awashlogs | Into The Forest

Ugh, that just figures. Whoever split us apart must want to make sure that we can't regroup easily.

[Kirishima makes a face as he steps to the side to give Kaoru space to land safely. He had noticed that they were being lead apart too late and had only managed to hold on to Kaoru, keeping close to his friend's side while they stumbled through way too many bushes and over tangled roots. The rest of his friends had been spread too far out within their initial group of explorers as that he could still have made it over to them in time.

The very same thing is a bit of a relief, though. Kirishima had seen that Todoroki and Midoriya had managed to stay at least together which meant that you did not only have two highly competent and high-grade dangerous in battle guys together, they were also less easy to miss than an iceberg once they got going. Actually Todoroki tended to create massive walls of ice during his moves, which were just as good as the signal flares Yaomomo had made for all for them so that they would bee able to call for help should they need it.

And Iida with his speed quirk was waiting in the city and keeping ready to rush to the aid of caller he would see....

Yeah, all in all they are plenty prepared for trouble this time. He just hopes that he will be able to shoot the flare through the roof of branches above them if it's needed.]

Speaking of which, I haven't heard anything lately. I'm not too familiar with what you are supposed to hear in the woods since I've grown up in the city, but from the time we spent out in the woods during Summer Camp... Shouldn't we hear at least birds or insects now that there's no horde of us forcing our way through thickets anymore?

[ Getting split from Estelle does not bode well, and Joshua's mind goes straight to suspicion, because despite the fact that it's just a bunch of trees, it feels eerily deliberate. He and Estelle are a good team; they hardly need words to coordinate their movements.

He's tried to work his way up, with the usual combination of climbing, jumping, and miscellaneous ninja bullshit, but there always seems to be another branch in the way, no matter how many he breaks or forces out of the way, and eventually he has to concede defeat. This, too - suspicious.

(It makes him wonder, more and more, if there really couldn't be a Sept-Terrion involved in creating this place.) ]

I've spent plenty of time roughing it. And you're right, this isn't normal.

[ He stops for a moment, gaze doing a slow pan of their surroundings. ]

It's not just too quiet. There's nothing moving.

[ Even given the odd silence, there are still things he'd expect that don't make noise. None of that here, not so much as a single ant or ladybug. He drops to one knee and runs his fingers through the dirt. No worms, no beetles, none of the usual creepy crawly things you'd expect to be all over the ground. ]

No bugs. At all.

[She spared Kirishima a quick smile. It wasn't really necessary for him to offer her space to land but she appreciates the gesture.

Kaoru hadn't done much camping herself but even she knew this wasn't normal. In fact, it was starting to like the scene in a movie right before something came out and tried to kill them.]

It's totally creepy. All we need is some thick fog and it'll be like we're in a horror movie.

[Her lips are pursed as she looked around. She had her hand over her wrist--her Limiter to be exact.]

There's something else. When I tried to contact my friend in town just now, [She gestured above to indicate she had made this attempt when she was in the trees.] I got nothing but static even though our communication devices were working just fine before.

[Which just...added to the creepy factor. She was hoping that Shiho could give them some idea of what was going on with the forest from the outside.]

It's not just impossible to regroup: I'm not sure we'd be able to get reinforcements either.

I dunno, aren't less bugs around something good? That means less bug-bites to later complain about!

[Kirishima tries to lighten the mood but even he knows what Joshua actually means and the worry-lines around his eyes tell as much.

Still, he keeps on, pushing his hands against his hips for added dramatic effect as he pouts at Kaoru.]

Do you have to keep jinxing it, though? It might as well just be this woods' way of letting us know that it wants to be cleaned up as well -- and signal-dependent devices always start going wonky the deeper one gets into the woods. There isn't much if an intranet for communication devices in the city to begin with, so your signal can't have been that good from the get go.

[He pats her on the back.]

Besides, looking at our group I'd feel sorry for any monster that tries to jump at us! So heads up, we got this! I've got a signal flare and my hardening, if push comes to shove either one of us can always break a small hole into the branches above us and then we can send the flare up already! Even if Iida can't reach us Todoroki will be able to simply burn down or freeze up the whole forest, he's overpowered like that! All he needs is a good reason!

