[IC] The Day The Earth Fell

[Luminance]

With her attention solely on the tiny forms in the distance, Anora nearly missed the sound of one of the Solar Cars which was quickly catching up to her. However, she didn't need to look back to know that it was probably Ravenia and who ever else the Leader chose to go with her. As she continued onwards, it wasn't long until Anora was close enough to perceive exactly what it was that she had spotted. Two people, or more specifically, two children.

She flew closer to the ground and was now only about an arm length away from the red dirt terrain, then once she felt that she was a good distance away from the children, she gave her wings one last flap before landing in place about three meters in front of the stunned looking kids. Looking between the two of them, she was about to ask if they were alright then spotted a black feather clutched tightly in the hands of the young girl.

"That's Clo's-" She started to exclaim until she saw movement behind the two children. Acting purely on instinct, Anora flapped her wings and jumped right over their heads, landing behind them with her rapier drawn from its sheath. She noted that what she caught in the corner of her eye was one of the dead which had been slowly following after them. Without another thought, Anora shot her hand forward in a thrust, the blades edge slipping right through the centre of the walking corpses head, in the next second Anora flicked her wrist to the right, dislodging the blade from the decaying skull and ridding its pure silver blade of foul smelling and discoloured blood.

Frowning in disgust as the corpse dropped to its knees and then fell onto its side to land unmoving in the dirt, Anora re-sheathed her rapier and turned her head, first looking to the two young ones behind her then to the approach of Ravenia in a Solar Car along with Tobias.

Her eyes softened when she once again looked to the children. "You're safe now, The Mother is here." She assured them affectionately with a warm smile. "Would you let her know that I am going on ahead for Clo?" Came her request to which she waited until they responded before taking off again. While normally she would have waited for Ravenia to arrive and give her orders, Anora was much too worried about her sister.

Up ahead, a cloud of dust with an amass of the dead could be seen heading right for the grounded form of her sister. Heart thudding loudly in her chest, Anora reached for her collection of throwing knives strapped to both of her thighs and grabbed hold of three in each hand. Barely allowing herself time to take aim, she threw both arms forward, one a second behind the other. The first three knives stuck in the ground mere inches from Clo while the other three soared right over her head and ripped straight through the foreheads of the closest three corpses.

Unfortunately she was still a bit too far away from her sister and so she hoped that Clo would use the throwing knives until she got there. Pushing her wings harder and forcing herself to pick up greater speed, Anora readied more throwing knives. I'm nearly there Clo, please don't give up so soon.

[docblargle]

Jacob couldn't help but be mildly annoyed at the loss of his relative solitude. As important as the situation was, he wasn't to keen on social activities with a group. He glanced around at those who had arrived. He had seen both of the humans before, but didn't quite recognize them. The other arrivals, of more note to him, were Sun, Fen, and Ramera. Sun was one of the few people in the city who tried to treat him like a normal human being. As much as that was a breath of fresh air for Jacob, he seemed entirely to innocent. Though this occasionally was also a breath of fresh air, it also had the more common effect of being annoying. That said, Jacob didn't really have a problem with him or his occasional company. He saw Sun waving at him, and responded with his own curt nod in greeting.

Fen didn't seem to actively dislike Jacob like most of the city, but he could tell that Fen was definitely creeped out by him all the same. Jacob was fine with that, so long as he didn't go and join the "burn the radioactive witch" club. Lastly, there was Ramera. Jacob didn't have an issue with any of the harpies, least of all Ramera. She seemed reserved enough to keep interaction mostly business, and that was good enough for Jacob. However, Jacob noticed that Ramera seemed particularly stressed about something. Suddenly on edge, Jacob turned back to the red wastes and stared out towards it. It was never a good sign when one of your watchmen was worried.

[pyroman]

Hearing the request to open the gates back up, Marcus sighed quietly to himself. He said nothing to his leader as he reestablished the connection between the metal and himself and opened up the gates. Due to how quickly she was approaching him, the gate keeper began to open the gates as quick as he could, hoping that she wouldn't hit the gates on her way out. Much to his surprise, she had stopped when she got near to him, and gave him more orders. He made a note to pass on what Ravenia had told him on to Shay, and watched his leader speed away from Paradise. He knew it was wrong to doubt her, but he still hoped that she would get back safely.

He was perfectly happy with his job as the gate keeper. He wasn't much of a fighter, and while he could deal some damage with his arm attachments, his preferred doing what he could from the city. If that meant tuning up vehicles to cause as much damage as physically possible, or making the gate as sturdy as possible, he was more than happy to do it. He did what he could to help from where he was, and wasn't one to go out into the red waste like his leader, even before he became the gate keeper. He liked helping Shay use the jet simulators, watching the city from the gates, and so many other things.

