An Unlikely Duo (DareToDream & RetroWitchcraft)

The shouts chased him, heated words echoing down the alleyways as he weaved in and out of them, his heart pounding the entire time. Kaevon ran like the wind, his lean body kicking up dust in his wake, wavy brown hair flopping, feet pounding out a steady rhythym against the broken pavement beneath them. His breath was coming in gasps now as his lungs worked overtime to suck in air. He’d been running for twenty minutes or so at that point, trying to evade his pursuers, but without any luck. They were determined, more determined than people usually were, and he was slowly losing.

It would serve him right to get caught, he thought; he’d been stupid, very, very stupid, and now it was coming back to haunt him. If he hadn’t gotten the water running, he’d have been fine, made it through the town completely unnoticed but no, he had to be an idiot. He couldn’t help it though; when he saw the house still standing and broke inside, he never expected to feel the power of water in the ground nor see the intact bathroom. It was virtually unheard of in society now, not since the war wiped out all technology, banking, and infrastructure, devastating the world twenty years ago. Civilization broke apart, people turned on people, and within five short years, the world was a wasteland. From the dregs spawned a new civilization, one that was more feudal, and soon after that magic began to emerge.

It started slowly but soon spread across the world, different people developing different skills, some powerful while others just had minor talent. From the magic users came a special group, whose talent was very rare; they were known as the Techno Mages because they had the ability to power the pre-apocalypse technology for small amounts of time. In a society that had no order, this skill was sought after with a vengeance and these mages soon learned to keep a low profile. Except when they made stupid mistakes like take a shower in a house where transients were sleeping. Then they were running for their life. As he rounded the corner of another alley, Kaevon slipped in the dirt, crashing to the ground. It cost him vital seconds and when he stood back up, he heard the twap of a crossbow and pain exploded in his shoulder. The blow from the bolt sent him spinning into the brick wall and he let out a loud groan. Righting himself, he started running again, feeling the blood dripping down his back, every step an agony that lanced his body with pain. He needed a miracle, needed something to survive this moment, and that’s when he saw it, a door half hidden by debris. Crashing through it, he stumbled into the dark basement of the building, shutting the door quietly and slipping into the shadows.

From the moment Marle had been strong enough to walk her parents had her working the streets. First it was mediocre, simple things like begging. With her floppy dark curls, dimples, and large violet eyes she was easily able to get scraps. As she became older she was taught how to be a pickpocket, which the youth excelled at. No one within that same section of skid row had the same aptitude at being a fingersmith. Even if she was caught it did not take much to get away. Batting her eyelashes and a promise never to do it again normally got her away scotch free when she was smaller. As she grew that had become much more difficult; the world was becoming more cruel and desperate. The Final War had taken its toll on not only human civilization but the human disposition as well.

Not that Marle could truly blame them. Everyone was fighting to survive. Even those who had developed magical abilities, like herself, were having issues. Especially those magicians known as Techno mages but they were so rare that she had thought all of the stories she had heard were simply fairytales.

That night she had spent inside the confines of her small cubbyhole of a hideout. Inside was a dusty old carpet that lined the floor. On the walls hung various tapestries from a time long ago, made on a strange shiny paper. One depicted a man covered head to toe in strange green armor with reflective orange eyes. It was not as if she liked it but it had been the prized possession of a powerful lord and that had made it attractive to her at the time. A bed was off to the corner. She had been lucky enough to score one with the metal coils and springs though her blankets consisted of frayed pieces of fabric hastily sewn together… poorly at that. Despite her dexterity as a thief she never managed to master the skill of sewing. There was a small basin that had water inside of it. Every day she would walk and fill it fresh so she could bathe regularly, though most would find it unappealing to clean themselves with icy cold anything.

It was not much but it was home and, most importantly, hidden quite well within the city. So, it was with the upmost surprise that someone had crashed through her door. The young woman let out a growl and instantly grabbed for the knife that would have been at her thigh if she had been out. Instead her hand brushed against bare, pale flesh.

There was a brief moment of light from the outside before he shut the door. It was then that she noticed the arrow sticking out from his shoulder. The sight of blood made her slightly queasy. In her line of work she preferred to avoid the physical contact that would cause blood to flow. Perhaps she was a coward but she liked to keep her body in one piece, even if she could heal the wounds that were given to her.

“Who the hell are you?” She asked through clenched teeth. If her weaponry had been closer to her, she would have reached for it. Her nimble fingers balled into tight fists. “And why the hell are you bleeding all over my floor?”

Still her eyes softened considerably. Clearly he had been in some sort of danger and she was all too familiar with the type of arrow that was sticking out of his back. She had never personally had one embedded into her flesh but they had fired at her once or twice by those blasted crossbows. The palms of her hand prickled, the nails glimmering the green of healing energy.

In a few short strides she was beside him. Unceremoniously she tugged the arrow from his back with a sickening, wet sounding slide. Her face twisted at the sight of the stringy clotted blood that pulled in thick strands from it. The glowing from her fingernails had spread to the tips of her fingers and shimmered down to the palms.

“I just hope you do not lead whoever is chasing you here,” Marle said in a soft sigh. The light from her hand spread over his shoulder. The wound there slowly began to knit together.

