GambolMuse

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

"What happened to you was unfortunate, but if you're suggesting it was intentional then you're wrong. Our people died that day, we would never knowingly send our own to their deaths," Nymira replied, her voice calm though a clear strain was in it, like she was biting back anger. She couldn't be underestimating the threat when she wasn't even certain what the threat was. No one was explaining what they were fighting today only that it was a trail of sorts for her, Ethan and Asta to complete. Being made to undergo some battle to earn the trust of Taliya and her people was annoying enough and now Kensen was lecturing her as though she were as naive as Ethan. But she would bite her tongue and not snap at Kensen as she might like for there was a time and a place, and right now their focus was on whatever awaited them in the woods. Letting her breath pass in a shallow sigh Nymira withdrew her blades and held them loosely in her hands, nodding silently at Kensen. Fine, she'd let him play the instructor and she'd do as they were asked, but she'd not be spoken down to like that.

"If something so dangerous is this close to Mutebo why wait until now? That's what I'm not getting," Ethan voiced as he took his own weapon from its sheath. The only blade he was ever accustomed to was his stolen machina sword and thus an actual blade proved to be awkward for him. It wasn't a large weapon though the weight of solid metal threw him off, making the simple act of even swinging it more trouble than he'd bargained for. Yet they had insisted everyone be armed and without his own weapon of choice he'd had to borrow one.

"The big ones tend to make others appear, they seem to give off some kind of signal that calls smaller beasts to the area. We haven't killed it because we've been dealing with the little bastards that have shown up instead," Gage explained, peeling back his open jacket and revealing a holster on his chest. Unclipping the holster he pulled free a harpoon gun of sorts, though one which was far more advanced than the typical sort a fisherman might wield. Clearly stolen much like Ethan's blade was and of a higher caliber weapon than what most had, it was curious as to just what the tool did. "We've culled the Vazra and other lot that've appeared, now we're going to kill off the source. If we kill this thing the rest ought to run off."

So that was it then, the beasts were emboldened by the presence of a larger creature. At least now they had the knowledge that they were dealing with a much bigger animal than those they had encountered already, which also helped to explain why Kensen had become bothered when she'd questioned the size of their party. Four Magi all told and each of them armed and ready to fight, or perhaps three, given Ethan's typical reluctance to do battle. Still they had a fairly capable group which only further sparked Nymira's curiosity: just what were they going to fight?

Under Gage's lead the group forged on deeper into the forest as Kensen remained above in the trees, their scout in the sky. Where there had been an abundance of wildlife earlier there was now nothing to speak of, not the song of birds nor the rustling of small creatures skittering through the leaves. An eerie silence had befallen the forest and the whistling of wind through the limbs of trees only added to the atmosphere. Moving along still the air itself seemed to become notably different as well, heavier and almost humid, as though a storm might be passing through. Despite a clear sky above fog then began to roll into the area, slowly at first until their field of vision became rather poor, seeing only two dozen meters in any direction from where they stood. Silently Gage raised a hand to signal everyone to stop, turning to the group and putting a finger to his lips. They had found their prey and it had found them in turn, a standoff would ensue until either they or it made a move. With a gesture to Kensen then he signaled for his compatriot to ready himself before undoing the safety on his weapon.

The deathly silence carried on for several moments, the fog neither growing thicker nor fading. As they stood among the trees Ethan became increasingly aware that another presence was here with them and Nymira seemed to acknowledge this as well as she held her daggers at the ready. With the hair on the back of his neck standing on end he looked around for any sign of what was coming but the fog made it impossible to see too far out. Swallowing back nerves he debated on trying to use magic to displace it and give them their sight back, though with such limited energy after yesterday he didn't want to use what he had on such a thing. Unless Kensen or Gage told him to he'd keep his magic under lock and key until the fighting started. At this point he almost wanted whatever it was to come out and attack, the tension was only making it worse.

Where was it? And why was it taking so long to strike? It was clear that the beast knew they were here so why was it biding its time? Clicking his tongue in annoyance Gage slowly turned on his feet and tried to peer through the fog for any movements, his jaw tightening when he saw fog part and leaves rustle just a few meters off to his right. It seemed to be circling them perhaps trying to find the best angle to strike. Smart bastard, it knew charging in on them recklessly was only going to get it killed.

"She's here... Keep light on your feet..." The words had no sooner left his mouth when a low whistling sound began to fill the air similar to the sound of air escaping a burst balloon. What began as a soft noise soon grew louder and the trees before them began to shake, gradually at first until the trunks themselves were twisted back and forth, limbs snapping and flying free from their homes. Over the howling wind now assaulting their ears Gage had barely managed to shout "Get down!" before a gale tore through the area. Smaller trees were torn from the ground and thrown aside, larger trees were partially uprooted and bark stripped away, limbs torn and violently whipped around, snapping and smashing into other trees behind them. The gale was brief but violent and as the air settled trees continued to shake and collapse, the air raining leaves and sticks upon the group and the ground itself stripped bare as a visible scar dug into the soft earth.

