Nathaniel moved through the dark tunnels with ease. Since the surface was so badly compromised, most stayed in the dark. He kept his mouth and nose covered with a strip of fabric, in case he met an Infected. The Infected who hadn't been killed already were starving and dangerous. But it wasn't just Infected he was worried about. He froze as a savage snarl sounded from inside the tunnel behind him. He turned slowly, stepping back as he did so. His hand went to where his knife should have been but he'd dropped it not minutes ago, as he found out upon seeing the creature standing over his knife. He was now defenseless. He had to run, but the creature would give chase.

My only good option is going for the surface, where it won't follow. But it'll stay on the enterance and wait me out. I don't know any open passages near here. I'd be better off trying to get my knife, or maybe... no... I can't use my powers. If anybody walks by, they'll kill me without hesitation. I have to fight or it'll kill me. Fuck. There are no good options right now.

Violet was in her little base she had made herself high in the sky in a old tower, the place was rigged with traps left and right, and only Violet could move around them safely, well, as well as Violet's canine companion, a giant wolf who she had rescued from the Infected and stayed by her side ever since

Nathaniel hesitated before deciding to retreat to the surface. He had no weapons, but perhaps there was a bit of land that was safe up there. He adored his tunnels- since they were safe when he was armed, but he wasn't safe riht now. He turned and ran for an exit, using his weak magic to keep the creature back. He surfaced and the creature stopped trailing him.

Nathaniel looked around and spotted a distant tower. If he moved quickly, he might reach it before nightfall. He began his travels, sometimes being forced to use his magic when an Infected got too close. He hadn't surfaced in so long. He reached the outskirtz of the tower's base- wary in case some idiot had taken up camp in the tower.

Violet sat down and began to read one of the few books she had gathered in the tower, tilting her head as her Wolf companion trotted down the stairs, she followed her wolf, and gently hopped on the giant wolves back as the wolf ran out of the tower, she hid in some bushes as her wolf stalked the boy

Nathaniel didn't move for a long while, his only motion to adjust his make-shift fabric mask. He was being watched he knew it. By somebody or something not infected. A slight blue glow flickered around his fingers but he dampened it quickly.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" He looked around, "I'm armed."

He wasn't armed to the obvious eye, but his magic was a last line of defense and he counted it as being armed.
This isn't good. I didn't count for this. And on the surface. You'd think an uninfected idiot would be smart enough to stay where you don't have to fear as often.

Violet's wolf let out a growl, and Violet came out of the bush with her hands up "Well don't let me stop you" She said, her short brown hair and creamy hazel eyes making her habe a boyish appearance, she was wearing her binder so she looked even more like a boy, the giant wolf was almost bigger that Violet was, it growled at the boy, she ran her hands over the wolf's fur, muttering to the wolf in a ancient magic language that the wolf had shared with her when they bonded, now a tattoo could be seen on the underside of her wrist, the tattoo was of a howling wolf, showing her bond with the giant wolf beside her

Nathaniel frowned, studying the girl and the wolf. Why wre they on the surface, where it wasn't safe? It made no sense to him. Without a mask no less! He noticed Violet lacked a mask. He was able to add up that she had been in the tower, but why?

"Do you... normally stalk people on the surface without a mask?" He asked slowly, glancing nervously at the wolf.

"Well, because of this beauty" She said, brushing her hand in her wolf's fur "We bonded, so now I can breath any air she can breath, and she is customed to live up here on the surface with the Infected" She said, snapping her fingers twice and the wolf nuzzled her hand, the wolf's nose touching the tattoo and the wolf started to glow, magic swirling all around the wolf before it ended, it wasn't Violet who was magic but her wolf, who's name was Akira

"Even magical species can't live up here..." He noted suspiciously.

She could be one of those Infected who are good at hiding it...I can't take that risk again but if she isn't, I can't fight her... He thought, studying her.

"True, but it's also because I have these" She says and pulls about 50 different kn!ves out of her pockets and shirt, all of they varying in length and size "Oh, and not to mention I have a giant wolf who will tear anyone to shreds to protect me, even if she takes her own life in the process"

Nathaniel was silent for a long moment. The girl would be a good allie in the tunnels, so would the wolf. But he hardly trusted her. It was physically not possible that she lived up in the tower, even with the wolf, since he had studied everything there was to know about the Incident. The virus was airborne, and he knew he should probably get back under the surface before he got infected himself. He studied her for another few moments before speaking.

"Do you live nearby?"

Violet nodded "I do" She stroked the wolf's lavender fur "In the tower" She added as she stuffed all the kn!ves into her pockets, she saw some infected out in the distance "And that's my ticket to leave" She said, hopping onto the wolf's back

He suspected she was lying, considering nobody except Infected could live on the surface safely- not even magical species- or he'd be living on the surface himself instead of in the dark tunnels. He sighed. I need something to defend myself, at least. I can either steal one of hers with magic, or just ask. I'll try asking first. If she doesn't give me something, I swear to god I will- eh. I'll just scavenge for a bit until I find something.

"Well, if you're going to leave me alone in this hell-hole, can I at least have one of your knives?"

Violet tossed a kn!ve at him, then the wolf trotted into the tower and went down into the hidden underground tunnels that were

Nathaniel caught the knife, adjusted his mask, then proceeded to utter a yelp-like sound of surprise as the creature that had been trying to kill him earlier pounced on him. Or at least, the Infected version of said creature. He dropped the knife, much to his displeasure, and tried to kick the creature off so he could grab it. Eventually he grabbed the knife and was able to bury it deep in the creature's throat, killing it. He pushed it off himself but sighed as he realized how badly the creature had injured him. He wouldn't make it back to his tunnels in time if he wanted to heal himself the right way. He'd have to do it now.

He relented to his own thoughts and let blue magic swirl around him, simply laying there on the ground for a hot minute as he healed. The Infected were closing in now, but stayed back. Apparently, whoever the girl was had traps and the Infected knew it. Lucky me. Lucky me. I didn't- AH SHIT! Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, He thought, looking down at his foot and realizing it was caught in a bear trap. He hadn't noticed it in the fray and only now did it start to hurt as the adrenaline wore off.

She was deep in her tunnels, her wolf perking at the sound of one of the traps going off, she snapped her fingers and the wolf trotted to the surface, this time she had a mask on

Nathaniel groaned, trying to get the trap off his foot so he could heal himself. His fingers glowed and he managed to melt the metal trap so it opened. He pulled his foot free and ran his fingers over the bloody cuts, unaware of Violet. It was just blue magic, and it was a bad idea if he was seen.

She watched, eyes wide "Your a mage" She breathed

Nathaniel heard her and froze, his magic swirling around him. Shit. was his only thought. He turned slowly, a dangerous wary/warning expression on his face.

"And if you tell a soul, I will ruin your life," He hissed.

"What souls are there to tell" She said swiftly, getting down from her wolf and walking to the trap "It got you good" She said with a chuckle, setting the trap back up for the next