~- It's Okay -~
Mana wasn't sure what they should do. Or even how they'd take care of things given everything, they'd been walking for at least a few miles. Kaien still refused to talk about whatever happened back in the town, they were currently at a rest area, it didn't look too impressive in Mana's mind. If anything it seemed like a typical one. It was also nighttime, so Mana knew they were likely to stop for the night soon. She stared down at the sandwich in her hands, thinking about some of the snippets she'd caught on the news. A member of salvation had been tortured, a shop had been demolished in Austin, Texas. A fight outside a restaurant in some town, one she couldn't remember. It was just a quick blurp, apparently they were trying to figure it out more.
She had noticed Kaien's mood take a downward turn at the mention of the shop, and she thought she'd caught a glimpse of him on the tv looking shellshocked. Tears started to prick her eyes at the thought of all the destruction, this wasn't right, by any sort of standard. Pulling out the notebook in her backpack, she grabbed a violet ink pen and started writing away, the words coming out in cursive since her father had insisted on her learning it. She didn't pay any attention to her two guardians, her focus on solely the words in front of her despite the dangers.
The mustang drove down the road, approaching the city of Austin. The driver, a blonde haired boy, was speeding faster than he logically should be given he's an out-of-stater (is that even a word), the female passenger was starting to get restless from being confined in the small space. Overheard is a raptor, it gives a cry twice, trying to tell the driver to slow down. After the driver chose to obey, the raptor divebombed the backseat, shifting...Wait, I shouldn't write that.
They pull into the town of Austin, driving for a little while until they reach the site of the explosion. Stopping, they search around for a while, trying to get get answers to what happened. They learn what set off the explosion, and about the boy traveling with two girls; who cleared out a little while afterwards. Not that the trio is being blamed for the incident, they were just normal citizens.
Mana tapped the end of the pen to her mouth, thinking of how to continue the short scene that had appeared in her mind. Her eyes drifting back to the raptor segment, there was something else that was supposed to be written there; but whenever she tried, her creativity locked up almost as if she didn't want to finish that sentence. It was irritating to say the least. Shaking her head, she skipped to the second paragraph, rereading it to try and get herself back on track. The next set of words formed in her head, her eyes becoming brighter as a smile danced across her face. It was worth the stress of the fight, she knew it. Putting the pen back to paper, Mana started writing once more.
The trio in the mustang comes across the trio from town, and upon seeing that they are fighting some other Shifters,
they decide to help out, even if it's only because the older five decide it'd be easiest for their youngest member. The youngest already has a scratch on her forearm, something that was dealt from...no, bad Mana. Anyway, defeating the shifters, even if it's just barely, the six decide to travel together only to realize there is no way for them to get six people into the mustang.
The dark-haired boy volunteers to take the youngest one, realizing his ability to shift into a flying creature (dragon, pegasus? I don't know) and taking the youngest into the sky with him. Despite the youngest's guardians' protests, they choose to let it happen as him and his twin climb into the backseat of the mustang. More light hearted adventures begin for the six of them even if the overarching adventure is still fraught with tension. Including trouble with getting---
"What are you writing there Mana?" Kaien asked, breaking her focus from the story she'd been trying to tell.
Looking at him with a flash of irritation in her eyes, Mana put her writing equipment into her backpack, feeling the residue of her shift magic slipping away from her. Taking a couple of breaths, she focused back on Kaien and smiled cheerfully. She saw the attempted smile, but it didn't reach his eyes, the pain too clear in them and made Mana want to wrap him up in a hug. Her eyes darted around them, seeing all the other people, she answered vaguely, "Just a little something to try and brighten spirits."
Kaien understood why she got the vague, a short nod was all he did in answer before he returned to eating the sandwich that had been made. Arashi had gotten done a couple minutes ago, although where she'd slipped off to Mana wasn't entirely sure. She hoped the other girl was getting things to help replenish their supplies, especially since they ran out of bread. A pink tint came to her cheeks at the silliness of that thought, it's not like they could afford to keep anything "fresh" on them given the heat. The only things Arashi could replenish their supplies with wasn't exactly the healthiest of things.
Which sucked, Mana really wanted some fruit.
Hearing a faint sound, Mana looked to the bushes to her right. She saw the smallest of rustling in the bushes across the parking lot, and she felt her stomach twist into a knot at what she knew was on the other side. "Get Arashi," she hissed to Kaien, kicking her backpack under the bench as she rose to her feet. She knew Kaien was confused, but the young adult did as he was told, running off to retrieve his twin. Mana didn't move from her spot, she knew that they wouldn't attack until the twins got back, that's how the scene went in her head.
Sometimes she hated her shift.
It took a few moments, but the twins got back. Before they could ask what was wrong, Mana screamed, "Everyone, get inside!"
Some people looked at her, thinking she was crazy but they got in their cars and drove away, others retreated inside to get away from the crazy kid. Others still stood outside, ignoring her warning until a cougar came prowling out with two wolves on its tail; the three predators eyes were focused on the the different people. Storm clouds instantly rolled in, before a downpour of rain begun, thunder rumbling overhead with flashes of lightning. This succeeded on getting everyone inside.
