#lets gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Mash has slowed down compared to a full Servant, and her defensive fighting style is counter to the situation, where it’s better to just duck and run, play the evasion game. She’s getting distracted with trying to keep the entire party clear. Ritsu gives order without missing a step. “Andromache. Get Mash to the Shadow Border. Go.”

With only a brief glance behind her and a quick magical buff to Hektor, Andromache swoops ot Mash’s side. She’ll escort, corral and rush Mash off to security. Ritsu only watches them until they’re certain that Mash is securely dragged along.

Alright. Andromache’s fast and attentive, covered as well by Hektor, how manages to loose Durindana behind Ritsu, exploding and setting most of the purusuant kali abandoning chase. That’ll be Mash safe. Ritsu hears their own name shouted and they immediately duck, moments before something zings over their head and impacts a kali immediately bearing down on them. An arrow explodes poison and sparks in its snout. It screeches in a horrifyingly humanoid way, all rage and pain.

“Thanks!” Ritsu shouts over the kali’s shriek. Robin doesn’t say a reply, but Ritsu doesn’t look to know he’s nodded out of habit. “Now get over here! Don’t worry about the back!” They’re close! The Shadow Border’s in sight, so stop worrying about shooing back what’s not ahead of them.

“The ones from the side’ll catch up!” Robin protests. He’s not wrong. The stupid monsters are fast, as one skitters toward Ritsu from the direction of the border. Ritsu fires a quick Gandr shot at it. The shot bursts in its face binds it in time for Ritsu to jump over its midsection. One concern less, at least.

Robin fires another few shots that explode into smoke at the flanking beasts, before he’s what catches up to Ritsu. “Almost there,” he says through grit teeth. With a Servant’s speed, it would be easy to go himself, but he’s not leaving Ritsu, and Ritsu isn’t going to be anywhere but pulling up the rear to make sure everyone else makes it to the Border. Idiot. As much as Robin would like to grab them and hoist them up--

“Almost,” Ritsu says, before they look over at Robin and their eyes widen at something past the Archer’s shoulder. “Shit.” One of the kali has leaped over another and it’s too close, bearing down with open jaws on Robin’s side.

Ritsu knows the following: Robin doesn’t want to die. Ritsu doesn’t want to see Robin die. On instinct, they grab Robin’s cloak and swing him out of the way, sending Robin crashing to the ground with a roll, safely out of the way.