[Kiel]

Like, dude. Autumn in Alexshire. He should totally have been all, like, "Yayyyy, Xanthmas is coming!" and "Dude, lookit the red on the trees!" and "Hey, hey, man, let's splash in puddles, okay?" Like, hunting down a suitable offering and gifts for his family and, like, trying to decide how offended Pria would be if he tried to carve her likeness out of rump steak. Prepping his mask for the Danse Macabre, pestering Zeph about, like, why was it so coooooooold. Instead, he barely had a roof over his head and, like, had to keep fielding quizzicals from his mom and demands from his dad to "Get home now" like he was still 476 and hadn't just, like, survived probably the. worst. adventure, like, EVER. Like, for sers, man, he'd almost drowned! Like, twice if you counted that weird water trap trench plant oasis thing that had almost sucked him dry.

“Dude, man, for sers, like, this is so lame, okay?” He kicked a pile of rubble with a dusty black boot and pouted at the bakery he'd totally visited, like, every lunch. It had been reduced to jagged, crumbling walls and brick dust along with half the neighbourhood — like, including the little bistro he and Phenny frequented after their morning runs, the place Laces treated him and Zeph to when she was fishing in their brains, and, like, bummer of all bummers, the pastry shop he used to stop at on his way to Zeph's from Marty's. And, like, okay, so, like, he hadn't done that in a while 'cause, like, you know, he wasn't a courier any more, but he'd loved their croissants and custards, okay?

“Like, how can one quake do all this, you know? Like, I mean, I'm from Dardanos, okay, and, like, we have quakes and whole volcanoes blowing up and throwing tantrums and lava at us and we still don't get this kinda chaos, okay?” Like, granted, there weren't that many buildings in Dardanos to fall down and, like, okay, so Dardanians were kinda used to having to rebuild their stuff anyway, but this was ridiculous. Alexshire kinda looked like a stack of dominoes, and he'd heard Espur was even worse 'cause of the tsunami. “Like, dude.”

So, even though he hadn't technically finished his iniation with the League of Protectors, he was on loan from them to the Alexshire City Guard along with a bunch of other mercs (including the crimson-haired Apali he was with right now. Like, wahahahaha. He wanted red hair too!), even though he didn't know squat about keeping the peace. Wahahahaha, Zeph actually said he'd probably cause more trouble than solve it, but, like, they were kinda desperate and it was depressing staring at his house in bits, okay? He'd already taken a couple of weeks to be all, like, post-traumatic and whiny and complain about his arm a bunch. It still ached even though he'd been to a healer for a proper session now Zeph was more or less back on his feet, but it was kinda hard to fix up his and Zeph's places with one arm in a cast, you know?

“Hey, hey, Shane, get your nose outta the rubble, okay, you don't know if there's, like, decapitated hands in there or something, okay?” Nudging the shadowkin's head out of his way with a poke of his knee (like, she hadn't left his side since they got back from Acantha, but at least it was getting dark so she didn't have to hide in his pocket any more), Kiel tipped back his totally-not-uniform tartan newsboy cap and, like, edged a jagged brick out of his way with his foot. “Dude. How long do you think it'll be before the bakery rebuilds, man? Like, I'm starving, you know? Like, for sers.”

[Alvanon]

A few flaps of his wings cleared the immediate air of dust, letting Alvanon look over the devastation a bit clearer. He nodded at his companion as he looked around, not wanting to be surprised by anything amidst the debris. "If I had to guess, these buildings weren't built for earthquakes, hence the destruction. And as for rebuilding, I suppose that depends on when the owners get around to it." His face flushed slightly as he heard his stomach growl, the mention of hunger seemingly triggering the surprisingly loud noise. He flashed an embarrased grin at Kiel, scratching the back of his head. "I must say, I hope it's sooner than later myself." He gave a light chuckle, though his face soon turned back to a look of seriousness as he moved forward through the rubble again.

On most days, Alvanon was a Mercenary whose work usually took him away from the City he called home. It was already odd to accept a job within walking distance of his house, but it felt even stranger to be employed as a temporary town guard. The pay was good, but the whole affair left a very faint bitter taste in his mouth. It felt a bit too close to what he'd have been doing for his family, had he stayed. Still, a job was a job, and he was determined to carry out his duties just like all the rest.

Alvanon was glad, though, that his small home had managed to survive mostly intact. The earthquake had filled him with fear, the fear of losing the last precious item he had in the world. The first thing he'd done when he returned had been to make sure the painting was intact. The second had been to see what new opportunities had arisen from the rubble left by the shaking earth. He still felt guilty about having such thoughts, as he did actually care that many people had either died or were homeless now, but he still had to make a living. Perhaps he could do what he could to kill two birds with one spear.