Kaevon heard the growl before he saw the danger, his body going on alert instantly though he had no weapon that he could fight with. He’d lost his two knifes in the early moments of the chase, when he’d had to fight his way free of the mob, and his bow had broken weeks ago. He had his wits though they were dulled slightly by the pain and immediately he dropped into a crouch, fading back into the darkest shadow that he could find. His gaze turned towards where he’d heard the sound and narrowed, noticing the body also wreathed in shadows. Crap, he thought; just his luck to stumble into a building that was already occupied, no doubt by some petty criminal or street trash. That thought brought a smile to his lips because, let’s face it, ever since the war almost everyone fell into that category now.

When the voice barked, the words sharp in the darkness, he couldn’t help but flinch a moment, driving pain through his shoulder. He bit his lip to stifle the groan that threatened to come out but before he could speak a soft green glow lit up the area where the person stood. His eyes widened as he took her in, truly seeing the young woman for the first time, her dark hair framing a pretty face. His gaze moved to the glow coming from her finger tips then recognizing the magic that flowed there. She was a healer, or at least had healing skills, something he sorely could use in that moment. As if she’d read his thoughts, she strode across the space like she owned it and reached up, yanking the arrow from his skin. The pain flared and his vision swam for a moment, stars going off behind his eyelids. He felt her hands land on his shoulder and winced but then sighed as the pain finally began to ebb, his wound healing under her touch.

The moment she was done, he pulled away and turned, slumping back against a wall to stare at her. He’d invaded her space, startled her badly but instead of attacking and killing him, she’d chosen to heal instead. It was a kindness that he didn’t understand, one that left him speechless at first though his mouth opened. Closing his eyes, he swallowed and tried again. “Thank you” he managed to squeeze out as he pushed away from the wall, moving away from her to gain a little distance and use the moment to look around. At first glance, the room appeared abandoned but he noticed a blanket and a candle and realized he’d just stumbled into her lair. Turning back, he gave her a soft smile and nod. “I’m sorry…I had no idea you were here” he said, apologizing because he knew her home was no longer safe for her.

He reached back and touched his shoulder, still in awe of what she’d done, and then looked back at her. “Who I am and how I got wounded will have to wait. Right now, we’re seconds away from a mob busting through that door. They want me but I don’t think they’ll leave you alone if they get in here. I assume this place has another way out.” He knew it would; there was no way she’d have chosen it as her home without knowing there were multiple ways out. Moving past her, he went back to the door and the control pad he had seen on the wall. “I can buy us a little time but that’s it.” Reaching up, he placed his hand on the pad and closed his eyes, calling forth his magic. A blue glow soon covered his hand, causing the ancient electronic device to activate. A resounding click could be heard as the lock snapped into place and a red light stayed lit on the pad. “That lock will hold them for a while and when they manage to finally bust threw, a hideous siren will go off, scaring them even more. It will buy us some additional time but we have to go now.”

The sounds from outside were alarming. Her keen hearing, honed from years of use, picked up on the noise of an approaching horde of people. There was no way she could tell how many there were. Although she was a thief by trade she had not picked up on the finer skills of that sect. Still she had enough know how to get by and become quite the notorious bandit.

“You brought the fuzz here?!” She exclaimed. Her cheeks flushed with her anger. Not only had he stormed in to her secret hideout but he brought loads of officials with him. “I should have left you to molder on the carpet I… by the gods!”

Her words were cut short when she saw what he was doing. His fingers sparked with the blue energy of electricity, gold tracing the outline. The hairs on the back of her arm stood on end and she watched him with shock and alarm. Here was something that she thought she would never see. Her eyes widened and she stood there in wonder as the electronic artifact sprung to life at his touch. Not only did it regain its former ability but, according to him, it would let out with a blaring siren.

“Bless my eyes…” Her voice held wonderment and genuine amazement. Part of her wanted to stay there and wait for the alarm to go off. She shook her head to try and rid herself from that sense of whimsy. They had other business to attend to.

There was another way out, yes, but it was unconventional and she prayed that the authorities did not find it. She groaned and before kicking back the carpet. A hand was pressed to a section of floor and she murmured a few words. Magenta light formed in a small block to reveal the outline of a door. Unknown to most of the city’s population, there was a narrow underground path beneath the city. Her family had dug it out long ago when that hovel had been a respectable home. Stories pinned it as a safe escape route during the wars so that her kin could flee. Later, when her blood had turned, they sealed the door with magic so it could be used as an effective way to escape whatever law enforcement official.

“Through here! Grab that holster with those daggers. We’ll need them later, I’d wager.”

Her own hand circled around the hilt of a sword. It was not her weapon of choice but with it she would be able to beat away the beasties that would accost them. The tunnel let out at the forest on the edge of town. The taiga was rough and wild; undisturbed evolution aided by magic had changed the animals there. As dangerous as it was such things sounded leaps better than being caught. With a sigh she jumped down the hole. Instantly the path was illuminated by torches that cast off a dull bronzy glow. Another trick set up by a long dead relative, of course.

“Don’t worry about the door. It will seal again as soon as you shut it. Though I do fear that if it is the man I think it is chasing you, he might crush the very floor in and this place will be revealed to him anyway.”

