our neurotic inside dog got out and is running way too fast around the neighborhood

[crittersheep]

WHO: Rose (+ Lethe, Charon, and Maomao)
WHERE: outer meadow
WHEN: Day 27, night

[Rose has been running around for the past day and a half, prepping everything they'll need for the mist expedition to save Angel Devil from eternal wolfhood. But in the wee hours of the morning, the night before they planned to head out, Shadow Fiend's bell jingles gently. If she weren't still awake, she might have missed it. But she doesn't, and when she follows a hunch and checks on Angel Devil's location, she gets the distinct ping of a flock member in the pasture—before it recedes back into the vague sense of "in the mist."

So screw tomorrow morning. This might be the best chance they have of avoiding an extended mist expedition. And so, a mass cube call goes out, to all of Rose, and Lethe, Charon, and Maomao, too.]

WAKE UP! Um, sorry. Change of plans, we're going after Angel Devil now. I just sensed him at the edge of the mist. He stepped back inside, but he can't have gone far—this might be our best chance. He's not far from where we planned to meet up tomorrow, too. Okay! See you there.

BAITING THE TRAP (MINGLE) | THE BUFFENING | OUTSIDE THE MIST | INTO THE MIST | BOSS FIGHT | PILLING ROSE'S DOG (SAVAGE) | AFTERMATH

Comments

[themanofyourdreams]

[He'd been subconsciously following the will o' wisp, but pivots as soon as Shadow Fiend gives the order. Since other people are working on shielding and delaying the wolf, he'll just focus on running and finding a clear path out of the mist. Speaking of, he barks his own order as they move—]

—Log! Jump over it!

[He clears it quickly, trying to help haul Maomao over it too, but they're in an awkward configuration for him to be able to help everyone over.]

[strateelgic]

[Log?]

[The eel's foot hits it right as he's thinking this, and he tumbles over it, losing his grip on the girl.

Merfolk aren't really built for land obstacle courses.]

[apothekitty]

Ah--!

[ she's finally recovered, to some degree, enough to realize what's happened. ]

The mushroom guy!!

[finalbows]

<sub>[ an ice blue orb zooming along above the werewolf's back zips forward, lashing out not at Pond Fiend-- but at the new gap between Pond Fiend and his fellows. Ice blooms in spires, constantly gaining new branches they grow. The werewolf's switched from high-speed chasing to stalking closer, blank violet eyes trained on the downed prey in front of it, tail lashing left and right, jaws falling open as it prepares to fall upon him--

(there might be just enough gap to pull him through; for now, at least.) tl;dr: there I'd an ICE FENCE between ya'll and Pondie, rapidly becoming an ICE WALL. ]</sub>

[pleasantmisery]

[and Shadow Fiend lets go of Maomao to take advantage of it, hauling on Pond Fiend to yank him through a gap, shouting at Face-Making Devil and Maomao as she does:]

RUN! I CAN GUIDE US OUT!

[it's more dangerous without a Weed, but she has shepherd senses to guide her, she doesn't need to see the path out]

[themanofyourdreams]

Shit—

[But yeah, he'll focus on keeping a hold on Maomao, continuing to tug her forward to run. He'll trust that the others can save themselves for now!]

[strateelgic]

[For a moment, Pond Fiend had been so turned around he hadn't been certain he'd even be able to retaliate properly should the wolf attack, but thankfully he's been grabbed again. (He's rather heavy. He's not sorry.)

Back on his feet, he keeps his eyes ahead of him rather than risking any more attacks behind. It's more important that they get out of the mist.]

[apothekitty]

[ Maomao, on the other hand, has been called out for being underweight, so it's very easy to drag her along. She's doing her best to run, though she's not really great at this either. But she's doing her best, and she's absolutely taking advantage of her being able to see clearly to keep her footing as they run. ]

[finalbows]

<sub>[ the ice seals into one big piece right on the tail of pond fiend getting pulled free-- and then, after they use those precious bought seconds, the werewolf busts through it to get to chasing after them again.

But they're in two little groups now. It has to pick.

And naturally, it picks the duo lagging more behind due to Pond Fiend's little trip up; him and Shadow Fiend.


...as for Face Making Devil and the little apothecary...
They're left alone, and the end of the mist is to be had. Less and less ans less distance left--

But that will'o'wisp is still with them, too, being led out of the mist. But we've got bigger problems, right?]</sub>

[strateelgic]

[Oh that's bad. Bad times call for desperate measures and he might just have to do something stupid in the hopes he can pull it off.]

Give me a direction to go in!

[He yells this at Shadow Fiend as he summons a broom-sized fallen branch in their direction.]

[pleasantmisery]

[maintaining a death grip on Pondie's free hand so they don't get separated. she's got her staff in her other hand.]

Straight ahead!

[strateelgic]

[Assuming straight ahead is the position she's standing in front of him, he pulls her up with the intention of putting them both on the branch he's now straddling, before launching them forward in flight toward the edge of the mist.]

[finalbows]

_{[ chasey chase chase he's going to geeeeet youuuuuuu, flockmates, he missed you like a limb and also like breakfast lunch and dinner ]}

[pleasantmisery]

[rather than try to figure out how to straddle a broomstick while holding another stick with yet a third (sharp) stick strapped to her back, Shadow Fiend just sort of leans all the way over the branch in front of Pond Fiend, pulling her legs up beneath her to keep any limbs from hitting the ground as the broomstick shoots forward.

this is not very comfortable and certainly not proper broomstick riding procedure, but listen, who cares about wizard school regulations]

Whee!!

[finalbows]

_{[ definitely hurling magic orbs at you guys now wildly whilst you're in the open air ]}

[strateelgic]

[Oh come on... It's not as if the merman is actually good on a broom, either. This is basically the extent of his capabilities!

He's already super dizzy, air sickness kicking in whether he likes it or not on top of the disorientation caused by the mist. They're lucky they don't hit a tree.

An orb does hit them, however. It hits the tail end of the branch and knocks them askew - but thankfully also right out of the mist and onto the grass of the pasture.]

[pleasantmisery]

[it ain't the most graceful of landings, but at least Shadow Fiend knows how roll with a hard fall. she hardly pauses to catch her breath before scrambling to her feet.]

Pond Fiend! You okay?

1/4

[strateelgic]

[strateelgic]

[themanofyourdreams]

[IN THE OTHER GROUP... it looks like they're almost out to relative safety again, but this will'o'wisp won't let it go. This is getting very ominous, even beyond the general ominous feeling he gets being in the mist at all.]

...

Hey, what is this thing? Isn't he controlling this?

[He doesn't stop running, but. Hello?? A magical spirit is following them and all they have is one gun?! HOW DO YOU SHOOT A WILL O WISP]

[apothekitty]

How should I know! Isn't he your flockmate?!

[ aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa she should have just said no and stayed home to sleep!! ]

[finalbows]

_{[ floats rapidly after them but like, innocuously. this thing doesn't even put off heat. ]}

[themanofyourdreams]

You think I know everything that guy can do?! But it's definitely his!

[He has decided his assumption is correct since Maomao isn't arguing with him, at least.]

Who cares. We're almost out, right?!

[apothekitty]

We-- yes! There! Just ahead!!

[ she's not a great runner, but she's doing her best to pick up speed as best she can on her thin little legs. ]

FACE & MAOMAO: OUT 🎀

[finalbows]

_{[ the last of the mist finally parts, revealing the blessedly alive grass of the outer meadow. ]}