coming to a stop, Aero knew he had to not only catch his breath. but also come up with a plan.' Turning his senses back, he confirmed they were still chasing him. 'They've slowed down at least.' That still left the question of what his next move was. Outrunning them wasn't the best option.
turning his attention towards the volcano, he found one of his teammates." Winds faster than water, I guess." Tapping his foot, he focused on recovering his breath and pride energy for the moment. When it felt like his chest wasn't going to give in on him, he started walking slowly, building up to a jog. ' At this point it's not a race,' so he was going to pace himself as he traveled the wilderness.
For a few petals, he just moved and planned," I can definitely attempt to hide my trail." Step on more solid materials, like the stone and tree roots. It slowed him down a bit,' if the branches were thicker, I'd go jumping between them. But these types of trees didn't grow in the way that would support his weight." But they make the being of a large forest fire.... no, that we get me arrested." like truly arrested.
He continued moving, continuing to think. watching them slowly gain ground on him. 'Wait,' he thought.' If I can sense them, then I can attack them.' Maybe not physical or with a melody, but the control of his pride energy was enough for a ranged attack. ' Of course, I've never tried to fight something from this range.
The level of melodies he knew, even with dance, wasn't a long-range style; this was partly due to his preference and fighting style. The other main reason was spite; people who half-accept his reason said he should fight from a range. So he spited them by avoiding long-distance options.
Yes, he was fully aware at that moment that he had stunted his own growth. "Well, aero, you've learned something else about yourself." his pride and spite have come back to bite him. "Well, let's show my own teeth." The question was how he did about it.
coming to a brief stop, he took stock of the energy he had in storage before he started feeling the side effects. If I'm not careful, I'll lose the pride necessary to believe I can outrun them." Keeping that in mind, he took and focused a chunk of energy.' Since I don't know exactly who is chasing me, let's not use too much force.' Focusing, he formed his pride energy into light. Focusing, he gave it the form of an arrow.
'I've practiced with a bow a bit, before my pride got the better of me.' Closing his eyes, he focused on his ability to sense pride. feeling their location and distance from him. "HA!" he launched the arrow, seeing it quickly disappear into the forest, smacking against a tree.' Okay, very good idea to not use fire or full force.'
He tried again, this time aiming through the trees. out of his vision, but he knew from the pride sense that he didn't hit his target.' But they changed course a bit,' focusing again, he sent out another two arrows. Luring them through the trees until they struck near his target, forcing them to dodge and move. His following attack struck a branch instead.
After managing to get another few attacks closer to his target, he could sense them moving more cautiously, slower than before, so he turned and continued towards the volcano. moving quickly but carefully.
When he lived a physically active life as a hunter, the flowers passed, and the light of day started to shine upon the land. Aero was tired, he wanted to sleep and for zalt damn days! 'but now is not the time for that,' I left my bed at the camp,' he realized, man, he hoped they didn't take it.'
He truly didn't know how to sleep on something else, not to mention the time my mother spent sewing those patches. He didn't want to waste her time like that, 'if they take it, ' he just had to hunt them down,' he was a hunter.
The sun was above the horizon when the ground started d to tilt upward. which he took as good news, marching onward, the bad news he sensed life. creatures in the woods.' It's skill and luck I haven't run into anything,' he was not in a state to fight. Tired, hungry, and thirsty.
'This is seriously bad.' Pausing for a moment, he tracked down the pride of the creature in the vicinity. 'Okay, it's not a large number in my immediate area. But attracting attention is definitely a bad idea; there was no need to think or plan, just counting on moving.
The flower passed before Aero found a small patch of watering grass, not its real name. But it was called that by hunters before it absorbed a good amount of water that could have been used when needed. ripping several stems from the ground, he stuffed one in his mouth, chewing it and sucking the water from it.