As he heard the voice of one of his friends, Marcus turned around and faced the city. He knew that voice well, and thought just how odd it was that she was calling out to him not long after The Raven given him his orders. He watched as Shay and Sun were running towards him. He smiled at the two of them and their closeness and glanced at the open gate. Once Shay was close enough, he spoke to her. "Shay, Ravenia wants you to take up a solar car and head out into the waste. She said that she's going to need a ride." He said simply, hoping that she would be able to understand what their leader meant by that. He didn't fully understand what she was saying, but he understood it enough.

[Twilights Curse]

Tobias didnt have goggles to cover his eyes, he used his free hand, the other holding on to the side making sure he was tossed out if they hit a bump or something. he looked at her. "and you know as well as the others, logically im the best choice to be left to deal with this dead, not you" he said in response, calmly. she didnt get so snappy often. "i doubt that, everyone has watched me enough to know how to cure the sicknesses that comes along, and replacing any of us would be difficult" looking over at her. "dont sell yourself short on how important you are to Paradise either" he looked ahead, but his head came around, he heard her mumble something. "what did you say?" he asked, the roar of the wind made hearing anything soft next to impossible.

eyes scanning the sky. "i still dont see Anora" looking at the horizon now ahead of them. "there, the children you mentioned" he could barely make out the movement of something, he assumed it was the children mentioned before, as they were alone, nothing else around them, though if what was coming was as big as it was, that wasnt going to necessarily be true for much longer.

[TheCheshire]

"I didn't say anything." Ravenia said softly. Clearing her throat, Ravenia gave Tobias a steely look over the top of her glasses. "I'm the one staying, that's an order." Ravenia said, hating to use her position to make him listen. "Besides, if I get too far into a bind I can always turn into a raven or phase through the shadows." Ravenia said, nodding her head at the thought. She could drop down through the shadows of the Dead and just phase back to the Paradise Land. It would be a difficult phase over that distance, but it hadn't been the first time she had had to do it. "There she is!" Ravenia said, pointing upwards at one of the Harpy sisters. "ANORA!!!" Ravenia yelled, keeping her eyes fastened forward as they got closer and closer to the kids.

"This is how it's going to work. We'll pick up the kids, I want you to drive me as close as you can to the Dead where we get their attention and I'll divert them back. Shay will pick me up in the other solar car once she gets to the gate, okay? I haven't seen Clo today, based on Anora's actions she's probably out there. You may be the best bet physically, but you're not the best bet defensively. I can phase with her if the need be." Ravenia stated as she reached back behind her to open up the compartment that held her bow and arrow. The kids weren't too much farther away, well within walking distance, when Ravenia stopped the car. She stepped out quickly, pulled her bow out and fastened her quiver to her back. "You drive." Ravenia said as she stood up in the back of the car, hooking her leg through part of the metal frame to keep her stabilized. She knocked an arrow to her bow, readying herself for the Dead.

[Kaiden]

Shay glanced up to see Ramera's signal. Sun had received direct orders from Ravenia so they were the first to arrive to the gate. Shay found it odd though that Ramer'a sisters were not joining in with the signaling. As their signals were unique, Shay knew this and the subsequent signals for everyone else, was that of only Ramera. Normally all Harpies would signal together or at the very least take on one signal each for each group needed. For one Harpie to be calling made Shaylly realize just how dire their situation on hand really was. Shay was glad Isam and Fen had come with them to the Gate as it was becoming more clear how much help they would need.

As Shay was looking for Marcus her eyes fell upon Jacob. She knew who Jacob was but had interacted with him on very few occasions. She didn't think he would know her name but knew he would recognize her face from their trainings by Ravenia and the Harpies. Shay would tilt her head up in greeting to Jacob if he made eye contact with her. She knew enough about him that he liked to be left alone and hardly socialized. While most people found this attitude of Jacob's arrogant, obnoxious and untrustworthy, Shay understood him. When she first came here she wanted nothing but to be left alone, which is why she spent so many nights at the gate with Marcus, sometimes without him. What she didn't understand was why Jacob felt he needed to live his life in such seclusion. She understood why she had gone through this phase, dealing with her brother's death and accepting a whole new kind of life here in the Paradise Land. But Jacob's seclusion seemed to be a way of life that he wanted indefinitely as he showed no signs of changing or desiring to change. Shay had never tried to interact with him before as she never had a proper moment that didn't involve her forcing herself upon him and interrupting his personal space. Perhaps today she would get to know him better. She knew he was either a boring insecure man or he was hiding a past that was secretly tormenting him; she had an idea it was the latter.

