[closed] regardless of warnings

[oathkeeper]

Who: Sora & Kairi & Riku, Sora & Nari
When: When these prayers happen
Where: Where these prayers happen
What: Destiny Trio take on a Mission #08! Sora and Nari knock out Prayer #31 & #32!


[July 11; Mission #08; Sora & Kairi & Riku]

[Initially when they got the assignment Sora had been pretty excited to get on board with Kairi and Riku for the task. After all, when was the last time just the three of them did anything together? It’s like a dream come true! Despite that, Sora managed to sleep in for maybe... a little bit too long. Whoops.

So when he wakes up he panics and immediately destroys half his room trying to get ready and ends up teleporting to the hallway outside of Fuujin’s rooms while still trying to stick one shoe on his foot.]

I’m here! I’m ready! One of us has that letter we got, right?

[July 14; Prayer #31; Sora & Nari]

[The animal ranch they arrive at is very large. Much larger than Sora had been expecting it to be. He wonders mildly if that has anything to do with the animals getting lured out and stolen and killed. Was this place just too big to keep an eye on everything?]

Wow, this place sure is something. Let’s look around a little.

[But too much land shouldn’t be any reason why the handler should think he’s bad at this. There had to be a logical explanation why the animals were going missing, right? Time to get down to business.]

Comments

[oathkeeper]

[The man seems to straighten at Nari's last comment.]

"To the slaughter house? I'd never..."

[Sora has to smile a bit. That's Nari's way of encouraging someone, isn't it.]

"The ground... When I checked in the morning there were some scratches in the dirt. But again, I can't recall what kind of animal scratch."

Really? Well, let's go check that out!

[The man will lead the way with Sora waving at Nari to follow with. When they get there the horses are skittish and staying as far away as they can from them. Near the fence posts are indeed scratches in the dirt. Something with three claws or talons.]

[nolittlesecret]

[Not cheering up. Being painfully honest. There's a difference.

Following, Nari sees the horses and frowns. Something tells him that these creatures probably like him as little as he likes them even if it's his first encounter with them...

Just going to go look ahead.

Blinking, he heads to a set of scratches and looks them over carefully.]

... Whatever this was is definitely heavy. Gotta be to pick a horse up.

[oathkeeper]

[Painfully honest, cheering up, same thing...? Maybe!!

Sora walks around a bit too, checking for anything out of the ordinary aside from the scratches. Glancing at the way the horses are so skittish...]

Do you think maybe... It looked kinda human?

[It's a shot in the dark. But why else would the horses be so scared of them?]

Uhh... But I dunno, I don't think anyone human can pick up a horse.

[nolittlesecret]

Human?

[Something human but that can fly? That... Means time for the internet on the phone because somehow that sounds familiar.]

... well, there's harpies. Half woman, half bird, all ugly. Or maybe tengu?

[Not like Nari has experience with any of these creatures in the first place.]

[oathkeeper]

[The man seems to cower when Nari says that. He lowers his head and looks like he's a broken man.]

"... Harpies... Tengu... This isn't happening..."

[Sora looks a little alarmed ad goes over to the man to reassure him.]

It won't be happeing for much longer! Nari and me, we'll stake out overnight and see if we can catch it and get rid of it for you, how does that sound?

[But he looks to Nari to see if he thinks that's a good idea too.]

[nolittlesecret]

[There were so many more choices that these sites were coming up with. The problem? Most just went after humans. Though if horses are easier to go after...

Nari nods, looking rather tense.]

We'll have to keep the horses out here. As bait.

[oathkeeper]

[The man looks somewhat unsure at first but he really doesn't have much other choice.]

"Please... Just, don't like any more of them get hurt or killed."

[Sora nods.]

Don't worry, just leave it to us. Come on, Nari. Let's get ready for a long night.

[nolittlesecret]

[There's no way Nari can promise that they won't get hurt. It was a huge risk, but a necessary one, to ensure the survival of the group. Nari might not like horses much, but they are useful, and useful is good.]

Right. Treeline would be a good bet to crash out at.

[Lead the way, little god dude.]

Prayer #32

[oathkeeper]

[The night is unfortunately not the warmest. At times there's drizzles of cold rain and at others there is chilly winds. It's not a pretty night.

Sora sits against a tree with a small pout on his face as he shivers. He has to remember, this is for the horses and for the peace of mind of the rancher. No time to be complaining!]

Ugh... It's really cold...

[Complaining anyway.]

I hope this works.

[There's one horse in the pasture who's skittering around restlessly nearby.]

[nolittlesecret]

[Sorry, Sora, but your shinki is quite comfortable. Part of his abilities is being able to control his body temperature. So when it drizzles, if Sora is paying attention, Nari is literally steaming. All to keep himself warm and dry.]

I know, right? I hate the cold.

[He lets out an irritated sigh and concentrates on where the noise is coming from.]

.... hopefully not too much long now.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora glances at Nari and notices the... steam ability.]

Very funny. [Pouting.