The flowers took the edge off his thirst; the blade itself did a bit for his stomach. In part, it just reminded him how much of an exciting night he's had. 'We had a third meal, should I be this hungry? Probably should look harder for any edible plants.' Reaching down, he studied the grass of the forest, deeming it not the poisonous kind.
He started ripping blades from the ground and swallowing them. They lacked any real nutritional value. But he also knew they would silence his stouch fill it up as he moved further upward. 'Ugh, I hope this doesn't give me a stomachache.' At least it wasn't growling at him, with something in him now, Aero started picking up the pace again.
not too much with his muchsle were protesting at him, he tried to put it out of his mind by having the helper bring out his mapping and paperwork exercises, any updates from the scientist or the lord of greed. letting his mind move on from the protest of his body.
The glower passed again, the sun reaching its peak, the full course of the day's heat bearing down on the hunter. His clothing has long since been soaked with sweat and dirt. clinging tightly as he continued to walk. 'My lord, you should take a moment to rest,' the helper spoke up. Cutting off a negotiation exercise. 'Pushing yourself at this point is reckless, you chaser has most likely stopped to rest. '
aero paused and stretched his senses back, 'Okay, they've stopped, but I still have a long way to go.' The helper knew that, quickly pointing out that the distance wasn't going anywhere. nor was his team, did he have faith in them to defend themslevs.' Aero almost scuffed,' I know they do, but whoever has started this has definitely planned for use, not well.'
The amount of forces and the person who was pursuing him, someone had some kind of goal. 'The chance that they were connected to that group that tried and failed to sneak us isn't low.' The question was what the zalts and Zaltess were, and what they offered. Aero considered a few things as he let himself rest on a rock. Looking back, he was aware of where he came from, keeping an eye out for anyone who would try to come after him.
'I don't think this is a situation we can just fight our way out of.' Whoever sent that much force had some reach. Probably an official position in the government, which at least was going to make this a government matter, and depending on how the government handled this, Aero's home government would have to get involved. "I'll probably have to send her a message anyway," he sighed, already getting a better idea of what a headache this was all going to be.'
Though a part of him already started thinking about how he should word the letter, nothing he could think of could lower the probable reaction. So that left him with no real option other than telling her to wait or send some legal assistance. 'Hopefully she doesn't do anything rash,' areo then snorted, hoping that someone else would do something rash.
'I still might punch their face in, even though it might just make this station worse.' Make him feel better, though. 'It really would,' sighing, he looked at the sky above him. turning his attention from his thoughts of violence and focusing on another matter.
He rested for a total of two hours before forcing his legs to move again so he could start running again, heading for the volcano. checking for anyone behind him, even throwing light attacks to stall them a bit. 'It helps the forest is shifting the closer I get to the volcano,' the tree was thinking out and shifting to a different kind. thick heat-resistant ones, if I remember correctly. This could have a use in the upcoming battle.
"But first I have to reach my team," turning his sensing towards the volcano, he hissed, seeing they were still out of range, even as he focused it just on the volcano. "It just means I have to get closer."
It was long after the sun had set that he reached the base of the volcano, 'don't throw up,' he thought to himself, panting and leaning against a boulder. Oh, by the zolts, he has never been this blasted tired before. Even part of his body was shaking and dripping with sweat, even without accounting for the heat of the volcano. 'Man, they weren't joking when they mentioned the air was hot here.' Probably more stifling near the top, reaching his attention upward, he felt relieved to be able to finally sense his teammates.
Immediately worried about the other presnes he could feel from them, 'I can't make out enough to tell if they're in trouble or not.' Licking his tongue, he started climbing. striking to the fair side so he could sneak up and oversee the group. If they've harmed my teams, I'm going to make them regret it!"
' It's getting dark, cause of course it is,' he decided to focus on that instead of how dry his throat was. His head was starting to pound from hunger and thirst. Pulling him up a cliffside, he stopped to pant and laze for a moment, relaxing some as he sensed that he was waiting. 'Come on, just a bit further,' don't forget. You've made it this far! His pride energy surged at the thought. In fact, he looked into the horizon, remembering how far he had traveled so far in so little time.
