Scene #1027: Growing Pains

Owner	Pose
Ryu	The small market was alit with activity when a military truck drove in. A squad of criminal-like soldiers rolled out of the back of the truck, including a man with a sword and a handgun. Some began bullying merchants, but nothing really violent happened. They just severely lacked diplomatic ability. They were eventually led to a very specific stall... well, one of them was. An old man sat behind the stall, with a bunch of jewelry laid out before him. One was shaped like a closed dragon's eye, some sort of amulet. It was made of some kind of bronzed metal, deeply tarnished by time. Its chain was an old iron alloy that had collected a bit of rust. Ryu looked down at the amulet, not impressed by it. He reached out to it to pick it up, asking, "How much for this--?" The moment he touched it, the eye snapped open, and the golden gemstone in the center began to swarm with a rainbow of fiery colors. The metal turned from bronze to bright, almost blinding silver, and Ryu's gaze dropped in a startle as he found himself unable to pull his arm away. The merchant, scared out of his wits, ran as fast as he could. Searing pain ripped through the young man's body. He was being changed, body and soul, and it was horrifying. A scream echoed over the market... a scream that evolved into a bestial howl. --- When responders arrive, they arrive to a firefight where a bunch of soldiers are stationed behind an upturned truck, firing magical projectiles into a pile of steadily shattering crates. People are fleeing in all directions, and everyone is in a huge panic. The soldiers, the civilians, and especially the thing getting shot at. A wingless, humanoid dragon that looks incredibly tense is hidden behind cover, clearly pushed to the point of primal fear from the way it's hunched over. The battle is almost at a standstill, but the feeling of tense chaos thrums over the entire market.
Finna	The Goddess of the Moon rewards people who are cunning! And this is certainly true today. Finna has rewarded herself to a good handful of foods that nobody'll miss. A single strip of meat from one butcher, an apple from one stand, a snitch of this and that from here and there... nobody's paid any mind to the fox roaming the market place! The occasional dog's barked but eyes slide away from her presence, and animals seem ill-inclined to chase her. The Goddess of the Moon rewards curiosity and tenacity! So when the little fox hears a firefight breaking out, its destination is set! The thick of things. Finna scouts the place from atop an abandoned market stall! Taking stock of the warring sides... or rather, the one who's being pinned down and the soldiers freaking out at it... Most people would probably help the soldiers. There's a monster in the marketplace, after all! But Finna knows that monsters do not fear, and monsters do not use cover the way this creature is. And so the little fox darts over the ground, around debris, and all the more. It does not move to help the organized and loyal soldiers. When it is many against one, the Goddess of the Moon often smiles upon the lone persevering soul. And Finna can see intelligence in that lizard's eyes! So the fox bounds up behind Ryu's cover and HOPS UP ONTO HIS SHOULDER and chirps softly - but loudly enough to be heard. And somehow, SOMEHOW, Ryuw ill understand that this creature is asking if he needs help.
Kirika	A vulpine figure leaps and bounds across the city rooftops, nimbly making its way towards the scene with a katana in hand and tails flowing beneath a heavy winter cloak. Kirika spots a white foxlike being, but she pays it little mind as she spots soldiers engaging an unarmed and for the most part surrendering creature. Beasts do not cower like this, thus Kirika certainly isn't so willing to allow this dragon to die. Leaping to the streets, she sends a blast of flame towards the soldiers, then draws her katana in a defensive stance. The kitsune holds the line here and now. Nobody gets past her no matter what.
Auron	This might just be a very confusing picture for the soldiers that's entering a very confusing picture for the one entering. It's a man dressed somewhat like a samurai, but with a single-edged zweihander strapped to his back. He is seated not on a horse, but on a giant yellow... bird? This thing can't possibly be dangerous though, the goofy expression it seems to keep makes that very unlikely. Still, as silly and goofy as the bird looks, the man on it looks anything but silly. The weathered looks and scar on the eye is enough to tell that. He dismounts and begins to walk towards the scene... he has the bearing of a warrior. But as of yet he doesn't draw his sword. He wants to see the situation first.