He lifts his gaze to the pasture and watches the poor horse. He feels so bad at it. His fingers curl into fists as he hopes the same thing. That poor horse is going through all this alone.]

If it really is a harpy I won't need to use your vessel form, Nari. You can fight too, right? I'd love the back up.

[nolittlesecret]

[It's not steam. It's heat. Pure heat.]

Not my fault you can't make yourself into a heater.

[Can Nari fight?]

I guess I can use my powers on it, but I'm no good without a weapon otherwise. Fireballs might help?

[oathkeeper]

[You don't need to rub it in, Nari! He sighs and droops his shoulders.]

I should've brought another sweater.

[He looks back up at Nari and grins a bit.] Fireballs always help.

[There's the soft distant sound of flapping nearby. The sound seems to make the horse run in a panicked circle.]

Did you hear that?!

[nolittlesecret]

Or move closer like a normal human being would. Aren't you supposed to be like a human barnacle?

[Yes, he's making fun of you.]

Might not be that effective in this weath-[Nari tenses, then takes off running towards the horse. Better keep up with him, Sora.]

[oathkeeper]

Hey-! What? I'm not a barnacle! [Why do people always compare him to that??

But before he can argue more he's too busy yelping and chasing after Nari.

In the distance of the pasture the horse has started to pace so anxiously that it rears on its hind legs and wails.

Then there's a black figure somewhere in the darkness. It looks like it's floating. Sora immediately summons his keyblade for a fight.]

It's too dark to see-

[nolittlesecret]

[Huggy people = barnacles.

Seeing the figure is all Nari needs to know. Definitely a flier. Since fire won't be as effective... how about electricity?

But first, protect the horse! He slashes the air in front of him, concentrating on covering the frightened animal.] Line!

[All that practice with Neji pays off! There's a decent wall between the target and the bait now.]

Hey! I'm gonna try and zap it when we get closer!

[oathkeeper]

[The horse rears again and lets out a high-pitched neigh as the borderline goes off. It stamps the ground in fear and starts to pace back and forth. But the protection will do well so long as Nari keeps it up.]

Alright! I'll hit it while it's stunned!

[There's a whoosh of wings as the rain starts to get a little heavier. Coming into sight is what appears to be... Not a harpy. Or a Tengu.

Instead it is a large chubby bear-like creature with large bat-like wings. The creature is all black with giant bulging purple eyes.

An ayakashi.]

[nolittlesecret]

[Before Nari can use any sort of ability, he stops and stares at the.............]

What the fuck is that thing?

[Sorry, Sora, your shinki has never actually come across an ayakashi before.]

Is electricity even gonna work on that thing?! [Should he knock it out of the air with a wind gust instead?]

[oathkeeper]

I ... [Sora squints his eyes.] It's an ayakashi! ... I think.

[For once he's not going to side eye Nari for the swearing. Because what the fuck is that thing.]

Let's find out! Go!

[Sora runs forward to attack.]

[nolittlesecret]

[Nari nods and watches the ayakashi for a moment longer to see where the best place to strike is. He then runs at the horse, trusting his borderline is strong, and jumps up on it. Then with a snap of his finger comes a crackle of thunder, followed by a flash of lightning aimed right at the creatures back.

Will it work? Who the heck knows. He's never fought an ayakashi before.]

[oathkeeper]

[The snap of lightning has the creature letting out a piercing wail and it clamors backwards in the air. It seems to have taken damage but not enough that it's knocked from the sky.

Sora is in there fast, running and leaping upwards to unleash an aerial combo. If they can just get it stunned and beaten down enough he can call Nari's vessel form and put an end to it.

Unfortunately the creature has other plans too. After Sora lands a few hits it sees to suddenly pulsate with energy and Nari's lightning bursts from its body and hits Sora at point blank. He goes flying backwards and hits the ground in a heap.

This ayakashi absorbs and reflects.]

[nolittlesecret]

[He's never seen his god fight, so Nari is quite impressed! And then it turns to panic when Sora hits the ground. That... He jumps down and rushes over, making sure the young god was alive before turning to the monster again.]

Well fuck. Guess I gotta do the hard work.

[Does he have something up his sleeve? Yes. Yes he does.

Getting as far away from Sora as possible, he sends another lightning bolt at the ayakashi.]

[oathkeeper]

[Not dead! But down for a little bit. Sora is on the ground and clenching his forearm but he's alive.

The ayakashi gets zapped again and this time it beats its wings hard to ascend into the air.

It gets ready to unleash the returned lightning strike at Nari.]

[nolittlesecret]

[Sora might really question Nari's sanity as he kicks his shoes off. It's really simple. Rubber melts under extreme heat.

Why does that matter? Because Nari can act like a lightning rod. He beats his chest and yells loudly.]

Bring it! I ain't going down from a zap!

[oathkeeper]

[Sora sits up just in time to think his shinki has gone off the deep end.]

Nari, no!!

[But as he shouts down comes the lightning on Nari with a loud threatening crack.]