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[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri Kouri had been fighting other ghosts other than Noaru, such as Shiyami, she had developed a technique to predict the place where the opponent ghost would blink by sensing their soulmist and pin-point their new location. Sight isn't really required when she was fighting fellow ethereal beings. Also, she could blink as well and that made her proficient in defeating the ability so very similar to her own. When Noaru arrived at his new location, another tendril already lashed out and almost cut through his face, that's when he spoke... "Eh? Sir Noaru?" The tendril stopped dead at less than an inch before making contact with his face. Kouri recognized that voice, she immediately retracted all of her tendrils and scratched her head sheepishly "Ah! I-I'm sorry! I didn't realize it was you!" All aura of hostility disappeared from her. "Huff... ehm? That human? Ah, you mean Madame Wulvenhart? Well..." Kouri was thinking on how to explain the situation, she also approached another tree and leaned her body on it, freezing and killing it, regenerating her soulmist. "Uhm... I think Madame Wulvenhart is sick, Sir Noaru! And she's all out here in the Woods, but it's not a bad thing, right? If she dies, we can all be friends as ghosts! Yay!" She made a cheerful fist pump to the air, seeing the prospect of Wulvenhart dying like it was all fun and games. "Eh?" When Kouri turned back to Wulvenhart, she was already taking shelter by a tree. A tinge of disappointment was very visible on Kouri's face. Little Princess... it looks like she realized her situation... too bad for me, eh? "...." Disappearing from her location and appearing right beside the staggering squire, Kouri sighed and actually tried to convince Wulvenhart to just lie down and rest "Madame, you look so tired... and it's far away from Syliras... I can make it all go away... just lay down and let me help you..." For the squire's sake, she better not believe anything the malicious little girl said at the moment. "Though... if you want still want to live..." The dual nature of Kouri's tone was rather jarring, in the back of her mind, she didn't want for Wulvenhart to just die like this so she gave her a choice "I can help you, you know... I can go inside you and control your body, at least until you arrive at Syliras..."

[Noaru]

Noaru could barely hear Kouri but he did make out a few words amongst the chaotic weather. The tree's and branches kept crackling around him, distracted the spirit from his materialization. Noaru carefully descends downwards onto the forest floor near Kouri and Fallon--forgetting the thought of materialization entirely. Though, he wasn't materialized and couldn't be seen, he knew the two would know he was there... albeit invisible to the eye. He could see the exhaustion in Fallon's eyes and the way she staggered across the forest floor, this wasn't something he could watch fondly.

“ Madame Wulvenhart, looks as though she was in a battle, Kouri. If she dies now, in such a unbefitting manner, wouldn't this ruin her pride? She would most likely pass on to reincarnate and not stay as ghost because her honor as a warrior was tarnished. ”

This tension, Noaru was sure even Fallon could feel it to. The spirit could see that Kouri was dangerous and nigh unstable... a ghost he did not wish to encounter in this era. The constant change in the young ghosts tone of voice was odd--almost as if... there were two people talking. Noaru had a sudden realization, Fallon was in the most danger, as she seemed to be the focus of Kouri concern! Noaru moved closer to Fallon, close enough to whisper in her ear. The words he spoke into Fallon's ear were in the ancient tongue; maintaining his same dull and somewhat smooth tone of voice, as he spoke.

“ The situation is more dire than you think, tread carefully... a life may be at stake.”

The ancient tongue was a language he had learned long ago, he hoped that Fallon heard what he meant, and understood his words meaning.There was an agenda that Fallon had to be made aware of.

[Fallon]

The voice, it kept changing, ever swirling between two different states. The tones the mannerisms. The talk of death as if she was not there. How rude, to talk of one dying in front of them, “Talk of death… I am standing right here you know. Present and cold. Thank you.”

There was a slowed blink as joints moved the urge to carry on going whilst the ghost girl was momentarily distracted with the other. This Noaru. She gave a grimace, pulling herself away from it all, keeping it slow and steady. Rushing was far from an option, she did not fancy the idea of meeting the earth again. Besides, if this more malicious side of Fubuki was present then it would be ill advised to stay about. It was the offer that made her guard raise even more, and the long whisper of the ancient tongue within her ear. It had been a while since she had heard it spoken, and perhaps seemingly more of a life time ago. Eyes winced, turning slightly to him as she heard the key tones whisper in. She straightened, the growing danger becoming more obvious by the tick.

