Lastlook: Entering the River

[ruin_mania]

[For the past day or so, it's pretty clear the Amber Steppe has been left behind and the Totem Coast is getting closer. The air is more humid and the undergrowth has gone from a burnt amber color to be thicker, greender, and almost bordering on jungle-like. Several other streams have joined the one that the explorers have been following until it's almost large enough to start sailing on. Raine had encouraged everyone to press on, though, not sure it was time just yet (and also because she doesn't particularly like boats, okay). The cliffs around them start to grow up as well, and it probably won't be too long before the jungle becomes a properly impassable one, leaving the river as the only choice.

But this morning, another large stream had joined up with their and now it was more like a proper river. In the late morning they reach a large pier with five boats. The river also begins to take a higher road from here downstream, while the jungle starts to clog the lower road. Looks like it won't be too much longer before they're in the very painting that led them here. It's time to investigate those boats - and unload the smaller onces Percy Jackson has packed. And if you don't trust either of these, there are some inflatable rafts that Raine has packed as well.

So let's load up, and they'll be on the water by the afternoon!]

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

[He really, honestly wasn't expecting Rude Girl to try to murder him. Between the moments of his brain having a OMGWTFBBQ?!!! reactions, he realises he should probably be glad he knows a lot of women who are ridiculously good at fighting.

He'll let himself be dragged out of the way because, yeah. This is so not his thing. It's the least 'his thing' thing he's ever experienced]

Because I'm me and I mess everything up. Seriously, we just had this conversation a few days ago.

[ino]

[and ino's immediately turning on her heel to point her sword threateningly at echidna, glad that onceler's been moved out of the way! she won't make another offensive move until echidna does something, but she will lower her voice threateningly]

Touch him, and I'll kill you.

[polar]

[The Avatar's there as well, in a stance similar to bending, but more oriented for straight hand to hand. Her eyes are narrowed, indicating she's on edge, ready to move whenever she needs to. She tenses at Ino's statement, but stays silent.]

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena has to pull back her blow when the elf misses it, but she's quick to leap to her feet and stand next to Ino, daggers that were once hidden suddenly in her hand.

For once in her life, she keeps quiet, letting Ino speak for all of them.]

[hedonic]

[ Gaze flitting between the three girls ready to apparently take her down (or die trying) for the weakling of a man that's currently being dragged away to safely, Echidna can't help but wonder if it's worth it. Not the fight itself, per se; she never needs an excuse for a good brawl.

But if these girls have such bad taste in who they take under her charge, does she really want to bother getting excited and spending time with any of them? It's almost pathetic, really, and only makes her want to mutilate the boy even more.

With a flash of her teeth, Echidna pretends to shiver, thighs squeezing together as she licks her lips and starts to crouch a touch. While she's still observing Korra and Sheena, the lewd look she's offering is directed mostly at Ino. ]

Those are heavy words, missie. I'm just aching at the thought of making you choke on them. You're all so daring and cute... Which one should I cut up first? One...two...

[heal_theworld]

[She hears that, and knows that Echidna is not going to let this go. If this gets out of hand, she'll have to protect Once-ler, because she'd come after him. Really, Once-Ler, why must you insult the truly dangerous ones? She leans up and whispers in his ear again.] Just stay behind me, all right? If she gets through them... [She doesn't finish that sentence, because she refuses to believe she'd get through all three of them. Hopefully.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[He's surprised by Ino's words, really. He knew they would have kept their world and not let him...die horribly out here. But to actually hear it, well. That was something else.

And yes, he must insult the really dangerous ones. He starts to nod to get ehind her and then pauses. Speaking quietly]

Uh...don't you guys have no powers here? Doesn't that put you all at a really bad disadvantage? [Guys don't die]

[ino]

[that gets you a wholly disgusted look, echidna. WHY ARE YOU SO CREEPY AND GROSS UGH. but she doesn't take her eyes off her, or lower her sword -- in fact, she's preparing to bring out even more sharp and pointy things if need be]

Just leave.

[polar]

[Same stance, no words towards Echidna, but she does call over to Onceler.]

Shut up now.

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena seems to be frozen as she watches Echidna, the only movement being a slight twitching of her fingers on the hilts of her daggers.

Suddenly, one of the blades fly towards the elf's face and Sheena charges right behind it, her other dagger poised to strike.]

THREE!

[hedonic]

[ There's a momentary glance Onceler's way, the smirk on her face only fading a touch when she actually takes more notice of the girl who's moving in front of him. Another half-breed... Like Nowa? Somehow that had—

Oh! The taunt had actually worked in weeding out what should be the weakest link, but Echidna's slight distraction almost costs her an eye when she turns the follow the girl, the first dagger striking against the edge of her buckler mid-turn just in time. Her spin doesn't even slow, buckler swinging down to not only block Sheena's strike, but hopefully smash through that and knock her away. Echidna's strength is her own, inside or outside of the Dead Zone, and it's nothing to underestimate. She's not in short supply of speed, either. ]

[heal_theworld]

[Martel notices the look towards her, and her eyes narrow. Did the woman notice she was a half-elf, or was she just figuring out if she was a threat? It didn't matter right now, though. She'd come to that bridge when they crossed it. If they crossed it.]