At the mouth of the scar was the beast itself, silently hovering above the ground, its wings slowly beating to suspend itself. The air around the creature appeared to be in some kind of turmoil as the fins upon its back fluttered back and forth, like a small vortex surrounded the beast itself. Eyeing the group with two blood red eyes sat beneath a black brow it slowly lifted itself up, spreading its wings to its side and lifting its head, emitting a piercing howl before lowering itself and darting straight for the group. Gage was immediate in his reaction and fired a harpoon at it only to watch as it turned to smoke before their eyes, the harpoon lodging into a tree trunk and missing entirely. Dropping to the ground to avoid being tackled by the beast as it became physical once more he rolled onto his back and kicked out his legs, managing to knock it further along and off balance.

Just what was this beast? Never before had Nymira seen a creature that could turn to smoke like that or one that could tear apart trees with only its voice. Now she understood why Kensen and Gage had been sent along, and why Kensen had seemed so uptight about their task. This thing whatever it was posed a massive threat and she didn't dare to think what might happen if one of them were struck by its howl. Trying to follow up on Gage's failed attack she dashed forward, leaping up over the beast as it soared past and spinning her body in an attempt to slice the fins upon its back. Only she found her blades did not find flesh but air instead as it assumed an intangible form once more, avoiding her entirely and continuing on its path, aiming at Kensen now.

---

Cecil's damage was not terribly extensive which was fortunate. However his entire system had shut down as means of preventing further damage and it would not reboot until all the ruined components had been replaced. After placing his frame in a hold and connecting his memory banks to a computer for storage they could begin to work on the body itself. Limbs were partially melted by some highly acidic liquid, his joints had suffered damage as well and his gauntlets were partially destroyed. It was a curious design and unlike anything any of the engineers present had ever seen before, a combat Machina clearly though one of higher caliber than they were used to. In order to be certain they didn't make any mistakes they had called in a favor, an expert who would be far better suited in helping their case. He wouldn't arrive until the next day however and so instead they had spent the first evening cleaning up what they could, removing damaged components and salvaging what they could for the repairs later. Their help wasn't slated to arrive until later that afternoon, so until then their hands were largely tied.

For all the good his inventions did there was still no place for them in Adelon yet. Norman enjoyed the luxury of traveling faster than any steed might on his motorized vehicle and yet arriving at Mutebo presented him with a big problem; horses were able to travel the streets of most larger settlements, they had been designed for such yet nothing could give his vehicle room. The noise it emitted made it an issue as well and so he'd been made to store it at the stables alongside the horses of other travelers instead. He'd worry about it possibly being stolen if he thought anyone might be capable of even piloting it, though just in case he took the ignition key along with him. It was odd to be back in Mutebo after almost a year away and stranger still he'd been called in to help with a Machina. The engineers here were defectors of some rather prominent companies and should have plenty of expertise for routine maintenance, more than enough to do their job without him being there. He had an inkling that there must be something unique about this particular Machina though he didn't know what, the message he'd received had been rather vague.

When he had arrived at the shop where he'd been asked to provide help and spotted a familiar young lady outside banging on the door he knew immediately why he'd been asked to help. What had the kids gotten themselves into this time he wondered, shaking his head and smiling as he approached the building. Wyth was the first to notice him and he addressed the moorcat with a wave, winking at Amuné when she too noticed his arrival.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes Amuné, though I guess I know what I'm doing here now," Norman said as he glanced at the door, hands on his hips as he arched an eyebrow, "Cecil's in there isn't he? What's happened now? I got a call to come help repair a Machina and I'm assuming that'd be our friend, am I wrong?"

Legend of Zelda: Templar Ascension

Scaling up walls wasn't anything unusual for Caelan, he'd done it innumerable times while traveling. What he'd not done was fight off a group of Templars and their knights and then scale a large surface, and after today he'd never do it again. By the fifth floor his arms had begun to burn and his legs were threatening to give out as he pushed himself further up, by the eighth floor he swore he was going to lose his grip and plummet back to the ground. Somehow though he'd managed to keep a grip and scale, albeit slowly, up to the ninth and ultimately the tenth floor. Having scarcely the strength to lift himself over the balcony Caelan dropped to the floor and leaned against the wall, groaning as he stretched out his limbs and took a moment to catch his breath. They could have done this tomorrow couldn't they? Having a bit more time to recuperate after all of that would have been great, and they probably still had a ways to go yet. They could only count themselves fortunate for not having run into any patrols other than the one and Regol had been quick enough in saving them any trouble. Was their luck going to hold out forever though?

"No you're not... Because I'll be jumping down first," Caelan joked, closing his eyes and rubbing his face tiredly, "At least let me go first so I can make a puddle. I don't want to have to scrape anyone up." Link brought up a very valid point though and that was the fact that even after all this trouble they would still have to get down. How were they supposed to escape the castle with the Princess anyways? Regol must have thought of something but he was keeping them in the dark and that didn't do anything to help ease his concerns. Maybe they would escape through a window, scale the outside and escape that way. Or perhaps they had some magic they were saving for their escape, though if they had such a spell why not use it to get in too? "Please tell me we're close, Regol? Is she on this floor?" Caelan asked as he pulled himself to his feet with the wall, "This place can't be much bigger..."