Dire.Think.Care-fully? Life. Stake, there was only a subtle nod as she heard the words of Noaru, and in a slightly lower, more hesitant – and broken - tongue did she respond to him in ancient, “Child bring it? What… does me?”

There was an incline of the head; her eyes glancing back briefly to the world beyond her. She did not fancy running, but should the need arise she would. Death, though perhaps quick and merciful was not something she could bring herself to do. Despite the guilt and suffering that rested upon her shoulders, it was not an option to take. Nostrils flared slightly, her eyes watching Fubuki carefully. The agenda was made aware to her quiet quickly, and so she reacted in like, “I can take myself back. I managed to get out here, and I have travelled in worse and with less. It is just a storm. Nothing more.”

Way out. Where is the way out? She glanced over her shoulder in the pouring rain, Don’t want her in my head. No one should go in there.
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[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Ehehe~ But dying is not a bad thing... it would be over in just a tick..." Kouri smiled happily and trotted closer to Wulvenhart, examining her face with her crimson eyes Yes... just a little longer... and we can be together... forever!" "Eh? Where are you going? Don't you want to lie down and rest?" Kouri kept following Wulvenhart as she limped forward, the ghost girl putting her hands behind her back and "walked" beside the squire, ignoring the pouring rain. She occasionally brushed her hand to a nearby tree, freezing it to death, and regenerating her soulmist, a harbinger of desolation in the body of a little girl. "........" Kouri's eyes narrowed in annoyance like a child whose toy had been taken away, she could "see" Noaru's soulmist presence approaching closer to the squire. Even though his form was not visible to the naked eyes of the living, the phantom girl could feel his presence and knew exactly where he was. He was speaking to Wulvenhart in a language she didn't understand. "Eh? What are you guys talking about? Playing language! I can do it too! I bet you both can't understand what I am saying now~ Hehehee~" She spoke the last part of her sentence in Vani. Kouri "walked' to Noaru and rather roughly pushed him away from Wulvenhart by using her hands "I'll accompany Madame Wulvenhart, you can uuh~ go back to your Lake, Sir Noaru!" She then happily skipped back to the trudging squire "Ehehe~ really, Madame? You look... tired you know? Maybe sleeping would be good... I'll wake up you up later... come on, just rest for now..."

[Noaru]

Noaru felt a small sense of ease but the danger was still there... waiting. The sight of Kouri killing the plants made him cringe, she was indiscriminately killing the plants, but for what reason? Noaru couldn't understand but he was glad that most of the animals had hid from the storm or she mite have killed them. The spirit killed his emotions; his worries, he punished them--allowing them to remain silent in the presence of his strong will. The good part was that Fallon understood him, even if it was just a little. Noaru pleased with just this, knowing that the ancient tongue remained as a language.

“ Huh? That was a strange language there, Kouri. I can't leave, it looks as though you both are severely injured. If I leave now and something happened to you Kouri, how do you think I would feel? ”

Noaru felt as though, even if something did happen while he was gone. The little behemoth would deal with it and proceed to make Fallon her next victim.
The spirit concentrated, his focus extending on all the things that were around him. The darkened soulmist flowing around him, collected with him as the center of focus. He extended his entire body forward and attempts a more graceful possession--where he wouldn't take ''complete'' control of the body and give the host mobility.

“ I'm not going to take complete control of your body, just enough so I can hold on and communicate with you, Madame Wulvenhart.”

Noaru waited afterwards and focused on maintaining his hold on possession, as he needed to, if he wanted to communicate with Fallon.

[Fallon]

Fallon’s nostrils flared. Her free hand skirted around to the blade that rested across her back. It was still there; even in the state and mindset she was in she was still able to bring it. The cold iron Kukri. In all her pains it was always there, to cut away her bindings and her fears. To arm her, to lead her on through the wilds. Her last memento from a long forgotten time. It was the same as then as it was now. She was cold and beaten, and rose up to face the challenge.

She would do so again.

"It is over yonder that we dare do tread. We whisper of frost and snow. Of where great bears of white guard the city of ice. For their love of the Holds and Morwen of course,” Eyes blinked at Fubuki as she forced her soaked frame to stop trembling. She heard the change once more, the growing shrill echoing in the back. Her eyes stared down upon the ghost, cold, unflinching. Nostrils flared as she watched the obvious older ghost tried to reason with the younger. Her voice turned crisp, the low undertones emerging as she continued to stare, ”Go to sleep little one. Let Morwen sing you a lullaby.”

