Don't sacrifice tomorrow to save yesterday!

Normal day, normal weather…The nekomata couldn’t complain that today was no different from yesterday. Wandering around the woods to gather more ingredients for a new spell, it didn’t take long for the nekomata to notice that someone sticked out from the greenery like a sore thumb. Slowing down her pace, the young one proceeded to look at the wanderer with caution.

Seeing strange people wasn’t a new thing for her either but there was something about this outsider that was different from other people she found recently. The outside looked human enough, but there were some traces of magic all over her too. Interesting to find another human that practices magic, but at the same time dangerous since she can’t use her usual tricks to overpower a human of such caliber. Who knows, it might be more difficult to attack her directly.

“I wonder what sort of magic she does…” Call it morbid curiosity since it was dangerous to let the other use her arsenal, but as a gifted mage she couldn’t help but analyze the wandering person. “I should be clever if I want to scare this one out!” That said, Chen began to slowly approach the outsider with the best of her stealth.

Watching the way they went, Makoto tried to keep track of which turns they took, but couldn’t make sense of the all the trees and bushes. It all looked the same to her, and she wondered how the other knew where she was going - she certainly seemed to have a particular path in mind. Well, if one lived around a place long enough, even something like this would become familiar. 

The wind carrying them forward certainly caught her attention. Where did that come from? It was a great help to them, to be sure, but she couldn’t help but be curious as to its origins. After all, wind manipulation was certainly dangerous, as she knew from her own demon’s zan skills. Either way, in this case it was to their aid. 

Hearing her guide speak up, the agent looked over. The prospect of fighting without her demons wasn’t too thrilling, but well… As with other demon tamers, the first demon she met she had to fight on her own, and she’d managed that just fine. It was still more reassuring to have them at her side, though. 

“If it comes to that, I’m certainly capable at hand to hand combat,” she replied. “I’ve had plenty of training, at the very least.” 

That said, she didn’t like to think of letting the claws she’d glimpsed before they started running too close… Or any wild animal’s teeth. But if there wasn’t any other choice, then so be it. They’d already made their attempt at escape, so fighting was likely the only option if it was still chasing them. In that case, best think up some tactics. 

Well, the other was certainly much more in shape than Bri, that was for sure. When one relies on magic so much to get them out of trouble, truly strengthening their body and not relying on their abilities to protect them becomes a little bit of a weak-point.

Thankfully, she was with micro-managing her mana usage. Couldn’t keep this up for very long, no. But she could certainly manage at least temporarily.

Loop around for a surprise attack? Maybe if one had the physical strength to actually do it. The conjured tailwind was subtle enough to show no hint to it’s origins, but if she were to physically attack.. there would be no other option than to show off.

Bridgette would give a noticeable grimace,  clearly not keen on the idea in the least. But she would change direction, taking a sharp 45 degree angle, continuing their zig-zag pattern. 

She nodded in response to the plan, turning away to split off as well. She tried to focus on her hearing while she ran, to try and tell if the beast came after her or had left to chase her companion; years of training and hands-on experience had taught her that it was best not to try and look back while running from something. It’s hard to run at full speed when not looking where you’re going, after all.

She hoped it would have gone after the other woman, as surprise attacks obviously work best when the target isn’t looking your way. That said, if these creatures don’t expect one to hit back, that’s at least some element of surprise. She quietly hoped it would be enough as she ran.

“I see. It’s good that you dealt with them anyway, I think. I should be fine anyway since you seem to know what you’re doing, and they didn’t notice me the first time. So, I don’t think I would be in too much danger if I just got back to hiding, although it might be a bit scary.” He shifted from side to side a bit, looking down and lifting one hand to his mouth, furrowing his brows thoughtfully while giving a slow sort of nod.

“If they’re full, it’s fine. I’m fine right now, and I think I should be alright anyway. If you have a laptop or something like that, I would appreciate it if I could use it for a little bit.” He lowered his hand to rest beside the other again, looking up at her again. For the most part, he’d just like to check his backups, although it wouldn’t hurt to come up with something else to do if given the opportunity. It would probably be a good idea to update the backup with anything else he learned too, and speaking of which…

“Just hiding alone isn’t exactly the best course of action... After all, there are demons with all sorts of strange abilities unlike those you’d expect. Who knows how long you’d be able to stay out of their sight,” she warned. That said, even the shelters she’d mentioned weren’t entirely safe... 