Legend of Zelda: Templar Ascension

I would guess it is a tentative-definite yes! :P

Dragon Ball: Legacy (Mogtaki and Vena Sera)

With Sasha and Ricken's battles over with the next one called would be Shu. Everyone was excited to see how a child Saiyan would fare against some of Uuonoe's best fighters, and at the same time there was a clear tension in the room. By now the vast majority of people were well aware of both who Shu and Takeshi were the children of and while their allegiance seemed to be to the rebellion it hardly absolved them of all concern. As Shu and his opponent entered the stage Takeshi grew increasingly excited to see his brother compete. Even rebel soldiers were probably not a match against any of them and seeing a Uuonian didn't exactly spark fear in him either. To the alien's credit he didn't seem all that worried either despite knowing what he was going up against, and perhaps his large size was a part of that. Being bigger than Shu didn't necessarily mean you were going to win though, something Takeshi had learned since the first day of their meeting. He was a quick, resourceful little guy and could be a real pain if you didn't somehow lock him down.

"Introducing Uuonoe's very own Thal! He's a big name in the inner cities and across many fighting leagues, and a hometown favorite for many here! But how will he stack up to his opponent, the young Saiyan, Shu? Let's find out together shall we?" The roar of the crowd signaled everyone was more than ready for the match and the lights lining it came on, flooding the arena in a glow and illuminating its inhabitants. "Now remember, this is a nice, clean fight! If your opponent is knocked out then you win. If you knock your opponent out of the arena then you win. And, if you put your opponent in a submission hold and they submit, you win. Best of luck to both of you, and be sure to put on a great show!" Stepping out of the center of the ring the announcer looked between Shu and Thal, hand raised before dropping it swiftly and stepping back to the edge. "And begin!"

Fighting a Saiyan was new, and fighting someone who had fought so much with Korian's people was definitely new. But Thal was not deterred and was determined to take this fight just as any other, he'd be careful and do his best to force his opponent into making a mistake. As soon as the announcer signaled the fight to start he slowly began to advance on Shu, a look of pure concentration on his features, arms spread slightly apart and ready to strike at the slightest movement. Waiting until he was into range for an attack he danced back and forth on his feet, leaning back on one foot suddenly and spinning his body around, swinging up a leg trying to kick Shu and knock him over. With how small Shu was he could probably knock him down easily and pin him in a submission, this fight wouldn't take too long.

Aito hadn't the slightest idea there was a tournament being held nor that any of the kids might be taking part in it, so seeing Shu on stage was a surprise. Were it anyone else he might well have passed on by without a care but seeing his little patient taking part was relative cause for concern. June wasn't the least bit interested in watching the fighting either but he'd managed to convince her it was pertinent he was there: should the worst come to pass and Shu transform unexpectedly he was by far the best suited person to handle the situation. That and he'd found out there was popcorn being offered and it had been ages since he'd had any, he wanted some. June gave him a rather nasty look when he nearly missed the commencement of Shu's fight in order to buy a bag but he'd bashfully done so anyways, joining the throngs of other onlookers as the fight commenced and Thal began making a move. Depending on his performance he may have to pull Shu from the competition, in fact he probably should now, but he'd bide his time and see how things progressed.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Humorousness aside they were still trying to get work done, and Lionel's tardiness had kept Quill at work for much too long already. Having seen over a dozen patients today he was in some dire need of time away from the medical ward and Lionel's arrival meant his shift was through. As Ethan was seen to Quill went about tidying up his work space, putting away tools and throwing away any soiled garments and sheets for good measure. The remainder of patients should be far less than the load they'd had to deal with this morning and should be plenty ample for a newbie like Lionel to handle. Finally removing the coat he'd been wearing all afternoon he made certain to wash his hands once again before joining the group.

"I'm sure you'll make an excellent healer one day Amuné, if you have a passion for it then it makes it all the more rewarding," Quill noted with a proud smile, then turning to Lionel and clasping the boy's shoulder, "If you kids need anything else just ask him. He's a bit green but he knows his way around the place, so long as you don't go breaking a limb or anything he can treat it. And Lionel..." he added, speaking more firmly as he turned the boy to face him, "For the love of the Saints do not wander off until your shift is over, alright? I don't want to get called down in the middle of the night again..."

"If you do then you'll be back, but as a patient this time. We're short staffed as it is," the woman added in with a threatening finger in Lionel's face, "Don't make us put you in a bed too." Quill was always much too pleasant and polite, if they kept talking to Lionel like that and letting his antics slide they'd never get through to him. Best to set the line in the sand and make sure he didn't cross it again.

"Okay, okay, I won't go anywhere tonight, I promise!" Lionel answered, putting his hands up defensively. The woman prodded his nose and he leaned back, smiling nervously when she snapped her fingers at him before finally leaving the room, a tired Quill close behind her. Once the other two healers were gone the blond's shoulders sagged and a long winded sigh passed his lips, followed by a short laugh as he turned to address the group. "So if anyone needs anything just let me know! I guess I'll be here..." he continued as his posture slumped slightly, his expression becoming one of resignation, "Until midnight... All by myself..."

Ethan would express a bit more sympathy towards Lionel if the healer wasn't the reason his head currently had a dull throb. Not to mention he was still sat in a state of undress awaiting a proper inspection and seeing Lionel sulking he cleared his throat to grab the other boy's attention. "Um... Could you look at my wounds please? I'm the only one who hasn't been checked still." Not that his were all that bad, bumps and bruises were hardly going to be the death of him. Lionel seemed to agree on this matter and only briefly glanced over him before deciding he was ultimately fine. Unfortunately he was in the case that Nymira found herself in which his clothing had been taken off to be cleaned and he was left with only a change from these people to use. Fortunately for him they fit a bit better, even if an open vest, well worn trousers and boots whose soles were falling out hardly screamed "comfort" to him. Not that he minded, anything was better than sitting butt naked in front of your friends.

