Final Fantasy: The Great Awakening (Full)

[Chachamaru v2]

Alison still wasn't really sure what was going on. She could understand that Seraphim wanted to get that kid back for sending the bugs after them, but she still didn't quite understand the gravity of the situation - and yet, she didn't want to ask, because she didn't want to appear to look completely stupid. Alison was all too aware that she was, for lack of a better word, dumb, but she did from time to time at least try to stop herself looking like a total moron if she could avoid it. She nodded at Seraphim's instructions, although she still wasn't sure exactly what was going on.

As far as she could tell, the most useful thing she could be doing here was to just go with Seraphim's instructions, rather than trying to actually understand them. After all, just because she didn't understand why she was being told to get Chocybo to go and chase the boy down, didn't mean that she shouldn't. She simply nodded. "Right! Follow me, Kaoru!" She replied with a slight smile, before rushing off. The girl ran fast enough to leave most people in her dust, and thanks to her job, she knew the best way to get to the Chocobo ranch. Heading down a poorly-kept, rarely-used alleyway, she hopped on an old discarded wooden crate that she'd used several times recently, using the momentum to scale the wall at the end of the alleyway, pulling herself over the wall and into the alleyway joining onto the end of the one she'd just left. She knew Cryth like the back of her hand - in fact, since she changed the yellow lines on the back of her hand so often, one could make a convincing argument that Alison knew the layout of Cryth better than the back of her hand - and she knew that from here, she only had to run down the road the alley branched out from to reach the ranch.

As her feet touched down on the ground of the second alleyway, Alison sped off, completely forgetting that Kaour might not necessarily be able to climb over the wall at the end of the alley. It was so rare that she was able to do something that someone else couldn't, that she'd just naturally assumed that there was nothing that she was best at, and she just presumed that Kaoru would have no trouble following her.

Alison Melissa Owen

[NPC - Dargan / Narration post - Guards]

Dargan had actually arrived surprisingly shortly after Atrozeon and Azel, and he stopped just outside the council hall next to Wulfgar for a brief moment. He was severely out of breath, and looked ready to collapse, and rather than actually saying anything, he simply silently waved his hand towards Wulfgar, indicating that he should follow him. By the look on the tired old man's face, it was quite clear that he simply did so as he physically lacked the breath to speak, rather than out of rudeness. Struggling on into the council chambers, he was less than displeased to see Shalitan guards watching over a couple of young men in the main council chambers. He was about to ask the guards exactly what the problem was, when one of the guards walked over to the elderly man.

Before he had a chance to answer Atrozeon's question, the guard's captain looked towards Dargan. "Oi, Gramps, do you mind? We're in the middle of important guard duty here." The man sneered, clearly having little respect for the elderly man, who was still struggling to regain his breath after the short, yet exhausting walk. Obviously, this guard hadn't met Dargan personally, or he would have known that he was a member of the council. A couple of the other guards moved to try to explain, but the man dug himself even deeper as he continued. "Go on, get out. Go have a lie down and a cup of tea or something."

In that instant, Dargan's entire demeanour changed dramatically. Standing perfectly upright despite his bad back, he took a firm hold of his walking stick in both hands, and with a fierce glare in his eyes, he slammed the makeshift weapon into the side of the guard's head, impacting on the man's helmet with a clang that echoed around the room for several seconds. The man fell to the ground from the blow as Dargan looked towards the rest of the guards as he hunched over again, leaning once again on the walking stick. "I suggest you leave." He said to the remainder of the guards, who simple bowed their heads sheepishly as they left, dragging the unconscious body of their captain away with them by his ankles. Dargan let out a heavy sigh as he sat down slowly, his back clicking as he did so. He took a moment to take a couple of deep breaths, before casting his eyes towards Atrozeon and Azel. "So what are you two lads doing here?" He asked, a somewhat suspicious glint in his eyes.

[Hiwa Kaoru]

~Kaoru Hiwa

"Right," he nodded in acknowledgment

Kaoru didn't like the idea of splitting up, but then again the use of chocobos would help them cover more ground. So Dopey just nodded back as Seraphim would run off and then turned to Alison. She seemed to be taking them, and hopefully it was the quick way—last time he'd followed her somewhere, it hadn't ended so well. Still, she loved her 'Chocybo' and hopefully she knew where to go by now to her there.