He never heard her first statement, too focused on the magic he was channeling into the device, but he definitely heard the second. Having finally finished, he turned and dusted off his hands, winching a little at the stiffness that existed in his previously wounded shoulder. The look on her face was priceless, a look he didn’t often get to see since he had to practice his magic in secret normally, but staring at it now he couldn’t help but feel the smug little grin slide into place. Kaevon had never been good for much in his life, not until magic entered it at least, and it was good to be able to surprise someone and help them out, even if the help was only needed in the first place because of his idiocy. His grin turned to a frown though when it was clear her shock was deep enough to stun her for a moment, a situation he was going to have to rectify if she didn’t since the shouts were growing closer. Thankfully she suddenly shook her head and moved into action, triggering a trap door in the floor.

At her barked orders, he bolted into movement, sweeping the holster of daggers into his hands and following her through the door. The musty smell hit him first then the shadowed pathway, his body absorbing all the scents and visual cues it could. They were in a tunnel beneath the house, one that looked like it had seen better days though it was lighted by torches that had come on magically from the looks of it. Perhaps an old underground getaway of some sort? He shook his head, ridding it of curiosity; what mattered now was getting away, not why this existed or who had built it. Shutting the trap door behind him, he felt the energy surge and a light flare around the edges as it sealed itself and he nodded his head in appreciation. This was definitely planned at some point in the past, causing him to glance at the woman. There was more there than appeared to be on the surface; perhaps he had stumbled onto a street thief or smuggler. Sliding the holster around his waist, he quickly slipped a dagger out and palmed it and then moved up beside her.

“Since this tunnel only goes one way, let me take the lead for now. Least I can do after getting you into this mess” he murmured, keeping his voice low since he didn’t know how well sound carried. Slipping past her, dagger in hand, he headed off down the tunnel at a swift walk, sidestepping debris and ducking cobwebs with each step. The skitter of rats could be heard in the distance, a sound he ignored though he hated the furry things, but nothing else reached his ears other than her footfalls. Glancing back once, he flashed a smile then continued on, his thoughts on the man in question. He had no idea who was chasing him but they were definitely an organized bunch, something that bothered him greatly. Vowing to ask her more about it when they finally stopped, he continued on. Reaching their first juncture in the tunnel system, he came to an abrupt stop as the faint sound of an alarm blaring could be heard. Turning to her, he frowned. “Looks like they finally breached the front door. How much further do we have to go?”

“You don’t have to lead the way,” she replied to him tartly. “This tunnel was created by my family. I know it right better than anyone.”

When he took the lead anyway and annoyed huff escaped from her nose. The whole situation had her frazzled and frustrated. He had leaded the authorities to her home and lair: the only safe haven a thief had. The law would be watching and hanging around the den for months now. A techno mage was a rare find and it would chap their arses considerably to know one had slipped through their fingers. A curse was muttered beneath her breath that made the torches in her vicinity flicker.

The sound of the rats did not bother her any. That was something that she had come accustomed to out on the street. The furry creatures were everywhere and, until one actually tried to bite her, she paid them no mind. Though plenty had a fear of the filthy buggers and she did not blame them. Blighters carried illness and death with them. However the foreign sound of the alarm jilted her. Its sound was almost metallic and years of being inactive also gave the device a warbling distortion.

“Blimey, that is nightmarish, isn’t it?” Marle asked to no one in particular. When he asked the question she paused. There was once a map that measured out the length of the tunnel but that had been long lost. “It reaches all the way outside of the city and deposits us in the middle of the forest. We’ll be walking for quite a ways. Don’t worry though. We’ve got a head start already and it will take them a bit to discover the magic sealing the trapdoor anyhow. No matter how fast they go, they won’t be able to catch up.”

There was also the fact that both of them were rather slender and wore light weight clothing. At least one member of that team would be hulking around in armor and, if her hunch was right, Marcus D’Shante was with them. The sheriff was a talented mage but had a weak constitution for physical activity and would do nothing but slow the party down due to the length of the great tunnel.

That man was a slimy git if Marle had ever met one and worse than the rats when it came to contagions!

After a long while of travel, to the point that the pretty thief’s feet ached, the dirt path inclined; indicating that they had reached the other door. Another sigh escaped her lips. Thank the gods known and unknown! At least the awkward and forced conversation that the two shared during their time in the tunnel came to an end and would likely not start again for quite some time. The forest was a dangerous, dangerous place.

“Be careful now.” She informed him as she strode ahead of him. She placed her hand to the door and muttered a few things. Again purplish light came from her fingertips and the door sprang to life and flew open. As she pulled herself out of the door, her eyes widened. It was earlier in the day than what she had realized. The sun barely filtered through the thick canopy but still provided some shiny yellow light. “A wee bit brighter than what I thought but no matter. Ferocious beasts are still lurking about.”

He grinned at her words, listening the sound blare out; an image of the crowd cringing, some even bolting from the sound came into his mind and the grin deepened. The element of surprise was one thing his magic usually allowed him to have and it had no doubt worked wonders back there. At the very least it would disorient their followers and buy them time, though he also hoped the number had dwindled a little. “Definitely nightmarish” he answered, his voice low even though no one was around to hear them. “Almost makes me want to pity their poor ear drums. Almost.”

Leaning against the nearest dirt wall, he watched as she got her bearings, her heart darting one way than the other. He used the moment to catch his breath and take stock of his situation and realized he was in a grim position. One minute he’d been taking a hot shower, the first on far too much time, and the next he’d been running for his life from an angry mob, one hell bent on capturing him and using his magic for their own good. He knew he’d gotten lucky when he found her lair but how long would that luck last? There was no telling and that bothered him greatly though there was nothing to be done about it.

