[Issue 11] Let Slip

[John Hino]

Nailah would have gained no real advantage over John's powerful strength, but the accidental teamwork sent him to the ground. He growled and hissed and began to rise.

[Nailah Weaver]

With Steph nearby Nailah refrains from pouncing on John. Instead she backs off a little, fur bristled, trying to gauge the situation. She may not be thinking straight but she's able to recognize that she'd have trouble with one of them, much less both.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

Stephanie whipped around after bowling John over and kicked him in the head as he rose.

[John Hino]

John grunted, shook his head, growled angrily, and resumed rising to his feet. His long and powerful tail whipped violently in Steph's direction.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

Steph leaped into the air over the slashing tail and aimed another kick at John's head to keep him disoriented.

[Nailah Weaver]

As Steph jumps so does Nailah, aiming to tackle her out of the air.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

Steph was knocked to the ground by Nailah's pounce, landing painfully on her already wounded arm. She let out a yelp and twisted, trying to snap her jaws down onto Nailah anywhere she could.

[Nailah Weaver]

Which ends up Nailah's shoulder. She lets out a pained roar and blindly kicks at Steph with her legs.

[John Hino]

John rose fully to his feet, regarding the fighting females with calculating, predatory eyes. There was a bright bluish-white glint behind his bloody teeth, the only warning of his impending gout of frost.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

Steph didn't let go, letting her teeth sink in, the taste of blood driving her wild. It took a tremendous amount of restraint from her human side to prevent her from just tearing out the hunk of flesh.

On the whole she was totally unaware of an impeding breath of frost.

[Nailah Weaver]

I'm hurt! How dare she... "How dare she! Teach her not to harm one of mine!"

Baring her fangs Nailah hisses and just as John sends a stream of frost their way the air ignites around them in twisting spiral, the freezing cold cutting a gap through the flames.

[John Hino]

The gout stopped and John shielded his eyes, hissing as be backed away from the brightness. His armor seemed to quiver as if itself was a primal thing wanting to flee.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

The dazzling, burning display and the frost snapped some more sense into Steph and she released Nailah.

"Enough!" she spat. "Let's get the lizard so we can settle this alone."

[Nailah Weaver]

In response Nailah sends another, smaller flash of flame Steph's way as she stumbles back. She wants nothing more than to put the both of them in their place, but she's well aware that she's bleeding quite a bit right now.

[John Hino]

The lizard had taken a step closer by the time the flame flashed again. He froze. Perhaps this prey was more trouble than it was worth.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

Steph yelped as the second blast actually set alight some of her already-singed hair. She tumbled some distance to put space between her enemies as well as hopefully extinguish the flames.

[Nailah Weaver]

Nailah lets out another growling hiss, then turns around and runs off into the woods, holding her shoulder.

[Narrator]

It was at that point that a girl's repeated screaming echoed through the woods.

[Stephanie Kaltiera]

Her flames extinguished, Steph's ears perked up at the sound of the screams.

I should go help...

...or take advantage of an easier meal...

She darted into the woods, hoping she'd beat everyone else there.

[John Hino]

With the fire thrower gone, the reptile had been about to move for Steph when the screams pierced the air.

Sister?

His sister was all John's addled mind could jump to... and she was in danger! He bolted in the direction of the screams.