[ He'll...let them sort that one out; portable communication devices aren't really a thing in Zemuria yet, so the finer points of their functioning are outside his realm of knowledge.

Instead, he does a full turn in place, getting a look in every direction. If he hadn't been paying attention, it would be easy to lose track of which way they just came from. The forest shouldn't really spring back this fast, should it? ]

I'll have you know, the signal was just fine.

[She would have pointed out that their Limiters were government issued tech and given that they were meant to work in disaster zones and other sorts of weird and inhospitable places, their signal was designed to work unless they were literally in different cities.

But admitting that would take admitting to being a government esper in the first place. So she'll...leave it at that.]

Why am I the pessimistic one, all of a sudden? And don't even joke about the forest being on fire. Forest fires are dangerous.

[She's helped put out and prevent enough of them to know.

She was looking around too and, well. It looked like the foliage had left a path for them, and that...that seemed like a trap. She pursed her lips for a moment before sighing.]

I have no idea what we're going to run into...but I don't think we'll figure anything out just by staying in one place.

That's the spirit!

[The thud of his knuckles smacking into each other fills the air as Kirishima beams at them.]

Standing still and worrying won't help anybody, so lets get going and face this head-on! That's the manly thing to do!

[He hardens the edges of his skin up and then takes the front of their group.]

I'll go first, my quirk is pretty much made for this! Keep your eyes open and duck behind me if anything dares to attack!

[ He always seems to wind up with the loud, bravado-filled types, doesn't he...

But Joshua isn't going to argue with someone else taking point, because frankly, he knows what he's best at - ]

I'll watch our rear.

[ - that being: being sneaky, and outfoxing anyone (anything?) else that's trying to be sneaky on him. ]

[She crosses her arms.]

I don't want to be called manly! [She has her priorities straight, really. But a bit of levity never hurt anyone, right? Still, she drops her arms with a sigh. She nodded at them both.]

I guess that leaves me in the middle.

[Which she didn't mind, really. Since their own formation back home changed depending on the circumstances.

But she'd really have liked to have Aoi here. She was usually the one to take point when they had no clue what they were up against. But she'll have to trust the people she has here.]

What? But it's a compliment! [Don't you know that being manly is the ultimate good thing to be in Kirishima's mind? It's like... being really impressive and honorable and a wo/man among wo/men!!]

Anyway, I guess that makes you our main course, Kaoru!

[Since there's only one direction to go for now Kirishima braces himself and starts walking in it. It doesn't take long before the air becomes thicker and tendrils of fog start to curl around them.

It makes Kirishima's hackles raise as he starts looking around them more often, checking right, left and even up and down with a tension in his body language that wasn't there before. He is clearly ready to fight now.]

Okay, I think somebody is going to try to ambush us. If we're lucky it's just some stone or sand monsters. If we're unlucky it'll be a Noumu or something worse.

[ Joshua...is quiet, because he's keeping his ears as open as his eyes. His own movement is nearly silent, with all the easy grace of a well-practiced sneak.

But after Kirishima speaks up, he frowns (what the hell is a Noumu though) and adds - ]

The fog's not natural. It came on too quickly to be a normal weather pattern.

[ ...so, yeah, basically a reiteration of "watch yo'self." ]

Don't compliment a girl by calling her manly!

[They were probably loud enough for all three of them, to be honest...

But once the fog starts rolling in, she's silent, her mouth pressed into a thin line. She has no idea what a Noumu was either, but definitely agreed that it wasn' normal at all..]

Let me try something. [An ambush seemed likely, but what was an ambush without a way to hide?

Kaoru had been conservative in the use of her powers since arriving. She hadn't wanted to over use her power given how much food she had to consume to make up for it (and the food here just tasted awful). But she had come here prepared to use her powers so she doesn't hesitate to stir up a strong wind all around them (leaving an area around them still) that should have dispelled the fog if it were normal.

But alas. It was as thick as ever when she stopped.]

You know, I wasn't holding out much hope but that was even more useless than I expected.

Girls can be just as manly as boys. Being manly is no gender privilege.

[He stops to look at his comrades, his upper lip pulled slightly up so that he is showing off some white from his sharp teeth. It's a habit that comes with having a literal mouth full of sharp fangs (a legacy from his grandfather who has a mutant quirk). He doesn't mean any aggression with it for the most part, it's just a fact that Kirishima emotes a lot with how he shows his teeth.