Lionel would have other patients to tend to before long which left the group to disperse to their rooms for the night. With limited space for them Ethan would share a room with Amuné and Wyth, and Nymira and Asta would be made to share the other. Fatigued as he might have been Ethan couldn't rest for a long while after learning of Cedric's death. Though the tears had since stopped falling the ache in his chest persisted and his eyes couldn't stay closed no matter how heavy they grew. He kept silent throughout the night to be sure Amuné could get her rest before stepping out of the room, wandering the halls until he found his way outside. With a reserved sigh he sat himself down on the lawn and laid back, staring up at the clear night sky overhead. What was he doing with himself now? What was he even going to do tomorrow? He'd been traveling thus far going after Cedric and now the wind had left his sails and he was left with nothing, no reason to go. He didn't want to abandon everyone and go home but what more was there? Taliya's and Nymira's words rang in his ears still but he couldn't think of any reason to go on.

---

When Taliya had told them she'd something in mind none of them had expected to do it so soon. Immediately following breakfast everyone had been rounded up and led out to the outskirts of Mutebo, Kensen acting as their guide for this task. All they had been told was they were on "pest control duty". Being out in the woods did little to shed any more light on the situation and when they finally stopped alongside a trail they were allowed a breather, and a chance to ask questions.

"So... Why are we doing this again?" Ethan posed as he settled down on a fallen log, "Don't get me wrong, I don't mind helping... But couldn't we do something less, you know... Dangerous?" Fighting wasn't something he was terribly fond of to begin with and that applied to people and animals alike. If they were just regular old 'pests' like rodents then they wouldn't be sending Magi out probably, any old farmer in Mutebo could come here with a pitchfork and deal with it. Having Kensen and Gage along didn't do a whole lot to help with his concerns that they were up to something a bit more serious than simply dealing with some mice.

"Because if you're going to be staying with us you're earning your keep runt, that's that. Taliya says you do it around here and you do it," was Gage's blunt response, narrowing his eyes as Ethan slouched and let out a sigh, "They saved your lives, least you can do is make yourselves useful. Hell for the favor we've done ya we could be asking for a lot more than this."

It wasn't so much the act of doing a favor that was disheartening but the favor itself. Why did they have to kill something? Death was already weighing heavily on his mind and the last thing he wanted to do was go and kill something. Having tried to subtly hint that he wasn't in favor of the job yet Nymira and Asta alike had voted to carry it out and majority ruled it seemed. Simple labor would be fine by him, or something like fishing that didn't mind heavily on his mind, anything that was mundane and simple. At least Amuné hadn't been made to come out with them, she'd be spared whatever job they were being given.

"What I don't understand is why we need as many people as we have," Nymira voiced as she looked at the faces of those around her. "My clan never sends out a group larger than two unless its to kill a notorious beast in the area, and we rarely ever sent out more than one Magi. Just what are you having us fight that requires so many warriors?" Like Ethan she had been somewhat skeptical when Taliya had told them it was simply pest control and then sent them on their way with Kensen and Gage. Were it just a simple test of their ability and loyalty then just one would suffice, unless two were sent to insure they didn't try anything. But given Kensen's prowess fighting the Varuna he could likely take on both herself and Ethan easily in their tired states, so why send Gage as well? Something seemed off and the Dimuran wanted answers.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

"Excellent, just be sure to keep him steady for me. We don't want our friend here moving and hurting himself," the man spoke as he began to smooth out Wyth's fur. Some of it had clumped around the wound and would probably need to be cleaned as well, if not shaven off entirely. From beneath the table he opened a draw and withdrew two rolls of bandages, some tufts of gauze and several bottles of antiseptic solutions. For a normal person this was far more than anyone needed but Wyth was not a person, clearly, and there was no knowing the severity of his wounds without looking since he couldn't speak. "That's right, whoever did this seems like they knew what they were doing, but can't hurt to make sure. Easier to fix it now than later."

Peeling back the first of the bandages the healer leaned in for a closer look, gently brushing aside fur to get a clear view. An oddly clean cut which suggested it wasn't from an animal but rather a weapon, how cruel. If this moorcat was the girl's then the immediate conclusion was she'd been attacked and he'd been injured protecting her, the poor thing. "Good, if he's eating fine then he's probably not got an infection and isn't sick. I'm guessing he ate plenty at dinner today?" With a small clump of cotton he poured out some of the cleaning solution onto it and gently placed a hand below the wound, smiling at Wyth as he held it over the injury. "Now this is going to sting a bit but just relax, we're going to clean it out for you, okay?" Nodding to Amuné he applied the cotton with the solution and wiped away a small amount of dirt, clumps of some kind of herb used and anything else that might be nestled in the wound. When that was said and done he cut up a strip of fresh bandage, applied a cream to it and then wrapped it around the wound. Nice and easy.

"My name is Quill, nice to meet you Amuné, and you too Wyth," Quill replied while throwing away the bloodied strips and gauze, "I want to take a look at those little scratches you mentioned too okay? Better to be safe than sorry, we don't want to risk anything getting infected if we can help it." The other wounds compared to the first were small and far less worrisome, though each was treated as though it were serious. When all was said and done Wyth only had a few spots that needed to be bandaged and the rest simply had been cleaned and would heal naturally enough. "And no shaving his fur either, makes everyone's lives a bit easier doesn't it?" Quill asked with a laugh, running his hand gently over Wyth's head. "Now then, Amuné, how about we take a look at you? Anything been bothering you?"