Speaking of, he'd long since had his Halberd at the ready in his hand. He stance made it seem like he was at rest, though in an instant he could bring it to bear against any aggressor. There would probably be quite a few opportunists, scavenging the fallen buildings for ill-gotten goods. It was his job to make sure that didn't happen. He'd damn well make sure it wouldn't.

[Kiel]

“Wahahaha, for sers, man.” Kiel's belly mirrored Alvanon's grumble, and Kiel totally beamed like it was his first time meeting Xanth or something. “Like, maybe we can stop in at Rosie's when we patrol that way or something. Like, I'm pretty sure they managed to save the pancakes, you know?” It was off his usual beaten path and technically not on the usual route for the patrol they'd been given, but he'd dragged Zeph there a couple of times for a "breakfast date" and it was only a few minutes out of their way. Like, he was pretty sure the next patrol over wouldn't begrudge them one of the few still-operating foodies, you know? “Like, this town ain't big enough for hungry stomachs, okay?” And he even shook his fist at the sky, all dramatic and stuff. “Wahahaha.”

Shane shook her feline head at him and chuffed, kinda like when she was about to hack up a furball. Kiel stuck his tongue out at the the dark grey 'kin as he lifted another brick. This one, made from white clay as a decorative edging, had totally come out of the wall completely intact, even down to the whirly pattern carved into it. Kiel gave it a double-take. Like, how did a single brick manage to survive when the wall around it crumbled? “Weird, man, it's weird.”

Rocks scattered and Kiel's head jerked up. It sounded kinda like a mini waterfall, like something had disturbed the way the bricks had fallen inside what was left of the property and sent a bunch of debris skittering to the floor. Shane's ears perked up and she pulled back her top lip to growl a warning. “Dude. Like, dude. Didja hear that? Like, you think there's a hydra in there or something, man?” He reached for the hilts of the hook swords strapped to his back — like, Zeph was still fixing his katana after that reaver thing got all froze up on the blade — to unsheathe them with a skrik of metal on leather. “Ummmmm. 'Cause, like. I've beaten hydras before and all—” Like, one, with lots of help and a tree (branch) through his gut, and, like, they were way too huge to hide in these tenements, but, like, dude. “—and I kinda don't think we're equipped for that kinda fight, you know?” But, like, it was more likely to be scavengers, like, right?

Like, right?

[Alvanon]

"I don't suppose there would be a problem with that," Alvanon said, the smile creeping back onto his face, "Perhaps we should also check to make sure that this 'Rosie's' isn't in danger of being robbed. The odds are small, but it would explain our slight detour." He had just enough spare money to afford a little break, which was one of the reasons he was willing to go along with his companion's suggestion. Even though it was a bit out of the way, he knew that between his and Kiel's skills, they'd be able to perform their duties and still have a little time to grab some breakfast. Wars weren't won on empty stomachs, after all.

The brick that Kiel pulled free was intriguing to the Anyeli, who had moved closer to get a better look. His interest was purely from a strategical standpoint, as though was possible he might never see something like it again it was also possible that he just might. His eyes took in the white clay and the pattern decorating the intact brick, taking in it's details to research it later. Sometimes it was the smallest of details that could turn the tide of a battle.

His concentration immediately snapped back to reality when he heard the cascade of bricks from further inside the structure. With a quick and precise movement, his Halberd came up and was leveled towards where the sound came from. His bent his knees, his left foot shifting forward as he placed more of his weight on his right, ready to lunge as necessary as his ears and eyes scanned around for trouble. It would seem that they might have to earn their breakfast. "Whoever it is, they could have waited until we at least rebuilt the kitchen. Then we'd have been able to offer some tea and pastries. Now they have to settle with dirt and cold steel." Alvanon made to move forward carefully, covering Kiel's flank in case there were any more surprises in store.

[Kiel]

Kiel snickered and glanced back at Alvanon over his shoulder, partly to be all, like, "Dude, you ready?" and partly to be all, like, "Did you really just say that? Like, wahahahaha." Duly noting that the halberd was up and all "lemme bite something", Kiel shifted his weight from, like, one foot to the other and totally took in a deeeeeeeep breath. Like, don't be bulls, don't be bulls, don't be bulls. Like, he reeeeeeeeeeeeeally doubted the Malaki had gotten into Alexshire unseen given that the portal was fortressed up the wazoo and they were all stabby and smashy, but, like, he dared anyone to survive Acantha and not be kinda paranoid, okay?

“Like.” Another breath and a bit of hip-wiggling. “Charrrrrrrge!” Like, there wasn't really anywhere to charge to and his boots slipped and slid on the rubble as he lunged through the wrecked doorway to be all “Rarrrrrr!” He staggered to a halt, falling back a step and sending rubble skittering and a puff of brick dust into the air when he, like, saw their would-be assailant.