The girl dashed off, and Kaoru almost stood there baffled at just how fast the girl was. But he didn't, and moved immediately to follow her, putting the daggers away. She was indeed faster than most humes, but he wasn't exactly slow either. So he managed to keep up with the girl easily; though, the lack of knowledge of the area made that a bit more difficult since he wasn't used to the city and had to keep an eye out for things. Following the girl through the rather cluttered alley, and then off a crate and over the wall.

He landed neatly, but after that the girl was considerably farther ahead then him. Damn, is this the easy way? he pondered as he followed the girl down this second backroad. Soon enough the two came upon the chocobo ranch. He slowed down upon getting there and walked in calmly. Finding Freya was easier, since her green-hued feathers made her a peculiar sight in a sea of mostly green. Mounting the bird, he moved to the entrance and awaited Alison and Chocybo.

"Ready? Let's hope Seraphim didn't already get there, eh?" Kaoru smirked slylt at the thought.

Seraphim was, to say the least, a rather violent girl. If she got Richard without them around, it was possible she'd beat him to a pulp and more. He shrugged, actually hopping she'd still be giving chase and urged Freya off. The two would then ride in the general direction of Seraphim and where the Brown kid had been headed.

—

[Altral]

Running as fast as her feet could carry her, she heard someone call out wait. Turning her slightly, she could catch a glimpse of Seig running to catch up with her. It must be rather hard and difficult to run with full armor, but he was none the less catching up. Even when she turned her head back to face forward, she could hear the clanking of the armor in her ears. It was actually getting louder and louder. Clutching the bag of food in her hand she continued to run, a million things trying to run through her head while she tried to think of a way to stop the thief and her chocobo.

The young woman followed every single path that the theif took. Paying no attention to Seig following, but so grateful that he had gone after her. Every backroad and shortcut the theif took, she took as well. When they got onto dirt roads, her boots started to scuff up but she still managed to run after him in her heels. She could use magic to try and slow them down...but she didn't want to risk hurting jinx. It was tempting, but especially in this enclosed of a space using a fire spell could be hazardous to some of the buildings. An ice spell...that could just be dangerous and with her chasing the target, she may end up being the one to slip on ice if that was the affect. She couldn't just keep running though, with the time of day, Jinx was bound to be at her fastest. She just had to think of something to try and slow Jinx down and make her stop. Of course...there was only one thing she could really think of.

Cupping her hands around her mouth like a microphone, she yelled into them. "Jinx!" She shouted, hoping that her chocobo would hear her voice and understand her. It was absolutely amazing that she hadn't fallen flat on her a** in this ridiculous heels she was wearing. "Cheesecake!" She called out, hoping that the temptation of food would catch Jinx's attention. The chocobo had been severely hungry earlier like her, having only eaten that small bit of cheese. Plus she knew how much that chocobo loved to eat food just as much as she did. It would've just been pointless to yell salad...who got excited over a salad?

[Haro Starwind]

Azel's blue eyes turned up to the old man as he entered. Lazily they peered at him through his half shades but suddenly his attention was sparked at his assault on the guard. Azel totally could've did that too... he just didn't feel like it. Needless to say his attention was grabbed and Azel lifted up to the old guy as he sat down. Oh boy, he could already see the lectures coming. "Eh.." He let out trying to think of a good way to put, 'we were tricked by a succubus with a nice rack.'

"That eye thingy! Someone stole it and I got framed because of some brown haired b***h." He said, getting noticeably worked up once more. Unable to let it go. It was now that he wished he would have asked her name. He'll definitely write that one down for later. "And this guy..." Azel said pointing to Atrozeon as if to speak for him, just because his ego should've. "Well he just has bad timing." Turning his attention back to himself however, he felt he needed to justify himself more than Atrozeon. "You gotta believe me Gramps. Do I look like someone that would steal something like Eeferits eyes?" He said with an innocent smile and a emphasis on mispronouncing the jewel, hoping that would make him seem incapable to know what the thing actually was that he did. Come on Luck~ You can get me outta this... right? ....*poke*

~Azel Zephyr

[fractalJester]

As Atrozeon's question went on to be interrupted by the appearance of an elderly-appearing man (who, in his defense, kicked the guardsman's a**), his eyes narrowed cautiously, trying to recognize him from his limited time in the town. D... Durgin? Dorgan? Meh. Some old guy who was apparently more important than he led the people of the town to believe. And this 'old guy' was asking them who they were? He'd let Azel answer first-

Of course, as the pirate began to shout, he immediately regretted that.