The mumble of Noaru rested on her ears, and for a moment she tensed. It was intrusive, and unexpected. Her fists clenched, her back straightened as the cold feeling of something else rested in place. It seeped in and held. She could not exactly fight back against it, more so when her jaw clenched tightly.

What? What? What!? No, no I don’t like this. What you…? there was a swallow as the presence of Noaru hovered there above her mind. He could no doubt sense what she felt, and as she forced herself to walk onwards, arms swinging at her sides did the once numb feeling extremities begin to warm. She gave a glance to Fubuki, and shook her head.

You! Are you done yet!? Get out! This is weird! Too weird!
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[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "He... ehehehehe... ehehehahahahaha~♪" The lethal ghost girl giggled happily, truly happy at finding out that Wulvenhart could speak Vani! She even formed poetic words to obviously represent Avanthal. Bearing a happy childish grin, Kouri swayed her body from side to side, still "walking" alongside the squire and causing the genocide of grasses as they froze and died beneath her feet "So, have you been to Avanthal, Madame? I'm impressed... though, I'm not sure why you're telling me to sleep... it looks like you're the one who wanted to sleep... isn't that right, Madame?" Kouri's eyes suddenly narrowed to serpentine slits when she found out that she couldn't feel Noaru's presence beside Wulvenhart anymore, he somehow disappeared or... possessed Wulvenhart. It might be the latter as Wulvenhart suddenly acted strange, tensing as if an alien presence entered her body. The ghost girl suddenly disappeared and appeared directly in front of Wulvenhart, she held out her right hand and focused the soulmist on her palm, stopping the squire or rather... Noaru. "I think... Madame Wulvenhart can walk on her own... she didn't want me to possess her and surely she didn't want you to possess her as well... Sir Noaru, so... get out of her body... please~♪" No, it was not a request... it was an ultimatum veiled by the fake child-like tone of a "little girl".

[Noaru]

There were many options presented to him; he could leave Fallon's body and thus have her suffer by Kouri's hand. He could submit to cowardice and be intimidated by the fear of pain, or he could hide behind subterfuge and deception. In a situation like this, if he gave into any of these negative aspects, he would only look like coward who couldn't save a life, and one who didn't try. Fallon's anxiety was noticeable, he could feel it in the back of his mind—like a crispness that was quickly rising and becoming bitter. These distractions bent on his ruination weren’t helping, so he closed them off and sealed his eyes then focused his mind, clearing his perception and understanding.

This focusing helped him a great deal, allowing him to clearly see the world around him for the first time; he began to meditate on things, clearing his mind of thoughts that would distract him and outside forces that aimed for his dismay. A powerful calm and tameness within his spirit allowed him to make his choice, and he hoped that Fallon would feel this to. Noaru couldn't help but feel the lack of darkness within his host, an absence he'd hadn't felt in a long time.

“ I refuse... ”

Noaru spoke with a solid tone of voice, as he walks forward in defiance.

“ Wulvenhart can barely stand, Kouri. It’s only by the sheer force of her will that she is standing now. I'm lending my power to her while you look at her.... with the intent to kill.”

Noaru moved Fallon's body in a nonaggressive manner before dashing into the tree's; knowing completely, that he couldn't possibly out speed a ghost while he's maintaining possession. He hoped Fallon would understand his actions, and that she would forgive him, later on, for his selfishness. The spirit's grip on this possession was mild but was steadily becoming strong, as he tries to synchronize with the body entirely.

“ Madame Wulvenhart, I cannot leave your body as of now but I ask that you give me some guidance, as to where to go. I know you may not trust me, but I'am Noaru: a spirit that dwells within this forest and a friend to Kouri and Ama... possibly a former friend of Kouri, if you think of what I did just now.”

Noaru shared his name as a polite gesture and as an exchange of trust. However, he figured Madame Wulvenhart would hate him now and later for possessing her and having her tired body to run.