Turning her head back towards Marcus, letting her arm drop softly away from Sun, Shay walked forward to meet him. She wanted to throw herself in to his chest, wrap her arms around him in a strong hug and tell him all she had been working on since they last spoke. She wanted to joke that his arm looked uglier than before and that he should think about getting an upgrade or a polish. It would be nice to laugh with him again, but for the moment with their urgent circumstance on hand she merely gave him a warm smile and listened closely as he spoke.

Once she was given her orders, her smile had left her face and her brow had tightened in worry. "Yeah, absolutely" she nodded to him. "Marcus, it seems like an attack from the Dead is coming on a much larger scale than we are prepared for. Keep those gates locked if we don't come back alone." She paused then said "or if we don't come back at all." Shaylly was prepared to fight and die for this city and she could only imagine their Mother was as well.

Shay turned back to Jacob. He would be the supplier for her solar car and would have some weapons on hand for her and whoever else would be joining her. Shay glanced to Isam, Fen and Sun for a moment. "Fen?" she asked, turning to look at him in his formidable wolf form, hoping she had his name right. "Will you come with me to meet Ravenia in the waste land? Sun, of course you're staying here." She didn't dare invite Sun out side of the city, making an unnecessary risk for him. Shay wasn't sure about inviting Isam as she didn't know what training he had. She knew he could help at the front of the gate. Unless Marcus directed them otherwise she would take only one with her in the car to Ravenia.

[Twilights Curse]

Tobias looked over, and seeing her eyes peering at him over the top of her glasses he knew what was coming, the order. he sighed. "Yes Mother" he looked ahead, he'd only ever not follow orders if it would save a life or lives, then after he saved whom ever he'd gladly accept the punishments due to him for breaking the rules and not listening. "i was not calling into question your ability to defend yourself, im aware your extremely stubborn and will not get taken down by the dead or anything, i was simply not wanting to leave you alone to fight is all" nodding when she mentioned about phasing. when she showed Anora he leaned forward. "she just saved the kids it seems, a straggler was following them" he said, before looking at her, she mentioned him driving, that was going to be a problem, he had been hoping she'd change her mind at the last moment. "Clo is more then likely in the thicket of Dead, doing her thing she usually does, killing and keeping count" he pointed out.

once they stopped, and he watched her climb into the back, he slid over to the driver side. "should be interesting" he called out. "you gave the wheel to someone that hasn't driven before" and he slammed his foot on the accelerator, and they shot forward, then he hit the brake just as quick, turning the wheel wildly. "sorry, sorry" he kept saying over and over before he finally just stopped. "give me one second" he said, before he closed his eyes, remembering something he'd read with his father, an old driving manual. he opened his eyes. "Accelerate into turns, Trailer brake to the Apex, Draw the inside line, correct exit throttle over steer" he nodded, and just like that he hit the Accelerator and tore off, driving like he'd been doing it for years. "good thing i read that book years ago i would imagine" he called back to Ravenia, sometimes his ability really amazed himself as he tore off across the red waste, before he power slid to a stop. "sorry" incase he might have thrown Ravenia with that little slide, he lept out and ran the few feet to the children. "im Tobias or Alpha, whichever you want to call me, im from Paradise and its time to go. into the passenger side, hurry now" clapping his hands to get them moving. Turning around he nodded to Ravenia, from his first glace they seemed alright, if not a little dirty and severely in need of water and food.

[OoTrillionoO]

Ramera drew back her wings, landing heavily onto the wall. It was now apparent to Ramera that her sisters had gone out into the waste. However, this didn't change her situation. She was stationed onto the wall for at least the next twenty four hours. Still, she couldn't help feel worried for her sisters. No. they'd be fine. They're two of the members of the Harpies Of Three, destined to watch over Paradise Land. They can watch out for themselves, Ramera thought to herself, feeling her tenseness ease. That's right, they can take care of themselves,

Ramera looked at the fighters on the ground that were already there and preparing to head out after the others. She studied their faces, first there was the infamous boy generator, Jacob she believed his name was. She could only see the side of his face, in which there was a concerned look displayed on his face while he looked into the red waste. He was indispensable to Paradise, more so than most realized, storing radioactive energy and moving it from place to place, she'd also heard rumors that he'd made the vehicle's that Paradise used. She disapproved of him risking himself in the waste, but wasn't about to go down and try to talk him out of it. She continued studying the group with him, she recognized their faces, but wasn't able to place any names. Then, she noticed the girl- No, boy that'd seen speaking with Ravenia earlier, and if she'd recalled correctly, Ravenia had said that he'd been the one who had foreseen the dead's appearance. Ramera assumed that that was his ability as a Blessed One.