Maya	Maya had been just getting breakfast really, and had some sort of wrap in her mouth she was trying to devour as she wan for the source of the trouble. Given the alart about a fire fight here? Also a dragon they needed someone to step in. There was a monster in market and things were gettin nuts for the most part she was strange blue hair, very long blue hair, streak tattoos under her eyes as she comes across the fire fight just what was going on here and wait he does notice teh dragon was cowering this isn't a mindless beast she doesn't attack just yet she does however call out. "HEY!" Glup there goes the last of her meal...
Ryu	Ryu's head snapped about to face the fox, one big golden eye fixating on the animal... and the way it speaks to her in a way that lacks words. There's a moment where Finna can pretty much feel the panic draining out of the dragon. Measuring his options, Ryu decides that yes, he does need help. He opens his mouth to try to speak, and out comes a soft hissing, chirping noise. Eyes lid in an obvious look of frustration, his inability to speak bothering him quite a lot. He settles for nodding. It's the best he can really manage, a shaky gesture. Everything about his movements is tinted with fear and tension, like even the idea of people protecting him made him uneasy. The squad of soldiers stared from behind cover at the Elites as they gathered up. They carefully measured their chances. These weren't just mooks -- these were people who had survived many battles. In particular, a fox-eared fellow with a bazooka propped up against cover leered at the ones standing between his line of fire and the dragon. He's the one that speaks up: "Get out of the way! We can't let that thing out into the Multiverse!" The gout of fire made a few duck behind cover, but others turned their weapons to face Kirika. "You don't understand what it is," the fox soldier shouted over at them. "That's a Dragon! That demon can't be allowed to leave this market! Do not let it fool you!" It's clear he is deeply afraid of it. Every one of the soldiers gets more tense just from the word being dropped at all. Ryu's eyes close and he gets tense again. When he opens his eyes again, it's only to search for escape routes, desperate to get away from this place. He peeks out from behind cover, his tail wiggling behind him, showing his anxiety. He's about to bolt. Judging by the soldiers, though, he might trigger more gunfire if he tries to run.
Finna	Finna notices others arriving over the din of this mess, but it's not her concern quite yet. They're not where she is, so they're not that big of a deal. The fox chirps again, apparently picking up on Ryu's message one way or the other. "Well then!" It suddenly speaks, only to hop up onto Ryu's cover and face the soldiers. One soldier shoots her way on reflex, but Finna somehow EVADES it by DUCKING down. The little white fox lets loose with the shrilliest, fiercest screechy howl it can manage and then EXPLODES WITH POWER. A ferocious bonfire of silvery Essence wafts from the creature. The mark of the moon glistens on the fox's forehead. And then, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!! Off she goes. Finna darts to her left, diving at one of the soldiers like a glowing rocket! ... But anyone watching the lightshow is being fooled. For she is not there when the light arrives and dissipates. FOOLED YA! No, she went for the one who spoke up - most likely a commander - and comes swinging in with tremendous speed. She's not at all trying to seriously injure anyone! Her blows are aimed at weapons. She'll destroy weapons and disarm people with truly lightning speed in these brief moments she hopefully bought with distraction!
Kirika	One might suppose throwing fire in the middle of this wasn't such a good idea. Kirika actually pauses in confusion for a moment as the soldiers urge her to get clear instead of shooting at her as well as an accomplice, but it passes as Finna springs her trap. "Monsters do not hide behind cover." She says calmly, before she narrows her eyes. She sheathes her sword, then teleports into the fray with a leap as she begins to engage several of the soldiers. She doesn't chop and slash, instead she slams her sword's scabbard at them in tandem with kicks and punches, as well as strikes delivered from her tail. The kitsune crouches, her tail sweeping out to trip another soldier before knocking him out with a swift kick.
Maya	Maya is coming in and sees she's not alone she does see the dragon is cowering at this point she has to wonder given her experiances . She isn't sure what's up here but she's going to trust her allies she looks at them for a moment. She tilts her head a little bit she sees all of them are up right and truly afraid she's debating to not use lethal force she sense she's palming cards at this point. Just harmless. "Shall we work this out without anymore fithtn and she's right it's terrifed of you."