Mana didn't look behind her at the twins, instead her glaive appeared in her hands as she subtly wrote the words for shield and concealment in the air. Hiding the rest area building from the view of the predators and concealing the Shifters that were outside, both human and animal, from the innocent bystanders within. The cars that were still within the parking lot received the same treatment, guaranteeing that this fight wouldn't appear on the news. Kaien and Arashi moved forward, the sword and shield that Kaien preferred appeared in his hand while the archery set that Arashi wielded magically appeared.
"Watch yourselves, they won't go down without a fight." Mana warned, her voice tight with concern for the twins even though she knew she'd be the one to get the worst injuries.
"Mana, don't write this kind of stuff anymore, understand?" Kaien ordered, before he was forced away from the group to deal with the canine that had gone after him. Arashi was forced to deal with the other wolf, leaving Mana to deal with the cougar.
Tightening her grip on the glaive, Mana swung it to get the cougar to back off. She glanced briefly toward the expressway, hoping that their rescuers weren't too far away before she focused back on the cougar. Her mind already working on a method to get this taken care of, even if everything she was thinking of started to fall away before it could really have a chance to form.
She wasn't looking forward to this.
~- Ruling Those Beneath Your Feet -~
Mia was glad to be off the road for the night, even though Tyler had slipped out a little after they'd gotten there. She knew what he was going off to do, it broke her heart even if she knew it was needed. She heard the voices of the dead, they were whispering to her, telling her that her personal mission was futile. She couldn't believe it, if she did that meant she had only two options left, and neither were ones that she wanted to acknowledge. She fiddled with her phone, checking the time on it a couple of times. She hoped Tyler stayed out until after the news, because she knew depending on what it said, she'd have more trouble to deal with.
“Shock and horror fill the hearts of Americans today as one of our own is cut down. Tortured to DEATH by a little girl."
Why couldn't he have just gone to sleep? It would have been easier. She thought to herself, and seeing that it was time for the news, she turned on the tv and flipped to the news channel. She didn't care what the news anchor had to say, or what their name was, instead she watched the video of a girl "torturing" a member of Salvation. She didn't hear the door when it opened, or when it shut behind whoever opened it, she was too focused on the different disasters that the news was covering that night. It took her a moment to realize it when someone sat down next to her, she glanced in their direction to see it was Tyler, his eyes a little unfocused.
"How long are we going to allow these unprovoked attacks go on for? How long is innocent blood going to be shed for before someone does something about it?! Daniel Kendal had a wife. Children! He was a son, father and brother! Now he’s been cut down in his prime by a cowardly shifter who clearly can’t even figure out what’s right and what’s wrong.â€
Reaching out a hesitant hand, she placed it on her brother's shoulder. She saw the way he started, looking around him until he could focus on her again. "Did, did I do something while we were traveling?" He asked, confusion shining in his eyes as he tried to figure out what was going on.
A sad smile drifted across her face, shaking her head she answered, "No, you didn't. Did you enjoy your walk?"
Tyler shook his head, looking away from her totally ashamed of whatever had happened while he was out. It told her everything she needed to know, it also broke her heart at the thought. She sighed a little before climbing off the bed, moving over to the corner of the room, she bent down and undid the clasps on the case. Flipping the lid for the case open, she pulled out the violin and the bow. Stepping backwards, she got into the position she needed and worked the violin to weave out the haunting, heartbreaking melody that was playing in her mind. Tyler sat there, listening to the melody, trying to think of what to say.
He caught himself singing softly, supplying the words of the song before he went quiet again. She didn't stop playing though, sliding from the promise that she'd be there to protect him to a different melody, another lullaby that their mother used to sing to them when they were little. She wished their mother was there, she wished she was just a little girl again. Mia noticed the way the ghosts started to appear in the room, dancing slowly to the songs she was playing, she knew that Tyler was aware of them too. Neither of them wanted to admit it though, it was a little too stressful to fully think about that type of shit.
She watched the way Tyler's eyelids closed, his mind starting to drift away to the realm of sleep. "Mia, who was that girl on the news?" Tyler asked, the exhaustion that had been gripping him started to win, pulling him beneath.
"Don't worry about her, you just let me do the worrying, okay? Just get some sleep, everything will be okay in the morning." She answered back.
A frown flitted about Tyler's face, letting onto what he thought of it. She saw the way he tried to fight it off, but between the music and his exhaustion, Tyler was pulled beneath the waves of sleep. She continued playing for a while, letting the ghosts wander around the room, telling her their stories for the next hour or so. It was only after they quieted down that she put the violin away and she crawled into the unoccupied twin bed. Curling above the covers, she stared into the darkness of the room, staring at the bed that contained her brother. She felt the tears start to slide down her face, before she wiped them away to try and hide it. Closing her eyes, Mia allowed the melody that was still in her head to pull her into the realm of sleep.
She'd continue worrying about things in the morning.