Ramera shook her head, thinking to herself, I swear if he heads out too, then there goes the generator, doctor, leader, some of the best eyes, and the Oracle out into that wasteland. Nonetheless, they were doing their duty, so she couldn't really disapprove of their heading out. She ran her hand through her hair in mild frustration. God was she contradicting herself today. She extended her wings, taking off, deciding to immerse herself in her watch duty to ignore some of the thoughts running through her head.

[Metronome]

Fen turned his head to Shay and gave a yip of confirmation. He padded after her to the car, but he didn't shift back to his human form. As a wolf, Fenrir could run alongside the car and keep up. His legs were built for speed. The creature sat on his haunches as he watched Shay get in the car, practically squirming with excitement. He was anxious to see some action; it had been a while since he'd really done any good fighting.

As the car left, Fen took off after it.

---

Isam turned to the gate keeper, Marcus was his name, and half out his right hand to shake. "My name is Isam," He said briefly, "Whatever you need, I can help you with." He may not have been able to turn into a two ton wolf, but Isam was pretty capable. He hailed from a country that was plagued by constant war, and had fought to live almost every day of his life before entering the city. He was nothing if not determined.

[docblargle]

Jacob turned as he saw the away team getting ready to leave. Since it seemed one of the humans was leading the charge, she would need weapons. Jacob motioned for them to wait, and slid back down the wall, and to a door on the side. Punching in his code on the keypad, Jacob walked in to one of the many armories that lined the wall. Jacob perused over the many weapons that were available, some of which he had helped maintain. The sight of this many resources, particularly the ammo, always left him in a sense of awe. If only he had some of these weapons... No, no time to think about that right now. He needed to get weapons.

Knowing how the wastes were like outside the wall, Jacob knew that the woman needed something mid range. His eyes fell upon an AR-15, and he instantly decided on it. He grabbed it, along with two USPs, a number of clips for both, and a tactical vest to hold it all together. He hoisted it all back up the wall, and handed it to the human warrior. "This should be enough to get you through whatever is out there. You, and anyone else going, meet me by the gate. I'll get a car ready." Jacob slid back down, and darted over to the solar car depot next to the gate. He brought one over, and ran a quick check on the components. Engine was about as good as it would get. Power source was fine. Everything in order, just the way Jacob liked.

As the group heading outside approached the car, Jacob said to them, "Car is ready. Whatever you do out there be quick about it. No telling if any of the dead might show up here while you're gone. I'll stay back here and defend the wall, just in case." With that, Jacob climbed back up the wall, and watched for any dead he could see.

[Merman]

Sun watched intently as everyone near him discussed the issue at hand. Being the smallest and probably the youngest as well, he made note of the fact that he probably wouldn't be invited out to the Red Waste to bring back Ravenia. As much as he wanted to be of use to them, he couldn't help but feel like a burden. Incompetent and inadequate. A daunted and disapproving disposition pressed across his face as Shay, entangled in conversation, lightly let her arm fall away from his shoulder. Sun stood, silent, ears wide open.

Shay seemed to be set on only taking one of them. He was instantly off the sidekick list according to her. "But...", he almost said, but then placed his hands in front of him and bowed lightly, "I understand Shay...I will stay here and do what I can. Please be safe out there.", he said in a worried tone. Sun took notice of Ramera, the only harpy still nearby. She was looking down at them from atop the wall very intently. He smiled gently to her, a face of reassurance that her sisters were alright. Sun figured she must of been worried sick about her sisters. I mean...he would be two if he knew he had sisters. But having been seperated from them for so long, he'd pretty much forgotten about them. Looking back to the discussion around him, he raised an eyebrow, taking notice of Fen, now in wolf form. He was immensely larger than an average wolf. Maybe 5x bigger. Sun would of definitely been intimidated if he hadn't known him. Such a remarkable ability. Sun doubted himself. Fen was so much more useful than he was and it seemed he would be the one who would go with Shay. One Human and One Blessed. Good call.

His thoughts still worried about Rameras emotional fortitude as he watched Jacob quickly bring out another solar car and some weapons. It only took him a matter of minutes to fetch them. Not only was he viable to the city, but his technological savy and effiency was useful as well. No wonder he was staying back. And of course, Ramera to fend from the skies and Marcus to man the wall was a no brainer as to why they were staying back as well. But Sun didn't quite understand why Isam wasn't going. More man power at the gate I guess he figured. He only managed a coy smile to Shay, as she stepped into the car and took off, her big wolf companion close on her tail.