Auron	Auron pauses when the soldiers call out. The brow of his remaining eye rises, and he stops. He leans against something that's sturdy enough to hold his weight and just watches. He's keeping out of the soldiers' way for the time being. However, he does speak up. "...'Demon'?" A look to the dragon. Then back to the soldiers. "...It looks more frightened of you than you of it." Pause. He says the next with a wry tone, summoning up some of his usual snark. "And that's saying something." Though suddenly Finna and Kirika are exploding into motion. And then so is he. As Finna tries to get their attention and Kirika moves to engage the soldiers, Auron heads to between the dragon and the soldiers, drawing his weapon. Yes, he's planning to block those with a sword. He's either crazy... or extremely capable with that weapon. He hopes Maya can get somewhere with her diplomacy in the meantime. But just in case, he plants his feet and prepares to intercept and/or parry incoming fire.
Ryu	Ryu was eager to accept Finna's help, but her speech and transformation gets him startled yet again... and he stares as if locked in a dream of some kind, baffled by what he's witnessing. Quite a spectacle. A spectacle that has a similar effect on the soldiers, the one who panicked and shot at her backing off very quickly and fearfully from the sudden appearance. Another shouts something like "Demon!" in the belief that the dragon is doing this. The one Finna tries to disarm gets a shot off with the bazooka before she gets there, but it gets intercepted by Auron-- and the effect is impressive. The chrysm rocket shatters in a cloud of rainbow-colored fire and billows around Auron. As a magical projectile, it probably does less damage than a normal RPG launcher would have done to the man. And then the fox soldier is engaged in close range, his weapon knocked out of his hands -- it seems prohibitively difficult to DESTROY the bazooka, even for an Exalt, leave it only slightly mangled from the impact. Can't be used now, but it isn't shattered either. That man responds by pulling out a combat dagger and trying to vivisect Finna for her aggression, letting out a fox-like cry of agitation. The handler, a man who was hiding behind cover, finally just gets fed up with this. He isn't in the mood to lose his assets in the middle of a fight with a bunch of unknown variables. He stands up from behind cover and waves a big white cloth! "HALT YOUR FIRE--!!" And all the soldiers stop. Even the fox man, who stopped inches from actually lunging at Finna. He still looks like he wants to, but something says they're more afraid of that man than the dragon. "Dragon, monster, WHATEVER IT IS, it isn't worth this," the man bellows, his big white angel-like wings ruffling and a vein popping on his forehead. "We are LEAVING." The Wyndian commander turns to look at Auron and Maya, squinting at them. He nods once at them, and then turns to shove another soldier, "Move your asses!" he shouts, and then begins herding the soldiers out of here. "That thing is smaller than a horse, you idiots. It couldn't possibly be a Dragon. You read too many children's stories." The commander is hoping these Union people will just let them leave. He frowns at them warily, keeping an eye on them in case any of them decide to continue the conflict.
Kirika	To her credit, just as the leading soldier seems to call the whole thing off, Kirika pauses mid-punch before she glances at him. "...very well." Releasing the soldier she was about to knock the daylights out of, she calmly brushes her sleeves and backs off before things escalate in a very fatal manner. "We need to go, now." She says to Finna, before she stares out at the crowd gathered. Her hand remains on Kinuigiri's handle, just in case.
Finna	The fox seems to be ENJOYING its scrap witht he her apparent rival. She doesn't seem too worried by the sudden KNIFE either! Her claws shine with silvery light and clash against it as though they were blades. Sparks fly and the little white beast loses no ground. But she's about to disengage and move on to more when the shout's made. THE SHOUT gets her scurrying. Rather than stopping in place to listen like a person might, she behaves as a wild animal might! And zips off into an alley. APPARENTLY she is not with this group of people making a ruckus on the streets? maybe? Who can say. The bonfire of radiant light dims away quickly once it's no longer being fed. Finna hadn't tapped deeply into her reserves, and had just summoned up that Anima light of her own will, so it's easily quenched. So instead of drawing attention, she slinks around again and comes up near the dragon once more...
Maya	Maya looks as she's attemping to talk and things get a bit well? FOr once it kinda works out and she does get what she wants. No one in a body bag on /either/ side. That is good she watches them look at them and she nods for a moment. "I think this is for the best do keep in mind about beings off world that could get you in a lot of trouble." She relaxes slightly as she looks to the remaining group. "I think puting a move on things is a good idea."