Nymira had no issue with taking off her clothes as she had nor did she have an issue with the nurse poking and prodding as she examined the Dimuran for injury. When she attempted to apply the odd solution to the wounds however she had to halt the nurse, staring at the clear liquid uncertainly. It had near no smell and though they claimed it would help her wounds she found it difficult to trust. If anything was ever used for her wounds they were herbs, they had a visible color and odor to them and she could vaguely recognize many medicines that she'd receive. Seeing something so unusual however made her uneasy about receiving it, and only after watching the nurse apply some to herself did she relent. The burning sensation as it poured over her wound on her ankle made her grit her teeth and fingers dug into the edge of the bed, and she was no more a fan of it as it was applied to the abrasions on her side and arm as well. It came as something of a relief when the nurse finished up cleaning the wounds and she held still while they were bandaged, furrowing her brow when she then tried to retrieve her shirt only to be denied.

"We'll clean it for you before you take it back, it's covered in dried blood," the nurse explained as she pointed to a pile of clothes at the bedside, "There's a whole outfit there for you, you can change in the restroom right over there and we'll get it all cleaned."

So she was supposed to wear their clothes as well? Nymira slid off of the bed tentatively and examined the garments provided with a look of curiosity before shrugging and heading to the restroom to do as directed. Immediately upon stripping and trying on the undergarments she ran into a problem: they were much too big. The underwear fit well enough aside from the fact there was no allowance for her tail, leaving a very awkward wear for her. The bra was a curiosity and not something she'd ever worn before, and after toying with it to try and discover its purpose she somewhat bashfully recognized what it was designed for. That didn't mean she knew how to wear it however and her latest fight became an attempt to put on the bra. Far cry from battling Vazra and Magi but she'd almost prefer those over this infernal device.

While still waiting his turn Ethan was presented with a minor issue of his own: he needed to use the restroom, badly. It might not have been such a problem had Nymira not been sent into the lone washroom in the medical ward and after a minute of waiting it didn't appear like she might be out any time soon. Both Quill and the nurse were tidying up their work spaces before seeing to him so surely he had time to step out right? "Uh... I'll be back in just a minute, just need to go use the bathroom," he declared before jumping to his feet and moving quickly for the door. With his hand on the doorknob he threw the door open and nearly raced out, feeling his bladder's hold slowly waning.

"Ouch! What the heck?" What in the world had he just run into? Nursing a bump on his forehead a blond man opened his eyes and glanced down at his feet, blinking at the sight before him. There was Ethan who was presumably on his way out of the room, only for them to run headfirst into each other. From the looks of the poor soul he was seeing stars now and thoroughly out of it for the moment, and what's more there was a notable damp spot slowly appearing in his pants. Oh gosh, was he...?

"There you are Lionel! We've been waiting for you!" the nurse snapped, her hands full with Nymira's soiled clothing, "You can't just run off and disappear like that, there's a lot of people who need to be seen to today. Where did you... Even..." Wasn't that one of the children they were meant to be seeing to? Why was he on the ground? And... Why had he soiled himself? Looking at Lionel the nurse narrowed her eyes accusingly when he flashed her an innocent grin, hurling a crumpled up sheet at his face before stomping her foot. "Don't just stand there, get him up and out of those clothes! We're supposed to be taking care of him and for all we know you just gave him a concussion!"

"Right! Sorry, sorry, I'm on it!" He takes one small break to town to pick up some cinnamon rolls and this is what he gets, how unfair. Dropping the sheet on a chair Lionel stepped over Ethan and grabbed him beneath the arms, awkwardly dragging him across the floor to one of the beds. "My head hurts too you know, he hurt my head," the blond complained, shirking as the nurse simply glowered at him, pursing his lips in protest. "Just saying. He's not the only one hurt..."

A few moments later and Ethan had come to, been stripped of his now dirtied garments and dressed in a simple gown instead. Gertrude had gone to fetch him a fresh change of clothes but for the time being he was left near bare on a table, his face red as Nymira's flames as he waited to be looked at. Holding a small pack of ice to the bump on his forehead he flashed Amuné a smile, giving her a thumbs up to assure her everything was okay. "Just a little bump, that's all! Once they clear me I'll be all good to go."

At the same time the bathroom door finally opened, or rather was thrown open. Emerging from the washroom was an infuriated looking Nymira garbed in a slightly-too-large blue tunic and brown pants, the legs of which had to be rolled up to not drag beneath her feet. In her hand was a now charred bra, still smoking despite her attempts to extinguish it in the sink. "I don't know what this damned thing is you gave me but I refuse to use one again," the Dimuran declared, throwing the ruined piece into the trash with a huff, "I don't even understand why anyone would wear such a thing, it seems ridiculous." A stifled laugh from both the nurse and Quill made her glance between the two curiously, frowning as they whispered something to one another, presumably about her ruined bra. "What? What is it?"

