[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]fingers wrap tight. they tug and her wrist has little resistance in its bones, muscles, nerves. her eyes widen a moment later. another moment and an embarrassed flush settles into pale skin. it's a shade or two lighter than blood.

she looks close to tears, perhaps.

"sorry."

a screech echoes overhead. it seems to bounce off trees. shadows snap to attention at the sound.

she glances up to see claws dropping and her scramble is instant. limbs move in a panicked flutter, gangly like a gazelle desperately fleeing a lion. if she bumps into him, she doesn't notice, doesn't apologize.

no. she merely squeaks.

NIKO MANNER
mission

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]he reaches up and yanks. the corviknight crashes down with a sickening crack. she feels it in her bones, in her teeth, and she shivers into his side.

it flees shortly after to nurse whatever injuries it just sustained.

and when he turns, offers a hand to her, she takes it with trembling fingers. her grip is tight despite the delicate structure of her hands.

”run where?” is there even a way out of here?

her skin crawls at the thought. fear slowly spreads as does the searing sensation of pain. it crawls from neck to shoulders to arms to chest.

god, this fucking sucks.

NIKO MANNER
mission

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]anywhere...

is he so sure they'll be able to escape that easily? she stays quiet, silencing whatever doubt she has.

he promised and she blindly trusts him.

he leads them further into the thick of it, trees winding and branches creaking to watch them. shadows skitter behind them with eager fingers.

"okay," she murmurs. another promise. how can she say no to that? her grip tightens on his hand as the burning sensation in her body claws through nerves and muscles. it's bordering on irritating now but... he said stop.

and she's too obedient to not listen.

NIKO MANNER
mission

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]her grip tightens as darkness descends. it creeps until everything is black. without eyesight, the forest feels more alive than ever...

sounds echo around them. creaking branches, rustling leaves, an odd dripping sound. she shivers.

warm breath turns into cold puffs of air and she's desperately trying to swallow the urge to cry. it pricks at the corners of her eyes, clawing to be released.

closer... she voices the question tentatively. it comes out terrified, with nails digging slightly into his skin.

"to what? the exit?" god, she really hopes so...

NIKO MANNER
mission

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]an exit would be nice...

unfortunately, hope is crushed beneath a sudden spike of heat. it's almost blistering.

what the fuck?

her head whips as scenery shifts and morphs into that of a desert. were... were they not in a forest this whole time? she remembers blades of grass tickling her back, though. what's happening?

a sandstorm whips up, little granules slicing at skin. she squeaks, shifting closer to him as if he'll somehow be able to stop it.

"what's going on? i -- i thought we were in the forest?" this has to be some sick joke.

NIKO MANNER
mission

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]he forces them to the side and her steps are confused, stumbling little footprints in sand. a soft squeak follows. it's easily swallowed up by the roaring sandstorm. she tries to shield her eyes with her free hand but it's of little use.

irritating. sand sucks.

"how?" she shouts a little to be heard over the wind. it whips up more sand as they begin to continue. and faintly, she's thanking her lucky stars that he's leading. she would still be in the forest if he wasn't, sobbing on the ground as seconds tick down to death.

"weren't we just on mt. pyre? how could we travel that far without knowing?"

NIKO MANNER
mission