Turning towards her, listened intently, nodding when she was done. “Let’s do it then. The sooner we get moving, the faster we get there. I won’t rest easy until we know we’ve truly left them behind.” Following her lead they headed off, walking in silence as they covered league after league of dirt tunnel, each footfall kicking up tiny clouds of dust or sending furry critters scurrying. Twice he managed to walk right into massive cobwebs, swearing up a storm as he swatted at the silky strands, trying to get them off. Before long, he sentenced the end approaching and closed ranks, coming up behind her. He didn’t bother to respond to her words, simply waiting for her to do her thing, and soon the flare of light pierced the tunnel. Within moments they were outside.

He paused once on the other side of the door, listening carefully as his eyes scanned their immediate area. They were in the forest, where an eerie silence reigned. Surrounding them on all sides were trees of all shapes and sizes, many of them gloomy looking and gnarled by age. At their base were numerous bushes, some wispy and thin and others thick and tangled. Leaves coated the forest floor, along with fallen limbs, and the sounds of animals could be heard in the distance. At the mention of the word beasts, his head snapped back around and he stared at her then down at the measly dagger in his hand then at the sword on her hip, an idea coming to him. “Listen, I know I’ve caused you nothing but trouble but it’s safer out here for two instead of one so maybe we should stick together for a little while longer. You won’t be able to go back to your place for a while anyway” he cringed internally, knowing he was the cause of that also “and our talents potentially complement each other. Traveling with a Techno Mage might be dangerous for you though so it’s your call. Do we stick together or part ways here?”

Marle’s pale lavender eyes were stern upon his face as she scrutinized his features. The man did not appear, at least to her, someone who got in trouble on a regular basis. It would not surprise her that he was being hunted down was for his power only. Anger bit inside of her and she tore her gaze away from his face with a growl. Of course Marcus would do that. He had a habit of going after the people who would give HIM the most power.

There were many reasons why she loathed that man and this added to that long, long list.

“We should probably stay together, that’s for truth,” she said. “That man is no one to trifle with but if he is an enemy of yours, you are a friend of mine… the bleeding rotter.”

She spat the last part and kicked some dirt over the spittle to cover it up some. When the sheriff made his way through the tunnel, he would likely be looking for any sign that told him which direction the pair were headed. Not that it mattered. No one was daft enough to head deeper into the forest with only a few hours of sunlight left.

“Don’t worry about ruining my lair. It was bound to happen anyway. The law has had its sniffer on me for quite some time now.”

Again she fell into silence as she surveyed the area. It had been awhile since she was so desperate to take the underground path and bits and pieces of the land they were traversing through eluded her. She shuffled back and forth, and then spun in a circle as if the odd little dance would help her recall something. In truth it did help but not for a magical reason. Marle had little mind tricks such as that to help her remember her way. As a thief she had to know almost every inch of the city. Finally she clapped her hands together and pointed in a direction.

“This way. Mind, it is the quickest way through the taiga, but it is also the most dangerous. We’ll want to make it through as fast as we can…”

She began to walk in that direction. Her feet were flight and carried her with hardly a sound through the paths. Every so often she looked down to the ground to avoid snapping a twig beneath her foot. The worse thing that could be done was to startle an animal. These things were spooky around humans, too.

Kaevon waited and watched, his gaze riveted to his companion’s face, studying it carefully. He knew his proposal made sense to his own ears but might not to hers, especially after he’d brought god knows what into her lair, ruining it for a while, if not forever. That she was clearly more than she appeared, and most likely riff raff of the illegal kind, didn’t escape his attention but he didn’t care. Although he’d never been in the forest before, he most definitely knew its reputation – anyone traveling in these parts knew since knowledge of its existence traversed many leagues. Every since magic had returned to the world, it had not affected just humans; many animals had also been transformed as a result of the ambient energy now soaking the world and in many cases, the transformation resulted in rather unique beastly creations. The forest was not a safe place for anyone alone so two would stand a better chance of survival. Nervousness moved through his veins, causing his muscles to twitch while he waited, his ears capturing every little sound he heard.

When she finally spoke the words that he longed to hear, his eyes widened with both shock and surprise, noting the vehemence in her voice as she talked about the man that was most likely leading the crowd that was chasing him. Spitting when she was done, he watched as she did something weird next, kicking dirt over the white blotch of fluid on the ground. His eyes narrowed for a second and then it dawned on him; she was covering any physical sign of their presence....well, anything other than the footprints and flattened ground from their feet at least. A smart move, for what little it might do; his suspicion that she was more than she seemed was reinforced by the simple gesture also. Nodding, he finally spoke, keeping his voice low. “Good. I think it’s a smart move, sticking together. Something tells me we’ll need each other’s help before this is all over.” He glanced away then, surveying the forest one more time. Hearing her next comment, he fell into step behind her as she moved off.