Dragon Ball: Legacy (Mogtaki and Vena Sera)

"Sh-Shut up, I'm saying hi," Yumi muttered through a small laugh, smiling as she reached out and ran her fingers through Viral's hair. Pulling back she gave a sympathetic look and smile as she moved her hand down to his paw, her fingers curling around it gently. "Sorry, I'd help if I could. But the doctor said you should be fine now, you're through the worst of it. Now you'll just have to heal up and you'll be as good as new. And... If we go back to Uuonoe then you can probably use a tank and heal even faster!" Though if they went back to Uuonoe in the state they were in Vegeta, Aito and June would probably all have a fit. With her own arm in a sling and her head bandaged Yumi didn't look the state of health either but at least she was able to get up and be mobile, unlike Viral.

"I know I said it before but I want to thank you again. I thought I was as good as dead fighting that Elite, and I probably would be dead right now if it wasn't for you," Yumi continued as her fingers tightened slightly around Viral's paw, "I'm still not used to it, fighting like that. I don't get how they can be so careless about taking a life. And I'm sorry you had to get so hurt in order to save mine. I'll make it up to you," she added with a determined look, her eyes shining as she gave Viral a toothy grin, "Next time I'm going to save you and that will make us even." Or to be more accurate they would be saving each other, as they should be. She didn't want Viral thinking they were all going to rely on him every time and let him take the fall, and she didn't expect any of them to have to do the same. Yumi would have elaborated had the door to the room not opened then and the doctor from before along with a nurse entered, the latter carrying several bags of fluids with her.

"Viral, its good to see you awake. Not many people come back from those kind of injuries," the doctor said with a friendly smile, standing at the foot of the bed. Glancing at the charts in his hand he went silent briefly as he poured over information before knocking a finger against a certain passage, showing it to Viral and Yumi as it was highlighted in red. "You sustained a lot of internal damage, organs were hemorrhaged and bones broken, but already most of that has healed. We don't really understand why, or how, but you're healing at an unusually fast rate. That being said..." Placing the clipboard on a hook beside the bed the doctor took out several x-rays and posted them on a board beside the bed. "Some bones are still healing, and they need to set too. We're going to keep giving you fluids for at least another few days, and maybe tomorrow or the next we can try some solid foods. You should count yourself a miracle, by the end of this week it might look like you never had any damage to begin with."

---

The World Tournament it was not but Takeshi was excited for it all the same. It would be nice to fight a bit without someone trying to kill you and after spending a day doing pretty much nothing being able to let loose a bit was nice. There would be quite the pool of contestants for this tournament too, a mixture of Uuonians and rebels alike with the four of them included in the mix, a total of 36 participants in all. Eager as he was to begin Takeshi's first match didn't happen until nearly the end of the first round with Shu, Sasha and Ricken all getting their go before him. Once the matches were set and the brackets established all participants were ushered into waiting areas closer to the stage while the audience filed into seats erected around the arena itself. It sure did look a lot like the World Tournament now and when an announcer came up onto the stage to officially begin the tournament a real sense of deja vu hit Takeshi. Excitement was an understatement as the first two fighters came up to tussle, two Uuonians who looked like they might just know a thing or two about fighting. The crowd let out a chorus of cheers and shouts and the fight was on, the two men exchanging blows and dancing around the ring vying for an edge. It was a far cry from what people like them were capable of but it was kind of fun to watch, though it ended rather quickly when one managed to land a punch to the other's jaw and knocked him out cold. Couldn't have been more than a minute and the first match was over, one down and 34 more to go.

Ricken's match was the first of theirs to take place and it would be against another rebel soldier. Even though they were both members of the same team that didn't mean their skills were the same, and judging by how nervous the other guy looked there was already a winner even before the match began. In a style awfully reminiscent of Takeshi's the rebel soldier went right in as soon as the match started and quickly found himself on his back, having been tripped and flipped in the blink of an eye. When he tried to get up and throw a punch Ricken deflected it and jabbed him square in the chest with an elbow, probably winding the guy and surprisingly not breaking any bones with the blow. Just like that he was done, Ricken swept the man's feet before grabbing a leg, spinning him and simply throwing him out of the arena for a technical ring out. Considering what probably could have been he'd let his fellow soldier off easy with some bumps and bruises, and when he left the arena none of the other fighters were very keen on getting anywhere near him. Just wait until they fight me or Shu, Takeshi mused, a grin spreading across his face as he awaited the next round. If they thought Ricken was scary they were in for a nasty treat when they got to watch a Saiyan fight.

Two rounds later Sasha would have her turn, and from a plain view it would look like she was horribly outmatched. Her opponent was a Uuonian and unusually large for one, probably rivaling Leto in sheer size. But of course size wasn't everything in a fight and Sasha was quick to remind him of that. As soon as the match began he tried to grab her and failed as she easily ducked under his arms and slid beneath his legs, springing up on her hands and kicking him in the back. For all his mass he wasn't trained for quick strikes from the looks of things and that was a huge detriment fighting someone quick like Sasha. Each trunk-like limb missed by a wide margin and was answered with a quick counter strike, barely moving the man on impact but each and every one landing. Perhaps for a change of pace the Uuonian had begun to pick up the pace and deliver blows more rapidly and yet, almost pitifully so, every single attack missed. Sasha danced between the arms and legs of the man like his attacks were as slow as molasses and after a short while the Uuonian was visibly perspiring, becoming worn down from the duel. On an errant punch Sasha jumped up and wrapped her legs around the arm, using her body's weight to torque it and spin the man around, flipping herself over and him onto his back. With him laid on the ground she twisted her body and yanked the arm in an awkward manner and within seconds the man was calling it quits, leaving the arena while cradling his strained arm as Sasha left to rejoin the others.