"Apparently, everyone seems to think I'm this bloodthirsty man named Ramual, but no one will give me the rest of my back-story so I know how to play the part, he explained (much more calmly than Azel) as he stopped leaning his chair back and putting his arms on the table, at ease. "It's rude to give me a character to play and no story. I didn't even sign up for this mummer's farce, either- just trying to catch two people who had knocked out the guards at one of your exits."

"Of course, from what I overheard as I followed them through the caves, it seems the woman was holding little boy wonder here hostage in order to get the jewel- an already absent jewel, by the way. Just thought you should know an evacuation might be wise, or something," he continued, rolling his silver-blue eyes before shrugging his shoulders. "Anyways, next thing I know, I've got half a dozen tin-men calling me Ramual and scaring off my damned Chocobo."

Possibly the only moment at which Atrozeon seemed serious, his eyes narrowed dangerously at the older man as he spoke of Soryuju. He'd hoped they'd just scared him off, anyway. If those bastards had done anything to that bird, he'd... he'd...

[King Keiayo]

Seig Darkscar

Seig continued on as best he could to keep up with Tomoko. Cutting corners and vaulting over objects to keep her in sight, but the white chocobo seemed to go farther into the distance. Suddenly Seig could feel the plate and a half of food he at slowing him down. "Damn..." He muttered to himself as he held his cramping stomach beneath his armor. No matter how much training he had, there was no way to keep up this sprint with a full stomach.

Eventually he fell back but still had Tomoko in sight. Boy he felt a fool to look so weak. Slowed down by overeating, pitiful. The clanks of his armor decreased in sound and eventually he had to stop, slamming his hand against a nearby wall he leaned against it, grasping his cramp and breathing as he watched Tomoko carry on her way. He hoped whatever she called out to stop her chocobo would work, or else there was no way he'd be able to help her. He wasn't even entirely sure that catching the thing was possible in the first place. However he was prepared to take full blame, as he always so willingly did...

Taking his hand off the wall he continued to run against his stomach's wishes towards Tomoko. It would only allow him to go so much farther though. "Come on body... you've had worse."

[Na-Ki]

Dance until the end, my friend, and find joy in every living thing.

Following Dargan inside to the council's chambers, he saw that a bunch of armed guards and two men, obviously their captives were already inside. As for when the captain, an obviously arrogant man, approached Dargan and had told him to get lost. Which resulted in the old man's body changing in appearance and a quick but powerful enough whack on the captain's head.

After Dargan had announced his warning and the other soliders began to leave, while dragging their Captain out by his feet, a boisterous laugh had left Wulfgar's mouth at the sight of the Captain's misfortune. The Captain had brought that little bit of wrath upon himself since he, simply put, had failed to keep up his guard around such an old man as Dargan.

When Dargan had voiced a question of his own to Azel and Atrozeon, Wulfgar folded his arms across his chest as he listened to the reply the two of them had given. When Azel answered, he had thought of him being a fool, as a result of him played by some woman obviously. When Atrozeon's answer finally came, Wulfgar had simply thought of him as an annoyance, listening to his little speech about getting a character to play and having no story in order to do so.

Wulfgar didn't bother to speak up even in the slightest bit and instead, waited for the old man to talk again. Needless to say, his first opinion on these two was hardly an impressive one. Wulfgar had seen one of them though, Atrozeon, as he left the Old Yellah earlier this morning. His gaze had soon turned away from the two of them and looking toward Dargan, keeping their story about the Eye of Ifrit fresh in his mind.

Optimism is not a choice, it's a belief.