“I take it you know the leader of that posse that was after me?” he finally asked after some moments of silence. “I couldn’t help noticing your reaction. There’s bad blood there. I’m guessing you make your living on the wrong side of the law but that reaction, it wasn’t the result of professional conflicts. No, that reaction was all personal.” Although Kaevon could seem like an idiot at times, he was far from it. One of his greatest non-magical skills was the power of observation and reading body language and people. There was something between his companion and that man, something bad. It was really none of his business of course but if he was going to be traveling with her, he needed to know all that he faced. “If there’s something I need to know, I trust you’ll tell me in due time. Otherwise, your life is your life. I’ve no room to judge given my tendency to move from place to place with no real purpose in life.” While he talked, his eyes stayed glued to the ground, being careful where he stepped but a sound off to the side drew his attention and his foot fell wrong, snapping a branch underfoot. The sound reverberated through the forest, echoing off the trees, and was answered with a sudden beastly roar. “Oh shit…” he muttered softly.

“If you ever had any dealings with him, you would understand the unbridled hatred.” She told him in a clipped tone. “He is a worse swindler than I am. You can trust me on that.”

Marle had many reasons to detest the man but none that she was willing to divulge with someone she just met. The material was too personal. In fact she was sure that her meager crimes in theft had not caught his attention at all and he was likely under the impression that she had fled or was otherwise dead. After the death of her sister Marle had hidden away, lest the same fate that befell her sibling befell her as well.

She jumped at the sound of the twig snapping and muttered a curse beneath her breath. The way the sound echoed off of the trees told her that everything within hearing distance would likely have been alerted to their presence. The roar shook her to her very core and she swallowed harshly. Surviving through the forest got much, much more difficult with the insidious noise. A growl sounded deep within her throat and she dropped to the leafy floor of the woods. Instantly her hands began to glow but the exact color was hard to determine as it shifted between pale gold and a pearly color. For a moment a crystalline dome encased them, flickering momentarily before fading from vision. However, for those who had any sort of magical ability, it was quite clear that some sort of energy was still around them. Marle stood and swayed, sweat trickling down in beads from her forehead. Physically magic took its toll on her and, without the proper training, she often found herself winded after he more difficult workings.

“That should… that should keep us protected from some of its attacks. Some.” She informed him through some panting. “We should try and find a hiding place.”

The sound of rustling caused her to blanch. The damn thing was closer than what she had originally thought. She shook her head and clenched her fists, pulling away from him.

“No time. Draw the daggers. We’re going to have to fight whatever the hell it is.”

The mage knew he had screwed up the moment that he heard the snap of the twig echo through the forest but the mighty roar that he received in return had surprised him. Turning to her, his little words uttered quietly, he watched as she seemed to blanch, her throat working hard to swallow whatever fear seemed to grip her in that moment. When she suddenly dropped to the forest floor, he followed suit, automatically taking her cue since he knew little about the forest or what walked through it. It just seemed prudent to watch and learn during a time like that so that’s exactly what he did. He waited next to her, his alert eyes scanning the trees and vegetation around them, aware that they hadn’t moved very far since leaving the tunnel and wondering if they’d be attacked from front and back, by animal and man. It was an unsettling thought to say the least.

As her hands began to glow, he watched with interest, having seen similar magic like that before though not understanding how it worked. When the dome flared into place, he blinked against the glare and then smiled as he watched it fade, though his own magic told him quiet clearly her shield was still in place. Standing when she stood, he nodded in respect. “You know shield magic” he murmured, admiration evident. It was not a magic he could do though there was one thing that he could contribute. Reaching out, his fingers rested against the invisible shield and he closed his eyes, calling up his own magic and visualizing it flowing from the center of his body and down his arm, pouring out of his fingertips into her shield. Instantly, he felt the magic surrounding them ratchet up a notch as it came back into focus slightly, now more charged. He smiled when he saw it and slowly removed his fingers, dropping his arm back to his side, breathing heavily from the exertion. “That should strengthen it but I’m afraid its all I can contribute magically; I’m usually otherwise unless old technology is around.”

Noise off to their side caught their attention then and immediately pulled another dagger, arming his second hand, complementing the one he already possessed. There were still two more daggers in the holster and he had a feeling he would need them sooner rather than later. Turning to face the noise, he waited, watching carefully, grunting when he saw the movement through the trees. It was a huge cat-like creature from the looks of it, his body dark black with flares of fire like colors going down the sides. Muscles covered its body and its fur was bristling as a deep growl flowed from its mouth. “Holy mother” he murmured softly, saying a silent prayer to the Goddess. He moved away from her a little, giving them some room to maneuver while still saying within the protection of her shield. “Any suggestions?” he whispered from the corner of his mouth, never taking his eyes off the beast.

It only mildly shocked her that he was able to add some extra strength to her shield. While magic was still a rather rare gift, it still too every kind and almost everything that someone could think likely had a magical counterpart. Still it was slightly odd that their gifts complimented one another so very well.

Marle sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the beast. For a moment she had thought it was on fire, the bright fur catching her eye the exact same way a flame might, but it was a ridiculous assumption. The beast was just as intimidating as he would have been aflame. The loud roar sounded in a grumbled that seemed to shake every fiber of the forest, silencing the ambient noise found in all forests for a brief moment. In that moment she heard every movement that she made, every movement that her cohort made; their very breath seemed to echo off of the trees.

The large and genetically mutated animal turned its impressive head towards them. The beast was shaped very similarly to a housecat that had grown grotesquely in size. Its sharp claws caught the sheen of what little sunlight that made it through the trees. As it reared back to inspect their scent, the light was blotted out almost completely and the finer features of it were lost in a mass of darkness.