As it stood, Ravenia,Tobias, Clo, Anora, Shay, and Fen were out in the Red Waste. Sun, Ramera, Isam, Marcus, and Jacob were the only ones to remain behind. All he could do at this point was wait, and hope that none of the dead stragglers made their way here. In meantime, Sun had an idea to "hopefully" ease Ramera's worry. He called out to the harpy sister perched above, who at this point was fiercely looking out over the Red Waste. He took out his notebook and pen from out his back pocket and called her name once more, this time a bit louder. "Ms. Ramera! If you don't mind...can I speak with you for a moment? I think I might have something that can help you.", he said in a exalted but politely intended tone. Sometimes speaking loudly can come off as being boisterous, but he just wanted to be certain she didn't take it that way.

[Exit]

...One day you'll be free...
Clo's eyes fluttered open. It was dark out, the moon was full, the stars shining as bright as they ever would. She was lying on her back spread eagle, fingers splayed, chin tilted up and enjoying the feel of cool dirt against her hot skin. There was a soft hand on her cheek and another on her chest.

"Clo..."
Her eyes shifted from the purple sky to the silver and gold women holding her.

"Don't give up so soon..."

They spoke in unison, their voices melding together to form one, a melody that was soft on the ears and reached straight into her heart.

"It's too late..." Clo said looking from the silver woman on her left to the golden woman on the right. "I'm already dead." She stretched her hand out trying to touch her but the tip of her finger was just shy of her face. This time only the woman bathed in yellow light spoke.

"I'm nearly there..."
Clo shook her head. "Anor-" As she stretched further, her finger pressed against the hilt of a blade buried in the red dirt next to her. She was back; the blue sky dotted sky above, the heat of the sun bearing down on her, the dry wind against her skin. Suddenly something wet and heavy landed on her foot. Her body reacted instantly. She kicked the creature hard in the face, pushing it's head up and back and exposing it's neck. In one quick motion, the knife was wrenched from the dirt and thrown through the air into it's neck. Dark blood gushed from the fresh wound and the corpse fellonto it's back. A second appeared behind the first, stepping over it's fallen brethren to finish the kill. Clo pushed off her back bringing her knees up to her head to complete the backwards roll. She vaulted to her feet with her large black wings crossed in front of her and the other two throwing knives in her hands. Bracing herself with her left foot behind her, her wings opened with tremendous force creating a ball of air that knocked the closest of the dead on their ass.

"ANORA!"

[Kaiden]

Shay nodded to Jacob as he left to get her supplies. He knew she was human and would need more for protection and for fighting. She had been trained to use all of the tools they stored in the city as they often ran through various scenarios to be prepared for any possible situation. The only item of attack she was not very well at using was the bow and arrow. She knew Jacob would not equip her with this though as they needed something that would damage at a mid-distance and close range and rapidly.

As Jacob left to get what they needed, Shay turned to say goodbye to everyone else. She looked to Sun, walking to him and placing her hands gently on either sides of his face. "Of course I'll be safe." she said simply. She then pulled him in to her arms and held him close. She held him a moment longer than needed since she wasn't confident she would return. Being a realist she understood what she was going to encounter. With Fen by her side and hopefully meeting up with Ravenia she felt confident in their success. But she knew there was still a chance, a margin of possibility, for this whole operation to go wrong. Shay let go and forced a large smile for him.

Shay looked to Isam. They had a rough start this morning but she had to trust him now as if he had been a brother in training. "Thanks again."

Jacob returned with supplies. It was frustrating that she had to equip herself for action while everyone else was ready. She hated being human and felt like it was slowing her down. Many times she had thought about going to Jacob and asking if he could try emitting radiation in to her. Perhaps he could put enough in to her body to allow her DNA to develop a power that would give her more strength, agility, or even perhaps flight. She was desperate to be freed from the confines of her limited human body. But Shay wasn't sure if Jacob's powers worked in this way and she knew she would be flirting with death if she tried.

Shaylly took the vest and weapons from Jacob and quickly strapped on the vest. It's weight was felt immediately, sitting at around 30lbs, not including the AR-15, which she kept strapped over her shoulder for easy access. The weight of her artillery was a reminder that this was more than a routine training test; this was real. Shay grabbed her brother's goggles from around her neck and pulled them up and over her eyes.

Turning to Fen with a nod, they ran towards the gate to the car waiting for them by Jacob. She listened to what Jacob had to say and then nodded "Got it. We'll move quickly." She jumped in the vehicle and, seeing Fen would easily be able to keep full stride by her side in his wolf form, started the car and sped forward, kicking up some dirt behind upon her swift acceleration.