[ShadowOfIce]

[NPC - Richard]

By now, Richard was making good progress, nearly out of the town at this point. He had a destination, and would ride like the wind going west. He was more than confident at this point that he was going to get off scot free. Still, the white chocobo was really in a panic, and as fast as it was, he had to occasionally tighten up on the reigns, nearly losing a grip at some points. This also caused a few of Jinx's feathers to shed every now and then, leaving something like a trail from a feather or two every block or so, giving Tomoko and Sieg a general idea of where they were. Still, on a chocobo, he was going to be long gone, Sieg's chocobo at a general disadvantage too if he chose to get his. Either way, Richard and Jinx were soon at the borders of the town, putting up enough of a distance between them that he could slow the mad dash down a bit. Just for the few moments needed to pass the guards, having his scarf over his face and leaving casually for those few moments needed, before he would continue to run, only slowing when he needed to calm suspicions.

Nothing was going to stop her at this point. Seraphim sprinted and pushed herself to go as quickly as her body could achieve, caring little for her limits as she bolted down the streets. She last saw that damned kid going west, and she'd be damned if he got away without her breaking his jaw and getting that gem back. Even if she hated this town, it was still more important than anything to Cryth, and the last thing she needed was to lose what little remnants of a home she had left, Seraphim couldn't stand going back to having absolutely nothing, and living on the streets. Or more important, she didn't want Alison to suffer that fate as well.

Since she was packing light, having no more than a small pouch with two small books -one having numerous blank sheets of paper tucked into it-, a few herbs, needle and thread, and lunch composed of a few sandwiches, Seraphim had nothing slowing her down, running through the streets and following any signs of that thief, mostly by instinct, knowing the streets, and following.... a trail of feathers? And who the Hell was that platinum blond bimbo in the armor? Seraphim didn't see Tomoko up ahead, but that didn't seem to matter anyway, as Seraphim started catching up to the scythe wielding man, barreling down the streets frantically, catching up to him pretty quickly since she had nothing encumbering her. She didn't know why he was running, but she would go right past him.

*Thud!* ...Did she say past him? More like into him. As graceful as Seraphim could be at times, it didn't come as a strong point when she stumbled on some loose gravel passing him, tripping into the knight as the white haired girl practically fell into him with all her weight and speed, face and body first right into his side.

~Seraphim Harmonia

[Chachamaru v2]

Alison still was no more the wiser as to what was going on. As she reached the chocobo ranch, it didn't take her long at all to locate Chocybo. Sure, he was a yellow chocobo, which were reasonably common, but at the same time Chocybo had a certain scruffiness to him that no other chocobo had ever quite managed to achieve. Even if he'd been spending the better half of a week in the stables, and even if Alison came and brushed him every day, he would still somehow be able to look incredibly scruffy by the time that Alison actually came ot ride him. That, and the fact that he had an unusual saddle - Alison rode side-saddle, and always had done for as long as she could remember. She wasn't sure why she'd learned to ride side-saddle in the first place, but it didn't have any detrimental effects, and if anything it just made Chocybo easier to spot in the crowd - that and if she ever did fall off of him, she'd end up rolling sideways where she could absorb most of the blow, instead of falling off backwards and landing on her back or worse, her head.

She took Chocybo's reins in her hands and directed him to the exit, where Kaoru and Freya were waiting for the two. "Come on, let's catch up to her." She didn't want to ask Kaoru about what was going on - if she was going to ask anyone, she'd ask Seraphim - at least she knew that Seraphim was less likely to think badly of her if she asked a dumb question, because by now she was somewhat used to it.. Without wasting any time, Alison cracked the reins softly, ordering Chocybo into a brief run. She knew better than to try to push the chocobo too hard for too long; but even at a reasonably slow pace for a chocobo, he could still easily outrun her - and at least it saved on her own legs and feet trying to run for so long. That said, they couldn't take the shortcut they had taken to get to the ranch, meaning the two had to go around the 'long' way around to get back to the road they'd split up on, which would take time. Fortunately, since they were on their chocobos, not too much time; but time nonetheless.