[Markus Andres]

Blonde hair sticking to his face in thick locks. Water ran in a steady stream down his cheeks and dripped from his chin. His arms were weary and his body ached. He sat slouched on the warhorse, eyes staring directly down into the ground before him. The rain striking his head and armoured shoulders. His helmet hung behind him, he had worn it but the constant plinging sound as the rain struck it had driven him near insane. He let Alluia find the path she found safest through the downpour. It would just be wonderful if she slid in the developing mud and crushed his leg underneath her. That would be the perfect end for the day. His hands were clenched tight on her reigns. Markus turned his head away as lightning struck nearby. The rolling thunder came moments later. Alluia moved uneasily beneath him and Markus absentminded patted her on the muscular neck. Even the leather that covered his palms felt wet and disgusting to the touch. "That can't have been far." Markus turned his gaze upwards. It would be prudent to find shelter, but Markus shook his head at the thought and moved forward once more. Markus sighed when Alluia stopped moving forward. Few things scared a war horse like Alluia, but unsteady footing? Definitely and Markus didn't want to force her through the mud with him on her back. Markus sighed annoyed as he dismounted and his armoured feet instantly sunk into the ground. He would just have to guide her. Just the shyke he needed right now. Annoyed he sloshed through the mud and fresh puddles of water. He carried almost full armour, only missing the helmet. His shield was carried upon his back and the bastard hung on his hip. The armour was not water tight, so the padding underneath was wet and it clinged to his body and when he moved it slid against him. It sent a chill down his spine. He hated that feeling and it just added to the misery of the day. Markus suddenly stopped. Had he heard a voice in the distance? He already imagined petching civilians caught by surprise in the storm. Looking helpless and wet. Just what he needed. To help them back to the city. Markus continued in the direction of the sound he had heard. It was his duty, after all. Annoyed and tired, he was still a knight. With a long drawn out annoyed sigh, that stopped suddenly. Something was coming right at him. A human figure. Running as if fleeing from someone. Or, attacking someone? In this case, Markus. His hand dipped down to the hilt and the bastard was drawn in a single fluid motion. He did not have the time to get his shield free. "Who goes ther... - Fallon?" Was his eyes playing a trick on him. He just stared at the running form of Fallon incredolously. Why would Fallon be out here in the forest of all places. Especially after what had happened. Better question was: Why was she running? Who or what was she running from? Markus was instantly in the red, not again. He would not allow it. Damned be the gods if something happened to Fallon again and he could do nothing to prevent it. He moved towards her. "Get behind me." Markus furiously demanded Fallon. His sword clenched tightly in his right hand. Left hand reached forward to grab Fallon when she was close enough. He would cut down whatever was chasing her. Bear, bandits, wolves... They would all taste his blade.

[Fallon]

Fallon’s ears twitched, her fist clenching tightly. The words rung true, her nostrils flaring to the distinct scent of death and decay. Frost clung to the ground, the shrilling warning voice reaching her mind. It was turning threatening far too quickly, and she was not about to wait around for it to get worse. She felt the strong calm from the one that rode her, lips forced into movement as the solid tone responded.

She did not need the nudge from Noaru to help send her running. Legs became animated, his strong encouragement and her lacking resistance in this case. The once stagger turned into a dash, joints straining, muscles stabbing to the numbed chill that consumed. Even as the polite words of his rung out, the urge to give reassurance reaching out to grasp and calm. Feet tripped and snagged, her hands scrabbling across the dirt as the single call to run filled her senses.

Wulvenhart, who knew that name would haunt me? Fallon. Fallon Skylar is the one I am known by. Wulvenhart is just another.

Lightning flashed, and thunder roared. Mighty strides forced through the thickening mud. Rain plastered against the skin, the white cold wrapping around her. She had to move, she had to do as she did best. She had to run. And run she did. Blood pumped, adrenal roared the blackened shadows of trees marking her escape. For all the pain, for all the suffering, enough was enough.

Her sight blackened, a gasp from air reaching her lungs as she took a stumble. The taste of iron filled her mouth, labouring breaths from bursting lungs. There was the ring of steel slicing the air, the distinctive voice of someone she knew. A hand grasped her, pulling her in and close, the distinctive command from a knight hitting her. Markus’ looked back at the direction she had come from. She shook eyes wide and staring back into the depths. She gave a swallow and forced her tightened throat to talk. It was far from possible to hide the fear that had grown there. A trembling hand rested against his back.

“G… Ghost,” she barely managed to speak between breaths, “One with… one with… bounty.”
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