[IC] Okami

[MangaArtist15]

Hikaru looks at the rest of the group, still standing around. "You coming or not?"

[Kafka Komedy]

"I told you, I am killing that monster." Luneth says as he runs toward where he heard the roar. "I will meet you after I am finished."

[MangaArtist15]

"Uh-huh. Sure." Hikaru nodded in disbelief. "That thing will tear you to shreds."

[Opposition]

Himeko stays close to Hikaru as they walk. She seems to be worried for Luneth despite their relations so far.
"Are you sure you want to send him to his death alone?"

[MangaArtist15]

Hikaru thought about this for a minute. Sighing, he darted back into the forest, looking for the rabbit. "Where is he..?" He darted past trees and bushes, trying to at least find the Shade or the somewhat aggravating rabbit.

[Charlie]

Axle follows Hikaru, "Strength in numbers..." He says, these seem like good people they shouldn't have to die.

[Valkyr]

Anxius breathed in deeply. The aroma of the forest was relaxing. It was a new world to him, and it was so much better than the dry sand he was used to. He was glad he decided to move up here. He exhaled and continued his progress through the forest. As he walked through the trees, he paused for a moment. He looked around and sniffed the air. There was a smell in the air that he hadn't noticed before. A smell oh so familiar to him...

He quickly ran through the forest, rushing towards the source of the smell. He stopped abruptly some distance away. He crouched down into a small depression in the forest floor. With his Hissatsus, he scanned the area directly ahead of him. Once he confirmed the area was clear, he stood up and continued to stalk forward.

He approached a clearing. The smell was strongest here. It was definitely here. He walked to the center of the clearing and found it. Blood. He looked at the ground surrounding it. He frowned at the strange tracks. Some were smaller than his own, some were bigger. He glanced up and saw the direction they were headed in.

Well, it was better than wandering around aimlessly.

[Kafka Komedy]

Luneth, while walking through the forest looking for this 'Shade' monster. He had absolutely no idea what it looked like, but it probably looked unnatural, as Hikaru said it was a monster. He glanced around the forest looking for even the slightest patch of fur or feathers. He spotted a flash of black, and observed further. It was Hikaru and Axle, probably looking for him. "Hey!" Luneth said in a loud whisper "Aren't you wounded? Why would you attempt to battle Shades?" he paused. "Thank you for joining me though."

[User]

Charles looked at them from a distance. they never seemed to value him as a member of their group and that troubled him. he knew that they would be useful until he had no use for them and at this point they were on a wild goose chase to find a shadow. he sighed as he remembered that they thought he was harmless and a nice guy. now would be a good chance to walk away and abandon them. maybe he could find the shadow monster thingy ma do dah and tell it where they are. he decided he would walk off and listen in what they were planning on doing.

[MangaArtist15]

As Hikaru was sprinting through the forest, he caught sight of the Shade. It had bluish-black fur with extremely sharp, curved blades shooting out of it's arms, elbows, and shoulders. No eyes; save for an extensive sense if smell that covered for it's loss of sight. At the end of it's tail was a spear-like object. "It's only one," Hikaru whispered to Luneth and Axle, "but Kangoku can send more if they want to." The Shade caught the scent of something- or someone- as it ran at full speed to where Luneth's cave was. "Oh no."

[Valkyr]

Anxius followed the tracks all the way to a cave. The general scent of the group was stronger here; It was obvious they had stayed here for some time. For the moment, however, it was empty. He walked over to the entrance of the cave and looked around. He spotted a new set of tracks and was about to continue following them, but stopped.

He could definitely smell something on the gentle breeze, and he didn't like it. He backed into the cave and sank into a tense crouch, ready to leap into action. He was going to wait for it to come to him, whatever it was. It wouldn't be much longer, he was sure it was close.

[Kafka Komedy]

"He will not make it there." Luneth said as he ran (hopped?) after the jagged monstrosity. He was being led towards the cave by something. Had the others not fled yet? Luneth picked up the pace a little to get closer to the monster, and attempted a jump slash at it's back. His darkness would not help him in this battle, he needed to be sly, and smart.

[MangaArtist15]

The Shade burst into the campground, attempting to stab everybody and everything in sight with it's spear-like tail. "Look out!" Hikaru barked, summoning swords made of golden sunlight. He somersaulted after forcing the swords to line up along his back. The attack hit the Shade. As it roared in pain, it jerkily bucked Hikaru off. His body swerved in a semicircle as it hit the soft ground with a thud, grunting as he felt a sharp pain surge through his body.

(Sorry, Kafka. Did I just Godmod? I have a hard time detecting whether or not my posts are or aren't, seeing as how I haven't been on here in over two months.)

[Minarawr]

Mina growled in annoyance when a few of their little group ran off into the woods. If it's name was what it was, Mina's shadows would do little good against it. She cursed under her breath as she bundled up a stack of herbs she had collected and was about to exit the cave when the sound of battle arose from the trees.
It was too close, way too close.
She sped into the woods and almost immediately ran into the group that had left, a monstrous looking creature attacking them.

[Kafka Komedy]

Luneth silently cursed himself for missing, as Mina had also found herself near the Shade. 4 against one wasn't very challenging... but Luneth had no idea how powerful this thing was. He decided to stay silent, and allow the shade the first move. The counter is a powerful technique.

(@MangaArtist15, It looked a little odd not mentioning it. If you could mention how he 'sped up at just the right time' or 'swerved' or something like that, I think it'd look a little better, i dunno.)

[Opposition]

For some odd reason, during the shade attack, their friend Himeko seemed to have disappeared. She was not in sight anywhere.

[MangaArtist15]

"What are you guys doing? Attack it! One's not that big of a deal! I fight these every week!" As soon as Hikaru said that, the monstrosity launched itself at Luneth and the others, it's rock-hard, blue claws gleaming in the sunlight.

[Kafka Komedy]

Luneth quickly sidestepped, and tried to stab the Shade in the stomach. "Ah, so these are not a challenge. Where can I find more?"

[MangaArtist15]

The Shade stepped out of the path of Luneth's sword, growling at him. It ran at the rabbit, ready to try to pin him to the side of his cave. "They're very hard to beat, though! I think I remember hearing about a group around here who took them down with only three people (animals) fighting!"

(The above is a reference to chapter 2 of my story Okami, in which two Shades attack the Seekers and succeed in killing a small group, before being fought by Victoria and Twilight, with a bit of help from Gin.)

[Minarawr]

Mina looked at Hikari as he stated they should attack and frowned. As the Shade attacked she stepped aside and summoned her shadows.
'Do my shadows work against it?' she asked Hikari, her shadowy tendrills curling around and readying to strike or defend if necessary.