Alison Melissa Owen

[NPC - Dargan]

Dargan listened silently to the two men's stories. The whole time, he had his eyes locked on whoever was speaking, staring them dead in the eyes, as if he'd lost his keys in their eyes or something. Had the circumstances been any different, he would have found the whole ordeal rather amusing; but the mention of the Eye of Ifrit made this entire conversation incredibly serious. In fact, as soon as Azel had mentioned it, everything else no longer mattered. As Atrozeon finished, Dargan heaved a deep sigh, staring at his hands in thought for a moment. "You are not liars." He replied after a short pause. "I have no reason to disbelieve either of you. However, my opinion alone is not enough to prove your innocences." He leaned forward, slowly running a hand through his straw-like, dry beard. The gears were well and truly turning in his head as the makings of an idea formed. He would have to act quickly, however; should the council find out he was making such decisions without consulting them, he would no doubt face their wrath, which in turn would result in them facing his walking stick. Fun times all around.

"I have come to a decision." He announced, standing up with surprisingly little difficulty, appearing to put next to no weight on the walking stick that he constantly carried. "You two are to return the eye of Ifrit. If the eye is returned, you will both be released as innocent. No punishment at all. However, I will expect you to also hand over the one responsible for the theft, so that they may be punished." It seemed to make sense to the old man; neither of the younger men struck him as a liar from what he had observed, and if they were somehow working together, they were disguising it very well. Which led to the final part of his plan. He looked towards Wulfgar. "Welfgur, I would appreciate it if you could accompany these two men, so that they do not attempt to escape justice. The innocent have nothing to fear, of course; but it is always better to prevent accidents rather than to clean up after them." Dargan felt genuinely pleased with himself. If one of them had stolen the Eye, then two of the others would find out and hand him over. If they were working together, Dargan was confident from sizing the men up alone that Wulfgar could probably deal with them; and at the very least the amount of noise three men fighting would make would draw attention. And, of course, if they were, as he suspected, innocent, then it would be in their best interests to retrieve the eye. "Are there any questions?"

[Haro Starwind]

Azel was surprised but at the same time not. Almost every old guy in his opinion resembled some sort of guru of knowledge. As if he pulled the answers of life from the air in kung fu mysticism. So he knew he was in the clearing as far as innocence was concerned. But then of course he brought up the catch... Instantly Azel frowned at the idea. Not only would he have to take time out of his 'important' schedule to find this thief, but he also had to hoof around with the thief guy and now this big b*****d that came in shortly after? How to ruin your life in one day, Starring Azel Zephyr...

He let out a long exasperated sigh before raising his hand. He had plenty of questions for Sensei Dargan. "How the hell are we supposed to find who took it when it was missing when we got there?" He said, raising a good point. Whoever did take it was probably on his way out of town on a white chocobo. (*cough*) But then another 'more important' thought crossed Azel's mind. "Say, you wouldn't happen to have... like a granddaughter or something to come along too, eh?" He said with a lewd grin. Finding it would be much more acceptable if he had a girl to follow along as well. Judging by how old this guy was, he had a hunch if he did have a granddaughter she'd definitely be 18+. "I mean, This guy.." Pointing at Wulfgar, "is good and all. But I'm not really feeling motivated." He said with another victorious grin as he crossed his arms. ....As if he hadn't learned anything from Fathia. "Oh and one last thing... Can I have my sword back? It's kind of a big deal." I wonder what was more surprising to Dargan and Wulfgar. How easygoing and straight up ridiculous Azel was... or how calm and reserved Atrozeon was towards this whole thing.

~Azel Zephyr

[King Keiayo]

Seig Darkscar

Seig was slowly beginning to pick back up his pace. He couldn't even see the chocobo anymore, and barely Tomoko. Once again his pace slowed down as the food weighed on his stomach. Dammit, if that food wasn't so good he wouldn't have been so inclined to eat so much of it. Stopping for a second he caught his breath again and out of the corner of his hearing he could hear something of foot steps, but he was indifferent to it.
And then the next thing he knew, that sound had come up too close. "heuh?" Only turning his head to catch a glimpse of white before he was hit over and the next minute he would find himself caught off guard on the ground with a girl on top of him.