“Dude. Like. Dude.” She was tiny and doe-eyed and all, like, cowering against the cracked counter where Kiel had slurped up more than his share of pastries. “Ummmmm.” Letting his hook swords flop against his thighs, Kiel glanced at Alvanon with raised eyebrows, his head tipped inquisitively to one side so his hat almost fell off again. Like, he seriously needed some glue or something so he could quit losing them, you know? “Like. Um?”

[Alvanon]

As soon as Alvanon saw who their guest was, he quickly lowered his Halberd and shifted his wings to make him look a bit smaller and non-threatening. He shot a glance to Kiel, in which his own questioning gaze was returned, before looking back at the girl. He strode forward a bit, keeping his distance before dropping to a knee and smiling. "Can we help you? This place isn't safe right now...Is there somewhere we can take you?" He hoped she wasn't a looter or an orphan, the former being all to common and the latter just sad in general.

[Kiel]

Like, the kid stared at them totally mute and wide-eyed long enough that he started to think she was, like, deaf or something. Kiel glanced over at Al, then back at the little girl, then back at Al. Shane gave him a totally non-plussed look, like shadowkin could even do that, you know? “Hey, hey, like, you can't be in here, kid, okay? Like, look, look.” He poked the wall and scattered brick dust into the air again. “Cough. Like, cough.” Probably not the best idea he'd ever had, you know? “Like, this whole place could come down any second, you know? And, like, there's no food in here anyway, 'cause, like, dude, I'm so hungry.” His tummy rumbled to prove it, too.

Shuffling both swords into one hand, he held out the one he'd freed up to offer to her. “Come on, kid, let's get outta here, okay? Like, hey, hey, you like, like, food and stuff, like, right? 'Cause we were totally gonna head over to Rosie's, you know? Like, she makes giant pancakes, man. You like pancakes, right? Like, who doesn't like pancakes, wahahaha. Let's go, let's go.”

The kid slowly reached out to take his hand, her head tilted like a little bird. She glanced at Al and licked her lips, then looked back at Kiel and gradually let him pull her away from the rubble. “Like, how old are you anyway?” He couldn't tell what she was, either. No wings, so she wasn't Anyeli or Zanaryan. Regular pupils so she wasn't a 'Vari, but she looked too cute to differentiate the humanoid species so she could be Nymph, Therian or human. Like, if she was the latter, then she was only about eight, you know? “Where's your parents, anyhow?”

[Alvanon]

The poor girl looked so frightened, a look that Alvanon had seen before in another person's eyes. He stood silent as the memories flooded back to him, long thought either gone or buried. Deep in his mind he knew this wasn't the place to be having this kind of nostalgia, that he was needed in the now, so he fought against that bittersweet current to return to reality. He'd ride that wave again later, when he knew he had the chance and no one could see his falling tears.

Wiping the budding tears from his eyes, he blinked a few times as he knelt by Kiel and the girl. He deftly hid his weapon behind his back, not looking to scare her yet not willing to let down his guard yet. They were still in a place where danger could be lurking behind the corner, and he'd protect his partner and the girl with his life if he had to. "Kiel...Perhaps we should have this conversation where it is safe? I have an ill feeling about staying here much longer." Sometimes he'd get hunches like these, but they'd turn out to be nothing. Still, from previous experience, he decided it was best to just always follow his gut.

[Kiel]

“Huh? Oh, like, yeah, man, for sers.” Since Al still had his spear-thing out, Kiel sheathed his hook swords so he could balance better with the kid holding his hand, and urged her a bit quicker toward the door. Like, it was mostly just 'cause, like, now he'd started talking about food, he was sooooo hungry, man, for sers.

“But what about the bunnies?”

Kiel froze and, like, looked at Al with his eyebrows up. “Like, huh?” Looking down at the girl, he struggled to keep hold of her hand as she twisted to point at the corner where part of the wall had collapsed, almost intact within itself, on top of something so there was, like, a two-inch gap beneath it. Kiel blinked and rubbed his eyes 'cause, like, he was pretty sure there were a bunch of, like, red eyes staring back. He looked again, and they were totally still there.

“Like, okay, so I think this dust has, like, stardust in it or something, okay, 'cause I'm totally seeing things.” A wall of red eyes totally moved forward, like, in formation or something. Kiel stepped back, dragging the kid with him despite her attempts to actually go toward them. The eyes moved forward again, but still, like, under the collapsed wall. Kiel decided that, like, enough was eough, okay? He wasn't about to be eaten by a swarm of molvues when he'd survived a hydra, okay?

Grabbing the girl around the waist, Kiel lifted her and, like, totally raced from the building with a girly squeal. “Like, wahhhhhhhh!”