Shaylly sped out through the gates as Marcus would open them for their exit, keeping a close gauge in case he opened them slower than her car was moving forward, and they pressed on outwards in to the Red Waste ahead. She drove forward with the direction given to her. Glancing to Fen who was running outside of the car at her side she yelled "Keep a look out for Ravenia or any other signs of life and alert me of what you find!" His eyes would be sharper than hers and he would be able to detect movement before she would. Shaylly took a deep breath, steadying herself for what might lay ahead.

[Luminance]

Eyes darting between the still form of her sister and the hoard of approaching dead, Anora grew increasingly worried as one of the corpses seemed to take the lead, picking up its pace with skinless and rotting jaws snapping open and shut in anticipation. A scowl marred Anora’s delicate facial features as she observed the leading corpse which despite its mindlessness, thought it had won a feast out of its fallen prey. But Anora wouldn’t allow it a chance, he sister was precious to her just as her older sister, Ramera was. If anything happened to either of them she would tear the whole world apart.

Raising her hand with the intent of impaling all three of her throwing knives into the skull of the damned carcass, Anora suddenly stilled her hand before the knives could be released and her dark glare instantly vanished at the sight of Clo kicking the corpse and throwing one of her knives at its exposed throat.

The feeling as if something had been clenching her heart receded to be replaced by immense relief. Her sister was alright, she was unharmed.

“Clo!” The name was shouted right after she heard her own name being called.

Thank goodness. The words repeated themselves many times over in her mind as she closed the distance just as Clo got back to her feet and blew the closest of the dead away with her immense dark wings. While Clo always hated her black wings Anora thought them to be quite divine and simply beautiful.

With three knives still held in one hand, Anora held her rapier in the other and with an elegant motion landed silently in front of her sister, separating her from the bodies of the dead as they slowly stood back up. In an almost unconcerned manner, Anora had her back to the corpses while she faced Clo, her rapier pointed accusingly at her sister.

“You may just give me a heart attack one of these days.” She said seriously with a frown as she looked into her sisters eyes. Though, she was soon smiling, since she couldn’t ever seem to stay mad at her younger sister. The rapier was placed tip in the ground while she stepped forward to place a palm gently on Clo’s forehead. “I am glad that you are alright, dear one.” The words were just about a whisper yet held the full weight of her relief.

Before moving away, her hand gave Clo an adoring pat on the head. “You’ve worried Mother.” Glancing in the direction behind Clo, she hoped to direct her attention to the scene of Ravenia approaching in a solar car while she herself prepared her flare gun.

Setting it to a Code Red, Anora pointed it up at the sky and fired. A red light sparked into life, shooting into the sky and leaving behind bright red smoke. It would alert those both in and closest to the city of their location and the nature of the threat. Which was no less than massively deadly.

Strapping the flare gun back into its place, she held onto her rapier again and offered Clo the throwing knives she had been holding, before turning back to the amass of the dead. “Sorry, Clo but we are going to have to eradicate your new friends. Shall we get started?”

[pyroman]

Marcus listened to Shay as she spoke to him, but shook his head at her once she spoke about the possibility of her not coming back. He was sure that she would be able to make it back, and there was little that would change his mind about it. Even if he couldn't go out there, he would do what he could to make sure that everybody came back. His eyes followed his friend as she got into one of the solar cars, and he was about to open the gate back up when Isam spoke to him. He gave the man a curious look and listened to what he had to say. He was obviously older than Marcus, and didn't seem to have hailed from any nearby lands. He spoke little, but Marcus was completely fine with that. As he shook the man's hand, he studied him a little more and nodded to him. His face was calm and stoic for the moment, as he had to be serious right now due to the hoard of walking corpses making their way to the city. "Nothing yet. Just keep watch and tell me if anything happens." Was all that he said as he nodded once more and opened the gate, watching his friend head out into the red waste along with the giant wolf. He told himself that they would make it back, and wouldn't be satisfied if anything else were to happen.

After the solar car left the city, Marcus closed the gates once again and sighed to himself. They would have to tread carefully for the next few days, with the dead close to the city and all. He wanted to be able to head out into the red waste to made some exterior defenses, but he needed to stay inside the walls. That was where he was needed, and he couldn't go anywhere else.