“I don’t have any laptops or such with me, sorry,” she replied. If Fumi were here, she could help on that... The scientist never went anywhere without a laptop on her person. As it were, the only computers Makoto had access to were those in the headquarters, off limits to civilians. 

For the witch, she’s no trainer. A traditional battle is not in her means. Not at the cost of her own birds.

They may be able to protect her, sure, but in the long run, they were good for a distraction at best. Or mobbing a single target at the worst. And that target would have to not have the upper hand for that to even remotely work.

Perhaps if she had the reserves and sheer stamina to pull off offensive moves, things would be different. But as that wasn’t the case, well…

Running would always be the best option.

That grip doesn’t falter - In spite of her frail form, Bridgette would prove to be quick on her feet!

Though her own weight may not compare to a normal human’s, a little bit of wind magic at her feet all it takes to pick up that missing momentum, that tailwind pulling them both along.

As if this maneuver had been practiced once a many time before.

Other pokemon may lay in wait in the tall grass, going about their own business, or perhaps simply in the way, but she’s giving them no time to react, zigzagging through the tall grass and bringing the other girl along for the ride.

That Murkrow may perhaps have startled that fox, but it wouldn’t be long before it was back on their trail. It wouldn’t let them run away that easily.

All the more reason to get that head start now, and lose it while they were ahead. The Lost Forest lived up to it’s name, all it would take is a few quick turns to wind up hopelessly off the trail, previous pathways swallowed up. Leaving pursuers off their tail, and the innocent lost.

But this was the fox’s home. They were the trespassers here, her grandmother the resident witch. This wasn’t her territory - she was the outsider, and the fox would be more than familiar with the paths she would take. 

Oh, if only she didn’t have this lost soul with her! Without the extra weight escape would be a pinch! The sky was limitless, after all! 

Ah, this girl was going to owe her by the end of this.

Left to right, back to front - Round and round in circles the pair would go, the forest’s own naturally looping nature being used to their own advantage. 

Let the other ponder on the relationship between the humans of this world and the creatures they shared it with, let her situation sink in. For others to be a threat with such creatures under their own command, that was a very valid concern. One easily remedied by befriending a few creatures of your own!

But this situation would not allow for that, not easily. And the witch has absolutely no intentions of stopping in mid-escape! Not without a clear exit in route.

There were no cliffs to fly off from, no thickets in which she could change shape and disappear out of sight. Her usual tricks were not meant to be performed with an audience - outsmarting the forest’s trickster would take more cunning to outmatch than a regular human.

And she couldn’t keep running like this. Her mana reserves weren’t an infinite pool. Only so much could be drawn from her surroundings before it became obvious as to what she was doing. There would be no quick roosts- no opportunity was available. If she kept on like this, she was going to tire.

And that rustling was still behind them, she can hear it already catching up. A sharp cry of the creature’s call echoing in the trees behind them, the witch wincing at the language used.

Ah, someone was angry. Did it collide with a tree in all of that confusion? That must have left a mark!

Watching the way they went, Makoto tried to keep track of which turns they took, but couldn’t make sense of the all the trees and bushes. It all looked the same to her, and she wondered how the other knew where she was going - she certainly seemed to have a particular path in mind. Well, if one lived around a place long enough, even something like this would become familiar. 

The wind carrying them forward certainly caught her attention. Where did that come from? It was a great help to them, to be sure, but she couldn’t help but be curious as to its origins. After all, wind manipulation was certainly dangerous, as she knew from her own demon’s zan skills. Either way, in this case it was to their aid. 

Hearing her guide speak up, the agent looked over. The prospect of fighting without her demons wasn’t too thrilling, but well... As with other demon tamers, the first demon she met she had to fight on her own, and she’d managed that just fine. It was still more reassuring to have them at her side, though. 

“If it comes to that, I’m certainly capable at hand to hand combat,” she replied. “I’ve had plenty of training, at the very least.” 

That said, she didn’t like to think of letting the claws she’d glimpsed before they started running too close... Or any wild animal’s teeth. But if there wasn’t any other choice, then so be it. They’d already made their attempt at escape, so fighting was likely the only option if it was still chasing them. In that case, best think up some tactics.