[Alvanon]

This time, his gut had been right. Molvues...Usually not a problem when in the city, but in places like these where there were few people, they could become VERY aggressive. Kiel's cry as he grabbed the girl and ran let Alvanon know that the two were safe...For the moment. He quickly dashed for the entrance as well, swinging his weapon to the side to destroy a weakly-standing wall. Hopefully the collapse would take out some of the critters, as the two Mercenaries were outnumbered otherwise.

[Kiel]

OOC: Sorry for the delay!

Kiel huddled on the floor where he'd just kinda throw himself and the little girl, rolling to, like, take the brunt of the impact purely by instinct but then shielding her from the attack of the crazies. Except, like, instead of a wave of tiny, hungry mouths nibbling up his legs, Kiel heard, like, a rumble and a crash and kinda like a trickle of rubble and lifted his head (with his arm still up over it as a shield) to peek behind him. Bits of the remaining wall had crumbled inward, like, he was pretty sure on top of the molvues. Kiel glanced at Al, noticed his leftover stance, and giggled. “Wahahahaha, dude, way to go, Al!”

Hopping to his knees then his feet, Kiel brushed himself off and wiggled his butt for a victory dance. Like, even if the molvues weren't dead, they'd probably, like, scatter now rather than be all, like, mad monster. The girl started sobbing, like, where he'd left her on the pavement. “Wahhhhhhh! My bunniessss!”

“Uh, um. But, like. D-dude, chicklet, man, they were gonna eat us, okay? Like, I dunno about you, but, like, I don't wanna get eaten by molvues, okay? Like, I almost got eaten by a hydra once, okay, and I actually did get eaten by this, like, I dunno if it was a plant or something, you know.” He made perpendicular track marks with his hands, trying to be all, like, show her what that water trap thing had looked like back in Acantha. “It looked like water and then it wasn't and then we found all these remains and wah.” Like, telling a little girl all that stuff probably wasn't his best move, ehehehe.

“So like.” Spotting his hat on the ground where it had flipped off during his little, like, I-believe-I-can-flyyyyyy trick, Kiel dusted it off against his leg. “Wahahaha, way to go, Al, for sers, man, but, like, where's your parents, little chicklet?”

[Alvanon]

Managing to dodge most of the debris, Alvanon skidded to a short distance from Kiel. He wasn't focused on either his partner or the girl, instead his gaze flashing between all the little balls of anger that were pouring from the ruined building. He knew he'd gotten a lot of them, but that just made the survivors even angrier. "Kiel...This isn't over yet. Protect the child!" He had to cut himself off as a small swarm of the Molvues leapt at him from a nearby rock.

Jumping back a step, he raised his Halberd and began to spin it rapidly in his hands. This managed to deflect most of the sudden attack, though Al winced as a few of the pests managed to bite into his hands. With a few hard flaps of his wings, he sent the rest attacking him scattering as he shifted into the street. He had to get away from the rubble, else the creatures would attack him by surprise again. They began to move, appearing as a shadow of fluff moving across the ground.

This time, Alvanon went on the offensive. He jammed his halberd under a nearby heavy stone, grimacing as he hoisted it into the air to launch onto the oncoming horde. The rock stunned the critters more than it hurt them, which was what Al had been hoping for. He darted in, swinging the blade of his polearm in quick slashes, felling multiple Molvues with each strike. It may have been similar to trying to cut the grass in a yard with a pair of shears, but he was hopeful the ferocity of his attack would deter the creatures either to fleeing or to attacking him, leaving Kiel and the girl relatively safe.

[Kiel]

“Wah? Like, huh? Like, for sers?” Kiel pivoted, his boots scraping in the dust and skewing his footprints. He instinctively reached for his katana, then realised his belt was empty and reached for his hook swords again. Glanced back at the little girl and, like, dropped his empty hands instead. “Like, wah. Like, you gotta run, little chicklet. Go on, mush!”

Except the little girl had no intention of going, like, anywhere but back in the shop with her dustbunny friends. She pointed and totally squealed with excitement and then tried darting across the rubble into their mass even Al started swinging. “Wah!” Kiel thankfully had pretty fast reflexes so he snatched her about the waist, reminded of his cousins when they were about the same size, and snagged her up — like, totally kicking and screeching for him to let her go — against his chest. “Al, like, we're leaving, man, for sers. Like, maybe if we get far enough aw-ow! Quit, like, ow!” Juggling the little girl so her kicks had less impact, he scrambled back away from a smaller swarm of red eyes and, like, totally brushed frantically at the molvues starting to crawl up his legs. “Wah, wah! It's in my wahahahahahah that tickles!” He did a little dance and totally dropped the girl (purely by accident, man, for sers) 'cause there were miniscule whiskers and tiny paws scuttling up his bare leg.

The girl didn't get far, at least. Like, Shane blocked her and then lowered her head to maximise the volume of her feline growls as she chomped and, like, snapped at the molvues. They normally avoided cats for obvious reasons, but, like, they were pretty fast.