[TheCheshire]

"Jesus shit!" Ravenia cursed, nearly being thrown from the solar car. Holding on tightly, Ravenia shook her head with a wide smile as Tobias quickly adapted. As they got close to the children, she leapt from the solar car and dashed around the front. "Watch the kids." She instructed as she turned back towards the dead. She stopped briefly, turned back to Tobias, grabbed him by the front of the shirt and pulled his close to her. "I'll be back for my check up, Doc." She said playfully, kissed him on the cheek and turned towards her Harpies. Manning the bow, with an arrow knocked tight, Ravenia watched the flare go up. "Time to bring my girls home." Ravenia said as she darted forward, her long legs carrying her quickly. With an arrow ready, she let it fly, spearing a Dead walker straight through the head. With a wicked grin, she knocked another one and let it loose.

[Exit]

--CLO--
She'd tried to come up with some witty excuse, something clever to say to her sister as she approached but the moment she placed her hand on her head, everything stopped. Her touch was warm and her voice soft as always. It was strange what a simple touch could do to someone; Surprise them, calm them, put them on edge, excite them... Anora's skin against her own was... well, a lot of things. It reminded her that she wasn't alone, told her that she was being stupid, and told her how much she was loved by her sisters. Even if Ramera wasn't there, Clo could feel her presence too and she knew how upset she must have made them both. She opened her mouth to say something, "sorry", "thanks", but everything caught in her throat. When Anora finally removed her hand, she left a tingling sensation behind on Clo's head. The follow up pat made it all together worse and it took Clo a few good rubs before it went away.

"You've worried mother."

"Shit... mother." Clo said when she finally found her voice, peering past Anora at the solar car speeding toward them. This was exactly what she'd been trying to avoid when she left in the morning. Seemed her plans had fallen through after all.

Suddenly the air around her became a fiery red as her sister shot a flare into the sky. Both her and her sister had been supplied with one, Ramera's gift making a flare gun unnecessary. It was only when the red light was hanging in the clouds did Clo realize she'd lost her own during her rescuing the children. She'd have to get another to do her job properly. She was the only Harpy that didn't have her own unique way to signal the city. While Ramera had her orbs of light, Anora's was involuntary. Whether she knew it or not, an abrupt end to her melody was usually a sign that something caught her attention... every now and then, it was something serious. A perfect example? The mass of dead flesh converging on them.

"Sorry Clo, but we're going to have to eradicate your new friends." Anora flashed a smile and offered up a few of her own knives. Clo took them by the hilt and flipped the blade in her grasp so that hey sat in her hand reversed. She wasn't the skilled knife thrower that her older sister was but thanks to both Anora and Ramera, she knew how to handle all manner of bladed weapons including daggers.

"Shall we get started?”

Clo let a sly smile spread across her lips. "Way ahead of you sis." She shot back. Without warning, she took off toward the dead, side stepping the first and slamming both blades into the head of the second. She followed it into the ground before turning to the first and slicing at the achilles tendon in it's ankle. It toppled back toward her landing on top of her waiting "dagger".

"58!"

Just as Clo was about to take down a third, an arrow buried itself into it's skull. It slumped to he ground a lifeless heap once again. Clo turned to see Ravenia, their Mother, with bow in hand coming to her aid as well.

"Now we're really going to kick ass."

[TheCheshire]

Within thirty seconds Ravenia had knocked arrow after arrow to her bow, letting the fly through the heads of the Dead. When she was finally withing distance, Ravenia tossed her bow to the side knowing how it would just get in her way in the fight. Removing a short silver rod from a holster on her thigh, Ravenia gave it a twist and it extended outwards. It was as long as she was tall, six foot in all. Expertly spinning it in her hands and about her body, Ravenia gave a devilish grin to Anora and Clo. "Afternoon, ladies. My, it's a fine day for a stroll. However, Clo, we're gonna need to talk about you're wandering off when we get back home." Ravenia said, quirking an eyebrow at the youngest of the Harpies. Without another world, Ravenia dove into the middle of the Dead, sweeping them off their feet and stomping their heads in. She could nearly bash their heads in one swoop if she used enough force behind it.

"Alright, ladies, we're gonna need to try to divert them back away from Paradise. Clo, Tobias is waiting ahead with the two kids. You're looking pretty rough, go ahead and get some rest, baby. You've done damn good." Ravenia shouted, clearing a wide circle about her with her metal staff. It was a better defensive weapon more than anything, but damn did it look killer when she swung it about. Sinking down into the shadows of the Dead closest to her, she reemerged at the far end of the group farthest away from the Lands. Taking her staff and beating it on the ground, it gave a loud empty ring. "Come on you dead fuckers! Come to momma!!" She called good and loud, banging the staff hard against the ground again and again.

