Angels and Demons

The moment Damascus and Boris returned - though much to James’s releid - hings devolved into chaos again. Though, at least, it was only conversations unfolding, instead of more gunfights. He sighed, and then broght his fingers to his lips for a sharp whistle to grab everyone’s attention.

“Hey. We still need to keep moving and look around the forest for someone or something that’s responsible for this mess. You cna keep talking, but follow me. And the previous rule still applies: do not leave the group, and stay close. If you see anything peculiar, let me know. Now let’s move!” he ordered, pointing into the forest and leading the way out. He gave a quick glance over to Maahes and nodded his head for Maahes to join hum at his side once again.

Kratzer pushed Melkyael's hand away as he felt his own regeneration kick in; stopping the bleeding and closing the flesh was enough. His body would do the rest. "Danke," he said quietly, and the now-demon nodded and stepped back, moving once more into the background.

That was right around the moment when Maahes came over to him. He could feel Boomslang watching the interaction through the trees and tried to shake it off. He wasn't going to escape her gaze. His arm was still bleeding but thankfully it was slowing, and it hadn't caught any tendons, just his artery.

"Ja, well enough," he said, his voice soft. "Boomslang can't - or won't - kill me. Even if she were to try...takes more than a bullet to take me off this earth. Don't worry about me, Maahes. I'll be fine."

/Your group seems to have some issues/ The trees giggled. Rose rolled her eyes. "Are you finished?" She asked, glaring at one. They just laughed. She really,, really wanted to kill some of the people right now. They had all been changed, they should be figuring out how to fix this, but [i]nooooo[i] They were standing around shooting each other!

Schadel glanced one last time in Boomslang's direction, then stormed up to the front of the group with Edward a short distance behind. Grim wisely hopped out of the way before she could get too close to him, his wings nearly suffocating him as he wrapped them even closer to himself.


Maahes awkwardly glanced between Kratzer and James, not wanting to leave the former but not wanting to upset the latter. "Do you need help moving?" he asked Kratzer, trying to ignore the stare Boomslang was undoubtedly giving them.


Seeing that Rose hadn't answered his brother's question, Zephyrus decided to take matters into his own hands. He initially tried waving said hands in front of her face, but then decided that giving her a rather hard poke was the better approach.

Rose jumped back, then realized where she was. "Sorry, trees are being smart mouthed. What is it?"

Stan shrugged in reply to Siren's question.
"I can't really see anything. I heard a bunch of noise but I have no clue if it's safe," he replied, monotone.

Raiden, on the other hand, was trailing behind with Princess Rose, talking to her about things from her world and generally having a good conversation. Bar the loud noises that were going on up ahead.

"I-I just wanted to make sure you were okay-" Aquarius started to say, only to pause when her comment really registered. "You can talk to trees?"

Damascus realized that James was attempting to group everyone up and get them moving again. He still felt a bit guilty about getting lost and staying that way when stakes had been so high, and so without ado, he hurried over to stand by James.

He would stay with everyone this time, he swore.

~~~

Sevy attempted to glance around Siren, to see what was going on. He caught the tail end of whatever was happening with Kratzer, but it seemed as if his wounds were being healed somehow, or it wasn't effecting him, and so he was able to draw his gaze away with good conscience.

Oh- it looked like James was ready to move again. He turned back to Siren and smiled, both polite and amused.

"Miss Siren the Merfog, would you mind letting me up? I think James is getting anxious." He held out his hand to help her off him. "Thank you for saving us from the bullets. I 'ppreciate that."

Kratzer looked up at him in surprise, hand still around his arm where the blood leaked through his fingers. He wasn't quite sure what he'd expected but it wasn't an offer of help. "Uh, nein, danke," he said. "My regeneration will kick in momentarily."

Rose nodded. "I'm fine. And yes, I can talk to trees. I am a dryad."

Siren took Sevy's hand, and got off of her two new friends. She grinned a wide and toothy grin, touched by Sevy's kindness and gratitude. Her nose wrinkled, and lip quivered momentarily.

"Anytime," she said, sniffing. Then she shook her head, to reset her mood, and peeped at what the group was doing.

"Oh. We're moving again!" she exclaimed.

Siren leaped up, and joined the stride of the group.
She grabbed Sevy's hand, and Stan's, and merrily pulled onward.

James, seeing that Maahes was occupied with Kratzer - who rightfully needed acknowledging - continued walking forward and leading the ground by himself. With at least some semblance of organization and focus, since it seemed everyone was beginning to follow, he began to actively search the forest, watching for movement, or anything peculiar in nature.

His eyes flicked over to Damascus as he saw the man come up beside him.

"You alright?" he asked.

Stan trudged along, being pulled by the (far too energetic, in his opinion) fish-mergirl or whatever she was.
"So it seems," he mumbled in reply. Gosh, he wanted to return to Heck, where things were simpler. Though it was nice to not be inconvenienced every other second.

Though Damascus could have sworn that he was fine a moment ago, something about the way that James' inquiry took him aback made him rethink his self awareness. Was he alright?

Besides being shaken by Engel's wounds and a nagging thread of guilt, to the heart of things, he was mostly at odds with himself, and the gist of it involved Boris.

While he was overjoyed, of course, to be lucky enough to have met Boris by chance again, and so soon... it was too soon. That was the trouble. And now there was a bittersweetness in their time together, there was a difference in aura that even he wasn't blind to, and he couldn't stop overthinking even his own thoughts and-

"I'm... I'm doing perfectly well." He choked out, cutting off his internal spiraling. He offered a strained smile. "How about you, James?"

~~~

Sevy smiled warmly, fawning for a moment at Siren's naive sweetness, and let himself be pulled by the merfrog. His gaze wandered briefly over to Damascus. Relieved that his friend had returned safely, he let himself relax, and tried not to worry.

He would catch up with the big guy later, when he got the chance.

Cornyx made his way through the group towards Boris. The name switch hadn't escaped him - when he'd first entered, the man had looked at Engel, started to say a name that started with 'e', and then switched at the last moment. Boomslang had been too preoccupied to realize. But Cornyx, who had been doing naught but observing since he'd arrived, had seen it clear as day.

Still, there was no reason Boomslang had to know. He glanced over at her. She was standing beside Sieben towards the edge of the group. Far enough where, if he spoke quietly, neither she nor the son of the Silver Fox would hear him.

The tall former-demon sauntered over to Boris, sidling beside him.

"So, you know Engel," he said, voice low.