"You could have ended that a lot more quickly Sasha, instead of wasting everyone's time like that," Ricken chastised as his sister returned, frowning at her as she gave him a smile.

"Part of this tournament is a show Ricken, you know that. The people want to watch close matches and exciting matches, not ones that are over in 10 seconds like yours was," Sasha rebutted, sticking out her tongue childishly as Ricken grumbled something incoherent beneath his breath. On stage the announcer had since returned and was declaring the next match, and when Shu's name was mentioned she turned to the young Saiyan with an excited smile. "Looks like you're next, show everyone what you can do," she urged, patting his shoulders and easing him towards the ring.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Ethan wasn't too sure if he was grateful or not right now. Grateful that he was alive, sure, but grateful for what he had learned? Grateful to know that his entire reason for traveling so far from home was moot now? He'd felt out of place before in his journey and there were plenty of times he'd been without direction but now he was lost, a wholly new, crushing sort of lost. Knowing there was a good chance Amuné's parents may be dead as well, that Nymira's goal may be unattainable, the feeling that they had no purpose or chance was devastatingly depressing. If not for the little girl holding his hand he'd probably have slinked back to their quarters and spent the evening miserable and alone, but Amuné needed food and he did too. Managing a hollow smile as the Ydran expressed her thanks again to Kensen he nodded silently before the Dimuran wandered off, leaving their group alone in an unfamiliar place. Though very few people if any paid them mind here Ethan felt increasingly unsettled and scrutinized, shifting uncomfortably until Nymira spoke and pulled him from his mulling.

"We'd do best to get some food in us otherwise we'll be useless tomorrow," Nymira spoke as she scanned the room for any signs of where to find food. It wasn't terribly different from the halls where her people usually dined, where warriors gathered to build morale before a battle or returned upon victory to celebrate. Certainly a bit more refined than the halls she was used to though, even if she was certain many of the occupants were drunk on mead. At last spotting a long row of tables along the edge of the room she made a straight line for them, eyebrows raising at the display of foods before her.

"Impressive..." They spared no expense to feed their people and had a wide variety of foods on display for them to enjoy, many of which she didn't recognize whatsoever. Beef she was plenty familiar with, a few white fish seemed to be similar to what she was used to, but multi-colored meets, odd looking vegetables, foods she was positive weren't food at all, it was a lot to take in. Looking back around the room she got a good idea why there was so much variety in the meals: Varuna, Dimuran, Muran, Ydran, and if she wasn't mistaken even a Divined or two, members of nearly every race sat at a table here. It was the first time in her travels she'd ever seen so many races together at once, perhaps this group wouldn't be such a poor ally after all.

Though his motions were mechanical and halfhearted Ethan wanted to be certain Amuné and Wyth were fed after today. His own appetite had since escaped him but knowing he'd be chastised for not eating he grabbed a plate for himself as well, filling it sparingly compared to his companions. One look at the moorcat and he was reminded that Wyth desperately needed to see a healer before too long as well even if his wounds had since begun to scab over. But first things first they had to eat before they fainted from hunger, the healer and that old woman from before should be there when they were done. Having to carefully balance two plates in one hand Ethan waited for Nymira to finish getting her food as well and stared in amazement at the sizable portions she'd taken, quickly closing his mouth when she shot him a curious glance for his gawking. If she was that hungry then fine, he'd never known she would eat so much.

---

Having food in one's stomach was comforting in of itself and Ethan managed to calm down a little after eating. Now all that was left to do was be examined by the healers and perhaps wash up before turning in for the day. With the sun now slowly descending behind the mountains surrounding Mutebo long shadows were cast along the front of the buildings, the halls illuminated by lights hanging from the ceiling above. Electricity flowed through the building though only came on around dusk, and it was something both Ethan and Nymira were largely unaccustomed to. What a luxury to have light even after the sun had set and not need a fire or half a dozen braziers to light the way. As a result of there being light everywhere the building was plenty alive even at such a late hour and reaching the medical ward meant crossing paths with quite a few of the buildings inhabitants. Most simply ignored the group and went on their way while a few exchanged brief but pleasant greetings with them; a few of Taliya's group were less than welcoming of the group but they only took a quick jab and left it at that, no one really saw fit to trail along and bother them. Upon reaching the ward they were greeted by the same older woman from before who seemed tired but still wore the same friendly smile as last time.

"We were wondering if you'd be coming or not, come in, come in!" she ushered gently, stepping back and giving ample room for everyone to come in. Two beds were already vacant and waiting for them, and a male healer greeted them with a warm smile as well.

"You must be the children Gertrude was talking about. Come on in and get comfortable kids, we'll be with you in just a second." Behind the smile there was a slight look of concern plaguing the healer, not for those before him but for another matter. As his brow furrowed slightly he looked to Gertrude with a questioning glance, leaning in and whispering something in her ear as he gestured back vaguely towards a table.

"I don't know where he is either, he was supposed to be here half an hour ago," Gertrude admitted with a tired sigh, shrugging her thin shoulders before smiling, "But we'll make do until he gets here. Can you see to the moorcat first? His wounds seemed to be the worst of the bunch."