[OoTrillionoO]

Ramera started to extend her wings, but a voice cut her off, mid flap. She stopped, turning her head to the sound of her name. "Ms. Ramera! If you don't mind...can I speak with you for a moment? I think I might have something that can help you." She looked down at Sun. He had a bright, oddly reassuring smile on his face. She let her wings down before turning. She let out a sigh before walking off of the wall and extending her wings horizontally, gliding down to the earth, and postponing her watch duty out of interest for what the boy had to say.

Upon meeting the boy up close Ramera grasped the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger, letting out a long breath of air from her mouth, what emotion she was displaying, she wasn't exactly sure, whether it was annoyance, or worry, or something different, she really couldn't tell. Her emotions were just so jumbled by this point. She let go of her nose and faced Sun directly, giving him a icy glare. "Something to help me you say?" She crossed her arms over her chest, wrinkling her maid's uniform. She extended one eyebrow up and gave him an inquisitive look. "Do tell, what in this god-forsaken world could help me right now?"

[Kaiden]

Shaylly didn't have to wait for Fen to call out to her for the first signs of movement. While Shay expected to meet a horde of Dead or catch a glimpse of Ravenia's car she was not expecting to see a red flare. Shay slammed her foot down hard on the brakes of the car, bringing the machine to a quick and screeching halt. Shay's head tilted upwards, leaning to the side to look out the window. She watched it shoot straight up in the air and blaze with a distinct red trail. This might be a rescue mission. That would make the most sense since she had not seen the other Harpie sisters all morning, only Ramera. Once Shay understood the direction of the flare she turned to Fen and called out "Help guide us there Fen! They need our help!" Shay pressed her running shoe back down on the gas pedal and jolted the car forward once more, pressing it to its maximum speed to get them there as quickly as possible. Fen would lead the way with his sharp eyes and keen nose following the trail of the flare set off.

Shay and Fen would then break through to the clearing where the Dead were in current chaos with the others. Shay grimaced as she came to a screeching halt, a Dead banging over the front of the car and flipping over in a somersault over her hood, hitting the ground with its head broken open.Shay flicked on the window wipers to clear off the streak of dark blood that mottled her vision through the glass. She had pulled up right next to the other solar car. She saw Dr. Grey ushering two small children in to the back seat. "What the hell?" Shay wondered out loud. This whole situation was very complicated but she didn't have time to think too much about it. She came here to help get Ravenia and anyone else back to their home safely; she needed to stay focused on her task. Turning to look back forward Shay could see further ahead a clearing that hosted a group of people. Shaylly pulled her goggles up on the top of her brow to get a better look and saw Claudette and Anora, their wings distinct and blowing the red flare dust around them. They were safe but looked tired and worn. And then the light reflecting off of Ravenia's metal staff caught Shay's eye. She watched her scream at something and swing her staff in a wide arc around her body. And then it hit Shay what she was looking at.

Shay's dark brown eyes dilated and a rush of adrenaline flowed through her human veins as the scene before became clear. She had seen a few dead around them upon her arrival but now her focus showed the large crowd of the Dead that were gathered around the two sisters and Mother. The mass was so large that she had mistaken them at first as the background. Slowly yet disturbingly methodically they were moving forward. She had never seen such a large amount of the Dead gathered together before. They were swarming around them. Was this what Sun had the dream of? Shay felt a sting of fear pull at her chest, forcing her to inhale deeply for composure. The Dead were slow and dumb but like the waves of the ocean back in her home in Newport Beach, they came upon quicker than you realized and if unprepared the wave would overtake you with an unstoppable and deadly force. Shay quickly got out of the car and turned to Tobias.

"Doctor get those children out of here and anyone else that needs to go with you! I'll help Ravenia and we'll use my car to escape."

Shay turned to Fen as she pulled the AR-15 off of her back and in to her arms in firing position. "Let's go!" She yelled, turning to rush forward to help Claudette, Anora and Ravenia. They needed to get them to the car, even if it meant they stayed behind.

Shay rushed forward with a long and loud yell at the top of her voice. She wanted to draw the attention of the Dead towards her and Fen. Shay felt a hand grab at her ankle and she quickly snapped two shots in to the crawling carcass, shaking off the now limp limb from her leg. Shay was an excellent marksman and crouched down to take steady aim towards Ravenia. She carefully sprayed her bullets on either side of the group around Ravenia, snapping their heads and necks until they fell down unmoving.

Shay looked to Ravenia and gave her an assuring smile. She wasn't sure why the three of them were here in the waste land but she quickly guessed it had to do with the children. Either way they needed to move. This particular mass of the Dead seemed to be endless.