'something to take pride in,' but also be wary of. 'My body has probably been pushed to its limit. not to mention how sore I'm going to be. Sighing, he stood up and continued his climb. until he was close to the campsite. People in uniform settled around the campground. He watched them for a long time, ' my team's in the large tent.' It seems they were prepared to settle down for a while. There didn't seem to be a lot of combat damage, but they were on the side of a volcano.
"mm," huffing, he glared at the guards and waited,' let's see if they'll do anything.' It was also a chance to rest, with all the exhaustion in his body. Aero knew starting a fight was a bad idea, for the moment. I'll regain strength if they prove to be my enemies; I will knock them down.
"Hey," one of the guards whispered to her patrol partner," do you feel like something dangerous is looking at us?" Her partner sighed, oh, thank the zaltess I'm not the only one." Looking around, she tried to spot it, but she could see nothing beyond the few spaces anyone could hide.
"come on, let's compete are partol." areo watched them move, contuily people moving about. mostly patroling the camp, are only paid enough attention to count them, 'i can;t fight them all of, maybe I'll just distract them.' watching for a moment he saw the biggest tent opened up. 'mbaye set part of the camp on fire, they will certainly drawn attention.'
From the tent walked out Galia. Seeing her was a relief. Immediately, he watched as several members of the force occupying the space,' doesn't seem that there is any hostility. But who were they? Why were they here?
'She probably knows, he's going to have to talk to her first and foremost,' he realized. Looking down, he wondered how he should do that.' Sneak into the camp, straight out, walk up to her. ' He considered the options." AERO I KNOW YOU'RE THERE!" she shouted across the air. jumping, he quickly ducked under cover. Did she see me? "I CAN SENSE YOU GAZE, I CAN FEEL YOUR PRESENCE! COME OUT! THERE ARE NOT OUR ENEMIES!"
For a moment, he stayed hidden, watching the camp, seeing the number of people, looking around, trying to spot him. Then his gaze drifted back to his teammate, who stood facing towards the setting sun. It didn't take long for him to understand why she was standing like that. She wasn't trying to force him to come out.
"Huffing and grumbling, he climbed out of his hiding spot and walked down towards the camp, hand clenching tight on his weapon. If they tried anything, he was going to show them why he made it here. They watched warily as he walked up to his teammate." Why?"
"They're not our enemy, remember that finance lady we ran into at the lakeside." Aero nodded, " That was an interesting first meeting that was. "Well, she told some people about it, and now someone is using the chance to have us arrested, despite the fact that she doesn't actually want to press charges."
"I hate politics," was the only thing he said. Turning, he headed over to one of the guards. "Where can I sleep?" she nervously pointed to one of the tents, which was good, cause Aero walked over. Gailia quickly caught up with him, "Tired?" he nodded. "The two of them were when they arrived. I can't believe they ran the entire way here," she pointed in the tent.
"I can't believe I did it either." Opening the tent, he found his two teammates passed out on the rug but also unharmed. Aero cared the most about that last part. After walking them for a moment, he found a spot next to them and loosened the straps of his clothing. "Mm," shit, it itches a bit. man, I hope that doesn't evolve into anything worse." For the moment, he was going to get to sleep. he was out within a moment of lying down.
He dreamed weirdly, something coming through the uswal blurr of colors that excited within the murals of dreams the zaltess crafted each night. Whatever it was, it didn't get close before it was washed away in the rush of yellow and red.
"Mm," groaning, Aero turned over and glared at the bit of light slipping into the tent and onto his face. Sitting up a bit, he moved until the light was resting on his chest instead before lying back down. He didn't expect to fall asleep again, but rest was rest all the same.
"It was some time later, someone came into the tent, idit. She looked annoyed, paused, and looked at Aero to just stare back." Muscled pain," he gave a weak nod, but even that smarted. "Ha, I know that feeling."