“Stay still,” she hissed at Kaevon out of the corner of her mouth. Another gurgling grumble issued from the beast’s throat and she stiffened considerably. “Maybe if we don’t move too much, it will lose interest in us…”

Predators enjoyed hunting. At least that is what her father had explained to her the first time that they had entered the forest. Meat was more appealing if it ran and fought back. Animals, especially these animals, could appreciate a kill well earned. Most of the time they could get through the dangerous woods by staying as quiet and as still as possible. Men normally weren’t on the menu and there was plenty of other game, more evolved and quicker, that enticed the carnivores more.

A lump rose in her throat as the animal leaned down, the sudden rush of sunlight hurting her eyes for a moment. Its nose pressed against the barrier and sniffed at it. The honeycomb energy shone at the slight pressure and even fogged from the breath upon it. Her hands balled tightly into fists and she stayed her course.

Her warning was the last thing that he needed in that moment, every fiber of his body frozen in place, unable to move even if he had wanted too do so. The sheer size of the beast alone had him scared witless, though he did his best to not let that show. Kaevon watched it closely, his eyes tracking every tiny movement it made, wondering how something so huge could even exist in the first place, much less with the outlandish look that it sported. Magic was the answer of course, magic that sprung up after the collapse of civilization as it had once been known; just as it had given him the power to run old technology and his companion to cast a shield, it had mutated his majestic beast they now saw, turning it into something greater than what it had been before.

As another grumble pierced the air, his thudding heart took it up another notch, the sensitive organ pounding hard against his rib cage, as if it wanted to break out and run for its life, his body be damned. The mage would have sworn that the beast could hear it, the sound seemed loud to his own ears, but he knew it probably wasn’t the case…or at least hoped it. He knew little about wild animals, preferring to stay as far away from them as he could, but he knew the way it stalked towards them wasn’t good. Perhaps it could sense the energy barrier around them or, most likely, it could see them. No doubt it could smell them because he knew, despite the shower he had earlier, he’d worked up a sheen of sweat in his sprint through the town and everyone know how badly sweat could smell.

His body tensed as the beast reached their barrier, its movements clearly more curious than aggressive at that point, though he didn’t understand why. When it leaned its head forward and pressed its nose against the barrier, its breath fogging it, he nearly gasped but managed to catch the sound in time. A glance at his companion told him she was holding the shield, though he didn’t know how long she could hold it. Moving his hand just the tiniest bit, Kaevon brought one dagger forward, into better position should he need to use it. Almost immediately the creature’s head whipped to the side, its gaze locking on his arm as if it was a tasty morsel then it slowly raised its head and stared directly at him. He swallowed thickly, his own eyes as wide as saucers, watching, waiting. The creature studied him for a moment and then suddenly raised its head and let out a blood curdling roar, the sound piercing the forest around them like jagged blades of steel. Before he could react, even think about moving, it reared and with one might swipe of its claws, it ripped its paw across the shield, trying to reach them. He stumbled, almost fell, but managed to right himself. Instead of running though, or even passing out, Kaevon placed his hand on her shoulder and called up more energy, sending it to her. “If you can use your magic as a weapon, now might be a good time” he murmured quietly.

Anger boiled within the young woman. Was this man trying to get them slaughtered?! Marle flinched as the claw came and raked across her shield. The damage caused it to flash and she could feel her own energy warble with it, sending her very soul vibrating across her heart. She wrapped her arms around her waist and gave a shudder.

“I should just let him eat you,” she snarled through her clenched teeth but she didn’t mean it. Marle’s bit was much worse than her bite. It was a shame that this thing, whatever it was, had a bite that was too much for the pair of them could handle.

Her pale lavender eyes traveled up to meet the strange animal. There wasn’t much she could do, she knew. Even with her control over the elements she had a feeling that whatever she did would be pretty much pointless. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Why the hell does it have to be me that figures it out? You’re the one who got us into this mess so why am I the one who has to effin’ fix it?! I don’t want your energy !” She pushed his energy back towards him.

She huffed loudly but that turned into a sharp scream as another slash came down upon their shelter. Marle never had to fight something head on like this before. Every time she had been so desperate to go through that tunnel she had managed to scrape without confrontation. She always kept to the river…

Then an idea came to her. “I am going to drop the shield! I need you to be bait, can you do that? There is a river not too far down this path. You have to get the beast into the water.”

Her anger startled him, the words snarled with force in his direction and he turned, blinking. It was then that it hit him, the knowledge that she couldn’t save them, that the possessed no more offensive magical weaponry than he did. Suddenly, his mouth was dry and his beating heart seemed to move faster, banging against the side of his rib cage with force. She pushed his energy back at him, forced it from her body like it was a parasite that she hated, and he shuddered when it flowed back into him, scorching his nerves along the way.

Gasping, he glared at her but then looked back at the beast as it poised for another swipe, this one no doubt more forceful then the last. Another roar pierced the area, shaking the very ground they stood on, and he gulped with worry. She was right though, he’d gotten them into this mess; it wasn’t her fault they were here in this place, about to get eaten alive. His head swiveled towards her when she spoke again, taking in her words. Bait? Run? Was she nuts? He blinked back his fear and steeled his nerves for a moment, studying her. If she had a plan, it better be a damn good one. Running he could do, it was what he did best after all since he frequently had to run for his life, and he could do this.

