02/Video

[flightlessbird]

[ WELL HEY, this is a face that hasn't popped up in a while! Artika's looking a little dirty, ragged, and generally unkempt, and not terribly pleased. ]

They need to stop— they all need to be quiet. [ uh. okay, Artika, if you say so. she darts a glare over to the side. ] I said to leave!

[ When she's satisfied that... whatever is over there got the message, she looks down into the camera again. ]

Killing them does not work. I tried. I hate them.

Comments

[ video -> action ]

[stonefaith]

I'm on my way. Stay put.

[ Bariyan recognizes the area. It looks... rather empty. But Bariyan doesn't bother to think about that, he can ascertain that for himself when he gets there.

He'd salvaged another car a couple days earlier and drives that out, but it dies a few blocks away so he makes the rest of the trip on foot. On the run, even, only coming to a halt once he starts seeing familiar streets and buildings.

And nothing else. Not even a sound. He frowns and remains watchful. ]

Artika?

[flightlessbird]

[ Artika, incidentally, is wearing more scales than she had been on the netbook feed. At the sound of his voice she uncoils from the chimney she'd found to twist around, a rooftop above, and gives a low hiss. Not threatening, just attention-getting. ]

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan raises a hand to acknowledge her, but keeps looking around, eyes flickering from windows to doors to openings in the road. Seeking, searching... finding nothing.

Carefully, silently, he sidles over towards Artika's building. Only then does he chance a look at her. ]

Are they gone?

[flightlessbird]

[ She hisses again in response, and seems to have her eyes fixed on some point nearby. Clearly they're not, gosh Bariyan why can't you see that. ]

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan simply stares at her in confusion for a while, not sure what she's getting at until he finally notices her fixed stare. At which point he looks over, looks back, frowns, and walks towards the approximate point that Artika is watching. Carefully, keeping his eyes and ears alert, waiting for something to drop on him....

Nothing?

Bariyan stops moving and looks back at Artika, eyebrows raised in question. ]

[flightlessbird]

[ Artika is, as it turns out, not looking at Bariyan! She's creeping toward the edge of her roof, moving forward like a cat stalking something. A... long, scaled cat. When she's close enough, with a sound like a punctured tire, she hisses out a burst of what looks like a pretty harmless white mist.

Deed done, she scurries back toward Bariyan, hitting the ground next to him and doing a head-butt to get him moving, away from the mist. ]

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan's watching her every move carefully -- but she hops down and reaches him too quickly, taking him by surprise. So he allows himself to be propelled along by Artika, stumbling forward a few feet before finally managing to dig his heels in and stand his ground.

He looks back towards the mist. Nothing particularly sinister has erupted out of it. Bariyan frowns and reaches out to place both hands on Artika's snout. ]

Artika. Settle. There's nothing there.

[flightlessbird]

[ Narrow-slitted orange eyes blink innocuously up at him for a few seconds— until suddenly hands are batting his away, and there's a petite naked bird-girl in place of the dragon, glancing back over her shoulder toward the mist. ]

That will kill them if they do not leave it. [ She steps a little closer to Bariyan, leaning into him, still watching the dissipating mist. Possibly putting him between her and whatever she thinks is over there. ]

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan allows her to pull close, and steps out to place himself more clearly between Artika and the mist. He blinks and continues to stare, to search. But he sees nothing in the mist, and nothing trying to leave it. Still nothing. Nothing at all.

He frowns, and puts an arm around Artika's shoulders. ]

All right. Come on, let's get you somewhere safe, then. You're not hurt or anything?

[flightlessbird]

[ That's kind of... weirdly comforting. Like something Pyran should do. So she doesn't pull away, only tiredly leans against him. She's been running and lashing out for what feels like a long time now. ]

No, I am not hurt. Tired, only.

SPEEDIN THIS ALONG A BIT hope that's good by you B)

[stonefaith]

I'm glad you're not hurt. And you can sleep soon -- I'll take you to my apartment. It'll be safe there, I promise.

[ He frowns and pushes down the dull anger that had bubbled up at her words. Artika didn't belong here, and didn't deserve to be subjected to... whatever terrors were plaguing her right now. But now was not the time to get upset at the sheer unfairness of it all.

He focuses instead on guiding her through the city back to the apartments, making frequent checks for the Masked and never finding any. For Artika's sake, he even combs through his own rooms for signs of a break-in before allowing Artika in and locking the door behind them. ]

Here. You can take my bed. Do you want food or drink or anything?

[flightlessbird]

[ She sees them along the way, lurking, staring. Each time she glances sharply up at Bariyan, but... he doesn't react. Sometimes he even seems to stare straight through them. And since she's too tired to keep up the belligerence, she opts for shutting her eyes and ignoring them, trusting Bariyan to lead the way. ]

I want a... [ what's that word. She pauses, mutters a few musical notes, and suddenly finds it. ] —Blanket.

[stonefaith]

Got it. [ There's... everything on the bed. He looks at it, momentarily confused by all the layers of sheets and covers and things, but opts to go for the thickest layer. So he pulls the quilt out, and brings it over to Artika, draping it around her shoulders and pulling it over the rest of her.

Then he leans down to look at her. She looks ragged. Where has she been? How long was she running from... monsters in her head? Well, he can question her later. He gives her a gentle nudge towards the bed. ]

Get some sleep, girl. I'll keep watch.

[flightlessbird]

[ Artika shrugs into the blanket and stares right back as she's studied, unhappy and drooping, from her shoulders to the tips of her tufted ears. She likes to look out for herself. It's better that way, when you don't need anything from anyone. But... Bariyan is nice. He doesn't even seem to expect anything from her.

So she nods and, for once, doesn't argue, only quietly heads away to stake a claim on the bed. They're still there, but maybe, with Bariyan nearby and watching, she'll finally be able to sleep regardless of their lurking. ]