils.

A faint snorting laugh came from the youth as Johannes tried his hand at awkward small talk, although he scoffed he was just as lost at it as the hunter he travelled with.