Auron	Shot intercepted, though Auron still winces at the impact of the round on his blade. It's a magical round, and disrupts the sword's magical field enough that it sends a painful impact shock up the blade, and up his arms -- ow. The exploding projectile does singe his hair and burn the skin of his uncovered arm, but he'll tough it out. He relaxes -- a little -- as the commander seems to be retreating. He doesn't put his sword away, though he isn't using it to threaten at the moment. "If it /is/ dangerous, it will be dealt with," he assures the man. And then he turns to his left, just enough to see the 'dragon' over his shoulder. He can't speak to animals, if that's what this is. Hopefully someone else here can...
Ryu	Ryu isn't moving at all. Finna's return has him turning his head, looking at her when she returns to his side. He looks at her warily, until finally deciding to just sit there on the ground. As he grows more relaxed, he grows more aware of his current state, and looks down at his own hands. The horror and confusion in his eyes is telling -- this isn't a normal situation in the slightest. Despite how tough this creature looks, it almost seems helpless right now. A shimmer of light occurs, and Ryu is soon staring at his own gloved hands again. Blue hair falls before his eyes, mussed. All of the shock of the change hits him at once... and he collapses to the side, completely unconscious. It looks like one of the Wyndian soldiers...? He looks human, but apparently dragons are a Bad Thing where he's from. A bit of a quandry, huh? The slam of the truck's passenger door indicates the soldiers are ready to leave. They had quickly uprighted their vehicle with a bit of teamwork, and now they're climbing into the vehicle to leave. The Wyndian officer squints off toward the cover where the dragon was hiding for a moment. Then he looks through the cracked windshield, and at Maya, and Auron, and Kirika. He calls through an open window, "That's your problem now," and rolls up the window. The truck is soon put into gear and driven away from the market, presumably back to wherever it came from. The officer's not likely to pull over. He wants to get away from there as fast as possible.
Finna	Spotting that the dragon has become a man, Finna follows suit in her own way. Her flesh ripples and WHOOOSH, in a handful of seconds it's all reshaped. There's a brief instant in which one might begin to worry about potential nudity, but clothes appear smoothly to fill in what receding fur would otherwise reveal. Finna's dressed in thin leather attire one might expect of a huntress - as imagined by an RPG artist with an interest in skimpy clothing, anyways. Because that's exactly what she based it on after seeing some such designs. Her real, PRACTICAL outfit's not nearly as... revealing. Yeah. Her midriff's showing, it's very form-fitting, halfway bare legs and sleeves, this would never serve in real hunting. But she retains her necklace of fangs... "Well now, you're something different, scruffy! Pity about fainting... but we'd better get you somewhere else, in case anyone saw this..." Grinning and without any apparent respect for personal space, the foxgirl's leaning in to playfully ruffle up Ryu's hair! Even while unconscious. But she's not as strong as she'd wish to be, so unless anyone comes to help her, she'll have to drag him into an alley and out of sight. Probably someone will stop her before she does that solo...
Kirika	Ryu will be picked up as Kirika approaches him and FInna, the unconcious demon landing over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She nods to Finna and Auron before making her way towards an inconspicuous spot, counting on them to handle security. Somehow she doesn't seem to react to Finna's transformation beyond a curious look. If anything the exalt brings to mind one of the kitsune's relatives on mom's side. That can wait, however, given the situation. For the record, Kirika is indeed stronger than she looks, even as she calmly walks off, tail swishing side to side.
Maya	Maya pause s the dragon now turns into a man and someone calls out no as she looks up. Great they just got another stray huh? Well welcome to life and Maya's got no issues with stays really after all most are suich she looks to the others. "...shall we get him out of here and figure out what to do from there?"
Auron	Auron looks back to the soldiers as he hears the slam of the door. They're just leaving, hm? The former Guardian narrows his eyes. Smart or cowardly? Hard to tell. Either way, that's fortunate for all involved. And then suddenly... the dragon's not a dragon anymore. Okay, this Auron can deal with, even with the fellow unconscious. With Kirika handling moving Ryu, Auron instead just radios medical. He nods to Maya. "Good idea." Over his radio, he'll ask medical to get a bed ready. Then a look at Kirika, questioning. The expression clearly holding the question of whether she's heading to Union medical or not.