maiitsoh

Ruins and Runes

Stares at Johannes as the tarp was suddenly yanked from his arms and with a sigh, he lowered the scarf from over his nose and mouth. “I’ll be sticking around the camp myself. There is no point in continuing on for the night and with how dark it has gotten. Plus.. I think all of us got to eat a lot of jack and shit before Cinders back there decided lighting a fire in a wooden building was a good idea.” Throws his pack near the ground before rolling a piece of fallen log towards Johannes with his foot. “Here. To hold down that corner.” Kneeling down he searched through his own rations and sighed. “Got a lot of that bland travel shit they saddle us with. “ Throws two packets to the kids. “Ain’t much but it’s better than tryin’ to sleep on an empty stomach.”

Straightens himself up after fastening the pack shut once more, a hand lifting to fully lower the scarf from over his head. Ezra’s expression didn’t speak much for him, keeping a neutral look into play as he once more scanned the area around them, stepping out towards the dark a little as something caught his eye. A hand went to his shoulder briefly before he stepped close once more keeping the layers of his clothing tucked tightly around him as night fell.

“Do you think that Miraculum’s buddy is gonna track us out this way?” His tone suggested that he was asking about the weather or whether Johannes’ mother was well and not that some fanatical loonies could be hunting for their blood in the darkness of the Wastes.

Ruins and Runes

“Spot?” Glances towards the dog in question, pitch colored, matted fur. “Did you name him?” The question was clearly directed towards the blind one as the animal had no spots in sight. Shaking his head he choose to fall back into silence as well, listening quietly as the girl whispered to her brother.

As the night enveloped them in a nearly impenetrable darkness the young scribe could not help but deeply frown. The wide open area of the Wastes was eerie in its own right with the expanse dotted by petrified trees, living well up to its name. Light-brown eyes stared out into the sunless distance, what stood casted bizarre shadows across the ground, darkness mingling with darkness.

“Oof!”

Narrowed eyes fell upon the hunter as he was jostled from his thoughts by the sudden thwap of the tarp against his chest. He was half tempted to just drop it on the ground in response yet held on to it, much rather would deal with his annoyance than the rains that washed over the Wastes. With the lighting of the lantern he felt a small sense of relief and that pushed him to search around for something to secure the tarp to. “Do you think we will get any rainfall tonight?” Glances towards Johannes for a moment before stepping up to a dead tree, giving it a swift kick with his boot to test its strength.

Ruins and Runes

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

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

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

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

Ruins and Runes

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

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

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

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

Ruins and Runes

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

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

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

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

Ruins and Runes

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

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

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

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

Ruins and Runes

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

Ba-dump Ba-dump.

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

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

Ruins and Runes

Ezra glanced up as the door open, his brow pulling into a furrow as he caught Johannes’ expression towards the man standing there. Confusion worked across his features and he didn’t seem to understand what the big deal was until his eyes landed upon the man’s face.

The youth was unable to suppress the shudder that ran down his spine, this man was eerie.. Seeming to wear a putrid veil around him and proudly it seemed too. Miraculum. The color drained from Ezra’s face as his hand suddenly went to his bicep, though he quickly turned his face towards the table to hide his look of fear as Johannes leaned to whisper to him. No fight.. No snarking. Just a softly whispered, “Okay.”

Though he mostly kept his face angled towards the table his light brown eyes followed the Hunter towards where the mage stood, intimidating the two kids who sat there. His heart plummeted into his stomach as Johannes approached. Shit, he was not prepared to go up against an agent of the Miraculum.

Ruins and Runes

Ezra lifted his chin of his hand to regard the man as he strode towards his table acting as if he was head of Eden himself. Unable to suppress the rolling of his eyes, Ezra briefly wondered if the man realized he stood out for miles in a place like the Wastes. Yet knowing what he did of the Bloodhounds he went with the fact that the older man likely did not give a damn.

An audible sigh left his lips as the Hunter stepped closer, he could tell this man was going to be a barrel of laughs yet still.. He did admittedly look to be the sort that was reliable, though he was likely lacking in the sense of humor department. ‘Well.. This should go well.’ Swinging himself around in the chair the dim light caught the hairpin, likely giving Johannes solid confirmation that this was indeed Ezra. Though for all his sarcasm, Ezra too, stood out among the people of the Wastes.

Slowly his brows lifted as Johannes helped himself to a seat and made himself comfortable. “One and only. You’re .. eh.. “ ...He still could not recall the Hunter’s name to save his damn life, yet the accusation of him being late quickly snapped up his focus and he frowned. “Late? ‘Course I’m fucking late. The academy just rolled me outta the door like, ‘Surprise, your ass is travelling the damn expansion of the Wastes for your first job’. So yeah.. Sorry I ain’t super punctual. Big damn place, ya know?” Annoyance creeped across his features and he gave a wave of his head. “Yeah.. I got everything.” A part of him felt a small twinge of guilt, it wasn’t … err this guy’s fault that he was tossed out in the Wastes suddenly. Yet he stood by his words and refused to apologize, though light amber eyes flicked to the firearm at Johannes side for a brief moment. Relaxing the agitation in his tone he gave a small motion towards the man before resting his chin once more in the palm of his hand. “Seems like you’re ready too..”

Ruins and Runes

Tapping his fingers lightly on the table Ezra could not fight off the bored expression that overtook his young face. Tied up dark hair still managed to hang messily in his face and give him an overall look of someone who really had no cares at that moment.

Though the expression he wore was far from honest. He was just glad to be out of that stuffy academy and the city. He’d take lawless wastes over the stifling atmosphere of Eden anyday. He dressed simply, in loose comfortable clothing, looking no part the prodigal scribe he was rumored to be. The only hint to that lay inside the beat-up looking satchel that rested at his hip.

Light brown eyes scanned over the crowd as he tried to pick out the Hunter he was to be assigned to. Johnny.. Jagger… Hell he couldn’t remember. Ruffles his hair further, thinking maybe he should have been paying attention.. But those instructors liked to hear themselves talk and all that he could recall was a faint hum in his ear as they went on and on. Drops his forehead to the table with a light thunk, drawing in looks from those around around him.

“Shit.”

Ezra flopped back fully into his chair before he continued to look over the patrons, tossing a brief glance towards the ragtag twins that scurried in before looking towards the door as it once more admitted another patron. Tips to the side to get a better look, the man seemed to be scanning the tavern for something.. Or someone. He definitely seemed to stand out in comparison to those who seemed to be going in and out of this place.. He was likely exactly who Ezra was looking for. Yet he waited, not moving from his chair… He wanted to be sure.. Though how? Even he had no clue. Maybe the Hunter got a description of him as well.. Ezra hoped like hell at least he listened.