Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kian had shifted through letters under flickering candlelight. The parchment and ink had stained his fingers, but the mystic continued to dig through the pile thoughtfully. Surely there was some pattern to this madness, right? Pursing his lips the man let out a sigh before leaning back in his chair. It would have been easier to get drunk than trying to piece together these paths. Or perhaps his mind was still muddled from the events of a few months ago. Still, life waited for no one - especially Rhonann. She had went straight into tracking the b*****d who had done away with her family. Not that he blamed her, but still the mystic's own life was a bit rattled from his own loss. Yet he wasn't about to sit around and experience another. Wait... Kian frowned as he traced a finger over a map of the area.

"Still havin' troubles?" A woman's hand brushed over his own before leaving another note on the table, "This just came in for you, Kian." The leafling smiled before shifting her tray in her hands, "You may want to read it as soon as possible and get out of here."

Frowning, Kian glanced at his friend before skimming over the parchment. She had been spotted nearby and walking straight into...his gaze shifted towards the map again and the mystic let out a groan, "Of course." Grabbing his bag the mage smiled sheepishly at the woman, "Tell Wysteria I'm sorry for running, but I've gotta get somewhere."

"Don't worry, go on."

"Thanks, Tiko." Smirking Kian tossed a few coins onto the table before rushing out of the tavern. He had a smuggling ring to go visit. He just hoped he could get there in time...climbing onto the back of his raptrix the mystic flew and flew until he came towards a desert area, "Let's stop here." Landing he sent off his familiar before shifting his own belongings. If she was already out here then he would have to be sneaky as well as to not get caught...if there was someone out here looking for a certain wind girl and perhaps even a mystic hybrid that was.

Kian frowned as he continued through. Out of all things did it have to be in some strange, isolated place like this? Well I suppose it wouldn't be in the middle of the town square now would it, Kian? He quipped to himself with a small smirk. Only he would be ballsy enough to just have a face off in a public square where everyone could watch the a** kicking. What cowards went to all this trouble to bring out a girl to these places? The only reason he would bring a woman out to a place so private would be for well more personal things. Speaking of personal things...Kian's gaze widened slightly as Rhonann just appeared out of the bushes. Had she noticed him following her and was now swinging about for a surprise attack of her own?

But his thoughts found themselves halted as a body slammed into his own from the shadows. Cursing, Kian kicked out and shoved against the heavier body. It had seemed intent on pinning him down, but thankfully the mystic was rather slippery even when facing some seriously sharp claws. So eventually he managed to roll away from the paws that swept out towards him.

"Not the type of pouncing I was thinking about." Remarked Kian as he found himself facing a sermal. The mage winced as he noticed how its claws had gotten his left arm. He had just gotten a new outfit as well and already torn? Such a shame! Frowning, the mystic grabbed for his runes before sending a kick into the creature's stomach. His own face markings seemingly glowed as he moved back in to fight with the ferocious creature. He, himself, moved as if he were also a sermal as the mystic fought 'claw' to claw with the beast. Though admittedly his claws were a product of his own magical abilities that also enhanced his speed. He did much prefer a good, solid fight after all rather than just hiding from a distance and casting some spells. Both panting Kian risked a moment to glance around to see if Rhonann was okay before the sermal moved in again to attack...

Time was burning away.

Kian had began to piece it together. If the Sermal seemed so intent to attack and even had signs of ownership then that meant its owners were nearby. I suppose that means I should stop playing and get serious. He grit his teeth in frustration before slamming a shoulder against the beast and knocking it over. As they both wrestled on the ground the mystic dug his fingers into the earth and twisted away as thick vines came out of the ground and wrapped around the creature's body. There.

Smirking as he heard the question Kian glanced over to Rhonann with a cocky eye roll. "Obviously." The hybrid brushed dirt from his clothing, "Are we waiting for a party, really?" He quipped lightly, "If so they really need to work on their openers." Though of course ask and you shall receive. Kian let out a groan as two more sermals appeared. Oh boy, great fun. Thanks guys. What were they going to send his way next? A couple of witu or maybe even have something explode into fire at his feet? Wait, explosions?

Kian's gaze widened before he dove to knock Rhonann down into the ground and away from the mage fires as they exploded in the skies above them, "I think they came better prepared this time." He commented as he glanced at the woman pinned under his arms, "Hope you've been well by the way, Rho. And about last time..." He trailed off thoughtfully before shaking his head, "Bad time? Yeah, bad time. Get to your hiding spot now, quickly!" Rolling away Kian rushed out into the clearing and snapped his fingers so that his runes circled him like a glowing barrier. They could kiss and make up later, but for now the mystic was intent on fighting off the sermals and trying to make his own presence a target so that the wind girl could get a chance to get into her place.

