#reny

"Heah!"

The carriage was going as fast as it could, its cargo shaking heavily in the back as the wheels strained and jostled against the uneven ground. The robed woman stayed in the back, her cowl pulled down and obscuring her head. She turned just so, look out to the back.

Celica was perched on the back lip, reaching for another arrow from an unfolded pack on the side as she looked about, still clutching a bow. Another pair of arrows whizzed past the carriage and she nocked her own, aimed haphazardly, and let it loose. And then the carriage hit a branch, and she hung on where she could, scowling.

"They're still gainin' on us—fuck! So long as the 'bos can keep goin'…" As if on cue, the choked, curdling noise of a chocobo meeting its end by an arrow through the neck resonated, and the carriage careened off to the side as its body went under the wheels and sent it briefly sideways before landing somehow still upright, though several wheels had been smashed. The driver had been thrown backwards into the cart itself. Celica managed to mostly keep herself upright, but was now relying on the cover offered by the cart to obscure her. She grit her teeth and reached down for her old, trusty greatsword.

"Swordswoman, a moment."

The woman in the robes turned her head to Celica, and pulled her hood back. A Xaela woman, fair-skinned, with hair of a curious, deep royal purple hue, and horns that were /just/ tinted in a similar manner. Her eyes were piercing and sat in pools of black, making the rings in them all the more apparent.

"You intend to face them alone." Her tone was matter-of-fact, but not accusatory.

Celica raised her eyebrows. "Well, if we want any chance of walkin' away, someone's at least goin' to have t' talk to them."

"From the arrows I have seen and the region we find ourselves in, I gather that they are Couerlclaw. I am told there is no negotiation with them that does not end in death or chains. You would speak to them, knowing this?" The woman tilted her head just so.

"…No, not personally. I was gonna let this one do most of the chatter," she said, her head motioning towards the blade that was now slung over her shoulder.

"Then I suppose additional negotiators would not be unwelcome." She rose to her feet, looking now over to Celica, picking up a long staff that had been resting in a corner among several other satchels and packages. She held the staff less like a staff, and more like a spear.

Celica's eyebrows both rose. "…Well, th' more th' merrier," said deadpan before she turned to the driver and took a more serious tone. "Stay under cover," direct instructions. She turned to the Xaela. "Conjurer?"

"In training."

"Good enough for me. You can make a distraction?"

"More than one."

"Just th' one. When you finish, we run into the brush on th' side and get into th' thick to cut angles." She dug around the caravan and pulled out a shield, which looked a bit mismatched given the massive sword. "You're with me; we'll have a better chance if we can watch each other's backs."

"Very well." She moved to get under cover of the caravan and prepared her staff, which she now more properly held like one.

"…You've got a name, lass?"

"Renny, by any spelling." Renny's voice remained at an even keel, calm. Almost chilling.

"…Right," she said, chuckling in a small bit of disbelief. "Well, we go when you start us off."

"ugh- I feel terrible.."

The parasite sat on the floor, supporting their head with a groan.

"Ember-?"

.... They were met with silence. Their expression dropped and they looked around.

"Maxwell-? Ember-?! Please, don't leave me alone-"