Caring more about what he was doing before he lifted his head from the ground to see Tomoko disappear into the distance. He growled slightly at his futile attempt to catch up to her and by some strange coincidence, getting run into made him snap back into his normal mind set... making him feel foolish for running to help a girl he had just met an hour before. Forgetting that, he turned his frame and pushed himself out from her with a grunt. He then turned angry eyes to the white haired female. His Platinum blonde hair scattered across his face, covering his left eye and forming an intimidating cut over his right. Instantly any emotional progress he had gained with Tomoko was gone forever. "What the hell is your problem lady?!" He snapped angrily as he hunched on all fours and stood up, giving a little last bit of step towards the direction he was headed before cutting back to the girl. Still with an annoyed look on his face he began to slam a hand across his armor and dusting it off. He didn't even offer her a hand to get up. "You still have an eye, use it..." He said, hatefully referring to her eye patch without sympathy to anything that may have happened to her to cause it in the past. Turning his back to her once more he shook his head at the horizon. "Just great..."

[fractalJester]

Atrozeon's eyes stayed narrowed at the elder, though they seemed less intense as he gave them their only option. He had considered falt out denying it and leaving considering he wasn't this 'Ramual' fellow, but then he remembered the main problem was that he'd been caught in the cave to begin with. Besides, working with these guys would give him a chance at the jewel again, and this time it'd be entirely legal... until he fled, of course. And now he'd be known as Ramual.

Wow. This just got better and better for him.

With Azel's words, he managed to chuckle somewhat, rolling his eyes before lowering his shades back to covering his eyes. "A grand-daughter? Seriously? You do realize it was probably that same lecherous attitude that got you into this mess to begin with, right?" he guessed, not even bothering to glance at the man. Besides, so rudely asking for the man's grandchild like that... he wasn't just a pervert, he was a downright immoral b*****d. Would make working with him easier, though.

"Count me in. I'd very much prefer being a free innocent than a jailed innocent," he said calmly, leaning back somewhat in his chair yet again as he did with his arms crossed. "And my gun, of course, but something tells me that was a given."

[Na-Ki]

Dance until the end, my friend, and find joy in every living thing.

Following Dargan's introduction of his little plan, and the reply that it had gained from both Azel and Atrozeon. Wulfgar had cast a brief look at Azel seeing as how he decided to point directly towards him, while he had chosen to bring up a question or two to the old man. When the time came around that Azel had asked a question, since Dargan had suggested it, Wulfgar reached into the knapsack he carried around and prepared to answer that very question Azel had asked.

Before he had the chance to do so however, he glared in annoyance at Azel as he heard him ask a ballsy and unimportant sentence. With Atrozeon's statement to what Azel had said, that saved Wulfgar from verbally berating him and thus not wasting the energy on such a stupid question and an even more annoying person.

"Both of you will get your weapons back before we leave here." Wulfgar spoke, looking at both Azel and Atrozeon. As he paused for a short second, he continued to hold onto the same poster that earlier had been ripped off of the restaurant's wall. Wulfgar had then stepped in on Dargan's behalf to answer the questions that were asked, since he already agreed to help and Dargan had told him that all he needed to know.

"To answer your question." Wulfgar spoke, looking at Azel since he didn't know either his nor Atrozeon's name yet. "We'll start off looking for this kid, since he seems to be missing, as well as the Eye of Ifrit. I'm not one hundred percent sure yet, but with this kid and that gem both missing,as you've told us. Must have something to do with one another." He finished saying, hoping that would serve as an suitable enough answer for Azel.

After he finished what he had to say, Wulfgar stepped closer to the two of them, whom were still seated and handed Azel the scrap of paper first. "Read that and memorize it, it's our only lead so far." He spoke as he stepped back a little ways, but still stood before the two so called thieves. Wulfgar had then fallen silent, reminding himself mentally that he wasn't just looking for this Richard kid, but keeping an eye on these two and their activities.

Optimism is not a choice, it's a belief.

[ShadowOfIce]

Damnit! Was this guy drunk??? What the Hell was he doing running around in the middle of the road wearing a large suit of armor like that!? Jeeze, no one these days even knew how to walk, was that it?? Seraphim was absolutely furious to have someone slow her down like this, but more importantly, the fact that he knocked her down and made a fool of her, that was just something she wouldn't tolerate!!!

