event #3

[automated]

[ It's taken the city officials a couple of weeks to clean up since the witch's mess. Most of the wreckage and bodies have been disposed of as humanely as possible but unfortunately, that doesn't really amount to much. The scent of flesh has attracted a whole host of carrion eaters—and, worse, their predators. Mutated buzzards swoop down from the sky and are stalked by larger, more formidable twisted canines and the odd bear. Arks are also present, sniffing from the sidelines and turning up at night when the defenses are down. Monsters are swarming around the barriers, picking at the garbage and digging up the graves and anyone foolish enough to step outside to chase them off is likely a meal themselves.

To deal with the outbreak they are, of course, calling upon their imported mercenaries for assistance.

First thing in the morning, everyone's communicators will be receiving an incoming voice message. Some of you might recognize the sneering female voice from a previous broadcast. Regardless, she starts the call the same way—by clearing her throat sharply, to make sure she has your attention. ]

All outsiders are to be posted at the gates to prevent the local wildlife from breaching the borders. Orsans, report to the city hall for a temporary pass into and out of the barrier. This pass will only let you back in once, so don't waste it. There is some additional ammunition available in both towns at their respective posts; speak to an official if you need some. [ A pause. ] But don't hoard it.

This is a mandatory call to arms. Participants will be compensated with supplies. Deserters... will starve. Take your pick.

[ The message ends on that riveting note.

As the outsiders gather at the posts, they'll notice a sparse amount of guards in both towns. The monsters have thinned out closest to town but, as the scouts will point out, they're thick as thieves out on the perimeter and it's only a matter of time before they rush in and overtake everything. Weapons are pushed into the hands of those that don't have any, women and children included, and they're hustled outside to do the dirty work. ]

Comments

Re: action

[begleiter]

[It's almost a relief to have Shuri back to himself -- except that it was the middle of battle. Konatsu was starting to miss the new, more confident Shuri that he'd seen only a few days ago, but he speaks to him as harshly as ever all the same.]

If they've survived this long then they wouldn't joke about their survival.

[Konatsu can see the first few monsters daring enough to scout closer to the city already, and he lifts his (terrible replacement) sword when he does.] The rest of the Black Hawks aren't here for us to rely on this time. [There would be no warsfeil earning them an easy victory.]

[antwort]

I-I can't.

[ What is that? It's worse than any troll. It's massive and horrible, big empty eye-sockets where something should have been but nothing is. ]

[begleiter]

[Konatsu grinds his teeth, frustrated but out of time to talk about it. He draws in a deep breath and steps forward.]

If you're not going to help, then stay out of the way. [And then he charges forward, his attention focused on the hulking monster in front of him. He favors speed over strength, knowing better than to try to withstand the blows this thing can deliver, and the first cut sends up a spray of blood that makes him glad that he's already found a new set of clothes to replace his uniform.]

[antwort]

[ he sits down slowly, wrapping his arms tightly around himself and focusing on his breathing to calm down. ]

H-ha...

[begleiter]

[Konatsu finds that he's a lot slower than he was back home, and he suffers for it. Not dodging fast enough here, pushing his advance too far there... It takes much longer than he would like, and when he finally returns to Shuri's side he's walking stiffly and hasn't even properly killed the eyeless thing. He's left it bleeding out from half a dozen gashes and thrashing weakly on the wasteland sands, but he can't take the time to kill it properly. The other monsters are already pushing forward, and he has no desire to be caught in such a vulnerable position.]

Get up. [He reaches out for Shuri as he speaks, seeking to grab his arm and haul him upright. He was an idiot to think that Shuri could survive in a situation like this, and all he can think to do is push him back closer to the city.]

[antwort]

[ He's done as he's told, clutching the busted sword he was given tightly. ]

I can't even... I can't even use zaiphon...

[begleiter]

Go back towards the city. [Shuri might have to go hungry, but it's better than getting him killed. Hyuuga isn't here with a reputation to protect, but getting Shuri killed doesn't sit well with Konatsu, either.] Look for anyone that's injured but alive and try to get them to safety. [There. That was easy, right?]

[Hopefully Shuri could handle it, because a snarl from behind has Konatsu shoving him forward and whirling around to try to block the advance of some sort of hulking, wolf-like creature. The thing slams into him and nearly knocks him over, but he gets his sword up in time to at least keep himself in one piece and send a gout of hot blood across himself -- and likely Shuri as well.]

[antwort]

[ There's a splash of hot blood across his face and then hot tears start to roll.

Why? Why is this happening?

His father had just died and he had to prepare for a party to woo a girl he didn't want. He wanted to go and have some time to grieve, some time to heal, but it's just not to be.

This is true suffering. ]

[begleiter]

[The struggle with the wolf doesn't take as long, but it's bloodier and messier and leaves one of Konatsu's sleeves in ruins. He can't tell how much of the blood is his and how much is the monster's. There's no time to find out either.]

Oak, go!

[antwort]

[ He needs no further prompting. He takes off at a run for the barriered city. ]

[begleiter]

[Konatsu doesn't go looking for Shuri -- not right away. The fighting drags on and Konatsu finds more and more skirmishes to throw himself into and end quickly. He's not sure if his reward is proportionate to the amount of work he does, but it's an opportunity he's not going to let pass.]

[He fights, he rests, he gets up, he fights some more. When he finally goes looking for Shuri (and Teito) he's exhausted. It's well past dark, though he's not sure by how long exactly. He doesn't particularly care, either. Right now he's looking for his teammates and can't bring himself to care about much else.]

[antwort]

[ All is said and done and somehow, miraculously, Shuri Oak is alive and trembling. They don't let him back in or near the barrier but the alcove he finds to hide in protects him well enough, huddled in the small space struggling with panic and trying to regulate his breathing. ]

[begleiter]

[Konatsu had sincerely hoped to find Teito before Shuri. Dealing with his panic would be easier with a second person there to back him up, but he supposes he can't have everything he wants. Or even most things. He almost doesn't find Shuri at first, until he reminds himself that Shuri had probably elected to hide rather than help.]

Oak. [Konatsu waits a moment to make sure Shuri heard him before he adds:] Come here.