The Alkali Woods

[Attn: Open]

"It's all right to be afraid, you know," Cane says, closing his eyes and looking down coolly.

"While crude, the thief is right," Pyra says.

{Attn: All}

Kameo shakes her head. "Well let's get going, we are wasting time here. And I never said I was afraid. I am the Town Mage of Losylvania. I cannot afford to be scared of a few feathered beasts.”

She leaves Pyra and Cane, walking over to Lance. "The nerve of them." She crosses her arms, eyes still darting.

[Attn: Open]

Lance says nothing. He merely stares into the campfire. "Time or not," he finally says, "This may not be the case for you but the rest of us are only human. We cannot afford to continue without due rest."

{Attn: All}

"I thought that is what we did before, but whatever. Go ahead and rest if you need it. I will keep watch this time." Kameo states as she too looks at the fire. She looks around and finds a nice tree to lean on. She finds one somewhat close to the fire. She looks into it and watches the flames dance around. Next to darkness it is her favorite element.

[Attn: Million Dollar Girl]

Late that night, or perhaps early the next morning, Pyra had already fallen asleep. Twas very much the same for Lance and Cane. However, there is the faint sound of movement in the woods not far away. Twigs breaking and the rustling of bushes.

{Attn: Open}

Kameo was leaning against the tree, even though her eyes were closed, she was still aware. Her eyes snap open when she hears the twigs. She stands up and grabs her polearm. She moves closer to Pyra, her back to the fire eyes scanning the forest.

She doesn't know if she should wake the others just yet. It could be just wildlife after all, so she waits.

[Attn: Open]

Pyra and the others wake up regardless. There is a feeling of danger in the air. Suddenly a blur is seen dashing through the trees not far away. Then another. These were no wild creatures. No animal or monster was this coordinated. Lance, Pyra, and Cane all jump to their feet, grabbing their blades.

{Attn: All}

"Good morning, well you saved me the trouble of waking you guys up at least." Kameo is not facing them though, she is still looking out. She sees a blur out of the corner of her eyes. She curses under her breath. "I was hoping we would get to our destination before anything would happen."

[Attn: Open]

The rest of the party stands back to back with everyone, making certain that there are no loose ends. How unfortunate that it'd prove ill effective. Several men suddenly emerge from the woods. They far outnumber the party. Each man holds on their face a menacing smirk. Every last one of them is armed with a crossbow, aimed at the heads of their opposition. "Now, now, don't want to cause any trouble," their leader says with a chuckle.

{Attn: Open}

Kameo watches as the larger group surrounds their own. She sees that they each have multiple crossbows trained on them ready to fire. She rolls her eyes at the leader speaks. "Yeah right which is why you come out here fully armed." She mutters under her breath.

Kameo gets a smirk on her face as she begins to chant a spell . The shadows begin to swirl around the party. She just needs a little more time.

[Attn: Open]

"Yeah, right," the leader says, shooting Kameo's polearm from her hand. "Now then, just hand over that girl," he says, pointing to Pyra. "And that one don't get hurt." Suddenly one of the men grabs Kameo from behind and holds a crossbow to her head.

{Attn: All}

Kameo is distracted when the mouth of the group knocks away her crossbow. He then requests Pyra. Kameo was about to say something when she is grabbed from behind. Her shadows providing just enough cover for one of the minions to sneak up on her. He has one arm around her neck, the other had a crossbow at her head. Not an easy feat, he must be skilled.

She does not struggle in the guys arms, knowing it won't do any good. She looks at Lance, Cane, and Pyra. Her voice a forced calm, her eyes anything but. "This is where I say 'don't worry about me' and all that jazz. Seriously though, do not go with them. Don't even consider it."

[Attn: Open]

Pyra too had been preparing to act. However, she had not time before Kameo was taken hostage. She knew the reaction she'd get from Kameo but she could never forgive herself if Kameo were to die because of her. Both Cane and Lance stands in front of Pyra but she pushes them both aside and steps forward. "No harm at all?"

{Attn: Open}

"Guys do your job!" Kameo growls at Lance and Cane. "And you, don't you take another step forward." She looks at Pyra, trying to get her to stop. She closes her eyes trying to think of some way to get out of this without Pyra getting caught. All of her ideas involved her getting hurt.

[Attn: Open]

"All right," Pyra says. "I'll come with you...on one condition."

"And what might that be?" The head of these men says.

