Axcel: The World.

Zech screamed. They were somehow fighting a gigantic bunny with huge claws. A bunny that could also spit acid, because why not? It wasn't worth standing anywhere near Maahes, who was trying to befriend the monster for some unknown and horrible reason. Even with all of Maahes's magical skill, it was only a matter of time before he got himself hurt. And Zech didn't want to be injured either.

The tiger ran behind a tree and covered his eyes.

Maahes tried to get out of the way in time, but he just wasn't fast enough. Acid got all over his pants, burning through one of the pant legs and through his guise's skin. He let out a pained cry - his essence was bubbling, very irritated, underneath the large splotch that had been what appeared to be Alteran skin before the acid had hit it.

But he was stronger than this! He set his face into a confident, strong look, and shot a burst of flames in the bunny's direction - flames that only grew in ferocity as he fanned them with the wind he had conjured.

The flames engulfed the monster -- or at least, so it seemed. It had dived to the right, just a second too late. As it emerged from the smoke, half of its face was burned. It was visibly in pain as it growled. It used its large legs to jump forward, lunging at Maahes. It reared its arms back for a swipe.

Tamika let out a scream as she tried to watch what was happening from behind the tree. The giant rabbit creature had spit something steaming at the boy- and it had dissolved part of his leg. In her fervor, she gripped the tiger's fur to try to hoist herself up higher.

"I- its neck!" She shrieked, "aim for its neck!!"

Zech would've complained that she was grabbing onto his neck, but that would've required opening his mouth. With the smell of acid and burning flesh, he decided it wouldn't be in his best interests to do that. He pressed his head against the tree and covered his ears.

He tried to dodge the attack, but his attacker moved too quickly. Long, thick claws dug into his skin, sending him flying across the clearing with essence oozing out of his new injuries. It hurt. Like, really hurt. But Zech and the winged lady were hiding, and they needed someone to protect them. He was the only one who could!

He readied another stream of fire, this time following through with the advice given to him - he aimed it right towards its neck.

Due to how close the monster was to Maahes, the flames hit its neck head-on. A few seconds later, there was a thud, and the monster fell over. It seemed like it was still alive, but unconscious for the moment.



Rose age Ryder ran into the clearing, only to see the monster getting burned.
"Woah..." Ryder breathed as he held up a have to shield his eyes from the bright flames.
Rose immediately ran over to Maahes, seeing him hurt.
"Are you alright?" she asked hurriedly as she unslung her backpack to get out something to help the boy's injuries.
Ryder watched from afar. He wasn't good with medicine and healing stuff. Rose was better than him, at least.
He walked over to the monster, investigating it's unconscious form.

Lorcan and Juniper hesitantly followed the others into the clearing, Juniper still lingering behind him as he kept the hand holding the knife extended. There was a gigantic, monstrous bunny laying unconscious in the center of the clearing; its fur had been burned away by fire that must have come from the unfamiliar boy. At least, he looked unfamiliar. Something about the way that he was holding himself was familiar, but Lorcan couldn't figure out who he reminded him off.

"I'm okay!" the teenager replied. He raised a hand and pointed at a nearby tree. One that, when Lorcan moved a bit so he could look around it, he could see Tamika and Zech hiding behind. "You should probably check on them, though. I think the winged lady's leg is hurt, and Zech's probably sore from carrying her."

Then the teenager made a beeline straight for the monster, fire sparking in his hands as he held them out. He aimed it right at the neck and let a steady stream of fire loose.

Zech opened his eyes in time to see Maahes charging the knocked-over beast. Whoop. That wasn't what he'd expected. And now at least Maahes was injured, since he was leaking out that strange substance that Zech had been all too right in connecting to him.

But the tiger didn't think long about it - everyone else was here, and he was ignoring his duties. Cheeks burning, he stepped out from behind the tree and said, "Who all needs help?"

Disconcerting noises came from the direction Siren had left Maahes in. Fire noises. Shouty noises.

She followed after Lorcan, speeding on all fours.

Ryder had to hop back as Maahes roasted the downed thing alive.
"Khryst, could you not wait until I wasn't right next to this thing?" he asked, as he stumbled back.

Rose moved to Tamika and Zech on Maahes' prompting.
"That boy over there says she might need some help," Rose said, pointing at Tamika. "But you go help him, he doesn't seem too fine, though he may say he is."
She crouched next to Tamika, opening her first aid kit.
"Now, where on your leg does it hurt?"

"I'm fine, Princess!" Maahes protested, but she had already turned her attention to the lady with the wings. Fine, then. He rubbed his injured leg. Which, in retrospect, probably wasn't a good idea because it hurt, but he almost never got to touch his essence. It felt kind of weird and slimy, but he didn't mind it. He actually kind of liked it!

Tamika looked up at the cat-girl gratefully and attempted to dislodge herself from Zech's back. When she balanced herself enough to slip down and land on her good leg, her hands came away covered in fur. Oops. She had been gripping his neck harder then she thought.

"Oh... thank you for carrying me. Sorry I was pulling your fur." She mumbled to the tiger before turning to the cat-lady. "It's my ankle- I'm not sure how bad it is, but it's probably just a sprain."

She sat down slowly on the forest floor and stretched out the injured leg so that Rose could better help her.

Zech ignored the feeling of the fur by his neck being ripped off. He'd been through much worse, in any case, and she'd clearly been just as terrified as him (thought part of him didn't regret not helping her earlier). Instead, he ran over to where Maahes was torching the rabbit-monster to death. That stunned him. Maahes had more talent and power than just about anyone else that Zech knew. Not something to be expected from someone so childish. Either Maahes was faking, or just wasn't human.

The tiger guessed the latter from the strange-colored goop that came out of Maahes's leg. Zech froze and paled a few feet away from Maahes, pointing to the injury. "What is that?" he stammered, voice high-pitched.