Moving over to the edge of the shield farthest from the animal, he nodded. “Drop it. Whatever you’re going to do though, make it count. I can’t outrun this thing forever.” With that, he waited and the minute the shield fell he leaped forward, waving his arms and yelling at the top of the lungs, then took off running. Almost instantly, he felt he answering roar and heard the thud of the beast’s footsteps as it gave chase, the swipe of one paw splitting the air just outside his left shoulder, almost causing him to stumble. Cursing, he dug down deep and ran harder.

She was grateful when he told her she could release the magic holding her shield. With a grunt she let the force drop. The energy flickered once or twice before completely dissipating. Panting, she waited for both Kaevon and the beast to get slightly ahead. Finally, taking a deep breath, she darted forward. She hoped that he would be able to get to the river without much problem. If they played around too much it could very well mean their lives. Marle was sure that the beast had a higher endurance then they did.

She reached out a palm. It glowed pale yellow for a moment and the scent of damage ozone filled the space around her. The execution of this would be tricky. She would have to tell him when to jump out of the water and, hopefully, the mutated animal would stay put the second it took to charge the lake. If they were lucky it would fry him completely. At the very least it would stun the beast enough so making an escape was easy.

Finally she saw the water just beyond the close knit trees and the two beings running towards it. Her own legs picked up the pace. After this she knew that she was going to be exhausted. When they reached town the thief was going to make the techno mage carry her to the nearest inn and pay for a full meal for her, that was for damned sure.

Kaevon was an idiot on a grand scale. He couldn’t do anything halfway, no, not him. First was the stupid shower, which revealed his true nature to the mob then it was choosing the wrong building to bust into, drawing another soul into the hell that was his life. From that he moved to a dangerous run through a dark and dirty tunnel with a possible thief by his side and then to the cherry on top – this recklessly stupid run through the forest with a man eating, rancid breath beast of burden nipping at his heals.

The race was one of fear and adrenaline, the young mage whipping through the trees, branches scraping his tender skin as if they were trying to claw their way through it. Rocks, roots, fallen branches, they all tried to trip him up as he tore through the trees but he ignored all of it, intent on two things – the water that he had begun to hear in the distance and the snorts and hot breath of the animal that chased him.

Its thudding footsteps and the occasional brush of air as it swiped at him let him know it was close but he never stopped, never hesitated, not until one of those swipes finally connected. Its bared claws barely grazed his shoulder but it was enough to tear through his shirt and gouge bloody marks in his skin. With a sound that was part scream and part defiance, Kaevon leapt off the bank and into the river, rolling with his feet hit the bottom. He felt, as much as heard, the second splash as the beast joined him and with a mad scramble, he clawed his way up the other side, turning to see his companion emerge last.

She entered the clearing after the beast had entered in to the water; its large paws hitting against the surface of the water in a loud sloshing noise. Her sharp eyes caught Kaevon climbing out of the now turbulent water of the river.

It was then or never but she still felt nervous about it. That beast could easily hop out before she could put her hand in the water. She could easily leave her hand inside too long and shock herself.

There was no time for further thought, however. The lightening in her hand cracked dangerously and she placed her fist into the water. There was a powerful jolt that wracked her body and a moment of pain but that was gone almost as soon as it came. Instead the lightening traveled the expanse of the water and to the animal. Quickly she withdrew her hand and watched as the thing yowled in agony and then fell over. Fish that had been close to it floated up as well. The river was alight from the shock that had gone through it.

"Meet me at the old bridge." She motioned in the direction it would be. "I'll have to cross it anyway to get out of this place."

Without giving him further instructions, she was off to the bridge.

He had to trust her, he knew he did, but that didn’t make it any easier, especially not when a ferocious beast was splashing its way towards him, nothing but food and death on its mind. Kaevon knelt on the ground at the top of the embankment, blood dripping from the slashes in his shoulder and heart pounding from the exertion and fear. His gaze was locked on the great cat, watching its sinewy movements as it pelted through the water, intent on him.

Marle had a plan, he knew she did, but she needed to do it fast if she was going to, else he’d have to start running again. When she emerged, and raised her hand, a soft glow coming from it, his eyes widened. Of course! She was going to try and electrocute the beast. Scooting further back from the ledge, just in case the electricity jumped to other wet sources, he watched in fascination. Her hand went in the water soon enough and the liquid boiled, the great beast caught in the trap, its agonized scream piercing the forest. He cringed at the sound and watched as it finally fell, downed by her magic.

Looking up at her shouted words, he gave a nod of understanding and then stood, getting his bearings. The minute he was ready, he set off at a light lope, ignoring the pain that shot through his body with each step. Dodging limbs and roots, he picked his way through the forest, finally arriving at the bridge. She hadn’t arrived yet, so he leaned against it, rolling up his sleeve so he could get a better look at the wounds, his breathing steady and sure though he remained frightened. The beast was dead but their human chasers were still out there, no doubt hunting them.

Getting to the bridge was simple and she even brought her run down to a light amble. Their human assailants likely heard the commotion of the beast, deciding to stay away from it. Despite how dangerous that situation had been it had granted the pair some extra time. Only some. Once they realized that the animal was no longer making noise, the search party would come in.