Once-ler, do us all a favor and stop talking. [This is her serious face, right now. And she wishes she had something more than a staff right now.]

[ninjainviolet]

[Yes, Sheena was a hot-head, always running blindly into trouble, but she will never consider it a weakness--not when it involves protecting someone. Unfortunately, she hadn't taken the buckler into account when she charged, and thanks to the other woman's speed and strength, it meeting her dagger sends a numbing shock through the ninja's arm.]

Damn!

[She still manages to hold on to her dagger as she ignores the pain long enough to leap back to where Martel stands with Once-ler. Shaking her arm, she hopes she's been enough of a distraction so the other two can bring things to an end.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[He very almost starts to argue. ALMOST.

But no, Martel and Korra are probably right. He's the King of Not Helping. So, for now, he falls silent. Making a mark in his mental notebook, adding Echinda as someone to avoid for the rest of his time here.

Or forever, whichever comes first]

[[ooc: I'm being dragged out today, so you guys can just skip Once for a while, he won't be doing anything ;)]]

[ino]

[ino spies an opening! while echidna is busy shoving sheena away, she'll be going for echidna's side with the tanto. even if it doesn't connect, she's hoping the swipe at her should make her jump further away from once-ler, and give martel a little more room to get him away from echidna]

[polar]

[Korra really hates not having her beding. If she did. she'd be on the offensive and shoving this chick back to wherever she came from. Instead, she circles, staying between Oceler and Echidna, making sure to play defense if need be.]

[hedonic]

[ And it does work in that respect, at least, another hop and twist taking her further back towards the shore. Closer to the water, the people... And there— There's Kenta, her beloved serpent lurking within the leaves. The jungle is a place that Echidna can thrive in combat. There are a thousand ways Echidna can think of making this more fun.

But even as she's parrying and swinging at Ino, a swift kick following the high feint of her sword, she's balancing her options. Echidna is aware that Onceler is moving further away, and sooner or later this will attract everyone else's attention.

She isn't here to make friends, but it might be too much for there to be a riot. Especially if the boats are damaged... ]

[heal_theworld]

[She notices that they're moving slowly towards the shore, and she backs up, hoping Once-ler gets the messages and backs up with her. If they can get closer to where people are, the chances of any of them getting injured goes down. Though, sooner or later somebody is going to notice this, so it's only a matter of time before it breaks up. Hopefully.]

[ino]

[and ino will just be carefully dodging her attacks, and trying to push her back where she can. she's hoping that echidna will realize that she's outnumbered and not exactly in the best situation, here ... even though she's pissed off, she doesn't really want to KILL someone unless she has to]

[hedonic]

[ It is true that while Echidna is very confident in her own abilities (arrogance is for the young), she does know how to weigh options. Even if her own desire for pleasure often rules everything else, she still keeps the endgame in mind.

And for now, that is more important. Even if she could carry on this trip by herself and fare just fine, it's clear this group might be going somewhere noteworthy, and she'll find out more if she doesn't make enemies out of all of them.

Besides, even if Ino is currently the aggressor of the trio, she's very aware that Korra is circling them, and that she may not be a bad fighter, either. And by the time she gets through those two, she'll still have the half-breeds to deal with. Sheena no doubt would recover by then, and Martel hadn't yet revealed any of her skills, so she was a mystery.

It would take time, she would risk getting injured, and there was a good chance others would interfere before she could make it to the boy. So just as Ino's blade cuts nearly too close, slicing against the fabric covering her throat, Echidna makes her decision (she can be fickle!) and drops low while the girl's still swinging. With an eye on the blonde's knees and the buckler shielding the top of her head, Echidna rams with all of her weight directly into Ino's gut. It would have been a perfect opening for her to gut the ninja in Onceler's place, but somewhere during the duck, her sword's ended up sheathed back against her thigh.

While it could in theory be a finishing move, the elf's only using it to knock the girl off her feet and buy herself a few moments so she can roll out of immediate danger (as by now Korra might expect her to jump) to where the serpent slithers out from one of the ships and up her thigh. Echidna's already bracing for an oncoming attack from anyone, as she would never be out of breath from such a short fight, however skilled the opponents. But even if she still looks raring to go, she calls out, ]

Truce?

[ ooc; LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS NOT OKAY ]

[ino]

[and she's definitely knocked off her feet -- she's quick to pull herself up into a crouch, though, sword still pointed at echidna even if oh god ow her stomach hurts and she's kind of wincing. but she wasn't exactly expecting echidna's next move, which wasn't really a move at all.

... it really pisses her off that she's gotten the last blow and then called it off like that. REALLY PISSES HER OFF. but through the irritation she knows that it's best for everyone if she agrees. ... still, she doesn't have to look happy about it]

Fine.

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena's still recovering from her own stint against the elf-woman, but she knows that sometimes retreat is the best option. Especially since this could escalate into something none of them wants. However, she still remains infront of Once-ler as she also nods.]

Yes. That's fine.