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The frozen victims of the pirates made her journey back feel like it was dragging out, it should have only took a minute, but she still felt she took too long as she arrived and heard Illeana scream. Her heart nestled in her throat, a beat sounding in her head as blood flowed faster and faster. Their eyes were on her. Dangerous humans. They were hurting Illeana and she was small. She and Ormr were too small. [break][break]

Her frozen state was finally thawed as one of the free pirates lunged, forcing her to dodge away and under. They were separating her from escape, even weapons, she realized dully, the wooden deck under her hands painfully hard. Worst of all, they were laughing as she scurried away, pressing herself protectively against a wall in a burst of fear. They had to stop, she wasn't a joke. Never would be to these stupid people...but how could she defeat them? She couldn't order Draugr for another attack, another Infestation might hurt them, and any physical attack might prompt them to hurt Illeana. She needed to free Illeana first. Family could not be harmed. Never. It didn't matter what she had to do. [break][break]

I'm going to need to kill one. The sudden thought formed almost naturally, filling the entirety of her mind and coming against no resistance. There was nothing wrong with killing those about to kill you. It was a natural facet of life. [break][break]

What she didn't notice was the thought was resonating with her Ekans, who pulled himself up to his full height, the mortifying snarl matching her own face. The two-headed beast they were, and woe be it those that underestimated how fearful they could be. [break][break]

Crouching low, serpent emerging on her back like some kind of twisted chimera, Ormr's eyes glowed a golden light and his tail started to rattle. [break][break]

Rattlesnake. [break][break]

As the low, droning rattle seized the ears of the pirates, Kaida's thoughts became true in some way. They thought they were going to die. Even without the abject terror that twisted their faces, Kaida curiously noted blood was coming out of some's ears or eyes. A powerful sound. They think their prey. Kaida rose to her feet, teeth clenching painfully as she was unable to relax her expression. Not yet, not until Illeana was free. "Astonish!" [break][break]

The almost forgotten Dragapult reappeared with a terrible scream, some of the paralyzed in fear pirated dropping unconscious on the spot as a ghost charged them. Just as the sound was starting to die down, rooting and picking at their brains, Draugr moved to tackle Illeana's captors and wrench her away.

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