Appraising the group on his own the healer nodded in agreement, lowering himself to one knee and showing Wyth a friendly smile. "Hey there big guy, how about I take a look at those wounds and clean them for you?" Poor animal's wounds were at least bandaged and from the looks of it someone with at least basic knowledge had handled doing so. Still it was a good idea to unravel the wraps and make certain nothing was in the wounds, and cleaning them may not hurt either to be safe. Slightly concerned how the operation might go the healer turned to Amuné for help in the matter. "Young lady would you mind giving me a hand helping your pet?" he asked as he motioned to a table, turning a screw beneath it to lower it slightly. "If you could just sit with him and keep him calm while I work everything will go much more smoothly."

Abrasions and minor cuts aside Nymira didn't believe she needed any medical attention, an opinion clearly not shared by those practicing here. As she attempted to turn and leave the room Gertrude took her by the hand to stop her, raising an eyebrow as she was given a wag of the finger and coy smile. Letting out a resigned sigh she followed the woman then to the other open bed and looked at it a bit cross as it was nearly chest height with her. Having to wait for the bed to be lowered so she could easily climb atop it she sat on the edge and watched as another woman approached her, tilting her head as she was asked to remove her shirt. Thinking nothing of it she peeled off the dirty garment and laid it beside her on the bed, narrowing her eyes when she heard Ethan let out a stifled gasp. Turning her head to look at him and noticing the brilliant red coating his face she rolled her eyes in disbelief and focused on doing as the healer asked.

Having to wait his turn for the time being, and feeling rather flustered with Nymira in a slight state of undress, Ethan moved to an open chair along the wall and sat himself down. Near as soon as his rear met the cushioned seat his body felt heavy again as the same issue when eating: fatigue set in and all he wanted to do was sleep. Sighing as he fidgeted to keep himself from simply dozing off Ethan had to resort to slapping himself in the face a few times, probably looking absurd while doing so before leaning back in his seat. His own wounds were largely trivial and he probably didn't even need to be here if it weren't for supporting Amuné with Wyth. But the healers would probably want to take a look at him regardless just to be sure which meant waiting even longer to sleep, much to his chagrin. Stifling a yawn behind his hand he leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, humming a tune beneath his breath dreamily as he awaited his turn.

Dragon Ball: Legacy (Mogtaki and Vena Sera)

Over the dull roar of the engines outside it was difficult to make out what Viral was saying. Straining her ears just to pick up the noise Yumi smiled sadly at his comments, shaking her head in disagreement. "You did everything you needed to Viral, we're all alive because of it," she reassured in a soft tone, her fingers curling around his paw as she leaned closer, "I'm alive because of you. Thank you, I owe you my life." She had to repay him somehow after that, though shy of saving his life as well she hadn't a clue where to even begin. As the shuttle began to move along Yumi had to move herself over a bit to make space for the doctor as he approached, now having proper bandages to cover up Viral's wounds with. It wasn't much and he'd clearly need more than what he had but it would do for now, enough to make sure he could hold out until they touched back down.

A short ride of perhaps 5 minutes and they had set down once more, this time on the outskirts on the ravaged city. Though far from a proper hospital it had all the amenities they might need and there were plenty of staff to help. Rather than be made to tentatively carry Viral again the doctor called for help and several other medical aides hurried over with a stretcher, moving the Beastman before transporting him to a vacant tent. Due to the crowded nature of the site, there were easily a hundred other patients and nearly as many doctors, visitors were not permitted no matter how much Yumi argued. With their own minor injuries they were each seen to by their own practitioner as well, sat out along the grass and cleaned and patched up however needed. Despite the chaos that had engulfed the city it appeared that they had quite a lot in place for such an event, a somber reminder that the planet was probably on constant alert and ready for attacks. Would they have to live like that now that they had won today?

Almost an hour had elapsed when a doctor at last came to fetch them from their spot. Before he'd even reached the group Yumi was already on her feet, staring intently at the man as he came to meet them. The look on his face was not cause for worry and when he smiled she returned one of her own, her puffed up, swollen eye closing and the bandages wrapped around her head wrinkling. Viral was going to be okay after his surgery, they had removed some debris from the wounds and cleaned and sewn them shut, now he only needed to recover. It appeared that was the case for most of those who were here too which was a heartwarming turnout for their side. They were well aware of the occasional gurney, blanket draped over the top, and they all knew what it went but they had been mercifully far and few between, and Viral hadn't been on one of them. Before the doctor had a chance to give them permission to visit Yumi was already fast on her way, passing by him and walking swiftly through the thinning crowds to where Viral was resting.

"Oh thank goodness you're okay..." After how hectic things had become for them and how badly injured Viral was Yumi had of course considered and prepared herself for the worst. Yet despite all of that Viral would survive, and given enough time he would be as good as new again too. Feeling dampness on her cheeks for the umpteenth time today she rubbed at them preemptively and moved to the bedside, laying her hand across Viral's paw and gently stroking the back with her thumb. He was probably barely lucid and on all kinds of pain medications, plus the IVs stuck into him were probably drawing most of his focus from everything, but she wanted him to know she was there. Before any of the others showed up Yumi leaned down and lightly pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes and letting out a soft sigh. "I'm so happy you're going to be okay, I was so scared..."

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

@Vena Sera I figured it was pugbutter in the same way peanuts make peanut butter....

@shylarah

You're sick D: