Vala wiped her blood stained finger on her boot before putting her glove back on and taking the stick from Ronin - it wouldn’t do to have another freak out now that they were getting friendly. She watched in mild distaste as he skewered the meat with vigor. Ronin was obviously hungry, as was Vala, but she proceeded with a little more delicacy. First she observed Ronin’s technique, and tried to do the same, but not before a quick prayer, whispered under her breath.
“Thank you for the life you sacrificed. We honor the meat you give to sustain us. May Priskil grant you peace.”
Vala wasn’t sure if bunnies had souls or djed like she and Ronin had, but Vala felt it was only right to show respect. She tried not to mangle the meat as she skewered herself a piece. She was also grateful that he had skinned the poor thing and tossed it a little to the side so she didn’t have to face its judging eyes anymore.
When she finally managed to get a piece on the tip she held it over the fire as Ronin did. “I’ve never ‘cooked before.” Vala responded to his question about the open fire. “We’ll I have ‘cooked’ but not really ‘cooked’.” She stopped talking to try and collect her thoughts, realizing she probably sounded like an idiot. She tried again, trying to clarify. “Well I help out in the kitchens, mostly just cutting vegetables and fruit or making bread, but they never let me handle the meat, but I’ve definitely never done something like this before.” She smiled, truly grateful that Ronin was broadening her horizons with all the new, albeit shocking, outdoor experiences.
Vala was waiting patiently for Ronin to tell her when her meat would be ready, ignoring her grumbling tummy’s protests, when they were rudely interrupted by a loud snort and a threatening roar. With her sharp ears and mild paranoia, Vala knew there something big lumbering their way, but she was too inexperienced and naive to mention it to Ronin, who had not noticed, so she assumed if he was ok with it she should have been too. She regretted her silence now, as the large brown mass towered before them. Ronin pulled Vala up, saving her from getting crushed underfoot, she stumbled over a large rock as he dragged her back. In normal circumstances, Vala’s face would have burned a shade of violent red at his intrusive touch, but normal circumstances didn’t usually include a giant bear, ravenous after a season of hibernation.
Vala didn’t have much experience with combat, well she knew archery, but a ranged style wasn’t helpful when the target is close enough to swipe at your face and your bow is sitting a disheartening two yards out of reach. She was afraid, who wouldn’t be. She felt powerless and the feeling made her angry. She stood paralyzed, watching Ronin handle the situation - like a fool. Vala stared, unmoving, as Ronin grabbed a small, flaming log from their measly fire. The bear just looked angrier as smoke got in his eyes.
Then... he threw it. He really threw it. Vala couldn’t believe it. Sure, she threw sand at an Endal’s eyes once, but a flaming log at a hungry bear? The bear didn’t seem fazed, not even annoyed, just angry - a violent
I’m-going-to-rip-your-bloody-ginger-arms-off angry. Vala gasped, reaching out in concern as the mammoth charged at Ronin, feet still frozen immobile. It stood up on its hind legs, looming over Ronin, before clawing his left shoulder. Ronin’s warm blood spurted, splattering Vala’s face. The sick feeling of the wet drops dripping down her cheek, the metallic taste upon her lips, shocked Vala out of her reverie.
Time faltered. Something within, called out. Something pure and true. Danger was a persuasive motive. There were no questions. There was no time. Save Ronin. The call throbbed painfully, demanding action. Hands rose. Eyes closed. Heart opened. Vala let herself go. It wasn't painful but it wasn’t comfortable, the feeling of something growing, building, within her, something of her, but not her. She tried not to fight it. It was hard not to fight. She begged it to move. She didn’t know what it was but it was trying, trying so hard to get out. It was oozing in her veins, oozing from her chest, through her arms, to her hands. It pushed. Pushed hard. Pushing out of her skin, painfully. Her eyes watered. It didn’t hurt, but it felt so wrong, so very wrong. It came out slowly, from her palms. A thin gas like substance - Res. Vala couldn’t believe it. It was coming out. She pushed harder, helping it through, forcing it through. It came out thin, it barely came out. Before it oozed a few inches, the ethereal gas burst into a scorching burst of flames. And the moment was gone.
Vala tried to recollect herself. What had seemed like ages, had only been a few seconds. She tried to forget her failure by pushing through with logic. She wouldn’t be doing that again.
A quick assessment
1. Ronin on the ground - immobilized
2. Bear. Kill. Ronin - aprox 5 seconds before next attack
3. Bow, arrows, and fire out of reach - longer than 5 seconds to utilize
4. Large rock by feet - 2 seconds to pick up, 1 second to throw
It only took Vala two seconds to make and execute her plan.
Pick up rock. Throw rock at bear. Pull Ronin up.
Without much experience under pressure, Vala was surprised everything turned out so well. The rock flew in the air, and as if guided by Priskil’s hand, and hit the bear square in the head. Sure with her weak arms, it just dazed the fellow, but it was confused enough to take a couple lumbering steps back, away from Ronin. This was her chance! Vala ran to Ronin and jammed her hands under Ronin’s armpits. She wasn’t use to touching, let alone carrying people off to safety, so she set her face in icy determination, and began dragging him back, out of the clearing. She managed to get him a few inches back before realizing she was getting nowhere and the bear was starting to get his senses back. She quickly changed tactics. Vala squatted low, and wrapped her thin arms around his dense torso and tried to pull up. She managed to help him stumble up at the price of her own balance.
Wind Reach maybe be built into an active volcano, but at least it was littered with random crap a poor girl could trip on. Yet again, Vala found herself foiled by an unassuming rock. She tried to hold on to Ronin, but her grip slipped and her hands reached out at thin air. She fell back, arms flailing wildly. She dropped to the ground, the foliage actually helping her cushion the fall, but not before she rolled her ankle. The pain wasn’t instant, nor was it subtle. When the agony finally hit, about two seconds flat, Vala started screaming at Ronin, the bear, and her twisted ankle. “KILL IT! KILL IT! RONIN KILL THE THING BEFORE I KILL
YOU!”