Of course, this was how it all played in Seraphim's mind, she refused to beleive it was her own little stroke of clumsiness and bad luck that made her fall like this, even if that was what really happened. Surprisingly, for running into him so hard, and while he was in armor no less, Seraphim wasn't too badly hurt. The girl had a high threshhold for pain, and slamming into a walking tin man at a running speed was something she could brush off,

While she was on her back after he got up, Seraphim shook the slight daze she had, unaware that the entire back of her shirt and even some parts of her feather-white hair had small clumps of dirt in it now. And before getting to her feet, she heard what this half-wit knight-wannabe had to say, immediattly sparking a flare of anger. Did he have a death wish or something!? No one makes fun of her like that without getting a bone broken!!! -Sadly, aside from Kaoru and Alison, this part was completely true.-

Her single, crimson eye twitched just a little, before she leaned all her wait into her lower back, then quickly kicked her feet up and shiting her weight there, causing her to kick up and on her feet in a proffesional manner, like a martial artist couldn't have done it better. Looking strait at him, Seraphim quickly grew even more annoyed by his height. He was nearly a foot taller than her with a cold glare, but she didn't let that intimidate her, if anything, she just found it to make things more interesting; it meant if they fought there was more of him to hit.

"Stop looking at me like with your ugly mug, and move aside tin-man." She wouldn't admit it to his face, but the man was marginably attractive. With her anger in full play, her voice surprisingly rough for a smaller girl such things didn't register to her, right now she had more important things on mind. "I'd break your fragile body apart right now if I didn't have anything more important to do, which honestly, you're useless enough that anything is more important than you." Always having fun with her creative insults, she let that out with a cocky smirk from the corner of her lips, her fists still tense as she stepped closer to him, proving if he wanted to start a fight, she'd give him one. "Now if you're a guard, maybe you should make yourself useful, and catch an' kill that thief. Or, you can quiet dressing up you 'fake hero', and move aside like the useless person you are." She had certainly said a mouth full, and Seraphim was smart enough to not even drop her guard as she said these harsh words. But she did make a valid point; as much as she wanted to maim him, their was a thief on the loose, and he was carrying something as precious as the city itself!

[Altral]

The white chocobo kept running and it became smaller and smaller, farther and farther away as she turned each corner until she was barely catching a glimpse of it. Behind her, Tomoko couldn't see as Seig fell behind, his stomach cramps kicking in from all the food he had to eat. He did eat his own plate and half her plate and half a cheesecake, so it was understandable that he would need to stop. She had eaten a lot as well, but only half of it and she had paced herself.

Soon, she could no longer see or even hear Jinx and her wark. At first she didn't know what to do and completely stopped to look around. It was then that she noticed that Seig was completely out of sight, nowhere to be seen. She had thought that maybe, just maybe that she was actually faster than the man...but soon her own cramps started to sink in, the adreninline from running wearing off. Her legs felt as if they were going to just crumble beneath her, even buckling slightly. Slowly she lowered herself to the ground, panting and trying to catch her breath. Her legs folded beneath her and she set her hands in her lap, eyes cast down to them.

What...what was she going to do without Jinx?

The girl had a terrible habit of being blind to the world and all the bad things around her, but it was hard to turn an ignorant eye to the loss of her best friend. The white chocobo had been with her for a long time now, being her main companion and only friend to whom she could talk to. First her mother...then her friend from Sai-Zhin...now Jinx...all gone, each with their own way of leaving her. It wasn't like Tomoko to let the weight of things get to her, but no matter what, there seemed to be no positive outcome of this. Jinx could be long gone now and there was no way of tracking...

Is that a feather?

There was a faint tickling against her leg and she leaned forward on them, spotting a white feather that had drifted along the ground and was now rubbing up against her. Her eyes cast forward and she saw that every few feet there would be another one, and another one, and another one...There was still hope of finding Jinx, even if she had to travel on foot by herself. She would get her bestfriend back afterall, she just needed to have patience and a strong will.

A new rush of energy running through her, Tomoko stood up off the ground and started to run again, following the feathers. She knew that she couldn' rely on being able to follow the feathers forever.

Eventually Jinx would run out...and it would be hard to follow a naked chocobo's feather trail.