Kian chuckled, "Glad to see you haven't changed then." He winked at her before twisting so he could deflect another spell. Surely she wouldn't want to maul him just yet? At least he could be thankful to their attackers for that much. She would need the help to get out of this mess after all. Cursing under his breath Kian sent out a rune from his satchel and threw it like a dagger into the woods. A bright light exploded behind the trees as his spell made an impact on whatever poor sod was hiding there.

"If you boys want to play you might as well come out in the open." He called out ever so sweetly, "I know I'm in high demand, but hard to please my fans if I can't even see their faces." Ah, yes. There came a few more. Grinning Kian reached for more runes so that he could run into battle himself. Along with these lovely men and the sermals who kept biting at his heels the mystic was in for a good ole time~

He just hoped Rhonann was feeling the same.

Kian was prepared to strike, but blinked as another sermal suddenly tumbled before him. How? The mystic's instant realization caused a grin to spread across his features, "You do care~" He called out tauntingly though he refused to look towards where Rhonann was. Last thing the man wanted to do was to give away her positioning. Instead he settled to wack a few more attackers in the stomach and then land another sharp kick on the final sermal's skull before it could rip him in half.

He was worried, however, and twisted just in time to see someone darting towards that general direction. Letting out a few choice words Kian dove across, regardless of someone else who was trying to fight him, and grabbed the man's legs to pull him down. "What are you running somewhere?" He hissed through clenched teeth as the shifter spat towards him.

"What if I was? Eh? What 'fraid someone's gonna grab your girly? Got a fine a** she does I guess, bu-" Before the guy could continue Kian was already wrestling with him to shut his mouth. And as the two of them tumbled Kian paid no heed to the cuts and punches he gained from losing his cool. Raising an arm the hybrid gave one good final punch into the attacker's face before glancing around, "Rest easy, b*****d." He was fortunate that the mystic had a clearer head on his shoulders than before. The old Kian would have electrocuted the man on the spot.

But now as his vision cleared from the red haze Kian glanced around. Who was left? Anything? Considering he hadn't been mauled from tangling with this one shifter it was probably safe to assume that they had taken the group down. Taking a deep breath Kian slowly stood from the guy whose face he had pummeled, "I think it's clear now."

Kian just raised his hands towards Rhonann, "Look let's talk this over. I'll even drop my weapons...well what's left of them and we can just you know maybe catch up a bit. No shoo-" His words stopped as she began to drop down, "Rho!" The hybrid darted forward before twisting at her warning, "Oh for the love of-" As the sermal leaped towards him Kian kicked out with his feet. Snapping his fingers the mystic watched as strong roots emerged from the ground to wrap around the creature's legs, "Stay there." Solid roots and some good ice to cover it up seemed enough for the moment. As Kian smacked the snarling creature on the head the hybrid turned backwards so that he could glance at the trap.

At least she had been willing to warn him about the sermal. Probably so she can shoot me later. Quipped Kian as he glanced up towards the skies. Who knew what this woman would want to do if he actually went down to help her out of that pit. Actually...maybe if she thought that they were both stuck for a while...a sly smile slowly crossed over Kian's features as he suddenly made dramatic noises above the pit, out of sight from Rhonnan but close enough to be heard. It helped that the sermal was super pissed and loudly trying to attack him still despite its restraints. "Ack!" Flailing his arms the mystic stuck out a foot so that he slipped down the walls of the pit. Admittedly he didn't fall flat on his face, but instead tumbled so that he landed on top of an all too familiar form. A nice soft form that was even softer in the chest....at the realization Kian immediately snatched his hands back before rolling back onto his feet with a groan, "So uh...that was some fall."

"Good news the sermal can't get us. Bad news....we may need to pass the time for a bit since I'm drained and I don't see any easy way out of here." The mystic glanced towards Rhonann, "Are you okay though?" Not that talking quickly would make up for the fact that not only did he fall into the pit on top of her but that his hands had gotten a good feel of something else...but the guy could hope right? Maybe she wouldn't have realized...So much for having a long life. Kian peeked over towards her at the thought, "Rho?"

"And here we go." Kian raised his hands defensively, "You know I honestly had no clue where I was going to land since the fall was so sudden." The hybrid offered a small smile, "Not that I'm saying touching any of that is a horrible experience, buuuut I'm not that crude." His gaze glimmered with some amusement, "Not like it was enough to notice anything really anyways." He teased before the fist came towards him, "Hey, hey." As she swung Kian reached out with a hand, "Stop before you hurt yourself even more." His fingers wrapped around her wrists as he studied Rhonann.

The mystic's gaze narrowed as he tried to get a good view of her legs -something pretty near impossible with the way that the woman was raging against him in the moment. "How bad?" He glanced up towards her, "Rho, you can punch me later. Let me look at your leg?" He glanced up towards the opening of the pit, "Either we can wrestle in here all night and burn energy or you can let me try to tend to you so that we can get out of here faster." He grinned, "I mean not that I wouldn't mind some closeness, but I don't know if a pitfall is the most romantic place. But if we're both here for a while who knows what could happen?"