Right now the upper ones are partially bared with a slight frown that mostly manifests around the area of his eyes. Before Kirishima can launch into any heartfelt explanation about why manliness is important and how it has absolutely nothing to do with what gender, sexuality or strong or weak you are Kauro tries her thing and Kirishima's lip drops. His eyebrows wander higher and higher until his shoulders are shaking with barely held back laughter.]

Pffft, much wind about nothing, huh? Just for the record, there's a lot of things to say about you making wind that I'm just holding back because we're friends~

[He is about to say something witty and mildly insulting anyway, but then a strange sound echoes through the fog and Kirishima's playful expression drops at once.]

-did you hear that?

[ He definitely heard it.

But nonetheless, Joshua holds a hand up to indicate silence, his gaze roaming around them. If it comes again, then if they figure out where it's coming from -

And then it comes again, louder this time, and Joshua's head snaps to look in the direction it's coming from. ]

- there.

[Danger or no, it wouldn't have stopped her from decking him or arguing with him. But before she could decide on which that sound makes the decision for her. It will be c: neither. She will have to save this conversation for later.

She's quiet, straining to listen and she's not very good at telling the direction but...]

...doesn't that sound a bit like singing?

[...was there someone else here?]

Let's check it out.

[Kirishima squares his shoulders as he starts moving in the direction the sound was coming from with quick, decisive steps.

He isn't aware of why he is doing it, but doing this the manly way and seeking a direct confrontations feels like it's right. The right decision. They definitely should find whoever is singing and ask them what they are trying to do.]

[ Joshua doesn't stop to consider or consult, even - he immediately starts heading towards the sound.

He doesn't even try to justify it to himself, really. He...should go, and so he is. ]

[She agrees that they should check it out. It could be someone that needed help or someone who could give them information, right?

But something didn't...feel right. She hesitated as they both walked on without her. Why was she hesitating...?

She stared after them for a moment before she followed. She couldn't just leave them to rush ahead but--

...but what?]

...something's not right. [But she was muttering more to herself, reaching up to press a hand against her head. Something was wrong she felt it and it was familiar to something--though she couldn't figure out what. And she couldn't seem to stop herself from continuing to walk forward in the direction of the singing.

And as the singing became louder and it was harder and harder to hold onto her thoughts and worries and she was just...following the music. And when the banshees come into view she won't even bat an eye.]

Hm? [Kirishima didn't look back at her although his brains till registered her words. Something's not right? What shouldn't be right? They are exploring the forest just like they set out to. If they found other people that would help everybody a lot.]

Hey!

[Kirishima smiles widely when he spots the banshees, raising a hand in a friendly wave as he bares his teeth at them in a wide friendly grin. The unexpected display makes some of the banshees stop and give him confused looks for a brief moment but then they go right back to singing, figuring that prey is still prey even if it has weird teeth.]

[ Joshua stays silent. It's the same kind of trance he used to slip into when Weissmann took direct control, like his thoughts have just - stopped. The pause button pressed in his brain, while his body keeps on moving.

(His history of having his brain screwed with by the Big Bad is surely doing him no favors.)

One of the banshees, a bit more impatient than the others, unhinges its jaw. ]

[Even as the banshee's jaw opened--then kept on opening, Kaoru couldn't stop walking. But a part of her, sluggish and as if trying to see the world through a haze was worried though she couldn't pinpoint why.

The banshees were getting closer and Kaoru could see their sharp teeth as more and more of them opened their maws. And suddenly, Kaoru could understand her unease. It was like being hit with a hypno attack, even though she knew she had to, her mind couldn't force her body to stop walking closer, nor could she make herself attack them, because there was a part of her that was caught up in how there was absolutely nothing wrong: didn't she want to make some new friends?

One of the banshees came close enough that Kaoru could count its teeth and it occurs to that small part of her that was fighting for control, realized that there were only two reasons why someone would open their mouths this close to someone else. One was to show their teeth to a dentist the other was to eat them. And she was pretty sure none of them were dentists.

But...she couldn't fight it. it was impossible--

ESP is a power that defies the very laws of physics. Espers like you can go anywhere and become anything.