"You die first!" Pyra then unsheathes her blade in a quick motion and slices at the head. The other two then attack in a fast motion in unison, dropping down two of them in one go. The three of them evade the oncoming crossbow arrows as best they can, Cane only being grazed maybe once. Lance was struck in the arm but pulled it out as it failed to get very deep.

In the midst of the fighting, Pyra is overwhelmed and hit by a small, drugged crossbow. She then grows sluggish before falling and being carried away. The one holding Kameo then shoots his arrow at Lance and Cane and runs off with Kameo, too taking her hostage.

Cane and Lance then look to one another before rushing off to save the girls.

{Attn: Open}

Kameo watches the fighting begin. Now she does struggle hoping the chaos of the fight would work to her advantage. Her capture strengthens his hold on her. She see Pyra go down. "NOOOO." She stops stuggling as memories flash in her head of another friend being dragged away, and her not being able to stop it.

She closes her eyes not seeing her captor shooting at Cane and Lance. She then feels herself being dragged away. She shakes her head, surprised that she too was being taken. They had their prize, aren't they supposed to leave her behind?

[Attn: Open]

These men had all dragged the girls to their camp. It was up in an old ruin within the woods. Never mind that. They had been taken further south than they should have been. Ufaria was more west. Now they'd have to figure a new route. Lance and Cane both arrive at the camp over an hour later. The men have their camp heavily guarded. Their boss stood over the girls in a tent in the back. Cane had brought Pyra's swords and Lance, Kameo's polearm. They sneak around the camp cautiously after. "Listen one more time," the boss of these men says to the girls. "We're mercenaries. Bounty hunters. There is a price out on you, Red, and giving our client an extra young dame is bound to get us paid even more. Understand NOW?" He'd been explaining repeatedly to Pyra who by now was more awake but weak. She was only stalling.

{Attn: Open}

"Leave her alone!" Kameo yells at the boss. "Can't you see she is still not fully awake?" Usually Kameo is unemotional, but given the events that are still happening, she is at the end of her patience. "Now back off and let her rest."

Kameo tries to get her bound hands free. "Just who exactly are you working for anyway, and why would they want two innocent travelers?"

[Attn: Open]

"You want to be drugged too, brat?" He says, pointing the cross bow at her. "You, I'm not sure anyone would care about...but when you have the beautiful princess of the Volcanic Kingdom...well...you get the idea."

Lance and Cane suddenly are discovered but they defeat the man who sees them before he can alert anyone else.

{Attn: Open}

Kameo's heart races then the boss turns the crossbow on her. At least he isn't paying full attention to Pyra any longer. "You wouldn't hurt me as long as there is money involved. Which there must be since I am here and not back with the guys." Well at least she hopes. But as long as she can give more time for Pyra to regain her senses.

Her ears pick up on some odd noises outside the tent and her eyes flicker for the briefest of moments. Could it be?

[Attn: Open]

Suddenly, Lance and Cane erupt through the tent and take down the leader. Cane then cuts Pyra free and helps her up, putting her arm around his shoulders as Lance helps Kameo. "Come on, we have to get out of here," Cane says.

{Attn: Open}

"You don't have to tell me twice." Kameo holds out her hands to Lance as he cuts through her binds.

She takes her polearm from him. "Hold up and give me a few seconds guys." She closes her eyes and begins to chant softly. The shadows begin to gather around them surrounding them in darkness. "There now let's get out of here. We will talk when it is safe."

[Attn: Open]

The group proceeds to sneak away, Pyra coming back into full strength after they're a safe distance away. They sit down for a moment then get on their way back west to Ufaria. "I...would like to thank you both," Pyra says, turning to Lance and Cane. "You were able to get beyond your contempt for one another in order to save Kameo and I...for that...that I thank you."

{Attn: Open}

"Yeah, thanks" Kameo says offhandedly as she studies Pyra. "We have to find a way to disguise you, unless you want more bounty hunters after us. As if being trying to stop a war isn't bad enough. Make me wish I knew illusion spells."

She puts her hands in her pockets and looks ahead. She truly is grateful to Lance and Cane for saving both her and Pyra. Doesn't mean she has to get all mushy about it. Besides they aren't safe yet.

[Attn: Open]

"The White Queen and Ice Goddess recognize all of us. We could all use a wardrobe change up," Cane says. "LUCKILY!" He then takes a few outfits from his bag. "I snatched these from the guys back there."

"Once a crook, always a crook," Lance remarks.

"So, again, how's that 10 Foot Pole doing?" Cane says.