Finally she reached dilapidated bridge. Only a thin line of rope on either side remained. The planks had rotted away long ago and the bits left weren't all too sturdy. She noted some wear and fraying with them and a lump rose in her throat. This was going to be, yet again, a tricky thing for her. Well, damn it! At least only one of them had to cross it and she rather it be her than him.

This would not be the first time she had to sloth crawl across something and this wouldn't be the last. She walked over to it and laid her body face down, reaching up towards the rope, she pulled herself on to it, hooking a leg around it and letting another swing downward. As fast as she was able she began to pull herself across the expanse.

He felt the swaying of the rope under his hand first and then turned, his eyes widening. In his pain, he hadn’t noticed the state the bridge had been in but now he saw her crossing it, one leg wrapped around an aged and fraying line as she pulled herself across it. Had this been a modern bridge, made of metal and bolts, he could have used his magic to help her but now he just felt helpless.

Again.

That feeling was getting old to him and he vowed that if she made it across safely, he would change their fate somehow. He had no idea how just yet but knew it would come to him in time. Watching her, he fidgeted, not wanting to spook her yet wanting to offer what help he could.

“You’re almost there” he called across finally, his voice pitched so she could hear. “Another ten feet or so and then I can help you onto solid ground. Take it slow.” He felt stupid in a way, offering encouragement when she clearly knew what she was doing, but it was the only thing he could offer so he did. If she fell now, he would never forgive himself nor, he suspected, would she.

The thief rolled her eyes. Honestly she had done that sort of thing a thousand times. It wasn't dangerous though, truth be told, the drop into the churning part of the river was not too appealing. For all the things she could do Marle was not a strong swimmer and drowning was a high possibility for her.

"I'll be fine," she informed him as she crossed. "I won't need help getting up. This isn't the first time I've done something like this or similar to it. You don't have to worry."

Nimbly she pulled herself up from the rope and on to the bank beside him. Everything was fine with her for the most part. Already into their trek through the woods she was looking rather beleaguered; exhausted from her running and magic usage. The trip across the rope bridge didn't help it and she was feeling exceptionally worn from it all.

"If we follow that skinny path through the trees we should make it out of the forest in short order. Oh, I hope Ol' Pete has something on the fire in the tavern. I am half starved and he owes me one or five for a favor I did for him."

Her words encouraged him and he felt his breathing slow just enough that it didn’t feel like his chest was going to explode. As his body slowly relaxed, he waited patiently, watching the nimble woman traverse the rope like it was a second skin. Clearly this one was experienced in the art of craftiness and had experience using unusual escape routes. His respect for her skills went up another notch as he realized for the first time that he was dealing with a professional, not simply an alley punk.

Soon she was off the rope and plopping in the dirt next to him, her body looking a little worse for wear. He couldn’t blame her there; he’d certainly put her through the paces since their unfortunate acquaintance, drawing her into one unexpected surprise after another. His gaze turned to the path she was looking at and he studied it, then thought about her comment. It looked like she was going to stick with him for a little bit longer, a thought that brought a surprising little smile to his lips, which he quickly squelched.

“Well, what are we waiting for then?” he asked, his stomach suddenly rumbling. “We’re just getting old standing here.” Slapping her lightly on the back, he headed off, taking to the path with eagerness. After going a few steps, he turned so he faced her, walking backwards. “Thank you, by the way. You saved my life back there. I owe you now.” With that, he turned and hurried off, trusting she would follow him.

The 'thank you' was certainly a surprise. While she assumed that he wasn't that bad of a guy, she did not have him pegged for manners. In fact she assumed that he was a general oaf with entitlement issues. After breaking into her home like he did, what else was she to think? A small smile crossed her lips too and she did not even try to hide it. Thinking about her home had reminded that she currently had nowhere to do after this. She didn't want to burden Pete at the tavern for too long.

She followed closely behind him.

"You could properly thank me by helping me find a place to lay low for a few weeks." she told him, breathing heavily as she did so. It was good that the pair were so close to the city. Originally she had wanted to take the long way around by looping around the river... mostly to confuse those who were tracking them. The bridge being so close by was just to nice of a thing to pass by, especially when she had expended so much energy.

"I don't need anything too fancy but somewhere warm that is undercover is ideal."

Heading down the path at a brisk pace, Kaevon kept his eyes and ears open, not wanting to be surprised by any more beasties that might be roaming about. The humans were probably still on their trail too but hopefully the little diversion involving the cat had bought them quite a bit of time, enough at least to allow them to slip back into town and hole up for a day or so.

Ducking a branch that had spread out over the path, he grunted and then looked back over his shoulder. “I’m not sure I’ll be of any use there” he said, watching how nimbly she picked her way. “Those people got a good look at my face before they chased me and the minute they get back in town, word will spread that a techno mage is in town. My ability to move about during the day will drop to nothing after that.”

As the trail began to widen more, he realized they were probably getting close to the edge of the forest so he came to a stop, waiting for her. “I did see an abandoned farm house about half a day’s walk from the town that might provide a safe place. If my instincts are right about you making your living through….acquisitions….though that would be hard to do out in the middle of nowhere.” Studying her for a moment, his eyes widened at a sudden thought. “Hell, if any of those people knew you were living in that building, you may not be safe in town either. We’d both be smart to rest up for a night or two and then get the hell out of dodge, traveling on the open road for a bit.”