That's right...she was a Level 7 epser--more importantly, she was a member of the Children. There was no such thing as a future that couldn't be changed or a prediction that couldn't be overturned for them.

And she had said when she signed up, hadn't she? Even if she couldn't fight whatever they found she could protect the people with her. It was a promise and she'll keep it no matter what!]

I won't let you hurt them! [She threw a hand out and pushed outwards, throwing the banshee in front of her (as well as the two which happened to be close enough to be caught up in her power) away from her. Her head still felt like it was stuffed with cotton but without bothering to see what became of the banshee she just sent flying she was looking around.] Ei-chan! Joshua!

[Please don't let them have been eaten already--]

-?! Kaoru?!

[One moment Kirishima had still been entranced by the way the banshees kept smiling back so nicely - those were some really awesome teeth, no wonder they liked to show them off! - the next his head whipped around with a crack.

The crack was literal when the sudden move made a banshee sink her teeth into his hair.

For a moment Kirishima just stood there, frozen, with a banshee gnawing on his red mane before she finally realized that her attack had failed its fatal trajectory and that chewing hair wouldn't kill her victim any time soon.

It was just the slip of time Kirishima needed to gather his wits; not entirely but he has been undergoing training as a hero long enough that both his body and his mind prioritized the sound of worried or worse screaming over anything else. Kaoru didn't look like she needed any saving, but his instinct to help was already fully triggered and made her and whoever she worried about the sole focus of his mind. And it happened just in time!]

Hey! Are you- Whoa, would you mind?!

[His last words are directed at the banshee that had attempted to use their proximity to rake the claws of her bony hand across his throat just to hit hardened skin rather than something soft and vulnerable.]

You asked for it.

[The growl was all the warning the banshee got before the hair around her suddenly turned into hard, sharp spikes that cut her skin instead. Then seconds later a hardened Red Riot has turned around on her and punched her in the face. Hard.]

[ In the fog that had settled over his mind, it sounded almost like the voice was coming from underwater.

Joshua!

Ah. She was worried. Why should she be worried? It didn't matter what happened to a puppet.

But another voice came to his thoughts - this one loud and clear, a memory too strong to be clouded even by the banshee's song.

You're not a puppet.

You're not broken.

No matter what a wreck he was, no matter how badly he'd been used and how much blood was on his hands, Estelle still worried. Estelle would worry, if anything happened here -

He froze. This wasn't - he had to - ]

[She turned just in time to see Kirishima bitten and her chest went tight for a second when she thought he'd been bitten on the head--before she quickly realized it was his hair. So that anime like spiky hair was good for something besides looking cool...

Six years of mission experience kicked in. She wasn't the one with the plans in the Children, but Minamoto had made sure to drill into them basic protocol for different missions and how to prioritize what to do. After so long doing these sorts of things (and the many nights of reading Minamoto's notes and being quizzed on them) it came to her as naturally as breathing.

In a hostage situation, first is to secure the safety of the hostages.

Seeing that Kirishima was fine (really, if he could use his hardening she really didn't need to worry about him being eaten), she reached out to yank Joshua towards her with her powers. ]

Psychic Stealing From the Lion's Mouth!

[She did make sure to support his head to not cause whiplash but otherwise she prioritized getting him away over comfort. And if that wasn't enough to jar him out of whatever trance he was in she wasn't going to hesitate to slap him.

She really couldn't have known he was working towards snapping out of it himself. She's a psychokinetic not a telepath.]

What? Hey, we said that I could be the lion!

[Kirishima manages half a pout as he looks over his shoulder toward her. Seeing that she is already working on getting their last teammate into safety his frown transforms into a wolfish grin as he lets his skin ripple some more to add some extra edges and hardness to his his exterior.

Then Kirishima turns around and lunges for the nearest standing banshee with an excited yell, jaws opening wide in a toothy grin that says only one thing: banshees mice - Kirishima cat.

He doesn't hesistate or pull his punches as he goes after the banshees, swiping his arms like blades at their sides when they try to hold still long enough so that they could pick up singing once again and goes with his fists after the ones who actually decide to fight. It doesn't take long until he lands the first clean hit into a banshee's wide opened mouth - and straight through it.]

Eh? What the- sand again?!

[Looking around Kirishima checks if any of the others has made the same experience with their defeated enemies.]

Into The Forest

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